[0001] This invention is directed to a product dispenser, and particularly but not exclusively
a fuel dispenser, incorporating a visual display which allows the presentation of
a slide show to a customer dispensing fuel.
[0002] Vehicle fuelling stations have made great progress in their efforts to automate and
expedite fuel dispensing transactions. The introduction of "pay at the pump" and other
similar technologies allows customers to complete transactions without entering the
fuel station building or interacting with the fuel station attendants. The term "pay
at the pump" loosely includes technology such as credit card or debit card readers,
together with phone lines to secure payment from the centralized card processing authorities,
coupled with automatic pump authorization. Other pay at the pump technologies include
cash acceptors and change dispensers which work like vending machines and most recently,
radio frequency communications techniques, which include a transponder which communicates
with the fuel dispenser to authorize a fuel purchase. The problem with these technological
improvements is that customers are no longer forced to enter the building and expose
themselves to impulse purchase of items such as sweets or drinks. The ability of customers
to effectively bypass the temptation of the impulse items reduces the income generated
by the convenience store. Thus, after spending efforts developing technology which
allowed the customer to bypass entering the building, there is now a desire to develop
technology which tempts customers back into the building, or facilitates transactions
for impulse items purchased from an "intelligent" or multifunction fuel dispenser.
[0003] Additionally, with the advent of intelligent fueling, customers now have the opportunity
to use the fuel dispenser to order car washes, Quick Serve Restaurant food, convenience
store products and other goods and services. However, there is little opportunity
to advertise these goods and services in the present fuel environments, and the casual
fuel customer may be oblivious to the purchasing opportunities which confront him.
Thus, there is a need to alert customers to the purchasing opportunities available
to the customer at the pump. One such effort to inform the customer uses in scrolling
bars of text. These may be LEDs, CRT or LCD displays controlled to form letters or
scrolling messages. With the assistance of these scrolling messages, attendants are
able to alert the customers of current specials, and the messages can be updated by
reprogramming the computer. It is hoped that these specials will intrigue the customer
enough to bring him into the building where the usual impulse purchasing occurs. Unfortunately,
these scrolling messages must be reprogrammed every time it is desired to change between
messages, for example from a breakfast special to a lunch special.
[0004] Another technique developed by fuel station attendants comprises using an audio system
to broadcast advertisements to the forecourt of the fuel station to alert customers
of specials or items for sale within the building. There are signs that the industry
is making efforts to expand this sort of audio system into an audio/visual system
or a true multimedia system with the possibility of displaying web content at the
fuel dispenser. While these techniques do convey the desired information to the customer,
they do little to improve the chance of an impulse purchase. Additionally, each addition
to information conveying systems adds a layer of complexity that must be mastered
by the fuel station attendants. The scroll bars must be programmed; the content of
the multimedia system must be programmed and so on. This burden may be extremely high,
especially for fuel station attendants who are not particularly computer literate.
[0005] In another field of study, computer users have developed "slide shows" whose images
and image order are dictated by the computer programmer. These slide shows can be
combinations of text and graphics as desired or needed. While traditionally reserved
for art-like presentations, slide shows have expanded into business presentations
and other locations where sequences of images are desirable.
[0006] What is lacking in the prior art is the ability and means to show a slide show integrated
into the fuel dispenser. The presentation of visual images coupled with text representing
the current sales is believed to be a better inducement to customers to enter the
store and purchase impulse items. Furthermore, the solution must simplify the job
of the fuel station attendants so that they may focus on their primary job - selling
fuel.
[0007] According to the present invention there is provided a product dispensing system
comprising a product dispenser configured to display an electronic slide show, said
product dispenser comprising:
a) a product delivery system configured to deliver product to a customer;
b) a display, said display positioned on said dispenser; and
c) a control system configured to control said product delivery system and show an
electronic slide show on said display, said slide show formed from a plurality of
electronic slides, each of said slides formed from at least one template.
[0008] The above described deficiencies in the prior art are solved by the present invention
providing a visual display capable of showing images and text on product dispenser
and particularly a fuel dispenser. The visual display is communicatively connected
to a computer located within the fuel station building. The computer is programmed
to store a series of templates in its memory. Each template preferably includes text
and images. Each template can include fixed fields, which are permanent parts of the
template, and relatively static or dynamic fields, which may be selectively programmed
by a fuel station attendant to form electronic slides. For example, one slide may
have a picture of a hamburger and a dollar sign stored in fixed fields and then a
value corresponding to the current price of the hamburger in a relatively static field.
Slides are preferably related to current items or services for sale at associated
facilities, but do not have to be. Other slides could include weather updates, road
condition updates, news items or the like.
[0009] By implementing such a slide show through the standard fuel dispenser display, the
fuel station takes advantage of the fact that the customer's attention is already
focused on the area where the advertising will take place. Other forms of signage
do not have this advantage since they require the customer to divert their attention
away from the screen that has directed them through the transaction.
[0010] The use of a computer allows the slides to be arranged into a slide show, which is
then shown on the visual displays of the fuel dispensers. The slide shows can change
according to the time of day if desired, for example, breakfast specials in the morning,
lunch or snack specials the rest of the day. This is a simple programming step for
the computer programmer. Additionally, the computer may be connected to a central
office computer, which controls all the computers owned by the company. This may be
accomplished via the Internet, dedicated lines or an equivalent communications link.
The purpose of this particular aspect of the invention is so that all the fuel stations
provide uniform messages, templates or slides. This may be desirable from a corporate
standpoint in terms of policing the use of a trademark or for other reasons. Systems
that rely solely on information that is downloaded from an external host are subject
to failure when the external connection is lost. The present system has the ability
to program the advertising both locally and remotely, and thus, has a "fall back"
operating mode if this external connection fails.
[0011] The invention will now be described by way of example only, with reference to the
figures of which:
Figure 1 shows a schematic view of the system of the present invention;
Figure 2 depicts a flow diagram of the preferred software and its communication connections;
Figure 3 demonstrates a plurality of templates prior to programming as slides;
Figures 4-6 illustrate example templates formed into slides for use by the present
invention;
Figure 7 pictures a schematic view of a plurality of slides formed into a slide show;
Figure 8 features a flow diagram of the overall functioning of the embedded software;
Figure 9 shows a flow diagram of the template creation step of the embedded software;
Figure 10 depicts a flow diagram of the slide creation step of the embedded software;
and
Figure 11 demonstrates a flow diagram of the slide show creation step of the embedded
software.
[0012] Referring now to Figure 1, this shows a slide show system 10 including a central
office building 12 with a central computer 14 located therein. The central computer
14 is communicatively connected by a communications network 16 to at least one fuel
station computer 18, located within a fuel station building 20. The fuel station computer
18 is communicatively connected by a dedicated network 22 to a fuel dispenser 30.
The fuel dispenser 30 includes a conventional nozzle 32, coupled to the fuel dispenser
30 by a conventional hose 34. A plurality of buttons 36 allow fuel grade selection,
while a conventional monitor 38 displays information such as gallons pumped, price
for fuel already pumped and which grade was selected. The fuel dispenser 30 also includes
a visual display 40, which is preferably capable of transmitting colour images like
a television screen or computer monitor. The fuel dispenser 30 includes a control
system 23 that may be a microprocessor or the like with an attached memory 25.
[0013] The communications network 16 may be the Internet or it may be a proprietary network,
wireless or land-based, which allows communication between the central computer 14
and the fuel station computer 18. The dedicated network 22 is preferably a conventional
data line for communication strictly between the fuel dispenser 30 and the computer
18. The network 22 could be formed from a twisted pair line, other similar conductors,
or it could be wireless if desired. While both computers 14 and 18 are referred to
as computers, it should be appreciated that any comparable programmable machine will
suffice to fit within the scope of the present invention.
