Voice-Based Fuel Pump Ordering via Mobile Chatbot
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fuel pump interfaces are inconvenient for consumers due to small, hard-to-read displays, limited item selection, and lack of search functionality, leading to missed sales opportunities as consumers often do not make additional purchases during fueling.
Innovation Solution
A voice-based transaction terminal system that uses natural language dialogue to allow consumers to order and manage transactions, including item selection, age verification, and payment processing, through a chatbot integrated with transaction, loyalty, and fulfillment managers, enabling seamless ordering and pickup without leaving the pump.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a traditional fuel pump interface is used, then the consumer can access the pump and purchase fuel, but the consumer experience deteriorates due to small hard-to-read displays, limited item selection, and lack of search functionality
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a mobile device as an intermediary between the consumer and the fuel pump system. The mobile device displays a comprehensive list of store items, provides search functionality, and enables ordering, thereby mediating the interaction between the consumer and the limited pump interface. This resolves the contradiction by providing full information access through the mobile device while the pump handles only fuel dispensing.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent moves the item selection and information display from the two-dimensional pump interface to the consumer's mobile device screen. This dimensional shift allows for much larger, clearer displays with comprehensive item lists, images, and search capabilities, resolving the information visibility problem while keeping the pump interface simple.
2Productivity
If the consumer makes additional purchases at the store, then sales increase, but the pump lane remains occupied preventing other customers from accessing it
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables consumers to place orders for store items in advance while still at the pump, before completing the fuel transaction. The system pre-processes the order, and items are ready for pickup when the consumer returns. This preliminary ordering action allows sales to occur without extending pump lane occupancy, as the actual item retrieval happens after the consumer has already paid for fuel.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent maintains continuous useful action by allowing the consumer to complete the fuel purchase and move on, while the ordering and item preparation processes continue independently in the background. The consumer receives a notification when items are ready, and can pick them up without returning to the pump. This continuity ensures both fuel dispensing and item fulfillment proceed efficiently without blocking the pump lane.
3Ease of operation
If the consumer moves the vehicle to pick up items or browse the store, then item acquisition is possible, but convenience deteriorates due to difficult maneuvering in busy convenience store lots
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements self-service by allowing consumers to order items through their mobile devices while remaining in their vehicles at the pump. The system automatically processes orders, and items are prepared and held for pickup. This eliminates the need for consumers to manually navigate to the store, browse shelves, and queue at registers, thereby maintaining ease of operation while reducing time loss.
4Adaptability or versatility
If a comprehensive item list and search functionality are provided at the pump, then item selection improves, but the pump interface complexity increases beyond practical limits
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the complex item selection, search, and ordering functionality from the pump interface and relocates it to the consumer's mobile device. The pump interface is simplified to handle only fuel dispensing and basic transaction functions. This extraction resolves the contradiction by providing comprehensive item selection capabilities through the mobile device while keeping the pump interface simple and practical.
Data Source
AI summary
A consumer is identified at a transaction terminal. A natural-language voice chatbot is initiated for the transaction. The chatbot is configured with store information for a store associated with the terminal and, optionally, with preferences registered to the consumer. A natural language voice dialogue using, at least the store information, is initiated between the chatbot and the consumer while the consumer is at the terminal and during the transaction. The consumer may order store items from the store and pay for the items through the dialogue. In an embodiment, the items ordered are delivered to the terminal where the consumer is located.