Multiple browser interface

• US 7,280,087 B2
• Filed: 04/23/2001
• Issued: 10/09/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 04/23/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Gilbarco Incorporated (Vontier Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Gilbarco Incorporated (Vontier Corp.)
• Inventors: Williams, Rodger, Gentry, Kenneth H. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Mackey; Patrick
• Assistant Examiner(s): SHAPIRO, JEFFERY A
• Application Number:
  US09/840,469
• Publication Number:
  US 20020156835A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,360 Days
• Field of Search: 345/760, 345/733, 345/740, 345/771, 345/1.1, 345/211, 709/203
• US Class Current: 345/1.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising

Abstract

The present invention provides a display controller driving multiple browser displays, which are associated with user input devices. Preferably, the display controller runs a browser application for each display and receives input from each user input device. Primary control for the browser applications is provided by a control application located remotely from the display controller. The user input is forwarded to the control application, which will process the user input and provide instructions to the corresponding browser application to request content from a web server application. The control application may also provide instructions unrelated to the user input to control any one or all of the browser applications.

Claims

1. A system for providing a multiple browser interface comprising:

a) a plurality of displays with associated input devices; and

b) a display controller associated with said plurality of displays, said display controller comprising;

i) communication electronics for communicating with a server running a control application; and

ii) a control system associated with said communication electronics and adapted to;

1) run browser applications for each of said plurality of displays;

2) receive input from each of said associated input devices and provide the input to the control application; and

3) receive instructions for said browser applications from the control application; and

wherein said display controller is further assigned one Internet Protocol (IP) address and each of the browser applications is assigned a unique port associated with the IP address.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein said plurality of displays and said display controller are mounted to a fuel dispenser.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein each of said plurality of displays is positioned to face opposing fueling positions.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein said plurality of displays and said display controller are mounted to a kiosk.

5. The system of claim 1 further comprising the server, wherein the server is remote from said display controller and adapted to run said control application.

6. The system of claim 5 wherein the server is further adapted to run a web server application configured to provide content to the browser applications of the display controller.

7. The system of claim 5 wherein said control application is adapted to process the input and provide certain of the instructions for a corresponding one of the browser applications.

8. The system of claim 5 wherein said control application is adapted to provide certain of the instructions for a corresponding one of the browser applications based on events or instructions unrelated to the input.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein, for each of said browser applications, said control system is further adapted to provide a request for content from a web server based on the instructions;

receive the content in response to the request for content; and

display the content on a corresponding one of said plurality of displays.

10. The system of claim 1 wherein said associated input devices include keys on at least one of said plurality of displays.

11. The system of claim 1 wherein said associated input devices include a touch screen configuration for at least one of said plurality of displays.

12. A system for providing a multiple browser interface comprising:

a) a plurality of displays with associated input devices; and

b) a display controller associated with said plurality of displays, said display controller comprising;

i) communication electronics for communicating with a server running a control application; and

ii) a control system associated with said communication electronicS and adapted to;

1) run browser applications for each of said plurality of displays;

2) receive input from each of said associated input devices and provide the input to the control application; and

3) receive instructions for said browser applications from the control application;

said display controller further assigned one Internet Protocol (IP) address and each of the browser applications is assigned a unique port associated with the IP address; and

wherein said communication electronics are wireless communication electronics adapted to provide wireless communications with the server.

21. The system of claim 12 wherein said plurality of displays and said display controller are associated with a kiosk.

22. The system of claim 12 further comprising the server, wherein the server is remote from said display controller and is adapted to run said control application.

23. The system of claim 22 wherein the server is further adapted to run a web server application configured to provide content to the browser applications of the display controller.

24. The system of claim 22 wherein said control application is adapted to provide certain of the instructions for a corresponding one of the browser applications based on events or instructions unrelated to the input.

25. The system of claim 12 wherein, for each of said browser applications, said control system is further adapted to:

provide a request for content from a web server based on the instructions;

receive the content in response to the request for content; and

display the content on a corresponding one of said plurality of displays.

26. The system of claim 12 wherein said input devices include keys on at least one of said plurality of displays.

13. A method of supporting multiple browsers comprising:

running browser applications for each of a plurality of displays associated with input devices at a first location with a single display controller;

assigning one Internet Protocol (IP) address to the single display controller associated with the plurality of displays;

assigning a unique port associated with the IP address to each of the browser applications;

receiving input from each of the input devices;

sending the input to a control application at a second location; and

receiving instructions for said browser applications from the control application.

14. The method of claim 13 further comprising:

a) providing a request for content from a web server based on the instructions;

b) receiving the content in response to the request for content; and

c) displaying the content on a corresponding one of the plurality of displays.

15. The method of claim 13 further comprising running a web server application at the second location to provide content to the browser applications.

16. The method of claim 13 further comprising using the control application to process the input and provide certain of the instructions for a corresponding one of the browser applications.

17. The method of claim 13 further comprising using the control application to provide certain of the instructions for a corresponding one of the browser applications based on events or instructions unrelated to the input.

18. The method of claim 13 further comprising effecting control of a peripheral at the first location with instructions from the second location.

19. A system for supporting a multiple browser controller comprising:

a) communication electronics for communicating with the multiple browser controller; and

b) a control system associated with said communication electronics and adapted to;

i) receive user input sent from the multiple browser controller having a unique Internet Protocol (IP) address; and

ii) send instructions for browser applications running on the multiple browser controller based on the user input;

iii) receive a request from one of the browser applications corresponding to the instructions;

iv) send content to the multiple browser controller for display by the one of the browser applications, wherein the content sent to the multiple browser controller is addressed to a particular browser application by way of a unique port address associated with the unique IP address; and

v) send a command to a printer peripheral associated with the particular browser application to print coupons.

20. The system of claim 19 wherein said control system is adapted to provide certain of the instructions for the one of the browser applications based on events or instructions unrelated to the input.