Patents by Inventor William C. Royal
William C. Royal has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Publication number: 20180285959Abstract: A vending machine (105) includes an enclosure configured to store products for a vending transaction. A user interface (215) of the vending machine (105) is configured to display, on a display screen, content for viewing and a recommendation for one or more products. Content includes one or more of a poll, an advertisement, a product selection menu, a payment selection menu, a product purchase display queue, or a transaction complete display queue. A control system (300) is configured to receive at least one recommendation input based on displaying the content, product information of one or more products, and at least one recommendation rule. The control system (300) is also configured to generate for display, on the display screen, the recommendation for one or more products based on the at least one recommendation input, the product information of the one or more products, and the at least one recommendation rule.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 29, 2018Publication date: October 4, 2018Inventors: Sharon Peyer, William C. Royal, Ignacio Santa Cruz, Benjamin Holmes
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Patent number: 9292993Abstract: Automatic planogram programming for a glass front snack or cold drink vending machine is accomplished using tray, product and price barcodes, each preferably a different type of barcode. Trays within the vending machine are labeled with unique barcodes, and a set of price barcodes for predetermined prices is provided together with a USB-connected scanner. The barcode label affixed to any tray is scanned by the route driver. The UPC/EAN barcodes on products are then scanned for each selection progressing across the tray, together with a price barcode for the first selection and each subsequent selection having a different price from the prior selection on the tray. Planogram data for the tray may be reviewed and corrected on a customer interface display for the vending machine before moving on to another tray, with the trays programmed in any order. The planogram for the entire vending machine is quickly and accurately programmed.Type: GrantFiled: July 26, 2012Date of Patent: March 22, 2016Assignee: CRANE MERCHANDISING SYSTEMS, INC.Inventors: James M. Canter, William C. Royal, Jr., Victor Partyshev, Troy Doom, Bryan W. Godwin
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Patent number: 8918206Abstract: Synchronization of activities requiring coordinated timing across a bank of vending machines, such as harmonious actuation of illumination elements, is performed by specifying, in an application layer (e.g., Zigbee) of a network protocol, actions to be synchronized to a distributed timing event and distributing notice of the specified timing event using physical and media access control layers of the network protocol.Type: GrantFiled: April 26, 2012Date of Patent: December 23, 2014Assignee: Crane Merchandising Systems, Inc.Inventors: James M. Canter, William C. Royal, Jr., Steven Blachman
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Patent number: 8761924Abstract: The invention relates to an interactive fuel dispenser system having a plurality of fuel dispensers operating in conjunction with a local server. Each dispenser generally has two fueling positions, each with a graphical user interface through which a customer interacts. In contrast with efforts to turn fuel dispensers into super computers, applicants' provide a dispenser architecture that need only be sufficient to establish interactivity with a server to create multimedia applications and carry out POS functions with a browser interface. Each fueling position acts as a client of a local server at the fuel station store. In the preferred embodiment, each fueling position client also may access remote servers connected to the same network in which the fueling position clients and the local server are connected. Preferably, this network is connected to the Worldwide Web of the Internet.Type: GrantFiled: May 11, 2009Date of Patent: June 24, 2014Assignee: Gilbarco, Inc.Inventors: Russel D. Leatherman, William C. Royal, Jr.
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Publication number: 20130290122Abstract: A user selection keypad allows at least some functionality of vending machine programming configured for a touchscreen display to be utilized without the touchscreen. In addition to character-labeled keys and other standard functionality (such as keys to confirm or cancel an entry), the keypad includes: a shopping cart key that, when actuated, invokes aggregation of multiple product selections for a single vend transaction; and an information key that, when actuated, allows the customer to request display of nutritional information for a currently selected product and/or context-sensitive help information.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 26, 2013Publication date: October 31, 2013Applicant: CRANE MERCHANDISING SYSTEMS, INC.Inventors: William C. Royal, Jr., Ignacio Santa Cruz, Viktor Partyshev, Troy Doom
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Publication number: 20130144432Abstract: Automatic planogram programming for a glass front snack or cold drink vending machine is accomplished using tray, product and price barcodes, each preferably a different type of barcode. Trays within the vending machine are labeled with unique barcodes, and a set of price barcodes for predetermined prices is provided together with a USB-connected scanner. The barcode label affixed to any tray is scanned by the route driver. The UPC/EAN barcodes on products are then scanned for each selection progressing across the tray, together with a price barcode for the first selection and each subsequent selection having a different price from the prior selection on the tray. Planogram data for the tray may be reviewed and corrected on a customer interface display for the vending machine before moving on to another tray, with the trays programmed in any order. The planogram for the entire vending machine is quickly and accurately programmed.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 26, 2012Publication date: June 6, 2013Applicant: CRANE MERCHANDISING SYSTEMS, INC.Inventors: James M. Canter, William C. Royal, JR., Victor Partyshev, Troy Doom, Bryan W. Godwin
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Publication number: 20130103187Abstract: A vending machine is configured to provide a shopping cart vend transaction order-of-processing, allowing the customer to aggregate product selections before payment. The vending machine includes an enclosure configured to store a plurality of products, a user interface configured to receive inputs from a consumer; and a control system coupled to the user interface. The control system is configured to provide a virtual shopping cart that enables the customer to aggregate one or more product selections in a single vend transaction.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 19, 2012Publication date: April 25, 2013Applicant: CRANE MERCHANDISING SYSTEMS, INC.Inventors: James M. Canter, William C. Royal, JR., Troy Doom, Bryan W. Godwin