[0014] Turning now to Figure 2, the computer 18 is explained in greater detail. The computer
18 preferably includes software 42, although for the purposes of the present invention
an equivalent structure would be one hard wired to do the same functions. The software
42 includes a communications module 44, which handles the communications from the
central computer 14 and to the fuel dispensers 30 (only one shown). The software 42
also includes a command module 46 which interfaces with a keyboard 19 or other similar
user interface (Figure 1) and the communications module 44 as well as a memory module
48. The communications module 44 also can communicate with the memory module 48. Stored
within the memory module 48 is a plurality of templates 50 as well a number of subroutines
which facilitate the present invention. Each template 50 could be stored in the computer
18 as a data file or the equivalent whose data is read, formatted and transmitted
to the fuel dispensers 30 for viewing on visual display 40.
[0015] Sample templates 50 are seen in Figures 3-6. A plurality of templates 50A-50F are
located within a memory module either in the computer 14 or the computer 18. Each
template 50 forms the basis for a "slide" for the slide show to be shown on visual
display 40. The template 50 is an image which may be broken into fields 51, including
fixed fields which do not change after the template is created, relatively static
fields, which may change from show to show if reprogrammed and dynamic fields which
provide approximate real-time information, which is updated continuously. Dynamic
fields may also provide information which is updated during the presentation of a
given slide, or between presentations of the slide. It should be understood that the
number, position, size and shape of the fields 51 may be varied at the time of programming
according to the desires of the programmer.
[0016] To better understand the templates 50 and their transition to slides, Figures 4-6
show templates 50 that have been programmed into slides. In Figure 4, images 52 and
54 and text 56 are fixed fields, as are dollar signs 58. Prices 60 and 62 are located
within the relatively static fields. Temperature scroll bar 64 is a dynamic field
with the towns' temperatures updated continuously from a source, such as the corporate
headquarters computer 14, a local thermometer or an Internet site.
[0017] In Figure 5, image 66 is in a fixed field while text 68 and 70 are relatively static,
only changing when reprogrammed. In Figure 6, images 72 and 74 as well as text 76
are fixed, while text 78 and price 80 are relatively static. It should be appreciated
that a dynamic field could be added to either Figure 5 or Figure 6 if desired.
[0018] Figure 3, as well as Figures 4-6, show several example arrangements of fields; it
should be appreciated that the number and placement of fixed and non-fixed (dynamic
and relatively static) fields can be varied as desired or needed. It should particularly
be noted that while the fields of Figures 4-6, which include images (e.g. 52, 54)
are shown as fixed fields, it is possible to make image fields relatively static fields.
Templates 50, and particularly the dynamic fields therein, could also be directed
to weather bulletins, travel advisories, temperature updates and the like as well
as advertisements as to what is being sold within the fuel station building 20. A
dynamic field may also show real time or current information, for example, streaming
audio/video, information, current stock quotes, etc. The source of this real time
information may be an audio/visual source, a broadcast channel, the Internet or the
like.
[0019] A slide, as used herein, is defined to mean a template 50 in which the fields have
been defined and filled. Specifically, the non-fixed fields, or the relatively static
and dynamic fields, are programmed to display information, either as text or graphically,
appropriate to the field. It should be appreciated that multiple slides can be created
from the same template 50 through the substitution of different information into the
non-fixed fields.
[0020] Each of the templates 50 seen in Figures 4-6 is actually a slide by virtue of the
fact that the fields have been programmed.
