A system and method for receiving, holding, and electronically identifying a plurality of electronically trackable items within an item dispensing device and an item return device. The system receiving user identification data presented at the dispensing device by a user configured to notify the dispensing device of intended user access to the dispensing device for at least one electronically trackable item, controlling user access of a user to the dispensing device to allow dispensing from the dispensing device of at least one electronically trackable item of the plurality of electronically trackable items, electronically identifying and storing a dispensing record of at least one dispensed electronically trackable item of the plurality of electronically trackable items associated with the user identification data.

A fuel authorization program based on equipping fuel station, fuel pumps, and vehicles with components to enable automatic fuel authorization for enrolled vehicles. The program includes fuel pumps including a pump transmitting sensor that automatically emits a pump ID. As a vehicle pulls in next to the pump a vehicle coupling receiving sensor detects the pump ID signal and a proximity link is created. The vehicle sensor passes the pump ID via hardwire or Bluetooth to vehicle fuel authorization processor (which can be part of a telematics device). The vehicle processor transmits the pump ID (and any fuel authorization credentials needed, such as a PIN or VIN) via WI-FI to a Station processor for fuel vendor authorization. If approved, the pump is enabled. As the vehicle moves away the coupling sensor link is broken and the vehicle transmits a disconnect message via Wi-Fi and the pump is disabled.

A method of operating a fuel dispenser having a plurality of fuel handling components and a user interface having at least one peripheral device for input of sensitive payment information. One step of the method involves providing control electronics for the fuel dispenser, the control electronics including a multi-core processor having at least two processor cores and an on-board memory located on a common integrated circuit chip. According to another step, pump hydraulic software is executed on a first processor core of the at least two processor cores via a real-time operating system, the pump hydraulic software being in operative communication with at least one of the fuel handling components. Peripheral control software is executed on a second processor core of the at least two processor cores operating via a non-real time operating system separately and asynchronously from the first processor core. The peripheral control software is operative to provide payment instructions via the user interface and receive sensitive payment information via the at least one peripheral device. For example, the pump hydraulic software and the peripheral control software may communicate with each other via the on-board memory of the multi-core processor.

Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for generating rules to apply to fare transactions when a fare card reader cannot communicate with an authorization server, for generating historical data and a risk score for a fare card that are used by a fare card reader, with the rules, to determine whether to authorize access to a transit service when the fare card reader cannot communicate with the authorization server, and for selectively permitting or denying access to the transit service using the rules and the historical data or the score for a fare card.

A method for enhancing credit of a cardholder of a pre-paid card may include issuing a pre-paid card to a cardholder. The cardholder may be charged a fee to establish a credit instrument associated with an account and the pre-paid card. The cardholder may be billed a portion of the credit instrument that includes the fee on a periodic basis, where the billing may be independent of billing for purchases of goods and services with the pre-paid card. A determination as to whether the cardholder timely paid the bill. If the cardholder timely paid the bill, then the payment may be recorded as being timely paid. Otherwise, a recording may be made that the bill was not timely paid. A reporting as to the timeliness of the payment may be made to affect a credit score of the cardholder.

A fuel authorization program based on equipping fuel station, fuel pumps, and vehicles with components to enable automatic fuel authorization for enrolled vehicles. The program includes fuel pumps including a pump transmitting sensor that automatically emits a pump ID. As a vehicle pulls in next to the pump a vehicle coupling receiving sensor detects the pump ID signal and a proximity link is created. The vehicle sensor passes the pump ID via hardwire or Bluetooth to vehicle fuel authorization processor (which can be part of a telematics device). The vehicle processor transmits the pump ID (and any fuel authorization credentials needed, such as a PIN or VIN) via WI-FI to a Station processor for fuel vendor authorization. If approved, the pump is enabled. As the vehicle moves away the coupling sensor link is broken and the vehicle transmits a disconnect message via Wi-Fi and the pump is disabled.

The invention relates to a bank card (100) comprising a presentation surface of a pictogram (120) coding at least one item of information for executing a transaction.

A pre-staged or in-person provided order is received from a customer location. Order details are sent to a fulfillment terminal and items associated with the order are prepared or collected. The items are loaded into an autonomous device. The autonomous device plans a route from its current location to the customer location and the autonomous device navigates from its current location to the customer location using the route. The customer is verified at the autonomous device and a secure bin is unlocked by the autonomous device. The customer removes the items associated with the order from the unlocked secure bin, and the autonomous device navigates back to its original location within an enterprise.

A credit card Emergency Fund system, comprising the steps of a credit card provider opening one or two accounts with two different card numbers, with a first main credit card and a second credit card for a spare. Alternatively, one credit card is provided with one or two accounts. Upon the customer's request, when the credit limit of the main credit card is fully expended, the spare credit card, with the Emergency credit line, or the Emergency credit line with a single card, is activated for a limited time period.

A fuel authorization program based on equipping fuel station, fuel pumps, and vehicles with components to enable automatic fuel authorization for enrolled vehicles. The program includes fuel pumps including a pump transmitting sensor that automatically emits a pump ID. As a vehicle pulls in next to the pump a vehicle coupling receiving sensor detects the pump ID signal and a proximity link is created. The vehicle sensor passes the pump ID via hardwire or Bluetooth to vehicle fuel authorization processor (which can be part of a telematics device). The vehicle processor transmits the pump ID (and any fuel authorization credentials needed, such as a PIN or VIN) via WI-FI to a Station processor for fuel vendor authorization. If approved, the pump is enabled. As the vehicle moves away the coupling sensor link is broken and the vehicle transmits a disconnect message via Wi-Fi and the pump is disabled.