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The GasBuddy System (Not yet published)

An explanation of the parts of the GasBuddy Organization (GBO) system and how they relate to each other. This is discussed as they appear to the user without regard to logical or physical arrangement used by GBO internally (which is unknown).



General

The GBO system allows users to report and retrieve motor fuel prices sold at various fueling stations in the U.S., Canada and Australia[1] The system also provides auxiliary functions related to vehicle operation, as well as community features such as communications between members, photos exhibits and the like.

User registration is optional except for functions which necessarily require identifying the user in order for them to work.

GasBuddy User Classes
Class Log In Required? Points*
Required
Qualifies for
Visitor No None functions not requiring user identity
Member Yes: Nickname & Password None functions which must identify the user
Senior Member Yes: Nickname & Password 10,000 functions which must identify the
user and require a measure trust
Senior Member Yes: Nickname & Password 35,000 display on leaderboards.

*Points are no-cost values earned by a member performing certain system tasks, such as reporting prices.

GBO System Components

The system was originally operated only from full websites, but now can be operated from a mobile website and applications on phones, tablets and other "smart" devices. Some functions are available only on certain components, as shown in the following table:


Component Functionality Name or Descript. Data source/Used by Piped to
apps?[2]
Portal SiteNo logins
(browser operated)
  • gasbuddy.com
    (current portal,
    described at right)
  • then.gasbuddy.com
    (archived version)
Links to state/province sites Find Cheap Gas Prices in the USA System in/User out
Graphical/Numerical Price Maps Gas price heat map/Map Gas Prices System in/User out
Fuel Price Info Statistics, S/P Avgs, FAQs
  • fuelinsights.gasbuddy.com
System in/User out
Vehicle Operation Trip Calculator User in/out
Support Help request Member/Staff in/out
Station Business Aids Advertising/Metrics/Payments
  • business.gasbuddy.com
Station/System in/Station out
Full Sites[3]Log-in optional
(browser operated)
  • State/Province (S/P) Sites
    (catchall for stations/members
    not in Metro-areas sites)
    • [S/P name]gasprices.com
    • [S/P name].gasbuddy.com
  • Metro-area Sites
    (major population
    centers)
    • [M-A name]gasprices.com
    • [M-A name].gasbuddy.com
Station database Master Station List Member in/out X
Price database Reporting/Searching User in/out X
Graphical/Numerical Price Maps Gas price heat map/Map Gas Prices System in/User out
Fuel Price Info Trends, Statistics System in/User out
Vehicle Operations Trip Calculator & Fuel Aids Member in/out
Member Performance Leaders, Points System in/User out
Member Information Profile, Preferences, Log In Member in/user
or System out
News Links to related stories Member in/User out
GBO Blog
  • blog.gasbuddy.com
  • archiveblog.gasbuddy.com
Fuel/vehicle writings GBO staff in/User out
Messaging Private Messaging, Whiteboards Member/Staff in/out
Forum Broadcast messaging Member/Staff in/User out
Photos Member's photo exhibits Member in/User out
Photos Member's station photos Member in/User out X
FAQs System info Staff in/User out
Tutorials Help Center Staff in/User out
Support Help request Member/Staff in/out
Mobile site
a b c
  1. Australia is a new addition, built on a simplified system model that will be discussed separately.
  2. Those functionalities which communicate between components are marked with an X.
  3. Some sites use the older URL format—[name]gasprices.com—and some use the newer URL format—[name].gasbuddy.com. The older formats redirect to the newer one where they exist.