WO2016091758A1 - A fuel dispensing apparatus, a fuel dispending station, a fuel dispensing system, and a method for reducing drive-offs - Google Patents

A fuel dispensing apparatus, a fuel dispending station, a fuel dispensing system, and a method for reducing drive-offs Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2016091758A1
WO2016091758A1 PCT/EP2015/078707 EP2015078707W WO2016091758A1 WO 2016091758 A1 WO2016091758 A1 WO 2016091758A1 EP 2015078707 W EP2015078707 W EP 2015078707W WO 2016091758 A1 WO2016091758 A1 WO 2016091758A1
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WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
customer
identity
fuel dispensing
fuel
invoice
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PCT/EP2015/078707
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French (fr)
Inventor
Håkan Johan LÖFHOLM
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Löfholm Håkan Johan
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Publication of WO2016091758A1 publication Critical patent/WO2016091758A1/en

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    • G—PHYSICS
    • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
    • G07F—COIN-FREED OR LIKE APPARATUS
    • G07F13/00—Coin-freed apparatus for controlling dispensing or fluids, semiliquids or granular material from reservoirs
    • G07F13/02—Coin-freed apparatus for controlling dispensing or fluids, semiliquids or granular material from reservoirs by volume
    • G07F13/025—Coin-freed apparatus for controlling dispensing or fluids, semiliquids or granular material from reservoirs by volume wherein the volume is determined during delivery
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B67—OPENING, CLOSING OR CLEANING BOTTLES, JARS OR SIMILAR CONTAINERS; LIQUID HANDLING
    • B67D—DISPENSING, DELIVERING OR TRANSFERRING LIQUIDS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B67D7/00—Apparatus or devices for transferring liquids from bulk storage containers or reservoirs into vehicles or into portable containers, e.g. for retail sale purposes
    • B67D7/06—Details or accessories
    • B67D7/064—Drive-off preventing means, e.g. in case of non-payment
    • B67D7/067—Drive-off preventing means, e.g. in case of non-payment using communication means
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • 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
    • G06Q20/00—Payment architectures, schemes or protocols
    • G06Q20/08—Payment architectures
    • G06Q20/20—Point-of-sale [POS] network systems
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B67—OPENING, CLOSING OR CLEANING BOTTLES, JARS OR SIMILAR CONTAINERS; LIQUID HANDLING
    • B67D—DISPENSING, DELIVERING OR TRANSFERRING LIQUIDS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B67D7/00—Apparatus or devices for transferring liquids from bulk storage containers or reservoirs into vehicles or into portable containers, e.g. for retail sale purposes
    • B67D7/06—Details or accessories
    • B67D7/064—Drive-off preventing means, e.g. in case of non-payment
    • B67D7/068—Drive-off preventing means, e.g. in case of non-payment using imaging means, e.g. cameras
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • 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
    • G06Q20/00—Payment architectures, schemes or protocols
    • G06Q20/22—Payment schemes or models
    • G06Q20/24—Credit schemes, i.e. "pay after"
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • 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
    • G06Q20/00—Payment architectures, schemes or protocols
    • G06Q20/38—Payment protocols; Details thereof
    • G06Q20/40—Authorisation, e.g. identification of payer or payee, verification of customer or shop credentials; Review and approval of payers, e.g. check credit lines or negative lists
    • G06Q20/401—Transaction verification
    • G06Q20/4014—Identity check for transactions
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
    • G07G—REGISTERING THE RECEIPT OF CASH, VALUABLES, OR TOKENS
    • G07G3/00—Alarm indicators, e.g. bells
    • G07G3/003—Anti-theft control

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  • Business, Economics & Management (AREA)
  • Accounting & Taxation (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Strategic Management (AREA)
  • General Business, Economics & Management (AREA)
  • Theoretical Computer Science (AREA)
  • Finance (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Computer Security & Cryptography (AREA)
  • Loading And Unloading Of Fuel Tanks Or Ships (AREA)

Abstract

The embodiments herein relate to a fuel dispensing apparatus (300) and method therein, a fuel dispensing station (400) and a fuel dispensing system (500). The invention comprising receiving (S101), from a customer, identification means, extracting (S102) an identity of the customer; querying (S103) a database for authorization of the customer; receiving (S104) a response from the database on whether the customer identity is valid/authorized or not; activating (S105) a fuel dispensing hose if the response indicates that the customer identity is valid/authorized; storing (S106) the identity of the customer; starting (S107a) a timer; if the customer has not paid for the amount of dispensed fuel before the timer expires; generating (S107b) an invoice or ticket; transmitting (S108) the invoice or ticket to a customer payment database/agency; and if the generated invoice or ticket is not paid by the customer within a predetermined time period indicated in the invoice, transmitting (S112) at least the stored customer identity to an authority allowing the authority to take legal action against the customer.

