Fuel accounting system and methods

• US 8,204,802 B2
• Filed: 12/20/2007
• Issued: 06/19/2012
• 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: Sison, Sheila, Krekel, Jason, Fogle, Kim, Fairfield, Scott, Krishna, Subbiah, Ryan, Marie, Routt, Ted M., Slafkes, Mark, Napier, John, Matz, Jeff, Moessner, Dave, Miles, Matt
• Primary Examiner(s): Glass, Russell S
• Application Number:
  US11/961,291
• Publication Number:
  US 20090164347A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,643 Days
• Field of Search: 705/30
• 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 for managing aircraft fuel, the method comprising the steps of:

a) receiving a first fuel amount data for a fueling event from an Aircraft Communications Addressing and Reporting System (ACARS) located on an aircraft, the first fuel amount data representing one fueling event of a plurality of fueling events that have occurred over a selected period of time, each fueling event representing a fueling of a select aircraft of a plurality of aircrafts by a fueling agent;

b) receiving a second fuel amount data derived from the fueling agent for the fueling event, the second fuel amount data comprising data originating from a fuel dispenser vehicle used to fuel the select aircraft;

c) comparing the first fuel amount data and the second fuel amount data, by at least one computer processor, to determine whether one or more corresponding pieces of information from the first fuel amount data and the second fuel amount data match; and

d) releasing the first fuel amount data for reconciliation with the fueling agent when the one or more corresponding pieces of information match.

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

e) after releasing the first fuel amount data for reconciliation with the fueling agent, paying an invoice for the first fuel amount data.

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

e) after releasing the first fuel amount data for reconciliation with the fueling agent, reporting the first fuel amount data to the fueling agent for verification.

4. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein steps (a) through (d) are repeatedly performed for each fueling event of the plurality of the fueling events over the selected period of time, and the method further comprises the steps of:

e) generating, by the at least one computer processor, a first total fuel amount data by summing the first fuel amount data for each fueling event released for reconciliation over the period of time;

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

g) comparing the first and second total fuel amount data, by the at least one computer processor, to determine whether the first total fuel amount data matches the second total fuel amount data within a predetermined tolerance; and

h) releasing the first fuel amount data for each of the fueling events released for reconciliation over the period of time to accounting when the first total fuel amount data matches the second total fuel amount data within the predetermined tolerance.

5. A method as claimed in claim 4 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 to determine whether the first total inventory amount data matches the second total inventory amount data within a second predetermined tolerance; and

n) releasing supplier invoices related to the second total inventory amount data to accounting when the first total inventory amount data matches the second total inventory amount data within the second predetermined tolerance.

6. A method as claimed in claim 1, 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 first and second fuel amount data.

7. A system for managing aircraft fuel, the system comprising:

at least one computer processor configured to;

a) receive a first fuel amount data directly from an Aircraft Communications Addressing and Reporting System (ACARS) located on an aircraft, the first fuel amount data representing one fueling event of a plurality of fueling events that have occurred over a selected period of time, each fueling event representing a fueling of a select aircraft of a plurality of aircrafts by a fueling agent;

b) receive a second fuel amount data derived from the fueling agent for the fueling event, the second fuel amount data originating from a fuel dispenser vehicle used to fuel the select aircraft;

c) compare the first fuel amount data and the second fuel amount data to determine whether one or more corresponding pieces of information from the first fuel amount data and the second fuel amount data match; and

d) release the first fuel amount data for reconciliation with the fueling agent when the one or more corresponding pieces of information match.

8. A system as claimed in claim 7, wherein the at least one computer processor is further configured to:

e) repeat steps (a) through (d) for each fueling event of the plurality of fueling events over the selected period of time for the select aircraft;

f) generate a first total fuel amount data by summing the first fuel amount data for each fueling event released for further processing over the selected period of time;

g) receive a second total fuel amount data from the fueling agent;

h) compare the first total fuel amount data and the second total fuel amount data to determine whether the first total fuel amount data matches the second total fuel amount data within a predetermined tolerance; and

i) release the first fuel amount data for each of the fueling events released for reconciliation over the period of time to accounting when the first total fuel amount data matches the second total fuel amount data within the predetermined tolerance.

9. A system as claimed in claim 7, wherein the at least one computer processor is configured to

print a report identifying the fuel events associated with the first fuel amount data as not being available for reconciliation when the first total fuel amount data does not match the second total fuel amount data within the predetermined tolerance.

10. A system as claimed in claim 7, wherein the at least one computer processor is configured to:

transmit a verification of the fueling event to the fueling agent over a direct communication channel when the one or more corresponding pieces of information matches for the first fuel amount data and the second fuel amount data.

11. A system as claimed in claim 7, wherein the at least one computer processor is configured to:

receive inventory receipts over the selected period of time from the fueling agent;

sum the inventory receipts to generate a first total inventory amount data;

receive bills-of-lading over the selected period of time issued by a fuel supplier over the direct communication channel;

sum the bills-of-lading to generate a second total inventory amount data;

compare the first total inventory amount data and second total inventory amount data to determine whether the first total inventory amount data matches the second total inventory amount data within a predetermined tolerance;

identify supplier invoices related to the second total inventory amount data as being available for reconciliation when the first total inventory amount data matches the second total inventory amount data within the predetermined tolerance; and

identify supplier invoices related to the second total inventory amount data as not being available for reconciliation when the first total inventory amount data does not match the second total inventory amount data within the predetermined tolerance.

12. A system as claimed in claim 11, wherein the at least one computer processor is configured to

print a report identifying supplier invoices related to the second total inventory amount data as not being available for reconciliation when the first total inventory amount data does not match the second total inventory amount data within the predetermined tolerance.