Cash back during dispenser transaction

• US 6,766,949 B2
• Filed: 02/11/2002
• Issued: 07/27/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/29/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Gilbarco Incorporated (Vontier Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Gilbarco Incorporated (Vontier Corp.)
• Inventors: McSpadden, John S., Terranova, Steven N.
• Primary Examiner(s): Frech, Karl D.
• Application Number:
  US10/073,612
• Publication Number:
  US 20020070271A1
• Time in Patent Office: 897 Days
• Field of Search: 235/379, 235/375, 235/380, 235/383, 235/384, 705/26, 705/27, 705/13, 705/42, 705/43
• US Class Current: 235/384
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/18 involving self-service terminals [SST], vending machines, kiosks or multimedia terminals
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/20 Point-of-sale [POS] network systems
• CPC Class Codes: G07D 1/06 dispensing the difference between a sum paid and a sum charged
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 13/025 wherein the volume is determined during delivery
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 19/20 Automatic teller machines [ATMs]
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 19/203 Dispensing operations within ATMs dispensing in general G07D11/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/04 Means for returning surplus or unused coins

Abstract

The present invention provides a system and method allowing customers to conduct a transaction at a fuel dispenser and obtain cash back in association with the transaction at the dispenser or a common terminal in the dispenser forecourt. The system may include a cash dispenser at the fuel dispenser, fueling position, or the central terminal, or, alternatively, a delivery system configured to deliver cash from a central location to the customer at the dispenser, fueling position, or central terminal. During a transaction for purchasing fuel or other products associated with the service station, a customer is provided an opportunity to select an amount of cash to be dispensed or delivered in association with that transaction. Providing a customer the opportunity to receive cash back in association with a dispenser transaction will attract more customers to the station because of convenience as well as provide customers with more disposable cash to spend at the associated quick-serve restaurants and convenience store.

Claims

1. A fuel dispenser for providing cash to a customer in excess of transaction cost, said dispenser comprising:

a fuel delivery system for delivering fuel to a vehicle;

a customer interface including a financial information reader, display, and input device; and

a control system adapted to con fuel delivery and said customer interface;

said control system configured to;

a) receive account information from the customer from said financial information reader for a fueling transaction;

b) effect payment of the fueling transaction and a select cash amount payable to the customer in excess of said fueling transaction on an account; and

c) authorize a select cash amount back payable to the customer;

wherein the customer can request cash back in addition of to said fueling transaction at the dispenser during the fueling transaction.

2. The fuel dispenser of claim 1 wherein said financial information reader is a card reader.

3. The fuel dispenser of claim 1 wherein said financial information reader is a transponder interrogator configured to wirelessly receive the financial information from a transponder.

4. The fuel dispenser of claim 1 further comprising a cash dispenser controlled by said control system and configured to dispense the select cash amount to the customer.

5. The fuel dispenser of claim 1 further comprising a pneumatic delivery receptacle wherein said dispenser control system cooperates with a central delivery system to effect physical transport of the select cash amount to the delivery receptacle.

6. A dispensing system providing cash back to a customer comprising:

at least one fuel dispenser for delivering fuel to a vehicle and having a customer interface for conducting a purchase transaction at the dispenser, allowing the customer to select a cash amount in addition to the purchase transaction, and obtaining financial information from an account necessary for the purchase transaction and authorizing payment of the cash amount to the customer; and

a central control system associated with said at least one dispenser and configured to effect the a purchase transaction of the customer and to authorize received said purchase transaction and customer request for cash back via remote authorization network on said account.

7. The dispensing system of claim 6 further comprising a pneumatic delivery system having a central terminal for loading the select cash amount and a remote terminal at or near said at least one fuel dispenser wherein the select cash amount is delivered from the central terminal to the remote terminal upon authorization.

8. The dispensing system of claim 7 wherein said central terminal is adjacent a point-of-sale terminal associated with said central control system, said point-of-sale terminal configured to allow manual delivery of the select cash amount to the central terminal of the pneumatic delivery system.

9. The dispensing system of claim 7 wherein said central terminal is associated with a cash dispenser configured to place cash in said pneumatic delivery system for delivery to said remote terminal.

10. The dispensing system of claim 7 wherein one said remote terminal is located at each said at least one fuel dispenser.

11. The dispensing system of claim 7 including one said remote terminal in a location near multiple ones of said fuel dispensers wherein the remote terminal is a common terminal providing customers access to cash based on requests from any official fuel dispensers.

12. The dispensing system of claim 6 wherein said at least one fuel dispenser further includes a cash dispenser for dispensing the select cash amount to the customer.

13. The dispensing system of claim 6 wherein one cash dispenser is in a forecourt having multiple ones of said fuel dispensers, said cash dispenser is associated with said control system and configured to dispense said select cash amount after authorization by said central control system.

14. A fuel dispensing system comprising:

a) a central control system associated with a financial authorization system; and

b) a fuel dispenser having;

i. means for receiving financial information sufficient to authorize payment for a transaction and provide cash back to a customer;

ii. a customer interface; and

iii. a dispenser control system configured to receive a select cash amount entered by a customer via said user interface and transfer the financial information to said central control system, which forwards the financial information, select cash amount, and transactional information to the financial authorization system for authorization of a select cash amount and transactional information for accounting.

15. The fuel dispensing system of claim 14 further comprising means to deliver the select cash amount to the customer in the forecourt of a service station containing said fuel dispenser after authorization of the select cash amount.

16. The fuel dispensing system of claim 15 wherein said means to deliver the select cash mount is a cash dispenser in said fuel dispenser.

17. The fuel dispensing system of claim 15 wherein said means to deliver the select cash mount is a stand-alone cash dispenser apart from said fuel dispenser.

18. The fuel dispensing system of claim 17 further comprising means for verifying a customer with a select cash amount at said cash dispenser, wherein a customer must provide verification to said means for verifying before said cash dispenser dispenses the select cash amount.

19. The fuel dispensing system of claim 15 wherein said means to deliver the select cash mount is a pneumatic cash delivery system comprising a pneumatic delivery tube connecting a central terminal and a remote terminal accessible by the customer, said delivery system having a delivery cartridge to carry the select cash amount from said central terminal to said remote terminal.

20. The fuel dispensing system of claim 19 wherein said remote terminal is located in or adjacent said fuel dispenser.

21. The fuel dispensing system of claim 19 wherein said remote terminal is located apart from said fuel dispenser and accessible by customers.

22. The fuel dispensing system of claim 21 further comprising means for verifying a customer with a select cash amount at said remote terminal, wherein a customer must provide verification to said means for verifying before giving access to said select cash amount in said remote terminal.

23. The fuel dispensing system of claim 22 wherein said means for verifying a customer with a select cash amount is a card reader and said control system transfers card information to said remote terminal for verification using card information obtained from the customer at the remote terminal.

24. An energy dispenser for providing cash to a customer in excess of transaction cost, said dispenser comprising:

an energy delivery system for delivering an energy source to a vehicle;

a customer interface including a financial information reader, display, and input device; and

a control system adapted to control energy delivery and said customer interface;

said control system configured to;

a) receive account information from the customer from said financial information reader for an energy transaction;

b) effect payment of the energy transaction and a select cash amount payable to the customer in excess of said fueling transaction on an account; and

c) authorize a select cash amount back payable to the customer;

wherein the customer can authorize cash back in excess of transactional costs at the dispenser during the energy delivery transaction.