Internet capable browser dispenser architecture
First Claim
1. A method of providing an interactive fueling operation comprising:
- providing an interactive graphical user interface at a fixed-location fueling position on a fuel dispenser;
executing a web browser as a thin client on said interactive graphical user interface;
displaying information to a customer at the graphical user interface in response to receipt of a markup language from a server spaced from the fuel dispenser, by delivery over a network;
prompting the customer to select a service with the displayed information;
receiving a response from the customer identifying a selected service to be provided by the server;
transferring the response from the dispenser to the server over the network; and
transmitting the selected service from the server over the network to the fixed-location fueling position based on the customer response at the fixed-location fueling position.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The invention relates to an interactive fuel dispenser system having a plurality of fuel dispensers operating in conjunction with a local server. Each dispenser generally has two fueling positions, each with a graphical user interface through which a customer interacts. In contrast with the recent trend in turning fuel dispensers into super computers, applicants'"'"' provide a dispenser architecture that need only be sufficient to establish interactivity with a server to create multimedia applications and carry out POS functions with a browser interface. Each fueling position acts as a client of a local server at the fuel station store. In the preferred embodiment, each fueling position client also may access remote servers connected to the same network in which the fueling position clients and the local server are connected. Preferably, this network is or is connected to the Worldwide Web of the Internet.
102 Citations
17 Claims
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1. A method of providing an interactive fueling operation comprising:
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providing an interactive graphical user interface at a fixed-location fueling position on a fuel dispenser; executing a web browser as a thin client on said interactive graphical user interface; displaying information to a customer at the graphical user interface in response to receipt of a markup language from a server spaced from the fuel dispenser, by delivery over a network; prompting the customer to select a service with the displayed information; receiving a response from the customer identifying a selected service to be provided by the server; transferring the response from the dispenser to the server over the network; and transmitting the selected service from the server over the network to the fixed-location fueling position based on the customer response at the fixed-location fueling position. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 16)
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8. A method of providing an interactive fueling operation comprising:
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providing an interactive graphical user interface at a fixed-location fueling position on a fuel dispenser; executing a web browser as a thin client on said interactive graphical user interface; displaying information to a customer at the graphical user interface from a data source by interpreting a markup language received from said data source; prompting the customer to select a service with the displayed information; receiving a response from the customer identifying a selected service to be provided; transferring the response from the dispenser; and transmitting the selected service to the fixed-location fueling position based on the customer response at the fixed-location fueling position. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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17. A method of providing an interactive fueling operation comprising:
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providing an interactive graphical user interface at a fixed-location fueling position on a fuel dispenser; executing a web browser as a thin client on said interactive graphical user interface; displaying information to a customer at the graphical user interface in response to receipt of a markup language from a server spaced from the fuel dispenser, by delivery over a network; prompting the customer to select a service with the displayed information; receiving a response from the customer identifying a selected service to be provided by the server; transferring the response from the dispenser to the server over the network; and receiving, at the fixed-location fueling position, the selected service from the server over the network based on the customer response at the fixed-location fueling position.
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Specification