US6073840A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Fuel dispensing and retail system providing for transponder prepayment
Assignee: Gilbarco Inc
•
Filing: 1998-03-05
•
Granted: 2000-06-13
•
Expires: 2018-03-05
Abstract
Abstract A fueling system for conducting a transaction with a prepaid remote communication unit. The system includes wireless communication electronics for communicating with a remote communication unit, a dispenser and customer interface for conducting a transaction and accepting payment, and a control system. The control system is adapted to determine a value correlating to payment made by a customer, effect storage of the value in association with the remote communication unit, communicate with the remote communications unit subsequent to effecting storage of the value and deduct the value of an amount of a transaction associated with the communications unit to effect payment.
Inventors
- 👤 Kenneth O. Marion
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 11:53
CPC Classifications
G; G07; G07F; G07F7/00; G07F7/02; B; B67; B67D; B67D7/00; B67D7/06; B67D7/064; B67D7/067; B67D7/08; B67D7/14; B67D7/145; G06; G06Q; G06Q20/00; G06Q20/30; G06Q20/34; G06Q20/343; G06Q20/346; G07C; G07C5/00; G07C5/008; G07C5/08; G07C5/0841; G07C5/085; G07C5/0858; G07F13/00; G07F13/02; G07F13/025; G07F7/08; G07F7/10; G07F7/1008
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
213 words
A fueling system comprising: a. a fuel dispenser having a payment acceptor integral with or proximate to said dispenser; b. a customer interface for conducting a transaction; c. wireless communication electronics for communicating with the remote communication unit; and d. a control system adapted to: i. effect payment for a fueling transaction through value received through said payment acceptor; ii. effect payment for a fueling transaction through value received through said wireless communication electronics via the remote communication unit; iii. effect storage of a prepaid value associated with the remote communication unit based on value received through said payment acceptor, wherein said fuel dispenser provides a customer opportunity to pay for a fueling transaction at the dispenser using the payment acceptor or said remote communication unit as well as add to said prepaid value associated with the remote communication unit via said payment acceptor; iv. read said prepaid value from a database apart from said remote communication unit and write the updated prepaid value to said database apart from said remote communication unit; wherein a customer prepays for subsequent transactions at a terminal capable of communicating with said remote communication unit to store said prepaid value on said remote communication unit or associate said prepaid value in said database associated with said terminal.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
213 words
A fueling system comprising: a. a fuel dispenser having a payment acceptor integral with or proximate to said dispenser; b. a customer interface for conducting a transaction; c. wireless communication electronics for communicating with the remote communication unit; and d. a control system adapted to: i. effect payment for a fueling transaction through value received through said payment acceptor; ii. effect payment for a fueling transaction through value received through said wireless communication electronics via the remote communication unit; iii. effect storage of a prepaid value associated with the remote communication unit based on value received through said payment acceptor, wherein said fuel dispenser provides a customer opportunity to pay for a fueling transaction at the dispenser using the payment acceptor or said remote communication unit as well as add to said prepaid value associated with the remote communication unit via said payment acceptor; iv. read said prepaid value from a database apart from said remote communication unit and write the updated prepaid value to said database apart from said remote communication unit; wherein a customer prepays for subsequent transactions at a terminal capable of communicating with said remote communication unit to store said prepaid value on said remote communication unit or associate said prepaid value in said database associated with said terminal.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
38 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said prepaid value is stored in a memory accessible by said control system and apart from said remote communication unit, said prepaid value being stored in association with the remote communication unit.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
25 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said control system transmits said prepaid value to the remote communication unit for storage via said wireless communication electronics.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
28 words
The system of claim 1 wherein the prepaid value stored for the remote communication unit is added to any prior prepaid value associated with the remote communication unit.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
36 words
The system of claim 4 wherein said control system is adapted to alert a customer via said interface when the prepaid value stored in association with the remote communication unit is less than a predefined amount.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
32 words
The system of claim 4 wherein said control system is adapted to alert a customer via said interface when the prepaid value stored in association with the remote communication unit is zero.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
36 words
The system of claim 4 wherein said control system is adapted to alert a customer via said interface when the prepaid value stored in association with the remote communication unit is less than a transaction total.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
19 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said payment acceptor is a card reader associated with a card authorization network.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
13 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said payment acceptor is a cash acceptor.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
24 words
The system of claim 1 wherein a customer may add value to said prepaid value using an operator terminal apart from said fuel dispenser.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
24 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said payment acceptor comprises both a card reader associated with a card authorization network and a cash acceptor.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
197 words
A method for conducting a transaction at a fueling dispenser with a remote communication unit, said dispenser having a payment acceptor integral with or proximate to said dispenser, comprising the steps of: a. adding a value received through said payment acceptor to a prepaid value stored in association with said remote communication unit to increase the prepaid value stored in association with the remote communication unit; b. reading the prepaid value stored in association with the remote communication unit; c. totaling a purchase cost for any goods and services subject to the transaction; d. deducting the purchase cost from the prepaid value to calculate an updated prepaid value; and e. storing the updated prepaid value in association with the remote communication unit; the storing step in (e) further comprises reading said prepaid value from a database apart from the remote communication unit and writing the updated prepaid value to said database apart from said remote communication unit; wherein a customer prepays for subsequent transactions at a terminal capable of communicating with said remote communication unit to store said prepaid value on said remote communication unit or associate said prepaid value in said database associated with said terminal.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
197 words
A method for conducting a transaction at a fueling dispenser with a remote communication unit, said dispenser having a payment acceptor integral with or proximate to said dispenser, comprising the steps of: a. adding a value received through said payment acceptor to a prepaid value stored in association with said remote communication unit to increase the prepaid value stored in association with the remote communication unit; b. reading the prepaid value stored in association with the remote communication unit; c. totaling a purchase cost for any goods and services subject to the transaction; d. deducting the purchase cost from the prepaid value to calculate an updated prepaid value; and e. storing the updated prepaid value in association with the remote communication unit; the storing step in (e) further comprises reading said prepaid value from a database apart from the remote communication unit and writing the updated prepaid value to said database apart from said remote communication unit; wherein a customer prepays for subsequent transactions at a terminal capable of communicating with said remote communication unit to store said prepaid value on said remote communication unit or associate said prepaid value in said database associated with said terminal.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 12 further comprising reading the prepaid value from the remote communication unit and writing the updated prepaid value to the remote communication unit.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 12 further comprising the step of accepting a value using said payment acceptor to pay the purchase cost of the transaction.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method of claim 14 further comprising adding an amount of the value accepted through said payment acceptor in excess of the purchase cost of the transaction to the prepaid value stored in association with said remote communication unit.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2003-06-13 | 2003-12-13 | 2004-06-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2007-06-13 | 2007-12-13 | 2008-06-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2011-06-13 | 2011-12-13 | 2012-06-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |