Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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Process, System and Computer Readable Medium for Providing a Prepaid Fuel Card
and Using a Personal Identification as a Prepaid Fuel Card
CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
The present invention is related to commonly owned U.S. Patent Numbers
4,723,212,
4,910,672, 5,173,851, 5,612,868; :5,892,827; and 5,915,007, all of which are
incorporated
herein by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates generally to frequent shopper, fuel, and credit cards,
etc., and
more specifically, to a system and process for providing prepaid fuel cards
and for using
frequent shopper cards as prepaid i~uel cards.
Discussion of Background:
In recent years, various methods and systems have been developed for the
distribution
and use of frequent shopper cards, fuel and credit cards. A frequent shopper
card may be in
the form of an account encoded on a plastic card which triggers
coupons/discounts to a card
holder when presented at a point-of sale (POS) terminal of a retail store.
Similarly, a fuel
card or credit card may be in the form of a plastic card with an account
encoded therein and
which allows purchase of fuel at a fuel station when presented by a card
holder.
However, although the above-described systems are advantageous for providing
coupons/discounts and fuel purchases, the above systems do not allow a
consumer to
purchase prepaid fuel.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, one object of this invention is to provide a novel process,
system and
computer readable medium for allowing a consumer to purchase prepaid fuel.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a novel process, system
and
computer readable medium for using a customer's identification, such as a
frequent shopper
card, as a prepaid fuel card.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a novel process and
system for
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converting a customer's identification, such as a frequent shopper card, into
a prepaid fuel
card with minimal modification to existing customer identification systems.
Another object of the present invention is to improve the security of using a
customer's identification, such as a frequent shopper card, as a prepaid fuel
card.
The above and other objects are achieved according to the present invention by
providing a new and improved process, system and computer readable medium for
using a
customer's identification, such as a frequent shopper card, as a prepaid fuel
card in
conjunction with a transfer certificate containing a transfer certificate
identification. The
present invention allows a customer to receive credit for pre-paid fuel by
having the customer
present their identification and the transfer certificate identification at
the fuel pump when
purchasing fuel. The invention maintains an account for the fuel credit
associated with the
customer's identification and transfer certificate identification.
Embodiments of the present invention allow a customer to obtain a transfer
certificate
when presenting their identification when purchasing goods, such as groceries,
non fuel
merchandise, or even fuel. The point of sale system associated with such a
purchase records
the customer's identification, conducts the purchase transaction, and may
issue a transfer
certificate. The issuance of the transfer certificate may depend upon any
information
available to the point of sale system, such as dollar value of the present
purchase transaction,
prior purchase history for the customer, the customer's family members, total
dollar amount
of the store purchases in a prior time period (e.g., one or more days, weeks,
or months), for
the day, total dollar amount or number of transfer certificates issued in a
prior time period
(e.g., one or more days, weeks, or months).
Fuel pumps where the customer will purchase the fuel are configured either to
read a
customer's identification media (such as a frequent shopper card) and transfer
certificate
identifications on transfer certificates or to allow the customer to enter
into a keypad or
terminal identifications (numbers, letters, combinations of numbers and
letters or other
characters) associated with either the frequent shopper card and/or the
transfer certificates.
In one embodiment, a customer's account is credited for fuel as a result of
the
customer's payment for the fuel.
In another embodiment, thc. customer's account is credited for fuel as part of
a
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promotional program. Depending upon the legal terms associated with the
transfer certificate,
the customer may not be required to pay any money for a fuel purchase.
Depending upon the
legal terms associated with the tr~u~sfer certificate, the customer may be
required to pay some
amount for a fuel purchase even if the dollar value associated with the fuel
purchase equals or
exceeds the dollar value of the fuel purchase. Depending upon the legal terms
associated
with the transfer certificate, the sponsor of the promotional activity may pay
for a certain
portion of the amount credited to the customer presenting a transfer
certificate during a fuel
purchase.
The transfer certificates may be distributed to the customer at a point-of
sale (POS)
terminal during a customer's purchase. Alternatively, the transfer
certificates may be
provided to the customer at some other location, such as the customer's home
address (via
postal mail), via electronic mail addressed to the customer's email address,
via a World Wide
Web ("WWW") page that the customer downloads, or through other distribution
means, as
will be appreciated to those skilled in the relevant art.
