CA1234632A - Automated fuel discounting system - Google Patents
Automated fuel discounting systemInfo
- Publication number
- CA1234632A CA1234632A CA000537453A CA537453A CA1234632A CA 1234632 A CA1234632 A CA 1234632A CA 000537453 A CA000537453 A CA 000537453A CA 537453 A CA537453 A CA 537453A CA 1234632 A CA1234632 A CA 1234632A
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- card
- processor
- gas
- discount
- pump
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired
Links
Classifications
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
- G07F—COIN-FREED OR LIKE APPARATUS
- G07F7/00—Mechanisms actuated by objects other than coins to free or to actuate vending, hiring, coin or paper currency dispensing or refunding apparatus
- G07F7/08—Mechanisms actuated by objects other than coins to free or to actuate vending, hiring, coin or paper currency dispensing or refunding apparatus by coded identity card or credit card or other personal identification means
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
- G06Q—INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- G06Q20/00—Payment architectures, schemes or protocols
- G06Q20/38—Payment protocols; Details thereof
- G06Q20/40—Authorisation, e.g. identification of payer or payee, verification of customer or shop credentials; Review and approval of payers, e.g. check credit lines or negative lists
- G06Q20/403—Solvency checks
- G06Q20/4037—Remote solvency checks
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
- G07F—COIN-FREED OR LIKE APPARATUS
- G07F13/00—Coin-freed apparatus for controlling dispensing or fluids, semiliquids or granular material from reservoirs
- G07F13/02—Coin-freed apparatus for controlling dispensing or fluids, semiliquids or granular material from reservoirs by volume
Landscapes
- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Business, Economics & Management (AREA)
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Accounting & Taxation (AREA)
- Computer Security & Cryptography (AREA)
- Finance (AREA)
- Strategic Management (AREA)
- General Business, Economics & Management (AREA)
- Theoretical Computer Science (AREA)
- Cash Registers Or Receiving Machines (AREA)
Abstract
ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
An automated fuel discounting system provides discounts to a club member at any one of a plurality of gas stations, each of the gas stations having a plurality of gas pumps. The system includes at least one Point of Sale (POS) console and an attendant controlled console. A
remote HOST computer communicates with the attendant con-trolled console and is adapted to determine if the member card, which is received by the Point of Sale (POS) console, is an appropriate valid card. It also determines if club conditions have been complied with and authorizes credit and grants a discount if the conditions are met. The gas pumps have a display for displaying gas price and a processor for driving the display. The attendant con-trolled console communicates with the gas pump processor to supply the gas pump processor with discount data so that the discount is displayed on the display of the gas pump.
The invention also relates to a method of automatically discounting fuel using the inventive system.
An automated fuel discounting system provides discounts to a club member at any one of a plurality of gas stations, each of the gas stations having a plurality of gas pumps. The system includes at least one Point of Sale (POS) console and an attendant controlled console. A
remote HOST computer communicates with the attendant con-trolled console and is adapted to determine if the member card, which is received by the Point of Sale (POS) console, is an appropriate valid card. It also determines if club conditions have been complied with and authorizes credit and grants a discount if the conditions are met. The gas pumps have a display for displaying gas price and a processor for driving the display. The attendant con-trolled console communicates with the gas pump processor to supply the gas pump processor with discount data so that the discount is displayed on the display of the gas pump.
The invention also relates to a method of automatically discounting fuel using the inventive system.
Description
~L~3~632 The invention relates to an automated fuel dis-counting system consisting of a remo-te HOST computer, an attendant cGntrolled terminal and at least one point of sale (POS) terminal. The invention also relates to a method for automatically discounting fuel using such a system.
The present invention Eurther relates to a customer controlled terminal and more specifically to the facility to interactively control the price of fuel dispensed at a selected gasoline dispenser based on unique indicia of -the customer activating the customer controlled terminal. Additionally, the invention includes various elements necessary to process a customer transaction including attendant controlled consoles, a host computer and communications systems.
Heretofore, equipment has been provided in service stations to allow remote enablement of dispensers, electronic authorization of credit and various related processes. In fact, systems identified as Canadian Patent 1,131,783 (Wostl et al - Credit Card Automated System for Vehicle Service Sta-tions) and Canadian Patent 1,198,822 (Barker et al - Gasoline Station System For Enablement of Selected Pumps by a Credit Card Console Located at the Pump Island) describe applications similar at the mechanical level to that identified within this appllcation.
Other systems consisting of a central computer and remote terminals are known in the art. The term "remote terminal" is used here in -the sense of separated from and not necessarily far away from. For example, U.S.
Patent 4,395,626, Barker et al, issued July 26, 1983, relates to a gasoline station processor system consisting -~23~3;~
of a central computer 21 and remote terminals 23. However, both the central computer and the remote terminals in the '626 patent are on the same site. The central processor of the system in the '626 patent provides credit information on the owner of a card inserted into the remote terminal.
It also provides data concerning the amount of gas sold to the central computer so that a bill can be provided.
U.S. Patent 4,016,405, McCune et al, issued April 5, 1977, teaches a system wherein one or more remote terminal card readers communicate with a central computer.
The central computer validates the cards inserted into the remote terminals. The patent is direc-ted at automated cash withdrawal systems.
U.S. Patent 4,349,695, Morgan et al, issued September 14, 1982, also teaches an authentication system including a plurality of remote terminals and a central processor. In the '6g5 patent, the identification code is inserted by keyboard instead o~ a card and card reader.
None of the systems above referred to, or any other known ~o Applicant, provide card authentication, card status check, and awarding of discounts when appropriate.
The "Automated Fuel Discounting System" of the present application accelerates the art to a new level.
This application describes a system wherein customer controlled credit consoles are utilized for credit authorization and subsequent pump enablement. The system however provides an electronic means by which a price discount is computer calculated within the system elements and used to lower the r.ormal selling price of the fuel at a dispenser selected by the customer at the controlled ~ 234~3;~
terminal. Therefore, the invention has provided a truly unique facility that does not exist, to the best of our knowledge, in the prior ar-t.
It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a system including a central processor and remote terminals wherein there is provided card validation, card authentication, status check, and the awarding of discounts where appropriate.
