Registers – Systems controlled by data bearing records – Credit or identification card systems
Reexamination Certificate
1998-03-10
2001-07-24
Pitts, Harold I. (Department: 2876)
Registers
Systems controlled by data bearing records
Credit or identification card systems
C235S380000, C235S487000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06264103
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an apparatus for use in fuel dispensing equipment, and, more particularly, to a card processor adapted for integral arrangement with the fuel dispensing equipment and configured for network connectivity, and which is operative to process a card having a magnetic recording portion and an erasable/rewritable display portion comprising a reversible thermosensitive recording material.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventional fueling stations employ an arrangement of user-operated fuel dispensers such as manual pumping apparatus to provide the user with the ability to initiate and control the refueling operation. It is standard for fuel dispensing kiosks to further provide the user with transaction-authorizing equipment such as a credit card interface that is adapted to read the identification data from the customer credit card and then dial into the card-issuing entity to request payment authorization for the refueling transaction. A controller for the fuel dispenser activates the fuel pump in response to a return approval code. This exchange between the user and the credit card issuer (or any similar such institution or party) encompasses the entirety of their interaction connected with the refueling transaction.
There is currently no facility at retail fueling stations that permits a vendor to communicate real-time information such as marketing and sales data to the user at the refueling point-of-sale. Limitations in conventional equipment encompass not only the inability to dynamically communicate textual information to the user, but also extends to the lack of any on-site facility to receive and display viewer-perceptible images, particularly in a manner that is correlated to user information unique to the present operator. Existing configurations only support the credit card authorization procedure and do not possess any functionality that permits a vendor (e.g., credit card company or bank) to dynamically transfer other real-time information, particularly image signals, to the user at the point-of-sale.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to the present invention there is provided a card processor for use with fuel dispensing equipment in which the card processor is operative for use with a card having a data recording portion and an erasable/rewritable display portion including a reversible thermosensitive recording material. The card processor selectively performs read/write operations on the data recording portion and selectively performs erasing/rewriting operations on the display portion. In a first embodiment of the present invention, the card processor is arranged as a standalone unit configured for connection to a dedicated hose controller that monitors and controls the fuel dispensing activity of the fuel dispensing equipment. In a second embodiment of the present invention, the card processor is integrally arranged with the fuel dispensing equipment and is connected along with the fuel dispensing controller to a network terminal for connectivity to a communications network. In a third embodiment of the present invention, the card processor is integrally arranged with the fuel dispensing equipment and networked to the communications network, and a server providing a user-interface with the card processor is integrally arranged with the fuel dispensing equipment. The server is preferably provided in the form of an integral touchscreen and information screen.
The invention, in one form thereof, comprises a system for use with fuel dispensing equipment. The system includes a controller to at least one of monitor and control fuel dispensing activity of the fuel dispensing equipment, and further includes a card processor that is operative to process a card having a data recording portion and an erasable/rewritable display portion comprising a reversible thermosensitive recording material. The card processor is disposed for discrete placement relative to the fuel dispensing equipment and is arranged for selective communication with the controller.
The card processor, in one form thereof, includes a read/write means for selectively performing read/write operations on the data recording portion of the card; and a thermal processing means for selectively performing erasing/rewriting operations on the erasable/rewritable display portion of the card. In one aspect of the present invention, the data recording portion of the card includes a magnetic medium, and the card processor includes a magnetic reader. In another aspect of the present invention, the data recording portion includes an integrated circuit, and the card processor includes a microprocessor.
The system, in one form thereof, further includes a communications network and a means for connecting the controller to the communications network.
The invention, in another form thereof, comprises a system for use with fuel dispensing equipment, such equipment including a controller to at least one of monitor and control fuel dispensing activity thereof. The system includes a card processing device for use with a card having a data recording portion and an erasable/rewritable display portion comprising a reversible thermosensitive recording material, such card processing device further comprising: a read/write means for selectively performing read/write operations on the information recording portion of the card; and a thermal processing means for selectively performing erasing/rewriting operations on the erasable/rewritable display portion of the card. The card processing device is disposed at a location discrete from the fuel dispensing equipment and is arranged for selective communication with the fuel dispenser controller.
The system, in one form thereof, includes a communications network and a means for connecting the controller of the fuel dispensing equipment to the communications network. There is further provided a means for connecting the card processing device to the communications network.
The invention, in another form thereof, comprises a system for use with fuel dispensing equipment. The system includes a first means for at least one of monitoring and controlling the fuel dispensing activity of the fuel dispensing equipment. The system further includes a processor means, which is operatively associated with a card having a data recording portion and an erasable/rewritable display portion comprising a reversible thermosensitive recording material, for processing the card by selectively conducting at least one of read/write operations in association with the data recording portion thereof and erasing/rewriting operations in association with the erasable/rewritable display portion thereof. The processor means is disposed for discrete placement relative to the fuel dispensing equipment and is arranged for selective communication with the first means.
The processor means, in one form thereof, includes a read/write means for selectively performing read/write operations on the data recording portion of the card; and a thermal processing means for selectively performing erasing/rewriting operations on the erasable/rewritable display portion of the card.
The invention, in another form thereof, comprises a system for use with fuel dispensing equipment, such system comprising: a network terminal; a card processor integrally arranged with the fuel dispensing equipment and being operative to process a card having a data recording portion and an erasable/rewritable display portion comprising a reversible thermosensitive recording material, such card processor being adapted for external communications; and a means for establishing a communications link between the card processor and the network terminal.
The card processor, in one form thereof, includes a read/write means for selectively performing read/write operations on the data recording portion of the card; and a thermal processing means for selectively performing erasing/rewriting operations on the erasable/rewritable display portion of the card.
The system, in one form thereof
Knuth Randall J.
Pitts Harold I.
Tokheim Corporation
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