Other aspects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the
more
detailed description that follows, .taken in conjunction with the drawings,
which are briefly
described below.
$IZTEF DESC'R_TPTT_()N OF THE nR A W~
A more complete appreciation of the invention and many of the attendant
advantages
thereof will be readily obtained a.5 the same becomes better understood by
reference to the
following detailed description when considered in connection with the
accompanying
drawings, wherein:
Figure 1 a is a top level block diagram of a system for allowing a customer to
receive
pre-paid fuel according to the present invention;
Figure 1 b is a top level block diagram of a system for using a transfer fuel-
credit
certificate and a frequent shopper card as a prepaid fuel card according to
the present
invention;
Figures 2a-2d are top Ievell flowcharts of a process of transferring fuel
credit from a
transfer fuel-credit certificate to a frequent shopper card according to the
present invention;
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Figures 3a-3b are top level block diagrams of a system for transferring fuel
credit from
a transfer fuel-credit certificate to a frequent shopper card according to the
present invention;
Figures 4a and 4b are respective images of a frequent shopper card and a
transfer fuel-
credit certificate used in the process and system according to the present
invention;
Figure S is a detailed schematic diagram of a general purpose computer used in
a
point-of sale terminal, and a frequent shopper card server or a transfer fuel-
credit certificate
server of Figures 3a and 3b according to the present invention; and
Figures 6 and 7 illustrate detailed flowcharts of the methods of Figures 2a-2d
according to the present invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE P FFERRFD EMBODIMENT
Referring now to the drav~rings, wherein like reference numerals designate
identical or
corresponding parts throughout t1e several views, and more particularly to
Figure 1 a thereof,
which illustrates an embodiment of a system using a transfer fuel-credit
certificate and a
customer identification, such as a frequent shopper card (FSC), to allow a
customer to receive
pre-paid fuel according to the present invention.
Figure 1 a illustrates the two facilities involved in the operation of this
embodiment of
the present invention, the payment station 54 and the fuel station 240. The
payment station
54 can be collocated with the fuel station 240, or these two locations can be
separate.
Collocated in this context means that the payment station is on the same
premises as the fuel
station, typically within 100 feet of the fuel station, and always within 100
yards of the fuel
station.
The payment station 54 contains a certificate processor 42, which is connected
to a
customer ID reader 44 and a certificate generator 46, such as a printer. The
customer ID
reader 44 and certificate printer 46 should typically be located in proximity
to each other, and
can share a communications link to the certificate processor 42 if the
certificate processor 42
is located remotely.
In embodiments which require payment by the customer for the pre-paid fuel
credit,
the certificate processor 42 may be a point-of sale (POS) system located at a
retail sales
payment station in a retail store or similar environment.
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In embodiments where the pre-paid fuel is credited to the customer's account
without
the customer explicitly paying for the fuel (i.e., where the fuel is provided
as a promotional
program), the certificate processor can be a dedicated controller or computer
not physically
located near the customer ID reader 44 or certificate generator 46.
The customer ID reader 44 is a device designed to read an identification, such
as an
identification number or code associated with a FSC or an identification
number or code
associated with a credit card or a check, or a personal biometric indicia,
such as a fingerprint
pattern or retinal scan pattern. The reader 44 transmits the identification to
the certificate
processor 42. Examples of customer ID readers 44 include, but are not limited
to, devices
which optically read printed bar codes on a FSC, magnetic stripe readers which
read a
magnetic stripe contained on the fSC, credit cards or other customer
identification cards and
which are encoded with the respective identifications, a Radio Frequency
Identification (RF
Identification) device reader to read RF Identification devices, a key pad
which allows the
customer to manually enter the identifications printed on the FSC, or other
means.
Embodiments of the present invention may use customer ID readers which read a
"smartcard" (i.e., a small card similar to a credit card which contains
electronic memory and
is able to store encrypted information identifying the person carrying the
card and other data
related to the carrier), or customer ID readers which measure biometrics
associated with the
customer, such as finger prints, iris patterns and other biometrics, etc., as
will be appreciated
to those skilled in the relevant art(s).
Embodiments of the invention may include more than one of the foregoing types
of
reader 44.
