U.S. patent application number 10/162026 was filed with the patent office on 2003-03-20 for system for delivering web content to fuel dispenser.
Invention is credited to Dodson, Dave.
Application Number | 20030055530 10/162026 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 23140591 |
Filed Date | 2003-03-20 |
United States Patent
Application |
20030055530 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Dodson, Dave |
March 20, 2003 |
System for delivering web content to fuel dispenser
Abstract
A system implements a communications protocol in connection with
a refueling environment coupled to a remote facility. The remote
facility is disposed apart from the fuel dispenser locations and is
connected to a network such as the World Wide Web of the Internet.
Regarding a customer at one of the fuel dispenser locations, a user
identification such as credit card account information is sent to
the remote facility. The remote facility then establishes an access
connection with a network node such as a server, on behalf of the
customer. The network communications follow a client-server session
format and are correlated to the user ID. The remote facility sends
a cookie element to the server that was previously set by the
server during an initial Web site visit. The cookie contains state
information such as a unique identification number generated by the
server. The remote facility associates the unique identification
number with the relevant user ID. The server uses the received
cookie element to identify the corresponding user profile record
maintained at the server side. The server generates customized
content from the retrieved user profile record and sends it to the
customer.
Inventors: |
Dodson, Dave; (Virginia
Beach, VA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
RANDALL J. KNUTH, P.C.
3510-A Stellhorn Road
Fort Wayne
IN
46815-4631
US
|
Family ID: |
23140591 |
Appl. No.: |
10/162026 |
Filed: |
June 4, 2002 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60296097 |
Jun 5, 2001 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
700/231 ;
700/237; 700/244 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G07F 9/02 20130101; G06Q
20/202 20130101; G06Q 30/02 20130101; G07F 13/025 20130101; G06F
16/958 20190101; G06Q 20/18 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
700/231 ;
700/244; 700/237 |
International
Class: |
G06F 017/00 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A system for use with a network comprising at least one
resource, said system comprising: a refueling environment capable
of servicing at least one user; a remote facility disposed apart
from the refueling environment; said remote facility being
configured to execute operational functions comprising: receiving a
user identification from the refueling environment, providing state
information associated with the user identification, and sending
the state information associated with the user identification from
the remote facility to a selective one of the at least one resource
in said network.
2. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the selective one
network resource being configured to execute operational functions
comprising: directing customized resource content from the
selective one network resource to the refueling environment, the
customized resource content being developed by the selective one
network resource using the state information received from the
remote facility.
3. The system as recited in claim 2, wherein the selective one
network resource further comprises: a means for developing the
customized resource content, said content development means being
configured to operatively perform the following operations:
retrieving user profile data corresponding to the user
identification, the retrieval operation using the state information
received from the remote facility to identify the user profile
data, the user profile data being maintained by the selective one
network resource, and generating content using the retrieved user
profile data.
4. The system as recited in claim 2, wherein the delivery of
customized resource content from the selective one network resource
to the refueling environment occurs via the remote facility.
5. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein at least one network
resource respectively further comprises: a data structure
comprising a plurality of user data records each indexed with a
respective state information element; a means for retrieving a user
data record from the data structure, using state information
operatively received from the remote facility as an identifier; a
means for generating content, using the retrieved user data record;
and a means for communicating the generated content from the
respective network resource to the refueling environment.
6. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein said remote facility
being configured further to execute operational functions
comprising: sending a resource request from the remote facility to
the selective one network resource.
7. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein at least one network
resource being respectively configured to execute operational
functions comprising: prompting the remote facility for state
information, in response to a resource request received from the
remote facility, the resource request being associated with a
respective user identification; and generating and sending state
information to the remote facility, in response to an indication
received from the remote facility responsive to the state
information prompt that no state information exists relative to the
respective user identification associated therewith.
8. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the state information
includes a cookie.
9. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the user
identification comprises at least one of credit card information,
biometric data, bar code data, phone number data, and name
data.
10. A system for use with a network comprising at least one
resource, said system comprising: a refueling environment capable
of servicing at least one user; a remote facility disposed apart
from the refueling environment; said remote facility being
configured to execute operational functions comprising: receiving
at least one user identification from the refueling environment,
sending at least one respective request for information from said
remote facility to said network, each information request being
associated with a respective user identification and being directed
to a respective selective network resource, and sending at least
one state object communication from said remote facility to said
network, each state object communication being associated with a
respective user identification and being directed to the respective
selective network resource associated therewith, each state object
communication being responsive to a respective state information
request issued by the respective selective network resource
associated therewith, each state object communication including
respective state information associated with the respective user
identification associated therewith.
11. The system as recited in claim 10, wherein each respective
selective network resource being configured to execute operational
functions comprising: generating content according to a user
profile maintained by the respective selective network resource,
the user profile being identified by the respective state
information communicated from the remote facility, and directing
the generated content from the respective selective network
resource to said refueling environment.
12. The system as recited in claim 10, wherein: at least one
network resource being configured to operatively execute the
following operations: generating state information, responsive to
an indication received from said remote facility that no state
information is present relative to a respective user
identification, and sending the generated state information to said
remote facility; and said remote facility being configured to
execute operational functions comprising: associating the state
information received from the respective network resource with the
respective user identification.
13. The system as recited in claim 10, wherein the state
information includes a cookie.
14. The system as recited in claim 10, wherein the user
identification comprises at least one of credit card information,
biometric data, bar code data, phone number data, and name
data.
15. A system for use with a network comprising at least one node,
said system comprising: a refueling environment comprising a
plurality of fuel dispenser sites, said refueling environment being
capable of servicing at least one user; a central facility disposed
apart from at least one fuel dispenser site; said refueling
environment being configured to selectively operatively communicate
at least one user identification from said refueling environment to
said central facility, each communicated user identification being
associated with a respective user of a respective fuel dispenser
site; said central facility comprising: a means to provide at least
one respective state object in association with each respective
user identification, and a means, responsive to at least one
respective user identification, for directing a respective
communication from said central facility to a respective node in
said network, the respective communication including at least one
respective state object associated with the respective user
identification.
16. The system as recited in claim 15, wherein at least one
respective network node further comprises: a means for generating
customized content, the content being developed using a respective
state object communication received by the respective one network
node from said central facility; and a means for directing the
generated content to a respective fuel dispenser site corresponding
to the respective user having the respective user identification
associated with the respective state object communication.
17. The system as recited in claim 16, wherein the respective
generation means of each respective one network node further
comprises: a means for retrieving respective user profile data
corresponding to the respective user identification associated with
the respective state object communication received by the
respective one network node from said central facility, the
retrieval operation using the respective state object communication
received from said central facility to identify the respective user
profile data, the user profile data being accessible to the
respective one network node, and a means for providing content
using the retrieved user profile data.
18. The system as recited in claim 15, wherein said central
facility further comprises: a means for generating and sending at
least one request for information from said central facility to
said network, each information request being associated with a
respective user identification and being directed to a respective
network node; and a means for generating and sending at least one
reply communication from said central facility to said network,
each reply communication being responsive to a respective state
object request sent thereto by a respective network node and being
directed to the respective network node, each respective reply
communication including at least one state object associated with
the respective user identification.
19. The system as recited in claim 15, wherein: said central
facility further comprises: a means for directing at least one
respective communication from said central facility to a respective
fuel dispenser site, each respective communication being associated
with a respective user identification of a corresponding user of
the respective fuel dispenser site, at least one central facility
communication including at least one state object associated with
the respective user identification; and said refueling environment
further comprises: a means for directing at least one respective
communication from a respective corresponding fuel dispenser site
to a respective node in said network, at least one fuel dispenser
site communication including at least one state object communicated
thereto from said central facility.
20. The system as recited in claim 18, wherein: at least one
network node respectively further comprises: a means for generating
a respective state object, the respective state object being
associated with a respective communication from said central
facility involving a respective user identification, and a means
for sending the generated state object to said central facility;
said central facility further comprises: a means for associating
respective state information received from a respective network
node with the respective user identification associated
therewith.
21. The system as recited in claim 15, wherein at least one state
object includes at least one respective cookie.
22. The system as recited in claim 15, wherein each user
identification respectively comprises at least one of credit card
information, biometric data, bar code data, phone number data, and
name data.
23. The system as recited in claim 15, wherein at least one network
node respectively further comprises: a data structure comprising a
plurality of user data records each correspondingly associated with
a respective state information element; a means, responsive to a
respective state object received by the respective one network node
from said central facility, for retrieving from said data structure
a user data record corresponding to the respective state object; a
means for generating content, using the retrieved user data record;
and a means for directing the generated content to at least one of
said central facility and said refueling environment.
24. A system for use with a network comprising at least one
resource, said system comprising: a refueling environment capable
of servicing at least one user; a remote facility disposed apart
from said refueling environment; said remote facility being
configured to execute operational functions comprising: receiving a
user identification from said refueling environment, providing
state information associated with the user identification, and
sending the state information associated with the user
identification from said remote facility to said refueling
environment; and said refueling environment being configured to
execute operational functions comprising: sending state information
received from said remote facility to a selective one of the at
least one resource in said network.
25. The system as recited in claim 24, wherein at least one
respective network resource further comprises: a means for
providing customized resource content to said refueling
environment, the customized resource content being developed by the
respective one network resource using state information received
from said refueling environment.
26. The system as recited in claim 24, wherein at least one network
resource respectively further comprises: a data structure
comprising a plurality of user data records each indexed with a
respective state information element; a means, responsive to state
information received from said refueling environment, for
retrieving a user data record from said data structure
corresponding to the received state information; a means for
generating content, using the retrieved user data record; and a
means for directing the generated content to said refueling
environment.
27. The system as recited in claim 24, wherein the state
information includes a cookie.
28. The system as recited in claim 24, wherein the user
identification comprises at least one of credit card information,
biometric data, bar code data, phone number data, and name
data.
29. A system for use with a network comprising at least one node,
said system comprising: a refueling environment comprising at least
one fuel dispenser site, said refueling environment being capable
of servicing at least one user; a remote facility disposed apart
from at least one fuel dispenser site; said refueling environment
being configured to execute operational functions comprising:
directing at least one user identification from said refueling
environment to said remote facility, each user identification being
associated with a respective user of a respective fuel dispenser
site; said remote facility comprises: a means for providing
respective state information in association with at least one
respective user identification received from said refueling
environment, and a means, responsive to a respective user
identification received from said refueling environment, for
sending a respective communication to the respective fuel dispenser
site associated with the respective user identification, the
respective communication including respective state information
associated with the respective user identification.
30. The system as recited in claim 29, wherein at least one fuel
dispenser site respectively further comprises: a means, responsive
to a respective state information communication received from said
remote facility, for sending a respective user communication to a
selective one of said at least one network node, the respective
user communication including the respective state information.
31. The system as recited in claim 30, wherein at least one network
node respectively further comprises: a means, responsive to
respective state information operatively received from a respective
fuel dispenser site, for generating content according to a user
profile maintained by the respective one network node, the user
profile being identified by the received respective state
information; and a means for directing the generated content to the
respective fuel dispenser site.
32. The system as recited in claim 29, wherein the state
information includes a cookie.
33. The system as recited in claim 29, wherein at least one user
identification respectively comprises at least one of credit card
information, biometric data, bar code data, phone number data, and
name data.
34. A system for use with a network comprising at least one node,
said system comprising: a refueling environment comprising at least
one fuel dispenser site, said refueling environment being capable
of servicing at least one user; a central facility disposed apart
from at least one fuel dispenser site; said refueling environment
comprising: a means for communicating at least one user
identification from said refueling environment to said central
facility, each communicated user identification being associated
with a respective user of a respective fuel dispenser site; said
central facility comprising: a means for associating at least one
respective user identification received from said refueling
environment with at least one respective state object, and a means,
responsive to receiving a respective user identification
communicated from a respective fuel dispenser site associated
therewith, for directing a communication from said central facility
to the respective fuel dispenser site, the communication including
at least one state object associated with the respective user
identification.
35. The system as recited in claim 34, wherein at least one
respective fuel dispenser site respectively further comprises: a
means, responsive to receiving a respective state object
communication from said central facility, for generating and
sending a respective communication to a respective node in said
network, the respective dispenser site communication including at
least one state object received from said central facility.
36. The system as recited in claim 35, wherein at least one network
node respectively further comprises: a means, responsive to
receiving a respective state object communication from a respective
fuel dispenser site, for generating respective customized content,
the content being developed using the respective state object
communication received by the respective one network node; and a
means for communicating the generated content to the respective
fuel dispenser site.
37. The system as recited in claim 35, wherein at least one network
node respectively further comprises: a data means for providing a
plurality of user profile data elements each associated with a
respective state element; a means, responsive to receiving a
respective state object communication from a respective fuel
dispenser site, for retrieving from said data means the respective
user profile data element corresponding to the respective state
object contained within the respective state object communication;
a means for generating content using the retrieved user profile
data element; and a means for communicating the generated content
to the respective fuel dispenser site.
38. The system as recited in claim 34, wherein at least one state
object includes at least one respective cookie.
39. The system as recited in claim 34, wherein at least one user
identification respectively comprises at least one of credit card
information, biometric data, bar code data, phone number data, and
name data.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to a system for delivering Web
site content to a refueling environment, and, more particularly, to
a system providing customized Web pages to fuel dispenser sites
that employs a remote facility which links a user identification
with a state object such as an internet cookie utility.
[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0004] The World Wide Web is a wide-area hypermedia information
retrieval system aimed at providing unlimited access to a large
universe of documents. The architecture of the Web follows a
conventional client-server model. Generally, a client refers to a
machine or other such computer entity that requests information,
while a server refers to an entity that provides the
information.
[0005] Under the Web environment, Web browsers reside in clients
and Web documents reside in servers. A Web browser is a client-side
software program that may be run on a computers. Well known
browsers include Netscape Navigator.TM. and Microsoft's Internet
Explorer.TM.. Web clients and Web servers communicate using a
protocol called Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP). The Web is that
portion of the Internet which communicates in the HTTP
protocol.
[0006] According to a conventional access protocol, a browser opens
a connection to a specified server and initiates a request for a
document. As known, this connection is facilitated with the use of
Uniform Resource Locators (URLs). In response, the accessed server
delivers the requested document, typically in the from of a text
document coded in a standard Hypertext Markup Language format
(HTML). When the connection is closed to conclude the session
(i.e., the client-server interaction), the server returns to a
passive role, namely, it can accept commands from the same or other
clients but does not request the client to perform any actions.
[0007] More particularly, in response to a document request sent by
a browser, a server sends multiple HTML files (i.e., Web site
pages) contained within a sequence of messages implemented in the
HTTP protocol. When the HTML file(s) are received by the client
computer executing the browser, each communication stack layer
performs its function until a datastream containing an HTTP header
and corresponding data segment is presented to the browser. On the
Internet, the communication stack implements a Transport Control
Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP).
[0008] One portion of the browser verifies that the information and
the HTTP header have been accurately delivered to the application
program. The browser then displays the data delivered in the HTML
files received from the server. Because the TCP/IP protocol used
for the Internet is a packet communication protocol, several
messages are typically required before a complete file is available
for display.
[0009] Although the server functions chiefly to provide the client
with requested information, the server may also send state
information to a client for storage on the client side, which will
be subsequently retransmitted to the server during a later visit.
For example, when a server responds to an HTTP request by returning
an HTTP document object to a client, the server may also send state
information provided in the form of a state object. A cookie data
field is one known data field that may be included in the HTTP
header of an HTTP response to embody such state information.
[0010] State information is typically developed during the first
interaction (i.e., web site visit) between the web server and the
client-side browser. For example, in response to an incoming
message requesting a multimedia object, the server examines the
request to determine the Internet Protocol (IP) address of the
requesting browser and to determine whether a cookie was received,
for example, in the MIME heading of the request.
[0011] If the browser at the client-side (i.e., sender) is cookie
enabled but no cookie is detected, then the request is considered
by the server to originate from a new user. Accordingly, the server
assigns a unique identification number or code to the sender that
the server transmits back to the client-side browser in the form of
a cookie. This transmission is accompanied by a write cookie
instruction that causes the client browser to write a cookie
containing that unique identification number on the local drive or
memory of the sender. For example, the transmitted cookie is
typically stored on the hard disk of the client PC within a cookie
list compiled by the client PC. The cookie can be included within
later communications involving returns visits by the client to the
server.
[0012] Typically, the cookie includes a description of a range of
URLs for which the related state information is considered valid.
As known, this URL range definition could be set by appropriately
setting the domain attribute field as part of the write cookie
instruction. Thus, when the client system sends future HTTP
requests to servers that fall within the range of defined URLs for
a particular cookie, the requests will include a transmittal of the
current value of the corresponding state object associated with the
cookie.
[0013] The use of cookies has gained prominence in the field of
Internet advertising. For example, advertisers are able to
implement a limited form of targeted advertising over the Internet
by maintaining a server-side user profile database that records
user-specific information pertaining to various users that may
potentially access the server. Each user profile is cross-indexed
to a unique identification number previously assigned to the user
(i.e., client-side sender) during a first visit by the user. An
example of such a system may be found in U.S. Pat. No. 5,948,061,
which is incorporated herein by reference thereto.
[0014] When the client system accesses a web site having an address
within a limited range of domain names specified by a written
cookie stored at the client, the client system automatically
transmits a copy of the relevant cookie to the web server that
hosts the accessed web site. The cookie preferably includes the
unique identification number that was previously assigned to the
client by the server during a first visit.
[0015] At the server side, the accessed server interprets the
unique identification number contained within the received cookie
as an indication of the identity of the client system. The server
uses the cookie to identify the corresponding user profile
information stored within the profile database maintained at the
server side. In this manner, a customized copy of the requested web
page can be constructed and delivered to the web browser based upon
the user-specific profile data retrieved from the database.
[0016] However, current usage of this cookie utility cannot
accommodate implementations where a user needs to receive
customized web pages at various client machines. The unique
identification numbers assigned by servers are machine-specific,
namely, the identification number corresponds to a unique client
entity. Accordingly, in the case where a common PC terminal is
shared by various individuals accessing the same server at
different times, the profile data on one user developed during a
dedicated communications session will be commingled with profile
data on another user accessing the same server during another
communications session.
[0017] This commingling of profile data occurs because the server
is not capable of distinguishing or discriminating between the
different users. From the viewpoint of the server, it appears that
the same user (and hence the same profile definition) is accessing
the server since the incoming cookie containing the unique
identification number is the same regardless of who is manning the
client terminal (i.e., manipulating the browser). Accordingly,
although several different individuals are accessing the same
server at different times, the server is manipulating and working
with the same user profile record since the corresponding client
identification number transmitted in the cookie is the same for
each access connection.
[0018] This limitation is particularly noticeable in application
environments where system customers are mobile and services can be
rendered over a wide geographic region. For example, in refueling
environments having a network of fuel dispenser sites, it would be
desirable to provide an operational functionality that delivers
customized content while supporting client portability. In this
manner, a customer can receive customized content regardless of the
client location (i.e., fuel dispenser site) where the customer
decides to establish an access connection to a specified
server.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0019] A system is provided for use in a refueling environment
comprising a plurality of fuel dispenser sites. The individual
refueling locations are arranged for communication with a remote
central facility. The remote facility is arranged for communication
with a network having a plurality of nodes. In one form, the
network is the Internet and includes the World Wide Web, with
various ones of the individual nodes being configured as Web
servers. In a preferred form, the refueling locations and remote
facility are connected to the network and hence can be considered
network nodes.
[0020] According to one form of the invention, a refueling customer
provides a user identification as part of the refueling
transaction. For example, during a credit or debit transaction, the
customer credit card number may be retrieved from the dispenser
input device (i.e., magnetic card reader) and translated into a
user identification (ID) signal. The user ID is then transmitted to
the remote facility.
[0021] At the remote facility, following receipt of the user ID
from the corresponding fuel dispenser site, a request for
information is directed to a specified network node, i.e., Web
server. This information request, for example, pertains to a
designated Web page and is typically referenced in a known manner
using an appropriate Uniform Resource Locator (URL). The specified
Web server, following receipt of the information request from the
remote facility, sends a reply to the remote facility requesting
state information, namely, cookie data.
[0022] At the remote facility, in response to the cookie request
received from the Web server, the unique cookie data element
corresponding to the user ID associated with the current
communications session is retrieved from a database and forwarded
to the Web server. The remote facility maintains an archive of user
identification elements each cross-indexed with a respective state
object, i.e., cookie data element.
[0023] Various cookie data elements each corresponding to a
respective server may be associated with a particular user ID
element. For this purpose, and in a known manner, the remote
facility will include a functionality that enables it to identify
and retrieve only that cookie element that corresponds to the
specified server participating in the current session associated
with the relevant user ID. For example, a simple comparison of the
current server URL specification to the domain attributes of each
cookie element will reveal the correct cookie element.
[0024] In a conventional manner, the state object embodied within a
cookie is first created during an initial interaction between the
remote facility and the Web server in connection with a
corresponding user ID. In particular, the Web server generates a
cookie upon receiving an indication from the remote facility that
no cookie is present relating to the current user ID of interest.
The generated cookie is forwarded to the remote facility, which
adds it to the database and associates it with the corresponding
user ID.
[0025] At the Web server, assuming that the remote facility
possesses the requested cookie and has sent it to the server, the
cookie data element received from the remote facility is used as an
index marker for performing searches in a user profile database
maintained by the Web server. The database includes a plurality of
user profile data elements each cross-indexed with a unique cookie
data element, namely, unique identification numbers previously
assigned by the server.
[0026] The Web server retrieves from the database the relevant user
profile data element that corresponds to the cookie currently
received from the remote facility. In particular, the cookie is
used to access and identify the correct user profile data record.
The Web server generates a customized Web page based upon the user
profile data retrieved from the database. The customized Web page
is then forwarded to the remote facility.
[0027] At the remote facility, the customized Web page received
from the Web server is downloaded to the relevant fuel dispenser
site where it is displayed or otherwise presented for viewing by
the customer. For this purpose, the fuel dispenser sites are
preferably configured with a client functionality including, for
example, a computer machine (e.g., personal computer) having an
executable browser program and a graphical user interface (GUI).
Optionally, the customized Web page may be downloaded directly from
the Web server to the fuel dispenser site, which is possible when
the refueling environment is connected to the network.
[0028] According to another form of the invention, a user
identification is similarly transmitted to the remote facility from
a respective fuel dispenser site. At the remote facility, following
receipt of the user ID from the fuel dispenser site, the remote
facility retrieves the cookie data element corresponding to the
user ID and forwards the retrieved cookie to the fuel dispenser
site. The remote facility similarly maintains an archive of user
identifications each cross-indexed with a respective state object,
i.e., cookie data element.
[0029] At the fuel dispenser site, following receipt of the cookie
data element from the remote facility, a request for information is
directed to a specified network node, i.e., Web server. The Web
server, following receipt of the information request from the fuel
dispenser site, sends a reply to the fuel dispenser site requesting
state information, namely, cookie data. At the fuel dispenser site,
in response to the cookie request from the Web server, the cookie
data element received from the remote facility is forwarded to the
Web server.
[0030] At the Web server, the cookie data element received from the
fuel dispenser site is used as an index marker for performing
searches in the user profile database maintained by the Web server.
The database likewise includes a plurality of user profile data
elements each cross-indexed with a unique cookie data element. The
Web server likewise retrieves from the database the relevant user
profile data element that corresponds to the cookie currently
received from the fuel dispenser site, using the cookie to access
and identify the correct user profile data record. The Web server
generates a customized Web page based upon the user profile data
retrieved from the database. The customized Web page is then
forwarded to the fuel dispenser site.
[0031] At the fuel dispenser site, the customized Web page received
from the Web server is displayed or otherwise presented for viewing
by the customer. For this purpose, the fuel dispenser sites are
preferably configured with a client functionality including, for
example, a computer machine (e.g., personal computer) having an
executable browser program and a graphical user interface
(GUI).
[0032] The invention, in one form thereof, is directed to a system
for use with a network comprising at least one resource. The system
includes a refueling environment capable of servicing at least one
user, and a remote facility disposed apart from the refueling
environment. The remote facility is configured to execute
operational functions comprising, inter alia, receiving a user
identification from the refueling environment, providing state
information associated with the user identification, and sending
the state information associated with the user identification from
the remote facility to a selective one of the at least one resource
in the network.
[0033] In one form, the selective one network resource is
configured to execute operational functions comprising, inter alia,
directing customized resource content from the selective one
network resource to the refueling environment, wherein the
customized resource content is developed by the network resource
using the state information received from the remote facility.
[0034] For this purpose, the network resource preferably comprises
a means for developing the customized resource content. The content
development means is configured to operatively perform the
following operations: retrieving user profile data corresponding to
the user identification, the retrieval operation using the state
information received from the remote facility to identify the user
profile data, the user profile data being maintained by the
selective one network resource, and generating content using the
retrieved user profile data.
[0035] In a preferred form, the network resource includes, in
combination, a data structure comprising a plurality of user data
records each indexed with a respective state information element; a
means for retrieving a user data record from the data structure,
using state information operatively received from the remote
facility as an identifier; a means for generating content, using
the retrieved user data record; and a means for communicating the
generated content from the respective network resource to the
refueling environment.
[0036] The delivery of customized resource content from the
selective one network resource to the refueling environment
preferably occurs via the remote facility.
[0037] The remote facility, in one form, is configured further to
selectively send a resource request from the remote facility to the
selective one network resource. At least one network resource is
configured to execute operational functions comprising, inter alia,
prompting the remote facility for state information, in response to
a resource request received from the remote facility, the resource
request being associated with a respective user identification; and
generating and sending state information to the remote facility, in
response to an indication received from the remote facility
responsive to the state information prompt that no state
information exists relative to the respective user identification
associated therewith.
[0038] The state information preferably includes a cookie.
Additionally, the user identification comprises at least one of
credit card information, biometric data, bar code data, phone
number data, and name data.
[0039] The invention, in another form thereof, is directed to a
system for use with a network comprising at least one resource. The
system comprises, in combination, a refueling environment capable
of servicing at least one user, and a remote facility disposed
apart from the refueling environment.
[0040] The remote facility is configured to execute operational
functions comprising, inter alia, receiving at least one user
identification from the refueling environment, sending at least one
respective request for information from the remote facility to the
network, each information request being associated with a
respective user identification and being directed to a respective
selective network resource, and sending at least one state object
communication from the remote facility to the network.
[0041] Each state object communication is associated with a
respective user identification and is directed to the respective
selective network resource associated therewith. Furthermore, each
state object communications is responsive to a respective state
information request issued by the respective selective network
resource associated therewith. Moreover, each state object
communication includes respective state information associated with
the respective user identification associated therewith.
[0042] In one form, each network resource is configured to execute
operational functions comprising, inter alia, generating content
according to a user profile maintained by the respective selective
network resource, the user profile being identified by the
respective state information communicated from the remote facility,
and directing the generated content from the respective selective
network resource to the refueling environment.
[0043] In another form, each network resource is configured also to
operatively execute the following operations: generating state
information, responsive to an indication received from the remote
facility that no state information is present relative to a
respective user identification, and sending the generated state
information to the remote facility. The remote facility, in another
form, is configured to execute operational functions comprising,
inter alia, associating the state information received from the
respective network resource with the respective user
identification.
[0044] The state information preferably includes a cookie.
Additionally, the user identification comprises at least one of
credit card information, biometric data, bar code data, phone
number data, and name data.
[0045] The invention, in another form thereof, is directed to a
system for use with a network comprising at least one node. The
system comprises, in combination, a refueling environment
comprising a plurality of fuel dispenser sites, the refueling
environment being capable of servicing at least one user; and a
central facility disposed apart from at least one fuel dispenser
site.
[0046] The refueling environment is configured to selectively
operatively communicate at least one user identification from the
refueling environment to the central facility. Each communicated
user identification is associated with a respective user of a
respective fuel dispenser site.
[0047] The central facility comprises, in combination, a means to
provide at least one respective state object in association with
each respective user identification, and a means, responsive to at
least one respective user identification, for directing a
respective communication from the central facility to a respective
node in the network, the respective communication including at
least one respective state object associated with the respective
user identification.
[0048] In one form, each network node further comprises, in
combination, a means for generating customized content, the content
being developed using a respective state object communication
received by the respective one network node from the central
facility; and a means for directing the generated content to a
respective fuel dispenser site corresponding to the respective user
having the respective user identification associated with the
respective state object communication.
[0049] The content generation means, in one form, includes a means
for retrieving user profile data corresponding to the respective
user identification associated with the state object communication
received by the one network node from the central facility, and a
means for providing content using the retrieved user profile data.
The retrieval operation uses the respective state object
communication received from the central facility to identify the
respective user profile data.
[0050] The central facility, in one form, comprises in combination
a means for generating and sending at least one request for
information from the central facility to the network, each
information request being associated with a respective user
identification and being directed to a respective network node; and
a means for generating and sending at least one reply communication
from the central facility to the network. Each such reply
communication is responsive to a respective state object request
sent thereto by a respective network node and is directed to the
respective network node. Moreover, each such reply communication
includes at least one state object associated with the respective
user identification.
[0051] The central facility, in another form, also includes a means
for directing at least one communication from the central facility
to a respective fuel dispenser site. Each such communication is
associated with a respective user identification of a corresponding
user of the fuel dispenser site. Preferably, at least one such
central facility communication includes at least one state object
associated with the respective user identification. The refueling
environment, in another form, further includes a means for
directing at least one respective communication from a respective
corresponding fuel dispenser site to a respective node in the
network. At least one of the fuel dispenser site communications
includes at least one state object communicated thereto from the
central facility.
[0052] Each network node, in another form, further includes in
combination a means for generating a respective state object, the
respective state object being associated with a respective
communication from the central facility involving a respective user
identification, and a means for sending the generated state object
to the central facility. The central facility, in another form,
further includes a means for associating respective state
information received from a respective network node with the
respective user identification associated therewith.
[0053] Each network node, in yet another form, also includes in
combination a data structure comprising a plurality of user data
records each correspondingly associated with a respective state
information element; a means, responsive to a respective state
object received by the respective one network node from the central
facility, for retrieving from the data structure a user data record
corresponding to the respective state object; a means for
generating content, using the retrieved user data record; and a
means for directing the generated content to at least one of the
central facility and the refueling environment.
[0054] At least one state object preferable includes at least one
respective cookie. Additionally, each user identification
respectively comprises at least one of credit card information,
biometric data, bar code data, phone number data, and name
data.
[0055] The invention, in another form thereof, is directed to a
system for use with a network comprising at least one resource. The
system includes, in combination, a refueling environment capable of
servicing at least one user, and a remote facility disposed apart
from the refueling environment.
[0056] The remote facility is configured to execute operational
functions comprising, inter alia, receiving a user identification
from the refueling environment, providing state information
associated with the user identification, and sending the state
information associated with the user identification from the remote
facility to the refueling environment.
[0057] The refueling environment is configured to execute
operational functions comprising, inter alia, sending state
information received from the remote facility to a selective one of
the at least one resource in the network.
[0058] In one form, at least one network resource further includes
a means for providing customized resource content to the refueling
environment. The customized resource content is developed by the
respective one network resource using state information received
from the refueling environment.
[0059] More particularly, in a preferred form, the network resource
further includes, in combination, a data structure comprising a
plurality of user data records each indexed with a respective state
information element; a means, responsive to state information
received from the refueling environment, for retrieving a user data
record from the data structure corresponding to the received state
information; a means for generating content, using the retrieved
user data record; and a means for directing the generated content
to the refueling environment.
[0060] The state information preferably includes a cookie.
Additionally, the user identification comprises at least one of
credit card information, biometric data, bar code data, phone
number data, and name data.
[0061] The invention, in yet another form thereof, is directed to a
system for use with a network comprising at least one node. The
system includes, in combination, a refueling environment comprising
at least one fuel dispenser site, the refueling environment being
capable of servicing at least one user; and a remote facility
disposed apart from at least one fuel dispenser site.
[0062] The refueling environment is configured to execute
operational functions comprising, inter alia, directing at least
one user identification from the refueling environment to the
remote facility. Each user identification is associated with a
respective user of a respective fuel dispenser site.
[0063] The remote facility comprises, in combination, a means for
providing respective state information in association with at least
one respective user identification received from the refueling
environment; and a means, responsive to a respective user
identification received from the refueling environment, for sending
a respective communication to the respective fuel dispenser site
associated with the respective user identification. The remote
facility communication includes respective state information
associated with the respective user identification.
[0064] At least one fuel dispenser site, in one form thereof,
further includes a means, responsive to a respective state
information communication received from the remote facility, for
sending a respective user communication to a selective one of the
at least one network node. The respective user communication
includes the respective state information.
[0065] At least one network node, in one form thereof, further
includes in combination a means, responsive to respective state
information operatively received from a respective fuel dispenser
site, for generating content according to a user profile maintained
by the network node; and a means for directing the generated
content to the respective fuel dispenser site. The user profile is
identified by the received respective state information.
[0066] The state information preferably includes a cookie.
Moreover, at least one user identification respectively comprises
at least one of credit card information, biometric data, bar code
data, phone number data, and name data.
[0067] The invention, in yet another form thereof, is directed to a
system for use with a network comprising at least one node. The
system includes, in combination, a refueling environment comprising
at least one fuel dispenser site, the refueling environment being
capable of servicing at least one user; and a central facility
disposed apart from at least one fuel dispenser site.
[0068] The refueling environment includes a means for communicating
at least one user identification from the refueling environment to
the central facility. Each such communicated user identification is
associated with a respective user of a respective fuel dispenser
site.
[0069] The central facility includes, in combination, a means for
associating at least one respective user identification received
from the refueling environment with at least one respective state
object, and a means, responsive to receiving a respective user
identification communicated from a respective fuel dispenser site
associated therewith, for directing a communication from the
central facility to the respective fuel dispenser site. The central
facility communication includes at least one state object
associated with the respective user identification.
[0070] At least one fuel dispenser site, in one form thereof,
further includes a means, responsive to receiving a respective
state object communication from the central facility, for
generating and sending a respective communication to a respective
node in the network. The dispenser site communication includes at
least one state object received from the central facility.
[0071] At least one network node, in one form thereof, further
includes in combination a means, responsive to receiving a
respective state object communication from a respective fuel
dispenser site, for generating respective customized content; and a
means for communicating the generated content to the respective
fuel dispenser site. The content is developed using the respective
state object communication received by the respective one network
node. More particularly, the network node preferably includes, in
combination, a data means for providing a plurality of user profile
data elements each associated with a respective state element; a
means, responsive to receiving a respective state object
communication from a respective fuel dispenser site, for retrieving
from the data means the respective user profile data element
corresponding to the respective state object contained within the
respective state object communication; a means for generating
content using the retrieved user profile data element; and a means
for communicating the generated content to the respective fuel
dispenser site.
[0072] At least one state object preferably includes at least one
respective cookie. Moreover, at least one user identification
respectively comprises at least one of credit card information,
biometric data, bar code data, phone number data, and name
data.
[0073] One advantage of the present invention is that a refueling
customer is able to receive customized Web page content from any
fuel dispenser location, without regard to the conventional
limitation that customized content typically could only be directed
to the same user, i.e., client machine.
[0074] Another advantage of the present invention is that it uses a
standard Internet mechanism, namely, a cookie utility, and
therefore does not require any reprogramming, reconfiguration, or
special communication code at the server side.
[0075] A further advantage of the invention is that the
functionality of the remote facility in centrally maintaining a
compilation of refueling customer identification elements each
associated with at least one respective state object enables the
remote facility to effectively serve as a centralized proxy-type
client entity capable of fulfilling and executing the client-side
operations of various actual client locations disposed apart
therefrom (i.e., fuel dispenser sites).
[0076] Another advantage of the invention is that the functionality
of the remote facility in centrally maintaining a compilation of
refueling customer identification elements each associated with at
least one respective state object enables the designation of any
user machine as a client location recognizable by the network
server as a distinct return visitor, since the state object
corresponding to the relevant user ID is simply forwarded to the
designated client location and used in communications with the
specified Web server; accordingly, the Web server itself has no
indication that the user is operating from a machine different from
prior visits since the user has been correctly identified using the
same state object, i.e., cookie data element.
[0077] Another advantage of the invention is that a unique customer
profile can be established and updated during a plurality of Web
site visits that are initiated and conducted by a refueling
customer from multiple fuel dispenser locations; notably, the
server recognizes that the same customer is associated with a
particular profile since the same cookie data element is associated
with the visit, although the customer may be visiting from a
dispenser location and client machine different from previous
visits.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0078] The above-mentioned and other features and advantages of
this invention, and the manner of attaining them, will become more
apparent and the invention will be better understood by reference
to the following description of an embodiment of the invention
taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:
[0079] FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustration of a system
configuration according to the present invention, which depicts in
one form the interconnection between the refueling environment,
remote facility, and network;
[0080] FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustration of a system
configuration according to the present invention, which depicts in
another form the interconnection between the refueling environment,
remote facility, and network;
[0081] FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustration of a communications
system, according to one embodiment of the present invention;
[0082] FIG. 4 is a flow diagram illustrating the communications
protocol implemented in the system of FIG. 3;
[0083] FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustration of a communications
system, according to another embodiment of the present invention;
and
[0084] FIG. 6 is a flow diagram illustrating the communications
protocol implemented in the system of FIG. 5.
[0085] Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding
parts throughout the several views. The exemplification set out
herein illustrates one preferred embodiment of the invention, in
one form, and such exemplification is not to be construed as
limiting the scope of the invention in any manner.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0086] Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown in block diagram view an
illustrative communications system 10 comprising a refueling
environment 12, a remote central service facility 14, and a network
16, according to one form of the invention.
[0087] The illustrated refueling environment 12 includes a
plurality of refueling locations or fuel dispenser sites 18 each
including multiple dispenser positions 20 of conventional form. A
representative dispenser position 20 would be capable of servicing
a refueling customer in a known manner.
[0088] The illustrated remote central facility 14 is disposed apart
from at least one of the fuel dispenser sites 18, but preferably
from the entire refueling environment 12. As used herein, the
remoteness of central facility 14 from refueling environment 12 can
refer to any separation distance, covering a few miles to thousands
of miles, for example. The refueling environment 12 and remote
facility 14 are configured for selective connection to one another
over a communications link 22 of any suitable form.
[0089] For example, communications link 22 may include a private
intranet enabling peer-to-peer transmissions among the various fuel
dispenser sites 18 and with remote facility 14. Alternately, each
fuel dispenser site 18 may have a dedicated point-to-point link
with remote facility 14. Optionally, communications link 22 may
subsist (in whole or in part) within network 16.
[0090] The illustrated network 16 comprises a plurality of network
nodes 24 each illustratively configured as a host resource or
server 26. In a preferred form, network 16 comprises the Internet
and includes the World Wide Web (WWW), where various network nodes
24 constitute Web servers 26. Remote facility 14 is arranged for
connection to network 16 using any suitable connection means 28. In
one form, remote facility 14 itself could be considered a node of
network 16. It should be apparent that network 16 may include,
and/or be connected to, various other public and/or private
networks, communication systems, terminals, machines, and other
such resources.
[0091] As described further herein, remote facility 14 provides a
distributed, centralized management functionality that facilitates
the exchange of information and the implementation of various other
communication activities between the refueling environment 12 and
network 16. In brief, remote facility 14 enables customers at
individual fuel dispenser sites 18 to selectively access and
download requested Web pages from specified Web servers 26 in
network 16. This requested content is preferably customized to the
individual customer. According to one aspect of the invention, this
customization feature is available regardless of which fuel
dispenser site 18 (and dispenser position 20) the customer is using
as the client-side entity. Remote facility 14 includes a
multi-tasking functionality that enables it to process, coordinate,
and handle such communication tasks.
[0092] In one form, communication system 10 may be configured
according to a standard client-server architecture model well known
to those skilled in the art. According to such a model, remote
facility 14 and the individual fuel dispenser sites 18 would be
recognized and/or configured (at least in part) as client-side
entities arranged for selective communication with nodes 24 of
network 16, namely, Web servers 26. However, this client-server
characterization should not be considered in limitation of the
present invention, as it should be apparent that any suitable
implementation may be used to practice the invention.
[0093] Referring now to FIG. 2, there is shown an alternate
configuration for communication system 10 of FIG. 1, according to
another form of the invention. As shown, remote facility 14 and the
various fuel dispenser sites 18 are essentially configured as
network nodes having a networked connection to network 16. In this
manner, there is the possibility of peer-to-peer (point-to-point)
communications between any ones of the nodes over network 16. For
example, each dispenser position 20 can establish an access
connection directly with a specified Web server 26.
[0094] The communications topology in FIG. 2 has certain
advantages, particularly when network 16 represents the Internet.
For example, additional nodes (e.g., fuel dispenser sites 18) can
easily be added to network 16 by providing any suitable network
connection. In one form, a new fuel dispenser site could be
internet-enabled by simply providing a terminal running any
conventional browser program suitable to navigate the Web and
execute various Internet functions and commands known to those
skilled in the art, e.g., tasks such as requesting, sending,
receiving, selecting, and displaying Web content.
[0095] It should be understood that the network configurations
shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 are simply illustrative and should not be
considered in limitation of the present invention, as it should be
apparent that any other suitable configuration may be used to
interconnect the refueling environment 12, remote facility 14, and
network 16.
[0096] Referring now to FIG. 3, there is shown an illustrative
implementation of communication system 10 of either or both FIGS. 1
and 2, according to one embodiment of the present invention. The
communications protocol and/or transaction sequence involving the
system of FIG. 3 is outlined in FIG. 4. Although FIG. 3 only shows
an arrangement involving a single fuel dispenser position and a
specified Web server, it should be understood that this
illustration is merely representative and that other fuel dispenser
positions may be similarly arranged with other network nodes.
[0097] The illustrated fuel dispenser position 20 is preferably
provided in a conventional form including a fuel dispenser
apparatus 30, input device 32, point-of-sale (POS) terminal 34, and
controller 36 arranged in a conventional manner. As known,
dispenser apparatus 30 may include any suitable equipment
configuration for refueling a vehicle, such as a standard nozzle
and hose assembly in combination with a pump assembly.
[0098] Input device 32 may include any standard mechanism for
obtaining information from the customer, such as data useful in
initiating, authorizing, and/or executing a refueling transaction.
For example, input device 32 may include, without limitation, a
magnetic card reader, optical scanner, bar code reader, keyboard,
touch-sensitive display panel, or any combination thereof to
collect credit card account data, debit account data, or other
personal identification information from the customer.
[0099] Optionally, input device 32 may be provided in a form that
collects customer information that is unaffiliated with and/or
unrelated to the refueling transaction, such as biometric data or
other user identification data (e.g., cell phone number,
customer-specific code, or password).
[0100] In general, input device 32 may be considered any means for
obtaining user identification (ID) information from the customer.
Preferably, in order to standardize the setup for fuel dispenser
position 20, the user ID information will embody information
affiliated with the refueling transaction. In particular, in a
preferred form, the user ID information will be derived and/or
based upon customer payment data, e.g., credit card account
information. One preferred feature of the user ID information is
that it will uniquely represent the customer, as is typically the
case with credit card account numbers.
[0101] The POS terminal 34 represents any conventional means that
provides various transaction-related tasks, such as authorizing the
requested transaction using the collected customer payment data and
monitoring the refueling operation. The POS terminal 34 may be
either a dedicated unit assigned to the dispenser position 20 or,
more typically, a centralized control terminal housed in an on-site
operator location and connected to all of the site dispenser
positions.
[0102] Controller 36 implements in a conventional manner the
control functionality of the various fuel dispenser positions 20.
Preferably, as understood by those skilled in the art, a single
site controller 36 is employed to provide centralized and
distributed control of the refueling activity undertaken by the
collection of fuel dispenser positions at the site.
[0103] Controller 36 is preferably provided with any suitable
network connection (not shown) enabling any one of the dispenser
positions 20 at the particular fuel dispenser site to establish a
network connection with any other entity connected to the network.
For example, in FIG. 3, the network connection would enable
communications with remote facility 14. Optionally, the network
connection could establish connectivity with the World Wide Web 38
(i.e., network 16).
[0104] The illustrated fuel dispenser position 20 also includes a
client terminal or location 40 preferably arranged for connection
to controller 36. Client terminal 40 comprises a selectively
executable browser software program 42 running on a client machine
39. The client machine 39 may be provided in any conventional
computer configuration. For example, client machine 39 may include,
but is not limited to, a microprocessor, memory units (RAM, ROM),
storage devices, controller, communications bus, peripheral devices
(e.g., printer), monitor/display unit, keyboard, network devices
(e.g., modem), and graphical user interface (GUI). Additionally,
any of various conventional software programs may be installed on
client machine 39, such as e-mail programs, word processors, and
other suitable software modules.
[0105] Among its various functionalities, client terminal 40 can
communicate with remote facility 14 via controller 36 and
communications link 22. Alternately, client terminal 40 can be
suitably configured for a direct network connection to remote
facility 14 and/or Web 38. In a fully networked Internet
implementation based upon the architecture of FIG. 2, client
terminal 40 is configured in a conventional manner to be
internet-enabled, allowing it to communicate with remote facility
14 and Web servers 26 using standard Internet communication
protocols. Using technology well known to those skilled in the art,
the various dispenser positions at a particular site can
communicate with one another on a peer-to-peer basis using a local
network or communications bus.
[0106] The illustrated remote facility 14 is provided in one form
as a computing environment having a transmit/receive capability
relative to the refueling environment (e.g., dispenser position 20)
and network 16 (e.g., Web 38). In this form, remote facility 14
includes a computing machine, microcomputer, or other such
processor apparatus containing suitable software processes and
programs to implement the present invention, namely, the
communications and information exchange protocol discussed in
relation to FIG. 4. In one particular configuration discussed
further, remote facility 14 is suitably configured as a client-side
entity. Further detail on remote facility 14 is provided below in
conjunction with a discussion of the communications protocol
outlined in FIG. 4.
[0107] During operation, with specific reference to FIG. 4, the
communications system of FIG. 3 implements a communications and
information exchange protocol according to the representative flow
diagram of FIG. 4. Initially, a customer interested in requesting a
refueling transaction at dispenser position 20 submits credit card
account information via input device 32, which is provided in the
form of an electromagnetic card reader (step 50). Input device 32
transmits the retrieved credit card account information to
controller 36 in the form of a user identification (ID) signal
42.
[0108] Next, the user ID 42 is transmitted from the refueling
environment (namely, dispenser position 20) to remote facility 14
(step 52). For this purpose, the dispenser position 20
(specifically controller 36) is preferably adapted to include a
transmit/receive apparatus to facilitate such transmission. The
remote facility 14 receives the user ID 42 transmitted from the
refueling environment, along with an indication of the fuel
dispenser site and dispenser position combination that originated
the user ID transmission (step 54). This indication may be provided
using any suitable addressing scheme, for example.
[0109] In response to receiving the user ID 42, the remote facility
14 initiates a communications session with a selective server 26
within the World Wide Web 38. In particular, remote facility 14
performs a client-type functionality by generating a request for
information and sending this request to a specified network
resource, i.e., Web server 26 (step 56). The client-server
communication takes the form of a Web page request 43 that is
formatted and configured according to conventional techniques.
[0110] As discussed further, Web server 26 may be any network
resource, but preferably falls within the class of servers capable
of delivering customized and targeted information (such as
advertising) to a refueling customer at dispenser position 20.
These types of servers maintain an archive of updatable customer
profile records that record the online experience of the user,
namely, the history of choices, preferences, and selections made by
a user during the multiple visits to the Web site hosted by the
server. In this manner, instead of downloading a Web page having
generic non-specific content, a requested Web page can be tailored
to the preferences of the requester (i.e., user). The profile is
modified on an ongoing basis during the Web site visit as the user
continues to make selections during an active online session.
[0111] The Web server 26 receives the Web page request 43
communicated from remote facility 14 (step 58). In a conventional
manner, and in response to the information request, server 26 sends
a reply communication to the content requester (i.e., remote
facility 14) that includes a request for state information (step
60). In a preferred form, this state information request 44 takes
the form of an interrogatory that prompts or requests the
client-side sender for a cookie data element.
[0112] According to one aspect of the present invention, remote
facility 14 is provided with any suitable data structure or other
such means that maintains a plurality of user identification
elements each cross-referenced, indexed, or otherwise associated
with a respective state object, i.e., cookie data element. For this
purpose, remote facility 14 preferably includes a database 15 to
store such information. Each user ID corresponds to a respective
customer of the refueling environment (i.e., a past, present,
potential and/or prospective user).
[0113] One illustrative record or entry 17 in database 15 shows a
representative user ID element 42 associated with a respective
corresponding (i.e., unique) state object, namely, cookie element
19. However, it should be understood that each user ID in database
15 may be associated with a plurality of individual cookie elements
each relating to a specific server. Namely, each cookie element
associated with a particular user ID will be representative of a
unique identification number assigned by a particular corresponding
server during an initial Web site visit made by a requester client
(i.e., remote facility 14).
[0114] More specifically, according to the embodiment of FIGS. 3
and 4, such an initial Web site visit producing the unique
identification number will be initiated by remote facility 14 on
behalf of a certain dispenser site client location 40 in connection
with a particular user ID. This server assignment of the unique
identification number follows a protocol and uses techniques well
known to those skilled in the art.
[0115] Before proceeding with the next step in the protocol, it is
useful to discuss the manner in which such cookie elements 19 are
generated and stored in database 15 at remote facility 14. In a
known manner, when a server directs a requester client to furnish
cookie data, the client searches the cookie list maintained at the
client to determine if any cookie(s) exist having the specified
server within the domain definition. If any cookie elements match,
the matching cookie element(s) are forwarded to the server.
However, if no cookie elements match, an indication of this
condition is communicated to the server.
[0116] The server interprets the absence of any cookie in the
return reply of the client as an indication that the current
communication session between the replying client and the server
represents the first ever visit by the client to the server. In
response, the server generates a unique identification number that
the server assigns to the client (e.g., browser). Following this
assignment, the server transmits the ID number to the client as a
cookie. The cookie constitutes state information that is stored on
the client-side in a cookie list.
[0117] At the server side, the generated cookie is stored in a
database. In applications involving the accumulation of user
profile data reflecting the selections and other online activity
occurring during a Web site visit, the server database provides a
means to correlate this profile data with the client identification
number. This correlation allows the user profile data to be
retrieved and utilized to construct a customized Web page during
subsequent visits by the client. The client identification number
serves as a marker or search index key into the server
database.
[0118] At this point, once the assignment of the unique
identification number has taken place and the client-side entity
has in effect been registered by the server as a web site visitor,
the communication between the client and server resumes and
proceeds ahead according to its original purpose, e.g., the
downloading of a requested Web page. This procedure for cookie
generation and storage of the cookie at the client-side and
server-side is well known to those skilled in the art, particularly
as it applies to the client-server model of the Internet.
[0119] Referring again to FIG. 3, it is envisioned that this cookie
generation mechanism is incorporated into the present invention in
the following illustrative manner, although other procedures are
possible.
[0120] Following step 60, when the remote facility 14 receives the
cookie request 44 from Web server 26, the remote facility 14
executes a search of database 15 to identify and retrieve any
matching cookie element(s) that are associated with the current
user ID 42 of interest. The user ID 42 is used as a pointer or
search mechanism within database 15 to identify the relevant
collection of cookie elements that will be examined pursuant to the
cookie matching operation. Upon determining that database 15 does
not contain any cookie element for user ID 42 that produces a match
vis--vis server 26, remote facility 14 directs a communication to
server 26 that reflects the outcome of the cookie search responsive
to the server cookie request 44.
[0121] Server 26 receives this reply communication from remote
facility 14 and, upon recognizing that no cookie was found,
generates a unique identification number for assignment to the
requesting client, namely, remote facility 14. Server 26 transmits
this identification number to remote facility 14 in the form of a
cookie.
[0122] At the server-side, the assigned identification number is
stored in a cookie database 29 having a plurality of representative
records or entries 21 each including a respective one of the
assigned identification numbers 23 linked or otherwise associated
with corresponding user profile data 25. As discussed further, the
user profile data is a representation of the online activity that
has occurred during the various Web site visits made by a user
identified by the corresponding identification number.
[0123] At the remote facility 14, a functionality is provided to
recognize an incoming cookie (namely, one having the
server-assigned identification number) and to invoke an associative
operation that links (i.e., associates) the received cookie with
the current user ID 42 to which the instant client-server session
pertains. Remote facility 14 is provided with any well known
functionality that enables it to keep track of the respective user
ID that pertains to the communications session during which a
cookie is assigned by a representative server 26 and sent to remote
facility 14. In this manner, remote facility 14 can readily
associate the incoming cookie with the correct user ID within
database 15.
[0124] Generally, the remote facility 14 is provided with any
suitable means enabling it to correlate all of the network
communications between it and a specified server with the
respective corresponding user ID. For example, when remote facility
14 communicates with a network server according to a typical
client-server network session or transaction sequence, remote
facility 14 maintains a correlation between the session and the
relevant user ID to which the communications relate.
[0125] One distinguishing feature of the invention is that remote
facility 14 acts as a corresponding dedicated virtual client for
each of the user IDs received from the refueling environment. From
the perspective of Web 38, each time remote facility 14 accesses
server 26 in connection with a different user ID, it appears to
server 26 that a different client machine is establishing an access
connection thereto since a different client identification number
(i.e., cookie element) is returned to server 26 from the sender
(i.e., remote facility 14).
[0126] Clearly, it is possible with the present invention for a
single client-side entity such as remote facility 14 to effectively
function (in a virtual manner) as a plurality of host clients each
independently recognizable by server 26 as a distinct entity. As a
result, similar to conventional server configurations, server 26
can maintain independent user profile records in relation to
respective unique identification numbers (each corresponding to a
respective user ID), even though all of the client-server
communications involve a single client-side entity, namely, remote
facility 14.
[0127] In one form, remote facility 14 can be considered a proxy
client that effectively performs all of the various client-side
activities that client location 40 would otherwise perform if
communicating directly with server 26 in a standard client-server
relationship. In this capacity, remote facility 14 may execute its
communication tasks with respect to server 26 under the direction
of commands and instructions issued from client location 40.
Alternately, remote facility 14 may be programmed to execute a
known sequence of communication tasks, and only awaits receipt of a
user ID from the refueling environment to initiate or launch the
sequence.
[0128] Returning now to FIG. 4, and assuming that a cookie relating
to the current user ID 42 has been set, namely, that database 15
includes a cookie element corresponding to the user ID of interest
(and which was assigned by server 26), the protocol of FIG. 4
resumes in the following manner.
[0129] In response to the cookie request 44 from server 26, remote
facility 14 searches and retrieves from database 15 the applicable
cookie element that corresponds to the current user ID of interest
(step 62). It is seen that the user ID is employed as the indexing
mechanism in database 15 to identify the relevant database record
17.
[0130] Of course, since each user ID likely will be associated with
multiple cookie elements each relating to a different server,
remote facility 14 will have a conventional functionality that
enables it to identify and retrieve the particular cookie element
that was assigned and set by the specific server 26 of interest. In
a known manner, multiple cookie elements would be set when internet
communications associated with a particular user ID include visits
to various servers. In particular, each accessed server would cause
a separate distinct identification number (i.e., cookie element) to
be assigned and set, during an initial visit.
[0131] For purposes of identifying the correct cookie element,
remote facility 14 is provided with a functionality that enables it
to identify and retrieve from database 15 only that cookie element
for a particular user ID that provides a match in connection with
the current server specified for access. For example, an evaluation
of the domain attributes for each cookie element associated with a
particular user ID will identify the correct cookie element
matching the current server.
[0132] More specifically, as well known to those skilled in the
art, a match occurs when the specification for the targeted network
resource falls within the range defined by the domain attributes of
the cookie under examination. A simple comparison operation can
carry out this evaluation.
[0133] A match therefore may occur involving the server that made
the original assignment of the unique identification number or some
other server covered by the domain attributes definition.
Typically, though, for applications similar to those contemplated
herein involving the development of customized content, a domain
attribute match will be limited to the particular server that
generated and set the cookie element.
[0134] Following a search of database 15 that yields a successful
cookie match, the remote facility 14 then sends a communication 45
to server 26 including the retrieved cookie element 19 (step 64).
The transmitted cookie element includes the unique identification
number that was originally assigned by server 26 during an initial
visit involving the respective user ID 42, and then transmitted to
remote facility 14 where it was associated with user ID 42 and
stored in database 15 as cookie element 19.
[0135] Web server 26 receives the cookie sent from remote facility
14 and compares the state information stored therein (i.e., the
identification number assigned by server 26) to the various cookie
data elements stored within database 29 to see if a match exists
(steps 66, 68). In particular, the server conducts a match or
comparison operation to determine if the received identification
number corresponds to an existing user of the server, namely,
whether the identification number refers to a prior visitor to the
Web site. The assigned identification number (i.e., the state
information embodied within the cookie element) is used as an index
key to search database 29, namely, the field 23 of each database
record 21 where the server-assigned user identification number is
located.
[0136] Once the appropriate database record 21 in cookie database
29 has been identified by its corresponding identification number,
the corresponding user profile data 25 is retrieved (step 68).
Server 26 is provided with a custom page generator 27 generally
representative of any conventional means by which a Web page can be
generated, constructed, or otherwise furnished. In a preferred
form, page generator 27 enables the Web page construction process
to be selectively customized or tailored according to input data,
such as by incorporating the information represented by user
profile data 25 retrieved from database 29 (step 70). The
customized Web page 46 generated at server 26 is then sent to
remote facility 14 (step 72).
[0137] At the remote facility 14, the customized Web page 46
received from server 26 is downloaded to dispenser position 20
associated with the user ID 42 relating to the current
communications session with server 26 (steps 74, 76). The manner of
routing the customized Web page 46 to the user destination within
the refueling environment may occur in various alternate ways. In
one form, the Web page is first downloaded from remote facility 14
to controller 36 of the particular fuel dispenser site where the
user destination is located. Next, controller 36 forwards the Web
page to the applicable dispenser position 20. It should be apparent
that conventional routing techniques may be used.
[0138] In another form, the Web page may be downloaded from remote
facility 14 directly to the user location (i.e., client location
40) in the event that client machine 39 is provided with a network
connection to Web 38. In this manner, no routing need take place
through controller 36. Optionally, the Web page may be downloaded
from server 26 to a selective one of the fuel dispenser sites
(i.e., controller 36) and/or the client location 40, thereby
bypassing remote facility 14. This routing scenario is readily
available in a fully networked configuration such as shown in FIG.
2.
[0139] At the fuel dispenser site, the customized Web page received
from remote facility 14 is routed by controller 36 to the
designated client location 40 (at dispenser position 20) having the
refueling customer from which the relevant user ID 42 originated
(step 78). The Web page is then processed by browser 37 in a
conventional manner for presentation to the customer who is manning
client location 40 (step 80).
[0140] At this point, the customer at client location 40 can
continue the open communications session with server 26 in a
conventional manner. For example, as part of the ongoing visit to
server 26, the user can make various available selections from the
displayed Web page, submit the selections for processing by server
26, and upload further requests for information to server 26 via
remote facility 14 (step 82). Remote facility 14 will continue to
function in a client-type manner vis--vis server 26 to manage and
otherwise facilitate communications between dispenser position 20
and server 26 (step 84).
[0141] At the server-side, server 26 continues to receive and
process newly submitted requests for information received from
remote facility 14 (step 86) pertaining to client location 40.
Among its various tasks, server 26 will download requested Web
pages (according to user selections embodied in the content
request) and update the relevant user profile data accordingly.
[0142] All of these communication activities involving client
location 40 and server 26 are preferably accomplished during a
single open communications session. In particular, remote facility
14 will preferably not close the session with server 26 until an
indication of such a decision is received from client location 40,
namely, browser 37.
[0143] Additionally, the manner of generating, executing,
performing, carrying out, and otherwise providing the various
communications between remote facility 14 and Web server 26
according to the protocol outlined in FIG. 4 may be performed using
technologies well known to those skilled in the art. For example,
any conventional software and programming techniques may be used to
perform the various internet-related operations and functions
involving the cookie utility, request commands, and response/reply
commands. The communications between remote facility 14 and Web
server 26 preferably follow a conventional client-server
interaction typical of the Internet.
[0144] Further information on the cookie mechanism may be found in
the document entitled "Persistent Client State HTTP Cookies", a
preliminary specification, found on the Internet at
http://home.netscape.com/newsref/- std/cookie_spec.html, and the
document entitled "Proposal for Extended Persistent Client State
HTTP Cookies", found on the Internet at
http://www.sbm.temple.edu/.about.magnus/ext_cookie_spec.html, both
incorporated herein by reference thereto.
[0145] Various advantages are apparent from the embodiment of FIGS.
3 and 4. As described, the remote facility centrally maintains a
compilation of refueling customer identification elements each
associated with at least one respective state object (cookie
element) each uniquely generated by a respective server. In this
manner, it becomes possible for the remote facility to effectively
serve as a proxy-type client entity capable of executing all of the
client-side operations that each internet-enabled dispenser
position would otherwise normally perform if it were communicating
directly with the server in a typical client-server
relationship.
[0146] From the viewpoint of the accessed server, though, it does
appear as if each Web site visit is occurring in connection with a
distinct client-side entity, since the same distinguishing
identification number (i.e., cookie element) is being used to
identify the client-side requester to the server in response to the
server-side cookie request. Thus, during each subsequent visit to a
server conducted by the remote facility in connection with a
corresponding refueling customer user ID, the transmittal of the
same corresponding cookie element as before causes the server to
effectively recognize the client-side requester as a distinct
corresponding user making a return visit. The server then treats
the remote facility communications as part of a return visit by the
distinct user, enabling the same corresponding user profile record
to be updated, since these profile records are identified by a
respective unique identification number.
[0147] Referring now to FIG. 5, there is shown a communications
system similar to that shown in FIG. 3 for implementing a
communications and data exchange protocol, according to another
embodiment of the present invention. The protocol and/or
transaction sequence is set forth in the flow diagram of FIG.
6.
[0148] During operation, with specific reference to FIG. 6 in
conjunction with FIG. 5, a customer interested in requesting a
refueling transaction at dispenser position 20 submits credit card
account information via input device 32 (step 100). Input device 32
transmits the retrieved credit card account information to
controller 36 in the form of a user identification (ID) signal 42.
The user ID 42 is then transmitted from the refueling environment
and received at remote facility 14 (steps 102, 104). The protocol
steps 100, 102, 104 correspond to steps 50, 52, 54 in FIG. 4.
[0149] In response to receiving the user ID, the remote facility 14
executes a search of database 15 to identify and retrieve the
cookie element 19 corresponding to user ID 42 (step 106). As in
FIGS. 3 and 4, the cookie element associated with the user ID
incorporates and/or represents the unique identification number
assigned by illustrative server 26 during an initial access
connection (i.e., Web site visit) involving user ID 42.
[0150] It is envisioned that the operational procedure associated
with formulating a unique cookie element (i.e., server-assigned
identification number) for each user ID will take place in the
following manner. As discussed further, the protocol of FIG. 6
involves a communications session between client location 40 and
server 26 that is initiated and maintained by client location 40.
More specifically, unlike the protocol of FIG. 4, remote facility
14 simply communicates to client location 40 the relevant cookie
element associated with the current user ID of interest, while the
entirety of the client-server session takes place between client
location 40 and server 26 without the assistance of remote facility
14.
[0151] However, in the event that database 15 does not contain any
cookie element corresponding to user ID 42 (specifically, there is
no cookie match involving the specified server 26), remote facility
14 may respond in various ways. In one sequence, in a manner
similar to that discussed in connection with FIGS. 3 and 4, remote
facility 14 can initiate an information request with server 26.
Then, in response to a cookie request from server 26, remote
facility 14 can direct a reply communication to server 26
indicating that no cookie was found. As before, server 26 will
assign a unique identification number and send a corresponding
cookie to remote facility 14 along with a set cookie instruction.
Remote facility 14 will then associate the cookie received from
server 26 with the relevant user ID.
[0152] In another alternate sequence, following receipt of user ID
42 and an unsuccessful search of database 15, remote facility 14
can simply communicate to client location 40 that no cookie was
found. The client location 40 can then carry out a similar
interchange with server 26 to yield the assignment of a unique
identification number by server 26. For example, the cookie element
generated by server 26 which embodies the assigned identification
number would first be sent to client location 40 and then forwarded
from there to remote facility 14, where it would be associated with
the pertinent user ID and stored in database 15.
[0153] Returning again to FIG. 6, and assuming that a cookie
relating to the current user ID 42 has been set, namely, that
database 15 includes a cookie element corresponding to the user ID
42 of interest (and which was assigned by server 26), the protocol
of FIG. 6 resumes in the following manner.
[0154] Following retrieval of the relevant cookie element 19
associated with user ID 42 and relating to server 26, remote
facility 14 sends a communication 51 to client location 40
including the retrieved cookie element (step 108). In one form, the
communication is routed by dispenser site controller 36 to the
relevant dispenser position 20 containing client location 40. As
before, the transmitted cookie element includes the unique
identification number that was originally assigned by server 26
during an initial visit involving user ID 42, and then furnished to
remote facility 14 where it was associated with user ID 42 and
stored in database 15, namely, record 17 pertaining to user ID
42.
[0155] In response to receiving the cookie element communication 51
from remote facility 14, client location 40 initiates a
communications session with a selective server 26 within the World
Wide Web 38 by issuing a request for information (steps 110, 112),
according to a conventional protocol and format. The Web server 26
receives the Web page request 53 communicated from client location
40 (step 114). In response to the information request, server 26
sends a reply communication to client location 40 that includes a
request for state information (step 116). In a preferred form, this
state information request 55 takes the form of an interrogatory
that prompts or requests client location 40 for a cookie data
element.
[0156] The client location 40 receives the cookie request from
server 26 (step 118). In response, client location 40 directs a
communication 57 to server 26 that includes the cookie element 19
relating to user ID 42 that was previously furnished to client
location 40 by remote facility 14 (step 120).
[0157] The Web server 26 receives the cookie communication 57 sent
from client location 40 and compares the state information stored
therein (i.e., identification number) to the cookie data elements
stored within database 29 to see if a match exists (steps 122,
124). Protocol steps 122, 124 are similar to steps 66, 68 in FIG.
4.
[0158] Once the appropriate database record 21 has been identified
by the identification number, the corresponding user profile data
25 is retrieved (step 124). Server 26 uses page generator 27 to
construct a customized Web page utilizing the information
represented by user profile data 25 retrieved from database 29
(step 126). Protocol step 126 is similar to step 70 in FIG. 4.
[0159] The customized Web page 59 generated at server 26 is then
downloaded to client location 40 (step 128). In particular, at the
relevant fuel dispenser site, the customized Web page received from
server 26 is routed by controller 36 to the designated client
location 40 having the refueling customer from which the relevant
user ID 42 originated (step 130). The Web page is then processed by
browser 37 in a conventional manner for presentation to the
customer who is manning client location 40 (step 132).
[0160] At this point, the customer at client location 40 can
continue the open communications session with server 26 in a
conventional manner. For example, as part of the ongoing visit to
server 26, the user can make various available selections from the
displayed Web page, submit the selections for processing by server
26, and upload further requests for information to server 26 (step
134).
[0161] At the server-side, server 26 continues to receive and
process newly submitted requests for information received from
client location 40 (step 136) pertaining to client location 40.
Among its various tasks, server 26 will download requested Web
pages (according to user selections embodied in the content
request) and update the relevant user profile data accordingly.
[0162] All of these communication activities involving client
location 40 and server 26 are preferably accomplished during a
single open communications session. One feature of the protocol
outline in FIG. 6 is that the online activity defining the visit
between client location 40 and server 26 does not involve remote
facility 14. For this purpose, various suitable means may be used
to facilitate an access connection between client location 40 and
server 26.
[0163] For example, the fuel dispenser site can be provided with a
network connection coupled to controller 36 that allows client
location 40 to communicate with Web 38 over communications link 31.
In one form, this link 31 may provide an Internet connection, such
as in the fully networked configuration of FIG. 2. Alternately,
client machine 40 may itself be provided with a separate network
connection to communications link 31 that enables it to avoid
routing through controller 36. In this case, client machine 40
could be connected directly to the Internet. It should be apparent,
however, that any suitable communications setup can be implemented
to facilitate the indicated communication requirements.
[0164] Various advantages are apparent from the embodiment of FIGS.
5 and 6. As described, the remote facility centrally maintains a
compilation of refueling customer identification elements each
associated with at least one respective state object (cookie
element) that was uniquely assigned by a respective server to fully
identify a client entity. In this manner, it becomes possible for
the user (i.e., refueling customer) to selectively designate any
machine as a client location capable of being effectively
recognized by the network server as the same distinct user as in
previous visits.
[0165] This recognition is possible since the server-specific state
object (cookie element) associated with the user ID of the relevant
customer is simply forwarded by the remote facility to the
designated client location and used by the customer (i.e., browser
37) in communications with the specified Web server. In particular,
this cookie element received by client location 40 from remote
facility 14 is furnished to the server in response to a cookie
request. The Web server itself has no indication that the user is
operating from a machine different from prior visits since the user
has been correctly identified using the same state object, i.e.,
cookie data element.
[0166] In effect, the relevant state object (i.e., cookie) travels
with the customer since the cookie is immediately obtainable by the
customer from the remote facility regardless of the location (i.e.,
fuel dispenser position) that the customer has chosen as the
current client site. Because the same traveling cookie is
communicated from all possible user client locations to the Web
server in response to the cookie request, it effectively appears to
the Web server that all client-side communications are occurring in
connection with the same user and client entity.
[0167] Accordingly, although the user may be conducting a web site
visit from a dispenser location and client machine different from
previous visits, the server nevertheless recognizes and understands
that the same user is visiting since the same cookie data element
(i.e., server-assigned identification number) is associated with
the visit. Thus, the same user profile record may be continuously
updated as the refueling customer visits the server from different
locations, since the same identification value (i.e., cookie
element) that uniquely identifies each user profile record directs
the server into behaving as if the same client-side entity is
accessing the server. In effect, each actual client location is
reconfigured by the traveling cookie into a unique virtual client
entity corresponding to a respective customer and uniquely
recognizable by the server.
[0168] While this invention has been described as having a
preferred design, the present invention can be further modified
within the spirit and scope of this disclosure. This application is
therefore intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of
the invention using its general principles. Further, this
application is intended to cover such departures from the present
disclosure as come within known or customary practice in the art to
which this invention pertains and which fall within the limits of
the appended claims.
* * * * *
References