Abstract:
The present methods and systems (including computer software, computer hardware, and an intermediary system) facilitate a transaction for non-fuel merchandise items at any fuel dispenser during a pre-pay or post-pay inside the store fuel sale. Consumers can select non-fuel merchandise items at a fuel dispenser (either via a fuel dispenser key pad or a separate computerized customer interface, attached to a fuel dispenser) at the time they are selecting their fuel at the fuel dispenser.

Description:
PRIORITY CLAIM 
       [0001]    The present application claims priority to prior U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/183,045 filed Jun. 1, 2009. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    The present invention relates to a method and system for purchasing non-fuel merchandise where the selection is made at the fuel dispenser, and in particular, where payment is made inside the store. 
         [0004]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0005]    Today&#39;s retail fuel stations allow consumers to pay for fuel and service items (e.g., car wash) at the fuel dispenser with a credit card. However, a large percentage of customers “pre-pay” for their fuel before dispensing the fuel. That is, the customer enters the store (or kiosk) and pays for the fuel prior to dispensing the fuel. Current retail fuel station technologies do not enable consumers to purchase non-fuel merchandise on or at a fuel dispenser for such “pre-pay” fuel sales. 
         [0006]    In a “Post Pay” fuel station transaction, a consumer pumps their fuel first, then pays inside the convenience store, potentially purchasing other non-fuel merchandise inside the convenience store today. However, in this type of transaction the consumer cannot order non-fuel merchandise at the fuel pump for “post payment.” 
         [0007]    Sometimes these type of transactions are referred to as “pay-inside” sales or “pay at kiosk” sales That is, they address those fuel and convenience store sales in which a consumer walks into a convenience store and pays with cash or credit before or after they pump their fuel. 
         [0008]    Currently, consumers cannot select and purchase non-fuel merchandise at the fuel dispenser on either of pre-pay or post pay types of pay-inside transactions. If a consumer wishes to purchase non-fuel merchandise on a pay-inside transaction, they must select and pay for the merchandise inside the convenience store and pay the cashier. 
         [0009]    To date, no method has been devised for handling non-fuel merchandise transactions at the fuel dispenser (car wash or any other items) on pay-inside fuel transactions, whether they be pay-inside before pumping fuel (pre-pay) or pay-inside after pumping fuel (post pay). 
         [0010]    It would be beneficial to the consumer to have the ability to order non-fuel merchandise items at the fuel dispenser, even if the consumer was conducting a “pre pay” or “post pay” pay-inside transaction. This allows the consumer and the store to avoid a series of transactions. 
         [0011]    Others have attempted to integrate non-fuel purchases with fuel purchases into point of sales systems. See, e.g., U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,321,984; 6,732,081; and 7,383,204, which are incorporated by reference. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0012]    The problems outlined above associated with pre-pay and post-pay inside the store transactions are addressed by the methods and systems of the present invention. The present methods and systems (including computer software, computer hardware, and an intermediary system to facilitate a transaction for non-fuel merchandise items at any fuel dispenser during a pre-pay or post-pay inside the store fuel sale. Consumers can select non-fuel merchandise items at a fuel dispenser (either via a fuel dispenser key pad or a separate computerized customer interface, attached to a fuel dispenser) at the time they are ordering their fuel at the fuel dispenser. 
         [0013]    Broadly speaking, in a pre-pay situation, the consumer tenders a total amount inside the store. After tendering, the consumer selects a non-fuel merchandise item from an interface at the fuel dispenser. This selection is passed to a point-of-sale system, preferably through an intermediary system which recognizes a specified message protocol. A balance remaining is determined based on the total amount and purchase price of the non-fuel merchandise selection. The fuel dispenser is enabled to deliver the balance remaining to the consumer in fuel. 
         [0014]    Generally, in a post-pay situation, the consumer selects a payment option at the fuel dispenser to pay after dispensing fuel. The fuel dispenser is enabled to dispense the fuel and the consumer may select a non-fuel merchandise item from an interface at the fuel dispenser. After fueling, a total amount is determined based on the fuel dispensed and the non-fuel merchandise selected. The total amount is passed to a point-of-sale system associated with the store. Finally, the consumer tenders the total amount inside the store. 
         [0015]    In preferred forms, the tender can be cash, credit, debit card, or any usual or customary form of payment. Of course, multiple non-fuel merchandise items may be purchased. Different user interfaces can be deployed at the fuel dispenser to facilitate the selection of non-fuel merchandise items. An intermediary system running a specified message protocol is useful to pass data between the fuel dispenser and the point-of-sale system. While the message protocol of the store point of sale system could be used in practicing the present invention, it is believed preferable to use a specified messaging protocol because many such store POS systems include proprietary components. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0016]      FIG. 1  is a block diagram depicting the fuel dispenser communication through an intermediary messaging protocol to the point of sale system; 
           [0017]      FIG. 2  is a flow chart depicting an example of a pre-pay transaction; 
           [0018]      FIG. 3  is a flow chart depicting an example of a post-pay transaction; 
           [0019]      FIG. 4   a  is a graphical illustration of a user interface depicting a simple text based interface; 
           [0020]      FIG. 4   b  is a graphical illustration of a user interface depicting a separate graphical interface positioned adjacent the fuel dispenser; 
