Monitoring technology

• US 20060036515A1
• Filed: 07/29/2004
• Published: 02/16/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 07/29/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Independent Technologies LLC
• Original Assignee: Independent Technologies Inc (DataOnline LLC)
• Inventors: Smith, Luke, Fangmeier, Jim, Ferguson, Douglas H., Molenaar, Greg, Siegfried, Tim, Meed, Jonathan, Ingalsbe, Daryl
• Granted Patent: US 7,304,588 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/28
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0875 Itemisation or classification of parts, supplies or services, e.g. bill of materials
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/002 Vending machines being part of a centrally controlled network of vending machines
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/02 Devices for alarm or indication, e.g. when empty; Advertising arrangements in coin-freed apparatus alarms or warning devices indicating the interruption of flow to be metered G07F15/10

Abstract

An apparatus for monitoring an article or system, particularly an LP or propane tank, includes a transmission unit, a base unit and a host unit. The transmission unit is disposed on or near the article or system and detects at least one parameter related to the article or system and send information related to the detected parameter. The base unit is disposed at a predetermined location remote from the article or system. The base unit receives information related to the detected parameter from the transmission unit. The host unit is disposed at a location remote from the base unit and the transmission unit. The host unit receives information related to the detected parameter from the base unit for management purposes. A method of monitoring an article or system such as a fuel tank is also disclosed.

Claims

17-1. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the host unit comprises a computer, a telephone line interface connected to the computer and adapted for connection to a telephone line;

and software resident in the computer for managing information related to the detected parameter.

19. An apparatus for monitoring and managing the fill level of a fuel tank such as a propane or LP tank, comprising:

(a) a transmission unit adapted to be disposed on or near the article or system, the transmitter being constructed and arranged to detect at least one parameter related to the fuel tank and send information related to the detected parameter, the transmission unit including;

(i) a battery power supply,

(ii) a controller connected to the power supply, the controller including a power management system for sending information to the base unit only when predetermined changes in the fuel tank being monitored occur or when predetermined environmental factors are sensed,

(iii) a sensor connected to the controller and communicatively coupled to the fuel tank being monitored, and

(iv) a transmission send element connected to the controller;

(b) a base unit adapted to be disposed at a predetermined location remote from the fuel tank, the base unit being constructed and arranged to receive information related to the detected parameter from the transmission unit, the base unit including;

(i) a power supply,

(ii) a controller connected to the power supply,

(iii) a transmission receive element connected to the controller for receiving information from the transmission unit,

(iv) a telephone line interface connected to the controller and adapted for connection to a telephone line for sending and receiving information to and from the host unit,

(v) a sensor connected to the controller, and

(vi) a display connected to the controller for displaying information pertaining to the fuel tank being monitored; and

(c) a host unit adapted to be disposed at a location remote from the base unit and the transmission unit, the host unit being constructed and arranged to receive information related to the detected parameter from the base unit, the host unit including;

(i) a computer,

(ii) a telephone line interface connected to the computer and adapted for connection to a telephone line; and

(iii) software resident in the computer for managing information related to the detected parameter.

20. A method of monitoring an article or system, comprising the steps of:

(a) detecting at least one parameter related to the article or system at the location of the article or system;

(b) sending information related to the detected parameter to a predetermined first location remote from the article or system, and

(c) sending the information related to the detected parameter from the first remote location to a second location remote from the article or system and from the first remote location.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the method monitors parameters of a fuel tank.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the fuel tank is a propane tank, and wherein the parameters of the propane tank include its fill level.

23. A method of monitoring a parameter such as fill level of a fuel tank such as a propane or LP tank, comprising the steps of:

(a) detecting at least one parameter related to the tank at the location of the tank;

(b) sending information related to the detected parameter to a predetermined base location remote from the tank via radio frequency transmission,

(c) receiving via radio transmission, storing and displaying the sent information related to the detected parameter at the base location;

(d) sending the stored information related to the detected parameter from the base location to a host location remote from the tank and from the base location via a telephone link;

(e) receiving, via the telephone link, the sent information related to the detected parameter at the host location; and

(f) storing and processing the information related to the detected parameter at the host location.