# US 2021/0279821 A1 · Online system for retail gas sales > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2021/0279821 A1 - Document ID: US20210279821A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 16/855,789 - Filed: 2020-04-22 - Published: 2021-09-09 - Earliest claimed: 2019-12-30 - Inventors: Michael A. Racusin - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20210279821A1 ## CPC - G06Q 50/06: Energy or water supply - G06Q 20/0855: {involving a third party} - G06Q 20/145: {Payments according to the detected use or quantity} - G06Q 20/202: {Interconnection or interaction of plural electronic cash registers [ECR] or to host computer, e.g. network details, transfer of information from host to ECR or from ECR to ECR} - G06Q 20/28: Pre-payment schemes, e.g. "pay before" - G06Q 30/04: Billing or invoicing - G07F 11/007: {wherein the storage and dispensing mechanism are configurable in relation to the physical or geometrical properties of the articles to be stored or dispensed} - 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}) ## Abstract A method and system is disclosed that enables purchasers to purchase gas online for future delivery. The invention requires the purchaser prepay for online purchases or have been extended credit accepted by an oil company . The prepayments are credited to the purchaser's account. For each retail gas delivery, the oil company handles the online gas purchase transaction and reimburses the retail gas station owner for the online purchase. Specifically, the oil company reimburses the retail gas station owner for the taxes and profit on the gas delivered to the purchaser and also replaces the amount of gas delivered. In this way, the retail gas station owner is made whole for each delivery. Oil company also benefits with increased gas sales, increased profit and increased cash flow. Various embodiments of the invention are contemplated. The invention may require a purchaser to select a location of a retail gas station, a selected grade of gas or a combination of both. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for enabling online retail gas sales for future delivery at third party retail gas stations, comprising the steps of: (a) storing online purchasers accounts for purchase of gas online for future delivery at third party retail gas stations; (b) enabling a fuel dispenser capable of delivering gas at a third-party retail gas station to online purchasers with a prepaid account in response to a prepaid gas card or access code; (c) reimbursing the third-party retail gas station for taxes and profits per gallon for an amount of gas delivered to said online purchasers; (d) replacing gas delivered by said third-party retail gas station to said purchasers for the amount of gas delivered; and (e) debiting the online purchasers' prepaid accounts for a cost of gas delivered. ### Claim at position 2 2-9. (canceled) ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method as recited in claim 1, wherein step (a) further includes the step of: storing a retail gas location for gas purchases preselected by said online purchaser in said purchasers account. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The method as recited in claim 1, wherein step (a) further includes the step of: storing a grade of gas type for gas purchases preselected by said online purchaser in said purchasers account. ### Claim 12 A system for enabling enterprise online retail gas sales to online purchasers at fuel dispensers at third-party retail gas stations for future gas delivery, comprising: at least one enterprise server and at least one enterprise database; said enterprise server programmed to: store online purchaser accounts on said at least one enterprise database to enable online purchasers to purchase gas for future delivery; control at least one fuel dispenser capable of dispensing gas having an input device for delivering gas to online purchasers with prepaid accounts in response to a prepaid retail gas card or access code applied to an input device on said fuel dispenser; debiting the purchasers' prepaid account for an amount of gas delivered to said online purchaser; determine an amount of reimbursement to a third-party retail gas station for taxes and profits per gallon for an amount of gas delivered to said online purchaser before said third party retail gas station owner can be reimbursed for said taxes and profits by said enterprise; and determine an amount of gas to be delivered to said third party retail gas station for said amount of gas delivered to said online purchaser before said amount of gas can be replaced at said retail gas station by said enterprise. ### Claim at position 6 13-16. (canceled) ### Claim 17 (depends on 12) The system as recited in claim 12, wherein said enterprise server is configured to enable delivery of gas to said online purchaser at a discount. ### Claim 18 (depends on 12) The system as recited in claim 12, wherein said enterprise server is configured to enable delivery of gas to said online purchaser at a discount based on the wholesale price of gas per gallon. ### Claim 19 (depends on 12) The system as recited in claim 12, wherein said enterprise server is configured to enable delivery of gas to said online purchaser for a preselected grade of gas by said online purchaser. ### Claim 20 (depends on 12) The system as recited in claim 12, wherein said enterprise server is configured to enable delivery of gas to said online purchaser at a preselected retail gas station location. ### Claim 21 (depends on 12) The system as recited in claim 12, wherein said enterprise server is configured to enable delivery of gas to said online purchaser at a preselected retail gas station location and a preselected grade of gas.