F0RM 2
THE PATENTS ACT, 1970
(39 of 1970)
&
The Patents Rules, 2003
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION
(See section 10; rule 13)
1. Title of the invention - INTEGRATION OF ATTENDANT TAG READER
WITH FUEL DISPENSER SYSTEM


2. Applicant(s)-
(a) NAME:
(b) NATIONALITY:
(c) ADDRESS:

LARSEN & TOUBRO LIMITED
An Indian Company.
L & T House, Ballard Estate, Mumbai 400 001, State of Maharashtra, India

3. PREAMBLE TO THE DESCRIPTION
The following specification particularly describes the invention and the manner in which it is to be performed:


FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to integration of attendant tag reader with fuel dispenser system. More particularly, the invention relates to an integrated automated system whereby pump unit is integrated with attendant tag reader so as to eliminate the use of forecourt controller in fuel dispensing systems thereby making the system compact and cost effective.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Attendant Tagging is a kind of automation required to authorize dispenser in attendant forecourt operation. This system provides absolutely full control over the activity of attendants on the forecourt and virtually eliminates fraud. Hence attendant tagging that was in the realms of Forecourt Controller.
In figure 1 shows the existing system in which the Dispenser and Tag Reader (2) is connected ' to the FCC (Forecourt Controller)/BOS (3) (Back office system) individually. All the attendant configuration details are in FCC only. After lifting the nozzle, pump unit (1) requests for the authorization from FCC (3) . When attendant shows the tag to the tag reader (2), if it is valid Attendant ID after verifying by FCC, FCC sends the authorization to the pump. Then attendant can start dispensing.


Here in a Block diagram (Figure 1), it clearly shown that there is no connection between the pump and Tag Reader. Tag Reader related all the details are stored in the FCC/BOS. For changing (adding or deleting) attendant IDs, Attendant shift schedule etc. configured through FCC only not from the pump side.
The disadvantage of the above-mentioned system is that the pump, tag reader and the FCC/BOS are all separately placed. Thus there is a use of unnecessary extra box or pedestal for tag reader and extra system is FCC/BOS is needed store the attendant data. Lengthy cables are required for the assembly of the above-mentioned unit hence the probability of failure increases and the cost of the unit is high. Attendant tagging is not done within the pump; separate system is used for the purpose.
Thus there is a need to provide an integrated automated system which would provide simple solution, eliminate the use of the extra box/pedestal i.e. tag reader and the extra unit i.e. FCC/BOS, is cost effective, offers full control from the dispenser side, removal of attendant sales inconsistency and fraud elimination.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
The basic object of the invention is to overcome the disadvantages of the prior art.


One of the objects of the present invention is to provide an integrated automated system, which has attendant tagging facility within the fuel dispenser.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an integrated automated system which would be cost effective and eliminate fraud.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a unique integration of tag reader within pump unit.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide tag authorization from pump itself.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An automated system for authorizing fuel dispenser during
Forecourt operation such that use of forecourt controller
in fuel dispensing system is eliminated, said system
comprising,
pumping unit;
a tag reader integrated with said pumping unit adapted
for authorizing tags;
a controller connected with said tag reader and plurality
of other dispenser modules means for controlling
activities of said fuel dispenser.


DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Attendant Tagging, which was in the realms of Forecourt Controller, has been brought into the realms of Fuel Dispensers with this invention, eliminating the need of Forecourt Controller.
Use of Attendant Tagging specific to fuel dispenser: Attendant Tagging is a kind of automation required to authorize dispenser in attendant Forecourt operation. This system provides absolutely full control over the activity of attendants on the forecourt and virtually eliminates fraud.
Attendant Tagging within pump means no external device (Like extra box for Tag Reader or FCC-Forecourt controller) is required for this. Tag Reader mounted on the top box of the pump itself and everything related this attendant tagging application can be configured from Dispenser side.
The automated system of the present invention for using fuel dispensing comprises a pumping unit, a tag reader and a controller. The tag reader integrated with said pumping unit is adapted for authorizing tags and is operatively connected to the controller. The controller is further connected with other dispenser modules for controlling activities of said fuel dispenser.


