Patent ID: 7070067

Claim:
A fluid-dispensing system comprising: a first satellite dispenser that dispenses fluid from a fluid container; wherein the first satellite dispenser includes: a processor, a pump that pumps fluid from the fluid container; a first coupling port for accepting a coupling to one or more other fluid-dispensing-system components; wherein the first satellite dispenser receives a query from a master control dispenser based on the master control dispenser automatically detecting that the first satellite dispenser has transitioned from being uncoupled from the master control dispenser to being coupled to the master control dispenser, and wherein the first satellite dispenser sends to the master control dispenser a response to the query thereby confirming that the first satellite dispenser has transitioned from being uncoupled from the master control dispenser to being coupled to the master control dispenser; and wherein the first satellite dispenser can operate in both a stand-alone mode of operation and under control of the separate fluid-dispensing-system component.