ASSUMPTION: The finished gas station is a franchise of a large gas company.
(Work in progress)
NOTE: This version simply contains the output of the three subgroups we
formed to refine the spec.
Section 1 is by Cory, Rob, Bruce and Alejandro and covers the Remote Operations
aspect of the project.
Section 2 is by Mike, Tammy, Catherine and Eric and covers the Credit Card
interaction and a few details.
Section 3 is by Linh, Soleil, Hanif and Ben and covers the Accounting and
report generation aspects.
Because we had three exclusive groups working on this, there are three styles
of presentation. In version 3 of this document we will attempt to integrate
the specifications more smoothly.
Section 1:
Remote Operations:
The following list of operations can be completed from head office via a
remote link to each of the automated gas stations at anytime.
1) SALES
- change the fuel price on the street sign
- change the fuel price at each individual fuel pump
- check fuel levels in each individual tank
- change the maximum sales amount per transaction
- sales reports as follows:
i) hourly summaries
- pump volumes sold
- pump sales total
- sales by fuel type
ii) daily summaries
- pump volumes sold
- pump sales total
- sales by fuel type
- specific credit card sales
- total sales
iii) automated daily summary to be performed off peak hours and resets
totals to start a new day
2) Safety
- shutdown and activation of specific pumps
- emergency shutdown of entire gas station
- manual shutdown at station notifies head office
- fire alarm notifies head office and fire station
- emergency customer service phone
3) Maintenance
- pump diagnostic check includes:
i) calibration
ii) flow rate
iii) communications test
iv) pump status -- on/off
- water in tank check
- low fuel in tank alarm informs head office
- underground tanks filled as follows:
i) supplier unlocks tank with access card and PIN
or remote unlocking of tank by head office
ii) head office is notified of total fuel received of each type
Section 2:
Informal Specifications
At the pump operations:
We would like an automated system that is EXTREMELY user friendly
and will allow for efficient processing. Access to personal help
would be available right at the pumps(preferrably through an intercom
type system).
Step by step instructions would be visible on signs. Text and
graphics should be incorporated in this sign. This system is intended
to run at maximum capacity 24 hours a day seven days a week, therefore
efficiency and convenience is a top priority. Although it must meet
ALL CSA standards.
Beginning of Transaction:
A credit card would be inserted to start the transaction. any credit
cards would be accepted including our own Petro 451 card as well as interac.
Upon insertion of the credit card the machine would verify that the
credit/debit card is valid.
- Card not stolen/lost
- Still valid(not expired)
- Check PIN for debit/custom card
If the card is not authorized then follow procedures laid out by each
individual card company, including a mechanism for keeping
cards. Ensure that the machine can always resume operation after any
errors other than an emergency.
Prompt the user for the amount of gas they would like to purchase.
eg. $5/$10/$20/Fill
- Ensure that their is credit available
Get the user to select their gas type.
Once the card has been approved allow the consumer to fill their
vehicle. The pump would have a couple of built in safety features.
NOTE: SHOULD THESE ALL BE LINKED TO A DIFFERENT
PAGE??????????????????????? WITH THE REMOTE OPERATIONS
- Time control(A maximum time the nozzle can be out of the
holster)
- Time control(Shut off gas flow when fill is selected and an
unreasonable amount of time has passed)
- Fire Alarm(Pump would notify fire department in an emergency)
- A remote shut down
After the nozzle has been returned to the holster the total purchase
will be summed. A receipt will be printed for the customer as well as
a hard copy stored in the machine, and an electronic record.
The receipts would include
- Time stamp
- Gasoline type/amount/price
- Pump number
- Length of transaction
- Station info
The card and a receipt would be returned in a pleasent manner using
society norms.
Section 3:
Automatic Accounting Procedure The gas station will connect to the local central office at preset times daily and send a report of events since the last report. It must also generate a report upon demand if contacted by the office computer. A backup of each report should be saved at the station for a week as a temporary safeguard. If gas is being delivered or sold while the report is being generated, that transaction will appear on the next report. The central office computer will handle printing the reports and generating monthly summaries. For simplicity, assume that this central office computer system is already in place. The station reports sent to the office must contain the following information: - The time period covered by the report (ie, "from-to" times and dates). - Itemized list of sales transactions. Each transaction-line must show: - Type and quantity of gas purchased. - Price per litre at the time of purchase. - Tax amount charged. - Date and time of purchase. - Customer name (This is read from the credit card). - Credit card type and account number. - Itemized list of deliveries, showing the date & time, type of gas, and quantity delivered. - The current station statistics (for verification purposes): - Current prices for each type of gas. - Quantities of gas in each storage tank. - A list of credit cards identified as lost/stolen, and the action ordered by the creditor (ie, return the card to the customer or keep it). This report should be in a format both human- and computer-readable. ie, a text file with a simple and consistent format. The name of each field should either be printed in the file or provided on a reference sheet in the user manual. As an aside, the pump should include an alphanumeric display for prompts, a keypad for entering Interac PIN numbers, and when pumping gas it should show the price of the type of gas selected, the number of liters pumped (in real time), the total tax charged (in real time), and the total charge (in real time). There should be an easy way for the customers to see the prices of all the different types of gas before they select one and start pumping.
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