Method and system for reporting and diagnosing components of a bulk fuel distribution facility

• US 20050288897A1
• Filed: 06/14/2004
• Published: 12/29/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/14/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Varec, Inc. (Leidos Holdings, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Varec, Inc. (Leidos Holdings, Inc.)
• Inventors: Jackson, Steve, Sang, Xiaojing, Sutcliffe, Warren, Archer, Tim, Gray, Warren
• Granted Patent: US 7,035,767 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 702/183
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/32404 Scada supervisory control and data acquisition
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 23/0213 Modular or universal configuration of the monitoring system, e.g. monitoring system having modules that may be combined to build monitoring program; monitoring system that can be applied to legacy systems; adaptable monitoring system; using different communication protocols
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 23/0224 Process history based detection method, e.g. whereby history implies the availability of large amounts of data
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/30 Transportation; Communications
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/40 Business processes related to the transportation industry shipping G06Q10/083

Abstract

A method and system integrates the monitoring of system components and detecting errors or potential problems (or both) in components of bulk fuel distribution facilities. Generally, the method and system includes a diagnostic support module for identifying what stand alone software modules, what fuel hardware, and what software interfaces/drivers associated with the fuel hardware are present in a bulk fuel distribution facility. After the diagnostic support module identifies the unique system components of a particular bulk fuel facility that can comprise software and fuel hardware, the diagnostic support module can perform system checks of the system components to determine if any system components are missing or if errors or potential problems (or any combination thereof) may exist in a particular bulk fuel distribution facility. The system checks performed by the diagnostic support module can include comparing information collected from the system components against a predetermined set of validation rules.

Claims

1. A method for reporting and monitoring of system components and for detecting at least one of errors and potential problems in components of a bulk fuel distribution facility comprising:

configuring stand alone software modules of the bulk fuel distribution facility;

configuring fuel product hardware of the bulk fuel distribution facility;

configuring software modules associated with the fuel product hardware of the bulk fuel distribution facility;

checking the stand alone software modules, fuel product hardware, and software modules associated with fuel product hardware for at least one of errors and potential problems; and

reviewing results determined by the checking of the stand alone software modules, fuel product hardware, and software modules associated with fuel product hardware for at least one of errors and potential problems.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising storing the results in a memory.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising transmitting the results over a computer network.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein installing software modules and hardware for monitoring and controlling further comprises installing at least one of a fuel distribution facility controller, SCADA system software and hardware, meters, pump valves, level instruments, pre-set hardware and software, load racks, an accounting module, and a carrier terminal.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein configuring stand alone software modules further comprises configuring a fuel distribution facility controller, SCADA system software, and an accounting module.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein configuring fuel product hardware comprises configuring SCADA system hardware, meters, pump valves, level instruments, pre-set hardware, a load rack, and a carrier terminal.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein checking comprises comparing the hardware and software system information to one or more validation rules.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein comparing the hardware and software system information to one or more validation rules further comprises comparing software versions found in components of the bulk fuel distribution facility with software versions stored in a table.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising accessing the results by a web browser.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising requesting access to the results with a batch file module.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising automatically transmitting the results over a distributed computer network based on a schedule.

12. A system for monitoring and for detecting at least one of errors and potential problems in system components of a bulk fuel distribution facility comprising:

a bulk fuel distribution facility comprising;

a fuel tank;

fuel tank hardware and software coupled to the fuel tank;

a SCADA system; and

a diagnostic support module for troubleshooting errors and potential problems existing in the fuel tank hardware and software and the SCADA system.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the bulk fuel distribution facility further comprises at least one of a fuel distribution facility controller, pre-set hardware and software, a load rack, and a carrier terminal.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein the diagnostic support module further comprises a set of validation rules for checking at least one of software and hardware system components that form the bulk fuel distribution facility.

15. The system of claim 12, further comprising a web browser for communicating with the diagnostic support module.

16. The system of claim 12, further comprising a batch file facility for communicating with the diagnostic support module.

17. The system of claim 12, wherein the diagnostic support module automatically transmits troubleshooting information across a distributed computer network according to a schedule.