Data processing: generic control systems or specific application – Specific application – apparatus or process – Article handling
Reexamination Certificate
1999-06-04
2002-08-27
Luu, Le Hien (Department: 2152)
Data processing: generic control systems or specific application
Specific application, apparatus or process
Article handling
C700S231000, C700S241000, C700S233000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06442448
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a dispenser system and a system for management of dispenser systems, such as fueling dispensers, which may be installed to use existing wiring and hardware or may be installed to use new wiring and new hardware.
2. Description of the Prior Art
As shown in
FIG. 1
, multiple fueling dispensers
100
exist in fueling stations
10
. These dispensers
100
are equipped to serve customers in one or two fueling positions
110
. The dispensers
100
are connected via two sets of wiring
200
210
that link the dispensers to electronic equipment inside the retail establishment or store. One set of wiring serves to communicate dispenser information
200
while the other relays payment information to a card reader control device
130
. The pair of wires
200
210
may be merged into a single cable and even into a single communication channel. Inside the store, wiring junctions coalesce like wires from each dispenser.
A single connection
220
relays fueling information from all dispensers
100
to a fuel control device
140
. One or more point of sale terminals (POS)
170
are connected via connection
260
to the fuel controller
140
allowing fueling information to be displayed on the point of sale terminals
170
. The fuel controller
140
may be integrated with the POS
170
into a single device with no need for the connection.
Another connection
230
is used to relay payment control information from all fueling positions
10
to a protocol adapter
150
which in turn is connected to a POS
170
device. The protocol adapter
150
may be integrated with the POS
170
.
Some fueling stations which provide pay at pump via charge or debit card, contain a security module
160
which is either connected via
240
to the card reader junction
130
or to a POS
170
device.
Some configurations of equipment allow multiple parallel configurations such that several junctions exist interfaced to several fuel controllers
120
and protocol adapters
150
. In this scenario, the number and connections of these devices to the POS
170
network varies widely.
A manager workstation
180
is typically connected via wiring
290
to the POS
170
devices. Alternative arrangements exist where the connections (
250
,
260
and
270
) are all centralized on one POS
170
device. Still others use a single device as a fuel controller
140
, protocol adapter
150
and communications junction boxes
120
and
130
.
A customer at a fueling station
10
has various capabilities. Typically the customer can control a fueling hose through a handle or trigger, and the fuel dispenser
100
senses the presence and removal of the hose through a sensor. A customer may also select the type of fuel to be dispensed through a physical switch. The fuel dispenser
100
may also include a display for unit prices of various grades of fuel as well as the current sale volume and monies dispensed in the sale.
In the last 15 years or so devices have been added at the fueling position
110
which allow for credit card or debit card payment. These include a small display (such as a 1×20 or 4×16 character display), a printer for receipts, a note acceptor for cash transactions, a speaker for tones and sounds, and a keypad for special user inputs such as PIN entry and driver numbers on advanced card applications. Usually these are dumb devices which are remote controlled through the interface cables
200
and
210
from within the store.
The complex network formed by the POS
170
system, manager's workstation
180
and corporate control system
191
are an industry of their own. These devices are provided by various vendors and there is a significant investment by any retailer in these systems based on their ability to link properly to back-end systems and operate a complex retail chain
24
hours a day, reliably. A retailer is bound by the investment in time and money that is made on these systems and must preserve them for some time to earn a return on investment. Furthermore, these systems are difficult to change, as modifications have to be made and delivered to thousands of locations all at once if sound financial tracking is to be maintained.
Furthermore, the network of POS
170
is typically tested in a certification process against the Remote Electronic Payments Host
190
prior to deployment. This process insures that the POS
170
electronics and software are fully compatible with the Electronic Payments Host
190
and therefore customers of the fueling station are not likely to be incorrectly billed under the myriad of circumstances that can occur in a fueling station. The certification process for a POS
170
system can take years to complete and once completed requires ongoing testing of any changes whatsoever to the POS
170
system. Therefore to prevent an arduous re-certification process, it is likely that a POS
170
system which is linked to a payment system should not be modified for any changes in the technology that is deployed in the dispensers.
Another delay encountered if new wiring is installed is that regulatory agencies such as the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) must perform conformance testing on any new wiring placed underground or on any new dispensing mechanism.
Preservation of the existing POS
170
system is therefore critical to the retailer in terms of their ability to maintain orderly operation, achieve return on investment, and remain responsible in their credit card billing practices.
Furthermore the concrete and soil around a fueling station are considered to be toxic based on their exposure to residual fuel vapors and small spills over a long period of time. Any construction effort around the station therefore involves costly removal of toxic waste which is significantly more expensive than traditional construction waste disposal.
Disruption of the business of the fueling station
10
is also a significant factor in the success of new fueling technology. Any technology that closes a fueling station
10
for any length of time is most likely an expensive proposition to deploy. Therefore the time for deploying any new technology must be minimal. Furthermore, customers in this business are extremely routine-oriented and a disruption of this routine is likely to result in a semi-permanent loss of a regular customer. Ease of installation is then another factor in the commercial viability of a dispenser technology.
The present invention overcomes each of these issues adding new value to the dispenser while preserving investment and not disturbing business.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed to a fuel dispensing system and to a network of dispensing systems. The invention may be installed and used on a set of dispensers which are connected using existing wiring or may be installed on a dispenser system with new wiring. This invention also allows retrofitting new dispenser electronics on an existing set of dispensers and valves (hydraulics).
The main component of the current invention is a processor that translates commands and responses. In the preferred embodiment, this processor is the Site Manager (SM). The SM is a device connected to the existing devices such as the Point-of-Sale Terminal (POS) and a manager workstation. Intuitively, preserving these connections would limit the information capability of the SM. However, the SM adds functionality provided to the dispenser while maintaining backwards compatibility to existing devices such as the POS.
The SM may also be connected to a remote host. Therefore the SM combines information from the remote host and existing peripherals and communicates back and forth to the dispensers. The SM accomplishes this through a platform interface to the hardware, a device manager and a system manager server.
The SM operates the dispenser and peripherals under control of the POS. In the preferred embodiment, the part of the SM that is directed to operating the dispenser and the
Bilger Aaron
Desetto John Paul
Dudgeon Michael
Finley Michael C.
Fortuna James Lee
Luu Le Hien
Needle & Rosenberg, PC.
Prieto Beatriz
Radiant Systems, Inc.
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