Patent US6116505A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US6116505A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Fuel transaction system for enabling the purchase of fuel and non-fuel items on a single authorization
Assignee: Gilbarco Inc
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Filing: 1998-07-21
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Granted: 2000-09-12
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Expires: 2018-07-21
Abstract
Abstract A fueling transaction system that holds open a customer account after a pay-at-the-pump transaction is authorized. If the customer wishes to select non-fuel goods and services within the associated convenience store or restaurant, she may do so within a pre-programmed allotment of time. If the customer does not wish to purchase non-fuel items or fails to do so within the system time constraints, the system will simply time-out and close the customer's transaction. The initial customer account information or necessary identification may be provided through the customer's card using the dispenser's card reader or via the customer's transponder in an RFID environment. After the initial pre-authorization, the dispenser provides the customer with a code or other indicia linking a subsequent transaction within a convenience store or restaurant to the authorized fueling transaction. The code may be presented to the customer in any manner, but is preferably provided as a code number or scanable bar code printed by the dispenser printer. The printed code is then tendered by the customer or scanned to effect the purchase of a customer's products and links the purchase amount to the previously authorized card or account. The system contemplated in the present invention may be modified to include a self-service or other substantially dedicated scanning or checkout area to expedite pre-authorized customer transactions.
Inventors
- 👤 Benjamin S. Withrow
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 02:34
CPC Classifications
G; G07; G07F; G07F17/00; G07F17/0014; G06; G06Q; G06Q20/00; G06Q20/30; G06Q20/34; G06Q20/342; G07F13/00; G07F13/02; G07F13/025; G07F7/00; G07F7/02; G07F7/025
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 56
Claim 1
Independent Claim
186 words
A fuel transaction system for enabling the purchase of fuel and non-fuel items at different locations from a single authorization, comprising: a. a dispenser adapted to receive information from a customer, and b. a remote terminal located apart from said dispenser and adapted to receive information from the customer, and c. a control system operatively associated with said dispenser and said terminal and adapted to: (i) obtain authorization to make a purchase on an account associated with the customer based on information received at the dispenser; (ii) determine an amount of fuel delivered by said dispenser; (iii) associate items to be purchased at the remote terminal with said authorization based on information received at said remote terminal from the customer; and (iv) account for fuel delivered by said dispenser and the items to be purchased at said remote terminal relative to said authorization and the account associated with the customer, (v) wherein the customer may provide sufficient information to obtain authorization for a purchase at said dispenser and effect purchase of goods or services a the remote terminal on the same authorization obtained via said dispenser.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
186 words
A fuel transaction system for enabling the purchase of fuel and non-fuel items at different locations from a single authorization, comprising: a. a dispenser adapted to receive information from a customer, and b. a remote terminal located apart from said dispenser and adapted to receive information from the customer, and c. a control system operatively associated with said dispenser and said terminal and adapted to: (i) obtain authorization to make a purchase on an account associated with the customer based on information received at the dispenser; (ii) determine an amount of fuel delivered by said dispenser; (iii) associate items to be purchased at the remote terminal with said authorization based on information received at said remote terminal from the customer; and (iv) account for fuel delivered by said dispenser and the items to be purchased at said remote terminal relative to said authorization and the account associated with the customer, (v) wherein the customer may provide sufficient information to obtain authorization for a purchase at said dispenser and effect purchase of goods or services a the remote terminal on the same authorization obtained via said dispenser.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
29 words
The transaction system of claim 1 wherein the information received from the customer at the fuel dispenser and remote terminal is possessed by the customer prior to any transaction.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
37 words
The transaction system of claim 2 wherein said dispenser further includes a card reader associated with said control system and adapted to read the information received at the fuel dispenser from a card via said card reader.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
53 words
The transaction system of claim 2 wherein said dispenser further includes communication electronics associated with said control system and adapted to communicate with a remote communication device associated with the customer, said communication electronics adapted to read the information received at the fuel dispenser from a remote communication device via said communication electronics.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
33 words
The transaction system of claim 2 wherein said dispenser further includes an input device associated with said control system and adapted to receive the information received at the fuel dispenser from customer input.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
16 words
The transaction system of claim 5 wherein said input device is a touch or key pad.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
39 words
The transaction system of claim 2 wherein said dispenser further includes a biometric reader associated with said control system and adapted to read biometric the information received at the fuel dispenser from a customer's person via said biometric reader.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
39 words
The transaction system of claim 2 wherein said dispenser further includes a biometric reader associated with said control system and adapted to read biometric the information received at the fuel dispenser from a customer's person via said biometric reader.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
24 words
The transaction system of claim 1 wherein the information received at the dispenser is the same as the information received at the remote terminal.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
22 words
The transaction system of claim 9 wherein said control system further includes a central controller communicably linked said dispenser and terminal controllers.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
50 words
The transaction system of claim 1 wherein the information received at the dispenser is held by the customer and used to obtain authorization to make a purchase, and the information to be received at the terminal is provided to the customer at the dispenser for presentment at the remote terminal.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
23 words
The transaction system of claim 1 wherein the information received at the dispenser and the information received at the remote terminal are related.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
77 words
