Fuel dispensing and retail system for providing a shadow ledger

• US 6,263,319 B1
• Filed: 09/14/1998
• Issued: 07/17/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 09/26/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Gilbarco Incorporated (Vontier Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Masconi Commerce Systems Incorporated
• Inventors: Leatherman, Russel Dean
• Primary Examiner(s): COSIMANO, EDWARD R
• Application Number:
  US09/152,533
• Time in Patent Office: 1,037 Days
• Field of Search: 700/231, 700/232, 700/236, 700/241, 705/1, 705/16, 705/17, 705/30, 705/34, 705/400, 705/413
• US Class Current: 705/30
• 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 20/20 Point-of-sale [POS] network systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/204 comprising interface for record bearing medium or carrier for electronic funds transfer or payment credit
• 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 30/0283 Price estimation or determination
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/12 Accounting
• 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 7/02 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 provides a communication system for creating a shadow ledger for a remote communications unit. The system includes communications electronics adapted to provide radio communication with remote communications units, which are capable of maintaining an independent ledger of transaction history. A control system and associated memory are provided to operate in conjunction with the communications electronics. The memory contains a shadow ledger of transaction history related to the independent ledger of transaction history stored on a remote communications unit. The memory may be integrated with the control system or located apart from the control system in any variety of locations, including a remote network accessible by the control system. The control system is adapted to receive remote ledger information from the remote communications unit relating to the independent ledger, compare corresponding information on the shadow ledger with the remote ledger information, and update the shadow ledger if the information is different from the information of the independent ledger. Notably, the control system may be provided in a fuel dispenser, a central control system, the fuel station store, at a remote network, or any combination thereof. The ledger may be kept at a central control system, at a local network for localized transaction tracking, or at a remote network for more regional or national transaction tracking.

Claims

1. A communication system for creating a shadow ledger for a remote communication unit, the system comprising:

a) communication electronics adapted to provide radio communication with remote communication units, which are capable of maintaining an independent ledger of transaction history;

b) a control system and memory associated with said communication electronics, said memory containing a shadow ledger of transaction history related to the independent ledger of transaction history of a remote communication unit; and

c) said control system adapted to receive remote ledger information from the remote communication unit relating to said independent ledger, compare corresponding shadow ledger information on said shadow ledger with the remote ledger information and update said shadow ledger information if said shadow ledger information is different from said independent ledger information.

2. The communication system of claim 1 wherein said memory relates a unique shadow ledger with a unique remote communication unit identification indicia, said control system adapted to receive a the identification indicia from the remote communication unit through said communication electronics and update the unique shadow ledger accordingly.

3. The communication system of claim 1 wherein said communication electronics is substantially located in a fuel dispenser capable of delivering fuel and having a customer interface for ordering products in addition to fuel.

4. The communication system of claim 1 wherein said communication electronics includes an interrogator adapted to interrogate the remote communication units.

5. The communication system of claim 4 wherein the remote communication units are transponders adapted to respond to interrogation signals from said interrogator.

6. The communication system of claim 3 wherein said control system includes a dispenser control system located within said fuel dispenser.

7. The communication system of claim 1 wherein said control system includes a dispenser control system located within a fuel dispenser.

8. The communication system of claim 7 wherein said control system includes a central site control system located apart from said fuel dispenser.

9. The communication system of claim 1 wherein said control system is connected to a network having said memory containing said shadow ledger.

10. The communication system of claim 9 wherein said network is a remote network located substantially apart from said communication electronics.

11. The communication system of claim 9 wherein said network is a local network.

12. The communication system of claim 1 further comprising a transaction interface associated with said control system for carrying out current transactions associated with the remote communication units, said control system adapted to transmit current transaction information relating to the current transactions to the associated remote communication unit through the communication electronics wherein the remote communication unit will update the remote ledger accordingly.

13. The communication system of claim 12 wherein said control system is adapted to update said shadow ledger with the current transaction information.

14. The communication system of claim 12 wherein said control system is adapted to compare and update the shadow ledger after transmitting the current transaction information to the remote communications unit wherein the ledger information will contain certain of the current transaction information.

15. A fuel dispensing system for maintaining a shadow ledger for a remote communication unit, said system comprising:

a) wireless communication electronics including a receiver for receiving signals from remote communication units, the communication units capable of maintaining an independent ledger of transaction history;

b) a control system operating in association with said communication electronics and adapted to receive signals from the remote communication units; and

c) a memory having shadow ledgers for maintaining transaction histories of the remote communication units;

d) said control system adapted to receive a signals from one of the remote communication units including identification indicia and information from the independent ledger, select a corresponding shadow ledger based on the identification indicia, compare corresponding information from the shadow ledger and update the shadow ledger with certain of the information from the independent ledger if the corresponding information from the shadow ledger is different from the information from the independent ledger;

e) wherein said system provides said shadow ledger for remote communication units separate from the remote communication units and updates the shadow ledger as necessary during periods of communication.

16. The communication system of claim 15 wherein said memory is maintained at a central control system at a fuel station store.

17. The communication system of claim 15 wherein said communication electronics includes an interrogator adapted to interrogate the remote communication units.

18. The communication system of claim 17 wherein the remote communication units are transponders adapted to respond to interrogation signals from said interrogator.

19. The communication system of claim 15 wherein said control system is connected to a network having said memory containing said shadow ledger.

20. The communication system of claim 19 wherein said network is a remote network located substantially apart from said communication electronics.

21. The communication system of claim 19 wherein said network is a local network.

22. The communication system of claim 15 further comprising a transaction interface associated with said control system for carrying out current transactions associated with the remote communication units, said control system adapted to transmit current transaction information relating to the current transactions to a corresponding one of the remote communication units through the communication electronics wherein the remote communication unit will update the independent ledger accordingly.

23. The communication system of claim 22 wherein said control system is adapted to update said shadow ledger with the current transaction information.

24. The communication system of claim 22 wherein said control system is adapted to compare and update the shadow ledger after transmitting the current transaction information to the remote communications unit wherein the ledger information will contain certain of the current transaction information.

25. A method for maintaining a shadow ledger for remote communication units comprising:

a) receiving remote transaction history information from an independent ledger on a remote communication unit at communication electronics associated with a transaction interface,

b) comparing shadow ledger information corresponding to the transaction history information from a shadow ledger kept separate from the independent ledger with the transaction history information from the independent ledger; and

c) updating the shadow ledger information if the shadow ledger information is different from said transaction history information of the independent ledger.

26. A method for maintaining a shadow ledger for remote communication units comprising:

a) receiving signals including identification indicia and transaction history information from the independent ledger of a remote communication unit,

b) selecting a corresponding shadow ledger based on the identification indicia,

c) comparing corresponding information from the shadow ledger, and

d) updating the shadow ledger with certain of the information from the independent ledger if the corresponding information from the shadow ledger is different from the information from the independent ledger,

e) wherein a shadow ledger for remote communication units is maintained separate from the remote communication unit and updated as necessary during periods of communication.

27. The method of claim 26 further comprising the step of transmitting current transaction information relating to a current transaction to the remote communication unit wherein the remote communication unit updates the independent ledger accordingly.

28. The method of claim 27 wherein further comprising the step of updating the shadow ledger with the current transaction information.

29. The method of claim 27 wherein the steps of comparing and updating take place after transmitting the current transaction information to the remote communications unit so that the independent ledger information will contain certain of the current transaction information.