Dispenser with updatable diagnostic system

• US 6,470,288 B1
• Filed: 06/18/1999
• Issued: 10/22/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 06/18/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Tokheim Holding B.V. (Dover Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Tokheim Sas (Cognetas LLP)
• Inventors: Young, Kenneth D., Bolton, Michael L., Keidel, Murl J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hoff, Marc S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Charioui, Mohamed
• Application Number:
  US09/336,653
• Time in Patent Office: 1,222 Days
• Field of Search: 702/50, 702/51, 702/122, 702/123, 702/45, 702/55, 702/57, 705/413, 186/39, 186/59, 222/26, 222/27, 222/15, 222/16
• US Class Current: 702/122
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 7/08 Arrangements of devices for controlling, indicating, metering or registering quantity or price of liquid transferred arrangement of flow- or pressure-control valves B67D7/36; computing, calculating, counting G06; coin-freed apparatus for dispensing fluids G07F13/00; prepayment devices for metering liquids G07F15/00
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 7/145 by wireless communication means, e.g. RF, transponders or the like
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 7/34 Means for preventing unauthorised delivery of liquid
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/06 Energy or water supply

Abstract

A remote adjustable fuel dispenser for dispenser diagnostics and remote telecommunication. The fuel dispenser contains a remote communication system for communication between the fuel dispenser and a remote telecommunication device. A wireless input device, such as a keyboard, mouse, or hand-held computer is in wireless communication with a fuel dispenser for use during fuel dispenser diagnostics.

Claims

1. A remote addressable fuel dispenser system for fuel dispenser diagnostics and remote telecommunication, comprising:

at least one fuel dispenser component;

a processor means, said processor means operably connected to said at least one fuel dispenser component, said processor means running dispenser system software;

wireless input device, said wireless input device including at least one operational functionality relating to dispenser system diagnostics; and

wireless input communication means for operatively communicating said wireless input device with said processor means.

2. The remote addressable fuel dispenser according to claim 1, further comprising:

a remote communication means for remote telecommunication.

3. The remote addressable fuel dispenser according to claim 2, further comprising:

a remote telecommunication device, said remote telecommunication device in operable communication with said processor means by said remote communication means.

4. The remote addressable fuel dispenser according to claim 3 wherein said remote telecommunication device capable of audio and video transmission.

5. The remote addressable fuel dispenser according to claim 4 further comprising:

means for generating assistance information;

said means for generating assistance information being provided via said remote telecommunication device.

6. The remote addressable fuel dispenser according to claim 3 wherein said remote telecommunication device is one of a bank server and a bank computer network.

7. The remote addressable fuel dispenser according to claim 3 further comprising:

means for generating assistance information;

said means for generating assistance information being provided via said remote telecommunication device.

8. The remote addressable fuel dispenser according to claim 6 wherein said remote communication means is wireless communication.

9. The remote addressable fuel dispenser according to claim 8, further comprising:

a remote telecommunication device, said remote telecommunication device in operable communication with said processor means by said remote communication means.

10. The remote addressable fuel dispenser according to claim 1, further comprising:

a remote communication means for fuel dispenser diagnostics.

11. The remote addressable fuel dispenser according to claim 10 further comprising:

a remote maintenance source for fuel dispenser diagnostics;

said remote maintenance source in operable communication with said processor means by said remote communication means.

12. The remote addressable fuel dispenser according to claim 11 further comprising;

said at least one fuel dispenser component performing at least one fuel dispenser component function; and

said remote maintenance source is used during diagnostics of said at least one fuel dispenser component function.

13. The remote addressable fuel dispenser according to claim 11, wherein said remote maintenance source is used during updates of said dispenser system software.

14. The remote addressable fuel dispenser according to claim 11, wherein said remote communication means facilitates updates of said dispenser system software.

15. The remote addressable fuel dispenser according to claim 1, wherein said wireless input communication means operates by Infrared (IR) transmission.

16. The remote addressable fuel dispenser according to claim 1, wherein said wireless input communication means operates by radio frequency (RF) transmission.

17. The remote addressable fuel dispenser according to claim 1, further comprising:

said at least one fuel dispenser component performing at least one fuel dispenser component function; and

said wireless input device is used while performing diagnostics of said at least one fuel dispenser component function.

18. The remote addressable fuel dispenser according to claim 1, wherein said wireless input device is used while performing diagnostics of said dispenser system software.

19. The remote addressable fuel dispenser according to claim 1, further comprising;

fuel dispenser operation data; and

said at least one fuel dispenser component includes a display for output of fuel dispenser operational data.

20. The remote addressable fuel dispenser system according to claim 1, wherein said wireless input device is a wireless keyboard.

21. The remote addressable fuel dispenser system according to claim 1, wherein said wireless input device is a mouse.

22. The remote addressable fuel dispenser system according to claim 1, wherein said wireless input communication means is a fiber optic connection.

23. A remote addressable fuel dispenser system for fuel dispenser diagnostics and remote telecommunication, comprising:

at least one fuel dispenser component;

a processor means, said processor means in operable communication with said at least one fuel dispenser component, said processor means running dispenser system software;

remote communication means for telecommunication; and

at least one remote facility, said at least one remote facility being operatively configured for communication with said processor means using said remote communication means, at least one of said at least one remote facility being operatively configured to enable the performance of fuel dispensing transaction related tasks and non-fuel dispensing transaction related tasks involving said processor means and the at least one remote facility.

24. The remote addressable fuel dispenser according to claim 23, wherein said at least one remote facility further comprising:

a remote telecommunication device, said remote telecommunication device in operable communication with said processor means by said remote communication means.

25. The remote addressable fuel dispenser according to claim 24 wherein said remote telecommunication device capable of audio and video transmission.

26. The remote addressable fuel dispenser according to claim 25 further comprising:

means for generating assistance information;

said means for generating assistance information being provided via said remote telecommunication device.

27. The remote addressable fuel dispenser according to claim 24 wherein said remote telecommunication device is a remote maintenance source for use during fuel dispenser diagnostics.

28. The remote addressable fuel dispenser according to claim 24 wherein said remote telecommunication device is a remote maintenance source for use during dispenser system software diagnostics.

29. The remote addressable fuel dispenser according to claim 24 wherein said remote telecommunication device is one of a bank server and a bank computer network.

30. The remote addressable fuel dispenser according to claim 24 further comprising:

means for generating assistance information;

said means for generating assistance information being provided via said remote telecommunication device.

31. The remote addressable fuel dispenser according to claim 23 wherein said remote communication means is wireless communication.

32. The remote addressable fuel dispenser according to claim 31, wherein said at least one remote facility further comprising:

a remote telecommunication device, said remote telecommunication device in operable communication with said processor means by said remote communication means.

33. The remote addressable fuel dispenser according to claim 32 wherein said remote telecommunication device is a remote maintenance source for use during fuel dispenser diagnostics.

34. The remote addressable fuel dispenser according to claim 23, further comprising;

fuel dispenser operation data; and

said at least one fuel dispenser component includes a display for output of fuel dispenser operational data.

35. A remote addressable fuel dispenser system for fuel dispenser diagnostics and remote telecommunication, comprising:

at least one fuel dispenser component;

a processor means, said processor means in operable communication with said at least one fuel dispenser component, said processor means running dispenser system software; and

remote communication means for use during fuel dispenser diagnostics, said remote communication means being operatively configured to perform dispenser system diagnostic operations.

36. The remote addressable fuel dispenser according to claim 35, further comprising:

said at least one fuel dispenser component performing at least one fuel dispenser component function; and

said remote communication means is used during diagnostics of said at least one fuel dispenser component function.

37. The remote addressable fuel dispenser according to claim 35, wherein said remote communication means is used during diagnostics of said dispenser system software.

38. The remote addressable fuel dispenser according to claim 35, further comprising;

fuel dispenser operation data; and

said at least one fuel dispenser component includes a display for output of fuel dispenser operational data.

39. A remote addressable fuel dispenser system for fuel dispenser diagnostics and remote telecommunication, comprising:

at least one fuel dispenser component;

a microprocessor, said microprocessor operably connected to said at least one fuel dispenser component, said microprocessor running dispenser system software;

wireless input device, said wireless input device including at least one operational functionality relating to dispenser system diagnostics; and

wireless input communication between said wireless input device and said microprocessor.

40. A remote addressable fuel dispenser system for fuel dispenser diagnostics and remote telecommunication, comprising:

at least one fuel dispenser component;

a microprocessor, said microprocessor in operable communication with said at least one fuel dispenser component, said microprocessor running dispenser system software; and

remote communication means for use during fuel dispenser diagnostics, said remote communication means being operatively configured to perform dispenser system diagnostic operations.

41. A remote addressable fuel dispenser system for fuel dispenser diagnostics and remote telecommunication, comprising:

at least one fuel dispenser component;

a microprocessor, said microprocessor in operable communication with said at least one fuel dispenser component, said microprocessor running dispenser system software;

remote communication for telecommunication; and

at least one remote facility, said at least one remote facility being operatively configured for communication with said microprocessor using said remote communication, at least one of said at least one remote facility being operatively configured to enable the performance of fuel dispensing transaction related tasks and non-fuel dispensing transaction related tasks involving said microprocessor and the at least one remote facility.