Abstract: A system and method for providing a fuel dispenser with radio frequency customer identification capabilities. The system and method determines whether a transponder containing customer identification data is within range of a dispenser, the dispenser requiring activation by the customer to initiate a transaction and including a reader associated therewith for emitting radio frequency signals within the dispenser range, and for receiving customer identification data from the transponder responsive to the emitted radio frequency signals received by the transponder. When the transponder is within range of the dispenser, an in-range indication is provided to the customer. A determination is made whether the dispenser has been activated by the customer following a determination that the transponder is within the dispenser range.

Abstract: A simple, non-network solution for portable computing devices such as calculators and PDAs that allows students to collaborate on a project stored as data on a “collaboration cube.” The collaboration cube is a stand-alone device with input ports to connect several portable computing devices with a wired interface connection. Software on each user's device would read and write to commonly accessible memory on the collaboration cube to share project data between the users.