US3931497A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Automated fuel dispenser
Assignee: Docutel Corp
•
Filing: 1973-10-19
•
Granted: 1976-01-06
•
Expires: 1993-10-19
Abstract
Abstract An automated fuel dispensing system provides semiattended operation utilizing a computerized credit authorization and billing technique by means of a direct connection to a regional credit center over communication lines. A control console for multiple pump dispensers interconnects with a local central controller for providing preliminary verification checks and generating an authorization request message for transmission to a central computer at the regional credit center. This initial verification is to identify a particular user with a credit document inserted into the control console. Following receipt of an authorization message from the central computer in response to an authorization request, a user selects one of the pump dispensers by actuating a push button at the control console; he then dispenses the amount of fuel desired. Following completion of the fuel dispensing routine, billing information is assembled in the local central controller as a message for transmission to the regional computer for credit billing to a particular account number. In addition to credit documents, the control console accepts currency and cash cards having a pre-established value for control of the dispensing of fuel up to the limit of the currency value or cash card value.
Inventors
- 👤 Fred J. Gentile
- 👤 Martin D. Cothran
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 13:52
CPC Classifications
G; G07; G07F; G07F7/00; G07F7/08; B; B67; B67D; B67D7/00; B67D7/06; B67D7/08; B67D7/14; G06; G06Q; G06Q20/00; G06Q20/38; G06Q20/40; G06Q20/403; G06Q20/4037; G07F13/00; G07F13/02; G07F13/025; G07F5/00; G07F5/18; G07F7/04; G07F9/00; G07F9/002
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 43
Claim 1
Independent Claim
135 words
An automatic document controlled dispensing system with remote stations and a communication connection with a regional computer, comprising in combination: reading means at a remote station for reading verification data from a credit document inserted into a terminal console, verification means at the remote station coupled to said reading means and receiving therefrom the verification data from the terminal console and verifying the authenticity of an inserted credit document, means responsive to the verification of a document for setting up an authorization request message for an authenticated document, means for transmitting the authorization request message to the regional computer and for transmitting a credit authorization message or a refuse credit authorization message from the regional computer to a selected remote station, and means for dispensing an article selected in response to the credit authorization message.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
135 words
An automatic document controlled dispensing system with remote stations and a communication connection with a regional computer, comprising in combination: reading means at a remote station for reading verification data from a credit document inserted into a terminal console, verification means at the remote station coupled to said reading means and receiving therefrom the verification data from the terminal console and verifying the authenticity of an inserted credit document, means responsive to the verification of a document for setting up an authorization request message for an authenticated document, means for transmitting the authorization request message to the regional computer and for transmitting a credit authorization message or a refuse credit authorization message from the regional computer to a selected remote station, and means for dispensing an article selected in response to the credit authorization message.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
59 words
An automatic document controlled dispensing system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said verification means includes: first means for storing a verification code inserted into the machine, and second means interconnected through said first means for comparing verification data read from the presented document with the stored verification code for verification of the validity of the presented document.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
38 words
An automatic document controlled dispensing system as set forth in claim 1 including means for polling each of the remote stations in sequence to ascertain the condition thereof to transmit an authorization request message to the regional computer.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
150 words
An automatic document controlled dispensing system with remote stations and a communication connection with a regional computer, comprising in combination: reading means at a remote station for reading verification data from a credit document inserted into a terminal console, verification means at the remote station coupled to said reading means and receiving therefrom the verification data from the terminal console and verifying the authenticity of an inserted credit document, means responsive to the verification of a document for setting up an authorization request message for an authenticated document, means for transmitting the authorization request message to the regional computer and transmitting a credit authorization message or a refuse credit authorization message from the regional computer to a selected remote station, means for dispensing an article selected in response to the credit authorization message, and means for printing a receipt at the terminal console identifying the value of a dispensed article.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
150 words
An automatic document controlled dispensing system with remote stations and a communication connection with a regional computer, comprising in combination: reading means at a remote station for reading verification data from a credit document inserted into a terminal console, verification means at the remote station coupled to said reading means and receiving therefrom the verification data from the terminal console and verifying the authenticity of an inserted credit document, means responsive to the verification of a document for setting up an authorization request message for an authenticated document, means for transmitting the authorization request message to the regional computer and transmitting a credit authorization message or a refuse credit authorization message from the regional computer to a selected remote station, means for dispensing an article selected in response to the credit authorization message, and means for printing a receipt at the terminal console identifying the value of a dispensed article.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
29 words
An automatic document controlled dispensing system as set forth in claim 4 including means at a remote station for transmitting a dispensed article value message to the regional computer.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
35 words
