System and method for operating one or more fuel dispensers
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method of operating a fuel dispenser, the method comprising:
- identifying at least one characteristic specific to a customer of the fuel dispenser; and
executing one or more marketing routines;
wherein at least one of the one or more marketing routines is at least partially dependent upon the at least one characteristic specific to the customer of the fuel dispenser.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method for operating one or more fuel dispensers is described.
176 Citations
16 Claims
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1. A method of operating a fuel dispenser, the method comprising:
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identifying at least one characteristic specific to a customer of the fuel dispenser; and
executing one or more marketing routines;
wherein at least one of the one or more marketing routines is at least partially dependent upon the at least one characteristic specific to the customer of the fuel dispenser.
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2. A method of operating a fuel dispenser, the method comprising:
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identifying at least one characteristic specific to a customer of the fuel dispenser;
transmitting the at least one characteristic to a remote location;
permitting the customer to dispense fuel from the fuel dispenser; and
executing one or more marketing routines;
wherein at least one of the one or more marketing routines is at least partially dependent upon the at least one characteristic specific to the customer of the fuel dispenser; and
wherein executing one or more marketing routines comprises;
executing a first marketing routine before permitting the customer to dispense fuel from the fuel dispenser, wherein executing the first marketing routine comprises;
determining the availability of a promotion rule;
determining the promotion rule if the promotion rule is available wherein determining the promotion rule comprises looking up a loyalty promotion code in a loyalty promotion table wherein the loyalty promotion table is downloaded from the remote location;
determining the availability of a first reward to the customer in response to determining the availability of a promotion rule and determining the promotion rule;
determining the first reward if the first reward is available; and
providing the first reward to the customer if the first reward is available;
executing a second marketing routine after permitting the customer to dispense fuel from the fuel dispenser, wherein executing the second marketing routine comprises communicating one or more marketing messages to the customer; and
executing a third marketing routine after permitting the customer to dispense fuel from the fuel dispenser, wherein executing the third marketing routine comprises;
communicating at least one message to the customer regarding the providing of the first reward if the first reward is available;
determining the availability of a second reward;
determining the second reward if the second reward is available;
providing the second reward to the customer if the second reward is available; and
soliciting data from the customer.
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3. A system comprising:
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a host computer;
one or more point-of-sale units in communication with the host computer via a network, each of the one or more point-of-sale units adapted to be operably coupled to one or more fuel dispensers; and
a computer readable medium operably coupled to the host computer, the computer readable medium comprising a database stored therein, the database comprising a loyalty promotion table;
wherein at least a portion of the operation of the one or more fuel dispensers is adapted to be at least partially dependent upon the loyalty promotion table.
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4. A system comprising:
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a host computer;
one or more point-of-sale units in communication with the host computer via a network, each of the one or more point-of-sale units adapted to be operably coupled to one or more fuel dispensers; and
a computer readable medium operably coupled to the host computer, the computer readable medium comprising a database stored therein, the database comprising a loyalty promotion table adapted to be downloaded to the one or more point-of-sale units via the host computer and the network;
wherein each of the one or more point-of-sale units comprises;
a processor; and
a memory accessible to the processor for storing the loyalty promotion table and for storing instructions executable by the processor, the instructions comprising;
instructions for identifying at least one characteristic specific to a customer of the corresponding fuel dispenser;
instructions for permitting the customer to dispense fuel from the fuel dispenser; and
instructions for executing one or more marketing routines, comprising;
instructions for executing a first marketing routine before executing the permitting instructions, wherein the instructions for executing the first marketing routine comprise instructions for;
determining the availability of a promotion rule;
determining the promotion rule if the promotion rule is available;
determining the availability of a first reward to the customer in response to determining the availability of a promotion rule and determining the promotion rule;
determining the first reward if the first reward is available; and
providing the first reward to the customer if the first reward is available;
instructions for executing a second marketing routine after executing the permitting instructions, wherein the instructions for executing the second marketing routine comprise instructions for communicating one or more marketing messages to the customer; and
instructions for executing a third marketing routine after,executing the permitting instructions, wherein the instructions for executing the third marketing routine comprise instructions for;
determining the availability of a second reward;
determining the second reward if the second reward is available;
providing the second reward to the customer if the second reward is available; and
soliciting data from the customer.