In the present invention FCC/BOS is not required. The authorizations form the pump itself. Also any extra box/pedestal is not required for Tag Reader. It can be mounted within the pump on the Top Box itself. As there is no need of any FCC/BOS, so cabling from Pump to FCC and FCC to Tag Reader is also not required.
According to one embodiment tag reader is not any extra device; it is a dispenser module like others (flow meter, I/O card, display, keypad etc). All the modules are connected to the controller. It can configure all the details related to Attendants from the pump side. After lifting the nozzle, when attendant shows the tag to the Tag Reader, if that particular Attendant ID matches with the registered Ids, controller sends the authorization. Then dispensing can be started. The shift can open or close as per requirements. The activities of attendants on the Forecourt can be controlled. The Attendant shift totals (transaction details of a particular Attendant of that particular shift) are easy to available. In such way virtual frauds can eliminate.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS
Figure 1 illustrates Block Diagram of the prior art
Figure 2 illustrates Block Diagram of the present invention


Figure 3 illustrates General architecture of pump with respect to the present invention
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS
Referring to figure 1 pump unit (1) and Tag Reader (2) is connected to the FCC (Forecourt Controller)/BOS (Back office system) (3) individually. All the attendant configuration details are in FCC only. After lifting the nozzle, pump requests for the authorization from FCC. Attendant shows the tag to the tag reader, if it is valid Attendant ID after verifying by FCC, FCC sends the authorization to the pump. Then attendant can start dispensing.
From figure 1 it can be clearly seen that there is no connection between the pump and Tag Reader. Tag Reader related all the details are stored in the FCC/BOS. For changing (adding/deleting) attendant Ids, Attendant shift schedule etc. can be configured through FCC only not from the pump side.
Referring to figure 2 FCC/BOS is not required for authorization. The authorization is received form the pump unit (1) itself. Also any extra box/pedestal is not required for Tag Reader (2). It can be mounted within the pump on the Top Box itself. As there is no need of any FCC/BOS, so cabling from Pump to FCC and FCC to Tag Reader is also not required.


Referring to figure 3
Flow meter (5) : used for measuring the flow by counting
the pulse and it is based on optical principle.
I/O card (6): used for controlling the motors and
solenoids.
Keypad (7) : is an user interface to operate the
dispenser.
Display (8): used to show the dispensed volume and value.
Controller (4): controls all the dispenser modules.
Advantages:
1. Reducing Cost:
There are no needs of:
(i) Extra box or pedestal for Tag reader; (ii) FCC (Forecourt controller)/BOS/POS; (iii) Communication cabling between Pump and FCC or Tag Reader and FCC.
2. Attendant sales reconciliation: Shift can be opened or closed as per requirements and easily can get attendant's shift report (sales/transaction details, shift totals) .
3. Full control form pump side: No FCC is required for authorization. Tag Reader can configure from pump side only. All the Tag reader related data (i.e. vehicle registration no, attendant ID) can be stored in the dispenser side controller.
4. Fraud elimination: The fu]] control over the activities of attendants by checking the attendant shift report (when the shift is opened n closed and how much fuel has been dispensed throughout the shift).

WE CLAIM
1. An automated system for authorizing fuel dispenser during Forecourt operation such that use of forecourt controller in fuel dispensing system is eliminated, said system comprising pumping unit;
a tag reader integrated with said pumping unit adapted for authorizing tags;
a controller connected with said tag reader and plurality of other dispenser modules means for controlling activities of said fuel dispenser.
2. System as claimed in claim 1 wherein said tag reader adapted to authorize pumping unit during forecourt operation.
3. System as claimed in claim 1 wherein tag reader said is mounted on top box of the said pump unit.
4. System as claimed in claim 1 wherein said dispenser module comprises flow meter adapted for measuring the flow by counting pulse and it is based on optical principle.
5. System as claimed in claim 1 wherein said dispenser module comprises I/O card for controlling the motors and solenoids.


System as claimed in claim 1 wherein said dispenser module comprises keypad as user interface to operate the said fuel dispenser.
System as claimed in claim 1 wherein said dispenser module further comprises display means to show dispensed volume and value of fuel.
An automated system for authorizing fuel dispenser during Forecourt operation as substantially described hereinbefore with reference to accompanying drawings.