System and Method for Generating Price-Per-Unit (PPU) Discounts for Fuel

Abstract

A fuel rewards program wherein awards received from the purchase of discount-triggering items at a first transaction are redeemed for a price-per-unit (PPU) discount on fuel. A scanner scans product codes and inputs the information to a POS system through a comparator such that a product may be determined to be a discount-triggering item. Information regarding the discount-triggering item is first stored in a potential buffer. A rewards process processes the information in the potential buffer and stores that information in a filtered potential buffer. A potential file accumulates basic information about one or more transactions. A purchase buffer stores all of the information, which is ultimately printed on a cash register receipt. The receipt may be scanned at a fuel dispenser to begin the redemption of the PPU discount on the fuel.

1 . A computer-implemented method of generating a discount-per-gallon for fuel in exchange for the purchase of one or more discount-triggering items during an initial purchase transaction by a customer, said method comprising:
 discriminating the discount-triggering items from non-discount-triggering items in a purchase of multiple items during the initial purchase transaction, each of the discount-triggering items having a unique code associated therewith and an associated discount-per-gallon;   grouping the discount-triggering items in bundles, each bundle comprised of all of the discount-triggering items having the same unique code such that there is provided a bundle for each of the unique codes present in the initial purchase transaction, and wherein each bundle has an associated total bundle discount-per-gallon;   summing the total bundle discounts-per-gallon for all of the bundles to provide a total discount-per-gallon associated with the initial purchase transaction; and   applying the total discount-per-gallon in a subsequent purchase transaction for fuel by the customer.   
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of grouping includes filtering the discount-triggering items such that if the quantity of discount-triggering items purchased is less than a predefined minimum quantity for each of the unique codes, the bundle is not created. 
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of grouping includes filtering the discount-triggering items such that the number of discount-triggering items in any of the bundles is limited to a maximum number. 
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of summing the total bundle discounts-per-gallon includes limiting the total discount-per-gallon to a maximum value. 
   
   
       5 . A computerized system for generating a discount-per-gallon for fuel in exchange for the purchase of one or more discount-triggering items during an initial purchase transaction by a customer, said system comprising:
 means for discriminating the discount-triggering items from non-discount-triggering items in a purchase of multiple items during the initial purchase transaction, each of the discount-triggering items having a unique code associated therewith and an associated discount-per-gallon;   means for grouping the discount-triggering items in bundles, each bundle comprised of all of the discount-triggering items having the same unique code such that there is provided a bundle for each of the unique codes present in the initial purchase transaction, and wherein each bundle has an associated total bundle discount-per-gallon;   means for summing the total bundle discounts-per-gallon for all of the bundles to provide a total discount-per-gallon associated with the initial purchase transaction; and   means for applying the total discount-per-gallon in a subsequent purchase transaction for fuel by the customer.   
   
   
       6 . A computer-implemented method of generating a discount-per-gallon for fuel in exchange for the purchase of one or more discount-triggering items during an initial purchase transaction by a customer, said method comprising:
 identifying the discount-triggering items in the initial purchase transaction, each of the discount-triggering items having a unique code associated therewith and an associated discount-per-gallon;   grouping the discount-triggering items in bundles, each bundle comprising one or more discount-triggering items having the same unique code, each bundle having an associated total bundle discount-per-gallon; and   generating a total discount-per-gallon for the fuel based on the total bundle discounts-per-gallon, the total discount-per-gallon representing a credit available for use in a subsequent purchase transaction for fuel by the customer.   
   
   
       7 . A computer-implemented method of providing a discount-per-gallon for fuel to a customer who purchases a threshold amount of goods or services, said method comprising:
 awarding a discount-per-gallon for the fuel to the customer in response to a purchase by the customer of at least the threshold amount of goods or services;   storing the discount-per-gallon in a discount database;   receiving by a fueling station controller, an indication that the customer has initiated a subsequent purchase of fuel, said indication including an identifier associated with the discount stored in the discount database;   retrieving by the fueling station controller, the discount-per-gallon from the discount database;   dispensing a number of units of fuel to the customer at a posted price-per-gallon to determine a preliminary cost of the fuel;   calculating a financial discount by multiplying the discount-per-gallon by the number of units of fuel dispensed; and   reducing the preliminary cost by the calculated financial discount to determine a final cost of the fuel.   
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the step of awarding a discount-per-gallon for the fuel to the customer in response to a purchase by the customer of at least the threshold amount of goods or services includes awarding the discount-per-gallon in response to a purchase by the customer of at least the threshold amount of goods or services in a single shopping trip. 
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the step of awarding a discount-per-gallon for the fuel to the customer in response to a purchase by the customer of at least the threshold amount of goods or services includes the steps of:
 calculating a cumulative total of purchases by the customer over a period of time; and   awarding the discount-per-gallon when the cumulative total of purchases is at least the threshold amount of goods or services.   
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the step of calculating a cumulative total of purchases includes calculating a cumulative total of purchases by the customer at a plurality of merchants different from the fueling station, each of said merchants and said fueling station having a cross-marketing agreement for the discounted sale of fuel in exchange for the customer purchasing goods or services from the merchant. 
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the step of awarding a discount-per-gallon for the fuel to the customer in response to a purchase by the customer of at least the threshold amount of goods or services includes awarding the discount-per-gallon in response to a purchase by the customer of at least the threshold amount of goods or services of a specified type. 
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the steps of awarding and storing the discount-per-gallon are performed by a processor associated with a point-of-sale (POS) system at the fueling station. 
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the steps of awarding and storing the discount-per-gallon are performed by a processor associated with a point-of-sale (POS) system at a merchant different from the fueling station, said merchant and said fueling station having a cross-marketing agreement for the discounted sale of fuel in exchange for the customer purchasing at least the threshold amount of goods and services from the merchant. 
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the step of awarding a discount-per-gallon for the fuel to the customer in response to a purchase by the customer of at least the threshold amount of goods or services includes awarding the discount-per-gallon in response to a purchase by the customer of at least the threshold amount of goods or services from a specified department of the merchant. 
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of applying the total discount-per-gallon in a subsequent purchase transaction for fuel by the customer includes:
 dispensing a number of units of fuel to the customer at a posted price-per-gallon to determine a preliminary cost of the fuel;   calculating a financial discount by multiplying the total discount-per-gallon times the number of units of fuel dispensed; and   reducing the preliminary cost by the calculated financial discount to determine a final cost of the fuel.   
   
   
       16 . The method of claim  15 , wherein the step of calculating a financial discount includes limiting the number of units of fuel to which the total discount-per-gallon is applied so that a maximum allowed financial discount is not exceeded. 
   
   
       17 . A computer-implemented method of generating a discount for fuel in exchange for the purchase of one or more discount-triggering items by a customer, the method comprising:
 associating a financial discount with each of the discount-triggering items purchased by the customer;   summing the financial discounts associated with each of the discount-triggering items purchased by the customer to determine a total financial discount;   associating the total financial discount with an identifier;   storing the total financial discount and the identifier in a database; and   in a subsequent purchase of fuel by the customer:
 retrieving the total financial discount from the database utilizing the identifier; 
 calculating a preliminary cost of the fuel by multiplying a number of units of fuel purchased times a posted price-per-gallon; 
 calculating a final cost of the fuel by subtracting the total financial discount from the preliminary cost of the fuel; 
 calculating a discount-per-gallon by dividing the total financial discount by the number of units of fuel purchased; and 
 informing the customer of the final cost of the fuel and the calculated discount-per-gallon achieved as a result of the customer's purchase of the discount-triggering items. 
   
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising informing the customer of the total financial discount.