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Publication number: 20130006413Abstract: Synchronization of activities requiring coordinated timing across a bank of vending machines, such as harmonious actuation of illumination elements, is performed by specifying, in an application layer (e.g., Zigbee) of a network protocol, actions to be synchronized to a distributed timing event and distributing notice of the specified timing event using physical and media access control layers of the network protocol.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 26, 2012Publication date: January 3, 2013Applicant: CRANE MERCHANDISING SYSTEMS, INC.Inventors: James M. Canter, William C. Royal, JR., Steven Blachman
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Publication number: 20130006416Abstract: A vending machine is configured to collect rich customer insight information, including time-based records of the customer interaction with the vending machine during a vend transaction. Customer menu selections, brand information associated with customer payment or product selections, and promotions or displays triggering customer input are logged for analysis to provide further information regarding customer sales and promotion responses.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 21, 2012Publication date: January 3, 2013Applicant: CRANE MERCHANDISING SYSTEMS, INC.Inventors: James M. Canter, William C. Royal, JR., Steven Joel Blachman, Bryan W. Godwin
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Publication number: 20110173568Abstract: Logic for a vending machine customer interface is supplied from one a plurality of markup language descriptions of the customer interface contained within storage media in the vending machine. Each markup language description is configured to cause the customer interface flow between different sets of application states, and content that is displayed/rendered when respective application states are activated. In response to customer selection of a particular product or class of products, based on the customer selection, the controller processes customer interface flow and content based upon a corresponding markup language description to produce the customer interface display.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 12, 2011Publication date: July 14, 2011Applicant: CRANE MERCHANDISING SYSTEMS, INC.Inventors: William C. Royal, JR., Viktor Partyshev, Andrii Anpilogov, James M. Canter, Iaroslav Voitovych
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Publication number: 20110173535Abstract: Text for a vending machine customer interface is supplied from one of a plurality of markup language descriptions of the customer interface text contained within storage media in the vending machine. Each markup language description is configured to cause the customer interface text to be displayed in a different human language. In response to initiation of a vend transaction, the vending machine may prompt the customer to select a preferred human language in which to transact the vend and, based on the customer selection, load customer interface text from a corresponding markup language description into the customer interface display.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 12, 2011Publication date: July 14, 2011Applicant: CRANE MERCHANDISING SYSTEMS, INC.Inventors: William C. Royal, JR., Viktor Partyshev, James M. Canter, Iaroslav Voitovych
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Publication number: 20090222131Abstract: The invention relates to an interactive fuel dispenser system having a plurality of fuel dispensers operating in conjunction with a local server. Each dispenser generally has two fueling positions, each with a graphical user interface through which a customer interacts. In contrast with efforts to turn fuel dispensers into super computers, applicants' provide a dispenser architecture that need only be sufficient to establish interactivity with a server to create multimedia applications and carry out POS functions with a browser interface. Each fueling position acts as a client of a local server at the fuel station store. In the preferred embodiment, each fueling position client also may access remote servers connected to the same network in which the fueling position clients and the local server are connected. Preferably, this network is connected to the Worldwide Web of the Internet.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 11, 2009Publication date: September 3, 2009Inventors: Russel D. Leatherman, William C. Royal, JR.
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Publication number: 20090154696Abstract: A system used in a retail environment, such as a fuel dispensing environment, for providing secure communication of payment information to a host computer. The system includes at least one keypad device configured to receive and encrypt personal information according to a first encryption scheme to produce encrypted personal data. The keypad device is further operative to generate a local zone emulated message in a message format of a second encryption scheme, the local zone emulated message containing the encrypted personal data. A site controller is in communication with the keypad device to receive the local zone emulated message. The site controller is configured to provide a message in the second encryption scheme to a security module for decryption and re-encryption in the first encryption scheme. An emulator is associated with the site controller to emulate the security module.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 5, 2008Publication date: June 18, 2009Applicant: Gilbarco Inc.Inventors: Philip A. Robertson, William C. Royal
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Patent number: 7546251Abstract: The invention relates to an interactive fuel dispenser system having a plurality of fuel dispensers operating in conjunction with a local server. Each dispenser generally has two fueling positions, each with a graphical user interface through which a customer interacts. In contrast with the recent trend in turning fuel dispensers into super computers, applicants' provide a dispenser architecture that need only be sufficient to establish interactivity with a server to create multimedia applications and carry out POS functions with a browser interface. Each fueling position acts as a client of a local server at the fuel station store. In the preferred embodiment, each fueling position client also may access remote servers connected to the same network in which the fueling position clients and the local server are connected. Preferably, this network is or is connected to the Worldwide Web of the Internet.Type: GrantFiled: February 8, 2000Date of Patent: June 9, 2009Assignee: Gibarco, Inc.Inventors: Russel D. Leatherman, William C. Royal, Jr.
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Patent number: 6820041Abstract: A fuel dispenser includes data type aware SGML processing capabilities allowing it to efficiently process received data having a variety of data types. Such received data typically includes fuel dispenser configuration information. Further benefits related to data type aware SGML processing within the fuel dispenser include the ability to transfer information in a data type aware SGML format from the fuel dispenser, such as diagnostics data, to a remote system. Data type aware SGML data definitions facilitate conversion of the data type aware SGML-formatted diagnostics data into a machine format usable by the remote system. Preferably, the fuel dispenser includes an HTTP server for communicating with remote client's systems that employ data type aware SGML-capable, web browsers.Type: GrantFiled: May 13, 2003Date of Patent: November 16, 2004Assignee: Gilbarco Inc.Inventors: William C. Royal, Jr., Kenneth L. Ringeman
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Patent number: 6741909Abstract: The invention relates to an interactive fuel dispenser system having a plurality of fuel dispensers operating in conjunction with a local server. Each dispenser generally has two fueling positions, each with a graphical user interface through which a customer interacts. In contrast with the recent trend in turning fuel dispensers into super computers, applicants' provide a dispenser architecture that need only be sufficient to establish interactivity with a server to create multimedia applications and carry out POS functions with a browser interface. Each fueling position acts as a client of a local server at the fuel station store. In the preferred embodiment, each fueling position client also may access remote servers connected to the same network in which the fueling position clients and the local server are connected. Preferably, this network is or is connected to the Worldwide Web of the Internet.Type: GrantFiled: April 5, 2001Date of Patent: May 25, 2004Assignee: Gilbarco Inc.Inventors: Russel D. Leatherman, William C. Royal, Jr.
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Publication number: 20030204377Abstract: A fuel dispenser includes data type aware SGML processing capabilities allowing it to efficiently process received data having a variety of data types. Such received data typically includes fuel dispenser configuration information. Further benefits related to data type aware SGML processing within the fuel dispenser include the ability to transfer information in a data type aware SGML format from the fuel dispenser, such as diagnostics data, to a remote system. Data type aware SGML data definitions facilitate conversion of the data type aware SGML-formatted diagnostics data into a machine format usable by the remote system. Preferably, the fuel dispenser includes an HTTP server for communicating with remote client's systems that employ data type aware SGML-capable, web browsers. Data type aware SGML-based style sheets may be transferred from the fuel dispenser to the remote system for assisting with the visual display of received fuel dispenser data in HTML format.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 13, 2003Publication date: October 30, 2003Inventors: William C. Royal, Kenneth L. Ringeman
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Patent number: 6571201Abstract: A fuel dispenser includes data type aware SGML processing capabilities allowing it to efficiently process received data having a variety of data types. Such received data typically includes fuel dispenser configuration information. Further benefits related to data type aware SGML processing within the fuel dispenser include the ability to transfer information in a data type aware SGML format from the fuel dispenser, such as diagnostics data, to a remote system. Data type aware SGML data definitions facilitate conversion of the data type aware SGML-formatted diagnostics data into a machine format usable by the remote system. Preferably, the fuel dispenser includes an HTTP server for communicating with remote client's systems that employ data type aware SGML-capable, web browsers.Type: GrantFiled: August 18, 2000Date of Patent: May 27, 2003Assignee: Gilbarco Inc.Inventors: William C. Royal, Jr., Kenneth L. Ringeman
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Patent number: 6523744Abstract: A fuel dispenser having a server is disclosed. The fuel dispenser server is adapted to dynamically or periodically create electronic documents reflecting fuel dispenser data for viewing remote to the fuel dispenser. A network connection provides connectivity of the server to remote clients. The fuel dispenser with a server is relatively inexpensive to produce and is ideally suited for remote troubleshooting and for interaction with a dispenser customer.Type: GrantFiled: December 19, 2000Date of Patent: February 25, 2003Assignee: Gilbarco Inc.Inventors: William C. Royal, Jr., Randall O. Watkins
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Patent number: 6360137Abstract: The present invention provides communication servers at each device in a fueling environment and connecting the servers to a common network. The network may be a local network or a largely remote network, such as the Internet. Preferably, in either embodiment, primary communications between these devices and any devices accessible via the Internet use the hypertext transfer protocol (HTTP) and hypertext markup language (HTML). In particular, each device server is adapted to facilitate real-time access between the device server and the remote device upon access of a particular page, script or function. In particular, the present invention relates to embedding executable content onto an HTML page so that when the page is loaded into an HTML browser after being accessed, the executable content starts running automatically.Type: GrantFiled: June 16, 1999Date of Patent: March 19, 2002Assignee: Marconi Commerce Systems Inc.Inventors: William C. Royal, Jr., Randall O. Watkins