Fuel dispensing system for cash customers

• US 20020107608A1
• Filed: 01/10/2001
• Published: 08/08/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 09/26/1997
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gilbarco Incorporated (Vontier Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Gilbarco Incorporated (Vontier Corp.)
• Inventors: Wilson, Amy Hetz
• Granted Patent: US 7,020,541 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/223
• 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 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; and

b) a cash transaction indicator associated with said control system and adapted to signal said control system of a cash transaction; and

c) said control system providing customer related information associated with the identification indicia when a cash transaction is indicated by said cash transaction indicator.

2. The 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 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 dispensing system of claim 1 wherein said customer related information corresponds to customer change resulting from a cash transaction, said control system adapted to determine the change for the transaction.

5. The dispensing system of claim 4 wherein said control system is adapted to apply loyalty benefits for the customer transaction.

6. The dispensing system of claim 4 wherein said control system is adapted to apply a previous credit for increasing the change for the customer transaction.

7. The dispensing system of claim 1 wherein said customer related information corresponds to loyalty benefits based on at least one customer transaction, said control system adapted to determine said loyalty benefits accordingly.

8. The dispensing system of claim 7 wherein said loyalty benefits are based on a prior customer transaction.

9. The dispensing system of claim 7 wherein said loyalty benefits are based on a current customer transaction.

10. The dispensing system of claim 1 wherein said cash transaction indicator is located on said dispenser and is actuated by a customer when a cash transaction is desired.

11. The dispensing system of claim 10 wherein said fuel dispenser includes a cash acceptor operatively associated with said cash transaction indicator for conducting the cash transaction.

12. The dispensing system of claim 10 wherein said control system is operatively associated with a transaction terminal apart from said fuel dispenser for conducting the cash transaction.

13. The dispensing system of claim 1 wherein said cash transaction indicator is located at a transaction terminal apart from said dispenser and is actuated when a customer desires a cash transaction.

14. The dispensing system of claim 11 wherein said transaction terminal is a point-of-sale terminal in a fuel station store operatively associated with said dispenser.

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

16. The dispensing system of claim 1 wherein the remote communications unit associated with the customer is portable and capable of being carried by the customer.

17. The dispensing system of claim 1 wherein said control system includes a dispenser controller and a central controller located apart from said dispenser.

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

19. The dispensing system of claim 1 wherein said control system includes a central controller located apart from said dispenser.

21. The dispensing system of claim 1 wherein said customer transaction information includes a credit relating to change in a cash transaction.

22. The dispensing system of claim 1 wherein said customer transaction information includes a loyalty benefits relating to a cash transaction.

23. The dispensing system of claim 1 wherein said control systems operate to store said customer transaction information in said memory.

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

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

26. The dispensing system of claim 1 wherein said cash transaction indicator is located at said dispenser at a transaction terminal.

27. The dispensing system of claim 26 wherein said cash transaction indicator is a customer actuatable keypad on said dispenser.

28. The dispensing system of claim 26 wherein said cash transaction indicator is associated with a cash acceptor on the dispenser, said cash transaction indicator indicating a cash transaction when a customer inserts cash in said cash acceptor.

30. The method of claim 1 further comprising storing the loyalty benefit.

31. The method of claim 30 wherein the storing step includes transmitting the loyalty benefits to the remote communications unit corresponding to the identification indicia.

32. The method of claim 30 wherein the storing step includes storing the loyalty benefits in a control system associated with the fueling environment.

33. The method of claim 32 wherein the storing step includes storing the loyalty benefits at a host network remote from the fueling environment.

35. The method of claim 34 wherein the storing step includes transmitting the credit to the remote communications unit corresponding to the identification indicia.

36. The method of claim 34 wherein the storing step includes storing the loyalty benefits in a control system associated with the fueling environment.

37. The method of claim 36 wherein the storing step includes storing the loyalty benefits at a host network remote from the fueling environment.

39. The fuel dispenser system of claim 1 wherein the customer information relates to the change due the customer as a result of the cash transaction.

40. The fuel dispenser system of claim 1 wherein the customer information relates to loyalty benefits based on a transaction.

41. The fuel dispenser system of claim 1 wherein the customer information is transmitted to the remote communications unit by said interrogator.

42. The fuel dispenser system of claim 1 wherein the customer information is sent to the remote control system for storage.

43. The fuel dispenser system of claim 1 wherein the customer information is sent to a remote host network for storage.

44. The fuel dispenser system of claim 1 wherein said fuel dispenser includes a cash acceptor associated with said dispenser control system for receiving cash payment, said dispenser control system adapted to determine a change amount for the transaction.

45. The fuel dispenser system of claim 44 wherein the change amount is transmitted to the remote communications unit.

46. The fuel dispenser system of claim 44 wherein the change amount is sent to the remote control system.

48. The transaction system of claim 47 wherein said customer information is a loyalty benefit based on a transaction.

49. The transaction system of claim 47 wherein said customer information relates to a credit for change resulting from the cash transaction.

20. A fuel dispensing system for enhancing cash transactions comprising:

a) a fuel dispenser including a dispenser 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 central control system operatively associated with and located apart from the dispenser control system;

c) a cash transaction indicator associated with said control systems and adapted to signal said control system of a cash transaction; and

d) said control systems having associated memory and operating to provide a customer transaction information and associate the customer transaction information with the identification indicia when a cash transaction is indicated by said cash transaction indicator.

29. A method of enhancing cash transactions in a fueling environment comprising:

a) receiving identification indicia from a remote communications unit associated with a customer;

b) determining the customer with the associated remote communications unit is conducting a cash transaction; and

c) providing a loyalty benefit for the customer.

34. A method of enhancing cash transactions in a fueling environment comprising:

a) receiving identification indicia from a remote communications unit associated with a customer;

b) determining the customer with the associated remote communications unit is conducting a cash transaction;

c) calculating a credit for the change resulting from the cash transaction; and

d) storing the credit for future use by the customer.

38. 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 adopted to provide a customer interface;

c) said interrogator adapted to communicate with a remote communications unit associated with a customer;

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

e) said control system adapted to operate in conjunction with a remote communication unit to provide customer information associated with the remote communications unit said interrogator communicates with when a cash transaction is selected.

47. A transaction system for enhancing cash transactions comprising:

a) a transaction terminal;

b) communication electronics operatively associated with said transaction terminal and adapted to communicate with a remote communications unit associated with a customer;

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

d) said transaction terminal having a cash transaction input for indicating a cash transaction; and

e) said control system generating customer information corresponding to the remote communications unit in remote communication with said interrogator for a cash transaction when said cash transaction input is actuated.