Collective payment and control system
First Claim
1. A collective payment and control system for use at a service station comprising:
- a primary dispenser at the service station for dispensing at least a primary product, said primary dispenser retaining inventory information indicating the amount of primary product at said primary dispenser;
a secondary dispenser at the service station for dispensing at least a secondary product, said secondary dispenser connected to said primary dispenser, said secondary dispenser retaining inventory information indicating the amount of secondary product at said secondary dispenser;
a primary processor included in said primary dispenser to control the primary and secondary dispensers to respectively dispense the primary and secondary product in response to an input from the customer;
a local controller at the service station connected to at least one of said primary dispenser and said secondary dispenser; and
a central controller remote from the service station and connected to the local controller, said central controller receiving the inventory information about at least one of said primary and secondary dispensers directly from one of the primary dispenser, the secondary dispenser, or via the local controller, and dispensing primary or secondary product to the service station based upon the inventory information.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A collective payment and control system has a variety of self-service devices that dispense different types of goods. The system has a primary dispenser such as a self-service fuel pump and a secondary dispenser such as a self-service vending machine. A customer enters a charge card into one of the dispensers, usually the primary dispenser. Once the card is validated, the primary dispenser together with secondary dispenser(s) associated with the primary dispenser, are activated. Products that are available to purchase from either the primary dispenser or the associated secondary dispensers are displayed to the customer at the primary and/or secondary dispenser. The customer then selects any of the displayed products either directly from the primary dispenser or from each of the primary and/or secondary dispensers. The cost for the selected products are then totaled by the primary dispenser and a single payment transaction is made, such as by a credit/debit charge. Alternatively, the cost can be totaled by a separate controller interface. A timeout feature is provided, and the system also allows for remote inventory assessment and pricing. The inventory assessment or stocking request can be transmitted to a remotely-located central facility.
96 Citations
37 Claims
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1. A collective payment and control system for use at a service station comprising:
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a primary dispenser at the service station for dispensing at least a primary product, said primary dispenser retaining inventory information indicating the amount of primary product at said primary dispenser;
a secondary dispenser at the service station for dispensing at least a secondary product, said secondary dispenser connected to said primary dispenser, said secondary dispenser retaining inventory information indicating the amount of secondary product at said secondary dispenser;
a primary processor included in said primary dispenser to control the primary and secondary dispensers to respectively dispense the primary and secondary product in response to an input from the customer;
a local controller at the service station connected to at least one of said primary dispenser and said secondary dispenser; and
a central controller remote from the service station and connected to the local controller, said central controller receiving the inventory information about at least one of said primary and secondary dispensers directly from one of the primary dispenser, the secondary dispenser, or via the local controller, and dispensing primary or secondary product to the service station based upon the inventory information. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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9. A collective payment and control system for use at a service station comprising:
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a primary dispenser at the service station for dispensing at least a primary products said primary dispenser retaining inventory information indicating the amount of primary product at said primary dispenser;
a secondary dispenser at the service station for dispensing at least a secondary product, said secondary dispenser connected to said primary dispenser, said secondary dispenser retaining inventory information indicating the amount of secondary product at said secondary dispenser;
a primary processor included in said primary dispenser to control the primary and secondary dispensers to respectively dispense the primary and secondary product in response to an input from the customer; and
a local controller connected to at least one of said primary and secondary dispensers, said local controller receiving inventory information about at least one of said primary and secondary dispensers and requesting primary or secondary product to be delivered to the service station based upon the inventory information. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 34)
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17. A method of collective payment and control of a primary and secondary dispenser that respectively dispense a primary and secondary product, the method comprising:
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displaying information about the secondary product to the customer at the primary dispenser;
receiving a customer input at the primary dispenser;
determining inventory information for the secondary dispenser that indicates an amount of secondary product at the secondary dispenser;
establishing a price for the secondary product based upon the determined inventory information; and
,controlling, at the primary dispenser, operation of the secondary dispenser in response to the customer'"'"'s input. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 33)
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32. A collective payment and control system comprising:
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a primary dispenser for dispensing at least a primary product;
a secondary dispenser for dispensing at least a secondary product;
a primary processor included in said primary dispenser to control the primary and secondary dispensers to respectively dispense the primary and secondary product in response to an input from the customer; and
,a secondary processor included in said secondary dispenser to control the secondary and primary dispensers to respectively dispense the primary and secondary product in response to input from the customer.
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35. A collective payment and control system for use at a service station comprising:
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a primary dispenser at the service station for dispensing at least a primary product, said primary dispenser generating a service request signal;
a secondary dispenser at the service station for dispensing at least a secondary product, said secondary dispenser connected to said primary dispenser, said secondary dispenser generating a service request signal; and
,a controller in communication with at least one of said primary and secondary dispensers, said controller receiving the service request signal from at least one of said primary and secondary dispensers and requesting service for the service station based upon the received service request signal. - View Dependent Claims (36, 37)
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Specification