Description

A FUEL DISPENSING APPARATUS, A FUEL DISPENDING STATION, A FUEL DISPENSING SYSTEM, AND A METHOD FOR REDUCING DRIVE-OFFS
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention generally relates to determining validity/authorization of customer identity at a fuel dispensing station and more particularly to a fuel dispensing apparatus, a fuel dispensing station, a system, and a method for a fuel dispensing apparatus for reducing the number of drive- offs experienced at fuel dispensing stations.
BACKGROUND
Gasoline or fuel theft at fuel dispensing stations or gasoline retailers leading to drive-offs is an increasing problem. A drive-off, in this context, means that a customer visiting the fuel station with his or her automobile fills his or her fuel tank and drives off without having paid for the dispensed amount. Drive-offs cost the industry millions a year. Many service station owners make little income a liter or gallon. So to make up for each drive-off they have to sell a lot of fuel. The problem is severe for stations that allow customer to pay cash. This is because, usually, a customer utilizing a credit card need to enter some authorization code before the fuel dispensing hose at the fuel station is activated. If the code is correct, the hose is activated and payment is automatically performed by means of the credit or bank card.
One way to solve this problem is to require prepayment, making people use credit card or cash before they are able to use the pump. With prepay systems, each pump is not ready for pumping without attendant intervention. This is not considered a feasible solution because an attendant may not be able to handle each payment separately. Further, it is important that honest customers can be served in the best way giving them several options on how to pay for the pumping. Unfortunately a dishonest customer makes use of the option to pay cash for the pumped fuel by driving off without paying. The attendant has often no possibility to stop that customer. Contacting the police generally does not lead to arrest of the dishonest customer.
One way to reduce drive-offs is to remove the possibility to pay cash at the station i.e. require use of a credit or bank card only as previously described. However, a station with attendants needs to provide the best service and different payment alternatives for its customers including for those honest customers willing to paying cash. Further, not all customers have a bank or credit card and instead prefer to pay cash.
Accordingly there is a need for an apparatus, a station, a system and a method for reducing or even eliminating drive-offs at a fuel dispensing station and still give all options to a customer to pay cash or with a bank or credit card.
SUMMARY
The present invention provides an apparatus, a method, a station, and a system for reducing drive-offs as a fuel dispensing station.
According to an aspect of embodiments herein there is provide an apparatus for reducing drive- offs at a fuel dispensing station of a fuel dispensing system, the apparatus comprising: a fuel dispensing receiver unit configured to receive, from a customer, identification means; an extracting unit configured to extract from the identification means, an identity of the customer; a communication interface configured to query a database of customer records for authorization of the customer by means of the extracted identity of the customer; the communication interface is further configured to receive a response from the database of customer records on whether the customer identity is valid/authorized or not; a processing unit configured to activate a fuel dispensing hose of the fuel dispensing apparatus if the response indicates that the customer identity is valid/authorized, allowing the customer to fill its fuel tank; a local database configured to store the identity of the customer; the processing unit configured to start a timer; the processing unit configured to generate an invoice or ticket, if the customer has not paid for the amount of dispensed fuel before the timer expires; the communication interface configured to transmit the generated invoice or ticket to a customer payment database/agency from which the invoice or ticket is sent to an address of the customer retrieved from the customer records; and the communication interface configured to transmit at least the stored customer identity to an authority allowing the authority to take legal action against the customer if the generated invoice or ticket is not paid by the customer within a predetermined time period indicated in the invoice.
According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a fuel dispensing station arranged for reducing drive-offs at a fuel dispenser of a fuel dispensing station, the system comprising a fuel dispensing apparatus as described above and a terminal station connectable to the apparatus.
According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a fuel dispensing system arranged for reducing drive-offs at a fuel dispenser of a fuel dispensing station, the system comprising a fuel dispensing apparatus as described above and a fuel dispensing station as previously described.
According to an aspect of embodiments herein there is provided a method for a fuel dispensing apparatus for reducing drive-offs at a fuel dispensing station, the method comprising: receiving, from a customer, identification means, at a fuel dispensing receiver unit; extracting from the identification means, an identity of the customer; querying a database of customer records for authorization of the customer by means of the extracted identity of the customer; receiving a response from the database of customer records on whether the customer identity is valid/authorized or not; activating a fuel dispensing hose if the response indicates that the customer identity is valid/authorized, allowing the customer to fill its fuel tank; storing the identity of the customer in a local database at the fuel dispensing apparatus; starting a timer; if the customer has not paid for the amount of dispensed fuel before the timer expires; generating an invoice or ticket; transmitting the invoice or ticket to a customer payment database/agency from which the invoice or ticket is sent to an address of the customer retrieved from the customer records; and if the generated invoice or ticket is not paid by the customer within a predetermined time period indicated in the invoice, transmitting at least the stored customer identity to an authority allowing the authority to take legal action against the customer.
Advantages of embodiments herein include reducing the number of drive-offs that fuel dispensing stations experience every year/month. Another advantage is to facilitate for the authority to identify those customers that drive-off. Another advantage is to facilitate for customers willing to pay cash to have opportunity to perform the payment in due time since it may happen that an honest customer just forgets to pay due to stress or the like. According to the embodiments herein disclosed, the honest customer has two possibilities to pay for the fuel before the authorities are informed, a first possibility is to pay within the timer period set by the timer and a second possibility is to pay within the predetermined time period indicated in the invoice. Thus, the honest customer has the opportunity to pay for the missed payment at ease and without stress, e.g. within a period of time that is suitable for the station and the customer. Hereby, the honest customer experiences an improved level of service at the dispensing stations at the same time as the dishonest customer is prevented from getting away with stealing fuel.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Figure 1 is a block diagram of exemplary embodiments of an apparatus of the present invention. Figure 2 is a block diagram of exemplary embodiments of a station of the present invention. Figure 3 is a block diagram of an exemplary embodiment of a system of the present invention. Figure 4 is a flow diagram of exemplary embodiments of a method according to the present invention.
Figure 5 is a flow diagram of exemplary embodiments of a method according to the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
The present invention provides an apparatus, a station, a system, and a method for reducing drive-offs at a fuel dispensing station. An exemplary system according to embodiments herein includes a fuel dispensing station comprising a fuel dispensing apparatus connected to a customer payment database/agency via an interface; and also connected to a terminal.
