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The present invention is to provide a multistage ordering system for a fueling environment. The system may include a fuel dispenser having an order entry interface and associated first remote communications electronics adapted to communicate with a remote communications unit associated with the cust

The present invention is to provide a multistage ordering system for a fueling environment. The system may include a fuel dispenser having an order entry interface and associated first remote communications electronics adapted to communicate with a remote communications unit associated with the customer. An order receipt position apart from the fuel dispenser is provided and includes a second remote communications electronics adapted to communicate with a remote communications unit, a receipt position output indicating the customer who placed the order is at the order receipt location, and an intermediate location output indicating the customer is proximate said intermediate locating position. An intermediate locating position located along the path of travel between the fuel dispenser and the order receipt position is also provided. The intermediate locating position has a third remote communication electronics adapted to communicate with the remote communications unit. The control system is associated with each of the communications electronics. The control system is preferably adapted to communicate with the remote communications unit through the first communications electronics when the remote communications unit is proximate a fuel dispenser, associated customer order placed at the order entry interface, and communicate with the remote communications unit through the third remote communications electronics when the remote communications unit is proximate the intermediate locating position. When the customer is proximate the intermediate locating position, the control system provides an intermediate location output in order to determine the location of the customer between the dispenser and order receipt location. The control system will again communicate with the remote communications unit at the order receipt location when the customer arrives to pick up the order. The control system will identify the order at the receipt location for the particular customer who placed the order at the order entry interface of the fuel dispenser.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A multistage order system for a fueling environment comprising:a) a fuel dispenser having an order entry user interface and associated first remote communications electronics adapted to communicate with a remote communications unit associated with a customer;b) an order receipt position apart fro

1. A multistage order system for a fueling environment comprising:a) a fuel dispenser having an order entry user interface and associated first remote communications electronics adapted to communicate with a remote communications unit associated with a customer;b) an order receipt position apart from said fuel dispenser for providing the customer with an order and havingi) second remote communications electronics adapted to communicate with the remote communications unit associated with the customer, andii) an output indicating the customer who placed the order is at the order receipt position;c) a control system associated with said order interface and said first remote communications electronics of said fuel dispenser and said remote communications electronics and said output of said order receipt position, said control system adapted to:i) communicate with the remote communications unit through said first remote communications electronics when said remote communications unit is proximate said fuel dispenser;ii) associate a customer order placed at the order entry user interface with the remote communications unit associated with the customer;iii) communicate with the remote communications unit through said second remote communications electronics when said remote communications unit is proximate said order receipt position; andiv) identify the order at the order receipt position associated with the remote communications unit of the customer who placed the order at the order entry user interface of the fuel dispenser and provide said output indicating the customer who placed the order is at the order receipt position. 2. The multistage order system for a fueling environment of claim 1 wherein said first and second remote communications electronics are adapted to receive data from the remote communications unit. 3. The multistage order system for a fueling environment of claim 2 wherein data transmitted to said first and second communications electronics includes a remote communications unit identifier and said control system associates the customer order with the identifier. 4. The multistage order system for a fueling environment of claim 3 wherein the identifier is a remote communications unit identification number. 5. The multistage order system for a fueling environment of claim 1 wherein said first remote communications electronics is adapted to transmit data from the remote communications unit and said second remote communications electronics is adapted to receive data from the remote communications unit. 6. The multistage order system for a fueling environment of claim 5 wherein said control system is adapted to:a) provide order identification data and have said first remote communications electronics transmit said order identification data to the remote communications unit when the order is placed at the fuel dispenser; andb) receive the order identification data from the remote communications unit via said second communications electronics to identify the customer at said order receipt position. 7. The multistage order system for a fueling environment of claim 6 wherein said order identification information is an order identification code. 8. The multistage order system for a fueling environment of claim 6 wherein said order identification information includes actual order information. 9. The multistage order system for a fueling environment of claim 6 wherein said order identification information is an order reference number. 10. The multistage order system for a fueling environment of claim 1 wherein said first and second remote communications electronics are adapted to receive data from and transmit data to the remote communications units. 11. The multistage order system for a fueling environment of claim 1 wherein said order receipt position includes an automatic car wash wherein the customer may order a car wash at the fuel dispenser and said control system will activate said car wash with said output when the customer is an appropriate location proximate said order receipt position. 12. The multistage order system for a fueling environment of claim 1 wherein said order receipt position includes a quick serve restaurant wherein the customer may order food or drink at the fuel dispenser and pick up the food order at said order receipt position. 13. The multistage order system for a fueling environment of claim 1 wherein said order receipt position includes a vending machine wherein the customer may order food or drink at the fuel dispenser and pick up the food order at said order receipt position. 14. The multistage order system for a fueling environment of claim 1 wherein said control system is associated with a remote payment/authorization network and said fuel dispenser further includes a card reader adapted to read payment cards and transmit card data from the cards to the payment/authorization network to facilitate payment of fuel and the order. 15. The multistage order system for a fueling environment of claim 1 wherein said communications electronics include interrogators adapted to transmit signals capable of being received and modified for transmission back to the interrogator by the remote communications unit to facilitate communications. 16. The multistage order system for a fueling environment of claim 15 wherein the interrogators use modulated backscatter to communicate with the remote communication unit. 17. The multistage order system for a fueling environment of claim 1 wherein said communications electronics are adapted to communicate with a plurality of remote communications units. 18. The multistage order system for a fueling environment of claim 1 wherein said control system includes a dispenser controller located with said fuel dispenser and adapted to operate said order entry user interface and said first remote communications electronics. 19. The multistage order system for a fueling environment of claim 1 wherein said control system includes an order processing controller associated with said order receipt position and adapted to operate said second communications electronics. 20. A multistage order system for a fueling environment comprising:a) a fuel dispenser having an order entry user interface and associated first remote communications electronics adapted to communicate with a remote communications unit associated with a customer;b) an order receipt position apart from said fuel dispenser for providing the customer with an order and having:i) second remote communications electronics adapted to communicate with the remote communications unit associated with customer;ii) a receipt position output indicating the customer who placed the order is at the order receipt position; andiii) an intermediate location output indicating the customer is proximate said intermediate locating position;c) an intermediate locating position located on a path of travel between said fuel dispenser and said order receipt position, said intermediate locating position having third remote communications electronics adapted to communicate with the remote communications unit associated with the customer; andd) a control system associated with said order interface and said first remote communications electronics of said fuel dispenser, said third remote communications electronics of said intermediate locating position and said second remote communications electronics and said output of said order receipt position, said control system adapted to:i) communicate with the remote communications unit through said fast remote communications electronics when said remote communications unit is proximate said fuel dispenser;ii) associate a customer order placed at the order entry user interface with the remote communications unit associated with the customer;iii) communicate with the remote communications unit through said third remote communications electronics when said remote communications unit is proximate said intermediate locating positi on indicating said customer is near said intermediate locating position;iv) provide said intermediate location output indicating the customer is proximate said intermediate locating position;v) communicate with the remote communications unit through said second remote communications electronics when said remote communications unit is proximate said order receipt position; andvi) identify the order at the order receipt position associated with the remote communications unit of the customer who placed the order at the order entry user interface of the fouel dispenser and provide said output indicating the customer who placed the order is at the order receipt position. 21. The multistage order system for a fueling environment of claim 20 wherein said order receipt position is associated with a quick serve restaurant wherein the customer may order food or drink at the fuel dispenser and pick up the food order at said order receipt position, said order receipt position further associated with an order preparation location having an order preparation output, said control system associated with said order preparation output and adapted to control said order preparation output to indicate the customer associated with the order is at said intermediate locating position wherein processing the order for the customer is effected when the customer is determined to be at said intermediate locating position. 22. The multistage order system for a fueling environment of claim 21 wherein the order preparation output is configured to instruct order preparation to begin when the customer is at the intermediate locating position. 23. The multistage order system for a fueling environment of claim 20 wherein said control system includes a dispenser controller located with said fuel dispenser and adapted to operate said order entry user interface and said first remote communications electronics. 24. The multistage order system for a fueling environment of claim 20 wherein said control system includes an order processing controller associated with said order receipt position and adapted to operate said second and third communications electronics. 