| Fuel dispensing system and method providing discounted prices to individually identified customers -> Monitor Keywords |
|
|
 
Fuel dispensing system and method providing discounted prices to individually identified customersRelated Patent Categories: Data Processing: Financial, Business Practice, Management, Or Cost/price Determination, Automated Electrical Financial Or Business Practice Or Management ArrangementFuel dispensing system and method providing discounted prices to individually identified customers description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20050261916, Fuel dispensing system and method providing discounted prices to individually identified customers. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION [0001] This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/542,178, filed Apr. 4, 2000, which was a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/255,472, filed Feb. 23, 1999, which was a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/026/634, filed Feb. 20, 1998, which claimed the benefit of the filing date of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/039,007, which was filed Feb. 25, 1997, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] This invention relates to retail fuel dispensers and more particularly, to a system utilized in conjunction with a fuel dispenser that will allow consumers to purchase fuel using monies owed to the consumer due to past purchases. [0003] Typically, a cash back machine can be used to return unused monies to a consumer that uses a bill accepting device or magnetic card reader to pay for fuel. However, cash back machines are costly. Furthermore, using cash back machines to return unused monies to consumers do not increase consumer loyalty. [0004] The present invention is directed to overcoming one or more of the limitations of systems for purchasing fuel. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0005] According to one aspect of the present invention, a system for dispensing fuel is provided that includes a nozzle for dispensing the fuel, a controller in communication with the nozzle for selectively causing the nozzle to dispense the fuel, a reader connected to the controller for reading data provided by a user and transferring the data to the controller, and a database for storing a record corresponding to the data that includes a monetary value. During operation, upon receipt of the data, the controller accesses the record and causes the nozzle to dispense the fuel. [0006] According to another aspect of the present invention, a computer implemented method for permitting a user to purchase fuel from a fuel dispenser is provided that includes receiving payment from the user, and if the payment received from the user exceeds a purchase price of the fuel, then providing the user with change in the form of a cash equivalent. [0007] According to another aspect of the present invention, a computer program stored in a memory device for permitting a user to purchase fuel from a fuel dispenser is provided that includes instructions for receiving payment from the user, if the payment received from the user exceeds a purchase price of the fuel, then providing the user with change in the form of a cash equivalent. [0008] According to another aspect of the present invention, a database stored in a memory device for use in a fuel dispensing system for permitting users to purchase fuel is provided that includes one or more records having corresponding index values, and corresponding monetary values. [0009] According to another aspect of the present invention, a receipt for use in a system for permitting users to purchase fuel from a fuel dispenser is provided that includes a substrate, and indicia coupled to the substrate representative of monies owed to the users. [0010] The present embodiments of the invention provide a system for dispensing fuel in which users may be provided change in the form of a cash equivalent. The cash equivalent may then be used by the user to purchase fuel using the system. The system further creates a database that include a plurality of records having corresponding index and monetary values. The cash equivalents may then be provided in the form of a bar coded or magnetic representation of the corresponding records. In this manner, the present embodiments of the invention provide a cost efficient and commercially valuable system for enhancing the profitability of fuel dispensing systems by improving customer loyalty. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0011] FIG. 1 is a diagram of an embodiment of a fuel dispenser system. [0012] FIG. 2 is a diagram of a bar code wand used in the fuel dispenser system of FIG. 1. [0013] FIG. 3 is a diagram of a card reader device used in the fuel dispenser system of FIG. 1. [0014] FIGS. 4a and 4b are diagrams of another card reader device used in the fuel dispenser system of FIG. 1. [0015] FIG. 5 is a diagram of another embodiment of a fuel dispenser system. [0016] FIG. 6 is an illustration of a receipt used in the fuel dispenser system of FIG. 5. [0017] FIG. 7 is an diagram of a kiosk used with a conventional fuel dispenser system for implementing features of the present invention. [0018] FIG. 8 is a block diagram of the components that can be utilized to implement the present embodiments which integrates a customer reward system with an fuel dispenser having a dynamically adjustable price. [0019] FIG. 9 is an example of a record that could be used to track customer eligibility for fuel discount rewards in accordance with the present embodiments. [0020] FIG. 10 is a flowchart of the process implemented by the present embodiments to encourage customer loyalty by providing discounter fuel based on predefined purchase criteria. Continue reading about Fuel dispensing system and method providing discounted prices to individually identified customers... Full patent description for Fuel dispensing system and method providing discounted prices to individually identified customers Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Fuel dispensing system and method providing discounted prices to individually identified customers patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. Start now! - Receive info on patent apps like Fuel dispensing system and method providing discounted prices to individually identified customers or other areas of interest. ### Previous Patent Application: Eventguided transactions Next Patent Application: Internet connection system Industry Class: Data processing: financial, business practice, management, or cost/price determination ### FreshPatents.com Support Thank you for viewing the Fuel dispensing system and method providing discounted prices to individually identified customers patent info. IP-related news and info Results in 0.10965 seconds Other interesting Feshpatents.com categories: Canon USA , Celera Genomics , Cephalon, Inc. , Cingular Wireless , Clorox , Colgate-Palmolive , Corning , Cymer , pbckp |
 * Protect your Inventions * US Patent Office filing 
PATENT INFO |
|
