System and method for managing and monitoring the dispensing of fuels

• US 8,365,997 B2
• Filed: 07/27/2012
• Issued: 02/05/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Paul Gulli
• Original Assignee: Paul Gulli
• Inventors: Gulli, Paul
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Michael G
• Assistant Examiner(s): ELLIS, SUEZU Y
• Application Number:
  US13/560,956
• Publication Number:
  US 20120292386A1
• Time in Patent Office: 193 Days
• Field of Search: 235/375, 235/385, 235/381, 235/382, 235/383, 235/384, 705 28- 30, 705/14.24, 705 1436- 1438
• US Class Current: 235/385
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0631 Resource planning, allocation, distributing or scheduling for enterprises or organisations
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/387 Payment using discounts or coupons relating to marketing G06Q30/02
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0185 Product, service or business identity fraud
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/06 Energy or water supply

Abstract

A fuel management system for use by operators of temporary and/or permanent inventories of vehicles such as vehicle dealerships. Fuel vouchers are issued by authorized issuing personnel to authorized recipients if a validation procedure is passed using a database incorporating employee and vehicle inventory information. At the time of delivery, the fueling station will verify the vehicle and individual presenting the voucher. If verification occurs, the authorized quantity of fuel is dispensed. The voucher and sales receipt are returned to the dealership for future auditing and report generation. The system stores information to enable reports to be generated concerning fuel voucher issuance, actual fuel usage and to detect fraud or misuse, allowing more effective fuel expense management. In the event a report generates a fraud alert, appropriate management personnel are immediately notified by email, text messaging or other means.

Claims

1. A method for managing a dispensing of fuel to non-inventoried vehicles in a vehicle fleet comprising:

(a) providing a database listing vehicles in inventory, valid recipients, and individuals authorized to issue fuel purchase vouchers;

(b) entering a fuel request on a computer by an individual to initiate a fuel voucher generation process;

(c) accessing the database to confirm the individual is authorized to issue a fuel voucher;

(d) identifying a non-inventoried vehicle for refueling by entering vehicle identification information and a reason for the fuel request for the non-inventoried vehicle;

(e) entering the identification of the voucher recipient;

(f) validating the recipient is authorized to receive a voucher by determining that the recipient is listed in the database;

(g) issuing a fuel voucher to the voucher recipient setting forth the amount of fuel authorized and the identification of the recipient;

(h) verifying the voucher and the voucher recipient at a designated fuel station;

(i) dispensing fuel; and

(j) providing the voucher for auditing.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the voucher is bar coded and a fuel station attendant scans the bar coded voucher for verification that the voucher and recipient are valid.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein a fuel station attendant verifies that the vehicle corresponds to the vehicle on the voucher and wherein the station attendant confirms the identity of the voucher recipient using a photo identification.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the request includes the amount of fuel requested and current mileage of the vehicle.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the voucher is tamper-resistant having an adhesive backing and wherein the voucher is attached to a fuel receipt at the station.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the database is derived from a computerized management system.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the database contains information periodically inputted.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising fraud detection parameters that are selected from the group consisting of multiple fueling of a vehicle, excessive fuel costs and out-of-sequence vehicle mileage and non-stock issues unable to convert to stock.