An automatic document controlled dispensing system as set forth in claim 4 wherein said verification means includes means for establishing a maximum time period for transmission of the authorization request message to the regional computer.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
44 words
An automatic document controlled dispensing system as set forth in claim 6 wherein said verification means includes means actuated at the end of the time period when the request message has not been transmitted to generate a credit authorization message at the remote station.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
28 words
An automatic document controlled dispensing system as set forth in claim 4 including means for selecting an article to be dispensed in response to the credit authorization message.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
161 words
An automatic document controlled dispensing system with remote stations and a communication connection with a regional computer, comprising in combination: reading means at a remote station for reading verification data from a credit document inserted into a terminal console, verification means at the remote station coupled to said reading means and receiving therefrom the verification data from the terminal console and verifying the authenticity of an inserted credit document, means responsive to the verification of a document for setting up an authorization request message for an authenticated document, means for transmitting the authorization request message to the regional computer and transmitting a credit authorization message from the regional computer to a selected remote station, means for dispensing an article selected in response to the credit authorization message, means at the terminal console for receiving currency and generating a currency closure signal, and means responsive to the current closure signal to generate a currency total signal and actuate said means for dispensing.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
161 words
An automatic document controlled dispensing system with remote stations and a communication connection with a regional computer, comprising in combination: reading means at a remote station for reading verification data from a credit document inserted into a terminal console, verification means at the remote station coupled to said reading means and receiving therefrom the verification data from the terminal console and verifying the authenticity of an inserted credit document, means responsive to the verification of a document for setting up an authorization request message for an authenticated document, means for transmitting the authorization request message to the regional computer and transmitting a credit authorization message from the regional computer to a selected remote station, means for dispensing an article selected in response to the credit authorization message, means at the terminal console for receiving currency and generating a currency closure signal, and means responsive to the current closure signal to generate a currency total signal and actuate said means for dispensing.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
32 words
An automatic document controlled dispensing system as set forth in claim 9 including means for generating a currency refund receipt when the currency total signal exceeds the value of the dispensed article.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
154 words
An automatic document controlled dispensing system with remote stations and a communication connection with a regional computer, comprising in combination: reading means at a remote station for reading verification data from a credit document inserted into a terminal console, verification means at the remote station coupled to said reading means and receiving therefrom the verification data from the terminal console and verifying the authenticity of an inserted credit document, means responsive to the verification of a document for setting up an authorization request message for an authenticated document, means for transmitting the authorization request message to the regional computer and transmitting a credit authorization message from the regional computer to a selected remote station, means for dispensing an article selected in response to the credit authorization message, means for receiving a fixed value credit document and generating a value signal therefor, and means responsive to the value signal to actuate said means for dispensing.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
154 words
An automatic document controlled dispensing system with remote stations and a communication connection with a regional computer, comprising in combination: reading means at a remote station for reading verification data from a credit document inserted into a terminal console, verification means at the remote station coupled to said reading means and receiving therefrom the verification data from the terminal console and verifying the authenticity of an inserted credit document, means responsive to the verification of a document for setting up an authorization request message for an authenticated document, means for transmitting the authorization request message to the regional computer and transmitting a credit authorization message from the regional computer to a selected remote station, means for dispensing an article selected in response to the credit authorization message, means for receiving a fixed value credit document and generating a value signal therefor, and means responsive to the value signal to actuate said means for dispensing.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
31 words
An automatic document controlled dispensing system as set forth in claim 11 including means for generating a value refund receipt when the value signal exceeds the value of the dispensed article.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
174 words
An automatic credit card controlled fuel dispensing system with remote stations and a communication connection with a regional computer, comprising in combination: a card reader at terminal console for a remote station, the card reader responsive to verification data on a credit card and providing a verification data signal, verification means at the remote station coupled to said card reader and receiving therefrom the verification data signal from the terminal console and verifying the authenticity of an inserted credit card, means responsive to the verification of a credit card for setting up an authorization request message for an authenticated credit card, means for transmitting the authorization message to the regional computer and transmitting a credit authorization message from the regional computer to a selected remote station, a plurality of fuel dispensing terminals connected in sets to one terminal console at a remote station and controlled therefrom, and means at said terminal console for selecting one of the fuel dispensing terminals for dispensing of a quantity of fuel in response to a credit authorization message.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
174 words
