In dispenser point-of-sale module for fuel dispensers
View Patent ↗A fuel dispenser including a dispenser manager for controlling electronic functions of a fuel dispenser, display, user interface and controller are coupled to the dispenser manager. The controller controls fuel dispensing components of the fuel dispenser coupled to the dispenser manager. A point-of-sale module is associated with the dispenser manager for providing point-of-sale functionalities within the fuel dispenser.
1. A fuel dispenser, comprising:
a dispenser manager for controlling electronic functions of the fuel dispenser;
a display coupled to the dispenser manager;
a user interface coupled to the dispenser manager;
a dispenser computer controlling sale and pump control functions coupled to the dispenser manager;
the fuel dispenser operable to allow a credit-card transaction for payment of a fuel-dispensing request while the fuel dispenser is in communication with external transaction-card processing equipment; and
a point-of-sale module within the fuel dispenser, the point-of sale module associated with the dispenser manager and operable to authorize, using locally stored rules for authorization of credit cards, a credit-card transaction for payment of a fuel-dispensing request during at least a portion of a period of time of loss of communication with external transaction-card processing equipment and transmit, to the external transaction-card processing equipment, information associated with the authorized credit-card transaction after reconnection of the fuel dispenser with the external transaction-card processing equipment, wherein the point-of-sale module remains in an idle state when the fuel dispenser has a connection to an external point-of-sale link and becomes active responsive to disconnection of the external point-of-sale link.
2. The fuel dispenser of claim 1 , wherein the point-of-sale module does not require the external point-of-sale link for operation.
3. The fuel dispenser of claim 1 , wherein the point-of-sale module returns to the idle state responsive to reconnection of the external point-of-sale link.
4. The fuel dispenser of claim 1 , wherein the point-of-sale module operates in full time state.
5. The fuel dispenser of claim 1 , further including at least one database accessible by the point-of-sale module including point-of-sale data.
6. The fuel dispenser of claim 5 , wherein the point-of-sale data comprises URLs.
7. The fuel dispenser of claim 5 , wherein the point-of-sale data comprises display content consisting of customer instructional prompts, fueling status information, and advertisements.
8. The fuel dispenser of claim 5 , wherein the point-of-sale data comprises Business Rules.
9. The fuel dispenser of claim 5 wherein the point-of-sale data comprises fuel prices, tender media authorization information, and pump operational rules.
10. The fuel dispenser of claim 5 , wherein the point-of-sale data comprises completed transaction and error logs.
11. The fuel dispenser of claim 1 , wherein the dispenser manager communicates with external devices using at least one of XML over a TCP/IP link or PNA wireless.
12. The fuel dispenser of claim 1 , wherein the user interface further includes a bezel control.
13. The fuel dispenser of claim 1 , wherein the user interface comprises a video display and soft keys.
14. The fuel dispenser of claim 1 , wherein the user interface comprises a touchscreen.
15. A fuel dispenser, comprising:
a dispenser manager for controlling electronic functions of the fuel dispenser;
a display coupled to the dispenser manager;
a bezel control coupled to the dispenser manager;
a dispenser computer for sale and pump control function of the fuel dispenser coupled to the dispenser manager;
the fuel dispenser operable to allow a credit-card transaction for payment of a fuel-dispensing request while the fuel dispenser is in communication with external transaction-card processing equipment;
a point-of-sale module within the fuel dispenser, the point-of-sale module associated with the dispenser manager and operable to authorize, using locally stored rules for authorization of credit cards, a credit-card transaction for payment of a fuel-dispensing request during at least a portion of a period of time of loss of communication with external transaction-card processing equipment and transmit, to the external transaction-card processing equipment, information associated with the authorized credit-card transaction after reconnection of the fuel dispenser with the external transaction-card processing equipment, wherein the point-of sale module remains in an idle state when the fuel dispenser has a connection to an external point-of sale link and becomes active responsive to disconnection of the external point-of sale link; and
at least one database within the fuel dispenser accessible by the module including the credit-card transaction data.
16. The fuel dispenser of claim 15 , wherein the point-of-sale module does not require the external point-of sale link for operation.
17. The fuel dispenser of claim 15 , wherein the point-of-sale data comprises URLs.
18. The fuel dispenser of claim 15 , wherein the point-of-sale date comprises display content consisting of customer instructional prompts, fueling status information, and advertisements.
19. The fuel dispenser of claim 15 , wherein the point-of-sale data comprises Business Rules.
20. The fuel dispenser of claim 19 wherein the point-of-sale data comprises fuel prices, tender media authorization information, and pump operational rules.
21. The fuel dispenser of claim 15 , wherein the point-of-sale data comprises completed transaction and error logs.
22. The fuel dispenser of claim 15 wherein the dispenser manager communicates with external devices using at least one of XML over a TCP/IP link or PNA wireless.