FUEL ACCOUNTING SYSTEM AND METHODS

• US 20090164347A1
• Filed: 12/20/2007
• Published: 06/25/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: United Parcel Service Of America Incorporated (United Parcel Service Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: United Parcel Service Of America Incorporated (United Parcel Service Incorporated)
• Inventors: Krishna, Subbiah, Matz, Jeff, Sison, Sheila, Moessner, Dave, Napier, John, Fogle, Kim, Ryan, Marie, Routt, Ted M., Fairfield, Scott, Slafkes, Mark, Miles, Matt, Krekel, Jason
• Granted Patent: US 8,204,802 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/30
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/04 Billing or invoicing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/12 Accounting

Abstract

Various embodiments of the present invention provide systems and methods for fuel accounting that enables an organization to verify that fueling being paid for has in fact been dispensed into their aircraft. In particular, various embodiments provide systems and methods to verify whether a particular fueling event occurred. In addition, various embodiments provide systems and methods to facilitate the front-end data capture of a fueling event by the organization operating the aircraft via a data pathway not under control of a fueling agent. Furthermore, various embodiments provide for systems and methods to allow an organization operating aircraft to verify fuel uplifted and fuel inventory over a selected period of time.

Claims

1. A method comprising the steps of:

a) receiving a first fuel amount data for a fueling event via a data pathway not under control of a fueling agent;

b) receiving at an organization operating the aircraft a second fuel amount data derived from the fueling agent for the fueling event;

c) comparing the first fuel amount data and the second fuel amount data; and

d) determining whether to release the first fuel amount data for reconciliation with the fueling agent based on the comparing of step (c).

2. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein steps (a) through (d) are implemented by a computer.

3. A method as claimed in claim 1 further comprising the step of:

e) if the determining of step (d) establishes that the first fuel amount should be released for reconciliation, paying an invoice for the first fuel amount.

4. A method as claimed in claim 1 further comprising the step of:

(e) if the determining of step (d) establishes that the first fuel amount should be released for reconciliation, reporting the first fuel amount to the fueling agent for verification.

5. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein steps (a) through (d) are repeatedly performed for all fueling events over a selected period of time, further comprising the steps of:

e) summing the first fuel amount data for the fueling events released for reconciliation over the period of time to generate a first total fuel amount data;

f) receiving a second total fuel amount data from the fueling agent;

g) comparing the first and second total fuel amount data; and

h) determining whether to release the first fuel amount data for the fueling events released for reconciliation over the period of time to accounting based on the comparing of the step (g).

6. A method as claimed in claim 5, wherein steps (a) through (h) are implemented by a computer.

7. A method as claimed in claim 5 further comprising the steps of:

i) receiving inventory receipts over the selected period of time issued by the fueling agent;

j) summing the inventory receipts to generate a first total inventory amount data;

k) receiving bills-of-lading over the selected period of time issued by a fuel supplier;

l) summing the bills-of-lading to generate a second total inventory amount data;

m) comparing the first and second total inventory amount data; and

n) determining whether to release supplier invoices related to the second total inventory amount data to accounting based on the comparing of the step (m).

8. A method as claimed in claim 7, wherein steps (a) through (n) are implemented by a computer.

9. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first fuel amount data is received from a flight record data.

10. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second fuel amount data is received from a fuel ticket data.

11. A method comprising the steps of:

a) receiving a fueling information from a fueling agent corresponding to a fueling event for an aircraft;

b) entering the fueling information into a computer system;

c) determining with the computer system whether the fueling information matches to a corresponding flight information received by a data pathway not under control of the fueling agent;

d) if the fueling information does match to the corresponding flight information, releasing the fueling event for reconciliation with the fueling agent;

e) if the fueling information does not match to the corresponding flight information, determining whether a fueling event occurred for the aircraft using the fueling information and the corresponding flight information accessible to the computer system;

f) if the determining of step (e) establishes that the fueling event did not occur for the aircraft, prohibiting further processing of the fueling event;

g) if the determining of step (e) establishes that the fueling event did occur for the aircraft, releasing the fueling event for approval; and

h) if the determining of step (g) establishes approval, releasing the fueling event for reconciliation with the fueling agent.

12. A method as claimed in claim 11, wherein steps (a) through (h) are repeatedly performed for all fueling events over a selected period of time, further comprising the steps of:

i) following last performance of step (d), step (f) or step (h), determining a first total fuel amount by summing up fuel amounts for all of the fueling events released for reconciliation for the period of time;

j) determining whether the first total fuel amount reconciles with a second total fuel amount issued by a fueling agent for the period of time;

k) if the determination in step (j) establishes that the first total fuel amount does not reconcile with the second total fuel amount for the period of time, contacting the fueling agent to resolve inconsistency; and

l) if the determination in step (j) establishes that the first total fuel amount does reconcile with the second total fuel amount for the period of time, releasing to accounting the fueling events released for reconciliation for the period of time.

13. A method as claimed in claim 12, wherein the determining of step (j) comprising the sub steps of:

j1) calculating an ending fuel inventory value by taking a previous period of time'"'"'s ending fuel inventory value, adding a sum of the bills-of-lading for the period of time, and subtracting the sum of fuel amounts for the period of time; and

j2) comparing the ending fuel inventory value to a fueling agent'"'"'s ending inventory value for the period of time.

14. A method as claimed in claim 12 further comprising the steps of:

m) receiving inventory receipts over the selected period of time issued by the fueling agent;

n) determining a first total inventory amount by summing the inventory receipts;

o) receiving bills-of-lading over the selected period of time issued by a fuel supplier;

p) determining a second total inventory amount from summing the bills-of-lading;

q) determining whether the first total inventory amount reconciles with the second total inventory amount;

r) if the determination in step (q) establishes that the first total inventory amount does not reconcile with the second total inventory amount for the period to time, contacting the fueling agent to resolve inconsistency; and

s) if the determination in step (q) establishes that the first total inventory amount does reconcile with the second total inventory amount for the period of time, releasing to accounting the supplier invoices related to the second total inventory amount.

15. A method as claimed in claim 11, wherein step (b) is performed by key-entering the fueling information into the computer system.

16. A method as claimed in claim 11, wherein step (c) is performed based on one or more of origin airport, flight number, tail number, gallons of fuel, or date in respective to the fueling information and the flight information.

17. A method as claimed in claim 11, wherein the releasing for approval of step (g) is performed by a person other than the person key-entering the fueling information in step (b).

18. A system of managing aircraft fuel, the system comprising:

a fueling event module adapted for receiving or accessing a fueling information and a flight information, determining whether one or more fueling events identified by the fueling information match to the corresponding flight information over a period of time, releasing for further processing the fueling events having the corresponding flight information, and prohibiting further processing of the fueling events not having the corresponding flight information.

19. A system as claimed in claim 18 further comprising:

a total fuel uplifted module adapted for calculating a total fuel amount data derived from summing the fueling events released for further processing, comparing the total fuel amount data with an issued total data provided by a fueling agent, and prohibiting further processing of at least one of the fueling events released for further processing based on a result of comparing the total fuel amount data with the issued total data provided by the fueling agent.

20. A system as claimed in claim 18 further comprising:

a total fuel inventory module adapted for receiving or accessing inventory receipts and bills-of-lading over the time period, calculating a first total inventory amount data derived from summing the inventory receipts, calculating a second total inventory amount data derived from summing the bills-of-lading, comparing the first inventory amount data with the second inventory amount data, and prohibiting further processing of at least one supplier invoice associated with the second inventory amount data based on a result of comparing the first total inventory amount data with the second total inventory amount data.

21. A system as claimed in claim 18, wherein the flight information is received or accessed by the fueling event module either locally or remotely via at least one source selected from the group consisting of a different module, a database, a data warehouse, a file, and a storage device.

22. A system as claimed in claim 18, wherein the fueling information comprises fuel ticket data.

23. A system as claimed in claim 18, wherein the flight information comprises flight record data.