# US 11,993,507 B2 · Anomaly detection and controlling fuel dispensing operations using fuel volume determinations

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- Number: US 11,993,507 B2
- Document ID: US11993507B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 18/357,879
- Filed: 2023-07-24
- Published: 2024-01-25
- Granted: 2024-05-28
- Earliest claimed: 2022-07-19
- Assignees: 7-Eleven, Inc.
- Applicants: 7-Eleven, Inc.
- Inventors: Boonchai Matthew Ragan; Sravan Kumar Ayyappa Akula; Joshua Michael Rothenberg; Jake Ylli Hoxha; Srikanth Gandra; Scott Albert
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11993507B2

## CPC

- B67D 7/04: for transferring fuels, lubricants or mixed fuels and lubricants
- B67D 7/3218: {relating to emergency shut-off means}
- B67D 7/221: {using electrical or electro-mechanical means (B67D7/224 takes precedence)}
- B67D 7/222: {involving digital counting}
- B67D 7/3281: {Details}
- G06Q 10/08778: {for managing mis-shipments, lost items or stolen goods}
- G06Q 50/40: Business processes related to the transportation industry (shipping G06Q10/083)
- G07F 13/02: by volume
- G07F 13/025: {wherein the volume is determined during delivery}
- B67D: DISPENSING, DELIVERING OR TRANSFERRING LIQUIDS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR (cleaning pipes or tubes or systems of pipes or tubes B08B9/02; emptying or filling of bottles, jars, cans, casks, barrels, or similar containers, not otherwise provided for B67C; water supply E03; pipe systems F17D; domestic hot-water supply systems F24D; measuring volume, volume flow, mass flow or liquid level, metering by volume G01F; coin-freed or like apparatus G07F)
- G06Q: INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- G07F: COIN-FREED OR LIKE APPARATUS (coin sorting G07D3/00; coin testing G07D5/00; {handling coins or paper currencies apart from payment activated apparatus G07D; payment architectures, schemes or protocols G06Q20/00})

## Abstract

A system determines that a fuel dispensing operation may be anomalous. In response, the system accesses fuel inventory data that indicates fuel levels in a fuel tank within a threshold period. The system determines a measure amount of fuel that left the fuel tank based on the fuel inventory data. The system determines a calculated amount of dispensed fuel associated with one or more fuel dispensing operations within the threshold period. The system compares the measured amount of fuel that left the fuel tank with the calculated amount of dispensed fuel. The system determines that the measured amount of fuel that left the fuel tank is more than the calculated amount of dispensed fuel. In response, the system confirms that the fuel dispensing operation is anomalous and communicates an electronic signal to the fuel dispensing terminal that causes the fuel dispensing terminal to stop dispensing fuel.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A system comprising:
a memory configured to store fuel inventory data that indicates levels of fuel in a fuel tank within a threshold period;
a processor, operably coupled to the memory, and configured to:
access the fuel inventory data;
determine an actual amount of fuel that left the fuel tank based at least in part upon the fuel inventory data;
determine a calculated amount of dispensed fuel associated with one or more fuel dispensing operations within the threshold period;
compare the actual amount of fuel that left the fuel tank with the calculated amount of dispensed fuel;
determine that the actual amount of fuel that left the fuel tank is more than the calculated amount of dispensed fuel; and
in response to determining that the actual amount of fuel that left the fuel tank is more than the calculated amount of dispensed fuel:
confirm that a fuel dispensing operation from among the one or more fuel dispensing operations is anomalous; and
communicate an electronic signal to a fuel dispensing terminal that causes the fuel dispensing terminal to stop dispensing fuel, wherein the fuel dispensing terminal is associated with the fuel dispensing operation.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to communicate a service message that indicates the fuel dispensing operation at the fuel dispensing terminal needs attention.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein:
the processor is further configured to determine that the fuel dispensing operation at the fuel dispensing terminal is potentially anomalous;
accessing the fuel inventory data is in response to determining that the fuel dispensing operation at the fuel dispensing terminal is potentially anomalous; and
determining that the fuel dispensing operation at the fuel dispensing terminal is potentially anomalous comprises:
perform the following operations at at least one predetermined time interval from among a plurality of predetermined time intervals within a threshold wait period, wherein the threshold wait period is associated with a unit time parameter:
determine an identifier value associated with a volume of fuel dispensed from the fuel dispensing terminal;
determine a measured fuel volume per unit time parameter associated with fuel dispensed from the fuel dispensing terminal based at least in part upon the determined identifier value, a unit parameter, and the unit time parameter;
compare the measured fuel volume per unit time parameter with a threshold fuel volume per unit time parameter; and
determine that the measured fuel volume per unit time parameter is less than the threshold fuel volume per unit time parameter.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein:
determining the calculated amount of dispensed fuel associated with the one or more fuel dispensing operations within the threshold period in response to accessing fuel interaction data that indicates an identifier value associated with an aggregated fuel requests made within the threshold period by one or more users during one or more fuel dispensing operations; and
determining the calculated amount of dispensed fuel is based at least in part upon the fuel interaction data.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein: the processor is further configured, before confirming that the fuel dispensing operation at the fuel dispensing terminal is anomalous, to determine that the fuel dispensing operation is associated with a particular fuel grade; and
determining the calculated amount of dispensed fuel associated with the one or more fuel dispensing operations within the threshold period is in response to accessing fuel interaction data associated with the particular fuel grade, wherein the fuel interaction data indicates an amount charged for the calculated amount of dispensed fuel with respect to the particular fuel grade.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein:
the processor is further configured to determine that the fuel dispensing operation at the fuel dispensing terminal is potentially anomalous;
accessing the fuel inventory data is in response to determining that the fuel dispensing operation at the fuel dispensing terminal is potentially anomalous;
determining that the fuel dispensing operation at the fuel dispensing terminal is potentially anomalous comprises:
perform the following operations at at least one predetermined time interval from among a plurality of predetermined time intervals within a threshold wait period, wherein the threshold wait period is associated with a unit time parameter;
determine an identifier value associated with a volume of fuel dispensed from the fuel dispensing terminal;
determine a measured aggregate fuel volume associated with the fuel dispensed from the fuel dispensing terminal based at least in part upon the determined identifier value and a unit parameter;
determine a measured fuel volume per unit time parameter associated with the fuel dispensed from the fuel dispensing terminal by dividing the measured aggregate fuel volume by the unit time parameter;
compare the measured fuel volume per unit time parameter with a threshold fuel volume per unit time parameter; and
determine that the measured fuel volume per unit time parameter is less than the threshold fuel volume per unit time parameter.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein determining that the actual amount of fuel that left the fuel tank is more than the calculated amount of dispensed fuel comprises determining that a discrepancy between the actual amount of fuel that left the fuel tank and the calculated amount of dispensed fuel is more than a predetermined fuel volume.