Referring to Figure 1 there is illustrated a simplified example of a fuel dispensing apparatus 300 according to exemplary embodiments herein. As shown, the fuel dispensing apparatus 300 for reducing drive-offs at a fuel dispensing station, comprises: a fuel dispensing receiver unit 301 configured to receive, from a customer, identification means. The customer may be requested via a display 302 to provide the identification means. The apparatus 300 further comprises an extracting unit or extractor 303 configured to extract from the identification means, an identity of the customer. The extracting unit 303 may be a barcode reader, an electronic chip reader, a magnetic strip reader, a scan reader, a photo-scan reader, a biometric reader or an optical character recognition apparatus or a combination thereof. The fuel dispensing apparatus 300 further comprises a communication interface 304 configured to query a database (not shown) of customer records for authorization of the customer by means of the extracted identity of the customer. The database of customer records may be located remotely to the station and may be owned or operated by an agency and/or authority having access to customer records including identity of the customer, address of the customer, name, social security number (personnummer), civic registration number etc. The communication interface 304 is further configured to receive a response from the database of customer records on whether the customer identity is valid/authorized or not. For example, using the information retrieved/extracted from the driver's license of the customer, a mapping is performed at the database to check whether the driver's license e.g. the customer identity is valid or authorized, and a response is sent back to the apparatus 300. The driver's license may be in the form of a card, or in electronic form. As shown, the apparatus 300 further comprises a processing unit 305 configured to activate a fuel dispensing hose 306 of the fuel dispensing apparatus 300 if the response indicates that the customer identity is valid/authorized, allowing the customer to fill its fuel tank. The processing unit or processor 305 is shown incorporating the communication interface 304. However, these may be separated. The dispensing hose 306 may be in the form of a pump to be used by a customer for filling a fuel tank of an automobile or vehicle of the customer. It should be mentioned that the apparatus 300 may comprise several fuel dispensing hoses depending on the type of fuel to be dispensed e.g. one for diesel; one for E95 fuel; one for fuel E97; one for Ethanol; one for hydrogen, etc. Hence the apparatus 300 or fuel dispensing station comprising the fuel dispensing apparatus is not restricted to any type or number of hoses. The apparatus 300 may further comprise a local database 307 configured to store at least the identity of the customer. The processing unit 305 is configured to generate an invoice or ticket, if the customer has not paid for the amount of dispensed fuel. The generated invoice or ticket may be in digital form indicating the amount of tanked fuel and the identity of the customer as well as other information like the date and time of the visit by the customer at the station. The communication interface 304 is configured to transmit the generated invoice or ticket to a customer payment database/agency if the amount of dispensed fuel is not paid. More in detail, the processing unit or processor 305 is configured to start a timer after storing of the identity of the customer; and the processing unit or processor 305 is configured to generate said invoice or ticket if the customer has not paid before the timer expires. The agency or database will then send the invoice or ticket to an address of the customer retrieved from the customer records which are stored at the agency/database. The connection with the agency/database may be a serial cable or a fiber cable or a wireless connection. The local database may include a server (not shown). The fuel dispensing apparatus 300 may further be connected to a terminal which may include database. The terminal may perform cash register functions associated with sale of the fuel and other items, including accepting cash, credit payments and the like. The terminal is normally located at the store's station where attendant is situated and managed by the attendant. The terminal also provides for remote activations of the fuel dispenser automatically or manually e.g. upon attendant request. As shown, the apparatus 300 may further comprise a printer 310 to print a receipt of information to the customer. If the customer has paid for the amount of dispensed fuel before the timer expires the processing unit 305 is configured to release/delete the stored customer identity; and to reset the timer as previously described. According to an embodiment, the apparatus 300 may further comprise a camera 308 included in the apparatus 300 or connectable to the apparatus 300. The processing unit 305 can be configured to activate the camera 308 upon activation of the fuel dispensing hose 306, to take a snapshot of the customer and/or registration number of the customer's vehicle and the processing unit 305 can be configured to store the snapshot of the customer and/or registration number of the customer's car in the local database 307.
If the customer has paid for the amount of dispensed fuel before the time expires, the processing unit 305 is also configured to delete the snapshot of the customer and/or registration number of the customer's car from the local database 307.
According to an embodiment, the customer identity is considered invalid/unauthorized if the response from the database indicates that the customer identity is invalid/unauthorized or if the extracted customer identity is previously stored in the local database 307 of the fuel dispensing station. It should be mentioned again that the database 307 needs not to be part of the apparatus and instead be part of the dispensing station or dispensing system placed in a suitable place as defined by the owner of the station.
If the generated invoice or ticket is not paid by the customer within a predetermined time period indicated in the invoice, the apparatus or station or the system or any suitable external agency transmits at least the stored customer identity, and according to an embodiment also the taken snapshot, to an authority e.g. police station, allowing the authority to take legal action against the customer. According to an embodiment, processing unit 305 is here configured to start a predetermined time period timer when the invoice or ticket is transmitted, and the communication interface 304 is configured to transmit at least the stored customer identity to the authority if the generated invoice or ticket is not paid by the customer before the predetermined time period timer expires.
