METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR MEASURING PHYSICAL VOLUME
First Claim
1. In a liquid product facility that periodically performs a physical to book balance reconciliation process, a method of trending the variance between volume of liquid product as recorded in a book balance and a measured volume of physical liquid product in a thank the method comprising:
- collecting three or more volume book balances of the liquid product in a manifold set of tanks at three or more physical to book balance reconciliation times, the three or more volume book balances generated using a reconciliation system capable of automatically performing a physical product to book balance reconciliation process regardless of current delivery, dispensing, or both, of the liquid product;
collecting, by the reconciliation system, three or more physical volumes of the liquid product in the manifold set of tanks, which corresponds to an actual volume of liquid product within the manifold set at three or more physical to book balance reconciliation times;
automatically calculating, by the reconciliation system, variance data indicative of a difference between each of the three or more physical volumes and the three or more volume book balances at the corresponding physical to book balance reconciliation times; and
storing the variance data for showing a pattern-like relationship of a loss, gain, or both, of liquid product over a period of time.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Disclosed are methods, systems, and computer program products for determining a volume of liquid product in a manifold set of tanks. The method includes identifying a plurality of book volumes of liquid product in the manifold set of tanks. The method further includes identifying a plurality of measured physical volumes of liquid product in the manifold set of tanks, each measured physical volume being associated with one book volume of the plurality of book volumes. Following collecting the volumes, the method includes determining a variance between each measured physical volume of the plurality of measured volumes and each book volume of the plurality of book volumes and then using those variances to generate an expected variance to each of the plurality of measured physical volumes, the combination of the expected variance and the measured physical volume being the volume of the liquid product in the manifold set of tanks.
68 Citations
22 Claims
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1. In a liquid product facility that periodically performs a physical to book balance reconciliation process, a method of trending the variance between volume of liquid product as recorded in a book balance and a measured volume of physical liquid product in a thank the method comprising:
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collecting three or more volume book balances of the liquid product in a manifold set of tanks at three or more physical to book balance reconciliation times, the three or more volume book balances generated using a reconciliation system capable of automatically performing a physical product to book balance reconciliation process regardless of current delivery, dispensing, or both, of the liquid product;
collecting, by the reconciliation system, three or more physical volumes of the liquid product in the manifold set of tanks, which corresponds to an actual volume of liquid product within the manifold set at three or more physical to book balance reconciliation times;
automatically calculating, by the reconciliation system, variance data indicative of a difference between each of the three or more physical volumes and the three or more volume book balances at the corresponding physical to book balance reconciliation times; and
storing the variance data for showing a pattern-like relationship of a loss, gain, or both, of liquid product over a period of time. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12)
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6. (canceled)
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11. (canceled)
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13. (canceled)
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14. A method for determining a volume of liquid product in a manifold set of tanks at a retail facility, the method comprising:
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identifying a plurality of book volumes of liquid product in the manifold set of tanks between a first delivery of liquid product and a second delivery of liquid product;
identifying a plurality of measured physical volumes of liquid product in the manifold set of tanks between the first delivery of liquid product and the second delivery of liquid product, each measured physical volume of said plurality of measured physical volumes being associated with one book volume of said plurality of book volumes;
determining a variance between each measured physical volume of said plurality of measured volumes and each book volume of said plurality of book volumes;
displaying, using the variance, an expected variance to each of the plurality of measured physical volumes in order to determine one or more of;
(i) if a dispenser needs recalibration;
(ii) if theft of the liquid product has occurred;
(iii) the non or partial delivery of liquid product;
or (iv) if a leak exists in the fuel tank, plumbing, or dispensers of the liquid product facility, the combination of the expected variance and the measured physical volume being the volume of the liquid product in the manifold set of tanks. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17)
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18. In a liquid product facility that periodically performs a physical to book balance reconciliation process, a computer program product for implementing a method of trending the variance between volume of liquid product as recorded in a book balance and a measure volume of physical liquid product in the tank, the computer program product comprising one or more computer readable media having stored thereon computer executable instructions that, when executed by a processor, can cause the distributed computing system to perform the following:
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collect a plurality of volume book balances of liquid product in a manifold set of tanks at a plurality of physical to book balance reconciliation times between a first delivery of liquid product and a second delivery of liquid product, the plurality of volume balances generated using a reconciliation system capable of automatically performing a physical product to book balance reconciliation process regardless of current deliver, dispensing, or both, of the liquid product;
collect by the reconciliation system, a plurality of measured physical volumes of liquid product in the manifold set of tanks between the first delivery of liquid product and the second delivery of liquid product, each measured physical volume of said plurality of measured physical volumes corresponding to an actual volume of liquid product within the manifold set at the plurality of physical to book balance reconciliation times;
automatically calculate, by the reconciliation system, variance data indicative of a difference between each measured physical volume of said plurality of measured volumes and each volume book balance of said plurality of volume book balances; and
store the variance data for showing a pattern-like relationship of a loss, gain, or both, of liquid product over a period of time between the first delivery and second delivery. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21)
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19. (canceled)
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22-26. -26. (canceled)
Specification