Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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WO 98/16892 PCTNS97/18463
TOUCH MENU PANEL SALES TERMINAL
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the invention.
The present invention relates to a point of purchase system
that provides the user a touch menu panel with graphic interface
for customer selection of retail food, or other items.
2. Description of the related art.
Most modern gasoline stations and convenience stores provide
customer-operated (self-serve) fuel dispensers which typically
are controlled and monitored from within the store by a cashier
using a fuel delivery control device. Conventional fuel delivery
controllers consist of a counter-top base unit with an
alphanumeric display panel and a keyboard containing various
function keys. When a customer is ready to pump fuel, the
customer provides an indication to the controller by, for
example, pushing a button on the-dispenser or raising a lever
after removing the fuel delivery nozzle. The controller sends a
message on the display prompting the cashier to authorize fuel
delivery. The cashier approves delivery and enables the
dispenser by pressing the appropriate key on the controller
keyboard. After delivery, the customer tells the cashier which
dispenser was used to deliver fuel. The cashier then determines
the amount due for the fuel purchase by pressing a controller key
corresponding to that dispenser. The controller displays the
fuel sale amount the cashier adds to the customer's additional
purchases, if any, using a standard cash register.
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Conventional fuel delivery controllers have several
drawbacks when used in conjunction with standard cash registers
to facilitate fuel and other sales in such point of sale
environments. A fundamental problem is slmply the burden imposed
upon the cashier of simultaneously operating two separate pieces
of equipment. The cashier must repeatedly shift focus from one
piece of equipment to the other during the course of the day. As
a result, the cashier's ability to service customers is impaired
and the retail checkout procedure is prolonged. Additionally,
greater time and resources must be devoted to cashier training
since the operation of two devices must be mastered.
Finally, conventional point of sale systems provide limited
assistance to store personnel in evaluating the store's sales
performance because access to daily sales and inventory data
using such systems is a cumbersome, time consuming process.
Generally, a cashier must manually transfer data from the fuel
delivery controller and cash register to a written form to
consolidate funds, sales and inventory information.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a touch menu panel sales
terminal connected to a point of sale system which allows the
customer to control fuel delivery and conduct customer sales
transactions. The interface includes a touch panel which
displays groups of graphic icons or pictures containing images
which represent particular retail items. The customer simply
touches an icon corresponding to a desired item, such as a
sandwich, and the system responds by adding its cost of the
sandwich to the dispenser total. A signal is sent from the
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system to the location where, in this case, a sandwich is
produced or provided.
Unlike conventional point of sale systems, the system of the
present invention provides signals into a remote order taking
station. It additionally decreases the waiting time of the
customer for other non-fuel goods.
The touch sensitive panel of the present invention has a
robust interface device, well adapted to the service station
environment. Unlike conventional keyboard interfaces, the
display switches can easily be actuated. Additionally, the dirt
and grease found in some gasoline station environments will not
affect the operation of the interface because the touch panel's
rugged outer surface renders it virtually impervious to
contamination-induced failure. In operation, the touch panel
provides a single point of eye focus. Unlike a keyboard used
with a display, for example, where the user must look at the
keyboard to touch keys, then look at the display to view the
consequence of touching the keys, the touch sensitive panel
provides a "see and touch~ interface.
Unlike conventional keyboard-controlled systems, the point
of sale system of the present invention is highly intuitive to
operate. The icon or photo images representing retail of item
for purchase inherently mP~ningful and logically arranged on the
screen in groups based on related-item types, i.e., sandwiches,
snacks, or drinks. The intuitively identifiable icons arranged
in this user-friendly structure greatly simplify the process of
ordering items while dispensing fuel. Accordingly, customer
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checkout time is reduced. Moreover, slnce the interface is
visually oriented, almost no training in its use is required.
Accordinyly, an object of the present invention is to
provide a touch panel sales terminal with a point of sale system
for a fuel dispensing system that enables the user to control
fuel dispensing and ordering of retail sale items at the point of
fuel dispensing.
Another object is to provide touch panel sales terminal with
a point of sale system for a fuel dispensing system with an
interface which is simple to operate and performs reliably in a
service station envi,olll..e11t.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a
touch panel sales terminal point of sale system that utilizes a
computer operating system that can support other commonly
available application programs and enable data interchange
between the system and such other programs.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a
touch panel sales terminal point of sale system with a highly
intuitive operator interface.
Yet another object is to provide a point of sale system for
a fuel dispensing system that requires a minim~l amount of
training to operate.
Other objects of this invention will become apparent upon a
reading of the following description.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OE THE DRAWINGS
The above-mentioned and other features and advantages of
this invention, and the manner of attaining them, will become
more apparent and the invention will be better understood by
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reference to the following description of an embodiment of the
invention taken in conjunction with the acco~panying drawings,
wherein:
Figure 1 is a block diagram of one embodiment of the present
invention;
Figure 2 is a view of an illustrative touch panel of the
present invention; and
Figure 3 is a block diagram of another embodiment of the
present invention.
Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding
parts throughout the several views. The exemplification set out
herein illustrates one preferred embodiment of the invention, in
one form, and such exemplification is not to be construed as
limiting the scope of the invention in any manner.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Fig. 1 shows, in a block diayla~,ul-atic view, one form of the
present invention of point of sale terminal system 10 including a
primary terminal 12 and at least one secondary terminal 14. A
plurality of secondary terminals may similarly be connected.
Primary terminal 12 co~mllnicates with secondary remote
terminal(s) 14 by a local area network (LAN) 24. Lan 24 may be
implemented using any co~monly known interface network for
computer-to-computer communication. At the secondary remote
terminal 14 may be an order taker to process the customer's
selections and expedite such order obtained at primary terminal
12.
Primary terminal 12 includes a computer 26, which in the
embodiment is an IBM-compatible personal computer, connected to a
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touch panel 40 and central processor 28 that communicates over
system bus 30 with a one or more of a fuel dispenser controller
card 32, memory 34, input/output controller 38 and display 58.
~n embodiments of the invention associated with a fuel
dispenser 42, controller 32 is connected to such fuel dispenser
with bi-directional communication. The input/output controller
38 is connected to a magnetic strip reader 39 and possibly other
I/O devices 44.
The present invention involves a touch panel 40 utilizing a
micro touch system or membrane keyswitches with an overlay of
items being advertized and promoted at the point of sale by a gas
station operator. Touch panel 40 can be either integral with the
gasoline dispenser as shown in Fig. l or a separate stand-alone
unit. Such overlay of items may be photographs, drawings, or
icons of various merchandise or services available for purchase.
Touch panel 40 allows consumers to select in-store retail
and food items (such as shown in Fig. 2), view advertised
promotions, and could be interfaced with a credit card reader
system to allow the consumer to complete the transaction of fuel
or other products at touch panel primary terminal 12.
Touch panel 40 in another embodiment may contain backlights
that either light up the entire menu before a customer makes a
selection and turn off each item selected or backlight items only
after their selection. A sound card interface (not shown) may
also be incorporated to provide voice feedback confirmation of
selections made or actions performed on the touch panel.
An alternative embodiment, as shown in Fig. 3, discloses the
present invention disposed within the actual dispenser 42 located
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on a service station island. Touch menu panel 40, constructed,
for instance, as a four by six keypad of switches, or
alternatively a touch sensitive screen, is connected along with
the standard four by six keypad panel 44 to a typical dispenser
payment terminal (DPT) board 32. This DPT board, as known in the
art, handles payment commands and controls particular card
readers, such as a card reader 39, along with other means of
payment, such as cash acceptors, or the like. DPT board 32 is
connected to display 58 for readin~ out particular data regarding
both operation of fuel dispensing function of dispenser 42, along
with the menu selections or particular items selected from menu
board 40. An adjacent merchandise dispenser 72, such as a
beverage dispenser or snack dispenser may be connected by control
line 33 to DPT board 32. Such control line 32 allows enablement
of dispersement and selection of merch~n~se within the dispenser
72 via comm~n~ from DPT board 32, normally selected via one of
the switches or locations on menu board keypad 40.
In the particular embodiment shown in Fig. 3, a universal
dispenser control (~DC) system, which handles all fuel dispenser
operations, such as controlling of pump valves and any vacuum
vapor removal system, is shown as UDC 70. Such UDC unit is
connected via a RS48~ connection to DPT board 32. The equipment,
disposed within fuel dispenser 42, may be connected to an in-
store processor (ISP) 66, such as one of many commercially
available point of sale (POS) systems.
To operate effectively in a typical service station, the DPT
boards 32 of a plurality of different dispenser stations 42,
environment may all be connect to an interface box 62. Such
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interface box 62 would collect the DPT boards 32 output, and pass
such signals and information to the ISP 66 via a multi-drop
communication line. A plurality of universal dispenser
controllers 70, may be connected via an interface box 60 such
that all the universal dispenser controllers may be connected to
a dispenser hose controller (DHC) 6~, which permits the service
station to control one or more hoses at one time, permitting
authorization and de-authorization of particular hoses and/or
dispensers 42. The output of the DHC system 64 is connected to
ISP 66. In-store processor 66, such as a standard POS system may
include a number of t-erminals 68, for inputting purchases made
within the store or kiosk. Additionally, an in-store restaurant
74, may be connected via communication line 75 to ISP 66, such
that the menu board's selections made, for example a hotdog or
sandwich, made via the menu board 44 outside the store at the
dispenser 42, may be co~micated to personnel within in-store
restaurant 74. This function permits personnel to begin work on
completing the food or merch~n~ise order, while the fuel
dispenser operation is still taking place, and the customer is
outside. After the normal fuel dispensing operation is completed
42, the customer may drive or walk to the in-store restaurant 74
to pick up their mer~h~nAise order, in this case a hotdog or
sandwich. Such remote ordering at the dispenser station, reduces
customer time at the service station complex. As shown in Fig.
3, in-store processor 66 may be communicated via a communication
line 69 to a electronic funds transfer network.
In operation of menu board touch panel 40, the customer may
dispense fuel normally from fuel dispenser 42 and while waiting,
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select different keys or buttons (Fig.2) to select various items
for purchase. Using keys (switches) indicated, the user may re-
start their selection, clear an item from their selection, review
a multi-item order, and transmit (selection complete) such
desired order.
Primary terminal 12 sends the order obtained from the
customer to a secondary remote terminal 14 for order fulfillment,
display or other action by the store attendant or order taking
machinery. The terminal 12 adds the cost of such ordered items to
a total that may include a fuel sale.
The present invention permits a simple and inexpensive order
taking terminal able to increase impulse buying sales by
automating the order taking system while eliminating a human
order taker or sales assistant.
The present touch panel sales terminal 12 may additionally
be connected to other point of sales systems through the use of
LAN 24.
In operation of the embodiment shown in Fig. 3, a customer
would have many choices in particular products of services at
dispenser 42. Typically, a customer would selected an item, such
as a beverage or sandwich via menu board 40, and such selection
would be either lit up or unlit to allow the customer to view
their selection. Such selection would be co~mllnicated to the DPT
board 32.
If merch~n~se selected was available at an outside
merch~n~ise dispenser 72, the DPT board would operate in two
functions. One, the cost of such selection would be sent through
interface box 62 to in-store processor or POS 66 for registration
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in the total sales price. Then upon authorization of ISP 66, DPT
board 32 would cause a control signal to pass through co~ml~n
cation line 33 to merchandise dispenser 72 for dispersement of
the selected merrh~n~ise, such as a beverage, for instance, from
an outside refrigerated beverage machine.
Secondly, if the merchandise or ser~ice selected via menu
board 40 was something only available in-store, DPT board 32
would transfer such selection through interface box 62 to the in-
store processor or POS 66, and such POS would then send an order
signal via control line 75 to the in-store restaurant 74 or
possibly the service office of the service station, to prepare
such previously selected merchandise, such as a hotdog or
sandwich. Alternatively, personnel may begin pulling the
re~uested merch~nAise for expediting the customers time at the
gasoline station or convenience store.
In such cases, it may be possible for the customer then to
simply drive to the in-store restaurant, such as a drive thru or
pick up window to obtain such previously ordered merchandise
selected at menu board 40. Therefore, the customer would be able
to expedite their order by remotely ordering their menu
selections at the dispenser 42 while fueling.
While this invention has been described as having a
preferred design, the present invention can be further modified
within the spirit and scope of this disclosure. This application
is therefore intended to cover any variations, uses, or
adaptations of the invention using its general princ1ples.
Further, this application is intended to cover such departures
from the present disclosure as come within known or customary
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practice ln the art to which this invention pertains and which
fall within the limits of the appended claims.