           [0021]      FIG. 5  is a printout of a fuel dispenser receipt; and 
           [0022]      FIG. 6  is a screen shot showing in more detail the graphical interface of  FIG. 4   b.    
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0023]    Turning to the drawings,  FIG. 1  shows a fuel dispenser  10  connected to a point-of-sale system  12  via an intermediary system  14 . The fuel dispenser  10  is conventional and an example depicted in  FIG. 4   b.    
         [0024]    The intermediary system  14  is a specialized computing device, consisting of hardware and software. The system  14  attaches to a new or existing data communications line that connects a retail fuel point-of-sale system  12  to a retail fuel dispenser  10 . The system  14  includes a consumer interface, such as the text based interface  16  or graphic interface  18  in  FIGS. 4   a  and  4   b . The system  14  could include an Additech Inceptor device, such as made by Additech, Inc. of Houston, Tex. The system  14  utilizes a specified data communications protocol which defines a message standard that enables the system  14 , any retail point-of-sale system  12 , and any fuel dispenser  10  to communicate the choice of a non-fuel merchandise item from the fuel dispenser  10 —or consumer interface  16 ,  18 —to the retail point-of-sale system  12  inside the convenience store. 
         [0025]    In  FIG. 1 , transaction data passes between fuel display  10  and said retail point of sale system  12  through intermediary system  14 . The system  14  listens for data communications messages between dispenser  10  and POS  14 . Messages not matching the specified communications protocol presumably relate to conventional purchases of fuel and are passed through. Upon identifying a message matching the specified protocol, the system  14  processes the message, assumes the message relates to a non-fuel merchandise purchase transaction, and triggers a consumer interface prompt on an attached consumer interface device  16 ,  18 . 
         [0026]      FIG. 2  depicts a flow chart for a “pre-pay” transaction. That is, a transaction where the consumer enters the store (or kiosk) first and tenders payment. Generally, this Pre-Pay, pay inside transaction, involves the following. 
       Example  
     Pre-Pay, Pay Inside Transaction 
       [0027]    1. Consumer arrives at a fuel dispenser and proceeds inside the convenience store to pay for fuel prior to pumping. 
         [0028]    2. Consumer gives attendant a total amount of $X, which serves as a credit for fuel, possibly purchasing other non-fuel merchandise inside the store, and then returns to fueling position. 
         [0029]    3. Upon returning to fueling position, consumer is greeted with a message on the fuel dispenser screen to purchase a non-fuel item. This message is based on a standard protocol and is passed from the retail point-of-sale system through the intermediary system ( FIG. 1 ) to the fuel dispenser. 
         [0030]    4. Concurrently, the intermediary system  14  passes the message to the consumer interface device and the consumer is prompted by the consumer interface device for non-fuel items. 
         [0031]    5. Consumer elects to purchase a non-fuel item at the dispenser, then the intermediary system passes a message back to the point-of-sale system to confirm the item selection. Per the specified messaging protocol, the retail point-of-sale system deducts the dollar amount for the non-fuel item (plus tax, if applicable) from the total amount tendered inside the convenience store. 
         [0032]    6. The balance remaining of the total amount originally tendered is delivered in fuel. 
         [0033]    Per the specified messaging protocol, at the end of the fuel transaction, the fuel dispenser or the consumer interface device prints a receipt displaying the fuel total, plus the non-fuel items, plus the taxable amount on the non-fuel items,  FIG. 5 . 
         [0034]    Per the specified messaging protocol, the total amount of fuel plus all non-fuel items purchased at the fuel dispenser is not to exceed the total amount tendered by the consumer inside the convenience store. 
         [0035]      FIG. 3  depicts a flow chart for a “post-pay” transaction. That is, a transaction where the consumer dispenses fuel first and enters the store (or kiosk) later to tender payment. Generally, this post-pay, pay inside transaction, involves the following. 
       Example  
     Post-Pay, Pay Inside Transaction 
       [0036]    1. Consumer arrives at fuel dispenser and presses a button on fuel dispenser to indicate his desire to pump fuel and pay inside the convenience store after he is finished pumping. 
         [0037]    2. Intermediary system  14  receives a message from the retail point-of-sale system (defined in the messaging data) to indicate that a post-pay transaction is occurring at the fuel position. Intermediary system forwards consumer prompt to fuel dispenser to present to consumer. 
         [0038]    3. Fuel dispenser presents message on screen to consumer for non-fuel merchandise item(s). In addition, if consumer interface device  16 ,  18  is attached to fuel dispenser, then consumer interface also prompts consumer for merchandise item(s). 
         [0039]    4. Consumer selects non-fuel merchandise item(s). If item is selected on fuel dispenser intermediary passes the selection through to the retail point-of-sale system. If selection is made on consumer interface device, then intermediary inserts the product selection into the data stream from fuel dispenser to retail point-of-sale system using data communications protocol. 
         [0040]    5. Retail point-of-sale system receives message from fuel dispenser. If consumer has selected a non-fuel item, then the item is appended to that particular fuel transaction (plus tax if a taxable item) and presented to the attendant at the point-of-sale system for tender. 
       Specified Messaging Protocol 
       [0041]    The following charts are intended to expand upon an example of the use of an intermediary system  14  and a specified messaging protocol to permit normal fuel transactions between the fuel dispenser and the point-of-sale system and also to permit non-fuel merchandise purchases in accordance with the present invention. 
       Pre-Pay-at-the-Pump Transaction 
       [0042]      
         [0000]    
       