[0021] A slide show, for the purposes of the present invention, is a subset of the total
available number of slides, preferably five, linked together to be seen in a particular
order and for a particular amount of time on the display 40 of the fuel dispenser
30 without human intervention once the slide show has begun. Five slides are preferred
as a good trade off between memory and number of messages desired to be conveyed to
a customer, however, variations in the number of slides used are within the scope
of the present invention. The slide show lasts for some period of time T. Each slide
within the slide show has a screen display time t
n, which the fuel dispenser 30 counts down as it displays that particular slide on
the visual display 40. Then the fuel dispenser 30 will display the next slide in the
slide show on display 40. This will continue until the last of the slides in that
particular slide show have been shown, at which time the slide show preferably repeats
or another slide show begins. A schematic presentation of this is seen in Figure 7,
where several slides are arranged in a sequence determined by the programmer. Specifically,
the slide show 90 includes template 50A (Figure 3), which has been used three times
(50A, 50A', and 50A") followed by the template 50C and finally template 50F. The fields
51 have been filled in for all the slides and each slide is assigned a screen display
time t
n. The total slide show takes T seconds.
[0022] In order to have the slides for a slide show as defined above, several steps must
be taken as seen in the flow diagram of Figure 8. The templates 50 must first be created
(block 100). The template creation is better understood with reference to the flow
chart of Figure 9. Initially, the computer programmer begins template creation (block
200). The programmer, stepping through the preprogrammed software package 42, selects
the number of fields (block 202). Each field is then positioned on the template (block
204). The size of the field is determined (block 206) as is the shape of the field
(block 208).
[0023] Finally, each field is assigned a type, namely fixed, relatively static, or dynamic
(block 210). The software asks if there are any fixed fields (block 212). If the answer
is yes, then the programmer assigns the appropriate text or image to the fixed field
(block 214). The software 42 preferably includes a number of frequently used images,
such as a hamburger, a six-pack, a bag of ice or the like, preprogrammed therein.
Approximately one hundred (100) images are preferably provided for use in building
slides from the templates 50 in the memory module 48. These one hundred images reflect
a reasonable and manageable compromise between memory constraints and providing a
nice selection of images. This serves an additional purpose - by providing preselected
images, the programmers are less likely to create images, which are non-harmonious
with advertising campaigns or the like developed by the central office 12. The attendants
may also create their own images and templates. A conventional digital camera could
be used for example to upload images into the memory module 48 for later use by a
template 50. Text can be entered through the use of a conventional keyboard or the
like.
[0024] The images may be digital pictures or sketches of items as desired. Appropriate formats
include, but are not limited to TIFF, BMP, DXF, DWG, GIF, EMF, WMF, PDF, JPEG, CDR
or the like. Since it is highly likely that any fixed field will be filled with a
commonly used image, most fixed fields can be filled with these preprogrammed images.
If the answer to block 212 is no, or all of the fixed fields have been assigned, the
software asks if enough templates have been created (block 216). If the answer is
yes, then the subroutine for template creation ends (block 218). If the answer is
no, then template creation resumes at block 200.
[0025] In one embodiment, the templates 50 are created at the central computer 14 and transmitted
to the fuel station computer 18 over the network 16. In another embodiment, the templates
50 are created at the fuel station 20, and more particularly on the fuel station computer
18. As a result, the templates 50 could initially be resident in the memory of computer
14 or of computer 18. The templates 50 must be further programmed to form slides.
This step to can be performed at either the central office 12 or the fuel station
computer 18, so the templates 50 must be passed to the slide programmer (block 102,
Figure 8) wherever he or she may be located. It is also possible that the template
creation software could be distinct from the slide creation software discussed below.
[0026] The next step in the process is the creation of the slides (block 104). The creation
of slides will be better understood upon reference to Figure 10. The slide programmer
selects a template to turn into a slide (block 250). Each non-fixed field should be
filled. It is preferred to fill to relatively static fields first (block 252). The
software 42 asks if the memory module has the desired image (block 254). If the answer
is yes, or the particular field is text, then the programmer provides a link to the
appropriate image or types in the appropriate text (block 256). If the answer to block
254 is no, then the software 42 invites the programmer to create an image (block 258).
