Fuel dispensing and retail system for providing customer selected guidelines and limitations

• US 6,882,900 B1
• Filed: 09/27/2000
• Issued: 04/19/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/26/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Gilbarco Incorporated (Vontier Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Gilbarco Incorporated (Vontier Corp.)
• Inventors: Terranova, Steven N.
• Primary Examiner(s): Walsh, Donald P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Butler, Michael E.
• Application Number:
  US09/671,460
• Time in Patent Office: 1,665 Days
• Field of Search: 700/236, 700/242, 700/237, 700/241
• US Class Current: 700/237
• 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: 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 provides a fuel dispensing system for setting transaction parameters in association with a remote communications unit. This system will include wireless or radio communications electronics adapted to receive signals from remote communications units, a transaction interface for carrying out transactions, and a control system and associated memory operating in conjunction with the communications electronics and a transaction interface. The control system is adapted to receive indicia from a remote communications unit and control the transaction at the transaction interface involving the remote communications unit according to predefined parameters associated with the remote communications unit. Any identification indicia and predefined parameters may be stored in the memory in association with the remote communications unit and the control system may be adapted to access these predefined parameters in the memory upon receipt of the identification indicia and control the transaction accordingly. Alternatively, the predefined parameters may be transmitted directly from the remote communications unit to the communications electronics and control system. The predefined parameters may limit a transaction to a select type or grade of fuel, a select type or amount of a product or service, as well as limiting or preventing the purchase of certain products or services. Notably, the control system may include a dispenser control system, a central site control system, a control system associated with a remote network, or a combination thereof.

Claims

1. A system for providing a predefined parameter defining a transaction guideline or limitation in association with a customer'"'"'s remote communication unit comprising:

a) wireless communication electronics adapted to receive signals including indicia from a remote communication unit associated with the customer, said wireless communication electronics positioned inside a cabinet of a fuel dispenser;

b) a transaction interface for carryout of transactions initiated by the customer;

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

d) said control system adapted to receive said indicia from said remote communication unit in response to an interrogation initiated by said control system and control a transaction at said transaction interface involving said remote communication unit according to the customer'"'"'s redefined parameter defining a transaction guideline or limitation associated with said remote communication unit,

wherein said customer'"'"'s predefined parameter defining a transaction guideline or limitation limits a transaction to a select type of fuel to be dispensed from the fuel dispenser.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein said control system includes a dispenser control system located within the fuel dispenser.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein said control system includes a central site control system located apart from the fuel dispenser.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein said wireless communication electronics are integrated into a face of the fuel dispenser.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein said wireless communication electronics are secured to a front face of the fuel dispenser.

6. A system for providing a predefined parameter defining a transaction guideline or limitation in association with a customer'"'"'s remote communication unit comprising:

a) wireless communication electronics adapted to receive signals including indicia from a remote communication unit associated with the customer, said wireless communication electronics positioned within a cabinet of a fuel dispenser;

b) a transaction interface for carryout of transactions initiated by the customer;

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

d) said control system adapted to receive said indicia from said remote communication unit in response to an interrogation initiated by said control system and control a transaction at said transaction interface involving said parameter defining a transaction guideline or limitation associated with said remote communication unit;

wherein said customer'"'"'s predefined parameter defining a transaction guideline or limitation limits a transaction to a select grade of fuel.

7. An interrogation system associated with a fuel dispensing system for enforcing a predefined parameter defining a transaction guideline or limitation associated with a customer'"'"'s remote communication unit, said system comprising:

a) a customer transaction interface associated with an interrogator for communicating with a remote communication unit associated with the customer; and

b) a control system and memory associated with said interrogator;

said control system adapted to interrogate said remote communication unit with said interrogator during a transaction and control said transaction according to the customer'"'"'s predefined parameter defining a transaction guideline or limitation associated with said remote communication unit;

c) said interrogator positioned within a cabinet of said fuel dispenser.

8. The system of claim 7 wherein said predefined parameter defining a transaction guideline or limitation is stored in said memory in association with the interrogated remote communication unit and said control system is adapted to access said predefined parameters and control the transaction accordingly.

9. The system of claim 7 wherein the predefined parameter defining a transaction guideline or limitation is transmitted to the control system through said interrogator from said remote communication unit and said control system is adapted to receive the predefined parameters and control the transaction according to the predefined parameters.

10. The system of claim 7 wherein said control system includes a dispenser control system in a fuel dispenser including said customer transaction interface.

11. The system of claim 7 wherein said control system further includes a central site control system located apart from said fuel dispenser.

12. The system of claim 7 wherein said interrogator is integrated into a face of the fuel dispenser.

13. The system of claim 7 wherein said interrogator is secured to a front face of the fuel dispenser.

14. A system for providing a predefined parameter defining a transaction guideline or limitation in association with a customer'"'"'s remote communication unit comprising:

a) wireless communication electronics adapted to receive signals including indicia from a remote communication unit associated with the customer, said wireless communication electronics positioned above a fuel dispenser;

b) a transaction interface for carryout of transactions initiated by the customer;

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

e) said control system adapted to receive said indicia from said remote communication unit in response to an interrogation initiated by said control system and control a transaction at said transaction interface involving said remote communication unit according to the customer'"'"'s predefined parameter defining a transaction guideline or limitation associated with said remote communication unit,

wherein said customer'"'"'s predefined parameter defining a transaction guideline or limitation limits a transaction to a select type of fuel to be dispensed from the fuel dispenser.