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.
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 Site—No logins (browser operated)
| ||||
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
|
System in/User out | ||
Vehicle Operation | Trip Calculator | User in/out | ||
Support | Help request | Member/Staff in/out | ||
Station Business Aids | Advertising/Metrics/Payments
|
Station/System in/Station out | ||
Full Sites[3]—Log-in optional (browser operated)
| ||||
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
|
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 |
- ↑ Australia is a new addition, built on a simplified system model that will be discussed separately.
- ↑ Those functionalities which communicate between components are marked with an X.
- ↑ 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.