Gilbarco Inc.

William S Johnson, Jr

Edward A Payne

Donald A Boschker

Benita W Phipps

Philip A Robertson

Christopher D Lovell

John S Sabol

A retail transaction system provides enhanced customer convenience and increased transaction security by sending transaction information to a cellular network provider via a customer's digital cellular phone. For example, a fuel dispenser is equipped with a communications link allowing direct communications to a customer's cellular phone. When a customer desires to conduct a transaction using the fuel dispenser, the fuel dispenser transmits select information to the customer's cellular telephone using this communications link. A telephone number is included in the select information. When the customer presses send, or otherwise causes their telephone to dial the number transferred from the fuel dispenser, the select information along with any additional customer information is sent to the cellular network. This information is used by the network to authorize a purchase transaction for the customer, such authorization information returned to the fueling station at which the fuel dispenser is located via a cellular link. For enhanced security, the customer may be required to input their PIN in order to complete the transaction. Notably, the PIN and the remainder of the transaction information sent from the customer phone to the cellular network is intrinsically secure due to the digital encryption employed by the digital cellular protocol. Optionally, the system may be configured to cause the customer's cellular phone to automatically dial the number transferred by the fuel dispenser. This capability may be enabled at the customer's option. The system may be extended to other retail systems including in-store point-of-sale systems (POS).

Cellular telephone-based transaction processing

A control system for a fuel dispensing system and a method for simultaneously refueling from at least two fuel dispensers to provide a single transaction total wherein the two fuel dispensers are a master/satellite fuel dispenser pair. A first communication means enables the dispenser control circuitry in the master dispenser to control the dispensing of fuel from the satellite dispenser. A second communication means enables the dispenser control circuitry to receive data regarding the amount of fuel dispensed by the satellite dispenser. A combination means generally associated with the dispenser control circuitry combines the total amount of fuel dispensed from the master/satellite fuel dispenser pair to a single vehicle. A device mounted on the master dispenser displays the total volume and price for the customer as a single transaction.

Fuel dispensing method for refueling from master and satellite dispensers

A control system for a fuel dispensing system for simultaneously refueling from at least two fuel dispensers to provide a single transaction total wherein the two fuel dispensers are a master/satellite fuel dispenser pair. A first communication device enables the dispenser control circuitry in the master dispenser to control the dispensing of fuel from the satellite dispenser. A second communication device enables the dispenser control circuitry to receive data regarding the amount of fuel dispensed by the satellite dispenser. A combination device generally associated with the dispenser control circuitry combines the total amount of fuel dispensed from the master/satellite fuel dispenser pair to a single vehicle. A device mounted on the master dispenser displays the total volume and price for the customer as a single transaction.

Fuel dispensing method and control system for refueling from master and satellite dispensers

The current invention is a dispensing system for deterring and preventing transponder misuse in a fueling environment. The system includes a fuel dispenser associated with a control system and a receiver adapted to receive signals, including identification indicia from a remote communications unit associated with a customer. The receiver operates in conjunction with the control system to provide the control system with the first indicia and determine if the remote communications unit has been lost, stolen or used in an unauthorized manner. The control system is adapted to prevent fueling and transaction continuance upon determining the remote communications unit in communication if the dispenser was lost, stolen or used in an unauthorized manner. Preferably, the dispenser is further associated with a transmitter operating in conjunction with the control system wherein the control system is adapted to provide an unauthorized use signal for transmission to the remote communications unit via the transmitter upon determining the remote communications unit was lost, stolen or used in an unauthorized manner. The signal may cause the remote communications unit to act in a manner aiding in the prevention of subsequent authorizations by the same or other dispensers in the same or other fueling environments.

Fuel dispensing and retail system for preventing use of stolen transponders

The invention relates to providing secure transactions with a tag and POS device associated with a host network authorization system. In doing so, the tag is adapted to bi-directionally communicate with a POS device, preferably a fuel dispenser, which further communicates with a host network to provide authorization of the tag and carry out any desired purchases or transactions. To avoid transmitting data from which valuable account or financial information could be derived, between the tag and POS device or the POS device and the host network system, the invention may maintain all or a majority of account and financial information requiring absolute security only at the host network. Neither the tag nor the POS device has or has access to certain critical financial or account information. The tag also is adapted to communicate with other local sources and the POS device directly. Additional and alternate security is available for these communications. Furthermore, the local sources may need a password to access certain data stored in the tag's memory.

Cryptography security for remote dispenser transactions

The present invention is a point of sale system, method of operation and a control program for use within a point of sale system. The point of sale system includes at least one operator console controlled with the control program with each operator console communicating with at least one console device connected thereto with a control program being executable by a site controller processor of the point of sale system which is operatively associated with a coresident console and being executable by a remote console processor within each console which is remote from the site controller and connected to the site controller by a communications link. The programming includes coresident console application programming for controlling operation of a coresident operator console which is executable by the site controller processor and remote console application programming for controlling operation of each remote console within the point of sale system.

Point of sale system, method of operation thereof and programming for

The present invention solves these problems by providing a fueling system capable of distinguishing between types of transponders based on the type of signals transmitted or information transmitted therein. Based on the type of transponder, the system may control dispenser functions accordingly. For example, certain applications may allow transponders carried on a person to be moved about the fueling environment during a fueling operation, but stop fueling and provide warning or instructional information if a vehicle mounted transponder begins or starts to move during the fueling operation. The fueling system may use many various techniques to determine transponder movement within the fueling environment, and in particular, with respect to the fuel dispenser at which the fueling operation is taking place. The system may simply determine a relative change in the proximity of the transponder with respect to the dispenser, a change in location with respect to the dispenser or simply receiving data from the vehicle transmitter or other remote source that the vehicle is moving or preparing to move. Preferably, in the latter situation, the vehicle transmitter is associated with a vehicle control system capable of sending information to the transmitter indicative of the vehicle being started, placed in gear and/or actually moving. A global positioning system may be used to interact through the vehicle or part of the fueling system to provide information on the vehicle movement and location.

Transponder distinction in a fueling environment

The present invention relates to a fuel dispenser having a fuel delivery path, a pump associated with the delivery path for pumping fuel from a storage tank to a fueling nozzle and a controller and communication system adapted to receive remotely transmitted signals from transmitters of different types. The controller is adapted to determine the type of transmitter from which the remotely transmitted signals were received, and preferably, whether or not the transmitter is moved with respect to the dispenser. The controller and communication depending on the sophistication of the system or respond to information in the transmitted signals indicating the vehicle is moving.

A gasoline service station includes gasoline dispensers and a PIN pad including keypads for receiving personal identification numbers and assembled into a network for securely communicating personal identification numbers from the PIN pads and dispensers to a host computer over unsecured data lines. The PIN pads and dispensers each include means for encryption and outputting of personal identification numbers. A security module includes means for decryption of data associated with each PIN pad and dispenser in a process for the respective PIN pads and dispensers and means for encryption of data associated with the host computer in a process which is different from its decryption of data associated with the PIN pads and dispensers. A site controller, which is not secure from unauthorized signal detection, has means for directing encrypted data received from the PIN pads and the dispensers to the security module and from the security module to the dispensers or the host computer as needed for properly directing encrypted data to a desired destination.

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Jamestown, NC, United States of America

William S Johnson, Jr