In accordance with the invention, there is pro-vided an automated fuel discounting system which includes aPoint OL Sale (POS) terminal, an attendant controlled terminal and a HOST computer.
In accordance with the invention there is also provided a method for automatically discounting fuel using the inventive system.
The invention will be better understood by an examination of the following description, together with the accompanying drawlngs, in which:
FIGURE 1 is a layout o~ a gasoline service station showing elements of the systemi FIGURE lA shows the inside of the attendant booth;
FIGURE 2 is a more detailed view of an attendant controlled terminal;
FIGURE 3 is a more detailed view of a Point of Sales terminal;
FIGURE ~ is a more detailed view of the display on the attendant controlled terminal;
FIGURE 5 is a block diagram of the system in accordance with the invention;
~23~i3~
FIGURES 6 to 11 are fiow charts of the logic controlling the inventive system; and FIGURE 12 illustrates a particular embodiment of the invention.
Referring to Figure 1, a gasoline station includes one or more gasoline dispensing islands 1 having a plurality of, for example, three, separate gasoline pumps 3 and 5. Associated with each island is a Point of Sale (POS) or customer controlled console 9. The gasoline station also includes an attendant booth 11 including an attendant controlled console shown at 13 in Figure lA.
Underground cable 15 (see Figure 1) connects the POS con-sole to the attendant controlled console. As is obvious, the cable could be disposed above ground instead of under-ground as above illustrated in the drawings herein.
Turning to Figure lA, also disposed in the attendant booth is a pump controller 17A and a pump controller interface 17B.. The pump controller is con-rected to the pumps 3 and 5 via underground cable 19 as shown in Figure 1, and the attendant controlled console 13 is connected to pump controller 17 by cable 18 via pump controller interface 17B shown in Figure lA.
- Turning to Figure 2, the attendant controlled console includes a receipt printer 21, a journal printer 23 and a slip printer 25. It also includes a keyboard 27 having a numerical pad 28. The console also includes a visual display 29 which is more particularly described in Figure 4.
Turning to Figure 3, the POS console includes a card reader 31 having a card receiving slot 32. A receipt printer 33 is also disposed on the POS console as is a ~3~L~i3Z:
keyboard 35 having a numerical pad 36. A visual display 37 is preferably also made a part of the eustomer controlled console.
Turning to Figure 5, a card 39 is shown being inserted into the card reader 31 of the customer controlled console 9. The customer controlled console 9 also includes a microcomputer 41 and a communications port 43. Data from the keyboard 35 is fed to the microcomputer 41 and data from the mieroeomputer 41 is fed to the display deviee 37 and the printer 33 to drive the display device 37 and the printer 33.
Data to and from the microcomputer 41 is fed to the communications port 43 which communicates, via cable 15, to communications port 45 of the attendant controlled console 13.
The attendant controlled console 13 also includes a mierocomputer 47 and a data transmission port 49. The microcomputer 47 communieates with a remote data bank or HOST eomputer 51 through the data transmission port 49.
Mieroeomputer 47 also eommunieates, by way of port 53, with a pump controller 17A. The pump controller 17A, in turn, cornmunicates with a respeetive one of the pumps, for example, pumps 3 and 5.
The printers 21, 23 and 25 are driven by the mierocomputer 47 as is the display 29. The keyboard 27 provides data to the microeomputer 47. Data flows in bo-th directions between the microcomputer 47 and the communi-cations port 45 as well as between the microcomputer 47 and the data transmission port 49. Data also flows in both ~23~3~
directions between the microcomputer 47 and pump controller 17A and between the pump controller 17A and a respective pump, for example, 3 or 5.
In operation, the card is inserted into the card receiving slot 32 of the card reader 31 of the customer controlled console 9. Prompts are scrolled on the visual display 37 for guiding the customer.
Referring now to Figure 6, before a card is inserted, the visual display will bear a message such as "Welcome - Insert Card and Leave in Place". When the card is inserted, it will be read by the microcomputer 41. If the card does not read properly, then a message such as "Card Not Inserted Properly or Card Damaged" will be dis-played on the visual display 37. The customer will then reinsert the card.
When the card reads properly, a message such as "Please Remove Your Card to Proceed" is displayed on the visual display 37, and the console beeps until the customer removes his credit card.
Turning now to Figure 7, after the customer has removed his card, the display on the customer controlled console 9 will flash a message such as "Press 'Fuel' Key or 'Receipt' Key". This refers to specific keys on the key-board 35. When the appropriate key is entered, the trans-action is transferred to the attendant controlled console 13.
If the Fuel key is depressed, the data will be transmitted to the attendant controlled console 13 (see Figure 8) and a message such as "Your Request is Being Processed" is flashed on the visual display 37 of the POS
console 9. The card is then checked to determine if it is ~23~L~32 a valid card in the sense of being a card oE the parti.cular company operating the system, or other cards acceptable to the company, for example, American Express M, Visa M, Master CardTM, etc.
If the card is not a valid card, then a message such as "Invalid Card Please See Cashier" is flashed on visual display 37, and the program is terminated.
If the card is a valid card, then the micro-processor 47 checks to determine whether the card is expired. If the card is expired, then a message such as "Card Expired Please See Cashier" is flashed on the visual display 37. Once again, the program is terminated.
Assuming that the card is both valid and unexpired, then the microprocessor 47 will communicate with the remote data bank to obtain credit or authorization for this particular sale and to obtain discount information appropriate to this particular card. While this inform-ation is being obtained from the HOST computer, a pro-motional message may be flashed on the visual display 37.
If the sale is authorized, then a message such as "Select Pump and Press 'OK KEY'" (see Figure 9) is flashed on the visual display 37. The customer keys in the pump number, and the transaction is returned to microcomputer 47 to determine whether the selected pump is available, i.e, if it has not been previously reserved or it is not a damaged pump. If the pump is not valid, then a message such as "Pump No. in Use - Select Another" is flashed on the visual display 37. If the pump is valid, then a message such as "Fuel at Pump No. Fuel Price " is displayed on the visual display 37. The ~3~63~
customer thus immediately sees not only his price (discount) but his price relative to the non-discounted price.
The customer will then fuel his car from the selected pump. When the fueling is completed, visual dis-play 37 will flash a message such as "Insert Card after Fueling for Receipt". If the card is inserted, a receipt will be printed by the receipt printer 33 and the program is terminated. If the card is not inserted after a given period of time, the program will be terminated.
The attendant, via the attendant controlled terminal 47, has the capability of collecting sales, enabling, stopping and resetting pumps. The Iseyboard 27 contains a numeric keypad 28 for entering pump numbers and other numeric values. It also includes a pump release key, enter keys, and special transmission function keys which allow the attendant to stop pumps, reset customer consoles, enter different types of tender, total sales, board sales and scroll-through menus. The content of the visual display 29 of the attendant control terminal is shown schematically in Figure 4 and consists of a grid including four rectangles. A column on the left-hand side of each rectangle includes four numbers, and these numbers refer to the pump numbers. In the illustrated embodiment, there are sixteen pumps and the status of pumps 1 to 4 is displayed in the rectangle on the left-hand side while the status of pumps 13 to 16 is displayed in the rectangle on the right-hand side. The pump grid is produced on the display by an application program. The symbol beside -the nu~ber of a pump indicates the status of the pump at that time.
~L234~i~3;2 For example, the symbol beside Pump No. 2 is used to indicate to the attendant that a customer is reserving the pump through a POS terminal. When the customer acti-vates the pump handle, the symbol beside Pump No. 2 will change to a flashing symbol like the one beside Pump No.
13. Not only will a symbol flash, but it will also beep until the attendant releases the pump. When the attendant releases the pump, the symbol beside Pump No. 2 will change to the one illustrated in Figure 4 beside Pump No. 5. This symbol indicates to the attendant that the customer is dispensing fuel from Pump No. S, and that Pump No. 5 was reserved through a POS terminal. When the customer is finished dispensing fuel and turns off the pump by return-ing the handle to the neutral pposition and replacing the nozzle, the sale is stored in a Capture File within the attendant controlled terminal. The sale is then trans-mitted to the HOST computer data bank.
If a customer activates a pump which has not been reserved by a PoS, a flashing, beeping symbol, such as the one appearing beside Pump No. 1 in Figure 4, will appear on the screen. When the attendant enables Pump No. 1, a symbol such as the one beside Pump No. 16 will appear on the screen. This indicates to the attendant that a customer at Pump No. 1 is dispensing fuel. However, this pump was not reserved at a POS terminal.
When the customer finishes dispensing and turns the pump off, the dollar amount of the sale will appear beside Pump No. 1. An example of such dollar amount is shown beside Pump No. 8 in Figure 4.
:
~3~L63;~
If two customers were to dispense gas one after the other, both without using a POS terminal, on the same pump, the system will allow for the second customer to dispense before the first customer has paid for his purchase~ For example, on Pump No. 4 of Figure 4, the first customer dispensed $1.93 of fuel. The second custoMer has used Pump No. 4 and dispensed $125.75.
Neither customer has paid for his sale at the time illus-trated in Figure 4. The system will not allow a third customer to dispense gas until one of the previous customers pays for theirs.
~ y looking at this display, the attendant is capable of pre-authorizing pùmps, e.g, Pump No. 12, taking pumps offline, e.g., Pump No. 9, or stopping a pump, e.g., Pump No. 15.
The text "TIME" beside Pump No. 10 indicates that a customer reserved the pump through the POS terminal but failed to activate the pump handle within 30 seconds of the attendant enabling it. The pump is reset when the Pump Release key is pressed to begin another sale.
Returning to Figure 8, if credit is not authorized, then the reason for lack of authorization will be flashed on the visual display 37 as per the program in Figure 10. For example, the company operating the system may require membership in a particular club in order to obtain a discount. If the card does not indicate such membership, then a message such as "Club Membership Required - See Cashier" would be flashed.
-3~63;~
Alternatively, the company may require visits to other outlets within the past 30 days in order to authorize credit or to grant discounts. If such a visit has not been made, then a message such as "No Store Visit Within 30 Days - See Cashier" would be flashed on the visual display 37.
A club member may be permitted only a certain number of visits per period of time in order to obtain benefits of credit authorization and/or discounts. If the number of visits have been used up, then a message such as "Membership Expired - Please See Cashier" would be flashed on the visual display 37.
Returning now to Figure 7, if the customer had initially pressed the Receipt key, then the data is, once again, transmitted to the attendant controlled console 13 (see Figure 11), and a message such as "Your Request is Being Processed'l would be flashed on the visual display 37.
Once again, the card is checked for validity and exiration, and if it passes both of these tests, then the micro-computer 37 searches to see if a receipt is available for this particular card. If a receipt is not available, then a message such as "Receipt Not Available" is flashed on the visual display 37 and the p-ogram is terminated. If a receipt is available, then the receipt is printed on the Receipt Printer 33 and, once again, the program is terminated.
A particula- embodiment of the invention is illustrated in ~igure 12. As can be seen in Figure 12, the hardware and software of the POS terminal is fully trans-parent to the HOST system. As can also be seen in Figure ~3~63;~:
12, there are actually two HOST systems; the Series 1 and two System 38's. The HOST system is seen as one logical unit of the two devices.
The HOST system "sees" only the NCR 2157 attendant controlled terminal. The attendant controlled terminal, utilizing PMS (Petrol Management System) software assumes all POS processing responsibilities and in fact can assume (temporarily) full HOST processing should the HOST
computer go offline.
The NCR 2157 terminal is equipped with a 600K
floppy disk drive, 640K of RAM memory and an integrated 10MB hard disk. It can control up to sixteen pumps and handles all Datapac asynchronous communications from all peripherals. In addition, it can act as a tributary station for batch file transfers and program donwloads.
The NCR 2157 "talks" to the first node of the HOST processing system through the Datapac network. At the terminal end, the operator controlled terminal utilizes the 3201/RAPID service (1200 bps) as their network access service. At the HOST end, Datapac 3000 is used by the Series 1.
The Series 1 to System 38 link is accomplished through sSC over a single 9600 bps link.
A number of offline situa-tions can arise that alter the message processing responsibilities. They are:
1. Failure of NCR 2157
The present invention Eurther relates to a customer controlled terminal and more specifically to the facility to interactively control the price of fuel dispensed at a selected gasoline dispenser based on unique indicia of -the customer activating the customer controlled terminal. Additionally, the invention includes various elements necessary to process a customer transaction including attendant controlled consoles, a host computer and communications systems.
Heretofore, equipment has been provided in service stations to allow remote enablement of dispensers, electronic authorization of credit and various related processes. In fact, systems identified as Canadian Patent 1,131,783 (Wostl et al - Credit Card Automated System for Vehicle Service Sta-tions) and Canadian Patent 1,198,822 (Barker et al - Gasoline Station System For Enablement of Selected Pumps by a Credit Card Console Located at the Pump Island) describe applications similar at the mechanical level to that identified within this appllcation.
Other systems consisting of a central computer and remote terminals are known in the art. The term "remote terminal" is used here in -the sense of separated from and not necessarily far away from. For example, U.S.
Patent 4,395,626, Barker et al, issued July 26, 1983, relates to a gasoline station processor system consisting -~23~3;~
of a central computer 21 and remote terminals 23. However, both the central computer and the remote terminals in the '626 patent are on the same site. The central processor of the system in the '626 patent provides credit information on the owner of a card inserted into the remote terminal.
It also provides data concerning the amount of gas sold to the central computer so that a bill can be provided.
U.S. Patent 4,016,405, McCune et al, issued April 5, 1977, teaches a system wherein one or more remote terminal card readers communicate with a central computer.
The central computer validates the cards inserted into the remote terminals. The patent is direc-ted at automated cash withdrawal systems.
U.S. Patent 4,349,695, Morgan et al, issued September 14, 1982, also teaches an authentication system including a plurality of remote terminals and a central processor. In the '6g5 patent, the identification code is inserted by keyboard instead o~ a card and card reader.
None of the systems above referred to, or any other known ~o Applicant, provide card authentication, card status check, and awarding of discounts when appropriate.
The "Automated Fuel Discounting System" of the present application accelerates the art to a new level.
This application describes a system wherein customer controlled credit consoles are utilized for credit authorization and subsequent pump enablement. The system however provides an electronic means by which a price discount is computer calculated within the system elements and used to lower the r.ormal selling price of the fuel at a dispenser selected by the customer at the controlled ~ 234~3;~
terminal. Therefore, the invention has provided a truly unique facility that does not exist, to the best of our knowledge, in the prior ar-t.
It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a system including a central processor and remote terminals wherein there is provided card validation, card authentication, status check, and the awarding of discounts where appropriate.
In accordance with the invention, there is pro-vided an automated fuel discounting system which includes aPoint OL Sale (POS) terminal, an attendant controlled terminal and a HOST computer.
In accordance with the invention there is also provided a method for automatically discounting fuel using the inventive system.
The invention will be better understood by an examination of the following description, together with the accompanying drawlngs, in which:
FIGURE 1 is a layout o~ a gasoline service station showing elements of the systemi FIGURE lA shows the inside of the attendant booth;
FIGURE 2 is a more detailed view of an attendant controlled terminal;
FIGURE 3 is a more detailed view of a Point of Sales terminal;
FIGURE ~ is a more detailed view of the display on the attendant controlled terminal;
FIGURE 5 is a block diagram of the system in accordance with the invention;
~23~i3~
FIGURES 6 to 11 are fiow charts of the logic controlling the inventive system; and FIGURE 12 illustrates a particular embodiment of the invention.
Referring to Figure 1, a gasoline station includes one or more gasoline dispensing islands 1 having a plurality of, for example, three, separate gasoline pumps 3 and 5. Associated with each island is a Point of Sale (POS) or customer controlled console 9. The gasoline station also includes an attendant booth 11 including an attendant controlled console shown at 13 in Figure lA.
Underground cable 15 (see Figure 1) connects the POS con-sole to the attendant controlled console. As is obvious, the cable could be disposed above ground instead of under-ground as above illustrated in the drawings herein.
Turning to Figure lA, also disposed in the attendant booth is a pump controller 17A and a pump controller interface 17B.. The pump controller is con-rected to the pumps 3 and 5 via underground cable 19 as shown in Figure 1, and the attendant controlled console 13 is connected to pump controller 17 by cable 18 via pump controller interface 17B shown in Figure lA.
- Turning to Figure 2, the attendant controlled console includes a receipt printer 21, a journal printer 23 and a slip printer 25. It also includes a keyboard 27 having a numerical pad 28. The console also includes a visual display 29 which is more particularly described in Figure 4.
Turning to Figure 3, the POS console includes a card reader 31 having a card receiving slot 32. A receipt printer 33 is also disposed on the POS console as is a ~3~L~i3Z:
keyboard 35 having a numerical pad 36. A visual display 37 is preferably also made a part of the eustomer controlled console.
Turning to Figure 5, a card 39 is shown being inserted into the card reader 31 of the customer controlled console 9. The customer controlled console 9 also includes a microcomputer 41 and a communications port 43. Data from the keyboard 35 is fed to the microcomputer 41 and data from the mieroeomputer 41 is fed to the display deviee 37 and the printer 33 to drive the display device 37 and the printer 33.
Data to and from the microcomputer 41 is fed to the communications port 43 which communicates, via cable 15, to communications port 45 of the attendant controlled console 13.
The attendant controlled console 13 also includes a mierocomputer 47 and a data transmission port 49. The microcomputer 47 communieates with a remote data bank or HOST eomputer 51 through the data transmission port 49.
Mieroeomputer 47 also eommunieates, by way of port 53, with a pump controller 17A. The pump controller 17A, in turn, cornmunicates with a respeetive one of the pumps, for example, pumps 3 and 5.
The printers 21, 23 and 25 are driven by the mierocomputer 47 as is the display 29. The keyboard 27 provides data to the microeomputer 47. Data flows in bo-th directions between the microcomputer 47 and the communi-cations port 45 as well as between the microcomputer 47 and the data transmission port 49. Data also flows in both ~23~3~
directions between the microcomputer 47 and pump controller 17A and between the pump controller 17A and a respective pump, for example, 3 or 5.
