Fuel Dispenser Autonomous Commerce Management

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Solution Overview

Problem

The communication system between dispenser controllers and fuel dispensers in retail petroleum facilities is not fault-tolerant, leading to frequent interruptions and inoperability of fuel dispensers, affecting customer convenience and revenue for retail fueling facilities.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a system where fuel dispensers can operate independently for certain tasks and periods, providing point-of-sale functions, diagnostics, data security, and enabling commerce with remote merchants, using a fuel dispenser management system with a display, computer, and communication interface to manage user interactions, payment processing, and data transmission.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a centralized dispenser controller is used to control fuel dispensers, then point-of-sale services and monitoring can be provided, but communication failures cause frequent interruptions and loss of service

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepoint-of-sale servicesVSAvoidcommunication reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system divides the centralized controller into distributed controller units located at each fuel dispenser. Each dispenser controller independently manages local operations including point-of-sale transactions, eliminating the single point of failure in centralized control while maintaining comprehensive service capabilities.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the operational parameters by enabling dispensers to function autonomously when communication with the central management system is unavailable. The distributed controllers maintain local databases and processing capabilities, allowing continuous operation regardless of communication status.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Device complexity

If fuel dispensers are highly dependent on central controller communication, then centralized management is simplified, but dispenser inoperability increases during communication interruptions

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontrol system structureVSAvoiddispenser availability

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The control system is segmented into autonomous dispenser units with embedded controllers that can operate independently. This segmentation allows each dispenser to maintain full functionality without continuous central controller communication, significantly improving availability during communication outages.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system prepares for communication failures by pre-configuring dispensers with local processing capabilities, stored procedures, and autonomous decision-making algorithms. When communication interruptions occur, these pre-prepared capabilities enable immediate continuation of operations without loss of productivity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

3Device complexity

If communication system failures are frequent, then system simplicity is maintained, but customer convenience and revenue are adversely affected

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecommunication systemVSAvoidcustomer service continuity

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

Each fuel dispenser is equipped with self-service capabilities including autonomous point-of-sale processing, local transaction management, and independent customer interaction. This eliminates dependency on continuous communication for basic operations, ensuring customer service continuity even during communication failures.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system ensures continuous operation by designing dispensers to maintain all critical functions independently during communication outages. The autonomous controllers continue processing transactions, managing customer interactions, and controlling dispensing operations without interruption, preserving both customer convenience and revenue streams.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

Data Source

PatentUS8925808B2Fuel dispenser commerce

Publication Date: 2015.01.06 WAYNE FUELING SYSTEMS LLC

AI summary

Systems and processes may provide for commerce at a fuel dispenser. In one general aspect, a system and process at a fuel dispenser may have the ability to present a user interface including data regarding at least one merchant remote from the fuel dispenser's fueling facility and to determine if ordering data corresponding to the remote merchant has been received. If ordering data corresponding to the remote merchant has been received, the system and process may have the ability to present a user interface regarding payment data. The system and process may also have the ability to determine if payment data has been received and, if payment data has been received, generate a message regarding the ordering data for a remote merchant computer.