US6422464B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Fuel dispensing system providing customer preferences
Assignee: Gilbarco Inc
•
Filing: 2000-06-15
•
Granted: 2002-07-23
•
Expires: 2020-06-15
Abstract
Abstract The present invention is to provide a system for automatically providing customer preferences during a fueling operation. The system includes a fuel dispenser with an audio/video customer interface having a display and audio system. Wireless communications electronics are associated with the dispenser and adapted to receive signals including indicia from remote communications units. A control system and memory are provided to receive the indicia from a remote communications unit and provide a customer with select information, predefined by the customer, at the customer interface. The selected information is chosen by the customer and associated with the remote communications unit prior to the transaction. Notably, the control system may include a dispenser controller, a central site controller, a control system associated with a remote network, or any combination thereof.
Inventors
- 👤 Steven N. Terranova
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 21:18
CPC Classifications
G; G07; G07F; G07F7/00; G07F7/02; B; B67; B67D; B67D7/00; B67D7/06; B67D7/064; B67D7/067; B67D7/08; B67D7/14; B67D7/145; G06; G06Q; G06Q20/00; G06Q20/30; G06Q20/34; G06Q20/343; G06Q20/346; G07C; G07C5/00; G07C5/008; G07C5/08; G07C5/0841; G07C5/085; G07C5/0858; G07F13/00; G07F13/02; G07F13/025; G07F7/08; G07F7/10; G07F7/1008
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 37
Claim 1
Independent Claim
111 words
A system for automatically providing customer preferences during a fueling operation comprising: a) a fuel dispenser with an audio/visual customer interface having a display and audio system; b) wireless communication electronics associated with said fuel dispenser and adapted to receive signals including indicia from remote communication units; and c) a control system and memory associated with said communication electronics and said customer interface; d) said control system adapted to receive the indicia from a remote communication unit and provide a customer with select information predefined by the customer at said customer interface, said select information being selected by the customer and associated with the remote communication unit prior to the transaction.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
111 words
A system for automatically providing customer preferences during a fueling operation comprising: a) a fuel dispenser with an audio/visual customer interface having a display and audio system; b) wireless communication electronics associated with said fuel dispenser and adapted to receive signals including indicia from remote communication units; and c) a control system and memory associated with said communication electronics and said customer interface; d) said control system adapted to receive the indicia from a remote communication unit and provide a customer with select information predefined by the customer at said customer interface, said select information being selected by the customer and associated with the remote communication unit prior to the transaction.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said memory is located apart from said fuel dispenser and is operatively associated with a central site control system.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said control system includes a dispenser control system located in said fuel dispenser.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
The system of claim 3 wherein said control system further includes a central site control system located apart from said fuel dispenser.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
21 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said control system includes a central site control system located apart from said fuel dispenser.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
60 words
The system of claim 1 wherein the indicia includes identification indicia and said select information is stored in said memory in association with the identification indicia of the remote communication unit and said control system is adapted to access said select information in said memory upon receipt of the identification indicia and provide the select information at the customer interface.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
43 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said control system is adapted to access said select information at a remote network based on the indicia and provide the select information at the customer interface upon receipt of the indicia and accessing said select information.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
42 words
The system of claim 1 wherein the indicia defines the select information stored in said memory, said control system adapted to access said select information using the indicia after receipt of the indicia and provide the select information at the customer interface.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
36 words
The system of claim 1 wherein the indicia includes the select information and said control system is adapted to receive said select information through the communication electronics and provide the select information at the customer interface.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
40 words
The system of claim 1 wherein the selected information is stored on an audio/visual source adapted for playback of audio/visual material and said control system is adapted control the audio/visual source to play the audio/visual material at said customer interface.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
13 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said select information is news related information.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
25 words
The system of claim 11 wherein said news related information includes information selected from the group consisting of news, weather, scores, stock reports, traffic reports.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
11 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said select information is entertainment.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
15 words
The system of claim 13 wherein said entertainment includes selected types of advertising and merchandising.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
14 words
The system of claim 13 wherein said entertainment includes selected types of audio/video material.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
11 words
The system of claim 15 wherein said entertainment includes motion video.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
14 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said select information includes audio and visual components.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
23 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said select information includes a desired greeting to be provided at the customer interface to the customer.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
14 words
The system of claim 18 wherein said greeting is audibly presented to the customer.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
14 words
The system of claim 18 wherein said greeting is visually displayed to the customer.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
28 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said control system is adapted allow a customer to modify the predefined selected information during a transaction to receive additional selected information.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
21 words
The system of claim 21 wherein said control system stores the additional selected information as said selected information for future transactions.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
32 words
The system of claim 22 wherein said control system and said communications system are adapted to transmit information to the remote communications unit to store the additional information as the selected information.
