Internet capable browser dispenser architecture
First Claim
1. A fuel dispensing system in a fuel dispensing environment, comprising:
- a local server located in a central location in the fuel dispensing environment;
a. fuel delivery hardware including a fuel supply line, metering device, and an outlet hose with a nozzle for delivering fuel to a vehicle;
b. a display;
c. an input device coupled to a control system; and
d. a network interface coupled to said local server;
said control system controls fuel delivery via said fuel delivery hardware and runs a web browser on said display to display a web page in the form of a markup language received via said network interface from said local server in response to a customer selection received via said input device, wherein said control system in each of said plurality of fuel dispensers, while running said browser, is further adapted to automatically request markup language content via said network interface and use said markup language content to control a function of the fuel dispenser.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
The invention relates to an interactive fuel dispenser system having a plurality of fuel dispensers operating in conjunction with a local server. Each dispenser generally has two fueling positions, each with a graphical user interface through which a customer interacts. In contrast with the recent trend in turning fuel dispensers into super computers, applicants'"'"' provide a dispenser architecture that need only be sufficient to establish interactivity with a server to create multimedia applications and carry out POS functions with a browser interface. Each fueling position acts as a client of a local server at the fuel station store. In the preferred embodiment, each fueling position client also may access remote servers connected to the same network in which the fueling position clients and the local server are connected. Preferably, this network is or is connected to the Worldwide Web of the Internet.
59 Citations
14 Claims
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1. A fuel dispensing system in a fuel dispensing environment, comprising:
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a local server located in a central location in the fuel dispensing environment;
a. fuel delivery hardware including a fuel supply line, metering device, and an outlet hose with a nozzle for delivering fuel to a vehicle;
b. a display;
c. an input device coupled to a control system; and
d. a network interface coupled to said local server;
said control system controls fuel delivery via said fuel delivery hardware and runs a web browser on said display to display a web page in the form of a markup language received via said network interface from said local server in response to a customer selection received via said input device, wherein said control system in each of said plurality of fuel dispensers, while running said browser, is further adapted to automatically request markup language content via said network interface and use said markup language content to control a function of the fuel dispenser. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method of displaying a web page at a fuel dispenser in a fueling environment, comprising the steps of:
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controlling fuel delivery at the fuel dispenser using a control system;
running a web browser on a display at the fuel dispenser acting as a thin client;
displaying a web page on said display received via a network interface coupled to a centralized local server in the fuel environment using a markup language in response to a customer selection received via an input device coupled to said control system; and
requesting automatically markup language content via said network interface and using said markup language content to control a function of the fuel dispenser. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14)
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Specification