The transaction system of claim 1 wherein said dispenser is further adapted to provide authorization information associated with the obtained authorization to the customer; the information received from the customer at the fuel dispenser is used to obtain the authorization to make a purchase on an account associated with the customer; and the information received from the customer at the point of sale terminal is or includes the authorization information provided to the customer at the dispenser.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
62 words
The transaction system of claim 13 wherein said dispenser includes a card reader associated with said control system and adapted to write the authorization indicia to a card, and said terminal further includes a card reader associated with said control system and adapted to read the authorization information written to a card at the dispenser via said card reader at the terminal.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
67 words
The transaction system of claim 13 wherein said dispenser includes communication electronics associated with said control system and adapted to write the authorization indicia to a remote communication device associated with the customer, and said terminal includes communication electronics associated with said control system and adapted to read the authorization information written to a remote communications device at the dispenser via said communication electronics at the terminal.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
57 words
The transaction system of claim 13 wherein said dispenser includes an output device associated with said control system and adapted to provide the authorization indicia to the customer, and said terminal further includes an input device associated with said control system and adapted to receive the authorization information, which was provided to the customer at the dispenser.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
22 words
The transaction system of claim 16 wherein said output device is a printer adapted to provide print indicia including the authorization information.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
19 words
The transaction system of claim 17 wherein said input device is a scanner adapted to read the print indicia.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
36 words
The transaction system of claim 18 wherein said printer and control system cooperate to print the print indicia as a scannable code and said input device and said control system cooperate to read said scannable code.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
14 words
The transaction system of claim 19 wherein said scannable code is a bar code.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
27 words
The transaction system of claim 16 wherein said input device is a keyboard for entering the authorization information, which was provided to the customer at the dispenser.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
20 words
The transaction system of claim 1 wherein said control system includes communicably linked controllers in said dispenser and said terminal.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
17 words
The transaction system of claim 1 wherein said terminal is associated with a restaurant point of sale.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
18 words
The transaction system of claim 1 wherein said terminal is associated with a convenience store point of sale.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
15 words
The transaction system of claim 1 wherein said terminal is associated with a vending machine.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
23 words
The transaction system of claim 1 wherein said control system is configured to obtain the authorization based on identification information from the customer.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
23 words
The transaction system of claim 1 wherein said control system is configured to obtain the authorization based on financial information from the customer.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
25 words
The transaction system of claim 1 wherein said control system is configured to contact a host authorization network to obtain authorization for a given account.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
30 words
The transaction system of claim 1 wherein said control system is configured to provide a receipt accounting for fuel delivered at the dispenser and items purchased at the remote terminal.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
29 words
The transaction system of claim 1 wherein the information received from the customer at the fuel dispenser and remote terminal is possessed by the customer prior to any transaction.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
79 words
The transaction system of claim 1 further comprising means for providing authorization information associated with the obtained authorization to the customer while at the dispenser wherein the information received from the customer at the fuel dispenser is used to obtain the authorization to make a purchase on an account associated with the customer; and the information received from the customer at the point of sale terminal is or includes the authorization information provided to the customer at the dispenser.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
188 words
A fuel transaction system for enabling the purchase of fuel and non-fuel items at different locations from a single authorization, said system comprising: a. a dispenser associated with means for receiving information from a customer near the dispenser; b. a remote terminal located apart from said dispenser and associated with means for receiving information from the customer near the terminal; and c. means for obtaining authorization to make a purchase on an account associated with the customer based on information received at the dispenser; d. means for determining an amount of fuel delivered by said dispenser; e. means for associating items to be purchased at the remote terminal with authorization based on information received at said remote terminal from the customer; and f. means for accounting for fuel delivered by said dispenser and the items to be purchased at said remote terminal relative to said authorization and the account associated with the customer, wherein the customer may provide sufficient information to obtain authorization for a purchase at said dispenser and effect purchase of goods or services at the remote terminal on the same authorization obtained via said dispenser.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
188 words
A fuel transaction system for enabling the purchase of fuel and non-fuel items at different locations from a single authorization, said system comprising: a. a dispenser associated with means for receiving information from a customer near the dispenser; b. a remote terminal located apart from said dispenser and associated with means for receiving information from the customer near the terminal; and c. means for obtaining authorization to make a purchase on an account associated with the customer based on information received at the dispenser; d. means for determining an amount of fuel delivered by said dispenser; e. means for associating items to be purchased at the remote terminal with authorization based on information received at said remote terminal from the customer; and f. means for accounting for fuel delivered by said dispenser and the items to be purchased at said remote terminal relative to said authorization and the account associated with the customer, wherein the customer may provide sufficient information to obtain authorization for a purchase at said dispenser and effect purchase of goods or services at the remote terminal on the same authorization obtained via said dispenser.
