WO1999016701A1 - Systeme de distribution de combustible et de vente au detail permettant d'offrir des promotions de fidelisation a des clients - Google Patents

Systeme de distribution de combustible et de vente au detail permettant d'offrir des promotions de fidelisation a des clients Download PDF

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Publication number
WO1999016701A1
WO1999016701A1 PCT/GB1998/002869 GB9802869W WO9916701A1 WO 1999016701 A1 WO1999016701 A1 WO 1999016701A1 GB 9802869 W GB9802869 W GB 9802869W WO 9916701 A1 WO9916701 A1 WO 9916701A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
transaction
control system
transponder
benefit
dispenser
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/GB1998/002869
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Kenneth O. Marion
Original Assignee
Gilbarco 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. filed Critical Gilbarco Inc.
Priority to EP98946555A priority Critical patent/EP1017616A1/fr
Priority to AU93561/98A priority patent/AU9356198A/en
Publication of WO1999016701A1 publication Critical patent/WO1999016701A1/fr

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
    • G07F7/10—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 together with a coded signal, e.g. in the form of personal identification information, like personal identification number [PIN] or biometric data
    • G07F7/1008—Active credit-cards provided with means to personalise their use, e.g. with PIN-introduction/comparison system
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B67—OPENING, CLOSING OR CLEANING BOTTLES, JARS OR SIMILAR CONTAINERS; LIQUID HANDLING
    • B67D—DISPENSING, DELIVERING OR TRANSFERRING LIQUIDS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B67D7/00—Apparatus or devices for transferring liquids from bulk storage containers or reservoirs into vehicles or into portable containers, e.g. for retail sale purposes
    • B67D7/06—Details or accessories
    • B67D7/064—Drive-off preventing means, e.g. in case of non-payment
    • B67D7/067—Drive-off preventing means, e.g. in case of non-payment using communication means
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B67—OPENING, CLOSING OR CLEANING BOTTLES, JARS OR SIMILAR CONTAINERS; LIQUID HANDLING
    • B67D—DISPENSING, DELIVERING OR TRANSFERRING LIQUIDS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B67D7/00—Apparatus or devices for transferring liquids from bulk storage containers or reservoirs into vehicles or into portable containers, e.g. for retail sale purposes
    • B67D7/06—Details or accessories
    • B67D7/08—Arrangements of devices for controlling, indicating, metering or registering quantity or price of liquid transferred
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B67—OPENING, CLOSING OR CLEANING BOTTLES, JARS OR SIMILAR CONTAINERS; LIQUID HANDLING
    • B67D—DISPENSING, DELIVERING OR TRANSFERRING LIQUIDS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B67D7/00—Apparatus or devices for transferring liquids from bulk storage containers or reservoirs into vehicles or into portable containers, e.g. for retail sale purposes
    • B67D7/06—Details or accessories
    • B67D7/08—Arrangements of devices for controlling, indicating, metering or registering quantity or price of liquid transferred
    • B67D7/14—Arrangements of devices for controlling, indicating, metering or registering quantity or price of liquid transferred responsive to input of recorded programmed information, e.g. on punched cards
    • B67D7/145—Arrangements of devices for controlling, indicating, metering or registering quantity or price of liquid transferred responsive to input of recorded programmed information, e.g. on punched cards by wireless communication means, e.g. RF, transponders or the like
    • 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
    • G06Q20/30—Payment architectures, schemes or protocols characterised by the use of specific devices or networks
    • G06Q20/34—Payment architectures, schemes or protocols characterised by the use of specific devices or networks using cards, e.g. integrated circuit [IC] cards or magnetic cards
    • G06Q20/346—Cards serving only as information carrier of service
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
    • G07C—TIME OR ATTENDANCE REGISTERS; REGISTERING OR INDICATING THE WORKING OF MACHINES; GENERATING RANDOM NUMBERS; VOTING OR LOTTERY APPARATUS; ARRANGEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS FOR CHECKING NOT PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE
    • G07C5/00—Registering or indicating the working of vehicles
    • G07C5/008—Registering or indicating the working of vehicles communicating information to a remotely located station
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
    • G07C—TIME OR ATTENDANCE REGISTERS; REGISTERING OR INDICATING THE WORKING OF MACHINES; GENERATING RANDOM NUMBERS; VOTING OR LOTTERY APPARATUS; ARRANGEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS FOR CHECKING NOT PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE
    • G07C5/00—Registering or indicating the working of vehicles
    • G07C5/08—Registering or indicating performance data other than driving, working, idle, or waiting time, with or without registering driving, working, idle or waiting time
    • G07C5/0841—Registering performance data
    • G07C5/085—Registering performance data using electronic data carriers
    • G07C5/0858—Registering performance data using electronic data carriers wherein the data carrier is removable
    • 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

