Intelligent fuel dispensers

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12229842-B2
Application number	US-202418652382-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 1, 2024
Priority date	Apr 21, 2016
Publication date	Feb 18, 2025
Grant date	Feb 18, 2025

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

The invention claimed is:

1. A fuel dispenser comprising:
a housing comprising fuel dispensing components disposed therein;
one or more display screens, wherein a brightness of the one or more display screens is configured to switch between at least a first brightness level and a second brightness level wherein the second brightness level is brighter than the first brightness level;
a transceiver capable of establishing a communication session with a customer wireless communications device and of receiving, from the customer wireless communications device, identity data indicative of identity information of a customer; and
at least one data processor operatively coupled to the one or more display screens and the transceiver and programmed to:
receive the identity data;
transmit the identity data to a server communicatively coupled to the at least one data processor;
receive profile data representative of a user profile from the server, wherein the user profile comprises customer-related data comprising earned customer loyalty rewards data and one or more payment methods;
provide, for display by the one or more display screens, data representative of a fueling purchase and the customer's earned loyalty rewards or the one or more payment methods in a language of a plurality of languages;
receive, from the customer, data representative of an input of a preferred payment method of the one or more payment methods or a new payment method; and
complete a payment of the fueling purchase using the one or more payment methods.

2. The fuel dispenser of claim 1 , wherein the at least one data processor is further programmed to modify the data representative of the fueling purchase based on a price discount to be deducted from the fueling purchase.

3. The fuel dispenser of claim 2 , wherein the price discount is determined based on the customer's earned loyalty rewards.

4. The fuel dispenser of claim 1 , wherein the at least one data processor is further programmed to:
provide, within at least one of the one or more display screens and the screen of the customer wireless communications device, data representative of one or more products or services for sale by a remote merchant operating at a location that differs from a location at a retail fueling facility at which the fuel dispenser is located;
receive, from the customer, via the one or more display screens or the screen of the customer wireless communications device, selection data representative of a selection of the one or more products or services; and
modify data representative of the fueling purchase based on the one or more products or services.

5. The fuel dispenser of claim 4 , wherein the modified data representative of the fueling purchase comprises data representative of an order of the one or more products or services, wherein the order comprises one or more of a quantity, a price and delivery information, determined based on the user profile.

6. The fuel dispenser of claim 1 , wherein the at least one data processor is further programmed to provide an electronic receipt to at least one of the one or more display screens and a screen of the customer wireless communications device, wherein the electronic receipt comprises an itemized summary of the payment.

7. The fuel dispenser of claim 6 , wherein the electronic receipt further comprises a personalized message determined by the at least one data processor based on the user profile.

8. The fuel dispenser of claim 6 , wherein the electronic receipt further comprises data representative of additional earned customer loyalty rewards determined based on the fueling purchase.

9. The fuel dispenser of claim 6 , wherein the electronic receipt further comprises data representative of a price discount for one or more products or services for sale by a remote merchant operating at a location that differs from a location at a retail fueling facility at which the fuel dispenser is located.

10. The fuel dispenser of claim 6 , wherein the electronic receipt is stored in the user profile.

11. The fuel dispenser of claim 6 , wherein the customer wireless communications device is a vehicle or a mobile device.

12. The fuel dispenser of claim 7 , wherein the electronic receipt is provided to the customer wireless communications device via at least one of a text message and an email.

13. An electronics module for a fuel dispenser comprising:
one or more display screens, wherein a brightness of the one or more display screens is configured to switch between at least a first brightness level and a second brightness level wherein the second brightness level is brighter than the first brightness level;
a transceiver capable of establishing a communication session with a customer wireless communications device and of receiving, from the customer wireless communications device, identity data indicative of identity information of a customer; and
at least one data processor operatively coupled to the one or more display screens and the transceiver and programmed to:
receive the identity data;
transmit the identity data to a server communicatively coupled to the at least one data processor;
receive profile data representative of a user profile from the server, wherein the user profile comprises customer-related data comprising earned customer loyalty rewards data and one or more payment methods; and
provide, for display by the one or more display screens, data representative of a fueling purchase and the customer's earned loyalty rewards or the one or more payment methods in a language of a plurality of languages;
receive, from the customer, data representative of an input of a preferred payment method of the one or more payment methods or a new payment method; and
complete a payment of the fueling purchase using the one or more payment methods.

14. The electronics module of claim 13 , wherein the at least one data processor is further programmed to modify the data representative of the fueling purchase based on a price discount to be deducted from the fueling purchase.

15. The electronics module of claim 14 , wherein the price discount is determined based on the customer's earned loyalty rewards.

16. The electronics module of claim 13 , wherein the at least one data processor is further programmed to provide an electronic receipt to at least one of the display screen of the customer wireless communications device and the one or more display screens, wherein the electronic receipt comprises an itemized summary of the payment.

17. The electronics module of claim 16 , wherein the electronic receipt further comprises a personalized message determined by the at least one data processor based on the user profile.

18. The electronics module of claim 16 , wherein the electronic receipt further comprises data representative of a price discount for one or more products or services for sale by a remote merchant operating at a location that differs from a location at a retail fueling facility at which the fuel dispenser is located.

19. A fuel dispenser comprising:
a housing comprising fuel dispensing components disposed therein;
one or more display screens, wherein a brightness of the one or more display screens is configured to switch between at least a first brightness level and a second brightness level wherein the second brightness level is brighter than the first brightness level;
a transceiver capable of establishing a communication session with a customer wireless communications device and of receiving, from the customer wireless communicatio

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