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:
Jul. 17, 2001
Filed:
Sep. 14, 1998
Russel Dean Leatherman, Summerfield, NC (US);
Masconi Commerce Systems Inc., Greensboro, NC (US);
Abstract
The present invention provides a communication system for creating a shadow ledger for a remote communications unit. The system includes communications electronics adapted to provide radio communication with remote communications units, which are capable of maintaining an independent ledger of transaction history. A control system and associated memory are provided to operate in conjunction with the communications electronics. The memory contains a shadow ledger of transaction history related to the independent ledger of transaction history stored on a remote communications unit. The memory may be integrated with the control system or located apart from the control system in any variety of locations, including a remote network accessible by the control system. The control system is adapted to receive remote ledger information from the remote communications unit relating to the independent ledger, compare corresponding information on the shadow ledger with the remote ledger information, and update the shadow ledger if the information is different from the information of the independent ledger. Notably, the control system may be provided in a fuel dispenser, a central control system, the fuel station store, at a remote network, or any combination thereof. The ledger may be kept at a central control system, at a local network for localized transaction tracking, or at a remote network for more regional or national transaction tracking.