Patent Application
20160321655
The present invention relates generally to service stations at which fuel is dispensed. More particularly, the present invention relates to remote support of equipment utilized to process and record transactions at the service station.
Retail fueling environments usually include a plurality of fuel dispensers located in a forecourt area outside of a convenience store building. Typically, the fuel dispensers will each be equipped with pay-at-the-pump capability by which the customer can perform the fueling transaction using a user interface on the respective fuel dispenser. For example, the customer can present a credit or debit card using a card reader installed on the fuel dispenser's user interface to pay for the fuel without entering the store. In other cases, the customer may want or need to go into convenience store to pay for the fuel or to purchase other items.
The convenience store will generally be equipped with a point-of-sale (POS) system to handle certain functions relating to transactions that occur in the retail fueling environment. For instance, the POS device may include software components adapted to display a graphical user interface (GUI). Transactions are recorded using the POS for inventory reconciliation and other recordkeeping purposes. In addition, the POS may allow the station's manager the ability to set options associated with the POS or the service station, such as the appearance of receipts issued by the station's dispensers.
Occasionally, service station operators may require expert assistance in the configuration or use of the POS system. Such assistance may be provided, for example, by a “Help Desk” at a call center established by the POS device's manufacturer. According to current practice, the service station operator will phone the Help Desk and describe the problem. In many cases, the Help Desk agent will be able to resolve the issue through issuance of verbal instructions to the service station operator. In more complicated cases, it might be necessary to grant the Help Desk operator remote access into the POS. This is done by enabling a modem (or direct network connection), by which the Help Desk operator attempts to establish a communication link with the POS system. In order for the link to be established, the Help Desk request must present an expected password to the POS device.
Currently, the password that is presented is the same password at all sites, across the machines. Once the modem (or network connection) is enabled, the Help Desk agent can dial into the site using the expected password, get connected and use a remote control guest function to remotely control manager workstation or cashier workstation terminals of the POS.
The present invention recognizes and addresses the foregoing considerations, and others, of prior art construction and methods. In this regard, certain exemplary and nonlimiting aspects of the present invention will now be described. These aspects are intended to provide some context for certain principles associated with the present invention, but are not intended to be defining of the full scope of the present invention.
Certain aspects of the present invention are directed to an electronic apparatus for use in a retail fueling environment. The apparatus comprises a processor and associated memory, as well as a display. A communication portal is operative to communicate with a remote support service when desired. The processor implements software allowing access to the electronic apparatus by the remote support service only when the remote support service presents a substantially random credential generated on as needed basis at the electronic apparatus. For example, the credential may be a password shown on the display of the fueling environment's electronic apparatus.
In an exemplary embodiment, the password may be an alphanumeric password or an alphanumeric password with symbols. Preferably, the software will be capable of simultaneously displaying a phonetic phrase corresponding to the password along with the password itself.
The electronic apparatus may comprise a point-of-sale (POS) system utilized in the retail fueling environment. The POS system may include a manager workstation and at least one cashier workstation.
Different systems and methods of the present invention utilize various combinations of the disclosed elements and method steps as supported by the overall disclosure herein. Thus, combinations of elements other than those discussed above may be claimed. Moreover, the accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate one or more embodiments of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.
A full and enabling disclosure of the present invention, including the best mode thereof directed to one of ordinary skill in the art, is set forth in the specification, which makes reference to the appended drawings, in which:
Repeat use of reference characters in the present specification and drawings is intended to represent same or analogous features or elements of the invention.
Reference will now be made in detail to presently preferred embodiments of the invention, one or more examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Each example is provided by way of explanation of the invention, not limitation of the invention. In fact, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that modifications and variations can be made in the present invention without departing from the scope or spirit thereof. For instance, features illustrated or described as part of one embodiment may be used on another embodiment to yield a still further embodiment. Thus, it is intended that the present invention covers such modifications and variations as come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.
Although embodiments are contemplated in which the electronic payment server is incorporated into or is in direct communication with POS 12, the illustrated embodiment utilizes an enhanced dispenser hub (EDH) 14 as shown and described in U.S. Pat. No. 8,438,064 (incorporated fully herein by reference for all purposes). EDH 14 includes an electronic payment server that allows processing of payment card information. In particular, credit (or debit) card information from the fuel dispensers 10 and any in-store card readers is fed to EDH 14, which seeks approval from a remote host processing system 16 via a suitable off-site communication link 18.
Referring now to
Payment module 22 performs validation of the payment card information received by the various card readers in the retail fueling environment. In particular, payment module 22 handles communications to and from the host processing system 16. As shown, payment module 22 communicates with a PIN pad module 34 when information from a PIN pad is necessary to process the transaction.
Referring now to
As shown, control system 36 and CRIND module 40 are in operative communication with EDH 14 via an interface 44. In addition, although not specifically shown in
Control system 36 includes the hardware and software necessary to control the hydraulic components and functions of dispenser 10. Those of ordinary skill in the art are familiar with the operation of the hydraulics 46 of dispenser 10. In general, however, fuel from USTs is pumped through a piping network into an inlet pipe. Fuel being dispensed passes though a flow meter, which is responsive to flow rate or volume. A displacement sensor, such as a pulser, is employed to generate a signal in response to fuel flow though the meter and communicate this information to control system 36. Control system 36 may also provide control signaling to a valve that may be opened and closed to permit or not permit dispensing of fuel.
Meter flow measurements from the displacement sensor are collected by control system 36. Control system 36 also typically performs calculations such as cost associated with a fuel dispensing transaction. As a dispensing transaction progresses, fuel is then delivered to a hose and through a nozzle into the customer's vehicle. Dispenser 10 includes a nozzle boot, which may be used to hold and retain the nozzle when not in use. The nozzle boot may include a mechanical or electronic switch in communication with control system 36 to indicate when the nozzle has been removed for a fuel dispensing request and when the nozzle has been replaced, signifying the end of a fueling transaction. Control system 36 may thus determine whether a transaction has been initiated or completed.
Control system 36 may further be operative to control one or more displays 48. For example, a transaction price total display may present customers with the price for fuel that is dispensed. A transaction gallon total display may be used to present customers with the measurement of fuel dispensed in units of gallons (or liters). Finally, price per unit (PPU) displays may be provided to show the price per unit of fuel dispensed in either gallons or liters, depending on the programming of dispenser 10.
CRIND module 40 includes the hardware and software necessary to support payment processing and peripheral interfaces at dispenser 10. In this regard, CRIND module 40 may be in operative communication with several input devices. For example, a PIN pad 50 is typically used for entry of a PIN if the customer is using a debit card for payment of fuel or other goods or services. CRIND module 40 may also be in operative communication with a card reader 52 for accepting credit, debit, or other magnetic stripe cards (or chip cards) for payment. Additionally, card reader 52 may accept loyalty or program-specific cards as is well known. Further, CRIND module 40 may be in operative communication with other payment or transactional devices such as a receipt printer 54.
One or more display(s) 56 may be used to display information, such as transaction-related prompts and advertising, to the customer. The customer may use soft keys to respond to information requests presented to the user via a display 56. In some embodiments, however, a touch screen may be used for display 56. In this case, display 56 may be configured to display a virtual keypad for receiving payment data such as a PIN of a debit card or the billing postal (zip) code of a credit card, for instance. Display 56 may also be used in this case to receive a selection from the customer regarding the displayed information.
Audio/video electronics 58 are adapted to interface with the CRIND module 40 and/or an auxiliary audio/video source to provide advertising, merchandising, and multimedia presentations to a customer in addition to basic transaction functions. The graphical user interface provided by the dispenser may allow customers to purchase goods and services other than fuel at the dispenser. For example, the customer may purchase a car wash and/or order food from the store while fueling a vehicle.
Referring again to
Similarly, cashier workstation module 64 provides the station's cashier, clerk, or employee the means necessary to effect a transaction for one or more items or services offered by the fueling station. Cashier workstation module 64 communicates with the hardware of cashier workstation 72, which includes its own display 74 and optional speaker(s) 76.
In operation, a user positions a vehicle adjacent to one of dispensers 10 and uses the dispenser to refuel the vehicle. For payment, the user inserts and removes a payment card from card reader 52. Card reader 52 reads the information on the payment card and transmits the information to forecourt module 20 via card reader module 26. The forecourt module 20 provides the payment information to network payment module 22, which contacts host processing system 16 operated by the financial institution associated with the user's payment card. The financial institution either validates or denies the transaction and transmits such a response to network payment module 22. The information received from the financial institution's host computer system is transmitted from network payment module 22 back to forecourt module 20 to handle appropriately. This may include transmitting to dispenser 10 a request that the user provide another payment card if the transaction is denied, or printing a receipt if authorized.
For additional information regarding retail fueling environments, reference is made to U.S. Pat. No. 6,435,204 (entitled “Fuel Dispensing System”), U.S. Pat. No. 5,956,259 (entitled “Intelligent Fueling”), U.S. Pat. No. 5,734,851 (entitled “Multimedia Video/Graphics in Fuel Dispensers”), U.S. Pat. No. 6,052,629 (entitled “Internet Capable Browser Dispenser Architecture”), U.S. Pat. No. 5,689,071 (entitled “Wide Range, High Accuracy Flow Meter”), and U.S. Pat. No. 6,935,191 (“entitled “Fuel Dispenser Fuel Flow Meter Device, System and Method”), all of which are hereby incorporated by reference for all purposes as if set forth verbatim herein.
As noted above, it is necessary or desirable to provide remote support capability for POS 12. In this regard, POS 12 includes a modem 78 (or other communication portal) that allows communication with a remote support service 80 via a suitable communication link 82. When remote access is desired, store personnel utilizing POS 12 (e.g., using manager workstation 66) will enable modem 78 so that it will “answer the phone.” If the remote support service provides the correct password as supplied to the remote service agent by the store personnel, remote access will be permitted.
According to the present invention, various password options are provided to enhance the security of remote access. Unlike the prior art, the passwords are generated on an as needed basis, preferably via a seed 84 from a cryptographically secure source. As a result, the passwords are substantially random (i.e., they will not be generated in any sort of predictable fashion). In addition, the passwords will preferably have a specified minimum length. As will be explained, POS 12 may be configured to present either an alphanumeric or a numeric password as selected by the user. The use of symbols as part of an alphanumeric password may also be permitted.
Toward this end,
In some cases, the remote service agent may have difficulty understanding the password as provided verbally by the store personnel. Moreover, in cases where symbols are used, people may not know the name of all of the possible symbols. In this regard, preferred embodiments of the present invention allow the presentation of the password as a phonetic phrase. This is preferably accomplished by the store personnel selecting a function on the user interface of the manager workstation (decision point 98). If the phonetic password option is selected, the phonetic password is displayed (step 100).
In addition, as noted above, preferred embodiments of the present invention allow selection of a numeric password (i.e., all numbers) if desired (decision point 102) which is then displayed (step 104). At any point after generation of the initial password, the store personnel may elect to create a new password (decision point 106), which may be alphanumeric or numeric.
Preferably, any password that is displayed will cease to be displayed after a designated time-out period (decision point 108) or when the store personnel disables remote access (decision point 110), whichever occurs first. As indicated at 112, the password is no longer valid and the process ends.
In
The following table shows exemplary phonetic terms that may be used for each letter, number, and symbol that might appear in a remote access password generated by POS 12:
While the embodiment described above describes a visual password which is read to the remote service agent, various alternatives are also contemplated. For example, the POS may be configured to generate an audible sound that contains a digital signature. This sound can be provided to the remote support agent, for example, over the telephone. In one embodiment, the store personnel can simply hold the phone's handset near the speaker of manager workstation to send the digital signature to the remote support agent. At the remote support service center, the digital signature can be extracted from the sound and provided back to the POS for remote access.
Such an embodiment is illustrated in
Toward this end,
If the digital certificate is received and verified (step 314), remote access is allowed (step 316). Preferably, remote access may be disallowed after a designated period of no activity (decision point 318) or when the store personnel disables remote access (decision point 320), whichever occurs first. The process then ends (step 312).
Moreover, teachings of the present invention are not limited to POS 12 or 212, but may also be applied to other components in the retail fueling environment for which remote support might be desired. For example, remote access to EDH 14 or CRIND 40 may be provided in a similar manner. Moreover, in some cases, it may be desirable to have bidirectional passwords (or digital certificates) at the retail fueling environment component and the remote support service center. Password (or digital certificate) validation would thus need to occur on both ends before communication is allowed.
While one or more preferred embodiments of the invention have been described above, it should be understood that any and all equivalent realizations of the present invention are included within the scope and spirit thereof. While much of the discussion above has involved fuel as the exemplary product being dispensed, one skilled in the art will recognize that aspects of the present invention are applicable to a wide variety of different goods and services. Thus, the embodiments depicted are presented by way of example only and are not intended as limitations upon the present invention. For example, many aspects of the present invention are described above in the exemplary context of a retail fueling environment. It should be understood by those of ordinary skill in this art, however, that the present invention is not limited to these embodiments because other commercial environments are contemplated and modifications can be made. Therefore, it is contemplated that any and all such embodiments are included in the present invention as may fall within the scope and spirit thereof.
This application relies upon and claims the benefit of provisional application Ser. No. 62/156,181, filed May 1, 2015, which is incorporated fully herein by reference for all purposes.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 62156181 | May 2015 | US |
