Signature pulse generator and method of detecting tampering with a fueling operation
First Claim
1. A method for detecting tampering with a fuel dispensing operation comprising:
- a. generating an electronic signal as a fuel is dispensed to a customer wherein the electronic signal has an identifying anomaly for allowing fueling operations and wherein the signal is related to the volume or flow rate of fuel dispensed;
b. comparing the generated signal to an expected signal signature with an expected anomaly signature;
c. allowing fuel dispensing to continue if the generated signal is substantially similar to the expected signal and anomaly signature.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus for detecting tampering with a fuel dispenser digital pulse stream during dispensing of a fuel. The method includes generating a digital pulse stream indicative of the volume and flow rate of fuel dispensed wherein the pulse stream includes an identifying pulse anomaly; storing a digital pulse stream signature in a memory device wherein the stored signature includes the identifying pulse anomaly; comparing the incoming digital pulse stream with the stored digital pulse stream; and allowing fuel delivery to continue if the incoming digital pulse stream generated by the pulse generator is substantially similar to the stored digital pulse stream signature.
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Citations
15 Claims
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1. A method for detecting tampering with a fuel dispensing operation comprising:
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a. generating an electronic signal as a fuel is dispensed to a customer wherein the electronic signal has an identifying anomaly for allowing fueling operations and wherein the signal is related to the volume or flow rate of fuel dispensed; b. comparing the generated signal to an expected signal signature with an expected anomaly signature; c. allowing fuel dispensing to continue if the generated signal is substantially similar to the expected signal and anomaly signature. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A method for detecting tampering with a fuel dispensing operation comprising:
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a. generating a digital pulse stream related to the volume or flow rate of fuel dispensed wherein the pulse stream includes an identifying pulse anomaly for allowing fueling operations; b. comparing the incoming digital pulse stream with an expected digital pulse stream signature and an expected anomaly signature; and c. allowing fuel delivery to continue if the digital pulse stream is substantially similar to the pulse stream and anomaly signature. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method for detecting tampering with a fuel dispenser digital pulse stream during dispensing of a fuel comprising the steps of:
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a. determining a rate at which fuel is being dispensed; b. generating a digital pulse stream related to the volume or flow rate of fuel dispensed wherein the pulse stream includes an identifying pulse anomaly for allowing fueling operations; c. comparing the incoming digital pulse stream with an expected pulse stream signature and an expected anomaly signature when the fuel flow rate is equal to or greater than a predetermined minimum; and d. allowing fuel delivery to continue if the incoming digital pulse stream is substantially similar to the expected pulse stream and anomaly signature.
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15. A method for detecting tampering with the dispensing of fuel comprising the steps of:
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a. generating first and second digital pulse streams wherein at least one of the digital pulse streams is related to the volume or flow rate of fuel dispensed and wherein each pulse stream includes first and second identifying digital pulse anomalies respectively for allowing fueling operations; b. combining the digital pulse streams to create a combined digital pulse signature; c. comparing the combined digital pulse signature with an expected digital pulse signature and an expected anomaly signature; and d. allowing fuel delivery to continue if the combined digital pulse signature is substantially similar to the expected digital pulse stream and anomaly signature.
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Specification