The extracting unit 303 may be a barcode reader, an electronic chip reader, a magnetic strip reader, a scan reader, a photo-scan reader, a biometric reader, or an optical character recognition apparatus or a combination therefore.
According to an embodiment herein identification means is a driver's license of the customer. It is assumed that all customers that have a vehicle requiring a driving license also have their license when arriving at a fuel station. For those having forgotten the driver's license they may instead contact the attendant at the station to request help for purchasing fuel.
Referring to Figure 2 there is illustrated a fuel dispensing station 400 comprising the fuel dispensing apparatus 300 (as previously described in relation to Figure 1 ) and a terminal station 401. The terminal station 401 is considered here to be the location where at least one intendant is located. The terminal station 401 is connected to the apparatus 300 wirelessly or my means of a cable being a fiber or coax etc. This terminal station 401 may perform cash register functions associated with the sale of fuel and/other merchandise including accepting cash, debit or credit payments. The station 401 may also provide remote activation of the fuel dispensing hose 306 of the fuel dispensing apparatus 300. It should be mentioned that the terminal station 401 may comprise the (local) database 307 previously described which may be used to store relevant information of the customer including identity and/or snapshot etc. Further, the terminal station 401 may further comprise a camera for taking a film or snapshot of purchasing customers. Functions of apparatus 300 and terminal station 401 is described in detail in this document and it is considered unnecessary to repeat them here.
Referring to Figure 3 there is illustrated a fuel dispensing system 500 comprising the fuel dispensing station 400 as previously described and the system also comprises a remote customer payment agency database 501. It should be mentioned that the station 500 may be connected to several databases or agencies (not shown) e.g. a database of an authority and/or any suitable database(s). The remote database 501 may include a server for storing, accessing and modifying customer records from which the authorization/validity of customers may be determined. The database 501 may be responsible to send the invoice or ticket to the customer giving the customer a time (which is predetermined as previously described) to pay for the invoice. If the invoice or ticket is not paid, the database 501 can be configured to send the invoice to an authority to take legal actions against the customer. The database 501 may store a record for each customer who has previously recorded drive-off i.e. did not pay for the dispensed fuel.
It should be mentioned that the embodiments herein may be implemented through one or more processors or processing units e.g. processing circuit or unit of e.g. apparatus 300 together with a computer program code for performing the functions and/or method steps of the embodiments described in this document. For example, a computer program comprising instructions which, when executed on at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to carry out the method performed by the apparatus 300 as described earlier and in conjunction with figures 4 and figure 5 below, and presented in the appended method claims. Also here a carrier containing the computer program is provided, wherein the carrier is one of an electronic signal, optical signal, a radio signal or a computer readable storage medium.
Referring to Figure 4 and Figure 5, there is illustrated a method for reducing drive-offs at a fuel dispensing apparatus of a fuel dispensing station at the same time as increasing the service level for the honest customers in accordance with exemplary embodiments herein. Figure 5 continues where figure 4 ends. As shown in Figures 4 and 5, the method comprises: receiving S101 , from a customer, identification means, at a fuel dispensing receiver unit; extracting S102 from the identification means, an identity of the customer; querying S103 a database of customer records for authorization of the customer by means of the extracted identity of the customer; receiving S104 a response from the database of customer records on whether the customer identity is valid/authorized or not; activating S105 a fuel dispensing hose of the apparatus if the response indicates that the customer identity is valid/authorized, allowing the customer to fill its fuel tank; storing S106 the identity of the customer in a local database at the fuel dispensing apparatus. The method further comprising: if the customer identity is not
valid/authorized, displaying S109 a message indicating this. The method further comprising starting a timer S107a; and generating S107b said invoice or ticket if the customer has not paid before the timer expires, the invoice or ticket including the amount of dispensed fuel and the price for it and other information. The timer has a predetermined timer length that is a design parameter. An example is a timer length lying between 10-30 minutes giving the customer enough time to both complete fueling of the tank, enter the station and pay for the fuel. It should be mentioned that the length of the timer may be defined/determined by the owner of the station and/or may be set in agreement with the specific customer dispensing the fuel.
