Fuel dispenser/operator intercom system

Claim 1

An apparatus for installation in a retail setting for selling fuel and other products ordered by a customer interacting with an operator, comprising: a. at least two fuel positions for dispensing fuel, each said position having: i. a video display for displaying information to the customer, ii. a first microphone to capture the voice of the customer, iii. a first speaker to reproduce the voice of the operator, iv. a signaling device actuable to permit the customer to signal to the operator that the customer wishes to place an order for fast food items by interfacing with an operator, v. a payment receiver for receiving payment from the customer, and vi. a menu for displaying fast food items to customers, vii. each said position configured to provide a complete fuel transaction at said position without operator intervention when fast food items are not ordered, b. a fast food ordering apparatus located apart from said fueling positions at an operators' work station including: i. an order-entry data terminal for receiving operator-keyed data about products ordered by a customer from any one of said positions of said fuel dispenser, ii. a video control system including, video switching circuitry having first and second inputs, said video control system further including a digital logic dependent output adapted for carrying the chosen signal to a selected position of said fuel dispenser, an operator selection device having input adapted for outputting a selection signal to trigger which said fueling position will receive audio and video signals from said fast food ordering apparatus, and logic circuitry connected to said video switching circuitry to ensure only one of said video displays, located at one said position, is served by the audio and visual signals of said fast food ordering apparatus at one time, iii. a camera at said data terminal and connected to said video control system at said first input, iv. a second microphone positioned to capture the voice of the operator during a transaction and connected to said video control system at said second input, v. a second speaker connected to said first microphone in said fuel dispenser to reproduce the voice of the customer during a transaction, and vi. an indicator at said operator's workstation adapted for receiving the signal from said signaling device at fueling position and for identifying from which fueling position the signal originates, c. a fuel dispensing and payment receiving processing site controller linked to said fueling positions and to said fast food ordering apparatus to receive cost information, said fuel dispensing and payment receiving processing site controller adapted to receive cost information concerning the products ordered by the customer, including total sale cost information, to said fueling position for dislay on said video display so that the customer may pay for the products and fuel in the same transaction through said payment receiver; and d. wherein each said fueling position is configured to provide audio and video of the operator to place a fast food item order when said signaling device is activated in addition to carrying out a fueling transaction.

Claim 2

An apparatus for installation in a retail setting for selling fuel and other products ordered by a customer interacting with an operator, comprising: a. at least two fuel positions for dispensing fuel, each said position having: i. a video display for displaying information to the customer, ii. a first microphone to capture the voice of the customer, iii. a first speaker to reproduce the voice of the operator, iv. a signaling device actuable to permit the customer to signal to the operator that the customer wishes to place an order for fast food items by interfacing with an operator, v. a payment receiver for receiving payment from the customer, and vi. a menu for displaying fast food items to customers, vii. each said position configured to provide a complete fuel transaction at said position without operator intervention when fast food items are not ordered, b. a fast food ordering apparatus located apart from said fueling positions at an operators' work station including: i. an order-entry data terminal for receiving operator-keyed data about products ordered by a customer from any one of said positions of said fuel dispenser, ii. a video control system including, video switching circuitry having first and second inputs, said video control system further including a digital logic dependent output adapted for carrying the chosen signal to a selected position of said fuel dispenser, an operator selection device having input adapted for outputting a selection signal to trigger which said fueling position will receive audio and video signals from said fast food ordering apparatus, and logic circuitry connected to said video switching circuitry to ensure only one of said video displays, located at one said position, is served by the audio and visual signals of said fast food ordering apparatus at one time, iii. a camera at said data terminal and connected to said video control system at said first input, iv. a second microphone positioned to capture the voice of the operator during a transaction and connected to said video control system at said second input, v. a second speaker connected to said first microphone in said fuel dispenser to reproduce the voice of the customer during a transaction, and vi. an indicator at said operator's workstation adapted for receiving the signal from said signaling device at fueling position and for identifying from which fueling position the signal originates, c. a fuel dispensing and payment receiving processing site controller linked to said fueling positions and to said fast food ordering apparatus to receive cost information, said fuel dispensing and payment receiving processing site controller adapted to receive cost information concerning the products ordered by the customer, including total sale cost information, to said fueling position for dislay on said video display so that the customer may pay for the products and fuel in the same transaction through said payment receiver; and d. wherein each said fueling position is configured to provide audio and video of the operator to place a fast food item order when said signaling device is activated in addition to carrying out a fueling transaction.

Claim 5

An apparatus for installation in a retail setting for selling fuel and fast food items ordered by a customer interacting with an operator, comprising: a. a fuel dispenser housing including: i. fuel dispensing and measuring apparatus, ii. a video display for displaying information to the customer, iii. a first microphone to capture the voice of the customer, iv. a first speaker to reproduce the voice of the operator, v. a signalling device actuable to permit the customer to signal to the operator that the customer wishes to place an order for fast food items by interfacing with an operator, and vi. a customer interface configured to provide a complete fuel transaction at said housing without operator intervention when fast food items are not ordered, b. a fast food ordering apparatus located apart from said housing including: i. a data terminal for receiving operator-keyed data about products ordered by a customer at said housing, ii. a camera to be oriented to capture an image of the operator during a transaction and linked to the video display in the fuel dispenser, iii. a second microphone to be positioned to capture the voice of the operator during a transaction and linked to the first speaker in the fuel dispenser, iv. a second speaker linked to the first microphone in the fuel dispenser to reproduce the voice of the customer during a transaction, v. an indicator linked to the signalling device to indicate to the operator that the customer wishes to order other products, and vi. a video control system linked to the video display to control video images displayed on the video display, and c. a site controller linked to the fuel dispenser and to the fast food ordering apparatus to receive cost information concerning fast food ordered by the customer and communicating received cost information to said fuel dispenser so that the customer may pay for other products as well as dispensed fuel, wherein said apparatus is configured to provide audio and video of the operator at the video display to place a fast food item order when said signalling device is activated in addition to carrying out a fueling transaction.

Claim 6

An apparatus for installation in a retail setting for selling fuel and fast food items ordered by a customer interacting with an operator, comprising: a. a fuel dispenser housing including: i. fuel dispensing and measuring apparatus, ii. a video display for displaying information to the customer, iii. a first microphone to capture the voice of the customer, iv. a first speaker to reproduce the voice of the operator, v. a signalling device actuable to permit the customer to signal to the operator that the customer wishes to place an order for fast food items by interfacing with an operator, and vi. a customer interface configured to provide a complete fuel transaction at said housing without operator intervention when fast food items are not ordered, b. a fast food ordering apparatus located apart from said housing including: i. a data terminal for receiving operator-keyed data about products ordered by a customer at said housing, ii. a camera to be oriented to capture an image of the operator during a transaction and linked to the video display in the fuel dispenser, iii. a second microphone to be positioned to capture the voice of the operator during a transaction and linked to the first speaker in the fuel dispenser, iv. a second speaker linked to the first microphone in the fuel dispenser to reproduce the voice of the customer during a transaction, v. an indicator linked to the signalling device to indicate to the operator that the customer wishes to order other products, and vi. a video control system linked to the video display to control video images displayed on the video display, and c. a site controller linked to the fuel dispenser and to the fast food ordering apparatus to receive cost information concerning fast food ordered by the customer and communicating received cost information to said fuel dispenser so that the customer may pay for other products as well as dispensed fuel, wherein said apparatus is configured to provide audio and video of the operator at the video display to place a fast food item order when said signalling device is activated in addition to carrying out a fueling transaction.

Claim 21

A method of arranging for sale and payment for fuel and fast food products in a single transaction, comprising the steps of: providing a fuel dispenser housing having fuel dispensing and measuring apparatus, a video display for displaying information to the customer, a first microphone to capture the voice of the customer, a first speaker to reproduce the voice of the operator, a camera to provide video of a fast food operator on the video display when fast food ordering is initiated, a signalling device actuable to permit the customer to signal to the operator that the customer wishes to place an order for other products, and a payment receiver for receiving payment from the customer; dispensing fuel through the fuel dispensing and measuring apparatus; monitoring the cost of fuel dispensed; signalling a store operator from a signalling device located at the fuel dispenser when fast food ordering is desired; responding to the signal from the signalling device by the video display and the first speaker; transmitting product order data requested by the customer from the first microphone to a fast food ordering location; registering the order data received from the customer on an order-entry data terminal; transmitting product order cost data from the remote product ordering location to the video display of the fuel dispenser; and receiving payment for the fuel and fast food from the customer through the payment receiver.

Claim 22

A method of arranging for sale and payment for fuel and fast food products in a single transaction, comprising the steps of: providing a fuel dispenser housing having fuel dispensing and measuring apparatus, a video display for displaying information to the customer, a first microphone to capture the voice of the customer, a first speaker to reproduce the voice of the operator, a camera to provide video of a fast food operator on the video display when fast food ordering is initiated, a signalling device actuable to permit the customer to signal to the operator that the customer wishes to place an order for other products, and a payment receiver for receiving payment from the customer; dispensing fuel through the fuel dispensing and measuring apparatus; monitoring the cost of fuel dispensed; signalling a store operator from a signalling device located at the fuel dispenser when fast food ordering is desired; responding to the signal from the signalling device by the video display and the first speaker; transmitting product order data requested by the customer from the first microphone to a fast food ordering location; registering the order data received from the customer on an order-entry data terminal; transmitting product order cost data from the remote product ordering location to the video display of the fuel dispenser; and receiving payment for the fuel and fast food from the customer through the payment receiver.

Claim 32

An apparatus for installation in a retail setting for selling fuel and fast food products ordered by a customer interacting with an operator, comprising: a. a fuel dispenser housing including: i. fuel dispensing and measuring apparatus, ii. a video display for displaying information to the customer, iii. a first microphone to capture the voice of the customer, iv. a first speaker to reproduce the voice of the operator, v. a signalling device actuable to permit the customer to signal to the operator that the customer wishes to place an order for fast food items by interfacing with an operator, and vi. a customer interface configured to provide a complete fuel transaction at said housing without operator intervention when fast food items are not ordered, b. fast food ordering apparatus including: i. a data terminal for receiving operator-keyed data about other products ordered by a customer at said housing, ii. a second microphone to be positioned to capture the voice of the operator during a transaction and linked to the first speaker in the fuel dispenser, iii. a second speaker linked to the first microphone in the fuel dispenser to reproduce the voice of the customer during a transaction, iv. an indicator linked to the signalling device to indicate to the operator that the customer wishes to order other products, and v. a camera for taking images of the operator during fast food ordering and linked to the video display in the fuel dispenser, c. a controller linked to the fuel dispenser and to the other product ordering apparatus to receive order information concerning other products ordered by the customer and communicate received order information to said fuel dispenser so that the customer may pay for other products as well as dispensed fuel.

Claim 33

An apparatus for installation in a retail setting for selling fuel and fast food products ordered by a customer interacting with an operator, comprising: a. a fuel dispenser housing including: i. fuel dispensing and measuring apparatus, ii. a video display for displaying information to the customer, iii. a first microphone to capture the voice of the customer, iv. a first speaker to reproduce the voice of the operator, v. a signalling device actuable to permit the customer to signal to the operator that the customer wishes to place an order for fast food items by interfacing with an operator, and vi. a customer interface configured to provide a complete fuel transaction at said housing without operator intervention when fast food items are not ordered, b. fast food ordering apparatus including: i. a data terminal for receiving operator-keyed data about other products ordered by a customer at said housing, ii. a second microphone to be positioned to capture the voice of the operator during a transaction and linked to the first speaker in the fuel dispenser, iii. a second speaker linked to the first microphone in the fuel dispenser to reproduce the voice of the customer during a transaction, iv. an indicator linked to the signalling device to indicate to the operator that the customer wishes to order other products, and v. a camera for taking images of the operator during fast food ordering and linked to the video display in the fuel dispenser, c. a controller linked to the fuel dispenser and to the other product ordering apparatus to receive order information concerning other products ordered by the customer and communicate received order information to said fuel dispenser so that the customer may pay for other products as well as dispensed fuel.

Claim 42

A method of arranging for sale and payment for fuel and other products in a single transaction, comprising the steps of: providing a card-reader equipped fuel dispenser housing having fuel dispensing and measuring apparatus, a video display for displaying information to the customer, a first microphone to capture the voice of the customer, a first speaker to reproduce the voice of the operator, a camera to provide video of a fast food operator on the video display when fast food ordering is initiated a signalling device actuable to permit the customer to signal to the operator that the customer wishes to place an order for other products, and a payment receiver for receiving payment from the customer; authorizing credit for the customer from a central computer; dispensing fuel through the fuel dispensing and measuring apparatus; monitoring the cost of fuel dispensed; displaying other advertising and promotional information provided by an external audio/visual signal source to the customer located at the fuel dispenser; signalling a store operator from a signalling device located at the fuel dispenser when fast food ordering is desired, further including the steps of actuating a button on the fuel dispenser; responding to actuation of the signalling device by the customer by inviting the customer to place an order for other products in the form of a presentation on the video display or reproducing the voice of an operator on the first speaker, said responding further including the steps of; i. displaying a message on the fuel pump video screen after the customer actuates the order button and before the operator responds to said indicator, ii. selecting a fuel pump to respond to from among the signalling customers, and iii. switching the video display on the selected customer's fuel dispenser from an external audio/video signal providing advertising to an audio/video signal transmitting from the store operator's workstation, wherein said switching includes the step of digitally triggering one of two analog audio/video signals through a video multiplexor, transmitting fast food order data requested by the customer from the first microphone to a remote product ordering location; registering the fast food order data on an order-entry data terminal; transmitting order cost data from the remote product ordering location to the fuel dispenser, wherein said transmitting further includes the steps of; i. responding to the customer over the audio/video transmission originating from the operator's workstation, ii. sending an audio/visual order confirmation to the customer's fuel dispenser, said sending further including the step of superimposing graphic product order information from the operator's data entry terminal on the video image of the store operator, iii. providing total sale cost information to the customer on the video display located at the fuel dispenser, said providing further including the steps of transmitting the fast food product cost information from the store operator's data terminal to the site controller, combining the total fuel cost and fast food cost at the site controller, and relaying the total sale cost information form the site controller to the video display on the fuel pump, receiving payment for the fuel and fast food products from the customer through the payment receiver; printing a pick-up ticket for the customer to carry to the delivery window; and delivering the other product orders to the customer at a delivery window.

Claim 43

A method of arranging for sale and payment for fuel and other products in a single transaction, comprising the steps of: providing a card-reader equipped fuel dispenser housing having fuel dispensing and measuring apparatus, a video display for displaying information to the customer, a first microphone to capture the voice of the customer, a first speaker to reproduce the voice of the operator, a camera to provide video of a fast food operator on the video display when fast food ordering is initiated a signalling device actuable to permit the customer to signal to the operator that the customer wishes to place an order for other products, and a payment receiver for receiving payment from the customer; authorizing credit for the customer from a central computer; dispensing fuel through the fuel dispensing and measuring apparatus; monitoring the cost of fuel dispensed; displaying other advertising and promotional information provided by an external audio/visual signal source to the customer located at the fuel dispenser; signalling a store operator from a signalling device located at the fuel dispenser when fast food ordering is desired, further including the steps of actuating a button on the fuel dispenser; responding to actuation of the signalling device by the customer by inviting the customer to place an order for other products in the form of a presentation on the video display or reproducing the voice of an operator on the first speaker, said responding further including the steps of; i. displaying a message on the fuel pump video screen after the customer actuates the order button and before the operator responds to said indicator, ii. selecting a fuel pump to respond to from among the signalling customers, and iii. switching the video display on the selected customer's fuel dispenser from an external audio/video signal providing advertising to an audio/video signal transmitting from the store operator's workstation, wherein said switching includes the step of digitally triggering one of two analog audio/video signals through a video multiplexor, transmitting fast food order data requested by the customer from the first microphone to a remote product ordering location; registering the fast food order data on an order-entry data terminal; transmitting order cost data from the remote product ordering location to the fuel dispenser, wherein said transmitting further includes the steps of; i. responding to the customer over the audio/video transmission originating from the operator's workstation, ii. sending an audio/visual order confirmation to the customer's fuel dispenser, said sending further including the step of superimposing graphic product order information from the operator's data entry terminal on the video image of the store operator, iii. providing total sale cost information to the customer on the video display located at the fuel dispenser, said providing further including the steps of transmitting the fast food product cost information from the store operator's data terminal to the site controller, combining the total fuel cost and fast food cost at the site controller, and relaying the total sale cost information form the site controller to the video display on the fuel pump, receiving payment for the fuel and fast food products from the customer through the payment receiver; printing a pick-up ticket for the customer to carry to the delivery window; and delivering the other product orders to the customer at a delivery window.

Claim 44

An apparatus for installation in a retail setting for selling fuel and other non-fuel products ordered by a customer interacting with an operator, comprising: a. a fuel dispenser housing including: i. fuel dispensing and measuring apparatus, ii. a video display for displaying information to the customer, iii. a first microphone to capture the voice of the customer, iv. a first speaker to reproduce the voice of the operator, v. a signalling device actuable to permit the customer to signal to the operator that the customer wishes to place an order for fast food products by interfacing with the operator, vi. a video controller linked to said video display for providing mixed video images to said video display, and vii. a customer interface configured to provide a complete fuel transaction at said housing without operator intervention when fast food items are not ordered, b. fast food ordering apparatus including: i. a data terminal for receiving operator-keyed data about fast food products ordered by a customer, ii. a second microphone to be positioned to capture the voice of the operator during a transaction and linked to the first speaker in the fuel dispenser, iii. a second speaker linked to the first microphone in the fuel dispenser to reproduce the voice of the customer during a transaction, and iv. an indicator linked to the signalling device to indicate to the operator that the customer wishes to order other products, c. a controller linked to the fuel dispenser and to the fast food product ordering apparatus to receive order information concerning other products ordered by the customer and communicate received order information to said fuel dispenser so that the customer may pay for other products as well as dispensed fuel, and d. a camera focused on the operator and linked to the video controller to provide video images to display on said video display, said video controller adapted to mix the order information with the video images to provide a video receipt with line item detail of the order, wherein said apparatus is configured to provide audio and video of the operator at the video display to place a fast food item order when said signalling device is activated in addition to carrying out a fueling transaction.

Claim 45

An apparatus for installation in a retail setting for selling fuel and other non-fuel products ordered by a customer interacting with an operator, comprising: a. a fuel dispenser housing including: i. fuel dispensing and measuring apparatus, ii. a video display for displaying information to the customer, iii. a first microphone to capture the voice of the customer, iv. a first speaker to reproduce the voice of the operator, v. a signalling device actuable to permit the customer to signal to the operator that the customer wishes to place an order for fast food products by interfacing with the operator, vi. a video controller linked to said video display for providing mixed video images to said video display, and vii. a customer interface configured to provide a complete fuel transaction at said housing without operator intervention when fast food items are not ordered, b. fast food ordering apparatus including: i. a data terminal for receiving operator-keyed data about fast food products ordered by a customer, ii. a second microphone to be positioned to capture the voice of the operator during a transaction and linked to the first speaker in the fuel dispenser, iii. a second speaker linked to the first microphone in the fuel dispenser to reproduce the voice of the customer during a transaction, and iv. an indicator linked to the signalling device to indicate to the operator that the customer wishes to order other products, c. a controller linked to the fuel dispenser and to the fast food product ordering apparatus to receive order information concerning other products ordered by the customer and communicate received order information to said fuel dispenser so that the customer may pay for other products as well as dispensed fuel, and d. a camera focused on the operator and linked to the video controller to provide video images to display on said video display, said video controller adapted to mix the order information with the video images to provide a video receipt with line item detail of the order, wherein said apparatus is configured to provide audio and video of the operator at the video display to place a fast food item order when said signalling device is activated in addition to carrying out a fueling transaction.