25. A multistage order system for a fueling environment comprising:a) a fuel dispenser having a user interface for placing an order and operatively associated with a first receiver for receiving indicia via remote communications from a remote communication unit associated with a customer;b) an order receipt position where the customer receives the order, said order receipt position located apart from said dispenser and operatively associated with a second receiver for receiving the indicia via remote communications from the remote communication unit associated with a customer;c) a control system operatively associated with said user interface of said dispenser, said first receiver and said second receiver;d) said first receiver adapted to receive indicia from the remote communications unit when said remote communications unit is proximate said fuel dispenser;e) said control system adapted to associate an order placed at said fuel dispenser with the indicia received from the remote communications unit;f) said second receiver adapted to receive said indicia from the remote communications unit when said remote communications unit is approximate said order receipt position; andg) said control system adapted to relate the indicia received at said second receiver with the indicia received at said first receiver and the order associated therewith. 26. A multistage order system for a fueling environment comprising:a) a fuel dispenser having a user interface for placing an order and operatively associated with a transmitter for transmitting data via remote communications to a remote communication unit associated with a customer;b) an order receipt position where the costumer receives the order, said order receipt position located apart from said dispenser and operatively associated with a receiver for receiving data v ia remote communications from the remote communication unit associated with a customer;c) a control system operatively associated with said user interface of said dispenser, said fuel dispenser transmitter and said order receipt position receiver;d) said fuel dispenser transmitter adapted to transmit indicia to the remote communications unit when said remote communications units is approximate said fuel dispenser;e) said control system adapted to associate an order placed at said fuel dispenser with the data transmitted to the remote communications unit;f) said order receipt position receiver adapted to receive data from the remote communications unit when said remote communications unit is approximate said order receipt position; andg) said control system adapted to relate the data received said order receipt position receiver with the order associated with the data. 27. A multistage order system for a fueling environment having a quick-serve restaurant comprising:a) a fuel dispenser controller operating an order entry user interface for ordering fuel and items from the quick-serve restaurant and associated with first remote communications electronics, said first remote communications electronics adapted to communicate with remote communications unit;b) a quick-serve restaurant controller at a quick-serve restaurant operating a operator interface and associated with second remote communications electronics adapted to communicate with the remote communications unit, said dispenser controller adapted to pass orders placed at said order entry interface of said dispenser to said quick-serve restaurant controller;c) said dispenser controller further adapted to associate an order placed at the said order entry user interface with a particular remote communications unit and send indicia of said association to said quick-serve restaurant controller; andd) said quick-serve restaurant controller adapted communicate with remote communications units via said second communications electronics and associate the particular remote communications unit with the order placed in association with the particular remote communications unit using said indicia. 28. A multistage order system for a fueling environment of claim 27 wherein said indicia is an order code, said dispenser controller transmitting said code via said first communications electronics to the remote communications unit and to said quick-serve restaurant controller with said order, said quick-serve restaurant controller also adapted to receive the code from the remote communications unit associated with the order via said second communications electronics and correlate the order with the code transmitted from the remote communications unit at the quick-serve restaurant. 29. A multistage order system for a fueling environment of claim 27 wherein said indicia is an identifier for a remote communications unit and said dispenser controller is adapted to receive said identifier via said first communications electronics from the remote communications unit and transmit said identifier with the order to said quick-serve restaurant controller, said quick-serve restaurant controller also adapted to receive the identifier form the remote communications unit associated with the order via said second communications electronics and correlate the order with the identifier transmitted from the remote communications unit at the quick-serve restaurant. 30. A method of correlating remote orders using remote communications units comprising:a) entering an order at a fuel dispenser to create an entered order;b) communicating with a remote communications unit at the dispenser to associate the entered order with the remote communications unit;c) processing the entered order at a remote receiving location to create a processed order;d) communicating, at the remote receiving location, with the remote communications unit so as to associate the remote communications unit with the processed order; ande) provid ing a customer with the ordered goods or services, based on the customer's association with the remote communications unit. 31. The method of claim 30 wherein step b) includes transmitting a remote communications unit identifier from the remote communications unit to the dispenser and step d) includes transmitting the remote communications unit identifier from the remote communications unit to the remote receiving location. 32. The method of claim 30 wherein step b) includes transmitting an order code to the remote communications unit from the dispenser and step d) includes transmitting the order code from the remote communications unit to the remote receiving location. 33. The method of claim 30 wherein after step b) and before step d) the following steps are provided:i) communicating with the remote communications unit at an intermediate location along a path of travel between the dispenser and the remote receiving location; andii) providing an alert that a customer is en route pick up the order.