If the customer has paid for the amount of dispensed fuel before the timer expires, the method further comprises releasing/deleting S110 the stored customer identity; and resetting the timer to its initial value e.g. zero. Thus, any information of the customer is deleted when the payment is performed before the timer expires. This is done to protect the integrity of the customer, and the customer may be made aware of the deletion if the customer so requests, or following a policy of the station.
According to an embodiment, the method further comprises activating S111 a camera located at/or connectable to the fuel dispensing apparatus upon activation of the fuel dispensing hose and taking a snapshot of the customer and/or registration number of the customer's vehicle and storing the snapshot of the customer and/or registration number of the customer's car in the local database. The snapshot makes it easier to identify the customer and/or the car of the customer. According to an embodiment, the method further comprises deleting S110 the snapshot of the customer and/or registration number of the customer's car from the local database when also the stored identity is deleted if the customer has paid for the amount of dispensed fuel before the timer expires. As mentioned earlier, any information of the customer is released or deleted when the customer paid for the amount of dispensed fuel.
The identity of the customer is considered invalid/unauthorized if the response from the database indicates that the customer identity is invalid/unauthorized or if the extracted customer identity is previously stored in a local database of the fuel dispensing station. Hence, the station and/or apparatus may have a local database that stores the identity and information related to any customer(s) that drove-off without payment. This local database may be queried and if the information or identity of the customer is stored in the local database, the dispensing hose is not activated because the customer identity is considered invalid/unauthorized. As previously described, an invoice or ticket is generated when the timer expires.
If the invoice or ticket is not paid by the customer within a predetermined time period indicated in the invoice, the method further comprising transmitting S112 at least the stored customer identity to an authority e.g. a police station allowing the authority to take legal action against the customer. According to an embodiment, a predetermined time period timer is started when the invoice or ticket is transmitted S108, and if the generated invoice or ticket is not paid by the customer before the predetermined time period timer expires, at least the stored customer identity is transmitted S112 to the authority. According to the embodiment taking a snapshot of the customer, the taken snapshot can here also be transmitted S112 to the authorities.
Thus, if the customer did not pay for the amount of dispensed fuel before the timer expired and also did not pay the invoice within the time period indicated in the generated invoice, i.e. before the predetermined time period timer runs out/expires, the customer identity, and possibly also a taken snapshot, stored in the local database are used to inform the authority of the drive-off. This will greatly facilitate the job of the authority to quickly identify the customer that drove-off. The predetermined time period indicated in the invoice may for example be 10-20 days to give the customer enough time to pay the invoice. The predetermined time period may also be set individually for each specific customer. It should be noted that if/when payment has been performed by the customer, then all information related to the customer is deleted S110 from the local database including the customer identity and the taken snapshot(s).
For an honest customer, there are hereby two possibilities/time windows available for payment of the fuel, and thereby also for having the stored identity, and possible snapshots, deleted from the local database. A first time window is available during the timer period and a second time window is available during the predetermined invoice time period. This minimizes the risk for an honest customer to get in trouble with the authorities, especially since the generated invoice will function as a reminder that the fuel was not paid for. Also, an honest customer could also actively use these extended paying possibilities to reduce his/her stress. For example, if the honest customer is in a hurry when filling fuel, he/she can save time by simple driving away from the fuel dispensing station without paying, and can then instead within the predefined time period pay the invoice which is automatically generated and sent to the customer.
Figures 4 and 5 illustrate a summary of the embodiments disclosed above.
As is herein described, not all customers want to pay using a credit or bank card. Further, many customers want to pay cash. According to an embodiment herein identification means is a driver's license of the customer. It is assumed that all customers having a vehicle requiring a driving license have their license when arriving at a fuel station. For those having forgotten the driver's license they may instead contact the attendant at the station to request help for purchasing fuel.
