Fuel dispenser utilizing tokenized user guidance and prompting for secure payment

Abstract

A fuel dispenser comprises fuel flow piping defining a flow path from a source of fuel toward a fueling nozzle. A plurality of fuel handling components are disposed along the fuel flow piping. Control electronics are in operative communication with the fluid handling components. A payment system includes a PIN pad that transmits secure tokens which are preferably cryptographically unique and independent such as not to be a function or derivative of network keys or user PIN. The tokens are then received and acted upon by a second subsystem to render PIN entry display data.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A fuel dispenser payment system comprising:
 a PIN pad device executing a secure payment application and securely storing a plurality of electronic tokens corresponding to payment display data;   a card reader in communication with the PIN pad device;   a display processor having an associated memory, said display processor being in communication with said PIN pad device, said payment display data being securely stored so as to be accessible by said display processor;   a display in communication with said display processor; and   said PIN pad device being operative to transmit said electronic tokens to said display processor, said display processor utilizing said electronic tokens to identify specific payment display data and cause the specific payment display data to be rendered by the display.   
     
     
         2 . A fuel dispenser payment system as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said PIN pad device communicates with one of an enhanced dispenser hub or a point of sale (POS) system. 
     
     
         3 . A fuel dispenser payment system as set forth in  claim 2 , wherein said electronic tokens are cryptographically unique and independent of network keys and a user's personal identification number (PIN). 
     
     
         4 . A fuel dispenser payment system as set forth in  claim 3 , wherein said specific display data is stored in encrypted form but is accessible by the display processor via the electronic tokens. 
     
     
         5 . A fuel dispenser payment system as set forth in  claim 4 , wherein the display processor enters a payment mode during which said electronic tokens are received and otherwise allows display of nonpayment information on said display. 
     
     
         6 . A fuel dispenser payment system as set forth in  claim 5 , wherein display of nonpayment information is blocked during the payment mode. 
     
     
         7 . A fuel dispenser payment system as set forth in  claim 4 , wherein the display processor is implemented on one core of a multi-core processor having at least two processor cores on a single semiconductor die. 
     
     
         8 . A fuel dispenser payment system as set forth in  claim 7 , wherein said one core operates separately and asynchronously from at least one other core on said multi-core processor. 
     
     
         9 . A fuel dispenser payment system as set forth in  claim 8 , wherein said multi-core processor has at least four of said processor cores.