System and method for automatically adjusting merchandise pricing at a service-oriented interface terminal based upon the quantity of users present at the terminal

• US 6,968,325 B2
• Filed: 01/29/2001
• Issued: 11/22/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 01/29/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Smith, Gordon James
• Primary Examiner(s): Hayes, John W.
• Assistant Examiner(s): NELSON, FREDA ANN
• Application Number:
  US09/772,261
• Publication Number:
  US 20020103769A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,758 Days
• Field of Search: 705/26, 705/37, 705/14
• US Class Current: 705/400
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0225 Avoiding frauds
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0238 at point-of-sale [POS]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0283 Price estimation or determination
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/04 Trading; Exchange, e.g. stocks, commodities, derivatives or currency exchange

Abstract

A business method prompts users of electronic payment cards and automatically adjusts automobile fuel pricing based upon the number of passengers in a vehicle at a refueling station. When the driver stops to refuel the vehicle, the system prompts the driver to insert a payment card to pay for the fuel. If there are other passengers in the vehicle, they too are prompted to insert their cards to indicate that they are riding with the driver. The system is provided with numerous protocols for ensuring that the system is not inappropriately circumvented. For example, the system can verify that the additional cards are not from other patrons at the same service center, or that the additional cards are not from other family members of the purchasing card holder. After all cards have been read and verified, the reduced price of the fuel is displayed and the fuel is dispensed.

Claims

1. A computer implemented method of automatically pricing fuel during a remote point of purchase action at a refueling facility, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) receiving a purchase option selection from a purchaser, said selection including a first fuel price, during a transaction at the refueling facility, said purchase option selection being received at a terminal of a computer-controlled fuel dispensing device of said refueling facility;

(b) receiving an indication of any passengers accompanying the purchaser in a vehicle;

(c) automatically calculating a second fuel price based upon a quantity of said any passengers indicated in step (b), wherein the second fuel price is lower than the first fuel price when there is at least one passenger accompanying the purchaser, said automatically calculating step being performed by a computer controlling said computer-controlled fuel dispensing device;

(d) responsive to step (c) permitting the purchaser to purchase fuel at the second fuel price from said computer-controlled fuel dispensing device; and

(e) wherein steps (a) and (b) require the purchaser and each of said any passengers to enter information with a data storage device.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein step (a) requires the purchaser to enter information with a data storage device.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein step (c) comprises inversely relating the second fuel price to the quantity of said any passengers.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of verifying each of the purchaser and said any passengers with a personal identification code.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of auditing the refueling facility to confirm that the second fuel price is an appropriate price.

6. A computer implemented method of automatically pricing fuel during a remote point of purchase action at a refueling facility, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) receiving information at a terminal of a computer-controlled fuel dispensing device at the refueling facility from a personal data storage device issued to a purchaser;

(b) receiving a purchase option selection from the purchaser, said selection including a first fuel price, said selection being received at said terminal;

(c) receiving information with respect to any passengers accompanying the purchaser in a vehicle at the terminal from a respective personal data storage device issued to each of the passengers;

(d) automatically calculating a second fuel price based upon a quantity of total passengers indicated by step (c), wherein the second fuel price is lower than the first fuel price when there is at least one passenger accompanying the purchaser, said automatically calculating step being performed by a computer controlling said computer-controlled fuel dispensing device; and

(e) responsive to step (d), permitting the purchaser to purchase fuel at the second fuel price from said computer-controlled fuel dispensing device.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein step (d) comprises inversely relating the second fuel price to the quantity of total passengers.

8. The method of claim 6, further comprising the step of verifying each of the purchaser and said any passengers with a personal identification code.

9. The method of claim 6, further comprising the step of auditing the refueling facility to confirm that the second fuel price is an appropriate price.