Intelligent fuel dispensers

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12008664-B2
Application number	US-202117162573-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 29, 2021
Priority date	Apr 21, 2016
Publication date	Jun 11, 2024
Grant date	Jun 11, 2024

Abstract

In general, intelligent fuel dispensers are provided. In at least some implementations, an intelligent fuel dispenser can determine customer identities and/or other characteristics and provide customized fueling sessions based on the determined customer identities and/or other characteristics. In at least some implementations, the fuel dispenser includes a touchless interface allowing customers to complete fueling sessions with minimal physical contact with the fuel dispenser.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A system comprising:
a fuel dispenser including a display screen, an image sensor, and at least one data processor operatively connected to the display screen and the image sensor and configured to receive data characterizing an image from the image sensor, the image characterizing a visual depiction of a customer, and to determine identity information characterizing an identity of the customer from the received data; and
a server operatively connected to the at least one data processor and configured to:
receive the determined identity information from the at least one data processor,
determine whether the identity information matches a feature associated with one or more unique identifiers of fuel dispencer users,
determine whether the unique identifier associated with the feature matches one or more unique identifiers associated with one or more user profiles characterizing the fuel dispencer users,
in response to determining that the unique identifier matches a unique identifier associated with one or more of the user profiles,
provide the user profile to the at least one data processor of the fuel dispenser,

wherein the user profile includes fueling preferences of the customer, wherein the at least one data processor of the fuel dispenser is configured to determine a fueling preferences screen based on the fueling preferences and to provide the fueling preferences screen to the display screen for viewing by the customer.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the fueling preferences screen includes a personalized greeting based on the user profile.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the fueling preferences screen includes data characterizing a diagnostic status of a vehicle of the customer.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the fueling preferences screen includes data characterizing loyalty information associated with the customer.

5. The system of claim 4 , wherein the fueling preferences screen includes an option to redeem a discount, and the display screen is configured to receive an input from the customer to cause the discount to be redeemed.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the fueling preferences screen includes a pre-populated fuel grade, the pre-populated fuel grade selected based on the fueling preferences of the customer, and the display screen is configured to receive an input from the customer to cause the pre-populated fuel grade to be modified.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the fueling preferences screen is configured to display only those fuel grades compatible with a vehicle of the customer.

8. A system comprising:
a fuel dispenser including a display screen, an image sensor, and at least one data processor operatively connected to the display screen and the image sensor and configured to receive data characterizing an image from the image sensor, the image including a visual depiction of a customer, and to determine identity information characterizing an identity of the customer from the received data; and
a server operatively connected to the at least one data processor and configured to:
receive the determined identity information from the at least one data processor,
determine a unique identifier associated with the customer,
retrieve a user profile associated with the unique identifier, the user profile including fueling preferences of the customer, and
provide the user profile to the at least one data processor of the fuel dispenser, wherein the at least one data processor of the fuel dispenser is configured to determine a preference selection screen based on the fueling preferences and to provide the preference selection screen to the display screen for viewing by the customer, and wherein the preference selection screen includes a personalized greeting based on the user profile.

9. The system of claim 8 , wherein the fueling preferences screen includes a personalized greeting based on the user profile.

10. The system of claim 8 , wherein the fueling preferences screen includes data characterizing a diagnostic status of a vehicle of the customer.

11. The system of claim 8 , wherein the fueling preferences screen includes data characterizing loyalty information associated with the customer.

12. The system of claim 11 , wherein the fueling preferences screen includes an option to redeem a discount, and the display screen is configured to receive an input from the customer to cause the discount to be redeemed.

13. The system of claim 8 , wherein the fueling preferences screen includes a pre-populated fuel grade, the pre-populated fuel grade selected based on the fueling preferences of the customer, and the display screen is configured to receive an input from the customer to cause the pre-populated fuel grade to be modified.

14. The system of claim 8 , wherein the fueling preferences screen is configured to display only those fuel grades compatible with a vehicle of the customer.

15. A system comprising:
at least one data processor; and
memory storing instructions configured to cause the at least one data processor to perform operations comprising:
receiving identity information characterizing an identity of a customer, the identity information determined from data characterizing an image, the image acquired by an image sensor and characterizing a visual depiction of the customer;
determining whether the identity information matches a feature associated with unique identifiers of fuel dispencer users;
determining whether the unique identifier associated with the feature matches one or more unique identifiers associated with one or more user profiles characterizing the fuel dispenser users;
in response to determining that the unique identifier matches a unique identifier associated with one or more of the user profiles; and
providing the user profile to a fuel dispenser data processor;

wherein the user profile includes fueling preferences of the customer, wherein the fuel dispenser data processor is configured to determine a fueling preferences screen based on the fueling preferences and to provide the fueling preferences screen to a display screen of the fuel dispenser for viewing by the person.

16. The system of claim 15 , wherein the fueling preferences screen includes a personalized greeting based on the user profile.

17. The system of claim 15 , wherein the fueling preferences screen includes data characterizing a diagnostic status of a vehicle of the customer.

18. The system of claim 15 , wherein the fueling preferences screen includes data characterizing loyalty information associated with the customer.

19. The system of claim 18 , wherein the fueling preferences screen includes an option to redeem a discount, and the display screen is configured to receive an input from the customer to cause the discount to be redeemed.

20. The system of claim 15 , wherein the fueling preferences screen includes a pre-populated fuel grade, the pre-populated fuel grade selected based on the fueling preferences of the customer, and the display screen is configured to receive an input from the customer to cause the pre-populated fuel grade to be modified.

Assignees

• Wayne Fueling Systems Llc

Inventors

• Morris John Joseph
• Negley Iii Scott R
• Birkler Annika
• Carlsson Richard
• Jeitler Patrick
• Kretzler Randal S

Classifications

• B67D7/145

  by wireless communication means, e.g. RF, transponders or the like · CPC title

• G06Q30/0233

  Method of redeeming a frequent usage reward · CPC title

• G06Q20/18

  involving self-service terminals [SST], vending machines, kiosks or multimedia terminals · CPC title

• G06F3/0481

  based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance · CPC title

• B67D7/228

  using digital counting · CPC title