Redundant data communication system for confirming a fuel event and method therefor

摘要

An inventory of a consumable is managed by positioning a sensor within a storage tank holding the consumable and determining the volume of the consumable in the storage tank. A processor is also located on the vehicle for receiving data relative to the volume of the consumable in the storage tank, the mileage of the vehicle, and vehicle location, date, and time, and for transmitting such data to a remote inventory management server (“RIMS”). The RIMS also receives point-of-sale (“POS”) data, including location, date/time, purchase amount, and purchase price related to a consumable intake event at the storage tank of the vehicle. The RIMS then reconciles the data received from the vehicle processor with the POS data to determine whether there are any discrepancies between the fuel purchased and the volume of fuel measured.

主权项

1. A system for confirming a fuel event, the system comprising:
a vehicle; at least one fuel tank mounted on the vehicle, the at least one fuel tank being configured for storing fuel; at least one sensor mounted within the at least one fuel tank and configured for periodically measuring the quantity of fuel in the at least one fuel tank, and, when the periodically measured quantity of fuel indicates that there is a change in fuel volume which exceeds a predetermined threshold indicating a fuel event, for generating fuel log data signals comprising fuel log data, the fuel log data including the quantity of change in fuel volume, date, and time of change in fuel volume; a transceiver mounted to the vehicle and coupled to the at least one sensor for receiving the fuel log data signals and for transmitting in substantially real time the fuel log data signals to a data communication network; and a server coupled to the data communication network, the server being configured for receiving from the data communication network the fuel log data signals, and for receiving from the data communication network fuel purchase data signals containing fuel purchase data generated by a fueling station, stored on a computer coupled to the data communication network, and indicative of a quantity of fuel dispensed at an indicated date and time, the server being further configured for determining, based on a comparison of the fuel purchase data with the fuel log data, whether or not the fuel purchase data confirms the fuel event indicated by the fuel log data, and for generating an alert if it is determined that the fuel purchase data does not confirm the fuel event indicated by the fuel log data.