Fuel dispenser commerce

Abstract

Systems and processes may provide for commerce at a fuel dispenser. In one general aspect, a system and process at a fuel dispenser may have the ability to present a user interface including data regarding at least one merchant remote from the fuel dispenser's fueling facility and to determine if ordering data corresponding to the remote merchant has been received. If ordering data corresponding to the remote merchant has been received, the system and process may have the ability to present a user interface regarding payment data. The system and process may also have the ability to determine if payment data has been received and, if payment data has been received, generate a message regarding the ordering data for a remote merchant computer.

1 . A method of coordinating fuel dispenser operations, the method comprising:
 identifying an operation that is to be performed by at least one of a plurality of fuel dispensers in electronic communication with one another;   determining whether only one of the plurality of fuel dispensers is to perform the operation or whether two or more of the plurality of fuel dispensers are to perform the operation;   in response to determining that only one of the fuel dispensers is to perform the operation, causing the one of the fuel dispensers to perform the operation; and   in response to determining that two or more of the fuel dispensers are to perform the operation, coordinating timing of the performance of the operation by the two of more fuel dispensers.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of fuel dispensers is in electronic communication with a central controller during normal operation of the fuel dispensers and is out of electronic communication with the central controller during abnormal operation of the fuel dispensers, the causing and the coordinating occurring regardless of whether the fuel dispensers are in normal operation or are in abnormal operation. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein when the fuel dispensers are in abnormal operation, the fuel dispensers are configured to electronically communicate with one another using a local communication link that is not routed through the central controller; and
 when the fuel dispensers are in normal operation, the fuel dispensers are configured to electronically communicate with one another using the local communication link and are configured to electronically communicate with one another using a second communication link that is routed through the central controller.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein determining whether only one of the plurality of fuel dispensers is to perform the operation or whether two or more of the plurality of fuel dispensers are to perform the operation includes identifying which of the plurality of fuel dispensers have been pre-identified as being required to perform coordinated operations with the first fuel dispenser. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein determining whether only one of the plurality of fuel dispensers is to perform the operation or whether two or more of the plurality of fuel dispensers are to perform the operation includes evaluating current operational conditions of the fuel dispensers. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein determining whether only one of the plurality of fuel dispensers is to perform the operation or whether two or more of the plurality of fuel dispensers are to perform the operation includes identifying which one or more of the plurality of fuel dispensers are idle and selecting the one or more idle fuel dispensers to perform the operation. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein identifying that the operation is to be performed at only one of the fuel dispensers includes one of receiving an input signal at only one of the fuel dispensers, receiving input from a sensor, and receiving a request from one of the plurality of fuel dispensers. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein coordinating the timing includes attempting to perform the operation at the only one of the fuel dispensers and subsequently attempting to perform the operation at another one of the plurality of fuel dispensers. 
     
     
         9 . A fuel dispensing system, comprising:
 a plurality of fuel dispensers each configured to be in electronic communication with one another via a first communication link;   a network hub configured to be in electronic communication with the plurality of fuel dispensers via the first communication link; and   a controller configured to be in electronic communication with the network hub, the controller being configured to be in electronic communication with a remote network via a second communication link, the controller being configured to coordinate operation of the plurality of fuel dispensers by transmitting messages to and receiving messages from the plurality of fuel dispensers via the network hub and the first communication link, the first communication link being configured to allow the fuel dispensers to communicate with one another regardless of whether an error has occurred preventing communication between the central controller and the plurality of fuel dispensers via the network hub.   
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the plurality of fuel dispensers are each configured to be removed from being in electronic communication with the network hub, and at least one additional fuel dispenser is configured to added to the system to be in electronic communication with the network hub and the other fuel dispensers via the first communication link, the added at least one additional fuel dispenser becoming part of the plurality of fuel dispensers without interrupting communication to or from the central controller via the second communication link and without interrupting communication between the network hub and the plurality of dispensers via the first communication link.