Certificate generator 46 produces the transfer certificates. The design of the
certificate
generator 46 is determined by the type of transfer certificate used by the
particular
embodiment of the invention. Ex~unples of transfer certificates which
different embodiments
of the present invention might use include, but are not limited to, printed
certificates with
printed identification numbers, printed certificates with bar coded
identification numbers, and
plastic cards with an attached magnetic stripe containing an encoded
identification number.
Printed certificates may be generated on the certificate generator 46
consisting of a printer or
graphics printer. A magnetic stripe encoder may be used in conjunction with
magnetic stripe
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encoded identification numbers.
Figure 1 a shows a fuel dal:abase 56 which contains records of pwchased fuel.
The
fuel database 56 maintains records of the transactions. The fuel database 56
may be located at
either the payment station 54 or the fuel station 240, or elsewhere.
Figure 1 a shows a fuel punnp processor 52 which is typically an embedded
control
computer or equivalent device, and is typically contained in a fuel pump at
the fueling station
240. The fuel pump processor 52 is connected to a fuel pump customer ID reader
48 and
certificate reader 50. The customer ID reader 48 at the fuel pump performs
essentially the
same functions as the customer II) reader 44 at the payment station, i.e.,
capture of the FSC
customer identification number, but is physically located at the fuel pump.
The certificate reader 50 contains means to read the transfer certificate
identification
from the transfer certificate, or a keypad allowing the customer to enter the
transfer certificate
identification, or the like
The fuel pump reader 48 and the certificate reader 50 are designed to be
compatible
with the encoding of the respective customer's identification on the FSC and
the encoding of
the transfer certificate identification on the transfer certificate. Examples
of reader 48 and
reader 50 include, but are not limited to, devices which optically read
printed bar codes on the
card or certificate, magnetic stripe readers which read a magnetic stripe
contained on the card
or certificate and encoded with the respective identifications, or a key pad
which allows the
customer to manually enter the personal identification printed on the card or
certificate.
The operation of the embodiment of the present invention illustrated in Figure
la is
now described. A customer's identification is read by, keyed into, or
determined by the
customer ID reader 44.
If the customer is required to pay for the pre-paid fuel, the certificate
processor 42 will
also contain the functionality necessary to process the transaction (i.e., to
receive input of
relevant information, to record the customer's payment, and to determine what
terms of credit
to provide to the customer). A certificate processor 42 in the latter case may
include or be
part of a POS system that is used to collect payment for purchases of items
(such as goods
and other services) besides a transfer certificate at the payment station 54.
The certificate processor 42 determines how much fuel to credit to the
customer's
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account. Examples of promotional programs which would sponsor discounted fuel
include,
but are not limited to, rewarding larger pre-paid purchases of fuel, rewarding
high volume
purchasers of a sponsoring company, providing an incentive to purchase a
specified product
and randomly providing discounts to customers as part of a purchasing
sweepstakes.
The certificate processor 42 generates an identification which will be
associated with
the transfer certificate to be provided to the customer. The identifications
generated for
different certificates differ from one another. The certificate processor 42
sends the transfer
certificate identification number associated with the transfer certificate,
the identification
associated with the customer, and the terms of the fuel credit for the
transfer certificate to the
fuel database 56. The fuel database 56 stores the data transmitted to it from
the certificate
processor 42.
The certificate processor 42 will also command the certificate generator 46 to
generate
the appropriate transfer certificate.
Once the above information is stored in the fuel database 56, the customer is
then able
to receive the pre-paid fuel at a fueling station 240.
The customer may receive the fuel credit associated with a transfer
certificate when
obtaining fuel at the fuel station 240. At the fuel station and during the
course of conducting
the transaction in which the custo,~ner obtains fuel from the fuel station,
the fuel pump
customer ID reader 48 obtains the customer's identification. Merely presenting
the customer's
identification may be sufficient information for the fuel station to credit
the customer's fuel
transaction based upon fuel credit information stored in the fuel database.
The present invention may provide an additional level of security by
conditioning
receipt of fuel credit upon receipt of both the customer identification and
transfer certificate
identification. In this embodiment, fuel pump processor compares the transfer
certificate
identification to the fuel credit account for that customer identification
stored in the fuel
database, and only provides a fuel credit if the transfer certificate
identification received as
the fuel station matches a transfer certificate identification for the
customer stored in the fuel
database. The requirement to present both of the identifications, which are
contained on
different physical objects, prevents an unauthorized person from receiving the
pre-paid fuel
by obtaining only the customer's identification or the transfer certificate.
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Once the customer has presented both the customer's identification and the
transfer
certificate identification, the fuel pump processor will retrieve the data
stored in the fuel
database 56 associated with the customer's identification. The data stored in
the fuel database
56 includes customer identification associated with identifications of valid
transfer
certificates credited to the customer's account as well as the amount of fuel
credited in
association with each transfer cerl:ificate. The fuel pump processor 52 then
determines if the
transfer identification number determined by the certificate reader 50 matches
a valid pre-paid
fuel credit, indicating a valid transfer certificate. If the transfer
certificate is valid and
associated with the customer's idc;ntification, the fuel pump processor 52
then determines the
amount of pre-paid fuel available, based upon information stored in the fuel
database 56. The
fuel pump processor instructs the pump controller 58 to dispense at least the
amount of
credited fuel.
Figure 1 b illustrates a top level block diagram of another embodiments of the
present
invention which more independently use a transfer fuel certificate (TFC) and a
FSC as a
prepaid fuel card according to the present invention to allow a customer to
receive credit for
pre-paid fuel.
In Figure Ib, a point-of sale (POS) terminal 200 of a retail store issues a
TFC 230 to a
customer based on a fuel credit amount requested. The TFC 230 may be used
directly at a
fuel station 240 as a prepaid fuel card or the user may transfer her fuel
credit from the TFC
230 to an account for her FSC 101), and the FSC may then be used as a prepaid
fuel card at the
fuel station 240. The fuel station 240 may be further configured to
communicate with a
transfer fuel-credit certificate server (TFCS) 400 or frequent shopper card
server (FSCS) 450
to maintain transaction information as will be later described.
Alternative embodiments of the present invention may deliver transfer
certificates to
customers through various facilities. In addition to printing at a POS
terminal for delivery to
the customer as shown in Figure lb, transfer certificates may be pre-printed
and delivered to
the customer through various methods, such as through conventional mail,
electronic mail, in
conjunction with a visit to a web site or through other distribution means, as
will be
appreciated to those skilled in the relevant art(s).
The operation of embodiments of the present inventions illustrated in Figure 1
b is as
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described below. The present invention allows the generation of a secure
transfer fuel credit-
certificate ?~O enahlinn a retailer tn »rnvi~e »rPnairl fl~Pl tn a chn»»ar The
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fuel credit amount they would like (e.g., 5, 10, I5, 20 dollars, etc.), the
cashier keys
corresponding price look-up (PLU) code or scans a 5, I0, 1 S, 20 dollars,
etc., scan card, and
the point-of sale terminal prints a transfer fuel-credit certificate 230 for
the requested amount.
The cashier hands the customer the TFC 230 and the fuel credit can be
transferred to the FSC
100 or used immediately at the fuel station 240 since TFC 230 are activated as
they are
printed (see, e.g., U.S. Patent No. 5, 892,827). The purchase information is
then transferred
to the TFCS 400 and stored therein in association with the PIN identifying the
TFC. It is
further noted that although the above description describes the purchase of
the TFC, the
purchase price of this certificate may be discounted or reduced to zero as
part of a
promotional program.
The method of the present invention operating in one embodiment in a
"promotional"
environment will now be described with reference to Figures 2c and 2d.
In Figure 2c, at step S500, a user presents a FSC 100 having a PIN #2 encoded
therein
as either a printed number, a printed bar code, magnetically encoded data
contained on a
magnetic strip, or through any equivalent method.. At step 5600, a POS
terminal 200
generates a transfer fuel-credit certificate 230 with a fuel credit amount
(e.g., 5, 10, 15, or 20
dollars, etc.) having a PIN #1 encoded therein and/or coupons/discounts based
on in-store
promotions. The PIN #1 may be I;enerated, for example, as taught in U.S.
Patent No.
5,892,827 to Beach.
In Figure 2d, at step 5700, the user calls, for example, a 1-800 number
imprinted on
the FSC 100 and when prompted follows menu options which require the PIN #2
from the
FSC and/or the PIN #1 from the transfer fuel-credit certificate 230. At step
S800, a FSCS
presents menu options to the user after prompting the user for the PIN #2.
