Fraud detection through tank monitor analysis
First Claim
1. A method of detecting fraud in a fuel dispenser, wherein the fraud comprises reporting an amount of fuel in excess of the amount of fuel actually dispensed in a fueling transaction, said method comprising:
- a) reporting an amount of fuel alleged to be dispensed on the fuel dispenser to create a displayed amount;
b) comparing the reported amount to a reference related to an output from a storage tank sensor; and
c) determining if the reported amount is within a confidence interval of said reference to estimate a likelihood that the reported amount exceeds the amount of fuel actually dispensed.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A fraud detection system within a fuel dispenser includes the ability to measure the amount of fuel dispensed through the fuel dispenser. The measurement is compared to a value independently created representing what the amount of fuel dispensed should approximate. If the values are not comparable, an alarm may be generated to indicate that the fuel dispenser has been modified to perpetrate fraud upon the customers. In particular, a reference used in the comparison is created using on an output from a storage tank sensor. The storage tank sensor, during the dispensing of fuel provides an independent number related to the amount of fuel actually dispensed that can be compared to the reported amount of fuel dispensed.
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Citations
37 Claims
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1. A method of detecting fraud in a fuel dispenser, wherein the fraud comprises reporting an amount of fuel in excess of the amount of fuel actually dispensed in a fueling transaction, said method comprising:
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a) reporting an amount of fuel alleged to be dispensed on the fuel dispenser to create a displayed amount;
b) comparing the reported amount to a reference related to an output from a storage tank sensor; and
c) determining if the reported amount is within a confidence interval of said reference to estimate a likelihood that the reported amount exceeds the amount of fuel actually dispensed. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method of detecting fraud in a fueling environment, wherein the fraud comprises reporting by a fuel dispenser an amount in excess of the amount of fuel actually dispensed in a fueling transaction, said method comprising:
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a) averaging reported amounts for a plurality of fueling transactions occurring in the fueling environment;
b) reporting the average reported amounts to a computer remote from the fueling environment;
c) comparing the average reported amounts to a reference related to outputs generated by a storage tank sensor; and
d) determining if the average reported amounts are within a confidence interval of said reference to estimate a likelihood that the reported amounts exceed the amount of fuel actually dispensed. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A fuel dispenser configured to detect fraud in a fueling transaction wherein the fraud comprises reporting an amount of fuel exceeding the amount of fuel actually dispensed in a fueling transaction, said fuel dispenser comprising:
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a) a fuel delivery path to deliver fuel to a vehicle;
b) a user interface for reporting an amount of fuel allegedly dispensed; and
c) a control system for controlling said fuel delivery path and receiving an output from a storage tank sensor, wherein said control system determines a reference from said output and compares said reference to a reported amount of fuel alleged to be dispensed through the fuel delivery path during the fueling transaction and wherein said control system determines if the reported amount is within a confidence interval of said reference to estimate a likelihood that the reported amount exceeds the amount of fuel actually dispensed. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. A central station computer configured to detect fraud in a fueling transaction wherein the fraud comprises reporting an amount of fuel exceeding the amount of fuel actually dispensed in a fueling transaction, said central station computer configured to:
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receive a reported amount of fuel alleged to be dispensed on a fuel dispenser;
compare the reported amount to a reference related to an output from a storage tank sensor; and
determine if the reported amount is within a confidence interval of said reference to estimate a likelihood that the reported amount differs from an amount of fuel actually dispensed. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29)
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30. A computer remote from a fueling environment configured to detect fraud in a fuel dispenser wherein the fraud comprises reporting an amount of fuel differing from the amount of fuel actually dispensed in a fueling transaction, said computer configured to:
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receive data related to a reported amount of fuel alleged to be dispensed on a fuel dispenser;
compare the data related to a reported amount to a reference related to an output from an storage tank sensor; and
determine if the data related to a reported amount is within a confidence interval of said reference to estimate a likelihood that the reported amount differs from an amount of fuel actually dispensed. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33, 34)
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35. A fuel dispenser configured to assist in fraud detection in a fueling transaction, wherein the fraud comprises reporting an amount of fuel dispensed exceeding an amount of fuel actually dispensed in the fueling transaction, said fuel dispenser comprising:
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a) a fuel delivery path to a vehicle;
b) a user interface for reporting an amount of fuel allegedly dispensed; and
c) a control system for controlling said fuel delivery path and conveying a reported amount of fuel dispensed to a computer remote from the fuel dispenser for comparison to a reference derived from an output from a storage tank sensor, said comparison being performed by said computer remote from the fuel dispenser.
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36. A computer readable medium including software configured to evaluate the existence of fraud inferentially in a fueling transaction, wherein the fraud comprises reporting an amount of fuel exceeding an amount of fuel actually dispensed in a fueling transaction, said software evaluating the existence of fraud by:
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receiving data related to a reported amount of fuel dispensed in a fueling transaction;
receiving data related to an output from a storage tank sensor to create reference; and
comparing said reference to said data related to the reported amount of fuel dispensed to determine if the reported amount is within a confidence interval of said reference to estimate a likelihood that the reported amount exceeds the amount of fuel actually dispensed.
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37. A method of detecting fraud in fueling transaction, wherein the fraud comprises overcharging consumers for more fuel than was actually dispensed during a given fueling transaction, said method comprising:
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a) dispensing fuel through a fuel dispenser;
b) reporting amounts of fuel to consumers to create reported amounts;
c) totaling the reported amounts for a given time period to create a total reported amount of fuel allegedly dispensed; and
d) comparing said total reported amount of fuel allegedly dispensed to a reference derived from an output of a storage tank sensor reflecting a total amount of fuel actually drained from a storage tank for the given amount of time to estimate if the total reported amount is within a confidence interval of said reference to estimate a likelihood that the total reported amount exceeds the amount of fuel actually dispensed.
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Specification