In operation, the card is inserted into the card receiving slot 32 of the card reader 31 of the customer controlled console 9. Prompts are scrolled on the visual display 37 for guiding the customer.
Referring now to Figure 6, before a card is inserted, the visual display will bear a message such as "Welcome - Insert Card and Leave in Place". When the card is inserted, it will be read by the microcomputer 41. If the card does not read properly, then a message such as "Card Not Inserted Properly or Card Damaged" will be dis-played on the visual display 37. The customer will then reinsert the card.
When the card reads properly, a message such as "Please Remove Your Card to Proceed" is displayed on the visual display 37, and the console beeps until the customer removes his credit card.
Turning now to Figure 7, after the customer has removed his card, the display on the customer controlled console 9 will flash a message such as "Press 'Fuel' Key or 'Receipt' Key". This refers to specific keys on the key-board 35. When the appropriate key is entered, the trans-action is transferred to the attendant controlled console 13.
If the Fuel key is depressed, the data will be transmitted to the attendant controlled console 13 (see Figure 8) and a message such as "Your Request is Being Processed" is flashed on the visual display 37 of the POS
console 9. The card is then checked to determine if it is ~23~L~32 a valid card in the sense of being a card oE the parti.cular company operating the system, or other cards acceptable to the company, for example, American Express M, Visa M, Master CardTM, etc.
If the card is not a valid card, then a message such as "Invalid Card Please See Cashier" is flashed on visual display 37, and the program is terminated.
If the card is a valid card, then the micro-processor 47 checks to determine whether the card is expired. If the card is expired, then a message such as "Card Expired Please See Cashier" is flashed on the visual display 37. Once again, the program is terminated.
Assuming that the card is both valid and unexpired, then the microprocessor 47 will communicate with the remote data bank to obtain credit or authorization for this particular sale and to obtain discount information appropriate to this particular card. While this inform-ation is being obtained from the HOST computer, a pro-motional message may be flashed on the visual display 37.
If the sale is authorized, then a message such as "Select Pump and Press 'OK KEY'" (see Figure 9) is flashed on the visual display 37. The customer keys in the pump number, and the transaction is returned to microcomputer 47 to determine whether the selected pump is available, i.e, if it has not been previously reserved or it is not a damaged pump. If the pump is not valid, then a message such as "Pump No. in Use - Select Another" is flashed on the visual display 37. If the pump is valid, then a message such as "Fuel at Pump No. Fuel Price " is displayed on the visual display 37. The ~3~63~
customer thus immediately sees not only his price (discount) but his price relative to the non-discounted price.
The customer will then fuel his car from the selected pump. When the fueling is completed, visual dis-play 37 will flash a message such as "Insert Card after Fueling for Receipt". If the card is inserted, a receipt will be printed by the receipt printer 33 and the program is terminated. If the card is not inserted after a given period of time, the program will be terminated.
The attendant, via the attendant controlled terminal 47, has the capability of collecting sales, enabling, stopping and resetting pumps. The Iseyboard 27 contains a numeric keypad 28 for entering pump numbers and other numeric values. It also includes a pump release key, enter keys, and special transmission function keys which allow the attendant to stop pumps, reset customer consoles, enter different types of tender, total sales, board sales and scroll-through menus. The content of the visual display 29 of the attendant control terminal is shown schematically in Figure 4 and consists of a grid including four rectangles. A column on the left-hand side of each rectangle includes four numbers, and these numbers refer to the pump numbers. In the illustrated embodiment, there are sixteen pumps and the status of pumps 1 to 4 is displayed in the rectangle on the left-hand side while the status of pumps 13 to 16 is displayed in the rectangle on the right-hand side. The pump grid is produced on the display by an application program. The symbol beside -the nu~ber of a pump indicates the status of the pump at that time.
~L234~i~3;2 For example, the symbol beside Pump No. 2 is used to indicate to the attendant that a customer is reserving the pump through a POS terminal. When the customer acti-vates the pump handle, the symbol beside Pump No. 2 will change to a flashing symbol like the one beside Pump No.
13. Not only will a symbol flash, but it will also beep until the attendant releases the pump. When the attendant releases the pump, the symbol beside Pump No. 2 will change to the one illustrated in Figure 4 beside Pump No. 5. This symbol indicates to the attendant that the customer is dispensing fuel from Pump No. S, and that Pump No. 5 was reserved through a POS terminal. When the customer is finished dispensing fuel and turns off the pump by return-ing the handle to the neutral pposition and replacing the nozzle, the sale is stored in a Capture File within the attendant controlled terminal. The sale is then trans-mitted to the HOST computer data bank.
If a customer activates a pump which has not been reserved by a PoS, a flashing, beeping symbol, such as the one appearing beside Pump No. 1 in Figure 4, will appear on the screen. When the attendant enables Pump No. 1, a symbol such as the one beside Pump No. 16 will appear on the screen. This indicates to the attendant that a customer at Pump No. 1 is dispensing fuel. However, this pump was not reserved at a POS terminal.
When the customer finishes dispensing and turns the pump off, the dollar amount of the sale will appear beside Pump No. 1. An example of such dollar amount is shown beside Pump No. 8 in Figure 4.
:
~3~L63;~
If two customers were to dispense gas one after the other, both without using a POS terminal, on the same pump, the system will allow for the second customer to dispense before the first customer has paid for his purchase~ For example, on Pump No. 4 of Figure 4, the first customer dispensed $1.93 of fuel. The second custoMer has used Pump No. 4 and dispensed $125.75.
Neither customer has paid for his sale at the time illus-trated in Figure 4. The system will not allow a third customer to dispense gas until one of the previous customers pays for theirs.
~ y looking at this display, the attendant is capable of pre-authorizing pùmps, e.g, Pump No. 12, taking pumps offline, e.g., Pump No. 9, or stopping a pump, e.g., Pump No. 15.
The text "TIME" beside Pump No. 10 indicates that a customer reserved the pump through the POS terminal but failed to activate the pump handle within 30 seconds of the attendant enabling it. The pump is reset when the Pump Release key is pressed to begin another sale.
