Fuel Dispenser Management

• US 20070119859A1
• Filed: 11/13/2006
• Published: 05/31/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/14/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Dresser Incorporated (Nagano Keiki Company Limited)
• Original Assignee: Dresser Incorporated (Nagano Keiki Company Limited)
• Inventors: Harrell, Daniel
• Application Number:
  US11/559,211
• Publication Number:
  US 20070119859A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 222/52
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 13/025 wherein the volume is determined during delivery
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/026 for alarm, monitoring and auditing in vending machines or means for indication, e.g. when empty

Abstract

Systems and processes may provide for management of a fuel dispenser. In particular implementations, a system and process in a fuel dispenser may have the ability to determine whether a condition has occurred and determine whether the condition warrants a response if a condition has occurred. The system and process may also have the ability to determine an appropriate response if the condition warrants a response and implement the appropriate response.

Claims

1. A method by which a fuel dispenser performs diagnostic services, the method comprising:

determining whether a condition has occurred;

if a condition has occurred, determining whether the condition warrants a response;

if the condition warrants a response, determining an appropriate response; and

implementing the appropriate response.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the condition comprises at least one of an environmental, a mechanical, an electrical, or an instruction condition.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein determining whether a condition has occurred comprises determining whether a sensor has generated a signal.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein determining whether the condition warrants a response comprises determining at least one of whether the condition exists, the condition is outside of a predetermined value, or other conditions exist.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the appropriate response comprises restarting the fuel dispenser.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the appropriate response comprises shutting down the fuel dispenser.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the appropriate response comprises implementing revised diagnostic instructions.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the appropriate response comprises generating a notification.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the condition comprises a response.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the condition comprises the number of fuel dispenser restarts in a given period of time.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining whether revised diagnostic instructions are available; and

if revised diagnostic instructions are available, implementing the instructions.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising storing condition-related data if a response is warranted.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining if a diagnostic request regarding a fuel dispenser component has been received; and

implementing the diagnostic request if it has been received.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein a diagnostic request comprises one of a request for data regarding a fuel dispenser component or a diagnostic command for a fuel dispenser component.

15. A fuel dispenser, the fuel dispenser comprising:

memory operable to store diagnostic instructions; and

a processor coupled to the memory and operable, according to the diagnostic instructions, to;

determine whether a condition has occurred,

if a condition has occurred, determine whether the condition warrants a response,

if the condition warrants a response, determine an appropriate response, and

implement the appropriate response.

16. The fuel dispenser of claim 15, wherein determining whether the condition warrants a response comprises determining at least one of whether the condition exists, the condition is outside of a predetermined value, or other conditions exist.

17. The fuel dispenser of claim 15, wherein the condition comprises a response.

18. The fuel dispenser of claim 17, wherein the condition comprises the number of fuel dispenser restarts in a given period of time.

19. The fuel dispenser of claim 15, wherein the processor is further operable to:

determine whether revised diagnostic instructions are available; and

if revised diagnostic instructions are available, implement the revised diagnostic instructions.

20. The fuel dispenser of claim 15, wherein the memory is further operable to store condition-related data if a response is warranted.

21. The fuel dispenser of claim 15, further comprising a sensor coupled to the processor and operable to detect a condition.

22. The fuel dispenser of claim 15, wherein the processor is further operable to:

determine if a diagnostic request regarding a fuel dispenser component has been received; and

implement the diagnostic request if it has been received.

23. A fuel dispenser, the fuel dispenser comprising:

means for determining whether a condition has occurred;

means for determining whether the condition warrants a response if a condition has occurred;

means for determining an appropriate response if the condition warrants a response; and

means for implementing the appropriate response.

24. The fuel dispenser of claim 23, wherein the appropriate response comprises at least one of restarting the fuel dispenser, shutting down the fuel dispenser, implementing revised diagnostic instructions, and generating a notification.

25. The fuel dispenser of claim 23, wherein the condition comprises a response.

26. The fuel dispenser of claim 25, wherein the condition comprises the number of fuel dispenser restarts in a given period of time.

27. The fuel dispenser of claim 23, further comprising:

means for determining whether revised diagnostic instructions are available; and

means for implementing the instructions if revised diagnostic instructions are available.

28. The fuel dispenser of claim 23, further comprising:

means for determining if a diagnostic request regarding a fuel dispenser component has been received; and

means for implementing the diagnostic request if it has been received.

29. A fuel dispenser, the fuel dispenser comprising:

a dispenser manager operable to control electronic functions of the fuel dispenser in response to operational commands;

a fuel controller coupled to the dispenser manager, the fuel controller operable to control fuel flow operations;

a management module associated with the dispenser manager, the management module operable to generate operational commands for the dispenser manager based on instructions stored in memory, the instructions operable to cause the management module to;

determine whether a condition has occurred, the condition comprising at least one of an environmental, a mechanical, an electrical, or an instruction condition,

if a condition has occurred, determine whether the condition warrants a response, the determination including determining at least one of if the condition exists, if the condition is outside of a predetermined range, or if other conditions exist,

if the condition warrants a response, determine an appropriate response, the appropriate response comprising at least one of restarting the fuel dispenser, shutting down the fuel dispenser, downloading instructions, or generating a notification,

implement the appropriate response,

determine whether revised diagnostic instructions are available,

if revised diagnostic instructions are available, implement the revised diagnostic instructions,

determining if a diagnostic request regarding a fuel dispenser component has been received, and

implementing the diagnostic request if it has been received; and

a sensor coupled to the management module and operable to detect a condition.