### Claim 8

A system comprising:
a memory configured to store fuel inventory data that indicates levels of fuel in a fuel tank within a threshold period;
a processor, operably coupled to the memory, and configured to:
access the fuel inventory data;
determine an actual amount of fuel that left the fuel tank based at least in part upon the fuel inventory data;
determine a calculated amount of dispensed fuel associated with one or more fuel dispensing operations within the threshold period;
compare the actual amount of fuel that left the fuel tank with the calculated amount of dispensed fuel;
determine that the actual amount of fuel that left the fuel tank is more than the calculated amount of dispensed fuel; and
in response to determining that the actual amount of fuel that left the fuel tank is more than the calculated amount of dispensed fuel:
confirm that a fuel dispensing operation from among the one or more fuel dispensing operations is anomalous; and
communicate a service message that indicates the fuel dispensing operation at a fuel dispensing terminal needs attention, wherein the fuel dispensing terminal is associated with the fuel dispensing operation.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The system of claim 8, wherein the processor is further configured to:
in response to determining that the actual amount of fuel that left the fuel tank is more than the calculated amount of dispensed fuel:
communicate an alert message that indicates a discrepancy between the actual amount of fuel that left the fuel tank and the calculated amount of dispensed fuel; and
allow for the fuel dispensing operation to continue for a second threshold period.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The system of claim 9, wherein the alert message is sent to law enforcement officer.

### Claim 11 (depends on 8)

The system of claim 8, wherein the processor is further configured to communicate an electronic signal to the fuel dispensing terminal that causes the fuel dispensing terminal to stop dispensing fuel.

### Claim 12 (depends on 8)

The system of claim 8, wherein determining that the actual amount of fuel that left the fuel tank is more than the calculated amount of dispensed fuel comprises determining that a discrepancy between the actual amount of fuel that left the fuel tank and the calculated amount of dispensed fuel is more than a predetermined fuel volume.

### Claim 13 (depends on 8)

The system of claim 8, wherein:
the processor is further configured to determine that the fuel dispensing operation at the fuel dispensing terminal is Potentially anomalous;
accessing the fuel inventory data is in response to determining that the fuel dispensing operation at the fuel dispensing terminal is potentially anomalous;
determining that the fuel dispensing operation at the fuel dispensing terminal is potentially anomalous comprises:
perform the following operations at at least one predetermined time interval from among a plurality of predetermined time intervals within a threshold wait period, wherein the threshold wait period is associated with a unit time parameter:
determine an identifier value associated with a volume of fuel dispensed from the fuel dispensing terminal;
determine a measured aggregate fuel volume associated with the fuel dispensed from the fuel dispensing terminal based at least in part upon the determined identifier value and a unit parameter;
determine a measured fuel volume per unit time parameter associated with the fuel dispensed from the fuel dispensing terminal by dividing the measured aggregate fuel volume by the unit time parameter;
compare the measured fuel volume per unit time parameter with a threshold fuel volume per unit time parameter; and
determine that the measured fuel volume per unit time parameter is less than the threshold fuel volume per unit time parameter.

