(57) 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.
|
|