This may be done with a digital camera, an appropriate art program or the like as
desired. As noted above, the software 42 is preferably configured to accept a number
of different formats. Once created, the image is stored in memory (block 260).
[0027] With the relatively static field filled, the software 42 asks if that was the last
relatively static field (block 262). If not, the process repeats until a yes is returned
at block 262. When a yes is returned, the software 42 then causes the dynamic fields
to be linked to a source of information which updates the dynamic field either periodically
or continuously (block 264). That is, the computer 14 could provide instructions so
that the computer 18 would poll a thermometer for temperature readings, or log on
to the Internet to get a weather report or the like as desired or needed. Other arrangements
can be made for the computer 14 to poll a remote source as needed or desired and pass
this information to the local computer 18, but such is not preferred. The software
42 queries whether the last dynamic field has been linked (block 266). If not, the
process repeats. If yes, then the process ends (block 268).
[0028] The slide programmer can program as many slides as he or she sees fit. It should
be noted that a particular template 50 can be used multiple times to create different
slides through the substitution of different images, text or dynamic links into the
appropriate fields 51. Returning now to Figure 8, with a number of slides created,
the programmer can now create slide shows (block 106).
[0029] The creation of slide shows is better understood by reference to Figure 11, where
block 106 is expanded. The number of slides in the show is selected, and optionally
a total run time T (block 300). A slide is selected (block 302) and assigned to a
slot within the slide show (block 304). Each slide is preferably given a display time
(block 306) which corresponds to t
n. The parameters can be varied between the slides. For example, one slide may be shown
for thirty seconds, and one for fifteen seconds. The software 42 subsequently asks
if this is the last slide in the show (block 308). If not, the process repeats. If
yes, the process ends (block 310). Figure 7, described above, shows a completed slide
show 90 with the slides inserted into the appropriate slots. It should be appreciated
that the slide show creation can be a distinct program from the slide creation program,
but such is not preferred.
[0030] Slide shows are preferably customized to run at distinct times during the day as
will be explained further below. The programmer having completed the slide show, assigns
it a time slot within the day (block 108, Figure 8). If only one slide show is to
be shown, it is acceptable for the time slot to be the entire day, or some fraction
thereof.
The central computer 14 may create the actual slide show. This is appropriate where
a central office 12 wishes to make a plurality of fuel stations 20 present the same
slide shows. Once the slide show is created at the central computer 14, it may be
downloaded to a plurality of fuel stations 20 for display on the dispensers 30 (block
110). Once at the fuel station 20, the slide show is downloaded or sent to the dispensers
30 for the viewing by the customer (block 112).
[0031] In another embodiment, the templates 50 are downloaded from the central computer
14 and then selected and programmed into slides and slide shows at the fuel station
computer 18. Again, as noted above, the non-fixed fields must be programmed to have
content. Images and/or text are assigned to the relatively stationary fields and links
are provided for the dynamic fields from which information can be retrieved in approximately
real time fashion. Where the dynamic fields are related to things outside the control
of the attendants, for example weather bulletins, the fuel station computer 18 could
be programmed to retrieve the desired information from an appropriate source through
the Internet or the like as needed. Allowing the fuel station 20 to select the templates
50 and fill the templates 50 to create slides allows the fuel station to customize
sales or sell regional specialties without the central computer 14 having to create
unique slide shows for each fuel station.
[0032] The slide show, regardless of its creation site may be stored in the memory 25 of
the fuel dispenser 30 and called up by the control system 23. Alternatively, the computer
18 may store the slide show and download to the fuel dispenser 22 at any desired time.
In this case, the control system 23 acts to pass the slide show through to the display
40. Still a third option would be to store the slide shows at the central computer
14 and broadcast the slide shows to the computers 18 via the network 16. The last
alternative is not preferred due to the demands such an arrangement would place on
the network 16, but is possible.
[0033] The slide show is preferably programmed to show on the visual display 40 while a
customer dispenses fuel through the hose 34 and the nozzle 32. That is, the slide
show begins when the customer begins dispensing fuel and ends when the nozzle 32 is
returned to its rest. Alternatively, the slide show may begin when the customer finishes
the fueling transaction, and end when the customer begins a fueling transaction. Still
another embodiment would allow the slide show to run continuously regardless of the
beginning or ending of a fueling transaction. This aspect may be controlled through
the appropriate programming.
[0034] Parameters may also be varied between fuel dispensers. This may be appropriate where
slide shows are directed at different audiences. For example, dispensing fuel to a
car is quicker than dispensing fuel to a tractor-trailer so the shows may be much
quicker for the car. Additionally, different items may be displayed at a diesel-only
dispenser as opposed to a fueloline-only dispenser. For example, a CB might be advertised
to a trucker at a dedicated diesel dispenser, but not a minivan at a fueloline-only
dispenser.
[0035] As noted above, another aspect of the present invention is that the slide shows could
change with the time of the day. For example, the fuel station computer 18 or the
central computer 14 could instruct the fuel dispensers 30 to switch between slide
shows at certain times. Thus, a morning slide show could feature templates directed
towards traffic reports, breakfast menu items available in the fuel station building
and a weather report for the day. Later, the slide show could change to focus on snacks,
drinks and road conditions or the like. An evening slide show could include templates
directed towards traffic reports, tomorrow's weather forecast and other menu items
more appropriate to the evening hours. There are preferably at least three, and more
preferably four slide shows, each of five templates 50 which rotate throughout the
day automatically, eliminating the need for an attendant to reprogram the computer
18. The preferred show times are from 6 AM to 10 AM; 10 AM to 2 PM; 2 PM to 12 AM
and 12 AM to 6 AM, representing a morning show, a lunch show, an afternoon/evening
show and a late night show. Variations in the times are within the scope of the present
invention. This corresponds to block 112 in Figure 8.
[0036] The station may also be given a level of control that allows the operator to enable
or disable the slide show at will. This "on-the-fly" feature would enable the operator
to temporarily disable the presentation of the show. In the event that an advertised
item is no longer available because it is sold out, this option prevents customer
confusion or misunderstandings.
[0037] In contrast to the prior art scrolling messages, the present invention allows slide
shows to automatically change with the time of day according to a predetermined schedule.
Furthermore, the slide shows are not intended to perform the financial transactions,
rather they are designed to induce customers to enter the fuel station building and
be exposed to impulse items.
[0038] As used in the appended claims, the word "a" does not imply a singular entity, but
rather means "at least one".
[0039] The present invention may, of course, be carried out in other specific ways than
those herein set forth without departing from the spirit and essential characteristics
of the invention. The present embodiments are therefore, to be considered in all respects
as illustrative and not restrictive, and all modifications within the scope of the
appended claims are intended to be embraced therein.
1. A product dispensing system comprising a product dispenser (30) configured to display
an electronic slide show, said product dispenser comprising:
a) a product delivery system configured to deliver product to a customer;
b) a display (40), said display positioned on said dispenser (30); and
c) a control system (23) configured to control said product delivery system and show
an electronic slide show on said display, said slide show formed from a plurality
of slides, each of said slides formed from at least one template (50).
2. The system of claim 1 wherein said at least one template (50) includes at least on
Field (51).
3. The fuel dispenser of claim 1 or 2 wherein said at least one template includes a plurality
of electronic fields (51).
4. The system of claim 3 wherein said fields (51) are arranged on said template for aesthetic
appearance.
5. The system of claim 2, 3 or 4 wherein at least one field is selected from the group
of fields comprising: fixed, relatively static and dynamic.
6. The system of claim 5 wherein said control system (23)is configured to gather information
for said dynamic field.
7. The system of claim 5 wherein said control system (23) provides real time updates
for said dynamic field.
