GB2381641A

GB2381641A - A portable fuel payment system

Info

Publication number: GB2381641A
Application number: GB0120382A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Mark Robert Johnson; Christopher Robert Guy Daws
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2001-08-22
Filing date: 2001-08-22
Publication date: 2003-05-07
Also published as: GB0120382D0

Abstract

A payment system comprises of an electronic device 1 which records payment details, transmits these details to a central authority and stores credits on a portable device 2. The portable device 2 can be read by a fuel pump interface 3. The fuel pump interface 3 allows delivery of fuel up to the value of the credit held in the portable device 2 and decrements credits accordingly. The portable device 2 can be of a size suitable for connection to a key ring.

Description

FORECOURT INCOME SECURITY TECHNOLOGY The Problem Every year the petrol retailing industry loses in excess of 10, 000, 000 through people driving off without paying for fuel.

Many systems have been put in place to reduce this loss, ranging from CCTV to placing old Police cars on the forecourt, but 10, 000. 000 is still lost every year.

What is needed is a system that will reliably prevent drive offs without needless complication of the retail procedure for customer or station proprietor.

This system should :- # Provide reliable protection against drive offs * Be relatively cheap to develop * Be cheap and simple to install * Be cheap and simple to operate This system should not :- # Require remodelling of the forecourt * Require retraining of forecourt staff * Complicate the procedure for Customers Provide another avenue for fraud or loss We believe the system outlined in the following pages meets these requirements and provides further operational benefits that will become apparent.

The Solution A method of ensuring that the customer cannot avoid paying for any fuel purchased.

Device 1. Drawing 1/3 A device to be positioned in retail premises, that will :- a. Accept a numerical input as a record of monies paid. b. Output this record to a portable device. c. Use cell phone technology to communicate with a central unit for security and accounting purposes.

- or- d. Store and total these records. e. Produce a complete record of transactions when required for accounting purposes.

Device 2. Drawing 2/3 A portable device designed to attach to a driver's key ring, that can store a record of a transaction performed by device 1. To be interrogated and updated by device 3.

Device 3. Drawing 3/3 A device attached to a fuel pump that can interrogate device 2 and, subsequent to sufficient credit being available, allow the delivery of fuel and then debit the account on device 2. Device 3 would need to be integrated into the fuel pump management and point of sale equipment on the garage forecourt.

The Procedure is as follows.

1. Device 1 is installed in a retail premises such as a Post office, supermarket or local shop.

2. The customer purchases an empty or pre-credited device 2.

3. The customer pays to register credits on device 2 using the facilities of device 1.

4. The customer visits a device 3 equipped filling station and inserts device 2 into device 3.

5. Device 3 controls the vending of fuel up to but not exceeding the credits pre-registered on device 2 (see appendix a) 6. The customer exits the filling station, retaining the device 2 for future transactions.

This system will :- . Prevent "loss by drive off'by the simple fact that the fuel is paid for before being dispensed.

'Increase forecourt throughput by simplifying the retail procedure (see appendix b) "Reduce the need for forecourt staff leading to the possibility of unmanned stations (see appendix b)

Device 1 - Description An electronic device capable of accepting a numerical input as a record of monies paid. The device will use cell phone technology to contact a central clearing agency to authorise and record this transaction. This will prevent the unauthorised or fraudulent use of this device. This information will be used to update a portable device (device 2) interfaced with this device.

Drawing 1/3 Ref 1. Printer output slot Ref 2. Numerical Display Ref 3. Interface with device 2 Device 2-Description An electronic device that will act as an exchange medium between device 1 and device 3. This device to be of such a size and construction as to enable convenient connection to a key ring or similar.

Drawing 2/3 Ref 1. Electronic interface Ref 2. Thumb grip Ref 3. Keyring attachment loop Device 3-Description An electronic device that will interface with the pump management system and device 2. This device will interrogate device 2 to ascertain the available credit limit, control the dispensing of fuel up to but not exceeding that limit and continually debit device 2 until the credit is exhausted or the transaction is completed.

Drawing 3/3 Ref 1. Display Panel Ref 2. Device 2 interface Ref 3. Instruction panel

Claims

Claims 1. A system of three devices to accept and register a payment, store and transport a record of that payment, read and decrement the record of payment and control a fuel pump to allow delivery.
2. A device as claimed in claim I to make a record of a payment, transmit this record to a central authority and update a portable device accordingly.
3. A portable device as claimed in any preceding claim to accept details of a payment and transport this record to a device that will access this record.
4. A device as claimed in any preceding claim to read a record of payment from a portable device, control a fuel pump to allow fuel delivery and to decrement the record on the portable device.

S. A system of three devices substantially as herein described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

<Desc/Clms Page number 6>

Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows 1) A system of three devices to accept and register payment, store and transport a record of that payment, then read and decrement the record of payment and control a fuel pump or other dispenser of goods or services to allow delivery of the product.

2) A device as claimed in claim 1 to make a record of a payment, transmit this record to a central authority and update a portable device through a system of direct electrical contacts.

3) A portable device as claimed in all preceding claims to accept details of a payment and transport this record to a device that will access this record 4) A device as claimed in any preceding claims to make a direct electrical connection with a portable device for the purpose of two-way communication between the devices. This communication will serve to veniy the level ofpre-payment present on the portable device, to allow delivery of fuel or any other goods or services not exceeding the value held on the portable device and to continually update the portable device. Any delivery of goods or services to be immediately terminated should the connection be terminated.

5) A system of three devices substantially as herein described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.