Fuel transaction system for enabling the purchase of fuel and non-fuel items on a single authorization
First Claim
1. A fuel transaction system for enabling the purchase of fuel and non-fuel items at different locations from a single authorization, comprising:
- a. a dispenser adapted to receive information from a customer, andb. a remote terminal located apart from said dispenser and adapted to receive information from the customer, andc. a control system operatively associated with said dispenser and said terminal and adapted to;
(i) obtain authorization to make a purchase on an account associated with the customer based on information received at the dispenser;
(ii) determine an amount of fuel delivered by said dispenser;
(iii) associate items to be purchased at the remote terminal with said authorization based on information received at said remote terminal from the customer; and
(iv) account for fuel delivered by said dispenser and the items to be purchased at said remote terminal relative to said authorization and the account associated with the customer,(v) wherein the customer may provide sufficient information to obtain authorization for a purchase at said dispenser and effect purchase of goods or services a the remote terminal on the same authorization obtained via said dispenser.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A fueling transaction system that holds open a customer account after a pay-at-the-pump transaction is authorized. If the customer wishes to select non-fuel goods and services within the associated convenience store or restaurant, she may do so within a pre-programmed allotment of time. If the customer does not wish to purchase non-fuel items or fails to do so within the system time constraints, the system will simply time-out and close the customer'"'"'s transaction. The initial customer account information or necessary identification may be provided through the customer'"'"'s card using the dispenser'"'"'s card reader or via the customer'"'"'s transponder in an RFID environment. After the initial pre-authorization, the dispenser provides the customer with a code or other indicia linking a subsequent transaction within a convenience store or restaurant to the authorized fueling transaction. The code may be presented to the customer in any manner, but is preferably provided as a code number or scanable bar code printed by the dispenser printer. The printed code is then tendered by the customer or scanned to effect the purchase of a customer'"'"'s products and links the purchase amount to the previously authorized card or account. The system contemplated in the present invention may be modified to include a self-service or other substantially dedicated scanning or checkout area to expedite pre-authorized customer transactions.
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Citations
51 Claims
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1. A fuel transaction system for enabling the purchase of fuel and non-fuel items at different locations from a single authorization, comprising:
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a. a dispenser adapted to receive information from a customer, and b. a remote terminal located apart from said dispenser and adapted to receive information from the customer, and c. a control system operatively associated with said dispenser and said terminal and adapted to; (i) obtain authorization to make a purchase on an account associated with the customer based on information received at the dispenser; (ii) determine an amount of fuel delivered by said dispenser; (iii) associate items to be purchased at the remote terminal with said authorization based on information received at said remote terminal from the customer; and (iv) account for fuel delivered by said dispenser and the items to be purchased at said remote terminal relative to said authorization and the account associated with the customer, (v) wherein the customer may provide sufficient information to obtain authorization for a purchase at said dispenser and effect purchase of goods or services a the remote terminal on the same authorization obtained via said dispenser. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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32. A fuel transaction system for enabling the purchase of fuel and non-fuel items at different locations from a single authorization, said system comprising:
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a. a dispenser associated with means for receiving information from a customer near the dispenser; b. a remote terminal located apart from said dispenser and associated with means for receiving information from the customer near the terminal; and c. means for obtaining authorization to make a purchase on an account associated with the customer based on information received at the dispenser; d. means for determining an amount of fuel delivered by said dispenser; e. means for associating items to be purchased at the remote terminal with authorization based on information received at said remote terminal from the customer; and f. means for accounting for fuel delivered by said dispenser and the items to be purchased at said remote terminal relative to said authorization and the account associated with the customer, wherein the customer may provide sufficient information to obtain authorization for a purchase at said dispenser and effect purchase of goods or services at the remote terminal on the same authorization obtained via said dispenser.
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33. A method for enabling the purchase of fuel and non-fuel items at different locations from a single authorization, the method comprising:
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a. receiving information from a customer via a dispenser; b. obtaining authorization to make a purchase on an account associated with the customer based information received at the dispenser; c. determining an amount of fuel delivered by the dispenser; d. associating items to be purchased at a remote terminal with the authorization based on information received at the remote terminal from the customer; and e. accounting for fuel delivered by the dispenser and the items to be purchased at the remote terminal relative to the authorization and the account associated with the customer; f. wherein the customer may provide sufficient information to obtain authorization for a purchase at the dispenser and effect purchase of goods or services at the remote terminal on the same authorization obtained via the dispenser.
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34. A fuel transaction system for enabling the purchase of fuel and non-fuel items at different locations from a single authorization, comprising:
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a. a dispenser adapted to receive information provided by a customer; and b. a remote terminal located apart from said dispenser and adapted to receive information from the customer; c. a control system operatively associated with said dispenser and terminal, and adapted to; i. obtain authorization for a customer'"'"'s account based on information received at the dispenser; ii. total amount of fuel delivered at the dispenser; iii. associate items selected at a remote location for purchase by the customer with said authorization based on information received at the terminal; iv. total amount of items selected at the terminal and the amount of fuel purchased at the dispenser; and v. account for the purchase of fuel and selected items with said authorization. - View Dependent Claims (35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50)
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51. A fuel transaction system for enabling the purchase of fuel and non-fuel items at different locations from a single authorization, comprising:
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a. a dispenser having means for receiving information from a customer; b. a remote terminal located apart from said dispenser and having means for receiving information from the customer; c. means for obtaining authorization to make a purchase on an account associated with the customer based on information received at the dispenser; d. means for determining an amount of fuel delivered by said dispenser; e. means for associating items to be purchased at the remote terminal with said authorization based on information received at said remote terminal from the customer; and f. means for accounting for fuel delivered by said dispenser and the items to be purchased at said remote terminal relative to said authorization and the account associated with the customer; g. wherein the customer may provide sufficient information to obtain authorization for a purchase at said dispenser and effect purchase of goods or services at the remote terminal on provide sufficient information to obtain authorization for a purchase at said dispenser and effect purchase of goods or services at the remote terminal on the same authorization obtained via said dispenser.
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Specification