# US 11,443,582 B2 · Virtual payment system and method for dispensing fuel

> Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt

- Number: US 11,443,582 B2
- Document ID: US11443582B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/702,408
- Filed: 2019-12-03
- Published: 2020-06-04
- Granted: 2022-09-13
- Earliest claimed: 2018-12-03
- Assignees: AvaLAN Wireless Systems, Inc.
- Applicants: Avalan Wireless Systems, Inc.
- Inventors: Michael Derby
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11443582B2

## CPC

- G06Q 20/0855: {involving a third party}
- G07F 9/002: {Vending machines being part of a centrally controlled network of vending machines}
- B67D 7/04: for transferring fuels, lubricants or mixed fuels and lubricants
- B67D 7/145: {by wireless communication means, e.g. RF, transponders or the like}
- G06Q 20/027: {involving a payment switch or gateway}
- G06Q 20/08: Payment architectures
- G06Q 20/145: {Payments according to the detected use or quantity}
- G06Q 20/16: Payments settled via telecommunication systems
- G06Q 20/204: {comprising interface for record bearing medium or carrier for electronic funds transfer or payment credit}
- G06Q 20/3278: {RFID or NFC payments by means of M-devices}
- G06Q 20/351: {Virtual cards}
- G06Q 30/0241: Advertisements
- G06Q 30/06: Buying, selling or leasing transactions
- G06Q 50/06: Energy or water supply
- G07F 13/025: {wherein the volume is determined during delivery}
- G06Q: INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- G07F: COIN-FREED OR LIKE APPARATUS (coin sorting G07D3/00; coin testing G07D5/00; {handling coins or paper currencies apart from payment activated apparatus G07D; payment architectures, schemes or protocols G06Q20/00})
- B67D: DISPENSING, DELIVERING OR TRANSFERRING LIQUIDS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR (cleaning pipes or tubes or systems of pipes or tubes B08B9/02; emptying or filling of bottles, jars, cans, casks, barrels, or similar containers, not otherwise provided for B67C; water supply E03; pipe systems F17D; domestic hot-water supply systems F24D; measuring volume, volume flow, mass flow or liquid level, metering by volume G01F; coin-freed or like apparatus G07F)

## Abstract

A system facilitating payment for fuel dispensing includes a fuel dispenser associated with a current-loop-to-ethernet converter for receiving serial data from a fuel dispenser controller and converting said serial data to an ethernet signal and a network appliance coupled the current-loop-to-ethernet converter by an ethernet port. A virtual payment facilitator is connected to the network appliance over a VPN and to a payment authorization entity, also over a VPN. A process performed by the system includes receiving a fueling request at the virtual payment facilitator from the payment authorization entity and converting that request into a command issued to the fuel dispenser to dispense fuel.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A system for facilitating payment for fuel dispensing comprising:
a fuel dispenser, said fuel dispenser being associated with a current-loop-to-ethernet converter for receiving serial data from a fuel dispenser controller and converting said serial data to an ethernet signal and a network appliance coupled to said current-loop-to-ethernet converter by an ethernet port; and
a remote virtual payment facilitator, said virtual payment facilitator comprising:
a first virtual private network server configured to communicate over a first virtual private network through a public network with said network appliance;
a second virtual private network server configured to communicate over a second virtual private network through a public network with a payment authorization entity; and
a virtual forecourt dispenser controller responsive to said first and second virtual private network servers, said virtual forecourt dispenser configured to issue fuel dispensing commands to said fuel dispenser over said first virtual private network.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein said virtual forecourt dispenser is configured to generate an application program interface message.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein said virtual payment facilitator further comprises first and second firewalls for preventing unauthorized access to said facilitator over said public network.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein said virtual private network servers execute a dynamic host configuration protocol.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein said virtual payment facilitator is configured with a database, said database configured to store data comprising fuel dispenser identification data.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The system of claim 5, wherein said database if further configured to store fuel dispenser identification data and fuel volume data.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The system of claim 6, wherein said virtual private network servers execute a dynamic host configuration protocol.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The system of claim 7, wherein said virtual payment facilitator further comprises an IP address tracking module coupled to said first virtual private network server, said tracking module configured to retrieve said fuel dispenser identification data from said database and compare said data to an IP address embedded within a signal received by said first virtual private network server and to update said database based upon the comparison.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein said current-loop-to-ethernet converter comprises a monitor module for intercepting serial data received by the current-loop-to-ethernet converter and relaying said serial data to one of an ethernet module and said dispenser.

### Claim 10

A method for facilitating payment for fuel, said method comprising the steps of:
receiving a fuel dispense request at a remote virtual payment facilitator from a payment authorization entity over a first virtual private network, said virtual payment facilitator comprising a virtual forecourt dispenser controller, and said request comprising data identifying a fuel dispenser;
issuing a command from said virtual payment facilitator via said virtual forecourt dispenser controller to said dispenser to dispense fuel, said command issued over a second virtual private network established directly between said virtual payment facilitator and said dispenser;
receiving a signal from said dispenser at said virtual payment facilitator over said second virtual private network, said signal indicating fuel dispensing is complete; and
transmitting an application program interface message over said first virtual private network from said virtual payment facilitator to said payment authorization entity, said message indicating fuel dispensing is complete.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The method of claim 10, wherein said step of receiving a fuel dispense request comprises the steps of:
decrypting said fuel dispense request;
identifying said dispenser; and
converting said request into a first machine language signal.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The method of claim 11, wherein said step of issuing a command to said fuel dispenser comprises the steps of:
encrypting a second machine language signal;
sending said encrypted second machine language signal to said fuel dispenser;
decrypting said encrypted second machine language signal at said fuel dispenser;
converting said request into a serial data signal; and
issuing said serial data signal to said fuel dispenser.

### Claim 13 (depends on 10)

The method of claim 10, wherein said step of receiving a signal from said dispenser indicating fuel dispensing is complete comprises the steps of:
receiving an encrypted third machine language signal from said fuel dispenser;
decrypting said encrypted third machine language signal;
converting said decrypted third machine language signal into an application program interface message indicating fuel dispensing is complete.

### Claim 14 (depends on 10)

The method of claim 10, wherein said step of transmitting an application program interface message comprises the step of encrypting said application program interface message.

### Claim 15 (depends on 10)

The method of claim 10, wherein said signal received from said dispenser at said virtual payment facilitator comprises data representing at least one of volume of dispensed fuel and fuel price.