Definitions

  • the present invention relates generally to fuel dispensers and, more particularly, to fuel
  • dispensers and systems capable of communicating with various types of transponders and detecting their movement within and throughout a fueling environment.
  • POS point-of-sale
  • the dispensers include various types of payment means, such as card readers and cash acceptors, to expedite and further enhance fueling transactions.
  • a customer is not limited to the purchase of fuel at the dispenser. More recent dispensers allow the customer to purchase services, such as car washes, and goods, such as fast food or convenience store products at the dispenser. Once purchased, the customer need only pick up the goods and services at the station store or the outlet of a vending machine.
  • Remote transaction systems have evolved wherein the fuel dispenser is adapted to communicate with various types of remote communication devices, such as transponders, to provide various signals
  • the present invention provides for various types of loyalty or other customer benefits based on
  • the system provides station operators with
  • a fuel dispenser comprising a customer interface
  • a control system operatively associated with said dispenser and said communication arrangement
  • control system being adapted in association with the remote
  • the consequential transaction may involve the transfer of at least one of a benefit, a rebate, a
  • the purchase transaction may involve identification of the customer by means of a transponder.
  • the communication arrangement may, for example, be adapted to transmit signals to said
  • control system is adapted to effect said consequential transaction through said communication arrangement to the remote communication unit for
  • the invention provides a fuel dispensing system operable to implement a
  • loyalty benefit program comprising: a. a wireless communication arrangement for communicating with at least one
  • a fuel dispenser including a customer interface
  • a control system operatively associated with said dispenser and said communication arrangement to receive signals from said remote communication unit during a transaction; d. said control system adapted to provide a benefit associated with the remote communication unit based on a transaction involving the remote communication unit.
  • the signals received from the remote communication unit may include unique identification indicia and said benefit may be stored in a database in association with the identification indicia accessible by said control system.
  • said communication arrangement may be adapted to transmit signals from said control system to said remote communication unit and said control system may be adapted to transmit
  • Said benefit through said communication arrangement to the remote communication unit for storage and subsequent retrieval.
  • Said benefit may be based at least partially on a current transaction.
  • Said benefit may be based at least partially on prior transactions associated with the remote
  • Said benefit may relate to a discount for a defined product or service.
  • Said control system may apply said benefit to discount a current transaction.
  • Said control system may effect storage of said benefit for subsequent retrieval in order to discount of a future transaction.
  • Said control system may be adapted to retrieve a prior benefit and combine said benefit with said prior benefit to provide a cumulative benefit.
  • Said control system may be adapted to transmit said benefit to the remote communication unit to combine said benefit with a prior benefit to provide a cumulative benefit.
  • Said benefit may be a discount on a product or service not part of the transaction in order to
  • the invention provides a fuel dispensing system for implementing a loyalty benefit program comprising:
  • control system associated with said interrogators to interrogate transponders associated with customers carrying out a current transaction at said fuel dispensers
  • control system being adapted to access benefit information stored in association with the transponder and provide a benefit based on the benefit information and the current transaction.
  • the invention provides a fuel dispensing system for implementing a loyalty benefit program comprising:
  • control system associated with said interrogators to interrogate transponders associated with customers carrying out a current transaction as said fuel dispensers
  • control system adapted to determine benefit information based on the current transaction store said benefit information in a database accessible by said control system.
  • Said control system may be adapted to access said benefit information during a subsequent transaction and provide a benefit based on said benefit information and said benefit information
  • Said control system may be adapted to access said benefit information during a subsequent
  • the database may be stored in a memory with the benefit information stored in association with transponder identification indicia apart from the transponders.
  • the database is kept on the transponders and the benefit information is communicated to and from said control system.
  • the invention provides a fuel dispensing system operable to apply a discount to a transaction associated with a remote communication unit comprising: a. a communication arrangement for communicating with a remote communications unit; b. a fuel dispenser having a customer interface;
  • control system being adapted to communicate with the said remote communication unit through said communication arrangement and provide a discount for the transaction.
  • Said discount may be predefined and/or said discount may be for a predefined product or service purchased in the transaction.
  • Said discount may be a reduction in the price per unit volume of fuel.
  • Said control system may interrogate the remote communication unit associated with the transaction and provides said discount upon receiving a response from the remote
  • Said control system may act to not provide said discount when the remote communications unit is not associated with the transaction.
  • Said control system may provide said discount if the remote communication unit associated with the transaction is present and said transaction is a non-cash transaction.
  • An input indicative of a non-cash transaction may be provided.
  • one aspect of the present invention is to provide a fuel dispensing system for implementing a loyalty benefit program e.g. involving a discount
  • the system preferably
  • wireless communication electronics for communicating with remote communications units, a fuel dispenser having a customer interface, and a control system associated with the
  • dispenser and communication electronics to receive signals from a remote communications unit
  • the control system is adapted to provide a benefit associated with the
  • remote communications unit based on a transaction involving a remote communications unit.
  • the signals received from the remote communications unit will include identification indicia corresponding to the transponder and/or the customer associated therewith.
  • control system may use the identification indicia to access benefit information or store benefit information in an associated database.
  • benefit information may be used in an associated database.
  • benefits may relate to products or services and be based on a complete or partial transaction.
  • the control system may be adapted to retrieve prior benefit information and combine that benefit information with current information to provide a cumulative benefit.
  • the cumulative benefit may be applied in whole or in part to discount the current transaction or stored in whole or in part in an associated database or on the transponder for future use.
  • the control system may include a dispenser controller, a central controller, a remote network control system, or any combination thereof.
  • the system may include a plurality of interrogators corresponding to a plurality of fuel dispensers in a fueling environment.
  • a control system associated with the interrogators is provided to interrogate transponders associated with customers carrying out a transaction at one of the fuel dispensers.
  • the control system is adapted to access benefit information stored in association with the transponder and provide a benefit (e.g. a discount) based on the benefit
  • control system may be adapted to
  • control system is adapted to access the benefit information during a subsequent transaction with the transponder and provide a benefit based, at least partially, on the benefit information retrieved.
  • the benefit information may be accumulated over a series of transactions where it is then, in whole or in part, applied to a subsequent transaction.
  • Another aspect of the present invention is to provide a method of implementing a benefit
  • the method includes the steps of receiving indicia from a
  • remote communications unit near a fuel dispenser, conducting a transaction at the fuel dispenser in association with the remote communication unit, and providing a benefit to the customer
  • FIGURE 1 is a schematic representation of a fueling and retail environment constructed according to the present invention.
  • FIGURE 2A depicts a vehicle having a vehicle-mounted transponder constructed according to the present invention.
  • FIGURE 2B depicts a personal transponder integrated into a debit/credit or smartcard
  • FIGURE 2C depicts a personal transponder integrated into key fob constructed according to the present invention.
  • FIGURE 3 depicts a fuel dispenser shown constructed according to the present invention.
  • FIGURE 4A is a schematic representation of a transponder having separate
  • FIGURE 4B is a schematic representation of transponder having integrated electronics
  • FIGURE 5 is a schematic representation of fuel dispenser electronics constructed according to the present invention.
  • FIGURE 6 is a schematic representation of convenience store transaction electronics, including a transaction terminal, for a fueling environment constructed according to the present invention.
  • FIGURE 7 is a schematic representation of a quick-serve restaurant control system for a fueling environment constructed according to the present invention.
  • FIGURE 8 is a schematic representation of a car wash control system constructed according to the present invention.
  • FIGURE 9 is a schematic representation of a central control system for a fueling environment constructed according to the present invention.
  • FIGURES 10A and 10B are a flow chart representing a basic flow of a multistage ordering process according to the present invention.
  • FIGURE IOC is a flow chart representing a basic flow of a loyalty benefit process according to the present invention.
  • FIGURES I IA and I IB are a flow chart representing a basic interaction with a
  • FIGURE 11C is a flow chart representing a basic process for providing a discount for transponder use during a transaction according to the present invention.
  • FIGURES 1 ID and 1 IE are a flow chart of a basic process for providing prepayment on a transponder for subsequent transactions according to the present invention.
  • FIGURE 12A is a schematic representation of a side view of a dispenser having multiple
  • FIGURE 12B is a schematic representation of a front view of a dispenser having
  • FIGURES 12C and 12D are a flow chart of a basic process for monitoring the location
  • FIGURE 13A is an overhead schematic representation of a fueling environment having
  • FIGURE 13B is an overhead schematic representation of a fueling environment having
  • FIGURES 14A and 14B are a flow chart of a basic process for determining the
  • FIGURE 15 is a flow chart of a basic control process for determining transponder
  • FIGURE 16 is a perspective view of a fuel dispenser having underground antennas
  • FIGURE 17 is an overhead schematic representation of a fuel dispenser constructed according to the present invention.
  • FIGURES 18A and 18B are a flow chart of a basic process for preconditioning a dispenser followed by secondary transaction authorization according to the present invention.
  • FIGURE 19 depicts a preferred process for providing secure communications between a transponder and a host network through a fuel dispenser.
  • FIGURE 20 is a flow chart of a basic transponder interaction for providing theft
