TELEPHONIC ENERGY OR FUEL DISPENSER ACTIVATION AND PAYMENT SYSTEM
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the invention.
The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for authorizing the activation of a energy or fuel dispenser as well as paying for the dispensed fuel . The method and apparatus of the current invention allow a energy or fuel station customer to dial a central dispenser activation and payment center from a telephone, such as a cellular telephone, so that dispenser authorization and payment may be accomplished conveniently and efficiently. The central dispenser activation and payment center is located either local to or remotely from the energy or fuel station. Additionally, a cellular telephone activated dispenser activation unit could be positioned at a particular energy or fuel station, or even at a particular energy dispenser or fuel pump .
2. Description of the related art.
Current energy or fuel dispenser technology includes several alternative methods for dispenser authorization and payment tender. "Prepay" pumps utilize a system of payment tender and pump authorization which requires the station customer to tender payment to the station operator in cash or other acceptable form prior to the attendant authorizing the dispenser's use. Such a "prepay" system of dispenser authorization and payment tender is inconvenient and inefficient for several reasons. Typically, the self service station customers fill or load their vehicles and, thus cannot predict the exact charge for their energy or fuel purchase. With this in mind, customers of "prepay" type dispensers must overpay and return to the station attendant for change, or must experience the inconvenience of incrementally filling their vehicle in an amount less than that required to bring the vehicle's energy or fuel reservoir to full.
Some dispensers utilize attached card readers which are operative to receive information from, e.g., debit, credit and ATM cards. This information, coupled with any required personal identification number (PIN) information may then be utilized to submit required payment and to signal that the dispenser should be activated after payment verification is received. These attached card reader systems represent an improvement over a "prepay" type of dispenser authorization since interaction with the station attendant is effectively eliminated. For the same reason, they represent an improvement over post -pay systems in which a customer may fuel or load his vehicle and subsequently enter the station to present payment . Use of such card readers involve many steps m that they require the station customer to exit h s vehicle, produce the appropriate card, correctly insert the card into the card reader, and enter any necessary personal identification numbers. Th s additional pre- fueling or pre-energizing activity slows the fueling process and requires the fueling station customer to perform additional activities at the energy or fuel dispenser m an effort to refuel his vehicle. In addition to the above-described methods of dispenser activation and payment for dispensed fuel, RF identification equipment has been utilized to transmit payment information to a energy or fuel dispenser. RF identification devices of this kind can transmit credit, debit or ATM card information to the dispenser, thus eliminating the need for the customer to produce the appropriate card and utilize the card reader on the dispenser. RF identification payment authorization equipment typically comes m the form of a key chain RF transmitter (i.e., a keyfob) or an RF transmitter on the vehicle. Both of these RF identification embodiments have limitations.
The key chain RF transmitter can be cumbersome and requires that the station customer remove the keys from his vehicle and pass the key chain RF transmitter past a receiving device on the energy or fuel dispenser. This method of utilizing an RF identification payment authorization device requires that the fuel station customer perform predispensing, out of car activity. While a car mounted RF transmitter does not require such activity, its versatility is limited since it is fixed to a particular vehicle and, thus could not easily be used with other vehicles.
In addition to transmitting credit, debit or ATM information to a fuel dispenser, RF identification can be used to associate vehicles with billing records for later billing. In these embodiments, RF identification has limited utility since it is generally usable only at one particular energy or fuel station chain.
What is needed in the art is a method and apparatus which allows for convenient payment authorization of a energy or fuel dispensing apparatus from within a vehicle, which can be utilized with a plurality of vehicles, and which allows the station customer to choose his desired method of payment.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a method and apparatus for payment authorization and fuel dispenser or energy dispenser activation which does not require the station customer to exit his vehicle to perform payment authorization activity. Specifically, the present invention provides a method and apparatus by which an energy or fuel station customer may authorize fuel payment through the use of a cellular telephone. The present invention, in one embodiment, provides a central dispenser activation and payment center which is operative to receive cellular telephone calls and which stores various customer information including, in some instances, at least one method of payment. The central dispenser activation and payment center additionally stores station and energy or fuel dispenser data and is operative to automatically activate dispensers upon payment authorization.
The invention, in one form thereof, comprises a method of activating a energy or fuel dispenser and paying for the dispensed fuel or transferred energy. The method of this form of the current invention includes the steps of: providing a central dispenser activation and payment center, storing a plurality of payment information for a plurality of customers in the central dispenser activation and payment center, establishing a communication link (such as a telephone link) with the central dispenser activation and payment center, transmitting dispenser information to the central dispenser activation and payment center, activating the dispenser upon confirmation of payment authorization, and transmitting total transaction costs to the central dispenser activation and payment center.
The step of transmitting fuel dispenser information may include transmitting information, such as the energy or fuel station location, as well as a dispenser identification number. In one form of the current invention, payment information could be transmitted to the central dispenser activation and payment center via the cellular telephone. In this embodiment, the central dispenser activation and payment center would not be required to store payment information. In other embodiments of the current invention, a local dispenser activation and payment center could be utilized. Such a local dispenser activation and payment center could be located at a particular energy or fuel station, or even at a particular energy or fuel dispenser. The invention, in another form thereof, comprises an apparatus for activating dispensers and paying for dispensed energy or fuel . A central dispenser activation and payment center is operative to store a plurality of payment information for a plurality of customers. The central dispenser activation and payment center is telephone accessible and is selectively communicatively connected to a plurality of fuel dispensers. The central dispenser activation and payment center is operable to activate a plurality of dispensers based upon payment information stored therein. A communication network is utilized to communicatively connect a plurality of dispensers to the central dispenser activation and payment center. The communication network is operative to carry a plurality of information between the central dispenser activation and payment center and a plurality of dispensers. The cellular telephone activation and payment technology of the current invention could be retrofit into existing dispensers. Communication from a central dispenser activation and payment center could be routed to existing dispensers as well as fitting existing dispensers with local cellular telephone activated dispenser activation and payment units. In one embodiment of the current invention, the fuel station and/or individual fuel dispenser includes an antenna and/or signal booster which works to increase the clarity of cellular communication. In yet another embodiment of the current invention, the cellular activation technology could be utilized to select and purchase an energy or a fuel grade as well as convenience store items.
The invention, in another form thereof, comprises a method of activating a dispenser and paying for dispensed fuel or energy providing a central dispenser activation and payment center, storing a plurality of payment information for a plurality of customers in the central dispenser activation and payment center, establishing a telephone link with a dispenser activation payment center, such as via a cellular telephone, and then transmitting dispenser information from the central dispenser activation center. Transmission of the dispenser information may be made by the user keying in a number visible from the dispenser, or from the central dispenser activation payment center determining the location of the cellular telephone call, and then activating a dispenser in a nearby area. The method continues by activating the dispenser by
confirmation of payment authorization at the central dispenser
activation payment center, and then later transmitting the
cost of the dispensed fuel or energy to the central dispenser activation and payment center.
In another form of the method, the payment information
may be transferred with the central dispenser activation and
payment center via the telephone link by the user entering in particular payment information.
Payment information, as utilized in the present
application, may include a credit card or debit card number, a
security number, a pin number, an electronic cash code or other authentication code, or any other means of uniquely
identifying an authorized consumer with the ability for transferring, accepting, and authorizing the dispenser sales
charges. Such payment information may include biometric style
information via a fingerprint code, operator picture, or other
identification means.
In another form of the method, the storage of payment
information for the customers may be such that the information
stored remotely in a separate cite, such as a credit card,
clearing house, bank, or other financial institution.
The invention in another form thereof, comprises a system
for activating a dispenser and paying for dispensed fuel or energy comprising a plurality of dispensers for dispensing at least one of fuel or energy, and a central dispenser activation payment center, the center being operative to store payment information for a plurality of customers, and the center being telephone accessed. The center may selectively communicate and be connected to a plurality of dispensers with a center operable to activate one or more dispensers at one time .
In yet another form of the invention, the present invention may comprise of a system for activating a dispenser and paying for dispensed fuel or energy through a point of sales system connected to the dispenser or dispenser controller, including, but not limited to, a central dispenser activation and payment center, the center being operative to utilize payment information for a plurality of customers, with the center being telephone accessible, and a data transmission unit connected between the dispenser or dispenser controller in the point of sale system. The unit is in communication with the center, and able to receive payment information from the center. The data transmission unit may utilize such payment information and forward such payment information in the format of a debit card or credit card transaction to the point of sale system, whereby the point of sale system utilizes the date transmitted from the center through the unit to authorize the dispenser for dispenser control activation. In this embodiment, the present system is retrofittable upon the currently installed base of dispensers and point of sale systems, whereby no changes to the point of sale systems are necessary since the date transmission unit electronically mimics or spoofs dispenser signals in communication to the POS causing the point of sale system to recognize such signals as a credit card or debit card transaction information although the data was generated by a means not affiliated with the operator swiping a credit or debit card at the dispenser location. The systems may utilize the central dispenser activation and payment center operation being caused by receiving a cellular telephone call, thereby activating a selected dispenser.
An advantage of the present invention is the ability to provide a convenient and efficient payment authorization and energy or fuel dispenser activation method and apparatus which do not require the use of a credit, debit or ATM card reader on the fuel dispenser.
Another advantage of the present invention is the ability to authorize dispenser activity and make payment for dispensed energy or fuel without requiring a cash acceptor at the fueling station or dispenser.
A further advantage of the present invention is the ability to utilize existing technology, e.g., cellular telephones, to create a more effective and efficient means of activating dispensers and paying for dispensed fuel or
transferred energy.
Another advantage of the present invention is the ability to provide a convenient and versatile use payment
authorization and fuel dispenser activation method and
apparatus which are not limited in use to a single chain or
collection of fueling stations.
A further advantage of the present invention is the ability to provide a convenient fuel dispenser authorization
and payment apparatus which may be utilized by disabled
customers .
Another advantage of the present invention is the ability to centrally store payment information so that this
information is not transmitted from the fueling or energizing station and, thus pretransmission encryption is not required.
Yet another advantage of the present invention is the
ability to effectively eliminate prefueling activity to be
performed by a customer outside of their vehicle. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The above-mentioned and other features and advantages of
this invention, and the manner of attaining them, will become
more apparent and the invention will be better understood by
reference to the following description of embodiments of the
invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings,
wherein: Fig. 1 is a schematic representation of one embodiment of the telephonic dispenser activation and payment system of the current invention;
Fig. 2 is a schematic representation of another embodiment of the telephonic dispenser activation and payment system of the current invention;
Fig. 3 is a schematic representation of another embodiment of the telephonic dispenser activation and payment system of the current invention creating simulated credit card or debit card transactions transparent to the point of sale system; and
Fig. 4 is a schematic representation of another embodiment of the telephonic dispenser activation and payment system of the current invention in which a cellular phone call directly contacts the fuel station or individual fuel dispenser without utilization of the public cellular telephone network.
Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views. The exemplification set out herein illustrates one preferred embodiment of the invention, in one form, and such exemplification is not to be construed as limiting the scope of the invention in any manner . DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Referring now to the drawings and particularly to Fig. 1, telephonic dispenser activation and payment system 20 allows an energy or a fuel station customer to utilize a cellular telephone to contact 13 central dispenser activation and payment center 14. Central dispenser activation and payment center 14 is communicatively linked to dispenser control 10 via a communication line 18. In this way, central dispenser activation and payment center 14 may be operable to signal dispenser control 10 to activate a energy dispenser or fuel dispenser .
As illustrated in Fig. 2, central dispenser activation and payment center 14 may be further communicatively linked to local dispenser authorization unit 16 via communication line 22. In this embodiment of the current invention, central dispenser activation and payment center 14 does not directly signal dispenser control 10 to activate the dispenser but rather communicates authorization to activate the dispenser to a local dispenser authorization unit 16 which is further communicatively connected to dispenser control 10.
Central dispenser activation and payment center 14 may be formed from a central computer system as is known in the art. Central dispenser activation and payment center 14 may include a plurality of modems through which cellular telephone (s) 12 may establish a telephone link 13 to central dispenser activation and payment center 14. Additionally, central dispenser activation and payment center 14 may include live operators to field incoming authorization calls 13. Alternatively, other equivalent communication systems such as satellite telephones and a global computer network (Internet) may also be used in replacement of the telephone network.
Local dispenser authorization unit 16 could be located within a convenience store attached to the fueling station. Local dispenser authorization unit 16 would be operative to receive payment authorization information from central dispenser activation and payment center 14 and would be communicatively connected to the appropriate dispenser controls to control the dispensers at the particular station in which it is located. In operation, a consumer could provide payment information to be stored within central dispenser activation and payment center 14. In another embodiment, cellular telephone (s) 12 could be utilized to provide credit, debit or ATM card information to central dispenser activation and payment center 14. Central dispenser activation and payment center 14 could then authorize a energy or fuel sale based upon available funds or credit and would communicate such authorization to dispenser control 10. Since a cellular telephone would be utilized to trigger the activation of a fuel dispenser, a consumer could perform this task as he approached the filling or energizing station. If the customer commonly utilized the same filling station, a station identification could be preprogrammed into the customer's cellular telephone to further facilitate the fueling or energy transfer process. Additionally, the costs for the fueling, energy, and other products or services (e.g., food or other products) could be charged to the customer cellular telephone service bill.
It should be understood that the teachings of the current invention are not limited to cellular telephone communications and to dispensers. The teachings of the current invention could be utilized with any mobile communication device and could be utilized to preauthorize the receipt and payment of any dispensed or distributed product or any service provided. While this invention has been described as having a preferred design, the present invention can be further modified within the spirit and scope of this disclosure. This application is therefore intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the invention using its general principles. Further, this application is intended to cover such departures from the present disclosure as come within known or customary practice in the art to which this invention pertains and which fall within the limits of the appended claims .