         
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                   
               
               
                   
                 Retailer Point-of-Sale 
                   
                   
               
               
                 Customer Action 
                 System Actions 
                 Intermediary Actions 
                 Fuel Dispenser Actions 
               
               
                   
               
             
             
               
                 Pay for Fuel at Kiosk 
                 1) Check to determine 
                 1) Intermediary passes 
                   
               
               
                   
                 whether customer is using 
                 message through to fuel 
               
               
                   
                 a fuel dispenser equipped 
                 dispenser with display text 
               
               
                   
                 with system 
                 “Do you want to purchase 
               
               
                   
                 2) Check POS configurable 
                 X today? Yes or No” 
               
               
                   
                 pre-pay threshold to 
                 AND 
               
               
                   
                 ensure customer pre-pay 
                 Intermediary sends data 
               
               
                   
                 amount exceeds pre-set 
                 message to Panel to play 
               
               
                   
                 threshold required to 
                 digital media selling 
               
               
                   
                 purchase 
                 message. 
               
               
                   
                 3) Send pre-defined pre- 
               
               
                   
                 pay data message to 
               
               
                   
                 Intermediary via retailer 
               
               
                   
                 data comm. loop 
               
               
                   
                 ‘~PRE11’ Embedded in 
               
               
                   
                 message is default text to 
               
               
                   
                 appear on fuel dispenser 
               
               
                   
                 screen, “Do you want to 
               
               
                   
                 purchase X today? Yes or 
               
               
                   
                 No” 
               
               
                 Return to fueling position 
                 1) Send pre-defined 
                 1) Intermediary receives 
                 1) Display prompt 
               
               
                 Select a product on 
                 message to fuel dispenser, 
                 pre-defined message 
                 attached to ‘~PRE111’ on 
               
               
                 consumer interface device 
                 display on fuel dispenser 
                 ‘~PRE11’ from POS and 
                 the fuel dispenser 
               
               
                 OR 
                 user interface 
                 over-writes text portion 
                 customer interface screen 
               
               
                 say “No” on the 
                 “Do you want X (Y or N)” 
                 with customized fuel 
                 “Do you want X (Y or N)” 
               
               
                 consumer interface device 
                   
                 dispenser message “Get X 
                 2) Wait for consumer to 
               
               
                 OR 
                   
                 to save gas (Y or N)”, and 
                 answer prompt on fuel 
               
               
                 say “No” on the fuel 
                   
                 forwards message along 
                 dispenser interface, or 
               
               
                 dispenser interface 
                   
                 to fuel dispenser. 
                 timeout prompt if not 
               
               
                   
                   
                 2) Send message 
                 answered in pre- 
               
               
                   
                   
                 ‘PanelPre-pay 01’ to 
                 configured time 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Panel (consumer interface 
                 3) Wait for Intermediary 
               
               
                   
                   
                 device) to queue selling 
                 to send a response to the 
               
               
                   
                   
                 interactive media. 
                 POS (either with product 
               
               
                   
                   
                 3) Listen for response 
                 purchase 
               
               
                   
                   
                 from consumer interface 
                 acknowledgement - 
               
               
                   
                   
                 device for specific product 
                 ‘~PRE1PROD#’ or “No 
               
               
                   
                   
                 selection or “no” product 
                 Product Purchased” 
               
               
                   
                   
                 selected. 
                 message ‘~PRE1NOSALE’. 
               
               
                   
                   
                 4) If consumer selects 
                 4) Continue with fueling 
               
               
                   
                   
                 product on consumer 
               
               
                   
                   
                 interface device, then 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Intermediary packages-up 
               
               
                   
                   
                 the product selection into 
               
               
                   
                   
                 a fuel dispenser response 
               
               
                   
                   
                 message ‘~PRE1PROD#’ 
               
               
                   
                   
                 and sends message to POS 
               
               
                   
                   
                 to acknowledge product 
               
               
                   
                   
                 purchase to POS. 
               
               
                 Pump Fuel 
                 1) If non-fuel 
                 1) If fuel additive 
                 1) Dispense authorized 
               
               
                   
                 merchandise selected at 
                 purchased, then upon 
                 fuel amount (total 
               
               
                   
                 pump, then deduct price 
                 seeing dispenser fuel 
                 tendered at kiosk less 
               
               
                   
                 of merchandise plus tax 
                 pulses (indicating fuel 
                 price of non-fuel 
               
               
                   
                 from total pre-pay cash 
                 flow), Intermediary 
                 merchandise including 
               
               
                   
                 amount tendered on the 
                 informs hydraulic 
                 tax) 
               
               
                   
                 POS. 
                 controller to dispense 
               
               
                   
                 2) Authorize fuel 
                 additive. 
               
               
                   
                 dispenser for remaining 
                 2) hydraulic controller 
               
               
                   
                 amount tendered. 
                 dispenses fuel additive 
               
               
                   
                   
                 product selected. 
               
               
                 Hang up fuel nozzle 
                 1) If product sold, then 
                 1) If product purchased 
                 Print itemized receipt, 
               
               
                   
                 await confirmation from 
                 was fuel additive, then 
                 including: 
               
               
                   
                 Intermediary of successful 
                 confirm successful 
                 Fuel amount 
               
               
                   
                 additive delivery. 
                 additive delivery 
                 Product amount 
               
               
                   
                 2) Send receipt print 
                 2) Send a confirmation 
                 Product tax 
               
               
                   
                 message to fuel dispenser 
                 message to POS 
                 Total 
               
               
                   
                 to print fuel amount, non- 
                 confirming successful 
               
               
                   
                 fuel merchandise amount, 
                 additive delivery 
               
               
                   
                 tax, and total on fuel 
                 ‘~CONFIRM’. 
               
               
                   
                 dispenser receipt printer. 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
       Post-Pay Transaction 
       [0043]      
         [0000]    
       
         
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                   
               
               
                   
                 Retailer Point-of-Sale 
                   
                   
               
               
                 Customer Action 
                 System Actions 
                 Intermediary Actions 
                 Fuel Dispenser Actions 
               
               
                   
               
             
             
               
                 Arrive at fueling position 
                 1) Send pre-defined 
                 1) Intermediary captures 
                 1) Display prompt 
               
               
                 and begin fuel transaction 
                 message to fuel dispenser 
                 pre-defined POS message 
                 attached to ‘~POS11’ on 
               
               
                 Select fueling option “pay 
                 to display on fuel 
                 ‘~POS11’ from POS and 
                 the fuel dispenser 
               
               
                 inside after fueling” 
                 dispenser user interface 
                 passes message along to 
                 customer interface screen 
               
               
                   
                 “Do you want X (Y or N)” 
                 fuel dispenser. Fuel 
                 “Do you want X (Y or N)” 
               
               
                   
                   
                 dispenser displays text 
                 2) Wait for consumer to 
               
               
                   
                   
                 portion of message “Do 
                 answer prompt on fuel 
               
               
                   
                   
                 you want X (Y or N)”. 
                 dispenser interface, or 
               
               
                   
                   
                 2) Send message 
                 timeout prompt if not 
               
               
                   
                   
                 ‘PanelPostpay01’ to 
                 answered in pre- 
               
               
                   
                   
                 consumer interface device 
                 configured time 
               
               
                   
                   
                 to play interactive selling 
                 3) Wait for Intermediary 
               
               
                   
                   
                 media. 
                 to send a response to the 
               
               
                   
                   
                 3) Listen for response 
                 POS (either with product 
               
               
                   
                   
                 from consumer interface 
                 purchase 
               
               
                   
                   
                 device for specific product 
                 acknowledgement - 
               
               
                   
                   
                 selection or “no” product 
                 ‘~POST1PROD#’ 
               
               
                   
                   
                 selected. 
                 or “No Product 
               
               
                   
                   
                 4) If consumer selects 
                 Purchased” message 
               
               
                   
                   
                 product on consumer 
                 ‘~POST1NOSALE’). 
               
               
                   
                   
                 interface device, then 
                 4) Continue with fueling 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Intermediary packages-up 
               
               
                   
                   
                 the product selection into 
               
               
                   
                   
                 a fuel dispenser response 
               
               
                   
                   
                 message ‘~POST1PROD#’ 
               
               
                   
                   
                 and sends message to POS 
               
               
                   
                   
                 to acknowledge purchase 
               
               
                   
                   
                 of product to POS. 
               
               
                 Pump Fuel 
                 1) If non-fuel 
                 1) If fuel additive 
                 1) Dispense fuel (up to 
               
               
                   
                 merchandise selected at 
                 purchased, then upon 
                 POS-authorized limit) 
               
               
                   
                 pump, then add price of 
                 seeing dispenser fuel 
               
               
                   
                 merchandise plus tax to 
                 pulses (indicating fuel 
               
               
                   
                 fuel purchase and tender 
                 flow), Intermediary 
               
               
                   
                 total on POS. 
                 informs hydraulic 
               
               
                   
                 2) Authorize fuel 
                 controller to dispense 
               
               
                   
                 dispenser 
                 additive. 
               
               
                   
                   
                 2) hydraulic controller 
               
               
                   
                   
                 dispenses fuel additive 
               
               
                   
                   
                 product selected. 
               
               
                 Hang up fuel nozzle 
                 1) If additive sold, then 
                 1) If product purchased 
               
               
                   
                 await confirmation from 
                 was fuel additive, then 
               
               
                   
                 Intermediary of successful 
                 confirm successful 
               
               
                   
                 additive delivery. 
                 additive delivery 
               
               
                   
                   
                 2) Send a confirmation 
               
               
                   
                   
                 message to POS 
               
               
                   
                   
                 confirming successful 
               
               
                   
                   
                 additive delivery 
               
               
                   
                   
                 ‘~CONFIRM’. 
               
               
                   
                   
                 3) Inform consumer that 
               
               
                   
                   
                 product purchase will be 
               
               
                   
                   
                 added to their fuel 
               
               
                   
                   
                 purchase when they pay 
               
               
                   
                   
                 the attendant. 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
         [0044]    It will be appreciated to those skilled in the art having the benefit of this disclosure that this invention is believed to provide methods and systems for purchasing nonfuel merchandise items at a fuel dispenser. Further modifications and alternative embodiments of various aspects of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art in view of this description. Accordingly, this description is to be construed as illustrative only for the purpose of teaching those skilled in the art the general manner of carrying out the invention. It is to be understood that the forms of the invention shown and described herein are to be taken as the presently preferred embodiments. Changes may be made in the methods and systems described herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as described in the following claims.