As is herein discussed and illustrated, the identity of the customer may be extracted by an extracting unit at the fuel dispensed apparatus. The extracting unit may be a barcode reader, an electronic chip reader, a magnetic strip reader, a scan reader, a photo-scan reader, a biometric reader or an optical character recognition apparatus. The apparatus may include a combination of all those types of readers or extracting units.
As mentioned above, a message may be displayed S109 to the customer indicating that the customer identity is invalid/unauthorized as shown in Figure 4. The dispenser hose is in this case is not activated. An indication may further be transmitted to the attendant at the station notifying him/her that the customer in question is not authorized to purchase fuel at the station.
The foregoing description of the exemplary embodiment of the present invention has been presented only for the purpose of illustrations and description and is not intended to limit the invention in the form described. Alternative modifications will become apparent to those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains without departing from its spirit and scope, the Scope of the present invention is defined by the appended claims rather than the foregoing description and exemplary embodiments described therein.

Claims

1 CLAIMS
1 . A fuel dispensing apparatus (300) for reducing drive-offs at a fuel dispensing station of a fuel dispensing system, the apparatus comprising:
- a receiver unit (301 ) configured to receive, from a customer, identification means;
- extracting unit (303) configured to extract from the identification means, an identity of the customer;
- a communication interface (304) configured to query a database of customer records for authorization of the customer by means of the extracted identity of the customer;
- the communication interface (304) is further configured to receive a response from the database of customer records on whether the customer identity is valid/authorized or not;
- a processing unit (305) configured to activate a fuel dispensing hose (306) of the fuel dispensing apparatus (300) if the response indicates that the customer identity is valid/authorized, allowing the customer to fill its fuel tank;
- a local database (307) configured to store the identity of the customer;
- the processing unit (305) configured to start a timer;
- the processing unit (305) configured to generate an invoice or ticket, if the customer has not paid for the amount of dispensed fuel before the timer expires;
- the communication interface (304) configured to transmit the generated invoice or ticket to a customer payment database/agency from which the invoice or ticket is sent to an address of the customer retrieved from the customer records; and
- the communication interface (304) configured to transmit at least the stored customer identity to an authority allowing the authority to take legal action against the customer if the generated invoice or ticket is not paid by the customer within a predetermined time period indicated in the invoice. 2
2. The fuel dispensing apparatus (300) according to claim 1 wherein the processing unit (305) is configured to release the stored customer identity; and to reset the timer if the customer has paid for the amount of dispensed fuel before the timer expires.
3. The fuel dispensing apparatus (300) according to anyone of claims 1 -2 further comprises a camera (308) and the processing unit (305) is configured to activate the camera (308) upon activation of the fuel dispenser hose (306), and to take a snapshot of the customer and/or registration number of the customer's vehicle and the processing unit (305) is configured to store the snapshot of the customer and/or registration number of the customer's car in the local database (307).
4. The fuel dispensing apparatus (300) according to claim 3 wherein the processing unit (305) is configured to delete the snapshot of the customer and/or registration number of the customer's car from the local database (307) if the customer paid for the amount of dispensed fuel before the timer expires.
5. The fuel dispensing apparatus (300) according to anyone of claims 1 -4 wherein, the customer identity is considered invalid/unauthorized if the response from the database indicates that the customer identity is invalid/unauthorized or if the extracted customer identity is previously stored in a local database (307) of the fuel dispensing station.
6. The fuel dispensing apparatus (300) according to anyone of claims 3-4 wherein, if the generated invoice or ticket is not paid by the customer within the predetermined time period indicated in the invoice, at least the taken snapshot and the stored customer identity are transmitted to an authority e.g. a police station allowing the authority to take legal action against the customer.
7. The fuel dispensing apparatus (300) according to anyone of claims 1 -6 wherein the identification means is a driver's license of the customer.
8. The fuel dispensing apparatus (300) according to anyone of claims 1 -7 wherein the extracting unit (303) is a barcode reader, an electronic chip reader, a magnetic strip reader, a scan reader, a photo-scan reader, an optical character recognition apparatus or a biometric reader.
