(19) United States
`(12) Patent Application Publication (10) Pub. No.: US 2003/0055530 A1
`DOdson
`(43) Pub. Date:
`Mar. 20, 2003
`
`US 20030055530A1
`
`(54) SYSTEM FOR DELIVERING WEB CONTENT
`TO FUEL DISPENSER
`(76) Inventor: Dave Dodson, Virginia Beach, VA (US)
`
`Correspondence Address:
`RANDALLJ. KNUTH, PC.
`3510-A Stellhorn Road
`Fort Wayne, IN 46815-4631 (US)
`
`(21) Appl. No.:
`(22) Filed:
`
`10/162,026
`Jun. 4, 2002
`
`Related U.S. Application Data
`
`(60) Provisional application No. 60/296,097, filed on Jun.
`5, 2001.
`
`Publication Classification
`
`(51) Int. Cl." ..................................................... G06F 17/00
`(52) U.S. Cl. ........................... 700/231; 700/244; 700/237
`
`(57)
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`A System implements a communications protocol in con
`nection 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 con
`nection 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 ele
`ment to identify the corresponding user profile record main
`tained at the Server Side. The Server generates customized
`content from the retrieved user profile record and Sends it to
`the customer.
`
`
`
`/O
`
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`Patent Application Publication Mar. 20, 2003 Sheet 1 of 6
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`Patent Application Publication Mar. 20, 2003 Sheet 2 of 6
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`US 2003/0055530 A1
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`22°
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`D/2004 Z3/V
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`Patent Application Publication Mar. 20, 2003 Sheet 3 of 6
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`2%
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`Patent Application Publication Mar. 20, 2003 Sheet 4 of 6
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`US 2003/0055530 A1
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`FUEL DISPENSERSITE
`
`REMOTEFACILITY
`
`WEBSERVER
`
`7
`communicite user ID to
`remote facility (52)
`
`receive user ID from fuel
`dispenser site (54)
`send requestiér information to receive information request
`specified network resource
`sent from remote facility (58)
`(web server) (56)
`
`7-7,
`remote facility
`send reply to
`requesting co
`pkie data (60)
`
`identify and retrieve user
`profile data corresponding to
`cookie received from remote
`facility (68)
`generate custonized web page
`using retrieved user profile
`data (70)
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`download customized web
`page to fuel dispenser site
`associated with user ID (76)
`receive customized web pagea
`from remote facility (78)
`display customized web page
`(80)
`user makes Web page
`Selections, subynits selections,
`and issues further requests for
`information (82)
`
`7
`
`
`
`and server (84)
`
`/76 47
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`Patent Application Publication Mar. 20, 2003 Sheet 5 of 6
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`Patent Application Publication Mar. 20, 2003 Sheet 6 of 6
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`US 2003/0055530 A1
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`FUEL DISPENSERSITE
`obtain user IBao)
`communicate user ID to remole
`facility (102)
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`REMOTEFACILITY
`
`W
`
`WE
`
`7
`
`ceive user ID from fuel
`dispenser site(104)
`retrieve cookie corresponding
`to user ID received from fuel
`dispenser site,(l06)
`send retrieve oookie to fuel
`dispenser site associated with
`user ID (108).
`
`send request for information to
`specified network resource
`(web server) (112)
`
`
`
`receive information request
`from fuel dispenser site (114)
`
`
`
`receive cookie request from
`web server (118)
`7
`send cookie to web server
`(120)
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`identify and retrieve user
`profile data corresponding to
`cookie received from fuel
`dispenser site (124)
`generate customized web page
`using retrieved user profile data
`(126)
`download customized web
`page to fuel dispenser site
`
`Y
`
`receive customized web page -
`from web serve (130)
`display oustomized web page
`(132)
`user makes Web page
`Sclections, submits selections,
`and issues further requests for
`information (134)
`
`
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`US 2003/0055530 A1
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`Mar. 20, 2003
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`SYSTEM FOR DELIVERING WEB CONTENT TO
`FUEL DISPENSER
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`0001) 1. Field of the Invention
`0002 The present invention relates to a system for deliv
`ering 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. Gen
`erally, 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 Navi
`gatorTM and Microsoft's Internet ExplorerTM. Web clients
`and Web Servers communicate using a protocol called
`Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP). The Web is that por
`tion 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 ini
`tiates 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 Trans
`port Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP).
`0008. One portion of the browser verifies that the infor
`mation 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 Pro
`tocol (IP) address of the requesting browser and to deter
`mine 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 num
`ber or code to the Sender that the server transmits back to the
`client-side browser in the form of a cookie. This transmis
`Sion 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 data
`base 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 num
`ber 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 incor
`porated 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 serverside, 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
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`profile information Stored within the profile database main
`tained 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 can
`not 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 corre
`sponds to a unique client entity. Accordingly, in the case
`where a common PC terminal is shared by various individu
`als accessing the same Server at different times, the profile
`data on one user developed during a dedicated communica
`tions Session will be commingled with profile data on
`another user accessing the same Server during another
`communications Session.
`0.017. 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 differ
`ent 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.
`0.018. This limitation is particularly noticeable in appli
`cation 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 opera
`tional 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
`0.019 A system is provided for use in a refueling envi
`ronment comprising a plurality of fuel dispenser Sites. The
`individual refueling locations are arranged for communica
`tion with a remote central facility. The remote facility is
`arranged for communication with a network having a plu
`rality 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 refu
`eling 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 main
`tains 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 embod
`ied within a cookie is first created during an initial interac
`tion 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 facil
`ity 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 par
`ticular, the cookie is used to acceSS and identify the correct
`user profile data record. The Web Server generates a cus
`tomized Web page based upon the user profile data retrieved
`from the database. The customized Web page is then for
`warded 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 pre
`Sented 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
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`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 corre
`sponding to the user ID and forwards the retrieved cookie to
`the fuel dispenser Site. The remote facility similarly main
`tains 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
`SCWC.
`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 custom
`ized 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).
`0.032 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 com
`prising, inter alia, receiving a user identification from the
`refueling environment, providing State information associ
`ated 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 con
`tent 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 environ
`ment 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 opera
`tional 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 identifica
`tion; 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 there with.
`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 environ
`ment.
`0040. The remote facility is configured to execute opera
`tional 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 respec
`tive Selective network resource associated there with. Fur
`thermore, each State object communications is responsive to
`a respective State information request issued by the respec
`tive Selective network resource associated therewith. More
`over, each State object communication includes respective
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`State information associated with the respective user iden
`tification associated therewith.
`0042. In one form, each network resource is configured to
`execute operational functions comprising, inter alia, gener
`ating 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 refu
`eling environment.
`0043. In another form, each network resource is config
`ured 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 Send
`ing 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.
`004.5 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 selec
`tively operatively communicate at least one user identifica
`tion 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 identifica
`tion, 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 identifica
`tion.
`0.048. 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 corre
`sponding 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 correspond
`ing 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 respec
`tive 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 respec
`tive 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 identi
`fication 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 respec
`tive user identification. The refueling environment, in
`another form, further includes a means for directing at least
`one respective communication from a respective corre
`sponding fuel dispenser Site to a respective node in the
`network. At least one of the fuel dispenser Site communi
`cations 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 involv
`ing 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 asso
`ciating respective State information received from a respec
`tive network node with the respective user identification
`asSociated there with.
`0053 Each network node, in yet another form, also
`includes in combination a data structure comprising a plu
`rality 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 corre
`sponding to the respective State object; a means for gener
`ating 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 informa
`tion, 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 environ
`ment.
`
`IPR2022-00600
`Apple EX1022 Page 11
`
`

`

`US 2003/0055530 A1
`
`Mar. 20, 2003
`
`0056. The remote facility is configured to execute opera
`tional 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 iden
`tification from the remote facility to the refuel