US2020394630A1PendingUtilityA1

Multi-Devices Control and Data Communication System for Fuel Dispensing Equipment

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Individually held — no corporate assignee on recordPriority: May 28, 2002Filed: May 11, 2020Published: Dec 17, 2020
Est. expiryMay 28, 2022(expired)· nominal 20-yr term from priority
Inventors:Miguel S. Giacaman
G07F 9/002G07F 5/18G06Q 20/20G07F 13/06G06Q 50/06G07F 15/00G06Q 20/202B67D 7/08G07F 13/025
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Claims

Abstract

A Local Controller device installed in or on the fuel pump capable of functioning as a pump controller dedicated solely to the pump in which it is installed and as a data router to and from the peripheral devices. This dedicated Local Controller o device contains a microcomputer with a pump communications interface and optionally a remote, Site Controller communication interface which is non-dedicated and has control over many pumps at the station. If connected to such a Site Controller, the device will function as a slave to this Site Controller. Otherwise it functions autonomously to control the pump on its own.

Claims

exact text as granted — not AI-modified
We claim: 
     
         1 . A method for controlling fuel pumps comprising the steps of:
 installing a dedicated pump controller comprising at least one processor dedicated to and proximate a single fuel pump;   communicating electrically with said fuel pump by electrically interfacing said fuel pump with said dedicated pump controller via at least one fuel pump electrical interface of said dedicated pump controller; and communicating electrically with a main pump controller by electrically interfacing at least one main pump controller with said dedicated pump controller via at least one main pump controller electrical interface of said dedicated pump controller different from said fuel pump electrical interface.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , said step of electrically interfacing said fuel pump comprising the step of electrically interfacing with at least one brand- or model-specific fuel pump electrical interface. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising the step of:
 configuring said fuel pump electrical interface to communicate with at least two different brand or model-specific fuel pump electrical interfaces.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising the step of:
 self-configuring said fuel pump electrical interface by detecting said brand or model of said fuel pump and automatically configuring to communicate with said fuel pump   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of:
 translating between said at least one fuel pump electrical interface and said at least one main pump controller electrical interface, using said dedicated pump controller.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising the step of:
 translating between said at least one brand- or model-specific fuel pump electrical interface and said at least one main pump controller electrical interface, using said dedicated pump controller.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 . further comprising the step of:
 connecting said pump controller electrical interface directly to a POS.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of:
 connecting said pump controller electrical interface directly to a site controller.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of translating between commands carried over said at least one fuel pump electrical interface and commands carried over said at least one main pump Controller electrical interface, using said dedicated pump controller. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprising the step of:
 translating between commands carried over said at least one brand- or model-specific fuel pump electrical interface and commands carried over said at least one main pump controller electrical interface, using said dedicated pump controller.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising the step of:
 translating between commands carried over said at least one fuel pump electrical interface and commands carried over said at least one main pump controller electrical interface. using said dedicated pump controller.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising the steps of:
 connecting a plurality of different brand- or model-specific fuel pumps to a single control system; and communicating with a plurality of devices connected  10  a site controller side of said dedicated pump controller using a common command protocol.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of:
 communicating with at least one peripheral device connected with said fuel pump, via at least one peripheral device communications interface of said dedicated pump controller.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising the step of:
 carrying both data associated with said fuel pump and data associated with said at least one peripheral device over a single data channel.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , said step of carrying said both data over at least one data channel comprising the step of:
 carrying said both data over a current loop data channel.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , said step of carrying said both data over a single data channel comprising the step of:
 carrying said both data over an AC power line data channel.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14 , said step of carrying said both data over a single data channel comprising the step of:
 carrying said both data over a wireless data channel.   
     
     
         18 . A method for communicating with a fuel pump and with peripheral devices associated with said fuel pump, comprising the step of:
 carrying both data associated with said fuel pump and data associated with said at least one peripheral device, from and to both said fuel pump and said peripheral devices, over a single data channel.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising the step of:
 transmitting and receiving said data associated with said fuel pump between said single data channel and said fuel pump, and transmitting and receiving said data associated with said peripheral devices between said single data channel and said peripheral devices, using a transmit receive service module proximate said fuel pump   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising the step of:
 transmitting and receiving both said data associated with said fuel pump and said data associated with said peripheral devices between a site controller and said single data channel, using a transmit-receive control module.   
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising the steps of:
 installing a dedicated pump controller comprising at least one processor dedicated  10  and proximate said fuel pump and further comprising said transmit-receive service module;   communicating electrically with said fuel pump by electrically interfacing said fuel pump with said dedicated pump controller via at least one fuel pump electrical interface of said dedicated pump controller;   communicating elccuically with a main pump controller by electrically interfacing at least one main pump controller with said dedicated pump controller via at least one main pump controller electrical interface of said dedicated pump controller different from said fuel pump electrical interface; and communicating with at least one peripheral device connected with said fuel pump, via at least one peripheral device communications interface of said dedicated pump controller.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 18 , said step of carrying said both data over at least one data channel comprising the step of:
 carrying said both data over a current loop data channel.   
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 18 , said step of carrying said both data over a single data channel comprising the step of:
 carrying said both data over an AC power line data channel.   
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 18 , said step of carrying said both data over a single data channel comprising the step of:
 carrying said both data over a wireless data channel.   
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 20 , further comprising the step of:
 transmitting data between said site controller and a remotely located POS.   
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25 , further comprising the step of:
 transmitting said data between said site controller and said remotely located POS using an internet connection.   
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 25 , further comprising the step of:
 transmitting said data between said site controller and said remotely located POS using an internet connection.

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