Systems and methods for emulating a fuel pump and marketing on a mobile device

A method for emulating a fuel transaction at a mobile device of a user, the method comprising:

• establishing, by the mobile device, a communication link between the mobile device and a fuel pump;
• emulating, by the mobile device, the fuel pump via presentation of graphical user interface elements at a graphical user interface displayed at the mobile device, wherein the graphical user interface is configured to emulate the fuel pump and the graphical user interface elements are configured to control operation of the fuel pump as a part of emulation of the fuel pump, and wherein the graphical user interface elements comprise:
• a display region configured to display emulation data received from the fuel pump during a fueling transaction via the communication link between the mobile device and the fuel pump,
• a fuel pump activation icon configured to cause the fuel pump to start pumping fuel or stop pumping fuel,
• two or more payment method icons representing different payment methods for paying for the fueling transaction, and
• at least one loyalty reward program icon representing at least one loyalty rewards program,
• receiving, by the mobile device, inputs via the graphical user interface associated with a selection of a payment method corresponding to one of the two or more payment method icons and a selection of the fuel pump activation icon;
• transmitting, by the mobile device, payment information and information indicating selection of the activation icon to the fuel pump, wherein the fuel pump is activated in response to receiving the information indicating selection of the fuel pump activation icon;
• receiving, by the mobile device, emulation data during the fueling transaction, the emulation data comprising information regarding a rate at which fuel is dispensed by the fuel pump during the fueling transaction;
• calculating, by the mobile device, a real-time volume of fuel dispensed during the fuel transaction based on the rate and an amount of time elapsed since dispensing of fuel began;
• and
• displaying, by the mobile device, the real-time volume of fuel dispensed during the fuel transaction at the display region of the graphical user interface, wherein the real-time volume of fuel, as displayed at the graphical user interface, is dynamically updated as a function of the rate and the amount of time elapsed since dispensing of fuel began such that the real-time volume of fuel dispensed, as displayed at the graphical user interface, corresponds to an actual amount of fuel dispensed by the fuel pump as the fueling transaction occurs.

A mobile device comprising:

• a display;
• a memory;
• and
• at least one processor adapted to:
• establish a communication link with a fuel pump;
• emulate the fuel pump via presentation of graphical user interface elements at a graphical user interface displayed at the mobile device, wherein the graphical user interface is configured to emulate the fuel pump and the graphical user interface elements are configured to control operation of the fuel pump as a part of emulation of the fuel pump, and wherein the graphical user interface elements comprise:
• a display region configured to display emulation data received from the fuel pump during a fueling transaction via the communication link between the mobile device and the fuel pump,
• a fuel pump activation icon configured to cause the fuel pump to start pumping fuel or stop pumping fuel,
• two or more payment method icons representing different payment methods for paying for the fueling transaction, and
• at least one loyalty reward program icon representing at least one loyalty rewards program,
• receive inputs via the graphical user interface associated with a selection of a payment method corresponding to one of the two or more payment method icons and a selection of the fuel pump activation icon;
• transmit payment information and information indicating selection of the activation icon to the fuel pump, wherein the fuel pump is activated in response to receiving the information indicating selection of the activation icon;
• receive emulation data during the fueling transaction, the emulation data comprising information regarding a rate at which fuel is dispensed by the fuel pump during the fueling transaction;
• calculate a real-time volume of fuel dispensed during the fuel transaction based on the rate and an amount of time elapsed since dispensing of fuel began;
• and
• display the real-time volume of fuel dispensed during the fuel transaction at the display region of the graphical user interface, wherein the real-time volume of fuel, as displayed at the graphical user interface, is dynamically updated as a function of the rate and the amount of time elapsed since dispensing of fuel began such that the real-time volume of fuel dispensed, as displayed at the graphical user interface, corresponds to an actual amount of fuel dispensed by the fuel pump as the fueling transaction occurs.

A system comprising:

• a fuel pump configured to pump fuel, the fuel pump comprising a first memory and at least one first processor coupled to the first memory;
• and
• a mobile device comprising a display, a second memory, and at least one second processor coupled to the second memory, wherein the at least one second processor is configured to:
• establish a communication link with the fuel pump;
• present, at the display of the mobile device, a graphical user interface including graphical user interface elements configured to emulate the fuel pump and control operation of the fuel pump, and wherein the graphical user interface elements comprise:
• a display region configured to display emulation data received from the fuel pump during a fueling transaction via the communication link between the mobile device and the fuel pump,
• a fuel pump activation icon configured to cause the fuel pump to start pumping fuel or stop pumping fuel,
• two or more payment method icons representing different payment methods for paying for the fueling transaction, and
• at least one loyalty reward program icon representing at least one loyalty rewards program,
• receive inputs via the graphical user interface associated with a selection of a payment method corresponding to one of the two or more payment method icons and a selection of the fuel pump activation icon;
• transmit payment information and information indicating selection of the activation icon to the fuel pump, wherein the fuel pump is activated in response to receiving the information indicating selection of the activation icon;
• receive emulation data during the fueling transaction, the emulation data comprising information regarding a rate at which fuel is dispensed by the fuel pump during the fueling transaction;
• calculate a real-time volume of fuel dispensed during the fuel transaction based on the rate and an amount of time elapsed since dispensing of fuel began;
• and
• display the real-time volume of fuel dispensed during the fuel transaction at the display region of the graphical user interface, wherein the real-time volume of fuel, as displayed at the graphical user interface, is dynamically updated as a function of the rate and the amount of time elapsed since dispensing of fuel began such that the real-time volume of fuel dispensed, as displayed at the graphical user interface, corresponds to an actual amount of fuel dispensed by the fuel pump as the fueling transaction occurs, and
• wherein the at least one first processor is configured to:
• initiate a fueling transaction in response to receiving the information indicating selection of the activation icon, wherein fuel is dispensed from the fuel pump during the fueling transaction;
• and
• send the emulation data to the mobile device in real-time during the fueling transaction.