Claim 35
Independent Claim
150 words
A method for enabling the purchase of fuel and non-fuel items at different locations from a single authorization, the method comprising: a. receiving information from a customer via a dispenser; b. obtaining authorization to make a purchase on an account associated with the customer based information received at the dispenser; c. determining an amount of fuel delivered by the dispenser; d. associating items to be purchased at a remote terminal with the authorization based on information received at the remote terminal from the customer; and e. accounting for fuel delivered by the dispenser and the items to be purchased at the remote terminal relative to the authorization and the account associated with the customer; f. wherein the customer may provide sufficient information to obtain authorization for a purchase at the dispenser and effect purchase of goods or services at the remote terminal on the same authorization obtained via the dispenser.
Claim 36
Independent Claim
150 words
A method for enabling the purchase of fuel and non-fuel items at different locations from a single authorization, the method comprising: a. receiving information from a customer via a dispenser; b. obtaining authorization to make a purchase on an account associated with the customer based information received at the dispenser; c. determining an amount of fuel delivered by the dispenser; d. associating items to be purchased at a remote terminal with the authorization based on information received at the remote terminal from the customer; and e. accounting for fuel delivered by the dispenser and the items to be purchased at the remote terminal relative to the authorization and the account associated with the customer; f. wherein the customer may provide sufficient information to obtain authorization for a purchase at the dispenser and effect purchase of goods or services at the remote terminal on the same authorization obtained via the dispenser.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
142 words
A fuel transaction system for enabling the purchase of fuel and non-fuel items at different locations from a single authorization, comprising: a. a dispenser adapted to receive information provided by a customer; and b. a remote terminal located apart from said dispenser and adapted to receive information from the customer; c. a control system operatively associated with said dispenser and terminal, and adapted to: i. obtain authorization for a customer's account based on information received at the dispenser; ii. total amount of fuel delivered at the dispenser; iii. associate items selected at a remote location for purchase by the customer with said authorization based on information received at the terminal; iv. total amount of items selected at the terminal and the amount of fuel purchased at the dispenser; and v. account for the purchase of fuel and selected items with said authorization.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
142 words
A fuel transaction system for enabling the purchase of fuel and non-fuel items at different locations from a single authorization, comprising: a. a dispenser adapted to receive information provided by a customer; and b. a remote terminal located apart from said dispenser and adapted to receive information from the customer; c. a control system operatively associated with said dispenser and terminal, and adapted to: i. obtain authorization for a customer's account based on information received at the dispenser; ii. total amount of fuel delivered at the dispenser; iii. associate items selected at a remote location for purchase by the customer with said authorization based on information received at the terminal; iv. total amount of items selected at the terminal and the amount of fuel purchased at the dispenser; and v. account for the purchase of fuel and selected items with said authorization.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
36 words
A fuel transaction system as claimed in claim 34 wherein said information received at the dispenser and the remote terminal includes identification indicia, said associated authorization at the terminal being based on the received identification indicia.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
31 words
A fuel transaction system as claimed in claim 35 wherein said identification received at the dispenser and the remote terminal is carried on a transponder and is received by an interrogator.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
32 words
A fuel transaction system as claimed in claim 35 wherein said identification received at the dispenser and the remote terminal is carried on a card and is read by a card reader.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
25 words
A fuel transaction system as claimed in claim 35 wherein said identification received at the dispenser and the remote terminal is entered into a keypad.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
51 words
A fuel transaction system as claimed in claim 34 wherein the dispenser provides authorization indicia to the customer and said information received at the remote terminal includes said authorization indicia provided to the customer, said associated authorization at the remote terminal being based on the authorization indicia provided to the customer.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
32 words
A fuel transaction system as claimed in claim 39 wherein the authorization indicia provided to the customer is stored in a transponder and is received by an interrogator at the remote terminal.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
28 words
A fuel transaction system as claimed in claim 39 wherein the authorization indicia provided to the customer is printed on a receipt and received at the remote terminal.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
33 words
A fuel transaction system as claimed in claim 39 wherein the authorization indicia provided to the customer is stored on a card and is read by a card reader at the remote terminal.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
27 words
A fuel transaction system as claimed in claim 39 wherein the authorization indicia provided to the customer is displayed at the dispenser and at the remote terminal.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
26 words
A fuel transaction system as claimed in claim 39 wherein the authorization indicia is scannable indicia and is read by a scanner at the remote terminal.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
27 words
A fuel transaction system as claimed in claim 44 wherein the scannable indicia is a code and the scanner at the remote terminal is a code reader.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
23 words
A fuel transaction system as claimed in claim 45 wherein the code is a bar-code and the code reader is a bar-code reader.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
34 words
A fuel transaction system as claimed in claim 34 wherein said remote terminal is one of the group consisting of a vending machine interface, a quick-service restaurant, or a point-of-sale in the associated store.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
20 words
A fuel transaction system as claimed in claim 34 wherein the customer is provided with incentives to increase customer loyalty.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
34 words
A fuel transaction system as claimed in claim 48 wherein said incentives include discounts for non-fuel purchases made on the same authorization obtained at the dispenser and made within the associated store or restaurant.
Claim 54
Dependent Claim
34 words
A fuel transaction system as claimed in claim 48 wherein said incentives include loyalty points awarded on the basis of prior fuel and non-fuel purchases and are redeemable within the associated store or restaurant.
Claim 55
Dependent Claim
203 words
A fuel transaction system for enabling the purchase of fuel and non-fuel items at different locations from a single authorization, comprising: a. a dispenser having means for receiving information from a customer; b. a remote terminal located apart from said dispenser and having means for receiving information from the customer; c. means for obtaining authorization to make a purchase on an account associated with the customer based on information received at the dispenser; d. means for determining an amount of fuel delivered by said dispenser; e. means for associating items to be purchased at the remote terminal with said authorization based on information received at said remote terminal from the customer; and f. means for accounting for fuel delivered by said dispenser and the items to be purchased at said remote terminal relative to said authorization and the account associated with the customer; g. wherein the customer may provide sufficient information to obtain authorization for a purchase at said dispenser and effect purchase of goods or services at the remote terminal on provide sufficient information to obtain authorization for a purchase at said dispenser and effect purchase of goods or services at the remote terminal on the same authorization obtained via said dispenser.
Claim 56
Dependent Claim
203 words
A fuel transaction system for enabling the purchase of fuel and non-fuel items at different locations from a single authorization, comprising: a. a dispenser having means for receiving information from a customer; b. a remote terminal located apart from said dispenser and having means for receiving information from the customer; c. means for obtaining authorization to make a purchase on an account associated with the customer based on information received at the dispenser; d. means for determining an amount of fuel delivered by said dispenser; e. means for associating items to be purchased at the remote terminal with said authorization based on information received at said remote terminal from the customer; and f. means for accounting for fuel delivered by said dispenser and the items to be purchased at said remote terminal relative to said authorization and the account associated with the customer; g. wherein the customer may provide sufficient information to obtain authorization for a purchase at said dispenser and effect purchase of goods or services at the remote terminal on provide sufficient information to obtain authorization for a purchase at said dispenser and effect purchase of goods or services at the remote terminal on the same authorization obtained via said dispenser.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2003-09-12 | 2004-03-13 | 2004-09-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2007-09-12 | 2008-03-13 | 2008-09-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2011-09-12 | 2012-03-13 | 2012-09-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |