Patent ID: 7938321
Filing Date: 2011-05-10
Classification: G07F

Abstract:
1. A system for coordinating the operation of fuel dispensers located at a fueling facility, the system comprising: a plurality of fuel dispensers located at a fueling facility, the fuel dispensers configured to communicate with each other to perform one or more operations in a coordinated manner, a first fuel dispenser of the plurality of fuel dispensers configured to determine that a function is to be performed by at least one other fuel dispenser and to generate a message regarding the function, the message to be sent to at least one fuel dispenser in the plurality of fuel dispensers; and one or more data channels for conveying the generated message from the first fuel dispenser to the at least one destination fuel dispenser, wherein the first fuel dispenser is configured to evaluate the function to determine whether all or less than all of the plurality of fuel dispensers at the fueling facility are to perform the function, and based on an evaluation by the first fuel dispenser that all of the plurality of fuel dispensers are to perform the function, generate a message regarding the function, the message to be sent to all of the fuel dispensers in the plurality of fuel dispensers, and wherein the first fuel dispenser is configured, based on an evaluation that less than all of the plurality of fuel dispensers are to perform the function, to generate instructions regarding the function, the instructions to be sent to less than all of the fuel dispensers in the plurality of fuel dispensers.