Dispensing – Volume or rate of flow metering
Reexamination Certificate
2000-05-03
2001-10-02
Jacyna, J. Casimer (Department: 3751)
Dispensing
Volume or rate of flow metering
C250S231140
Reexamination Certificate
active
06296148
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to managing a digital pulse stream to prevent tampering with the accuracy of the data represented by the pulse stream. More particularly, the invention relates to a pulse generator capable of creating a signature pulse stream that must be recognized as such for proper operation of a fuel dispensing system.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Modem service station fuel dispensers monitor the amount of fuel delivered to a customer's vehicle by counting the number of pulses in a digital pulse stream generated by a device commonly called a “pulser.” This arrangement is illustrated in the schematic representation of a dispenser
40
as shown in FIG.
1
. The pulser
10
typically is mounted on the dispenser meter
8
and is connected to the meter
8
via a mechanical linkage. This arrangement is conventional in the field. The pulser
10
generates an electronic signal such as a digital pulse stream which has a pulse rate that is proportional to the flow rate of the product flowing through the dispenser during a particular fueling operation. Each pulse represents a known volume, so that the pulse rate is proportional to the volumetric rate. This information is processed by the dispenser electronics
14
to create a customer display of the total volume of product dispensed and possibly to control the certain dispenser operations such as blending processes.
In some parts of the world incidences of tampering with this pulse stream have occurred. This tampering consists of installing an additional signal generator
11
or “black box” between the pulser
10
and the dispenser electronics
14
to add false pulses to the pulse stream before it is received in the dispenser electronics
14
. The effect of this pulse stream modification is to cause the customer to be overcharged for his purchase. Because the pulse stream is a very simple signal, creating the electronics necessary for this type of deception is straightforward.
There is a need for a modification to the pulser
10
and the dispenser electronics
14
to detect when the deception described above has taken place, to alert operating personnel and, if necessary, halt fueling operations.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to methods and fuel dispensing equipment intended to detect tampering with a fuel dispensing operation. Advantageously, the present invention carries out this function without revealing the fact that ongoing fueling operations are being monitored for tampering. Each fuel dispenser will be provided the capability to generate a characteristic identifying anomaly whose presence must be detected in order to continue fueling operations. Desirably, the present invention also provides for off-site monitoring of fueling operations to thwart the involvement of any onsite operator personnel.
The present invention relates to a method for detecting tampering with a fueling operation including generating an electronic signal as a fuel is dispensed to a customer. The electronic signal has an identifying anomaly, and the signal is related to the volume or flow rate of the fuel being dispensed. The generated signal is compared to an expected signal signature, which may be stored in a memory device. Fuel dispensing is permitted to continue if the generated signal including the anomaly is substantially similar to the expected signal signature. Alternatively, fuel dispensing may be stopped if the generated signal anomaly is not substantially similar to the expected signal signature.
The generated signal may include either a digital pulse stream indicative of the volume and flow rate of fuel dispensed or, alternatively, may include a signal indicative of a fuel flow rate variation characteristics of a particular meter. It has been discovered that this variation is characteristic of a particular flow meter and that the variation may be related to an expected amount of fuel dispensed. The scope of the present invention includes using both approaches.
The present invention further relates to a method for detecting tampering with a fuel dispensing operation. The method includes generating a digital pulse stream related to the volume or flow rate of fuel dispensed wherein the pulse stream includes an identifying pulse anomaly. An expected digital pulse stream signature is stored in a memory device, and the incoming digital pulse stream anomaly is compared with the expected digital pulse stream signature. If the digital pulse stream anomaly is substantially similar to the pulse stream signature, then fuel delivery is allowed to continue. The method may further include determining the rate at which fuel is being dispensed. If that rate is equal to or higher than a predetermined minimum, then the comparing and allowing steps described above are permitted to continue.
The identifying pulse anomaly may take alternative forms. In one embodiment it may comprise a first set of pulses having a first size and at least one pulse having a different size from that of the first set of pulses. In an alternative embodiment, the identifying anomaly may include a first set of pulses having a first size and a second set of pulses having a different size from that of the first set of pulses. In this embodiment the second set of pulses is preferably interspersed among ones of the first set.
These and other aspects of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art after a reading of the following description of the preferred embodiments when considered in conjunction with the drawings. It should be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only and are not restrictive of the invention as claimed. The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate specific embodiments of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention, but the invention is not limited to these embodiments.
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Myers Howard M.
Ronchetti, Sr. John J.
Watkins Randall O.
Jacyna J. Casimer
Marconi Commerce Systems Inc.
Withrow & Terranova , PLLC
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