An automatic credit card controlled fuel dispensing system with remote stations and a communication connection with a regional computer, comprising in combination: a card reader at terminal console for a remote station, the card reader responsive to verification data on a credit card and providing a verification data signal, verification means at the remote station coupled to said card reader and receiving therefrom the verification data signal from the terminal console and verifying the authenticity of an inserted credit card, means responsive to the verification of a credit card for setting up an authorization request message for an authenticated credit card, means for transmitting the authorization message to the regional computer and transmitting a credit authorization message from the regional computer to a selected remote station, a plurality of fuel dispensing terminals connected in sets to one terminal console at a remote station and controlled therefrom, and means at said terminal console for selecting one of the fuel dispensing terminals for dispensing of a quantity of fuel in response to a credit authorization message.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
33 words
An automatic credit card controlled fuel dispensing system as set forth in claim 13 including means at each terminal console for printing a receipt of a fuel dispensing transaction including the value thereof.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
52 words
An automatic credit card controlled fuel dispensing system as set forth in claim 13 including a currency reader at the terminal console for receiving currency and generating a currency closure signal, and means responsive to the currency closure signal to generate a currency total signal and actuate a selected fuel dispensing terminal.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
37 words
An automatic credit card controlled fuel dispensing system as set forth in claim 15 including means for generating a currency refund receipt when the currency total signal exceeds the value of fuel dispensed from a dispensing terminal.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
48 words
An automatic credit card controlled fuel dispensing system as set forth in claim 13 wherein said card reader includes means for receiving a fixed value credit card and for generating a value signal therefor, and means responsive to the value signal to actuate a selected fuel dispensing terminal.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
38 words
An automatic credit card controlled fuel dispensing system as set forth in claim 17 including means for generating a refund receipt when the value signal exceeds the value of fuel dispensed from a terminal in a dispensing transaction.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
143 words
In an automatic document controlled dispensing system with remote stations and a communication connection with a regional computer, the method comprising the steps of: verifying the authenticity of a credit document inserted into said system at a terminal console, setting up an authorization request message for transmission to the regional computer in response to the verification of a credit document, transmitting the authorization request message to the regional computer upon a verification of the authenticity of the inserted credit document, transmitting a credit authorization message or a refuse credit message from the regional computer to a selected remote station in response to an authorization request message, monitoring the value of a selected article dispensed from the system in response to a credit authorization message and generating a monitored value message, and transmitting the monitored value message to the regional computer for recording therein.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
143 words
In an automatic document controlled dispensing system with remote stations and a communication connection with a regional computer, the method comprising the steps of: verifying the authenticity of a credit document inserted into said system at a terminal console, setting up an authorization request message for transmission to the regional computer in response to the verification of a credit document, transmitting the authorization request message to the regional computer upon a verification of the authenticity of the inserted credit document, transmitting a credit authorization message or a refuse credit message from the regional computer to a selected remote station in response to an authorization request message, monitoring the value of a selected article dispensed from the system in response to a credit authorization message and generating a monitored value message, and transmitting the monitored value message to the regional computer for recording therein.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
33 words
In an automatic document controlled dispensing system as set forth in claim 19 including the step of generating a receipt at the terminal console identifying the value of an article selected and dispensed.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
29 words
In an automatic document controlled dispensing system as set forth in claim 19 including the step of setting up a monitored value message for transmission to the regional computer.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
35 words
In an automatic document controlled dispensing system as set forth in claim 19 including the step of polling each of the remote stations in sequence to transmit an authorization request message to the central computer.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
43 words
In an automatic document controlled dispensing system as set forth in claim 22 including the step of establishing a maximum time period for receipt of a polling of a remote station and the transmission of the authorization request message to the regional computer.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
47 words
In an automatic document controlled dispensing system as set forth in claim 23 including the step of generating a credit authorization message at the remote station at the expiration of the maximum time period and when the request message has not been transmitted to the regional computer.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
43 words
In an automatic document controlled dispensing system as set forth in claim 22 including the step of polling each remote station in sequence to ascertain the condition thereof to accept a credit authorization message or a refuse credit message from the regional computer.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
133 words
In an automatic document controlled dispensing system with remote stations and a communication connection with a regional computer, the method comprising the steps of: reading coded data from the presented document, comparing the coded data with a verification code inserted and stored in a terminal console for verification of the authenticity of the presented document, transmitting an authorization request message to the regional computer upon a verification of the authenticity of the read presented document, transmitting a credit authorization message or a refuse credit message from the regional computer to a selected remote station in response to an authorization request message, selecting an article to be dispensed from the system in response to a credit authorization message, and generating a dispensed article value message for transmission to the regional computer for recordal therein.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