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5. A computer readable medium comprising a plurality of instructions stored therein for operating a fuel dispenser, the instructions comprising:
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instructions for identifying at least one characteristic specific to a customer of the fuel dispenser; and
instructions for executing one or more marketing routines;
wherein at least one of the one or more marketing routines is at least partially dependent upon the at least one characteristic specific to the customer of the fuel dispenser.
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6. A computer readable medium comprising a plurality of instructions stored therein for operating a fuel dispenser, the instructions comprising:
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instructions for identifying at least one characteristic specific to a customer of the fuel dispenser;
instructions for permitting the customer to dispense fuel from the fuel dispenser;
instructions for executing one or more marketing routines;
wherein at least one of the one or more marketing routines is at least partially dependent upon the at least one characteristic specific to the customer of the fuel dispenser; and
wherein the instructions for executing one or more marketing routines comprise;
instructions for executing a first marketing routine before executing the permitting instructions, wherein the instructions for executing the first marketing routine comprise;
instructions for determining the availability of a promotion rule;
instructions for determining the promotion rule if the promotion rule is available wherein the instructions for determining the promotion rule comprise;
instructions for looking up a loyalty promotion code in a loyalty promotion table; and
instructions for determining a group discount associated with the loyalty promotion code;
instructions for determining the availability of a first reward to the customer in response to determining the availability of a promotion rule and determining the promotion rule;
instructions for determining the first reward if the first reward is available; and
instructions for providing the first reward to the customer if the first reward is available;
instructions for executing a second marketing routine after executing the permitting instructions, wherein the instructions for executing the second marketing routine comprise instructions for communicating one or more marketing messages to the customer; and
instructions for executing a third marketing routine after executing the permitting instructions, wherein the instructions for executing the third marketing routine comprise;
instructions for determining the availability of a second reward;
instructions for determining the second reward if the second reward is available; and
instructions for providing the second reward to the customer if the second reward is available.
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7. A database stored in a computer readable medium and accessible to a device in communication with a fuel dispenser, the database comprising a loyalty promotion table comprising one or more records, each record comprising a discount-type field for identifying a type of reward to apply to a customer of the fuel dispenser;
- and at least one reward-criteria field for determining whether the reward is available to the customer of the fuel dispenser.
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8. A database stored in a computer readable medium and accessible to a processor in communication with a fuel dispenser, the database comprising a loyalty promotion table comprising one or more records, each record comprising a discount-type field for identifying a type of reward to apply to a customer of the fuel dispenser;
- at least one reward-criteria field for determining whether the reward is available to the customer of the fuel dispenser;
at least one message-slot field for indicating a time period during which at least one of the marketing messages are to be communicated;
at least one message-slot field for indicating a time period during which at least one of the marketing messages are to be communicated wherein the time period is selected from the group consisting of a time period before the customer is permitted to dispense fuel from the fuel dispenser; and
a time period after the customer is permitted to dispense fuel from the fuel dispenser;
a solicit-prompt field for prompting the customer to provide one type of data; and
a discount-amount field for indicating the value of the reward to apply;
wherein the processor and the computer readable medium are components of a point-of-sale unit and the loyalty promotion table is adapted to be downloaded via a network to the computer readable medium for storage therein at one or more predetermined times;
wherein, for operating the fuel dispenser, the processor accesses the loyalty promotion table and executes instructions stored in the computer readable medium; and
wherein the at least one criteria field is selected from the group consisting of a date/time field for defining the active time period during which the reward is available to the customer of the fuel dispenser;
a where-applies field for specifying a location to which the reward applies;
a payment-type field for restricting the reward to one or more payment types;
a required-purchase-department-code field for indicating a product or service that the customer must purchase; and
a required-minimum-purchase-type field for specifying a minimum quantity of a product that the customer must purchase.
- at least one reward-criteria field for determining whether the reward is available to the customer of the fuel dispenser;
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9. A system for operating a fuel dispenser, the system comprising:
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means for identifying at least one characteristic specific to a customer of the fuel dispenser; and
means for executing one or more marketing routines;
wherein at least one of the one or more marketing routines is at least partially dependent upon the at least one characteristic specific to the customer of the fuel dispenser.
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10. A system for operating a fuel dispenser, the system comprising:
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means for identifying at least one characteristic specific to a customer of the fuel dispenser;
means for transmitting the at least one characteristic to a remote location;
means for permitting the customer to dispense fuel from the fuel dispenser;
means for executing one or more marketing routines;
wherein at least one of the one or more marketing routines is at least partially dependent upon the at least one characteristic specific to the customer of the fuel dispenser; and
wherein means for executing one or more marketing routines comprises;
means for executing a first marketing routine before permitting the customer to dispense fuel from the fuel dispenser, wherein means for executing the first marketing routine comprises;
means for determining the availability of a promotion rule;
means for determining the promotion rule if the promotion rule is available wherein means for determining the promotion rule comprises means for looking up a loyalty promotion code in a loyalty promotion table wherein the loyalty promotion table is downloaded from the remote location;
means for determining the availability of a first reward to the customer in response to determining the availability of a promotion rule and determining the promotion rule;
means for determining the first reward if the first reward is available; and
means for providing the first reward to the customer if the first reward is available;
means for executing a second marketing routine after permitting the customer to dispense fuel from the fuel dispenser, wherein means for executing the second marketing routine comprises means for communicating one or more marketing messages to the customer; and
means for executing a third marketing routine after permitting the customer to dispense fuel from the fuel dispenser, wherein means for executing the third marketing routine comprises;
means for communicating at least one message to the customer regarding the providing of the first reward if the first reward is available;
means for determining the availability of a second reward;
means for determining the second reward if the second reward is available;
means for providing the second reward to the customer if the second reward is available; and
means for soliciting data from the customer.
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11. A method comprising:
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identifying at least one characteristic specific to a customer of a device operably coupled to a point-of-sale unit; and
executing one or more marketing routines using the point-of-sale unit;
wherein at least one of the one or more marketing routines is at least partially dependent upon the at least one characteristic specific to the customer.
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12. A method comprising:
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identifying at least one characteristic specific to a customer of a device operably coupled to a point-of-sale unit; and
executing one or more marketing routines using the point-of-sale unit;
wherein at least one of the one or more marketing routines is at least partially dependent upon the at least one characteristic specific to the customer;
wherein the device is selected from the group consisting of a keyboard, a card reader, a pin pad, a computer, a scanner, a fuel dispenser and a kiosk;
wherein the at least one characteristic is selected from the group consisting of an area in which the device is located, a payment type used by the customer, a product type desired by the customer, a loyalty identifier used by the customer and data specific to the customer;
wherein the point-of-sale unit is in communication with a host computer via a network;
wherein a computer readable medium is operably coupled to the host computer, the computer readable medium comprising a loyalty promotion table stored therein; and
wherein the method further comprises;
downloading the loyalty promotion table to the point-of-sale unit via the host computer and the network at one or more predetermined times;
wherein executing one or more marketing routines using the point-of-sale unit comprises;
executing one or more marketing routines using the loyalty promotion table, comprising at least one of;
executing one or more marketing routines to reward the customer with one or more rewards, at least one of the one or more rewards being at least partially dependent upon the at least one characteristic specific to the customer;
executing one or more marketing routines to communicate one or more marketing messages to the customer, at least one of the one or more marketing messages being at least partially dependent upon the at least one characteristic specific to the customer; and
executing one or more marketing routines to solicit data from the customer, at least a portion of the solicited data being at least partially dependent upon the at least one characteristic specific to the customer.