Returning to Figure 8, if credit is not authorized, then the reason for lack of authorization will be flashed on the visual display 37 as per the program in Figure 10. For example, the company operating the system may require membership in a particular club in order to obtain a discount. If the card does not indicate such membership, then a message such as "Club Membership Required - See Cashier" would be flashed.
-3~63;~
Alternatively, the company may require visits to other outlets within the past 30 days in order to authorize credit or to grant discounts. If such a visit has not been made, then a message such as "No Store Visit Within 30 Days - See Cashier" would be flashed on the visual display 37.
A club member may be permitted only a certain number of visits per period of time in order to obtain benefits of credit authorization and/or discounts. If the number of visits have been used up, then a message such as "Membership Expired - Please See Cashier" would be flashed on the visual display 37.
Returning now to Figure 7, if the customer had initially pressed the Receipt key, then the data is, once again, transmitted to the attendant controlled console 13 (see Figure 11), and a message such as "Your Request is Being Processed'l would be flashed on the visual display 37.
Once again, the card is checked for validity and exiration, and if it passes both of these tests, then the micro-computer 37 searches to see if a receipt is available for this particular card. If a receipt is not available, then a message such as "Receipt Not Available" is flashed on the visual display 37 and the p-ogram is terminated. If a receipt is available, then the receipt is printed on the Receipt Printer 33 and, once again, the program is terminated.
A particula- embodiment of the invention is illustrated in ~igure 12. As can be seen in Figure 12, the hardware and software of the POS terminal is fully trans-parent to the HOST system. As can also be seen in Figure ~3~63;~:
12, there are actually two HOST systems; the Series 1 and two System 38's. The HOST system is seen as one logical unit of the two devices.
The HOST system "sees" only the NCR 2157 attendant controlled terminal. The attendant controlled terminal, utilizing PMS (Petrol Management System) software assumes all POS processing responsibilities and in fact can assume (temporarily) full HOST processing should the HOST
computer go offline.
The NCR 2157 terminal is equipped with a 600K
floppy disk drive, 640K of RAM memory and an integrated 10MB hard disk. It can control up to sixteen pumps and handles all Datapac asynchronous communications from all peripherals. In addition, it can act as a tributary station for batch file transfers and program donwloads.
The NCR 2157 "talks" to the first node of the HOST processing system through the Datapac network. At the terminal end, the operator controlled terminal utilizes the 3201/RAPID service (1200 bps) as their network access service. At the HOST end, Datapac 3000 is used by the Series 1.
The Series 1 to System 38 link is accomplished through sSC over a single 9600 bps link.
A number of offline situa-tions can arise that alter the message processing responsibilities. They are:
1. Failure of NCR 2157
2. Series 1 failure or Datapac failure.
3. System 38 or link to Series 1 failure.
The following describes the manner in which a failure is handled:
3L~3~ X
1) A failure in hardware or software at the NCR 2157 makes the system unavailable to customers until such a failure is repaired. This type of failure also means a problem in operating the gas bar itself, which is normally rectified and brought back on line in relatively short order.
2) If the NCR 2157 cannot connect to or does not receive acknowledgement from the HOST to a credit request, offline processing is initiated~ The NCR 2157, at this time, performs local authorization on all inserted cards and supplies a default discount to -the requesting customers. All data collect messages generated during an offline period are stored in terminal memory and sent to the HOST when communications are reestablished.
3) If either the System 38 or communications with the Series 1 from the System 38 is unavailable, the Series 1 will perform offline processing. The Series 1 will process all requests until communications are reestablished by completing the negative list look up and supplying a default discount to approved requests.
The following describes System 38 database files which may be used by System 38 processing.
Current Members Eile (CGKMEMB) The current members file contains a single record for each club member. Items contained in this file include descriptive fields such as name and address, and processing fields such as member discount and last store visit.
~.~3~L632 Site Control File (CGKSITE) The site control file contains a record for each valid system site. Stores and gas bars are uniquely identified within the record.
Discount Parameters (CGKDISC) The discount parameters file contains uniquely identified records that define the discount parameters used both in the month end calculation of member discounts and the on line calculation of cent per litre discounts returned in the credit response message.
Transaction File (CGKTRAN) The transaction file contains all data collect records and rejected credit request records. It is integral in the review of network operation. It should be noted that although two data collect records are generated at the close of a sale, one summarized record is created and placed in CGKTRAN.
Other Files Other files may be created to control such items as date control and time zone differentials. Currently, these aspects are controlled via other means more appro-priate in the service bureau HOST.
Discounts in an operating embodiment of the system are made up of three components:
Member Discount The member discount is the basic discount that applies to all club members. It fluctuates and is cal-culated based on the volume (litres) of gasoline purchased tby this customer) at participating locations in the previous month. Hence, at the beginning of each month, the member discoun~ is recalculated by utilizing the CGKTRAN
~L23~i3~:
file based on the volume parameters in the CGKDISC file.
It remains the same throughout the month and is again recalculated at the beginning of each successive month.
The caculated member discount is located in the CGKMEMB
file.
Store Visit Discoun-t The store visit discount is a common value fixed for all club members. It is added to the club member dis-count at transaction time if the club member has made a store visit within 30 days. tTaken from CGKDISC).
Competitive Discount The competitive discount is taken from CGKSDISC.
The appropriate discount is looked up based on the day of the week, and the local time of the day that the trans-action occurs. Members are only eligible for the com-petitive discount if they have made a store visit within 30 days.
Discount Examples Club member # 123 456 789 7 accesses the system on Sept. 15/86. Their last store visit, according to their member record in CGKMEMB was June 1/86. (cpl stands for cents per litre).
Member Last Store Competitive Total Discount + Visit Discount +Discount Discount (From (from CGKDISC) (From CGKMEMB) CGKSDISC) _ _ .
1.2 cpl + not eligible + not eligible = 1.2cpl Club member # 241 189 112 6 accesses the system on Sept.
15/86. Their last store visit was Sept. 1/86 and their credit request occurs at ll:OOa.m. Calgary time.
Member Last Store Competitive Total Discount + Visit Discount +Discount Discount (From (~rom CGKDISC) (From CGKMEMB) CGKSDISC) . _ _ . . . . _ _ _ . . _ 1.4 cpl + l.Ocpl* + 4.0cpl** = 6.4cpl * common to all club members who qualify.
0 ** taken from the ll:OOa.m. slot in the Monday record of CGKSDISC (Sept. 15/86 is a Monday).
~.23~i32 The file access applications used at the System 38 in an operating embodiment are as follows:
Member Update This program will allow the user to add~ update or delete a club member in CGKMEMB. As described previously, this application transfers deleted members to CGKPAST. Certain fields in this display are secured from change based on user i.d. and access function (add, update or delete).
General Discount Parameters This program will allow the user to specify the parameters upon which the month end discount calculation lS
based and to set the last store visit discount component.
The discount parameters allow the user to enter ten (10) volume ranges and their resultant cpl discount.
Site Discount Levels This program allows the user to set the daily and hourly site discount values in CGKSDISC. Discounts are set by hour within seven daily records. Access to this file during a transaction is according to the local POS time and not the HOST time.
Site Transaction Query This program allows the user to review records from the CGKTRAN file. The program, at initiation, prompts the user for a starting date, time and site to query. The program then displays each block of twenty records that occured after the specified search criteria. The user should be able to page through the CGKTRAN file for that site until either the end of site is reached or the user terminates the program.
~ 34~
Account Transaction Query _ This program allows the user to accomplish the same query as the previous program, but replaces the site search criteria by the member's club number.
Monthly Discount Calculation This program runs at the end of each calendar month and recalculates the member discount stored in the CGKMEMB records according to the criteria in CGKDISC.
Having calculated the new discount, the GKB001 program updates the CGKMEMB file with the new cpl value. The program should allow the user to set the date and time parameters for this programs' execution.
With the novel system, authority for credit and discount information is obtained from a remotely located HOST computer. Thus, when the company has several gas-stations, it can operate a program of discounts from a central location.
Although a particular embodiment has been des-cribed, this was for the purpose of illustrating, but not limiting, the invention. Various modifications, which will come readily to the mind of one skilled in the art, are within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.
The following describes the manner in which a failure is handled:
3L~3~ X
1) A failure in hardware or software at the NCR 2157 makes the system unavailable to customers until such a failure is repaired. This type of failure also means a problem in operating the gas bar itself, which is normally rectified and brought back on line in relatively short order.
2) If the NCR 2157 cannot connect to or does not receive acknowledgement from the HOST to a credit request, offline processing is initiated~ The NCR 2157, at this time, performs local authorization on all inserted cards and supplies a default discount to -the requesting customers. All data collect messages generated during an offline period are stored in terminal memory and sent to the HOST when communications are reestablished.
3) If either the System 38 or communications with the Series 1 from the System 38 is unavailable, the Series 1 will perform offline processing. The Series 1 will process all requests until communications are reestablished by completing the negative list look up and supplying a default discount to approved requests.
The following describes System 38 database files which may be used by System 38 processing.
Current Members Eile (CGKMEMB) The current members file contains a single record for each club member. Items contained in this file include descriptive fields such as name and address, and processing fields such as member discount and last store visit.
~.~3~L632 Site Control File (CGKSITE) The site control file contains a record for each valid system site. Stores and gas bars are uniquely identified within the record.
Discount Parameters (CGKDISC) The discount parameters file contains uniquely identified records that define the discount parameters used both in the month end calculation of member discounts and the on line calculation of cent per litre discounts returned in the credit response message.
Transaction File (CGKTRAN) The transaction file contains all data collect records and rejected credit request records. It is integral in the review of network operation. It should be noted that although two data collect records are generated at the close of a sale, one summarized record is created and placed in CGKTRAN.
Other Files Other files may be created to control such items as date control and time zone differentials. Currently, these aspects are controlled via other means more appro-priate in the service bureau HOST.
Discounts in an operating embodiment of the system are made up of three components:
Member Discount The member discount is the basic discount that applies to all club members. It fluctuates and is cal-culated based on the volume (litres) of gasoline purchased tby this customer) at participating locations in the previous month. Hence, at the beginning of each month, the member discoun~ is recalculated by utilizing the CGKTRAN
~L23~i3~:
file based on the volume parameters in the CGKDISC file.
It remains the same throughout the month and is again recalculated at the beginning of each successive month.
The caculated member discount is located in the CGKMEMB
file.
Store Visit Discoun-t The store visit discount is a common value fixed for all club members. It is added to the club member dis-count at transaction time if the club member has made a store visit within 30 days. tTaken from CGKDISC).
Competitive Discount The competitive discount is taken from CGKSDISC.
The appropriate discount is looked up based on the day of the week, and the local time of the day that the trans-action occurs. Members are only eligible for the com-petitive discount if they have made a store visit within 30 days.
Discount Examples Club member # 123 456 789 7 accesses the system on Sept. 15/86. Their last store visit, according to their member record in CGKMEMB was June 1/86. (cpl stands for cents per litre).
Member Last Store Competitive Total Discount + Visit Discount +Discount Discount (From (from CGKDISC) (From CGKMEMB) CGKSDISC) _ _ .
1.2 cpl + not eligible + not eligible = 1.2cpl Club member # 241 189 112 6 accesses the system on Sept.
15/86. Their last store visit was Sept. 1/86 and their credit request occurs at ll:OOa.m. Calgary time.
Member Last Store Competitive Total Discount + Visit Discount +Discount Discount (From (~rom CGKDISC) (From CGKMEMB) CGKSDISC) . _ _ . . . . _ _ _ . . _ 1.4 cpl + l.Ocpl* + 4.0cpl** = 6.4cpl * common to all club members who qualify.
0 ** taken from the ll:OOa.m. slot in the Monday record of CGKSDISC (Sept. 15/86 is a Monday).
~.23~i32 The file access applications used at the System 38 in an operating embodiment are as follows:
Member Update This program will allow the user to add~ update or delete a club member in CGKMEMB. As described previously, this application transfers deleted members to CGKPAST. Certain fields in this display are secured from change based on user i.d. and access function (add, update or delete).
General Discount Parameters This program will allow the user to specify the parameters upon which the month end discount calculation lS
based and to set the last store visit discount component.
The discount parameters allow the user to enter ten (10) volume ranges and their resultant cpl discount.
Site Discount Levels This program allows the user to set the daily and hourly site discount values in CGKSDISC. Discounts are set by hour within seven daily records. Access to this file during a transaction is according to the local POS time and not the HOST time.
Site Transaction Query This program allows the user to review records from the CGKTRAN file. The program, at initiation, prompts the user for a starting date, time and site to query. The program then displays each block of twenty records that occured after the specified search criteria. The user should be able to page through the CGKTRAN file for that site until either the end of site is reached or the user terminates the program.
~ 34~
Account Transaction Query _ This program allows the user to accomplish the same query as the previous program, but replaces the site search criteria by the member's club number.
Monthly Discount Calculation This program runs at the end of each calendar month and recalculates the member discount stored in the CGKMEMB records according to the criteria in CGKDISC.
Having calculated the new discount, the GKB001 program updates the CGKMEMB file with the new cpl value. The program should allow the user to set the date and time parameters for this programs' execution.
With the novel system, authority for credit and discount information is obtained from a remotely located HOST computer. Thus, when the company has several gas-stations, it can operate a program of discounts from a central location.
Although a particular embodiment has been des-cribed, this was for the purpose of illustrating, but not limiting, the invention. Various modifications, which will come readily to the mind of one skilled in the art, are within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.
Claims (3)
1. A method for automatically discounting fuel for a member having a member card including identification data, at any one of a plurality of gas stations, each gas station containing a plurality of gas pumps, each gas pump having a means for displaying gas price and a processor for driving said means for displaying gas price and for accumulating data concerning amount of gas pumped, said system including a Point of Sale (POS) terminal and processor at each of said gas stations having means for receiving and reading a member credit card, an attendant controlled terminal and processor at each of said gas stations communicating with said POS processor and with said gas pump processor, and a remote HOST computer communicating with said attendant controlled processor;
said method including the steps of:
said member inserting said member card in said means for receiving and reading a member card of said POS
terminal and process;
said POS terminal and processor providing said identification data from said member's card to said HOST
computer via said attendant controlled processor; said HOST
computer determining:
i. if said member card is an appropriate and valid card;
ii. if club conditions have been complied with;
said HOST computer authorizing credit and grant-ing a discount if conditions have been met;
said discount being displayed on said means for displaying said gas price.
said method including the steps of:
said member inserting said member card in said means for receiving and reading a member card of said POS
terminal and process;
said POS terminal and processor providing said identification data from said member's card to said HOST
computer via said attendant controlled processor; said HOST
computer determining:
i. if said member card is an appropriate and valid card;
ii. if club conditions have been complied with;
said HOST computer authorizing credit and grant-ing a discount if conditions have been met;
said discount being displayed on said means for displaying said gas price.
2. A method as defined in claim 1 wherein said POS
terminal and processor, before providing identification data from said member's card to said HOST computer, will first:
i. determine if said card is properly inserted;
ii. determine if said card is damaged.
terminal and processor, before providing identification data from said member's card to said HOST computer, will first:
i. determine if said card is properly inserted;
ii. determine if said card is damaged.
3. A method as defined in claim 2 wherein said attendant controlled terminal and processor will, before providing identification data from said member's card received from said POS terminal and processor, to said HOST computer, will first:
i. determine if said card is a valid card;
ii. determine if said card is expired.
i. determine if said card is a valid card;
ii. determine if said card is expired.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000537453A CA1234632A (en) | 1987-05-20 | 1987-05-20 | Automated fuel discounting system |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000537453A CA1234632A (en) | 1987-05-20 | 1987-05-20 | Automated fuel discounting system |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1234632A true CA1234632A (en) | 1988-03-29 |
Family
ID=4135698
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000537453A Expired CA1234632A (en) | 1987-05-20 | 1987-05-20 | Automated fuel discounting system |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (1) | CA1234632A (en) |
Cited By (6)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WO1999040544A1 (en) * | 1998-02-09 | 1999-08-12 | Nigel John Kirkland | Fuel dispensing/vehicle identification |
| WO2002023495A1 (en) * | 2000-09-12 | 2002-03-21 | British American Tobacco Australia Vending Limited | Dispensing machine and method |
| US8123125B2 (en) | 2005-10-31 | 2012-02-28 | The Kroger Co. | Combined in-store and fuel center point-of-sale system |
| WO2016108165A1 (en) * | 2014-12-29 | 2016-07-07 | 365 Technologies Ltd. | Anti-fraud authentication system and method |
| US10438222B2 (en) | 2005-06-22 | 2019-10-08 | Excentus Corporation | System and method for influencing customer behavior |
| US10528967B2 (en) | 2005-06-22 | 2020-01-07 | Excentus Corporation | System and method for discounting fuel |
-
1987
- 1987-05-20 CA CA000537453A patent/CA1234632A/en not_active Expired
Cited By (7)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WO1999040544A1 (en) * | 1998-02-09 | 1999-08-12 | Nigel John Kirkland | Fuel dispensing/vehicle identification |
| WO2002023495A1 (en) * | 2000-09-12 | 2002-03-21 | British American Tobacco Australia Vending Limited | Dispensing machine and method |
| EP2309466A1 (en) * | 2000-09-12 | 2011-04-13 | British American Tobacco Australia Vending Limited | Dispensing machine and method |
| US10438222B2 (en) | 2005-06-22 | 2019-10-08 | Excentus Corporation | System and method for influencing customer behavior |
| US10528967B2 (en) | 2005-06-22 | 2020-01-07 | Excentus Corporation | System and method for discounting fuel |
| US8123125B2 (en) | 2005-10-31 | 2012-02-28 | The Kroger Co. | Combined in-store and fuel center point-of-sale system |
| WO2016108165A1 (en) * | 2014-12-29 | 2016-07-07 | 365 Technologies Ltd. | Anti-fraud authentication system and method |
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| MKEX | Expiry |