133 words
In an automatic document controlled dispensing system with remote stations and a communication connection with a regional computer, the method comprising the steps of: reading coded data from the presented document, comparing the coded data with a verification code inserted and stored in a terminal console for verification of the authenticity of the presented document, transmitting an authorization request message to the regional computer upon a verification of the authenticity of the read presented document, transmitting a credit authorization message or a refuse credit message from the regional computer to a selected remote station in response to an authorization request message, selecting an article to be dispensed from the system in response to a credit authorization message, and generating a dispensed article value message for transmission to the regional computer for recordal therein.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
44 words
In an automatic document controlled dispensing system as set forth in claim 26 wherein the step of comparing the read code data with a verification code includes the step of comparing read identification data with a customer's identification code inserted into the terminal console.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
118 words
In an automatic document controlled dispensing system with remote stations and a communication connection with a regional computer, the method comprising the steps of: verifying the authenticity of a credit document inserted into said system at a terminal console, transmitting an authorization request message to the regional computer upon a verification of the authenticity of the inserted credit document, transmitting a credit authorization message or a refuse credit message from the regional computer to a selected remote station in response to an authorization request message, selecting an article to be dispensed from the system in response to a credit authorization message, and generating the receipt at the terminal console identifying the value of an article selected and dispensed.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
118 words
In an automatic document controlled dispensing system with remote stations and a communication connection with a regional computer, the method comprising the steps of: verifying the authenticity of a credit document inserted into said system at a terminal console, transmitting an authorization request message to the regional computer upon a verification of the authenticity of the inserted credit document, transmitting a credit authorization message or a refuse credit message from the regional computer to a selected remote station in response to an authorization request message, selecting an article to be dispensed from the system in response to a credit authorization message, and generating the receipt at the terminal console identifying the value of an article selected and dispensed.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
36 words
In an automatic document controlled dispensing system as set forth in claim 28 including the step of releasing a credit document inserted into the system upon receipt at a terminal console of a credit authorization message.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
148 words
In an automatic credit card controlled fuel dispensing system with remote stations and a communication connection with a regional computer, the method comprising the steps of: reading coded data from a credit card presented to a terminal console at a remote station, verifying the authenticity of the credit card inserted into said system at the terminal console from the read coded data, setting up an authorization request message for transmission to the regional computer in response to an authenticated credit card, transmitting the authorization request message to the regional computer, transmitting a credit authorization message from the regional computer to a selected terminal console, selecting a fuel dispenser from one of a plurality of said dispensers connected in sets to one terminal console at a remote station and controlled therefrom, and actuating a fuel dispenser in response to a selection signal to thereby allow the dispensing of fuel.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
148 words
In an automatic credit card controlled fuel dispensing system with remote stations and a communication connection with a regional computer, the method comprising the steps of: reading coded data from a credit card presented to a terminal console at a remote station, verifying the authenticity of the credit card inserted into said system at the terminal console from the read coded data, setting up an authorization request message for transmission to the regional computer in response to an authenticated credit card, transmitting the authorization request message to the regional computer, transmitting a credit authorization message from the regional computer to a selected terminal console, selecting a fuel dispenser from one of a plurality of said dispensers connected in sets to one terminal console at a remote station and controlled therefrom, and actuating a fuel dispenser in response to a selection signal to thereby allow the dispensing of fuel.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
51 words
In an automatic credit card controlled fuel dispensing system as set forth in claim 30 including the step of timing the interval between the selection of a fuel dispenser and the commencing of a dispensing transaction, and terminating a fuel dispensing transaction when the elapsed time exceeds a predetermined maximum limit.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
37 words
In an automatic credit card controlled fuel dispensing system as set forth in claim 30 including the step of monitoring the value of fuel dispensed in a transaction in response to the actuation of a fuel dispenser.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
32 words
In an automatic credit card controlled fuel dispensing system as set forth in claim 32 including the step of terminating a fuel dispensing transaction when the monitored value exceeds a pre-established limit.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
38 words
In an automatic credit card controlled fuel dispensing system as set forth in claim 32 including the step of generating a receipt at the terminal console identifying the value of the fuel dispensed from a selected fuel dispenser.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3632988A
Cited
US3665397A
Cited
US3657702A
Cited
US3778595A
Cited
US3705384A
Cited
US3786421A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1979-01-05 | 1979-07-07 | 1980-01-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1983-01-05 | 1983-07-07 | 1984-01-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1987-01-05 | 1987-07-07 | 1988-01-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |