Fuel dispensing system for cash customers

• US 7,289,877 B2
• Filed: 09/12/2001
• Issued: 10/30/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/26/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Gilbarco Incorporated (Vontier Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Gilbarco Incorporated (Vontier Corp.)
• Inventors: Wilson, Amy Hetz
• Primary Examiner(s): Mackey; Patrick
• Assistant Examiner(s): BUTLER, MICHAEL E
• Application Number:
  US09/952,437
• Publication Number:
  US 20020062174A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,239 Days
• Field of Search: 700/232, 700/237, 705/14, 705/26
• US Class Current: 700/232
• 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 to provide a fuel dispensing system for enhancing cash transactions wherein the system 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 the customer. The receiver operates in conjunction with the control system to retrieve the identification indicia from the remote communications unit. A cash transaction indicator is provided in association with the control system and adapted to signal the control system that a cash transaction is taking place. The control system will provide customer related information associated with the identification indicia when a cash transaction is indicated. The system may also include a transmitter associated with the control system and adapted to transmit the customer related information to the remote communications unit associated with the customer. Alternatively, the control system may include memory for storing the customer related information in association with the identification indicia. The related information may correspond directly to customer change resulting from a cash transaction wherein the change is determined by the control system during the transaction. In addition to storing credit for change based on a cash transaction, loyalty points may be provided and stored on or in association with the transponder. Preferably, the cash transaction indicator is located at the dispenser and is selectable by the customer at the beginning of the transaction. The cash transaction indicator may also be activated by an operator of the system upon determining the customer is using cash for the transaction. Typically, the cash transaction indicator resulting from an operator input is located at a terminal within the fuel station store.

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; and

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,

wherein a cash transaction is a transaction accomplished using paper or coin currency.

2. The fuel dispensing system of claim 1 further including a transmitter operatively associated with said control system and adapted to transmit the customer related information to the remote communications unit associated with the customer.

3. The fuel dispensing system of claim 1 wherein said control system includes memory for storing the customer related information in association with the identification indicia.

4. The fuel dispensing system of claim 3 wherein said control system operates to store said customer transaction information in said memory.

5. The fuel dispensing system of claim 1 wherein the remote communications unit associated with the customer is vehicle mounted.

6. The fuel dispensing system of claim 1 wherein the remote communications unit associated with the customer is portable and capable of beiń

g carried by the customer.

7. The fuel dispensing system of claim 1 wherein said control system includes a dispenser controller.

8. The fuel dispensing system of claim 1 wherein said control system is associated with a transmitter for transmitting signals to the remote communications unit, said control system operating to transmit said customer related information to the remote communications unit for storing via said transmitter.

9. The fuel dispensing system of claim 1 wherein said cash transaction indicator is located apart from said dispenser at a transaction terminal.

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 a customer interface;

c) said interrogator adapted to communicate with a remote communications unit associated with a customer to retrieve identification indicia therefrom;

d) said customer interface adapted to provide a cash transaction input for the customer to select a cash transaction associated with a contemporaneous fueling transaction; and

e) said control system adapted to operate in conjunction with a the remote communications unit to create customer information and associate the identification indicia with the customer information when a cash transaction corresponding to the contemporaneous fueling transaction is selected.

11. The fuel dispenser system of claim 10 wherein the customer information is transmitted to the remote communications unit by said interrogator.

12. The fuel dispenser system of claim 10 wherein the customer information is sent to the remote control system for storage.

13. The fuel dispenser system of claim 10 wherein the customer information is sent to a remote host network for storage.