The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Dec. 02, 1997
Filed:
May. 08, 1996
Walter E Warn, Knightdale, NC (US);
Fred K Carr, Chapel Hill, NC (US);
Progressive International Electronics, Raleigh, NC (US);
Abstract
The present invention relates to a fuel pump-card reader control center for controlling the fuel dispensing process and accepting payment for the fuel dispensed through a card reader. The control center has a microprocessor with read-only-memory (ROM) and read-and-write-memory (RAM). Operating routines are stored in ROM and operating code for controlling the dispensing process and accepting payment for the fuel dispensed is stored in RAM. The control commands for pump control and card reader control are down-loadable from magnetic medium or remotely though a modem interface. Configuration circuits translate the communication language of the fuel pump control commands and the card reader control commands into a communication format which is readable by the dispensers such that the control center can control dispensing process of different dispenser brands and accept payment for the fuel dispensed. Response data from the dispensers is stored in the RAM, and is transmitted to a computer through a driver, where the computer is performing cash register function. The fuel pump-card reader control center is particularly well suited for use with a c-store point-of-sales application programs for controlling the dispensers. An external version of the controller has serial connection to the computer and an internal version resides in an expansion slot and has a bus interface connection to the computer.