Claim 25
Independent Claim
128 words
A system for automatically preventing presentment of information based on customer preferences during a fueling operation comprising: a) a fuel dispenser with a customer interface adapted to present information to a customer during a transaction; b) wireless communication electronics associated with said fuel dispenser and adapted to receive signals including indicia from remote communication units; and c) a control system and memory associated with said communication electronics and said customer interface; d) said control system adapted to present said select information at said customer interface; e) said control system adapted to receive the indicia from a remote communication unit and prevent presentment of select information at said customer interface, said select information being selected by the customer and associated with the remote communication unit prior to the transaction.
Claim 26
Independent Claim
128 words
A system for automatically preventing presentment of information based on customer preferences during a fueling operation comprising: a) a fuel dispenser with a customer interface adapted to present information to a customer during a transaction; b) wireless communication electronics associated with said fuel dispenser and adapted to receive signals including indicia from remote communication units; and c) a control system and memory associated with said communication electronics and said customer interface; d) said control system adapted to present said select information at said customer interface; e) said control system adapted to receive the indicia from a remote communication unit and prevent presentment of select information at said customer interface, said select information being selected by the customer and associated with the remote communication unit prior to the transaction.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
54 words
The system of claim 24 wherein the indicia is identification indicia and said select information is stored in association with the identification indicia of the remote communication unit and said control system is adapted to identify said select information upon receipt of the identification indicia and prevent the presentment of the select information accordingly.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
37 words
The system of claim 24 wherein the indicia defines a category containing said select information and said control system is adapted to identify the select information in said category and prevent the presentment of the select information.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
36 words
The system of claim 24 wherein the predefined parameters are transmitted to the communication electronics from said remote communication unit and said control system is adapted to receive the predefined parameters and control the transaction accordingly.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
97 words
An interrogation system associated with a fuel dispensing system for automatically providing customer preferences during a fueling operation, said system comprising: a) a customer transaction interface associated with an interrogator for communicating with transponders; and b) a control system and memory associated with said interrogator; c) said control system adapted to interrogate a remote communication unit with said interrogator during a transaction and provide select types of information predefined by the customer at said customer interface, said select types of information being selected by the customer and associated with the remote communication unit prior to the transaction.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
97 words
An interrogation system associated with a fuel dispensing system for automatically providing customer preferences during a fueling operation, said system comprising: a) a customer transaction interface associated with an interrogator for communicating with transponders; and b) a control system and memory associated with said interrogator; c) said control system adapted to interrogate a remote communication unit with said interrogator during a transaction and provide select types of information predefined by the customer at said customer interface, said select types of information being selected by the customer and associated with the remote communication unit prior to the transaction.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
21 words
The system of claim 28 wherein said interrogator is adapted to interrogate the transponder and receive identification indicia, said control system.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
54 words
The system of claim 28 wherein said interrogator is adapted to interrogate the transponder and receive indicia including the select types of information predefined by the customer, said control system using the indicia to determine the select types of information predefined by the customer, access the information and provide the information to the customer.
Claim 34
Independent Claim
88 words
A method for automatically providing customer preferences during a fueling operation comprising: a) receiving indicia from a remote communication unit in association with a fueling transaction; b) determining select types of information predefined by the customer using the indicia received from the remote communication unit, the select types of information being selected by the customer and associated with the remote communication unit prior to the fueling transaction; c) accessing information defined by the select types of information; and d) providing the information to the customer during a transaction.
Claim 35
Independent Claim
88 words
A method for automatically providing customer preferences during a fueling operation comprising: a) receiving indicia from a remote communication unit in association with a fueling transaction; b) determining select types of information predefined by the customer using the indicia received from the remote communication unit, the select types of information being selected by the customer and associated with the remote communication unit prior to the fueling transaction; c) accessing information defined by the select types of information; and d) providing the information to the customer during a transaction.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method of claim 31 wherein the receiving step includes receiving identification indicia for the remote communication unit and the accessing step includes accessing information according to the select types of information in a database using the identification indicia.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 31 wherein the indicia includes the select types of information.
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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) | 2005-07-22 | 2006-01-21 | 2006-07-23 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2009-07-22 | 2010-01-21 | 2010-07-23 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2013-07-22 | 2014-01-21 | 2014-07-23 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |