US6089284A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Preconditioning a fuel dispensing system using a transponder
Assignee: Gilbarco Inc
•
Filing: 1998-09-24
•
Granted: 2000-07-18
•
Expires: 2018-09-24
Abstract
Abstract A fuel dispensing system for providing dual-stage preconditioning and authentication for enhancing a fueling transaction. The system includes a fuel dispenser associated with a control system and a receiver adapted to receive signals, including a first indicia, from a remote communications unit of a customer. The receiver is operatively associated with the control system and enables the control system to retrieve the first indicia and precondition the dispenser for fueling. The control system is adapted to receive second indicia subsequent to receiving the first indicia, and authenticate a transaction involving the remote communications unit by determining the requisite authentication data based on the first indicia and correlating the authentication data with the second indicia. Authentication occurs when the second indicia and the requisite transaction indicia correlate. Various security and encryption techniques may be used when receiving the first and second indicia.
Inventors
- 👤 David L. Kaehler
- 👤 John S. McSpadden
- 👤 Timothy E. Dickson
- 👤 Anthony G. Blake
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 16:28
CPC Classifications
B; B67; B67D; B67D7/00; B67D7/06; B67D7/32; B67D7/34; B67D7/344; B67D7/348; G; G06; G06Q; G06Q50/00; G06Q50/06
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 38
Claim 1
Independent Claim
134 words
A fuel dispensing system for providing dual stage preconditioning and authentication for enhancing a fueling transaction comprising: a fuel dispenser associated with a control system and a receiver adapted to receive signals including first indicia from a remote communications unit associated with a customer, said receiver operatively associated with said control system, said control system adapted to: a) receive the first indicia via said receiver; b) precondition said fuel dispenser for a fuel transaction upon receiving said first indicia c) receive second indicia subsequent to receiving the first indicia d) authenticate a transaction involving the remote communications unit by determining requisite authentication data based on the first indicia and correlating the authentication data with the second indicia, e) allow fueling according to the preconditioning substantially immediately upon authenticating the transaction with the second indicia.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
134 words
A fuel dispensing system for providing dual stage preconditioning and authentication for enhancing a fueling transaction comprising: a fuel dispenser associated with a control system and a receiver adapted to receive signals including first indicia from a remote communications unit associated with a customer, said receiver operatively associated with said control system, said control system adapted to: a) receive the first indicia via said receiver; b) precondition said fuel dispenser for a fuel transaction upon receiving said first indicia c) receive second indicia subsequent to receiving the first indicia d) authenticate a transaction involving the remote communications unit by determining requisite authentication data based on the first indicia and correlating the authentication data with the second indicia, e) allow fueling according to the preconditioning substantially immediately upon authenticating the transaction with the second indicia.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
36 words
The fuel dispensing system of claim 1 wherein said receiver is adapted to receive the second indicia from a second remote communications unit associated with the customer and provide said control system with the second indicia.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
44 words
The fuel dispensing system of claim 1 wherein said fuel dispenser includes a keypad operatively associated with said control system to receive a customer entered secret code, said keypad providing the secret code to said control system as the second indicia used for authentication.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
75 words
The fuel dispensing system of claim 1 wherein said fuel dispenser includes a microphone and audio processing circuitry operatively associated with said control system to receive a voice print of a customer, said control system adapted to compare said voice print with a customer voice print stored in a database accessible by said control system, said voice print being the second indicia and the stored voice print being the requisite transaction data used for authentication.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
72 words
The fuel dispensing system of claim 1 wherein said fuel dispenser includes a biometric reader and processing circuitry operatively associated with said control system to receive biometric indicia of a customer, said control system adapted to compare said biometric indicia with a customer template stored in a database accessible by said control system, said biometric indicia being the second indicia and the stored template being the requisite transaction data used for authentication.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
49 words
The fuel dispensing system of claim 1 wherein said receiver is adapted to receive the second indicia from the remote communications unit associated with the customer and provide said control system with the second indicia wherein transmission of the second indicia to said receiver of said dispenser is secure.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
87 words
The fuel dispensing system of claim 6 further comprising a transmitter for remotely transmitting third indicia to the remote communications unit and associated with said control system, said control system adapted to: determine and transmit via said transmitter the third indicia upon receipt of said first indicia for transmission to the remote communications unit, receive the second indicia after transmitting said third indicia, and determine the transaction data based on the third indicia, wherein the remote communications unit generates the second indicia based upon the third indicia.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
23 words
The dispensing system of claim 1 wherein said control system includes a dispenser controller and a central controller located apart from said dispenser.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
14 words
The dispensing system of claim 1 wherein said control system includes a dispenser controller.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
19 words
The dispensing system of claim 1 wherein said control system includes a central controller located apart from said dispenser.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
19 words
The fuel dispensing system of claim 1 wherein said first indicia includes identification indicia for the remote communications unit.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
28 words
The fuel dispensing system of claim 11 wherein said control system accesses additional information associated with the remote communications unit in a database accessible by said control system.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
19 words
The fuel dispensing system of claim 12 wherein said additional information is account information required to precondition the transaction.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
21 words
The fuel dispensing system of claim 1 wherein said control system preconditions said dispenser by initializing pump electronics for fuel delivery.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
20 words
The fuel dispensing system of claim 1 wherein said control system preconditions said dispenser by pre-selecting a desired fuel type.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
20 words
The fuel dispensing system of claim 1 wherein said control system preconditions said dispenser by pre-selecting a desired fuel grade.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
19 words
The fuel dispensing system of claim 1 wherein said control system preconditions said dispenser by pre-selecting a payment method.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
19 words
The fuel dispensing system of claim 17 wherein said control system preconditions said dispenser by pre-selecting a card type.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
19 words
The fuel dispensing system of claim 17 wherein said control system preconditions said dispenser by pre-selecting an account type.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
19 words
The fuel dispensing system of claim 17 wherein said control system preconditions said dispenser by pre-selecting an account location.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
24 words
The fuel dispensing system of claim 1 wherein said control system preconditions said dispenser by accessing additional information associated with the remote communications unit.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
20 words
The fuel dispensing system of claim 21 wherein said additional information includes account information to be used in the transaction.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
17 words
The fuel dispensing system of claim 21 wherein said additional information is accessible by said control system.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
20 words
The fuel dispensing system of claim 21 wherein said additional information is stored in a database of said control system.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
22 words
The fuel dispensing system of claim 21 wherein said additional information is stored in a remote network accessible by said control system.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
29 words
The fuel dispensing system of claim 21 wherein said additional information is stored in the remote communications unit and transmitted to said dispenser for use by said control system.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
35 words
The fuel dispensing system of claim 1 wherein said control system preconditions said dispenser by accessing account information and preparing said dispenser for dispensing fuel according to the transaction contingent upon receiving proper second indicia.
