In dispenser point-of-sale module for fuel dispensers

• US 7,624,042 B2
• Filed: 04/10/2003
• Issued: 11/24/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 04/10/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Wayne Fueling Systems LLC (Dover Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Dresser Incorporated (Nagano Keiki Company Limited)
• Inventors: Blanchard, David K., Negley, Scott R. III
• Primary Examiner(s): Zeender; F.
• Assistant Examiner(s): THEIN, MARIA TERESA T
• Application Number:
  US10/411,524
• Publication Number:
  US 20040204999A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,420 Days
• Field of Search: 700/231, 700/232, 705/26, 705/27
• US Class Current: 705/16
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 7/348 by interrogating an information transmitter, e.g. a transponder B67D7/145 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/12 specially adapted for electronic shopping systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/18 involving self-service terminals [SST], vending machines, kiosks or multimedia terminals
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/202 Interconnection or interaction of plural electronic cash registers [ECR] or to host computer, e.g. network details, transfer of information from host to ECR or from ECR to ECR
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/42 Confirmation, e.g. check or permission by the legal debtor of payment
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0635 Processing of requisition or of purchase orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/06 Energy or water supply
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 13/025 wherein the volume is determined during delivery
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/023 Arrangements for display, data presentation or advertising
• CPC Class Codes: G07G 1/12 electronically operated digital data processing aspects G06Q20/00

Abstract

A fuel dispenser including a dispenser manager for controlling electronic functions of a fuel dispenser, display, user interface and controller are coupled to the dispenser manager. The controller controls fuel dispensing components of the fuel dispenser coupled to the dispenser manager. A point-of-sale module is associated with the dispenser manager for providing point-of-sale functionalities within the fuel dispenser.

Claims

1. A fuel dispenser, comprising:

a dispenser manager for controlling electronic functions of the fuel dispenser;

a display coupled to the dispenser manager;

a user interface coupled to the dispenser manager;

a dispenser computer controlling sale and pump control functions coupled to the dispenser manager;

the fuel dispenser operable to allow a credit-card transaction for payment of a fuel-dispensing request while the fuel dispenser is in communication with external transaction-card processing equipment; and

a point-of-sale module within the fuel dispenser, the point-of sale module associated with the dispenser manager and operable to authorize, using locally stored rules for authorization of credit cards, a credit-card transaction for payment of a fuel-dispensing request during at least a portion of a period of time of loss of communication with external transaction-card processing equipment and transmit, to the external transaction-card processing equipment, information associated with the authorized credit-card transaction after reconnection of the fuel dispenser with the external transaction-card processing equipment, wherein the point-of-sale module remains in an idle state when the fuel dispenser has a connection to an external point-of-sale link and becomes active responsive to disconnection of the external point-of-sale link.

2. The fuel dispenser of claim 1, wherein the point-of-sale module does not require the external point-of-sale link for operation.

3. The fuel dispenser of claim 1, wherein the point-of-sale module returns to the idle state responsive to reconnection of the external point-of-sale link.

4. The fuel dispenser of claim 1, wherein the point-of-sale module operates in full time state.

5. The fuel dispenser of claim 1, further including at least one database accessible by the point-of-sale module including point-of-sale data.

6. The fuel dispenser of claim 5, wherein the point-of-sale data comprises URLs.

7. The fuel dispenser of claim 5, wherein the point-of-sale data comprises display content consisting of customer instructional prompts, fueling status information, and advertisements.

8. The fuel dispenser of claim 5, wherein the point-of-sale data comprises Business Rules.

9. The fuel dispenser of claim 5 wherein the point-of-sale data comprises fuel prices, tender media authorization information, and pump operational rules.

10. The fuel dispenser of claim 5, wherein the point-of-sale data comprises completed transaction and error logs.

11. The fuel dispenser of claim 1, wherein the dispenser manager communicates with external devices using at least one of XML over a TCP/IP link or PNA wireless.

12. The fuel dispenser of claim 1, wherein the user interface further includes a bezel control.

13. The fuel dispenser of claim 1, wherein the user interface comprises a video display and soft keys.

14. The fuel dispenser of claim 1, wherein the user interface comprises a touchscreen.

15. A fuel dispenser, comprising:

a dispenser manager for controlling electronic functions of the fuel dispenser;

a display coupled to the dispenser manager;

a bezel control coupled to the dispenser manager;

a dispenser computer for sale and pump control function of the fuel dispenser coupled to the dispenser manager;

the fuel dispenser operable to allow a credit-card transaction for payment of a fuel-dispensing request while the fuel dispenser is in communication with external transaction-card processing equipment;

a point-of-sale module within the fuel dispenser, the point-of-sale module associated with the dispenser manager and operable to authorize, using locally stored rules for authorization of credit cards, a credit-card transaction for payment of a fuel-dispensing request during at least a portion of a period of time of loss of communication with external transaction-card processing equipment and transmit, to the external transaction-card processing equipment, information associated with the authorized credit-card transaction after reconnection of the fuel dispenser with the external transaction-card processing equipment, wherein the point-of sale module remains in an idle state when the fuel dispenser has a connection to an external point-of sale link and becomes active responsive to disconnection of the external point-of sale link; and

at least one database within the fuel dispenser accessible by the module including the credit-card transaction data.

16. The fuel dispenser of claim 15, wherein the point-of-sale module does not require the external point-of sale link for operation.

17. The fuel dispenser of claim 15, wherein the point-of-sale data comprises URLs.

18. The fuel dispenser of claim 15, wherein the point-of-sale date comprises display content consisting of customer instructional prompts, fueling status information, and advertisements.

19. The fuel dispenser of claim 15, wherein the point-of-sale data comprises Business Rules.

20. The fuel dispenser of claim 19 wherein the point-of-sale data comprises fuel prices, tender media authorization information, and pump operational rules.

21. The fuel dispenser of claim 15, wherein the point-of-sale data comprises completed transaction and error logs.

22. The fuel dispenser of claim 15 wherein the dispenser manager communicates with external devices using at least one of XML over a TCP/IP link or PNA wireless.