  • FIGURE 21 is a flow chart of a basic transponder interaction for preventing drive-offs according to the present invention.
  • FIGURE 22 is a flow chart of a basic process for providing guidelines or limitations for a fueling or purchase transaction made in association with a transponder according to the present invention.
  • FIGURE 23 is a schematic representation of a transponder and dispenser system for providing a shadow ledger of transponder transactions constructed according to the present invention.
  • FIGURE 24 is a flow chart of a basic process for maintaining a shadow ledger according to the present invention.
  • FIGURE 25 is a flow chart of a basic process for transaction tracking throughout numerous fueling environments according to the present invention.
  • FIGURES 26A and 26B are a flow chart of a basic process for providing predefined
  • FIGURE 27 is a schematic representation of a fuel dispenser and fuel container for personal transport of fuel.
  • FIGURE 28 is a flow chart of a basic process for monitoring and detecting acceptable containers for fueling.
  • FIGURES 29 A and 29B are a flow chart of a basic process for providing pre-transaction
  • FIGURE 30 is a flow chart of a basic process for providing a customer with estimated
  • the fueling and retail environment provides
  • the fueling and retail environment 10 may include one or more of a forecourt 16, where the fuel dispensers 18 are located, a convenience or fuel station store 20, one or more quick-serve restaurants (QSR) 22, a car wash 24, and a backroom 26.
  • the backroom 26 is generally the central control area for integrating or coordinating control of the dispensers 18, convenience store 20, QSR 22, and car wash 24.
  • the convenience store 20 typically includes an inventory of a wide assortment of products,
  • the convenience store includes a
  • the QSR 22 generally includes an order pick-up area 32 having a QSR transaction terminal or register 34 located within the convenience store and a drive- thru terminal and window 36. Depending on the application, the QSR transaction terminal 34 and drive- thru terminal 36 may be separated or integrated in any fashion. Usually, customers are able to place orders at the QSR transaction terminal 34 in the store as well as pick up orders in conventional drive-thru style at drive- thru terminal 36.
  • the QSR 22 may also include a food preparation area 40, a food preparation interface 42 for providing order instruction to QSR food preparers, a drive-thru order placement interface 44 for placing drive-thru orders in a conventional manner, and a customer position monitor 46 for determining the location or position of a customer in line to pick up a QSR order at the
  • drive-thru window 36 the drive- thru and car wash lanes depicted in Figure 1 are designed to control the flow of traffic through the respective lanes and aid to ensure vehicles,
  • the car wash 24 includes a car wash interface 48 that interacts with the customer and controls the automatic car wash system (not shown), which may be any suitable automatic car wash.
  • a customer 12 will be able to order a car wash at a fuel dispenser 18, at the transaction terminal or register 30 of the convenience store 20, at the QSR transaction terminal
  • customers are able to order fast-food items from the QSR 22 from various locations in the fueling environment 10, including at the
  • the central control system 50 may include any number of individual controllers from the various parts of the fueling environment 10 to provide overall system control and integration.
  • the central control system 50 may interface with the fuel dispensers 18, transaction terminal 30, QSR transaction terminal 34 and the car wash interface 48.
  • the drive-thru termmal 36, drive-thru order placement interface 44 and customer position monitor 46 directly interface with the QSR terminal 34 in order to integrate the QSR functions prior to interfacing with the central control system 50.
  • those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize several control variations capable of implementing an integrated system. Additionally, an automated vending
  • system 28 may also interface with the central control system 50 or directly with any one of the
  • the present invention relates generally to providing remote communications between the customer 12 or the vehicle 14 and various parts of the fueling environment briefly described above.
  • many areas within the fueling environment 10 will be equipped with communication electronics capable of providing uni- or bi-directional communications with the customer or vehicle carrying a remote communications device.
  • the communication electronics capable of providing uni- or bi-directional communications with the customer or vehicle carrying a remote communications device.
  • the remote communications device will typically include a transmitter for transmitting signals to the remote communications device and a receiver for receiving signals emanating from the remote communications device.
  • remote communications device may also include a receiver and transmitter.
  • receiver of the remote communications device may separately receive and separately transmit signals in cooperation with an associated control system or may be configured so that the transmitter actually operates on and modifies a signal received from the communication electronics in the fueling environment 10.
  • the latter embodiment encompasses traditional transponder-type communication systems wherein the remote communications device may be either passive or active.
  • transponder will be used herein to describe any type of remote communications device capable of communicating with the communication electronics of the fueling environment 10.
  • the remote communications device may include traditional receivers and transmitters alone or in combination as well as traditional transponder electronics adapted to respond and/or modify an original signal to provide a
  • a transponder as defined herein may provide either unidirectional or bidirectional communications with the communications electronics of the fueling environment 10.
  • an interrogator will generally include a transmitter and receiver capable of communicating with a transponder as defined above. Please note that an interrogator, as defined herein, need not contain both a receiver and a transmitter
  • the fueling environment 10 may include many interrogators of varying quantities
  • interrogators may include: dispenser interrogators 52, a store transaction interrogator 54, a QSR transaction interrogator 56, a drive-thru pick-up interrogator 58, a drive-thru order interrogator 60, and a drive-thru position interrogator 62.
  • the dispenser interrogator 52 is generally adapted to communicate with vehicle-mounted transponders 64 and personal transponder 66.
  • the personal transponder 66 may be mounted on a key fob 68, a wallet card 70, or any other device typically carried by the customer 12, as shown in Figures 2B and 2C.
  • Figure 2A depicts a vehicle 14 having a vehicle-mounted transponder 64.
  • the levels of sophistication of the vehicle-mounted transponder 64 may vary drastically.
  • the transponder 64 may be integrated with the vehicle's main computer and control system, or may simply be a sticker placed on a window or on another part of the vehicle.
  • the transponder 64 may be integrated with the vehicle's main computer and control system, or may simply be a sticker placed on a window or on another part of the vehicle.
  • an identification number may be active or passive, and may be adapted to either simply send out an identification number
  • a fuel dispenser 18 is shown constructed according to and as part of the present invention.
  • the dispenser provides a fuel delivery path from an underground storage tank (not shown) to a vehicle 14, (shown in Figures 1 and 2 A).
  • the delivery path includes a fuel delivery line 72 having a fuel metering device 74.
  • the fuel delivery line 72 communicates with a fuel delivery hose 76 outside of the dispenser 18 and a delivery nozzle 78.
  • the dispenser 18 also includes a dispenser control system 80 having one or more controllers and
  • the dispenser control system 80 may receive volume data from the metering device 74 through cabling 84 as well as provide control of fuel delivery.
  • the dispenser control system 80 may provide audible signals to an audio module and speaker 86 in order to provide various beeps, tones and audible messages to a customer. These messages may include warnings, instructions and advertising.
  • the dispenser 18 is preferably equipped with a payment acceptor, such as a card reader 88 or cash acceptor 90, along with a receipt printer 92.
  • a payment acceptor such as a card reader 88 or cash acceptor 90
  • the dispenser control system 80 may read data from the magnetic strip of a card inserted in the card reader 88 or receive cash from a customer and communicate such information to the central control system 50 (as shown in Figure 1), such as the G-site controller sold by Gilbarco Inc., 7300 West Friendly Avenue, Greensboro, North Carolina.
  • the central control system 50 typically communicates with a remote network 94, such as a card verification authority, to ascertain
  • the dispenser 18 will include one or more types of displays, preferably one or more alpha-numeric displays 96 together with a high-resolution graphics display 100.
  • the graphics display 100 will generally have an associated key pad 102 adjacent to the display or integrated with the display to provide a touch interface.
  • the dispenser may include an additional, auxiliary
  • key pad 104 associated with the card reader 88 for entering secret codes or personal
  • the displays 96, 100 and key pads 102, 104 may be
  • the dispenser control system 80 is
  • dispenser control system 80 may include or be associated with dispenser
  • interrogator 52 for providing remote unidirectional or
  • transponders bidirectional communications between a transponder and the dispenser.
  • Micron MicrostampTM produced by Micron Communications, Inc., 8000
  • the Micron Microstamp TM engine is an
  • Microstamp TM integrated system implementing a communications platform referred to as the Microstamp TM
  • communications method includes radio frequencies in the microwave range, these
  • communications may include other RF, infrared, acoustic or other known remote
  • dispenser 1 may include one or more antennas 108 associated with the dispenser interrogator 52. Attention is drawn to U.S. Patent Nos. 5,621,913; 5,608,739; 5,583,850; 5,572,226; 5,558,679; 5,557,780; 5,552,743; 5,539,775; 5,500,650; 5,497,140; 5,479,416; 5,448,110;
  • Transponder communication electronics 110 adapted to provide remote communications with the various interrogators, include a transmitter 114 and receiver 116 having associated antennas 118, 120.
  • the transmitter 114 and receiver 116 operate to transmit and receive data to and from an interrogator.
  • the communication electronics 110 may include a battery power supply 122, a communication controller 124 associated with a memory 126, having software 128 necessary to operate the communication electronics 110 and optional cryptography electronics 112.
  • Serial communications between the communication electronics 110 and cryptography electronics 112 is provided via the input output (I/O) ports 130, 140 associated with the respective electronics.
  • the communication electronics 110 provide a signal from a clock 132 to the I/O port 140 of the cryptography electronics 112.
  • the cryptography electronics 112
  • controller 134 includes a controller 134, memory 136 and software 138 necessary to encrypt and decrypt data
  • the memory 126, 136 may include random access memory (RAM), read only memory (ROM), or a combination thereof. Notably, the RAM 126, 136 may include random access memory (RAM), read only memory (ROM), or a combination thereof. Notably, the RAM ROM, read only memory (ROM), or a combination thereof.
  • communication controller 124 and the cryptography controller 134 may be integrated into one controller.
  • the software and memory of the communication and cryptography modules may be integrated or embodied in hardware.
  • associated controllers may be integrated into a single controller system and/or integrated circuit.
  • a single controller 142 is associated with memory 144 having software 146 as