These menu
options, for example, include: ( 1 ) adding fuel credit to the FSC I 00 using
PIN # 1 from the
TFC 230; and (2) allowing the customer to speak with a customer service
representative
(CSR). It is noted the user could call a 1-800 number imprinted on the
transfer fuel-credit
certificate in which case steps 5300 and 5400 of Figure 2b would take place.
Figure 3a illustrates the system of the present invention in the prepaid and
promotional environments as previously discussed. In the prepaid environment
the user
requests the TFC 230 at the point-of sale terminal 200. The point-of sale
terminal 200
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includes the point-of sale computer 210 coupled to a printing device 220 via a
data path D2.
The point-of sale terminal 200 issues and prints the TFC 230 which is encoded
with a first
PIN (PIN # 1 ) as previously discussed with reference to Figures 2a and 2b.
In the promotional environment, the FSC 100 having the second PIN (PIN #2)
encoded thereon is transmitted to the point-of sale terminal 200 via a data
path D1. The data
path D1 may include, for example, a magnetic card reader, an optical reading
device, in-store
scanner, etc., as is required by the encoding method used by the FSC. The
point-of sale
terminal 200 issues and prints the TFC 230 with a fuel credit amount (e.g., 5,
10, 15, or 20
dollars, etc.) having the PIN #1 a~ld/or coupons/discounts based on in-store
promotions as
previously discussed with reference to Figures 2c and 2d.
In Figure 3b, at a telephone 300, the user calls, for example, a 1-800 number
printed
on the FSC 100 or the TFC 230 and connects over phone connection D3 to a FSCS
450 or a
TFCS 400 which provides the user with menu options after prompting the user
for the PIN #1
and/or PIN #2 as discussed with reference to Figures 2b and 2d. It is noted
that the FSCS 450
and the TFCS 400 may be implemented as two separate computer systems or as one
computer
system. In addition, the user may connect to the FSCS 450 and/or the TFCS 400
over a
modem connection, Internet connection, network connection, through an
automated kiosk
(i.e., a device similar to a bank automated teller machine), etc., configured
to allow a user to
enter PINs associated with his or her identification and transfer certificate,
at which time the
user is presented with on-screen menu options after the user is prompted for
the PIN # 1
and/or PIN #2.
In Figure 4a, there is illustrated the FSC 100 including a PIN (PIN #2) and
calling
instructions 102 and a magnetic strip 104 for encoding the PIN, customer
identification, ete.
therein. In Figure 4b, there is illustrated a TFC 230 including a PIN (PIN #1)
and calling
instructions 232 and a magnetic strip 234 for encoding the PIN, customer
identification, etc.
therein. As previously discussed, the PIN #1 may be generated, for example, as
taught in
pending U.S. Patent No. 5,892,827.
Figure 5 shows, for example, a detailed schematic diagram of the computer 210
of the
point-of sale terminal 200 and of the computer for the FSCS 450 and/or the
TFCS 400 shown
in Figure 3b. The computer 210/400/450 may be a general purpose computer
including a
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display 2, such as a conventional .display device or a touch screen monitor
with a touch-screen
interface; a keyboard and/or numc;ric keypad 4; a pointing device or bar code
reader 6; a
mouse pad or a in-store scanner 8; a hard disk 10; a floppy drive or card
reader 12; CD ROM
or tape drive 14 with media 16; arid a mother board 18. The mother board 18
includes a
microprocessor 20; a random accE;ss memory (RAM) 22; a read-only memory (ROM)
24; I/O
ports 26 for coupling to another computer, etc.; a specific hardware interface
circuit 28 for
performing specialized hardware/software functions, such as modem interfacing,
serial-to-
parallel and parallel to serial conversion, printer conflict mediation, sound
processing, image
processing, etc.; a microphone 30; and a speaker or speakers 32.
The computer programs for implementing processes of Figures 2, 6 and 7 can be
stored, for example, in hard disk 10 or may be loaded via floppy drive 12 of
the general
purpose computer 210/400/450. I:n addition, data structures for storing
information such as
PINs, a total fuel credit amount, user account information, etc., may be
stored in RAM 22
and/or the hard disk 10 of the general purpose computer 210/400/450. It is
noted that the
PINs may be stored as PIN files in a non-sequential manner, for example, as
taught in
pending U.S. Patent No. 5,892,827.
The details of the operation of the method of Figure 2b according to the
present
invention will now be described with reference to Figure 6. In Figure 6, after
the TFC 230
has been issued at the point-of sate terminal 200 as described with reference
to Figures 2a,
2b, 3a and 3b, at step 5302, the u.5er dials a number printed on the transfer
fuel-credit
certificate and the transfer fuel-credit certificate server 400 prompts the
user for the PIN # 1
printed on the transfer fuel-credit certificate at step S410. Once the user
enters the PIN # 1
from the transfer fuel-credit certificate, at step S420, the txansfer fuel-
credit certificate server
presents the user with menu options, for example, including: (1) adding fuel
credit to the FSC
using PIN #2 from the FSC; (2) providing further information for obtaining a
FSC or a TFC;
and (3) allowing the customer to :peak with a customer service representative.
At step S310,
the user selects any one of the options ( 1 )-{3) provided by the transfer
fuel-credit certificate
sever at step S420.
If the user selects option ( 1 ) at step 5316, the transfer fuel-credit
certificate server
prompts the user for the PIN #2 at step 5440. At step S442, the transfer fuel-
credit certificate
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server adds fuel credit determined from the PIN # 1 to a user account
corresponding to the PIN
#2 and the user's actions are completed. The TFCS may maintain a database of
transfer
certificates (i.e., PTNs #1} that have been used by that customer (i.e., PINs
#2) and not allow
that customer or any other customer to further add credit using a PIN # 1 that
is already used.
The transfer fuel-credit certificate server 400 may include a database stored
on the hard disk
including information regarding the user account corresponding to PIN #2 and
the current
fuel credit amount for this account which is then incremented by the added
fuel credit
provided to the TFCS by the POS terminal 200 at the time of purchase. Tracking
of the fuel
credits used by the customers in purchasing fuel and to be debited from their
accounts having
a fuel credit amount is accomplished by having the fuel station 240 notify the
TFCS of fuel
purchases made in conjunction with the customer's account, and the TFCS will
deduct the
value of the notified fuel purchases from the customer's account.
If the user selects option (:Z) at step 5318, the transfer fuel-credit
certificate server
provides the user information on obtaining a FSC and/or a transfer fuel-credit
certificate at
step 5450 and this operation is completed.
If the user selects option (3) at step S320, the transfer fuel-credit
certificate server
connects the user to a customer service representative at step S460 and this
operation is
completed.
The details of the operation of the method of Figure 2d according to the
present
invention will now be described with reference to Figure 7. In Figure 7, after
the TFC 230
has been issued at the point-of sale terminal 200 as described with reference
to Figures 2c,
2d, 3a and 3b, at step S702, the user dials a number printed on the FSC and
the FSCS 400
prompts the user for the PIN #2 printed on the FSC at step 5810. Once the user
enters the
PIN #2 from the FSC, at step S820, the FSCS presents the user with menu
options, for
example, including: (1) adding fuel credit to the FSC using PIN #1 from the
transfer fuel-
credit certificate; and (2) allowing; the customer to speak with a customer
service
representative (CSR). At step S710, the user selects any one of the options
(1)-(2) provided
by the FSCS at step S820.
If the user selects option (1) at step 5716, the FSCS prompts the user for the
PIN #1 at
step 5840. At step S842, the FSC;S adds fuel associated with PIN #1 to a user
account
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corresponding to the PIN #2 and this operation is completed. The server may
further note the
use of PIN #1 by the customer associated with PIN #2 and not allow the
customer (i.e., a user
who enters PIN #2) to reuse PIN #1 to obtain credit. Precluding multiple uses
of PIN #1 is
especially useful in embodiments of the present invention which operate in the
promotional
mode and issue multiple certificates with PIN #1 that are identical.
The FSCS 400 may include a database stored on the hard disk 10 including
information regarding the user account corresponding to PIN #2 and the current
fuel credit
amount for this account which is then incremented by the added fuel credit.
Tracking of the
fuel credits used by the customers in purchasing fuel and to be debited from
their accounts
having a fuel credit amount is accomplished by having fuel station 240 notify
the FSCS or
TFCS of fuel purchases and deducting the value of the notified fuel purchase
from the
balance stored in association with the purchaser's account.
If the user selects option (2) at step S7I 8, the FSCS connects the user to a
customer
service representative at step 5850 and this operation is completed.
According to the present invention, fuel is "prepaid" in-store at the point-of
sale
terminal and a TFC 230 is issued that bears a unique PIN number associated
with the
certificate (PIN #1). At the fuel dispenser, the consumer inserts the TFC 230
or FSC 100 into
the fuel/debitlcredit card reader of the fuel pump. A prompt screen directs
the consumer to
enter their "Check-Out Fuel PIN Number" on the touch pad (i.e., PTN # 1 or PIN
#2). Using
the unique PIN number issued on the TFC 230 or the FSC 100, the consumer
enters the
associated digits on the key pad. The fuel pump will communicate the entered
PIN number to
either the FSCS or TFCS and the servers will determine if the entered PIN is
associated with
un-delivered pre-paid fuel. If the entered PIN is valid and associated with
pre-paid fuel, the
fuel pump is then authorized to dispense up to the prepaid amount.
Tracking of the dollars used by the customers to be debited from their prepaid
fuel
credit amount is accomplished by having fuel station 240 notify the FSCS or
TFCS of fuel
purchases and deducting the value of the notified fuel purchase from the
balance stored in
association with the purchaser's account. Once ail pre-paid fuel has been
purchased, the
respective server will no longer authorize purchasing of fuel using the
associated PIN
number.
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CA 02346410 2001-04-05
WO 01/16905 PCT/US99/300G8
The present invention applies to fuel and convenience stores and mass
merchandise
and "hyper-market" (i.e., a grocery store with fuel or mini-convenience store)
store locations.
Essentially, the present invention applies anywhere that fuel is sold. Prepaid
fuel can be
discounted by the retailer at various levels associated with different program
objectives. Fuel
discounts can be dependent on how much the consumer purchases in advance, or
upon their
store purchase history. Discounts and/or free fuel can also be funded by
manufacturers
seeking a cross-purchase tie to fuel (e.g., purchase of a product and swipe of
store loyalty
card, such as a FSC, generates a one-time discount on a next fuel purchase
triggered by a PIN
issued on the associated fuel-credit certificate). Instant win sweepstakes
triggered by
universal product codes (UPCs) or by loyalty/shopper card use can issue fuel-
credit
certificates with active PIN numbers for immediate fuel purchases.
Additionally, fuel-credit
certificates triggered by UPCs or cashier initiated transactions will
encourage prepaid fuel or
in-store product tie-ins. Transfer certificates may also be generally issued
to customers to
encourage the customer to patronize the retailer's fuel service and encourage
use of the
customer's identification, such as the customer's FSC or a particular brand of
credit card.
The present invention thus (i) creates an opportunity to promote products and
fuel
jointly; (ii) establishes a value added element to traditional fuel cards that
encourages loyalty
and in-store traffic; (iii) ties the point-of sale marketing system to
activity that takes place at
the pump, hence, immediately extending reach into new channels (e.g.,
convenience, fuel,
mass merchandise, hyper market, etc.) and (iv) creates new manufacturer client
opportunities
(e.g., automotive products, oil companies, automotive parts, service
companies, etc.)
The mechanisms and processes set forth in the present description may be
implemented using a conventional general purpose computers (e.g., the general
purpose
computers 210/400/450) programmed according to the teachings in the present
specification
(e.g., Figs. 2, 3, 6 and 7), as will be appreciated to those skilled in the
relevant art(s).
Appropriate software coding can readily be prepared by skilled programmers
based on the
teachings of the present disclosure, as will also be apparent to those skilled
in the relevant
art(s). However, as will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, this
invention may also
be implemented by the preparation of application-specific integrated circuits
or by
interconnecting an appropriate network of conventional component circuits.
-1 S-
CA 02346410 2001-04-05
WO 01/16905 PCTNS99/30068
The present invention thus also includes a computer-based product which may be
hosted on a storage medium and include instructions which can be used to
program a
microprocessor to perform processes in accordance with tile present invention.
This storage
medium can include, but is not limited to, any type of disk including floppy
disks, optical
disks, CD-ROMs, magneto-optical disks, ROMs, RAMS, EPROMs, EEPROMs, flash
memory, magnetic or optical cards, or any type of media suitable for storing
electronic
instructions.
Obviously, numerous modifications and variations of the present invention are
possible in light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood
that within the scope
of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as
specifically
described herein.
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