Loyalty rewards for cash customers at a fuel dispensing system

• US 6,813,609 B2
• Filed: 12/15/2000
• Issued: 11/02/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/26/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Gilbarco Incorporated (Vontier Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Gilbarco Incorporated (Vontier Corp.)
• Inventors: Wilson, Amy Hetz
• Primary Examiner(s): JANVIER, JEAN D
• Application Number:
  US09/737,876
• Publication Number:
  US 20030200008A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,418 Days
• Field of Search: 705/14, 235/380, 235/381, 235/383, 235/451
• US Class Current: 705/14.27
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 7/067 using communication means
• 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: G06Q 20/343 Cards including a counter
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/346 Cards serving only as information carrier of service
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0226 Incentive systems for frequent usage, e.g. frequent flyer miles programs or point systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0236 Incentive or reward received by requiring registration or ID from user
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0238 at point-of-sale [POS]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0251 Targeted advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0277 Online advertisement
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/008 communicating information to a remotely located station transmission systems for measured values G08C
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/0858 wherein the data carrier is removable
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 13/025 wherein the volume is determined during delivery
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/00 Mechanisms actuated by objects other than coins to free or to actuate vending, hiring, coin or paper currency dispensing or refunding apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/02 by keys or other credit registering devices
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/1008 Active credit-cards provided with means to personalise their use, e.g. with PIN-introduction/comparison system

Abstract

The present invention is a fuel dispensing system for enhancing cash transactions, which includes a fuel dispenser associated with a control system and a receiver adapted to receive signals, including identification indicia from a remote communications unit associated with a customer when a cash transaction is indicated. A cash transaction indicator is adapted to signal the control system that a cash transaction is taking place, and may be selectable by the customer or an operator of the system at the beginning of the transaction. The system may also include a transmitter adapted to transmit the customer-related information to the remote communication unit associated with the customer, or may include memory for storing the customer-related information in associatior with the identification indicia. The system may store credit for change based on a cash transaction, or may provide and store loyalty points on or in association with a transponder.

Claims

1. A fuel dispensing system for enhancing cash transactions that occur as part of a fueling transaction comprising:

a) a fuel dispenser associated with a control system and a receiver adapted to receive signals including identification indicia from a remote communications unit associated with a customer, said receiver operatively associated with said control system to enable said control system to retrieve the identification indicia;

b) a cash transaction indicator associated with said control system and adapted to signal said control system of a cash transaction corresponding with the fueling transaction;

c) said control system adapted to create customer related information and associate the customer related information with the identification indicia received from said remote communications unit in response to a cash transaction being indicated by said cash transaction indicator;

d) said customer related information corresponds to customer change resulting from the cash transaction corresponding with the fueling transaction, said control system adapted to determine the change for the transaction; and

e) said control system is adapted to apply loyalty benefits for the customer transaction.

2. A fuel dispensing system for enhancing cash transactions that occur as part of a fueling transaction comprising:

a) a fuel dispenser associated with a control system and a receiver adapted to receive signals including identification indicia from a remote communications unit associated with a customer, said receiver operatively associated with said control system to enable said control system to retrieve the identification indicia;

b) a cash transaction indicator associated with said control system and adapted to signal said control system of a cash transaction corresponding with the fueling transaction;

c) said control system adapted to create customer related information and associate the customer related information with the identification indicia received from said remote communications unit in response to a cash transaction being indicated by said cash transaction indicator; and

d) said customer related information corresponds to loyalty benefits on at last one customer transaction, said control system adapted to determine said loyalty benefits accordingly.

3. The dispensing system of claim 2 wherein said loyalty benefits are based on a prior customer transaction.

4. The dispensing system of claim 2 wherein said loyalty benefits are based on a current customer transaction.

5. A fuel dispensing system for enhancing cash transactions that occur as part of a fueling transaction comprising:

a) a fuel dispenser including a dispenser control system and a receiver adapted to receive signals including identification indicia from a remote communications unit associated with a customer, said receiver operatively associated with said control system to enable said control system to retrieve the identification indicia;

b) a central control system operatively associated with and located apart from the dispenser control system;

c) a cash transaction indicator associated with said control systems and adapted to signal said control system of a cash transaction corresponding with the fueling transaction;

d) said control systems having associated memory and operating to provide a customer transaction information and associate the customer transaction information with identification indicia when a cash transaction is indicated by said cash transaction indicator; and

e) said customer transaction information includes loyalty benefits relating to a cash transaction.

6. A method of enhancing cash transactions in a fueling environment comprising:

a) receiving identification indicia from a remote communications unit associated with a customer;

b) determining the customer with the associated remote communications unit is conducting a cash transaction associated with a contemporaneous fueling transaction;

c) providing a loyalty benefit for the customer based on the contemporaneous fueling transaction; and

d) storing the loyalty benefit.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the storing step includes transmitting the loyalty benefits to the remote communications unit corresponding to the identification indicia.

8. The method of claim 6 wherein the storing step includes storing the loyalty benefits in a control system associated with the fueling environment.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the storing step includes storing the loyalty benefits at a host network remote from the fueling environment.

10. A fuel dispenser system comprising:

a) a customer input device, display, and interrogator operatively associated with a dispenser control system;

b) said customer input device and display adapted to provide customer interface;

c) said interrogator adapted to communicate with a remote communications unit associated with a customer;

d) said customer interface adapted to provide a cash transaction input for the customer to select a cash transaction during a fueling transaction;

e) said control system adapted to operate in conjunction with a remote communication unit to provide customer information associated with the remote communications unit when a cash transaction corresponding to the fueling transaction is selected; and

f) said customer information relates to loyalty benefits based on a transaction.

11. A transaction system for enhancing cash transactions comprising:

a) a transaction terminal;

b) communication electronics operatively associated with said transaction terminal and adapted to communicate with a remote communications unit associated with a customer said communications electronics operative during a contemporaneous fueling transaction;

c) a control system associated with said transaction terminal and said communication electronics;

d) said transaction terminal having a cash transaction input for indicating a cash transaction corresponding to the contemporaneous fueling transaction; and

e) said control system generating customer information corresponding to the remote communications unit in remote communication with said communication electronics for a cash transaction when said cash transaction input is actuated as part of the fueling transaction, said customer information is a loyalty benefit based on a transaction.

12. The transaction system of claim 11 wherein said customer information further relates to a credit for change resulting from the cash transaction.