  • controller 142 will carry out any combination of the following steps: (1) to carry out any combination of the following steps: (2) to carry out any combination of the following steps: (3) to carry out any combination of the following steps: (4) to carry out any combination of the following steps:
  • the communications controller 124, 142 specifically provides a
  • the receiver 116 operates in conjunction with the spread-spectrum processor and is capable of receiving direct sequence, spread- spectrum signals having a center
  • the transmitter 114 is preferably a DPSK modulated back-scatter
  • DPSK differential phase shift key
  • FIG. 5 shows a basic schematic overview of the dispenser electronics wherein a dispenser
  • control system 80 includes a controller associated with the memory 82 to interface with the
  • the dispenser control system 80 provides
  • Audio/video electronics 86 is adapted to interface with the dispenser control system 80 and/or an auxiliary audio/video source 156 to provide advertising, merchandising and multimedia presentations to a customer in addition to basic transaction functions.
  • the graphical user interface provided by the dispenser allows customers to purchase goods and services other than fuel at the dispenser. The customer may purchase a car wash and/or order food from the QSR while fueling the vehicle. Preferably, the customer is provided a video menu at the display 100 to facilitate selection of the various services, goods and food available for purchase.
  • the card reader 88 and cash acceptor 90 allow the customer to pay for any of the services, goods or food ordered at the dispenser while the printer 92 will provide a written record of the transaction.
  • the dispenser control system 80 is operatively associated with a dispenser interrogator 52, which has a receiver 142 and a transmitter 144. The receiver and transmitter typically associate with one or more antennas 108 to provide remote communications with a transponder.
  • the dispenser control system 80 is operatively associated with a dispenser interrog
  • the transaction terminal register 30 include a store transaction controller 152, associated memory 154, the interrogator 54, and a display and key pad 150, 160 forming a transaction terminal interface.
  • the transaction controller 152 interacts with the central control system 50 through the central site control interface 160.
  • the interrogator 54 includes a receiver
  • transaction terminal 30 is adapted to provide typical transaction functions of a cash register and
  • transaction terminal are generally related to transactional and customer identification and monitoring, although other features will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading this disclosure.
  • the QSR will generally have a controller 168 and associated memory 170 capable of interfacing with the central control system 50 through a central site control interface 172.
  • a transaction terminal or register 174 is provided having a key pad 176 and display 178.
  • the QSR transaction terminal 174 is used by a QSR operator to take customer orders from within the store in conventional fashion. The orders are either verbally or electronically communicated to the food preparation area 40 through the QSR controller 168.
  • the QSR transaction terminal 174 is associated with interrogator 56 having a receiver 177 and a transmitter 179 associated with one or more antennas 175.
  • the food preparation area will be any type of the food preparation area.
  • the food preparation interface 42 typically have a food preparation interface 42 having a display 180 and a key pad 182.
  • the food preparation interface 42 may be a terminal run from the QSR controller 168 or may contain
  • a remote order entry interface 186 is arranged, order information is passed from one of the order interfaces to the food preparation display 180 to alert food preparers of an order.
  • a remote order entry interface 186 is arranged, order information is passed from one of the order interfaces to the food preparation display 180 to alert food preparers of an order.
  • the order entry interface 186 may include a simple menu board and audio intercom
  • system 188 may provide for bi-directional video intercom using the audio intercom 188 and a video system 190 allowing the customer and QSR
  • the order i entry interface 186 may also include an interrogator 60 having a receiver 192 and a transmitter
  • orders placed at the order entry interface 186 are sent to the order pick-up interface 196, which is normally situated proximate to the pick-up window 36 at the end of the drive-thru lane.
  • the order pick-up interface 196 will have an audio system 198 to provide the audio intercom and an optional video system 200 if video intercom with the order entry interface 186 is desired.
  • the order pick-up interface 196 also has an associated interrogator 58 having a receiver 202 and a transmitter 204 associated with one or more antennas 206.
  • the present invention may include a customer position detector 208,
  • a fuel dispenser 1 preferably placed somewhere along the drive-thru lane to detect when a customer is at or is past that position en route to pick up an order, which may have been placed at a fuel dispenser 1 .
  • the customer position detector 208 is associated with the drive-thru position interrogator 62 and
  • a receiver 210 includes a receiver 210 and a transmitter 212 associated with one or more antennas 214.
  • Figure 8 depicts the basic outline of the car wash electronics, which includes a controller 216, memory 218, a key pad 220, a display 222 and the interrogator 51.
  • the key pad 220 and display 222 combine with the controller 216 to provide a customer interface 48.
  • interrogator 51 includes a receiver 224 and a transmitter 226 associated with one or more
  • the car wash controller 216 preferably communicates with the
  • the key pad may be used to insert
  • Figure 9 generally depicts the central control system 50 found in the backroom 26 of the fueling
  • the central control system 50 may include one or more controllers 232
  • the central control system 50 may include multiple interfaces
  • central controller 232 may be any device that can be used to control the central controller 232 to control the central controller 232.
  • An Internet interface may also be
  • the dedicated authorization interface and/or Internet interface may operate on a dedicated
  • central control system 50 may have
  • a direct operator interface 244 associated with the controller 232 to allow an operator to interact
  • a central positioning interface 246 associated with multiple antennas 248 may be used to determine transponder position and location throughout the fueling environment.
  • positioning interface 246 may take the place of or act in conjunction with the various antennas
  • One of the many unique aspects of the present invention is providing for monitoring customer position throughout the fueling environment in order to associate orders placed at the fuel dispenser with the particular customer that placed the order at the appropriate receiving point, such as the QSR drive-thru terminal and window 36, QSR transaction terminal 34 in the store,
  • the QSR can monitor or detect the
  • the customer may decide to order a few items from the QSR menu displayed at the dispenser 18. As the customer enters the order, the order is
  • the customer may choose to pay for the order along with the fuel at the dispenser, at the order
  • position interrogator 62 will receive a signal from the customer transponder indicating the
  • the QSR control system 168 will alert the food preparation area 40 to prepare the order and indicate to the order pick-up
  • the interface and controller 196 the position of the customer in the drive-thru lane. Once the customer reaches the order pick-up window, the order pick-up interrogator will determine the
  • drive-thru window operator can deliver the freshly prepared order to the correct customer.
  • transponders to appropriately associate orders placed at different locations with the appropriate customer at a common pick-up location.
  • the process begins (block 500) when the
  • dispenser interrogator 52 receives a signal from a transponder 12, 14 and the dispenser control
  • transponder identification indicia (ID) to the central control system 50 for authorization (block 502).
  • Authorization may occur locally at the central site controller 232 or at a remote host authorization network.
  • the information to be authorized is generally financial or account information and can either be transmitted with the transponder ID or stored at the central control system 50 or the host network 94 in association with the transponder ID. In the latter case, either the host network 94 or the central control system 50 will associate the ID with the stored account information and then authorize the transponder based on the correlated account information.
  • the transponder is read and authorized as the customer and/or vehicle approaches or initially stops at the fueling position and preferably, at least, before a transaction is initiated to increase transaction efficiency.
  • the dispenser may display various types of information including advertising and instructional information.
  • the dispenser 18 will display options for ordering food items from the QSR or ordering a car wash at the car wash 24 (block 504). The dispenser 18 will determine
  • the order is associated with a transponder by (1) associating the order with the transponder ID at one of the control systems, (2) transmitting and storing a code associated with the order on the transponder, or (3) actually storing the order on the transponder.
  • the order is associated with a transponder by (1) associating the order with the transponder ID at one of the control systems, (2) transmitting and storing a code associated with the order on the transponder, or (3) actually storing the order on the transponder.
  • transponder will be discussed below. With the first, no information is transmitted to the transponder relating to the order. Instead, the electronics at the dispenser 18, central control
  • the second method involves writing information to the transponder at the dispenser 18 and subsequently transmitting that information to one of the system interrogators for authorization or order identification.
  • the information written to the transponder may range from a code for identification authorization purposes to the complete order placed at the dispenser.
  • the QSR controller 168 will alert the food preparation area to prepare the order (block 514).
  • the QSR order pick-up interface 198 will monitor for the presence of a transponder through the drive-thru pick-up interrogator 58 or the in-store QSR transaction terminal interrogator 56 (block 516). If a transponder is not detected, the systems continue to monitor for a transponder (block 518). Once a transponder is detected, the transponder ID is received (block 520) and the transponder ID is associated with the appropriate order (block
  • the dispenser 18 may transmit order indicia, such as a code for the order itself, to the transponder for storage (block 528).
  • order indicia such as a code for the order itself
  • the dispenser 18 will effect payment for the transaction as discussed above (block 530).
  • the QSR interrogators associated with the QSR window or in-store terminal will monitor for the presence of a transponder (block 516 and 518), receive the transponder order indicia (block 518), and associate the order with the indicia received from the transponder (block 522). The operator is then informed of the order for that particular customer (block 524).
  • the customer position detector 46 may be used to alert QSR operators of the approach and location in the drive-thru line of a particular customer.
  • the customer position detector 46 will forward the transponder indicia
  • preparation operators to timely prepare a customer order based on the customer's approach to the pick-up window (block 536). This information may also be sent to the pick-up operator to indicate customer position. The customer will proceed along the drive-thru lane until the pick-up window is approached where the transponder is detected by the order pick-up interrogator 58 (blocks 516 and 518). The transponder ID or indicia is received by the QSR electronics, and the operator is informed of the order corresponding to the customer at the window (blocks 522-526).
  • an additional interrogation stage may provide a further alert to a QSR operator of the approach of a customer to initiate food preparation or simply indicate
  • the particular car wash ordered is associated with the transponder at the dispenser and subsequently reassociated when the customer approaches the car wash area 24 and is interrogated by the car wash interrogator 51.
  • the dispenser operates in conjunction with the central control system 50 to provide authorization of the car wash purchased at the dispenser.
  • the customer's transponder is interrogated for an ID or a code, which the car wash controller
  • the customer may receive a code or other indicia, which they are required to enter or submit when the corresponding goods or services are
  • the fuel dispenser 18 is not the only point of sale where ordering may take place.
  • a customer having a transponder may, for instance, order a car wash in conjunction with placing an order at the in-store QSR terminal or the convenience store terminal while purchasing food or other merchandise.
  • the interrogators at either of these terminals can just as easily associate the car wash with the customer transponder and operate through the central control system 50 to subsequently reassociate the customer and the car wash ordered at the car wash interface 48.
  • the multistage ordering disclosed herein provides a solution for keeping track of various transactions in a fueling environment where customer orders are picked up in locations separate from where they are placed and very likely may not be picked up in the order
  • the present invention may also be configured to provide various types of loyalty benefits based
  • Loyalty benefits will be provided to a customer in order to encourage subsequent return to a particular fueling environment or one of an associated group of environments.
  • the benefit may also encourage the purchase of additional products during the current or a subsequent transaction.
  • the benefits may include cash rebates or discounts providing a type of electronic couponing to enhance merchandising and marketing efforts.
  • loyalty point may be earned by a customer for each transaction, transaction amount, or type or
  • a loyalty point may be earned for each
  • the loyalty benefits or points are preferably redeemed by a customer in part, or in whole, on subsequent visits to the same or an associated fueling environment. Redeeming points at a subsequent transaction provides an incentive for a customer to return to environments participating in the benefit program. Although redeeming points on a subsequent purchase is preferred, benefits may be made immediately available based solely on the current transaction. Furthermore, the benefits may be based upon current and prior transactions, and allow for both current and subsequent benefit. The basic flow of the process for providing such benefits is shown in Figure IOC.
  • the process begins (block 540) when a transponder is interrogated (block 542).
  • indicia including identification indicia
  • the relevant controller receives the transponder indicia, one of two events typically occurs. The first
  • the controller may use the transponder indicia, preferably identification indicia, to look up benefit information, including loyalty points, stored in an
  • loyalty information may be stored on the transponder and transmitted to the relevant control system or accessed from virtually any location based on some type of identification provided by the transponder.
  • the controller will determine how to apply the current benefit information (block 552).
  • the controller basically has two options.
  • the controller may store the benefit information on the transponder or the relevant database (block 554), or apply the current benefit information to the current transaction (block 556).
  • the controller will preferably determine whether or not to apply a stored benefit to the current transaction based on prior transactions (block 558). If a stored benefit is not available or the controller is not adapted to provide such benefit, the process ends (block 560). If a stored benefit is available for application to the current transaction, the transaction is updated and the appropriate database in the transponder or associated with the controller is updated (block 562). Typically, the benefit is applied to the current transaction at this time, and the process is ended (block 560).
  • Another important aspect of the present invention is providing refunds and loyalty points or benefits to cash customers. Traditionally, service stations were not able to monitor cash
  • the present invention provides a solution to the above problems by keeping track of cash customers and their respective refunds and loyalty points using transponder technology.
  • transponder either carries a transponder or has a transponder mounted on his or her vehicle, and the transponder is used to associate any refunds or loyalty benefits with the otherwise invisible
  • the customer may use the cash acceptor 90 of the fuel dispenser 18 and receive
  • the transponder may simply
  • the refund amount or credit may be directly transmitted to and stored on the transponder wherein that amount is transmitted to a dispenser for credit on a subsequent fueling transaction or to a cash dispensing machine at the site.
  • customer loyalty and merchandising programs are made available using a transponder associated with a cash customer. Whether the customer pays at the dispenser or at one of the registers inside the store, interrogators placed at the dispensers, registers or anywhere else in the store can interact with the customer transponder in order to keep track of loyalty points, benefit information or simply monitor the customer's purchasing habits.
  • This information is preferably stored at the central control system 50, at a remote host network 94 or directly on the transponder.
  • a customer having a personal transponder 12 or vehicle mounted transponder 14 drives up to a fueling position at one of the dispensers 18 and begins fueling (block 600).
  • the customer will generally start a new transaction by beginning fueling (block 602). This is typically accomplished by initially interacting with the fuel dispenser user interface comprising the key
  • any payment location including the register or transaction terminal 30 in the store.
  • the dispenser control system 80 will retrieve the transponder ID (block 606).
  • the dispenser control system 80 will retrieve the transponder ID (block 606).
  • central control system 50 will operate to retrieve information relating to prior transactions
  • This information may be cash refunds from previous
  • benefits may include electronic couponing, wherein discounts for future purchases may be
  • this information may be stored on the transponder, or at any of the control
  • dispenser authorization may depend upon receiving the cash payment at the beginning of the
  • the dispenser control system 80 or one of the
  • the station operator has tremendous freedom in determining the criteria for issuing benefits and
  • the refimd and loyalty information is stored directly on a transponder or elsewhere, the refimd and loyalty information
  • dispenser interrogator 52 or the store transaction interrogator 54.
  • the information will be stored at one of the local control systems or
  • Discount For Transponder Use Another aspect of the invention is providing a system capable of applying a discount to a
  • the system is
  • transponder indicia is received by one of the control systems in the fueling
  • control system will proceed with the transaction (block 636) and
  • control system will determine whether or not a transponder is being used in
  • control system may determine whether or not a card, such as debit, credit or
  • control system may provide a second discount for all or a portion of the
  • control system may determine whether or not the transaction is a cash transaction (block 646). This may be by default if no card or transponder is used, or may result from the customer selecting a cash
  • control system is configured to provide a third discount rate to all or part of
  • the system operator may elect to provide different rates for the first, second and third discount
  • the operator may elect not to provide a discount for all or any combination of the various
  • a greater discount is provided for transactions using a
  • transponder in order to encourage transponder use with transactions. Similarly, to avoid the use
  • the system operator may decide not to provide any discount for cash
  • Another aspect of the present invention is to provide a system and method for providing a
  • prepaid transponder capable of being used with dispensers and other POS terminals in a fueling
  • the present invention allows a customer to prepay for subsequent transactions
  • a terminal capable of communicating with the transponder in order to store the amount of prepayment on the transponder, or at least associate the amount of prepayment in a database associated with the terminal and any future transaction locations, such as a fuel dispenser.
  • transponder is shown. When the basic process begins (block 660), a transponder is interrogated
  • the terminal will receive cash or
  • prepayment received or store that value in a database associated with the controller (block 666).
  • the fransponder has value (or is associated with value) and is capable of being
  • the POS is an interface at a fuel
  • the dispenser will interrogate the transponder (block 668) and
  • control system will stop or limit the transaction (block 684)
  • the transaction will proceed until completed (block 676).
  • control system will determine transaction totals (block 678) and
  • the accounting may be done at the transponder, wherein the
  • control system may simply update the value associated with the transponder by either transmitting this value directly to the transponder or storing it in the databases associated with the transponder.
  • control system will interact with the transponder or the database maintaining the
  • the information will be sufficient to allow the customer to recognize when the transponder value is approaching zero (0) or a predefined threshold to alert the customer that it is time to add value to the transponder.
  • control system may monitor the transponder value to determine whether that value is less than or equal to a predefined value, such as zero, or any other desired threshold. If the value is less than or equal to the set value, the control system may be configured to alert the customer of the current transponder value and that it has dropped below the threshold amount (block 690) and the process ends (block 692). If the transponder value is greater than
  • the system operator may elect not to provide a warning to the customer and end the process (block 692).
  • control system may allow the customer to add value to the transponder at the current transaction terminal.
  • the customer may use the cash acceptor or card reader at the fuel dispenser to add value to the transponder.
  • the customer will simply determine an amount to add to the transponder, and the dispenser interrogator will simply interrogate the transponder and transmit the relevant added
  • environment may be adapted to determine transponder location and/or proximity.
  • the fueling environment presents a unique problem because the fueling environment includes multiple
  • dispensers with multiple positions. At any given time, numerous transponders will be in or
  • transponders used to carry out a transaction from transponders
  • Fueling environments must be able to avoid communicating with a second
  • Texas Instruments has made an attempt at implementing a system in a fueling environment
  • interrogation signal having a 134 kHz carrier. Certain transponders within range of the 134 kHz
  • the TI system uses two different types of RFID devices: handheld and car mount fransponders.
  • the handheld transponder transmits and receives radio communications at 134 kHz.
  • mount transponder receives at 134 kHz and transmits at 903 MHz.
  • the dispenser is equipped
  • the smaller 903 MHz antenna is mounted with the large loop antenna at 903 MHz.
  • the TI system also requires an antenna mounted on the dispenser face
  • the car mount transponder communicates to
  • the fuel dispenser via the large loop antenna located at the top of the dispenser.
  • a handheld transponder outside of the face mounted antenna's range may receive a signal
  • fransponder responds to the loop antenna polling by transmitting back at 134 kHz, a frequency
  • handheld transponder can be picked up by the dispenser is by putting the transponder within 2-6
  • the face antenna which is located.
  • the 134 kHz loop antenna sends the car mount transponder its interrogation ID number and the
  • car mount transponder responds with the same ID number so that its signal will be ignored by
  • the loop antenna is not a directional antenna, but its range can be limited to a
  • the loop antenna can be adjusted so that overlap with other
  • loop antennas in the forecourt is minimal or non-existent.
  • the 903 MHz signal sent by the car mounted transponder is omni directional meaning its signal
  • the 903 MHz signal transmitted from the transponder to the interrogator is substantially
  • Instruments system requires different types of antennas, modulation schemes and communication electronics for transmitting and receiving signals to and from the transponders.
  • Applicants' invention provides a solution to the difficulties of locating and communicating with
  • transponders within the fueling environment by (1) providing a communications system
  • FIG. 12 A a side view of a fuel dispenser 18 under a canopy or awning 249 is shown with multiple configurations of antennas adapted to communicate with various transponders proximate to either of the fueling positions A or B.
  • the antennas are adapted to transmit, receive or transmit and receive at substantially directional frequencies, including those in the microwave range, and preferably around about 2.45 GHz.
  • antennas of Figures 12A and 12B are not referenced as 108, for the sake of clarity in describing antenna placement.
  • the first antenna location is near the middle of a front face of the dispenser 18.
  • a mid-dispenser transmit antenna 251 and mid-dispenser receive antenna 253 are placed near this midpoint.
  • the antennas may be located in the central portion of the dispenser or located anywhere along the front face of the dispenser, including near the respective sides of the
  • the mid-dispenser antennas 251, 253 preferably provide a
  • the field provided by the mid-dispenser transmit antenna 251 is preferably large
  • top-mount transmit antenna 255 and top-mount receive antenna 257 may be
  • top-mount antennas 255, 257 are preferably located on each side of the dispenser 18 as shown in Figure 12B in similar fashion to the preferred placement of the mid-dispenser antennas 251,
  • transponder This allows the transponder to communicate with the dispenser through one
  • antenna or set of antennas even if something blocks the field from the other set of antennas.
  • Another option is to place the antenna substantially directly over the fueling position A or B.
  • overhead receive antenna 259 and overhead transmit antenna 261 are identical to overhead receive antenna 259 and overhead transmit antenna 261.
  • antennas 261, 263 operate in the same manner as the top-mount antennas 255, 257, and may also be spaced apart to provide varying positions to create an interrogation field.
  • the antennas for receiving and transmitting may be combined into one wherein a suitable circulator
  • the antennas may cooperate directly with the central control system 50 or with the dispenser
  • control system 80 to allow overall system monitoring of transponders at the various positions.
  • the selected control system will alert the dispenser of transponder presence.
  • embodiment includes two mid-dispenser transmit antennas 251, two top-mount transmit
  • top-mount receive antennas 257 are adapted to receive signals transmitted from the transponder in response to signals from
  • the transmitter reflects a signal which is received by the mid-dispenser transmit antenna 251, the transmitter reflects a signal which is received by the
  • top-mount receive antenna 257 may be included in the vehicle-mounted transponders 64.
  • vehicle-mounted transponders 64 may enter the
  • the interrogation fields provided by any of the transmit antennas 251, 255, 259 may be adjusted
  • the system may be configured to control the size and shape of the respective fields.
  • the system may be any type of the respective fields.
  • the system may be any type of the respective fields.
  • the system may be any type of the respective fields.
  • the system may be any type of the respective fields.
  • the system may be any type of the respective fields.
  • the system may be any type of the respective fields.
  • the system may be any type of the respective fields.
  • mid-dispenser transmit antenna 251 indicate a transponder carried by the customer while
  • one or more of the transmit antennas mounted substantially above the customer will alternate sending interrogation signals with one or more of the mid-dispenser
  • receive antenna mounted substantially above the customer, such as one of the top-mount receive
  • the basic operation of this embodiment begins (block 400) by alternately transmitting from the
  • top and mid-mount antennas block 402
  • system 80 will monitor for responses from transponders within one of the interrogation fields
  • control system will continue to monitor for a transponder response until a
  • control system will simply determine if a transponder
  • transponder identification indicia indicative of the type of fransponder being interrogated (block 412).
  • the type of transponder is generally vehicle
  • the control system determines whether the transponder is vehicle mounted or carried by the person. Determining whether the transponder is vehicle mounted or carried by the person enables the confrol system to determine how to react to the presence of other transponders passing through the various interrogation fields during a communication with another transponder or make sure a transponder is properly located for the desired transaction. If the control system determines the transponder is one carried by a person (block 414) and that the transponder was within the mid-antenna field (block 416), the control system allows the transaction to continue (block 420). If the transponder is a customer-carried fransponder that is not within the mid-antenna field (blocks 414 and 416), the control system will return to the beginning of the process (block 418).
  • transponder carried by the person being interrogated in one of the top or overhead antenna fields, which are preferably used to interrogate vehicle-mounted transponders exclusively.
  • the system preferably ignores transponders carried by the person outside of the mid-antenna field, which
  • mid-dispenser transmit antenna 251 is limited only by design choice and may extend several or more feet in front and to the sides of the fuel dispenser.
  • control system may monitor for the continued presence of the transponder in the mid-antenna field (block 422) or allow movement of the customer-carried transponder
  • the control system would preferably require the presence of the vehicle in the appropriate transmission field throughout the fueling operation for safety reasons. Regardless of how the confrol system monitors the presence or movement of the customer-carried transponder during the fransaction, the transaction will continue until complete (block 426), wherein the process will begin anew (block 428).
  • the control system determines a vehicle-mounted transponder is within the appropriate transmission field (block 414), the fransaction will continue (block 430).
  • the control system will make sure that the vehicle has stopped moving and has been in position long enough to indicate a transaction associated with the responding transponder is likely.
  • the control system will preferably continue to monitor for the vehicle-mounted transponder's presence (block 432) throughout fueling.
  • the control system is preferably capable of distinguishing responses from the vehicle-mounted transponder associated with the transaction
  • control system will ignore all responses of customer-carried transponders in the top-mount or overhead transmission fields. Enoneous responses from other vehicles are
  • transponder having a different identification indicia from the vehicle-mounted transponder
  • system may check the identification indicia to ensure communication continue with the
  • control system will continue to monitor for the presence
  • transponder responses are received near the top or above the dispenser, those skilled in the art
  • the intenogation communications system preferably communicates using substantially
  • vehicle-mounted transponders are preferably placed on the windows or behind
  • high-gain antennas are used to provide a highly directional and configurable cone
  • the antenna range and transmission power is typically adjusted to
  • present invention provides for a communications system capable of distinguishing between
  • transponder types limiting the potential of transponders enoneously communicating with
  • transponders reducing the size of the antennas required for communication, and allowing either
  • FIG. 13 A an alternative fueling environment 10 is shown having a station store 20 and the central control system 50 configured to communicate with each of the dispensers 18. Multiple vehicles 14 are depicted in and around the various fuel dispensers 18.
  • Each of the dispensers may include an antenna 108. These antennas 108 may be operatively associated with a conesponding dispenser intenogator 52 and dispenser confrol system 80 (see
  • antenna placement will depend upon the application and may include placing the antennas anywhere in the fueling environment 10 separate from the dispensers 18.
  • Placing the antennas at non-dispenser locations is especially operable in applications where the antennas are used to determine fransponder location.
  • the antenna 108 and dispenser 18 configuration in Figure 13A is specifically adapted to determine the proximity of a vehicle relative to a particular fueling position A, B associated with each dispenser 18.
  • the different reception patterns are depicted in association with the two left most dispensers 18.
  • the circular reception pattern 250 would be used to determine the proximity of a vehicle with respect to a particular dispenser 18. Generally, only one antenna 108 is required for such an embodiment.
  • the dispenser's conesponding intenogator 52 and dispenser control system 80 will receive a signal transmitted from the transponder 12, 14.
  • a dispenser 80 will analyze certain characteristics of the signal received from the transponder, such as magnitude or strength, to determine a relative proximity to the dispenser.
  • a dispenser typically, a dispenser
  • a dual-lobed pattern 252 associated with the second dispenser 18 from the left in Figure 13 A provides the dispenser control system 80 the ability to determine at which fueling position A, B the vehicle is located or approaching. In order to determine the particular fueling position A,
  • multiple antennas may be used to create various combinations
  • reception lobes where the antermas may be configured to only receive signals from
  • the dispenser control system 80 may
  • the dispenser control system 80 may include electronics capable of detecting signal strength
  • the dispenser control system 80 will monitor the string for variations
  • the flow chart of Figures 14A and 14B outlines the process undertaken by the dispenser control system 80 to determine the proximity or location of a transponder 64, 66 with respect to a particular fueling position A, B of a dispenser 18.
  • the process begins (block 700) with the dispenser control system 80 beginning to monitor for a transponder signal (block 710).
  • signal may originate from an active transmitter in the transponder or may reflect or scatter back
  • the dispenser control system 80 will monitor a characteristic, such as magnitude or phase
  • the dispenser control system 80 recognizes a transponder 64, 66 as near or approaching the dispenser 18 and continues to monitor for the
  • the dispenser control system 80 will determine that the transponder has left or is leaving the reception area and will begin to monitor for a new transponder signal (block 710). If the signal remains present and/or increases, the dispenser control system 80 will determine the proximity of the vehicle with respect to the dispenser (block 750). Preferably, the dispenser control system 80 will monitor to determine whether or not the signal strength is changing to ensure that the vehicle-mounted transponder 64 does not move during the fueling operation.
  • the dispenser control system 80 In order to determine the particular fueling position A, B at which the transponder is located, the dispenser control system 80 must determine which side of the dispenser the vehicle is at or
  • the dispenser control system 80 may simply monitor the signal with antennas at or near the particular fueling position designed to receive using a directionally
  • system 80 continues to monitor the strength and direction of the signal (blocks 730-760).
  • dispenser control system 80 may determine whether the transponder or vehicle is within fueling
  • the dispenser control system 80 activates the
  • dispenser's fueling electronics as desired (block 780). During the fueling operation, the
  • dispenser control system 80 continues to monitor for the presence of a signal in decision block
  • Figure 13B depicts an embodiment wherein the location of transponders may be tracked as they
  • an antenna 108 capable of receiving a signal from a transponder 64.
  • the dispenser control system 80 may, for example, monitor a characteristic, such as the phase, of the signal received by the various antennas 108 associated with the dispensers 18 and use
  • the central control system 50 may monitor for the presence and location of a plurality of
  • Triangulation and other similar positioning and locating techniques generally
  • the location of the respective antennas 108 may be virtually anywhere in the fueling
  • respective dispensers 18 or elsewhere in the fueling environment 10 is to use multiple antennas in each dispenser or throughout the fueling environment 10. Additionally, a global positioning
  • GPS Global System
  • the process begins (block 800) and initially monitors for the presence of a transponder
  • control system 80 will next determine the location of the transponder (block 840) using the
  • the precise fueling position A, B of the conesponding dispenser 18 is determined (blocks 850 and 860) by calculating the position at which the vehicle stopped.
  • dispenser control system 80 for the dispenser where the vehicle stopped will determine if the
  • dispenser's fueling electronics are activated as desired (block 880).
  • system 80 will continually monitor the location of the vehicle to determine if the vehicle
  • the dispenser control system 80 deactivates the dispenser's fueling
  • the antennas are preferably
  • the multiplexer 256 sends the multiplex signals
  • barriers are used to provide electrical isolation between the antennas and the multiplexer 256
  • transponders being used in fleet-type applications for
  • radio frequency transmissions being used to interface with onboard vehicle
  • PIN personal identification numbers
  • schemes typically include standard debit cards with associated PIN's, contact and contactless smart cards with associated PIN's, and smart-wired and wireless PIN pads used in conjunction
  • card reading devices such as the devices disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 4,967,366 to Kaehler.
  • One aspect of the cunent invention is to use transponder technology in a fueling environment to simplify the financial payment operation associated with the transaction at a fuel dispenser and provide an enhanced level of security such that basic transponder communications cannot be "tapped" by unauthorized devices and personnel in order to replicate communications to generate fraudulent transactions.
  • This aspect involves an initial radio frequency identification process to provide preconditioning of the fuel dispenser, followed by an authentication process to provide transaction security for the financial aspects of the transaction.
  • the invention is applicable to both vehicle-mounted 64 and personal transponders
  • 66 may require a second transponder associated with the vehicle
  • the secondary authentication process may require the customer to enter a PIN, speak for a voice match, or supply a physical identifier, such as a
  • a voice print or other biometric signature of the customer is taken and stored in the transponder's memory or a database associated with the dispenser control system.
  • the information must be received from the transponder or MISSING UPON FILING
  • the customer may elect to receive audio/video entertainment (block 1530), such as
  • the customer may elect to receive a wide variety of information
  • this information may be gathered and
  • the present invention also provides for
  • any of the information may be suppressed
  • dispenser control system 80 (possibly in conjunction with the central control system 50) will
  • ovenide and or change the information provided on the display 100. Changing the preference
  • the dispenser confrol system 80 will monitor the key pad 102, 104 for a customer response
  • the preference may be made temporarily or permanently by updating the
  • the dispenser will operate to continue the fueling operation (block 1565) until the
  • dispenser control system 80 will simply continue fueling until the end of the
  • the dispenser may recognize other preferences to
  • precondition the fuel dispenser for the impending fueling operation including selecting a card
  • dispenser for fueling and carrying out the transaction.
  • the customer may also elect to receive
  • the present invention may also provide for ensuring a container is proper for receiving and
  • a dispenser 18 is
  • the container 280 is a fuel container manufactured to
  • the container 280 includes a body 282
  • the transponder 290 is designed to reflect an
  • the transponder 290 Upon receiving the intenogation signal, the transponder 290 will transmit
  • the dispenser control system 80 will cause the dispenser intenogator 52 to transmit an intenogation
  • the intenogation field it will transmit a signal in response to the intenogation signal.
  • dispenser intenogator 52 will receive this transponder signal, which typically includes indicia
  • transponder may indicate that it is a personal transponder carried by the person, such as a card
  • transponder signal directly indicates the type of container being fueled
  • the associated control system is adapted to determine if the container is acceptable for receiving fuel (block 1615).
  • the transponder indicia or database may also indicate the type or grade of fuel 87 for the particular container.
  • a proper container may be a vehicle fuel tank wherein the vehicle-mounted transponder
  • the vehicle fransponder 64 may be mounted on or near the vehicle's fill neck.
  • the dispenser will continue communications with the transponder to ensure that the
  • transponder remains present during the fueling operation and, optionally, the dispenser may
  • the controller 80 may act to warn or instruct the fueling operation.
  • the dispenser 18 may be adapted to
  • dispenser 18 having an existing intenogator is basically updating software to recognize the information received from the transponder during intenogation.
  • a classical fransponder is the prefened embodiment, as noted earlier in the specification, a transponder is used in a most generic sense and is deemed to include remote communication units having a receiver, a transmitter, or a combination thereof.
  • the present invention may also provide pre-transaction estimates of the amount of fuel required to fill the vehicle's tank along with the estimated total cost of filling the vehicle.
  • This embodiment requires a vehicle-mounted transponder operatively associated with a vehicle control system or, at a minimum, the vehicle's fuel tank in a manner wherein the transponder
  • the ullage information is able to receive or determine information relating to fuel tank ullage.
  • the ullage information is able to receive or determine information relating to fuel tank ullage.
  • This information may be passed to the transponder and then to the
  • the process begins (block 1700) when a
  • transponder will return identification indicia (block 1705). The transponder may also return
  • the transponder type may be included in
  • the transponder identification indicia or sent separately to enable the dispenser control system
  • transponder to leave the immediate fueling position during a fueling operation, while acting to
  • transponder identification indicia may also use the transponder identification indicia to
  • the dispenser Regardless of the type of identification indicia transmitted to the dispenser 18, the dispenser
  • control system 80 (in cooperation with other control systems, if necessary) determines the
  • transponder type (block 1710).
  • the fueling operation will 90 proceed (block 1795) and continue until fueling has ended (block 1785), wherein the process
  • transponder is a vehicle fransponder (block 1715) If the transponder is a vehicle fransponder (block 1715), it is determined whether or not the
  • vehicle transponder is an integrated transponder capable of accessing ullage information (block
  • This information is preferably derived from the fransponder identification indicia and
  • transponder If the transponder is vehicle-mounted but not integrated to obtain
  • the fueling operation will start (block 1795) and continue until fueling has
  • the transponder is integrated and adapted to provide ullage information
  • the dispenser must determine whether the customer wants an estimate of the
  • the customer may provide a request for the fill-up at the
  • the transponder may relay information during
  • the dispenser If the ullage information has not already been received during initial intenogation, the dispenser
  • intenogator 52 will intenogate the transponder 64 for the ullage indicia (block 1735) and receive the ullage indicia accordingly (block 1740). Based on the ullage indicia, the dispenser 91 control system 80 or associated control system will determine or calculate the vehicle's tank
  • the ullage indicia may include the exact ullage value representing the amount of fuel required
  • the ullage indicia may indicate tank volume and the amount of gas cunentiy present in the tank, wherein the control system will run the appropriate calculations to determine
  • the ullage information may simply include vehicle identification and remaining fuel indicia, and the control system will access a database at the central control system 50 or at the remote network 94 storing information relating to tank size for the identified vehicle.
  • the control system preferably determines or calculates an estimated cost of fueling the vehicle based on the ullage information. In order to do so, the type of fuel and fuel grade must be determined (block 1750).
  • the dispenser controller may provide a prompt at the display 100 for the customer to select the type of fuel and grade desired for fueling (block 1755).
  • the initial information received from the transponder may
  • system will determine fuel type and grade accordingly (blocks 1750 and 1755).
  • the associated control systems will calculate the estimated cost for filling the vehicle (block 1760) by multiplying the ullage value by the fuel cost.
  • the estimated fuel quantity and the cost for fueling the 92 vehicle with the selected type and grade is displayed to the customer on the display 100 (block 1760).
  • Determining estimated fueling totals benefits customers in many ways, especially customers wanting to pay cash at the dispenser using the cash acceptor 90 (shown in Figure 3). As noted
  • the amount of fuel purchased is less than the dollar amount placed in the cash acceptor.
  • the dispenser may determine that it will take $21.60 worth of premium,
  • the cash acceptor could be monitored to detennine the 93 amount of cash received and take appropriate action if the estimated filling total could not meet
  • the dispenser associated control system may determine
  • the customer may make fueling
  • the dispenser control system 80 will operate
  • dispenser control system 80 will allow fueling for the amount of payment (block 1825) until the
  • the dispenser control system 80 will next prompt the customer using the display 100
  • the customer may be required to receive credit on his
  • the dispenser may provide a
  • the dispenser control system 80 will determine whether or not to refund the customer's initial payment (block 1845)
  • dispenser control systems central control systems and remote network control systems, alone or in combination.
  • remote network control systems alone or in combination.

Abstract

L'invention concerne un système de distribution de combustible qui s'utilise pour effectuer une opération corrélative à une opération d'achat (dans le cadre d'un programme de promotion de fidélisation, par exemple, ou pour offrir des réductions de prix). Le système inclut un dispositif électronique de communication sans fil pour communiquer avec des unités de communications éloignées, un distributeur de combustible muni d'une interface utilisateur, et un système de commande associé au distributeur et au dispositif électronique de communication pour recevoir des signaux d'une unité de communications éloignée pendant une opération. Le système de commande est adapté, par exemple, pour offrir un bonus associé à l'unité de communications éloignée. Généralement, les signaux reçus de l'unité de communications éloignée incluent des données d'identification correspondant au répondeur et/ou au client associé à ce dernier. Selon l'application, le système de commande peut utiliser les données d'identification pour accéder à des informations de promotion ou stocker des informations de promotion dans une base de données associée. Dans un aspect différent, les informations de promotion peuvent être extraites de ou stockées dans l'unité de communications éloignée. Les promotions de fidélisation peuvent être basées sur des opérations courantes, sur des opérations précédentes ou sur une combinaison des deux types d'opération. Ces promotions de fidélisation peuvent se rapporter à des produits ou des services et concerner une opération complète ou partielle. Le système de commande peut être adapté pour extraire des informations de promotion précédentes et combiner cette information avec des informations courantes pour offrir des bonus cumulatifs. Ces bonus cumulatifs peuvent être comptabilisés en totalité ou en partie pour offrir des rabais sur l'opération en cours, ou stockés en totalité ou en partie dans une base de données associée ou dans le répondeur pour une utilisation ultérieure.
PCT/GB1998/002869 1997-09-26 1998-09-28 Systeme de distribution de combustible et de vente au detail permettant d'offrir des promotions de fidelisation a des clients WO1999016701A1 (fr)

Priority Applications (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP98946555A EP1017616A1 (fr) 1997-09-26 1998-09-28 Systeme de distribution de combustible et de vente au detail permettant d'offrir des promotions de fidelisation a des clients
AU93561/98A AU9356198A (en) 1997-09-26 1998-09-28 Fuel dispensing and retail system for providing loyalty and customer benefits

Applications Claiming Priority (6)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US6006697P 1997-09-26 1997-09-26
US60/060,066 1997-09-26
US2449398A 1998-02-17 1998-02-17
US2449198A 1998-02-17 1998-02-17
US09/024,493 1998-02-17
US09/024,491 1998-02-17

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO1999016701A1 true WO1999016701A1 (fr) 1999-04-08

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Country Link
EP (1) EP1017616A1 (fr)
AU (1) AU9356198A (fr)
WO (1) WO1999016701A1 (fr)

Cited By (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2000052655A1 (fr) * 1999-03-03 2000-09-08 The Coca-Cola Company Distributeur automatique comportant un interrogateur de repeteur
WO2002009061A3 (fr) * 2000-07-21 2003-05-30 Dresser Inc Communication sans fil dans un environnement de ravitaillement en carburant au detail
EP1381994A2 (fr) * 2001-02-27 2004-01-21 ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company Systeme et procede de traitement des transactions financieres
EP2266055A1 (fr) * 2008-03-03 2010-12-29 The Coca-Cola Company Systèmes pour mettre en oeuvre un programme de fidélité
WO2016008686A1 (fr) * 2014-07-18 2016-01-21 Thales Système et procédé de contrôle d'accès à un service ou à un lieu
DE102020116931A1 (de) 2020-06-26 2021-12-30 Scheidt & Bachmann Gmbh Kraftstoffabgabesystem

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WO1991018373A1 (fr) * 1990-05-24 1991-11-28 Bilgrey Samson & Company Limited Systeme d'escompte
EP0461888A2 (fr) * 1990-06-12 1991-12-18 Exxon Research And Engineering Company Prestation de service et identification automatique d'un véhicule et facturation du service au propriétaire du véhicule
WO1995032919A1 (fr) * 1994-05-27 1995-12-07 Staffan Gunnarsson Systeme automatique de remplissage et de debit pour vehicules
US5663887A (en) * 1996-01-11 1997-09-02 Progressive International Electronics Dispenser control console interfaced to a register
WO1997035284A1 (fr) * 1996-03-21 1997-09-25 Shell Internationale Research Maatschappij B.V. Prestation de service pour un vehicule

Patent Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4199100A (en) * 1978-06-08 1980-04-22 Atlantic Richfield Company Credit card automated system for vehicle service stations
WO1991018373A1 (fr) * 1990-05-24 1991-11-28 Bilgrey Samson & Company Limited Systeme d'escompte
EP0461888A2 (fr) * 1990-06-12 1991-12-18 Exxon Research And Engineering Company Prestation de service et identification automatique d'un véhicule et facturation du service au propriétaire du véhicule
WO1995032919A1 (fr) * 1994-05-27 1995-12-07 Staffan Gunnarsson Systeme automatique de remplissage et de debit pour vehicules
US5663887A (en) * 1996-01-11 1997-09-02 Progressive International Electronics Dispenser control console interfaced to a register
WO1997035284A1 (fr) * 1996-03-21 1997-09-25 Shell Internationale Research Maatschappij B.V. Prestation de service pour un vehicule

Cited By (11)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2000052655A1 (fr) * 1999-03-03 2000-09-08 The Coca-Cola Company Distributeur automatique comportant un interrogateur de repeteur
WO2002009061A3 (fr) * 2000-07-21 2003-05-30 Dresser Inc Communication sans fil dans un environnement de ravitaillement en carburant au detail
EP1381994A2 (fr) * 2001-02-27 2004-01-21 ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company Systeme et procede de traitement des transactions financieres
EP1381994A4 (fr) * 2001-02-27 2007-08-22 Exxonmobil Res & Eng Co Systeme et procede de traitement des transactions financieres
AU2002327227B2 (en) * 2001-02-27 2008-04-24 Exxonmobil Research And Engineering Company System and method for processing financial transactions
AU2002327227B8 (en) * 2001-02-27 2008-05-15 Exxonmobil Research And Engineering Company System and method for processing financial transactions
EP2266055A1 (fr) * 2008-03-03 2010-12-29 The Coca-Cola Company Systèmes pour mettre en oeuvre un programme de fidélité
EP2266055A4 (fr) * 2008-03-03 2012-12-12 Coca Cola Co Systèmes pour mettre en oeuvre un programme de fidélité
US8825538B2 (en) 2008-03-03 2014-09-02 The Coca-Cola Company Systems for implementing a loyalty program
WO2016008686A1 (fr) * 2014-07-18 2016-01-21 Thales Système et procédé de contrôle d'accès à un service ou à un lieu
DE102020116931A1 (de) 2020-06-26 2021-12-30 Scheidt & Bachmann Gmbh Kraftstoffabgabesystem

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
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EP1017616A1 (fr) 2000-07-12

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