### Claim 14 (depends on 8)

The system of claim 8, wherein:
the processor is further configured to determine that the fuel dispensing operation at the fuel dispensing terminal is potentially anomalous;
accessing the fuel inventory data is in response to determining that the fuel dispensing operation at the fuel dispensing terminal is potentially anomalous; and
determining that the fuel dispensing operation at the fuel dispensing terminal is potentially anomalous comprises:
perform the following operations at at least one predetermined time interval from among a plurality of predetermined time intervals within a threshold wait period, wherein the threshold wait period is associated with a unit time parameter:
determine an identifier value associated with a volume of fuel dispensed from the fuel dispensing terminal;
determine a measured fuel volume per unit time parameter associated with fuel dispensed from the fuel dispensing terminal based at least in part upon the determined identifier value, a unit parameter, and the unit time parameter;
compare the measured fuel volume per unit time parameter with a threshold fuel volume per unit time parameter; and
determine that the measured fuel volume per unit time parameter is less than the threshold fuel volume per unit time parameter.

### Claim 15

A method comprising:
accessing fuel inventory data that indicates levels of fuel in a fuel tank within a threshold period;
determining an actual amount of fuel that left the fuel tank based at least in part upon the fuel inventory data;
determining a calculated amount of dispensed fuel associated with one or more fuel dispensing operations within the threshold period;
comparing the actual amount of fuel that left the fuel tank with the calculated amount of dispensed fuel;
determining that the actual amount of fuel that left the fuel tank is more than the calculated amount of dispensed fuel; and
in response to determining that the actual amount of fuel that left the fuel tank is more than the calculated amount of dispensed fuel:
confirming that a fuel dispensing operation from among the one or more fuel dispensing operations is anomalous; and
communicating an electronic signal to a fuel dispensing terminal that causes the fuel dispensing terminal to stop dispensing fuel, wherein the fuel dispensing terminal is associated with the fuel dispensing operation.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The method of claim 15, further comprising communicating a service message that indicates the fuel dispensing operation at the fuel dispensing terminal needs attention.

### Claim 17 (depends on 15)

The method of claim 15, wherein:
the method further comprises determining that the fuel dispensing operation at the fuel dispensing terminal is potentially anomalous;
accessing the fuel inventory data is in response to determining that the fuel dispensing operation at the fuel dispensing terminal is potentially anomalous; and
determining that the fuel dispensing operation at the fuel dispensing terminal is potentially anomalous comprises:
performing the following operations at at least one predetermined time interval from among a plurality of predetermined time intervals within a threshold wait period, wherein the threshold wait period is associated with a unit time parameter:
determining an identifier value associated with a volume of fuel dispensed from the fuel dispensing terminal;
determining a measured fuel volume per unit time parameter associated with fuel dispensed from the fuel dispensing terminal based at least in part upon the determined identifier value, a unit parameter, and the unit time parameter;
comparing the measured fuel volume per unit time parameter with a threshold fuel volume per unit time parameter; and
determining that the measured fuel volume per unit time parameter is less than the threshold fuel volume per unit time parameter.

### Claim 18 (depends on 15)

The method of claim 15, wherein:
determining the calculated amount of dispensed fuel associated with the one or more fuel dispensing operations within the threshold period in response to accessing fuel interaction data that indicates an identifier value associated with an aggregated fuel requests made within the threshold period by one or more users during one or more fuel dispensing operations; and
determining the calculated amount of dispensed fuel is based at least in part upon the fuel interaction data.

### Claim 19 (depends on 15)

The method of claim 15, further comprising:
before confirming that the fuel dispensing operation at the fuel dispensing terminal is anomalous, determining that the fuel dispensing operation is associated with a particular fuel grade; and
determining the calculated amount of dispensed fuel associated with the one or more fuel dispensing operations within the threshold period is in response to accessing fuel interaction data associated with the particular fuel grade, wherein the fuel interaction data indicates an amount charged for the calculated amount of dispensed fuel with respect to the particular fuel grade.

### Claim 20 (depends on 15)

The method of claim 15, wherein:
the method further comprises determining that the fuel dispensing operation at the fuel dispensing terminal is potentially anomalous;
accessing the fuel inventory data is in response to determining that the fuel dispensing operation at the fuel dispensing terminal is potentially anomalous;
determining that the fuel dispensing operation at the fuel dispensing terminal is potentially anomalous comprises:
performing the following operations at at least one predetermined time interval from among a plurality of predetermined time intervals within a threshold wait period, wherein the threshold wait period is associated with a unit time parameter;
determining an identifier value associated with a volume of fuel dispensed from the fuel dispensing terminal;
determining a measured aggregate fuel volume associated with the fuel dispensed from the fuel dispensing terminal based at least in part upon the determined identifier value and a unit parameter;
determining a measured fuel volume per unit time parameter associated with the fuel dispensed from the fuel dispensing terminal by dividing the measured aggregate fuel volume by the unit time parameter;
comparing the measured fuel volume per unit time parameter with a threshold fuel volume per unit time parameter; and
determining that the measured fuel volume per unit time parameter is less than the threshold fuel volume per unit time parameter.