SYSTEM FOR REMOTELY MANAGING A HOME HEATING SYSTEM

• US 20080243648A1
• Filed: 10/24/2007
• Published: 10/02/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/08/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Anthony M. Uzzo, James D. Gregory
• Original Assignee: Anthony M. Uzzo, James D. Gregory
• Inventors: Uzzo, Anthony M., Gregory, James D.
• Application Number:
  US11/923,292
• Publication Number:
  US 20080243648A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/28
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 23/00 Indicating or measuring liquid level or level of fluent solid material, e.g. indicating in terms of volume or indicating by means of an alarm
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders

Abstract

A centralized fuel monitoring system for allowing a plurality of fuel dealers to monitor the fuel level at customer locations, the system having a central computer accessible by the plurality of fuel dealers to access customer account information, the customer account information including an indication of a fuel level at a customer location. The fuel level may be remotely measured or may be calculated by the system. Also included is authorization software that allows a fuel dealer to access customer accounts and administration software that allows a fuel dealer to create new customer accounts.

Claims

1. A centralized fuel monitoring system for allowing a plurality of fuel dealers to monitor the fuel level at customer locations comprising:

a central computer accessible by a plurality of fuel dealer computers, each fuel dealer having a plurality of customer accounts to which they supply fuel, each fuel dealer having access to said central computer to check on the fuel level at the customer location;

a measurer installed at a customer location, generating a fuel signal indicative of a fuel level at the customer location;

a communicator coupled to said measurer and receiving the fuel signal;

said communicator coupled to said central computer via a communications network, said central computer receiving data indicative of the fuel level at the customer location;

authorization software allowing a fuel dealer to access customer accounts associated with the fuel dealer; and

administration software allowing a fuel dealer to create new customer accounts and enroll new customer locations to be monitored;

wherein a plurality of fuel dealer computers access the central computer, each fuel dealer having a plurality of customer accounts to whom they supply fuel, each fuel dealer accessing the central computer system via the authorization software and administering customer accounts via the administration software.

2. The fuel monitoring system of claim 1 further comprising a customer computer coupled to said central computer, wherein each customer has access to their own account information.

3. The fuel monitoring system of claim 2 wherein each customer has access to the fuel level at their customer location.

4. The fuel monitoring system of claim 1 further comprising delivery analysis software for analyzing replenishment of fuel at the customer location.

5. The fuel monitoring system of claim 1 wherein the system provides the dealer with geographical information for customer route optimization.

6. The fuel monitoring system of claim 1 further comprising accounting software for generating billing information associated with the customer account.

7. The fuel monitoring system of claim 1 wherein said communicator is wirelessly coupled to said measurer.

8. A centralized fuel monitoring system for allowing a plurality of customers to monitor the fuel level at their customer location comprising:

a central computer accessible by a plurality of customers computers, each customer having access to said central computer to check on the fuel level at their customer location;

a measurer installed at a customer location, generating a fuel signal indicative of a fuel level at the customer location;

a communicator coupled to said measurer and receiving the fuel signal;

said communicator coupled to said central computer via a communications network, said central computer receiving data indicative of the fuel level at the customer location;

authorization software allowing a customer to access the customer'"'"'s own account information; and

administration software allowing a customer to create a new customer account and enroll a new customer location to be monitored;

wherein a plurality of customer computers access the central computer, each customer accessing the central computer system via the authorization software and administering their own accounts via the administration software.

9. The fuel monitoring system of claim 8 further comprising delivery analysis software for analyzing replenishment of fuel by a dealer at the customer location.

10. The fuel monitoring system of claim 8 wherein the system provides a dealer with geographical information for route optimization.

11. The fuel monitoring system of claim 8 further comprising accounting software for generating billing information associated with the customer account.

12. The fuel monitoring system of claim 8 wherein said communicator is wirelessly coupled to said measurer.

13. A centralized monitoring system for monitoring the status of heating equipment at a customer location comprising:

a central computer accessible by a plurality of dealer computers, each dealer having a plurality of customer accounts to which they monitor heating systems, each dealer having access to said central computer to check on the status of a heating system at a customer location;

a burner monitor installed at a customer location for monitoring the status of a burner in a customer heating system;

said burner monitor generating a burner alarm signal in the event said burner monitor determines an event with the burner in the customer heating system occurs;

a communicator coupled to said burner monitor and receiving the burner alarm signal;

said communicator coupled to said central computer via a communications network, said central computer receiving data indicative of the burner alarm signal at the customer location;

authorization software allowing a dealer to access the customer'"'"'s account information; and

administration software allowing the dealer to create a new customer account and enroll a new customer locations to be monitored;

wherein a plurality of dealer computers access the central computer, each dealer accessing the central computer system via the authorization software and administering their accounts via the administration software.

14. The fuel monitoring system of claim 13 further comprising a customer computer coupled to said central computer, wherein each customer has access to their own account information.

15. The fuel monitoring system of claim 13 further comprising accounting software for generating billing information associated with the customer account.

16. The fuel monitoring system of claim 13 wherein said communicator is wirelessly coupled to said burner monitor.

17. A centralized monitoring system for monitoring the efficiency of heating equipment at a customer location comprising:

a central computer accessible by a plurality of dealer computers, each dealer having a plurality of customer accounts to which they monitor heating systems, each dealer having access to said central computer to check on the efficiency of a heating system at a customer location;

an efficiency monitor installed at a customer location for monitoring the efficiency of a customer heating system;

said efficiency monitor generating a measurement signal indicative of the efficiency of the customer heating system;

a communicator coupled to said efficiency monitor and receiving the measurement signal;

said communicator coupled to said central computer via a communications network, said central computer receiving data indicative of the measurement signal at the customer location;

authorization software allowing a dealer to access the customer'"'"'s account information; and

administration software allowing the dealer to create a new customer account and enroll a new customer locations to be monitored;

wherein a plurality of dealer computers access the central computer, each dealer accessing the central computer system via the authorization software and administering their accounts via the administration software.

18. The fuel monitoring system of claim 17 further comprising a customer computer coupled to said central computer, wherein each customer has access to their own account information.

19. The fuel monitoring system of claim 17 further comprising accounting software for generating billing information associated with the customer account.

20. The fuel monitoring system of claim 17 wherein said communicator is wirelessly coupled to said efficiency monitor.

21. A centralized fuel monitoring system for allowing a plurality of fuel dealers to monitor the fuel level at customer locations comprising:

a central computer accessible by a plurality of fuel dealer computers, each fuel dealer having a plurality of customer accounts to which they supply fuel;

degree day software executing on the central computer estimating the current fuel level at each customer location;

said degree day software estimate for each customer location taking into account specific customer location information relating to the customer'"'"'s home;

authorization software allowing a fuel dealer to access customer accounts associated with the fuel dealer; and

administration software allowing a fuel dealer to create new customer accounts and enroll new customer locations to be monitored;

wherein a plurality of fuel dealer computers access the central computer, each fuel dealer having a plurality of customer accounts to whom they supply fuel, each fuel dealer accessing the central computer system via the authorization software and administering customer accounts via the administration software.

22. The fuel monitoring system of claim 21 further comprising a customer computer coupled to said central computer, wherein each customer has access to their own account information.

23. The fuel monitoring system of claim 21 further comprising delivery analysis software for analyzing replenishment of fuel at the customer location.

24. The fuel monitoring system of claim 21 wherein the system provides the dealer with geographical information for customer route optimization.

25. The fuel monitoring system of claim 21 further comprising accounting software for generating billing information associated with the customer account.

26. The fuel monitoring system of claim 21 further comprising:

a measurer installed at a first customer location, generating a fuel signal indicative of a fuel level at the first customer location; and

a communicator coupled to said measurer and receiving the fuel signal;

said communicator coupled to said central computer via a communications network, said central computer receiving data indicative of the fuel level at the first customer location;

wherein the system utilizes the fuel signal from the first customer location as a factor in determining said degree day software estimate for a second customer location in the geographic vicinity of the first customer location.

27. A centralized fuel monitoring system for allowing a plurality of customers to monitor the fuel level at their customer location comprising:

a central computer accessible by a plurality of customer computers;

degree day software executing on the central computer estimating the current fuel level at each customer location;

said degree day software estimate for each customer location taking into account specific customer location information relating to the customer'"'"'s home;

authorization software allowing the customer to access their own customer accounts; and

administration software allowing a customer to create a new customer account and enroll new customer locations to be monitored;

wherein a plurality of customer computers access the central computer, each customer accessing the central computer system via the authorization software and administering their own customer accounts via the administration software.

28. The fuel monitoring system of claim 27 further comprising delivery analysis software for analyzing replenishment of fuel by a dealer at the customer location.

29. The fuel monitoring system of claim 27 wherein the system provides a fuel dealer with geographical information for customer route optimization.

30. The fuel monitoring system of claim 27 further comprising accounting software for generating billing information associated with the customer account.

31. The fuel monitoring system of claim 27 further comprising:

a measurer installed at a first customer location, generating a fuel signal indicative of a fuel level at the first customer location; and

a communicator coupled to said measurer and receiving the fuel signal;

said communicator coupled to said central computer via a communications network, said central computer receiving data indicative of the fuel level at the first customer location;

wherein the system utilizes the fuel signal from the first customer location as a factor in determining said degree day software estimate for a second customer location in the geographic vicinity of the first customer location.