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13. A computer readable medium comprising a plurality of instructions stored therein, the instructions comprising:
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instructions for identifying at least one characteristic specific to a customer of a device operably coupled to a point-of-sale unit; and
instructions for executing one or more marketing routines using the point-of-sale unit;
wherein at least one of the one or more marketing routines is at least partially dependent upon the at least one characteristic specific to the customer.
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14. A computer readable medium comprising a plurality of instructions stored therein, the instructions comprising:
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instructions for identifying at least one characteristic specific to a customer of a device operably coupled to a point-of-sale unit; and
instructions for executing one or more marketing routines using the point-of-sale unit;
wherein at least one of the one or more marketing routines is at least partially dependent upon the at least one characteristic specific to the customer;
wherein the device is selected from the group consisting of a keyboard, a card reader, a pin pad, a computer, a scanner, a fuel dispenser and a kiosk;
wherein the at least one characteristic is selected from the group consisting of an area in which the device is located, a payment type used by the customer, a product type desired by the customer, a loyalty identifier used by the customer and data specific to the customer;
wherein the point-of-sale unit is in communication with a host computer via a network, the computer readable medium being adapted to be operably coupled to the host computer;
wherein the computer readable medium further comprises a loyalty promotion table stored therein and instructions for downloading the loyalty promotion table to the point-of-sale unit via the host computer and the network at one or more predetermined times; and
wherein the instructions for executing one or more marketing routines using the point-of-sale unit comprise;
instructions for executing one or more marketing routines using the loyalty promotion table, comprising at least one of;
instructions for executing one or more marketing routines to reward the customer with one or more rewards, at least one of the one or more rewards being at least partially dependent upon the at least one characteristic specific to the customer;
instructions for executing one or more marketing routines to communicate one or more marketing messages to the customer, at least one of the one or more marketing messages being at least partially dependent upon the at least one characteristic specific to the customer; and
instructions for executing one or more marketing routines to solicit data from the customer, at least a portion of the solicited data being at least partially dependent upon the at least one characteristic specific to the customer.
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15. A system comprising:
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means for identifying at least one characteristic specific to a customer of a device operably coupled to a point-of-sale unit; and
means for executing one or more marketing routines using the point-of-sale unit;
wherein at least one of the one or more marketing routines is at least partially dependent upon the at least one characteristic specific to the customer.
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16. A system comprising:
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means for identifying at least one characteristic specific to a customer of a device operably coupled to a point-of-sale unit; and
means for executing one or more marketing routines using the point-of-sale unit;
wherein at least one of the one or more marketing routines is at least partially dependent upon the at least one characteristic specific to the customer;
wherein the device is selected from the group consisting of a keyboard, a card reader, a pin pad, a computer, a scanner, a fuel dispenser and a kiosk;
wherein the at least one characteristic is selected from the group consisting of an area in which the device is located, a payment type used by the customer, a product type desired by the customer, a loyalty identifier used by the customer and data specific to the customer;
wherein the point-of-sale unit is in communication with a host computer via a network;
wherein a computer readable medium is operably coupled to the host computer, the computer readable medium comprising a loyalty promotion table stored therein;
wherein the system further comprises;
means for downloading the loyalty promotion table to the point-of-sale unit via the host computer and the network at one or more predetermined times; and
wherein means for executing one or more marketing routines using the point-of-sale unit comprises;
means for executing one or more marketing routines using the loyalty promotion table, comprising at least one of;
means for executing one or more marketing routines to reward the customer with one or more rewards, at least one of the one or more rewards being at least partially dependent upon the at least one characteristic specific to the customer;
means for executing one or more marketing routines to communicate one or more marketing messages to the customer, at least one of the one or more marketing messages being at least partially dependent upon the at least one characteristic specific to the customer; and
means for executing one or more marketing routines to solicit data from the customer, at least a portion of the solicited data being at least partially dependent upon the at least one characteristic specific to the customer.
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Specification