9. The fuel dispensing apparatus (300) according to claim 5 further comprising a display (302) configured to display a message to the customer indicating that the customer identity is invalid/unauthorized. 3
10. The fuel dispensing apparatus (300) according any one of claims 1 -9, wherein the processing unit (305) is configured to start a predetermined time period timer when the invoice or ticket is transmitted, and the communication interface (304) is configured to transmit at least the stored customer identity to the authority if the generated invoice or ticket is not paid by the customer before the predetermined time period timer expires.
1 1 . A fuel dispensing station (400) comprising a fuel dispensing apparatus (300) according to anyone of claims 1 -10.
12. A fuel dispensing system (500) comprising a fuel dispensing station (400) according to claim 1 1 and a database (501 ).
13. A method for reducing drive-offs at a fuel dispensing apparatus of a fuel dispensing system, the method comprising:
- receiving (S101 ), from a customer, identification means, at a fuel dispensing receiver unit;
- extracting (S102) from the identification means, an identity of the customer;
- querying (S103) a database of customer records for authorization of the customer by means of the extracted identity of the customer;
- receiving (S104) a response from the database of customer records on whether the customer identity is valid/authorized or not;
- activating (S105) a fuel dispensing hose if the response indicates that the customer identity is valid/authorized, allowing the customer to fill its fuel tank;
- storing (S106) the identity of the customer in a local database at the fuel dispensing apparatus;
- starting (S107a) a timer;
-if the customer has not paid for the amount of dispensed fuel before the timer expires; generating (S107b) an invoice or ticket;
- transmitting (S108) the invoice or ticket to a customer payment database/agency from which the invoice or ticket is sent to an address of the customer retrieved from the customer records; and 4
- if the generated invoice or ticket is not paid by the customer within a predetermined time period indicated in the invoice, transmitting (S1 12) at least the stored customer identity to an authority allowing the authority to take legal action against the customer.
14. The method according to claim 13 comprising, if the customer has paid for the amount of dispensed fuel before the timer expires, releasing (S1 10) the stored customer identity; and resetting the timer.
15. The method according to anyone of claims 13-14 further comprising activating (S1 1 1 ) a camera located at the fuel dispensing apparatus upon activation of the fuel dispenser and taking a snapshot of the customer and/or registration number of the customer's vehicle and storing the snapshot of the customer and/or registration number of the customer's car in the local database.
16. The method according to claim 15 further comprising releasing (S1 10) the snapshot of the customer and/or registration number of the customer's car from the local database if the customer paid for the amount of dispensed fuel before the timer expires.
17. The method according to anyone of claims 13-16 comprising, the customer identity is considered invalid/unauthorized if the response from the database indicates that the customer identity is invalid/unauthorized or if the extracted customer identity is previously stored in a local database of the fuel dispensing station.
18. The method according to anyone of claims 15-16 further comprising if the generated invoice or ticket is not paid by the customer within the predetermined time period indicated in the invoice, transmitting (S1 12) at least the taken snapshot and the stored customer identity to an authority e.g. a police station allowing the authority to take legal action against the customer.
19. The method according to anyone of claims 13-18 wherein the identification means is a driver's license of the customer.
20. The method according to anyone of claims 13-19 wherein the identity of the customer is extracted by means of an extracting unit being a barcode reader, an electronic chip reader, a magnetic strip reader, a scan reader, a photo-scan reader, an optical character recognition apparatus, or a biometric reader. 5
21 . The method according to claim 17 comprising displaying (S109) a message to the customer indicating that the customer identity is invalid/unauthorized.
22. The method as claimed in any one of claims 13-21 , wherein a predetermined time period timer is started when the invoice or ticket is transmitted (S108), and if the generated invoice or ticket is not paid by the customer before the predetermined time period timer expires, at least the stored customer identity is transmitted to the authority.
PCT/EP2015/078707 2014-12-08 2015-12-04 A fuel dispensing apparatus, a fuel dispending station, a fuel dispensing system, and a method for reducing drive-offs WO2016091758A1 (en)

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SE1430168A SE1430168A1 (en) 2014-12-08 2014-12-08 A method, a fuel dispensing apparatus, a fuel di spending station, and a fuel dispensing system for reducing drive-offs

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