Patents Examined by William L Bangacholi
  • Patent number: 6313737
    Abstract: A system and method to store a sequence of data records relating to attributes of interactions between fuel dispensers and tags. The data records may be stored on the tag or at a location remote from the tag, such as a fuel dispenser, central site controller or other network. The data records may contain the identity of the dispenser, tag and any attribute of a received signal, such as frequency band or signal strength, or other attribute indicative of proximity. Every dispenser that attempts to communicate with a tag in question adds its own interaction data to a limited history of a tag's past interactions with the same and other dispensers. When a dispenser or central site control system examines the contents of the interaction histories, the detected presence of other dispensers or the relative strength of the recorded interaction attributes will determine what, if any, action is to be taken by the dispensers or central site control system to communicate with the tag at issue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2001
    Assignee: Marconi Commerce Systems Inc.
    Inventors: Deron W. Freeze, John C. Greene