ATTENDANT-CONTROLLED SYSTEM FOR AUTOMATIC ENABLEMENT AND MONITORING OF FUEL DISPENSERS

摘要

An attendant-controlled system for automatic enablement and monitoring of fuel dispensers. An attendant-controlled terminal, operating under the control of a conventional micro-processor, monitors and controls remote fuel pumping units in a vehicle service station, combines fuel sale information with information concerning additional sales keyboarded by the attendant, accepts customer account information recorded on a credit card, verifies that the identified account is in good standing, and prints a credit card receipt for signature by the customer, the receipt being printed in an optically-readable format compatible with conventional automated invoice processing equipment. The terminal comprises a console 19 containing a microprocessor 49 connected to each fuel dispenser through a cable 67, to a remote data bank through cable 23, to a card reader 29 and printer 27 and to a keyboard 31 and visual display device 33. The keyboard 31 includes alphanumeric keys 37 through which details of non-fuel sales can be enteres, function keys 41 und 43 for controlling operation of the terminal, and pump selection buttons 46 for selectively enabling the fuel dispensers.