Claim 29
Independent Claim
83 words
A method for enhancing a fueling transaction comprising: receiving signals including first indicia from a remote communications unit associated with a customer; preconditioning a dispenser for a fueling transaction based on the first indicia upon receiving the first indicia; receiving second indicia subsequent to receiving the first indicia; and determining requisite authentication data based on the first indicia; correlating the authentication data with the second indicia; and allowing fueling according to the preconditioning substantially immediately upon authenticating the transaction with the second indicia.
Claim 30
Independent Claim
83 words
A method for enhancing a fueling transaction comprising: receiving signals including first indicia from a remote communications unit associated with a customer; preconditioning a dispenser for a fueling transaction based on the first indicia upon receiving the first indicia; receiving second indicia subsequent to receiving the first indicia; and determining requisite authentication data based on the first indicia; correlating the authentication data with the second indicia; and allowing fueling according to the preconditioning substantially immediately upon authenticating the transaction with the second indicia.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 28 wherein the second indicia is received from a second remote communications unit associated with the customer.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method of claim 28 wherein the second indicia is received from a keypad operatively associated with the dispenser, the second receiving step including a customer entering a secret code and authenticating the transaction using the secret code.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 28 wherein the second indicia is securely received from the remote communications unit associated with the customer.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
67 words
The method of claim 31 further comprising: remotely transmitting third indicia to the remote communications unit; determining and transmitting the third indicia upon receipt of the first indicia for transmission to the remote communications unit, receiving the second indicia after transmitting the third indicia, determining the transaction data based on the third indicia wherein the remote communications unit generates the second indicia based upon the third indicia.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 28 wherein preconditioning includes initializing pump electronics for fuel delivery.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 28 wherein preconditioning includes pre-selecting a desired fuel type.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 28 wherein preconditioning includes pre-selecting a desired fuel grade.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 28 wherein preconditioning includes accessing additional information associated with the remote communications unit.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3536109A
Cited
US3650303A
Cited
US3642036A
Cited
US3662924A
Cited
US3786421A
Cited
US3814148A
Cited
US4263945A
Cited
US4532511A
Cited
US4313168A
Cited
US4345146A
Cited
US4469149A
Cited
US4490798A
Cited
US4760533A
Cited
US4600829A
Cited
US4728955A
Cited
US4714925A
Cited
US4846233A
Cited
US4711994A
Cited
US5070328A
Cited
US4804937A
Cited
US4887578A
Cited
US4934419A
Cited
GB2222714A
Cited
US4881581A
Cited
US4897642A
Cited
US5025253A
Cited
US5003472A
Cited
US4967366A
Cited
US5058044A
Cited
US5238034A
Cited
US5128862A
Cited
US5204512A
Cited
US5218527A
Cited
US5363889A
Cited
US5184309A
Cited
US5131441A
Cited
US5393195A
Cited
US5359522A
Cited
US5086389A
Cited
US5253162A
Cited
US5072380A
Cited
US5414427A
Cited
US5392049A
Cited
US5204819A
Cited
JPH04128186A
Cited
US5156198A
Cited
US5217051A
Cited
US5383500A
Cited
US5444742A
Cited
US5343906A
Cited
US5249707A
Cited
US5249612A
Cited
WO1994005592A1
Cited
US5671786A
Cited
WO1994006031A1
Cited
US5267592A
Cited
US5365984A
Cited
US5557268A
Cited
US5541835A
Cited
US5351187A
Cited
JPH06227597A
Cited
US5422624A
Cited
US5717374A
Cited
US5499181A
Cited
US5327066A
Cited
US5327945A
Cited
US5621411A
Cited
US5485520A
Cited
US5495250A
Cited
WO1995014612A1
Cited
US5552789A
Cited
US5621412A
Cited
WO1995032919A1
Cited
US5862222A
Cited
US5562133A
Cited
US5505234A
Cited
WO1996028791A1
Cited
US5605182A
Cited
WO1996039351A1
Cited
US5628351A
Cited
US5609190A
Cited
US5956259A
Cited
WO1997024689A1
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2003-07-18 | 2004-01-17 | 2004-07-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2007-07-18 | 2008-01-17 | 2008-07-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2011-07-18 | 2012-01-17 | 2012-07-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |