EP1249009A1 - Acquisition de donnees multietages sur un terre-plein de station service - Google Patents

Acquisition de donnees multietages sur un terre-plein de station service

Info

Publication number
EP1249009A1
EP1249009A1 EP01902463A EP01902463A EP1249009A1 EP 1249009 A1 EP1249009 A1 EP 1249009A1 EP 01902463 A EP01902463 A EP 01902463A EP 01902463 A EP01902463 A EP 01902463A EP 1249009 A1 EP1249009 A1 EP 1249009A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
environment
data
consumer
location
information
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.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP01902463A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Inventor
Steven N. Terranova
Brian L. Quarendon
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Gilbarco Inc
Original Assignee
Gilbarco Inc
Marconi Commerce Systems Inc
Priority date (The priority date 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 date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Gilbarco Inc, Marconi Commerce Systems Inc filed Critical Gilbarco Inc
Publication of EP1249009A1 publication Critical patent/EP1249009A1/fr
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
    • G07F—COIN-FREED OR LIKE APPARATUS
    • G07F17/00—Coin-freed apparatus for hiring articles; Coin-freed facilities or services
    • G07F17/0014—Coin-freed apparatus for hiring articles; Coin-freed facilities or services for vending, access and use of specific services not covered anywhere else in G07F17/00
    • 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
    • G07F13/025—Coin-freed apparatus for controlling dispensing or fluids, semiliquids or granular material from reservoirs by volume wherein the volume is determined during delivery
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
    • G07F—COIN-FREED OR LIKE APPARATUS
    • G07F17/00—Coin-freed apparatus for hiring articles; Coin-freed facilities or services
    • G07F17/16—Coin-freed apparatus for hiring articles; Coin-freed facilities or services for devices exhibiting advertisements, announcements, pictures or the like

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to multistage information acquisition in a fuelling environment typically a service station forecourt.
  • Fuelling environments are becoming more and more sophisticated with multiple retail establishments integrated into a single fuelling forecourt.
  • U.S. Patent 5,956,259 which is hereby incorporated by reference, quick serve restaurants, car washes, convenience stores, and the like may all be part of a unified plan to vend products and services to consumers in a fuelling forecourt environment.
  • advances are being made in fuel dispensers themselves. For example, some fuel dispensers are now Internet capable. Further, the types of transactions that are now possible over these fuel dispensers that have communicative links to remote computers is ever increasing.
  • a fuelling environment comprising a consumer interface at a first location for receiving a consumers request for data, and at a second location apart from the first location a data delivery device adapted to deliver at least a portion of the requested data to the consumer.
  • a method of providing information to a consumer in a fuelling environment comprising: receiving a request for information from the consumer at a first location in the fuelling environment; and transmitting the requested information from a location apart from the first location to the consumer for subsequent use in a vehicle.
  • the present invention addresses the problem of the downloading of large amounts of data on the forecourt taking a considerable time, both preventing use of the forecourt for other purposes, such as fuel dispensing, where the data was ordered at a fuel dispenser, and also forcing the customer and their vehicle to remain in that location.
  • the present invention allows the customer to move around the forecourt during a download, and thus exposes them during this period to other products and services offered at the forecourt, encouraging further sales.
  • a consumer may purchase information at a fuel dispenser as part of a fuelling transaction, and have the information downloaded to the vehicle computer while having the car washed. This frees up the fuel dispenser traffic lanes and provides a productive use of the time spent in the car wash.
  • the consumer may travel to a dedicated kiosk to download the information therefrom after purchase.
  • Appropriate identification transponders and detectors may track the location of the vehicle in the forecourt such that the purchased information may be properly downloaded wherever the vehicle is located within the forecourt. Still further, the consumer may purchase the information through a fuel dispenser and then receive a broadcast from a central antenna that provides the purchased information to the consumer anywhere on the forecourt
  • Figure 1 shows a vehicle equipped with an onboard computer for use with the present invention
  • Figure 2 is a block diagram of the onboard computer
  • Figure 3 shows a simplified retail terminal in use with the present invention
  • Figure 4 is a block diagram of a fuelling environment in communication with remote computers
  • Figure 5 is a schematic drawing of a multistage information transaction
  • Figure 6 is a simplified drawing of an alternate technique to transfer information to the vehicle
  • FIG 7 is a flow chart of the method of the present invention.
  • a vehicle 10 is equipped with an onboard computer 12, an antenna 14, and a receiver 16.
  • the onboard computer 12 is operatively connected to the receiver 16.
  • a transmitter 18 may be operatively connected to both the onboard computer 12 and the antenna 14.
  • the onboard computer 12 includes a central processing unit 20, which in turn is operatively connected to a display 22, an input device 24, a disk drive 26, and a transceiver 28, which includes both the receiver 16 and the transmitter 18.
  • Display 22 may be a conventional video display such as is commonly found on laptop computers or it may be integrated with the input device 24 as a touchscreen or the like.
  • Input device 24 may be a mouse, a keyboard, a joystick, or other well known input device as needed or desired.
  • Disk drive 26 may be any sort of drive, which accepts a portable storage medium and reads data therefrom.
  • the transceiver 28 may operate in the electromagnetic spectrum, preferably in the RF range, and may operate as a cellular communications device, a conventional radio receiver, or other such device.
  • the computer 12 may include a Global Positioning System (GPS) locator 29. This may be integrated with computer 12 or merely communicatively connected thereto.
  • GPS Global Positioning System
  • the onboard computer 12 may be positioned in any number of places within the vehicle 10, and may be dispersed or integrated into a single housing.
  • the display 22 and the input device 24 could be positioned in the steering wheel, with the CPU 20 positioned in the trunk of the vehicle; or the entire computer 12 could be positioned on the passenger side dashboard.
  • Onboard computer 12 may be a separate unit in the vehicle 10, or it may be integrated into a vehicle component such as a radio.
  • the onboard computer 12 may be a laptop computer that has a hook up station within the vehicle 10, much like cellular phones have in-vehicle hands free stations. Other placements are possible and within the scope of the present invention.
  • a consumer 30, as shown in Figure 3 may now purchase information pursuant the present invention.
  • the consumer 30 may manually interact with a user input/output device 32 on a retail terminal 34, such as a fuel dispenser.
  • User input/output device 32 may include a display 36 and a keypad 38 or other appropriate input and output mechanisms. It should be appreciated that the display 36 and keypad 38 may be integrated into a unified touch screen or the like. Thus, the consumer 30 may manually enter through the keypad 38 an indication of the information desired to be purchased.
  • the display 36 may provide visual confirmation of the information being purchased, as well as additional information such as cost and expected time required to complete the transaction. While it is assumed that the purchase of information implies that the consumer pays for the information at a time proximate to the transaction, it is possible that the transaction will actually be cost free to the consumer. Alternatively, the consumer may prepay for information purchases and have a device that represents the credit available, much as is presently done with phone cards. In the event that there is a financial transaction associated with the ordering of information, this may be done through a number of techniques, including a credit card, the onboard computer 12 providing prestored account information, the aforementioned prepaid card or the like. Payment authorisation could be entered manually by the consumer 30 at the retail terminal 34 or wirelessly from the onboard computer 12.
  • a consumer positioned within the vehicle 10 may use the onboard computer 12 to initiate the transaction. That is, the consumer may use the input device 24 to instruct the CPU 20 to initiate communication through the vehicle transceiver 18 and antenna 14 with the retail terminal 34 and, specifically, transceiver 40 within the retail terminal 34. This wireless communication passes the same information that would have been manually entered through keypad 38 to the retail terminal 34.
  • the transaction request is passed to a control system 42, which may be positioned as shown in Figure 3 within the retail terminal 34, or remotely therefrom.
  • the control system 42 may perform additional functions for the retail terminal 34. For example, if the retail terminal 34 is a fuel dispenser, the control system 42 may act as the computer which controls fuel grade selection, accounting for the fuelling transaction, payment authorisation, and the like.
  • Figure 3 shows the retail terminal 34 embodied in a fuel dispenser
  • the retail terminal 34 may be embodied in a number of different permutations, and is broadly defined as including a forecourt peripheral for a fuelling environment 53.
  • the retail terminal 34 may be a retail terminal 34 associated with a quick-serve restaurant 44, a fuel dispenser 46, a car wash 48, or the like.
  • a site-controlling computer 50 such as the G-SITE®, sold by assignee of the present invention may be operatively be connected to the various retail terminals 34 and further, may be positioned within a station building 62 ( Figure 5).
  • a dedicated terminal 51 may exist within the fuelling environment 53.
  • the site controller 50 may communicate with remote computers 52 over a network connection 54.
  • the network connection 54 may be wireless or, more preferably, a conventional landline, such as the telephone system.
  • Remote computers 52 contain the desired information which is to be purchased through the transaction, and may be associated with the Internet, a proprietary network, or the like.
  • the communication links between the respective retail terminals 34 and the site controller 50 may also be wireless, a dedicated line, a local area network, or the like.
  • the site controller 50 tracks the movement of the vehicle 10 within the fuelling, environment 53, and activates the appropriate information dispenser within a retail terminal 34 to complete the information transfer. This may be accomplished with appropriate transponder technology in U.S. Patent 5,956,259.
  • the consumer may be issued a receipt or other indicia that indicates that the consumer has already purchased the information, but still needs to receive the information so purchased.
  • the consumer could receive a bar code, or be provided an electronic code number that the vehicle onboard computer 12 then transmits as to secure an information download.
  • the consumer could swipe a credit card, a smart card, or other payment means at the second retail terminal 34 to initiate information downloading.
  • the account number associated with the payment means would then act as authorisation for an information download, even though no additional financial activity took place. Rather the account number is merely an identification mechanism that the fuelling environment 53 could use to make sure that the appropriate person was receiving the information download.
  • the fuelling environment 53 is especially well suited for multistage information vending, as shown in Figure 5.
  • a vehicle 10 may be inclined to visit multiple retail establishments within the fuelling environment 53, and this facilitates the multistage information vending.
  • a vehicle 10 may begin a fuelling transaction at the fuel dispenser 46. While dispensing fuel into the vehicle 10, the consumer may purchase information through the fuel dispenser retail terminal 34.
  • a typical fuelling transaction only lasts approximately two minutes, there may be insufficient time to locate and provide the information to the consumer during the fuelling transaction.
  • the ' consumer may also have purchased something from the quick-serve restaurant 44 and a car wash from the car wash 48 during the same fuelling transaction.
  • the retail terminal 34 associated with the quick-serve restaurant 44 may transmit the information wirelessly through the antenna 14 to the onboard computer 12. If the information has not been completely transmitted during the food pickup part of the consumer's visit to the fuelling environment 53, additional transmissions may be made from the retail terminal 34 associated with the car wash 48.
  • a vehicle such as vehicle 10A, may purchase fuel from the fuel dispenser 46 and simultaneously purchase information therethrough. Rather than travel about the forecourt completing the various transactions requested at the fuel dispenser 46, vehicle 10A merely pulls up to a dedicated retail terminal 51 and remains in position long enough for the information to be downloaded through the antenna 14 to the onboard computer 12.
  • an antenna 60 positioned in a location such that the entire fuelling environment 53 may be communicatively linked therewith through a wireless transmission, may be used to deliver the information.
  • the consumer 30 may order the information from one of the retail terminals 34 within the fuelling environment 53 and then receive the information from a second source, namely the antenna 62.
  • the site controller 50 does not necessarily have to track the movement of the vehicle 10 within the fuelling environment 53.
  • a flow chart of the preferred method of the present invention begins with the consumer entering the fuelling environment 53 (block 100).
  • the consumer 30 then approaches a first retail terminal 34 in his vehicle 10 (block 102).
  • the consumer 30 indicates the information that he desires to purchase (block 104). This may be done wirelessly through the onboard computer 12 (block 106A) which may be appropriate for example in a robotic fuelling environment, or it may be done manually (block 106B). Additionally, there may be occasions when the consumer 30 ventured into the fuelling environment 53 for the sole purpose of information purchasing, and in that case, the consumer may have no desire to exit the vehicle 10, and a wireless purchase may also be appropriate in such circumstances.
  • the consumer 30 may move his vehicle 10 to a second retail terminal 34 (block 108) at which time the onboard computer 12 receives the purchased information through the second retail terminal 34.
  • the information may be delivered from a second location, remote from the location at which the information was purchased, such as the antenna 60.
  • payment is authorised if this is a financial transaction information purchase (block 112).
  • the consumer exits the fuelling environment 53 (block 114).
  • the present invention provides a method and system for vending information in a fuelling environment 53 forecourt that facilitates the transfer of information to the consumer 30 as the consumer 30 travels about the forecourt completing various retail transactions. It should be appreciated that the information may begin to download at the initial retail terminal 34, and then continue at subsequent retail terminals 34 as the consumer 30 travels about the forecourt. Alternatively, the information may not begin to download until the consumer has moved from the first location from which the information was ordered.
  • Patent No. 5,956,259 to track the location of the vehicle 10 within the fuelling environment 53, and relies on the technology of the patent to Smith, U.S. Patent No. 5,914,654, to facilitate the transfer of information from the retail terminal 34 to the onboard computer 12. While it is presumed that the information will be transferred through the antenna 14 to the onboard computer 12 directly, it is also possible to interpose a portable storage medium, such as a disk, that may be consumer provided or generated by the retail terminal 34 on which the information is placed and then uploaded to the onboard computer 12 through the disk drive 26.
  • a portable storage medium such as a disk

Landscapes

  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Loading And Unloading Of Fuel Tanks Or Ships (AREA)

Abstract

Système servant à commercialiser des informations multiétages dans un environnement de station service et comprenant une pluralité de terminaux de détail (44, 46, 48, 51) équipés chacun d'un mécanisme de transmission. Le consommateur peut acheter des données ou des informations au niveau d'un premier terminal de détail (40), par exemple, pendant qu'il fait le plein, puis recevoir les données depuis un deuxième terminal de détail (51).
EP01902463A 2000-01-14 2001-01-15 Acquisition de donnees multietages sur un terre-plein de station service Withdrawn EP1249009A1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US48328100A 2000-01-14 2000-01-14
US483281 2000-01-14
PCT/GB2001/000145 WO2001052200A1 (fr) 2000-01-14 2001-01-15 Acquisition de donnees multietages sur un terre-plein de station service

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP1249009A1 true EP1249009A1 (fr) 2002-10-16

Family

ID=23919451

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP01902463A Withdrawn EP1249009A1 (fr) 2000-01-14 2001-01-15 Acquisition de donnees multietages sur un terre-plein de station service

Country Status (3)

Country Link
EP (1) EP1249009A1 (fr)
AU (1) AU3032501A (fr)
WO (1) WO2001052200A1 (fr)

Families Citing this family (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US7072839B2 (en) * 2001-02-21 2006-07-04 International Buisness Machines Corporation Systems and methods wherein a consumable item parameter is exchanged between a consumable item and a consuming device
FR2902219B1 (fr) * 2006-06-07 2008-09-12 Erla Technologies Sarl Dispositif de gestion du carburant d'un vehicule capable de communiquer avec une borne receptrice equipee pour delivrer du carburant

Family Cites Families (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5806018A (en) * 1993-05-25 1998-09-08 Intellectual Property Development Associates Of Connecticut, Incorporated Methods and apparatus for updating navigation information in a motorized vehicle
US5995898A (en) * 1996-12-06 1999-11-30 Micron Communication, Inc. RFID system in communication with vehicle on-board computer
US6574603B1 (en) * 1997-09-26 2003-06-03 Gilbarco Inc. In-vehicle ordering

Non-Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
See references of WO0152200A1 *

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
WO2001052200A1 (fr) 2001-07-19
AU3032501A (en) 2001-07-24

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