8. The system of claim 6 or 7 wherein said control system updates said dynamic field
in between showings of the slide containing the dynamic field.
9. The system of claim 5, 6, 7 or 8 wherein said fixed field is filled during the construction
of said at least one template (50).
10. The system of claim 5, 6, 7 , 8 or 9 wherein said relatively static field is filled
during the construction of said slide.
11. The system of any one of claims 6 to 10 wherein said dynamic field s filled during
the construction of said slide.
12. The system of any preceding claim wherein said slides are formed from a plurality
of templates (50).
13. The system of any preceding claim wherein said slides are shown sequentially.
14. The system of claim 13 wherein each slide is to be programmed with a display time
corresponding to the length of time the slide s shown on said display.
15. The system of claim 14 wherein said display times are non-uniform.
16. The system of any preceding claim wherein said control system is adapted to show a
plurality of slide shows.
17. The system of claim 16 wherein each of said plurality of slide shows is shown for
a period of time during a twenty-four hour period.
18. The system of any preceding claim wherein said slide show begins at the beginning
of a dispensing operation.
19. The system of any one of claims 1 to 17 wherein said slide show begins when a customer
completes a dispensing operation.
20. The system of any one of claims 1 to 17 wherein said slide show is shown continuously.
21. The system of any preceding claim wherein said control system (23) is located within
said product dispenser (30).
22. The system of any one of claims 1 to 20 wherein said control system transmits said
slide show to said display from a source remote from the dispenser.
23. The system of any preceding claim for dispensing fuel, wherein said product dispenser
is a fuel dispenser (30).
24. A method of creating a template for a slide suitable for use in the slide show of
the product dispensing system of any preceding claim, said method comprising the steps
of:
a) creating a template data file;
b) creating at least one field in said template data file; and
c) storing said template data file in memory for later retrieval to create a slide
therefrom.
25. The method of claim 24 wherein creating at least one field in said template data file
comprises the step of positioning a field within an associated visual display of the
template data file.
26. The method of claim 24 or 25 wherein creating at least one field in said template
data file comprises the step of sizing a field within an associated visual display
of the template data file.
27. The method of any one of claims 24 to 26 further comprising the step of creating a
plurality of fields within said template data file.
28. A method of creating slides for use in a slide show run of the product dispensing
system of any one of claims 1 to 23, said method comprising the steps of:
a) receiving at least one template data file including a plurality of fields, different
ones of said fields selected from the group comprising: relatively stationary and
dynamic;
b) filling said fields; and
c) storing said filled template as a slide distinct from said template, said slide
configured to be assembled into a slide show for display on a product dispenser.
29. The method of claim 28 wherein filling said fields comprises the step of assigning
a link to any existing dynamic field.
30. The method of claim 28 wherein filling said fields comprises the step of assigning
to any existing relatively stationary fields, data selected from the group comprising:
text and images.
31. A computer readable medium containing software adapted to implement the method of
any one of claims 24 to 30.
32. A medium as claimed in claim 31 wherein a said software is adapted to accept a user
input to:
a) define a template data file having an associated visual output;
b) create a field within said template; and
c) export said data file for creation of slides for use in a fuel dispenser.
33. The computer readable medium of claim 32 wherein said software is further adapted
to accept a user input to assign a location to said field within said associated visual
output.
34. The computer readable medium of claim 32 or 33 wherein said software is further adapted
to accept a user input to create a plurality of fields within said template.
35. The computer readable medium of any one of claims 32 to 34 wherein said fixed fields
are filled prior to export said data file.
36. A computer readable medium as claimed in claim 31 including software adapted to accept
user input to:
a) Receive a plurality of slide data files;
b) Arranged a subset of said plurality of slide data files into a selected order;
c) Define display times associated with each of said slides in said subset; and
d) Save the arrangement as a slide show adapted to be shown on a product dispenser.