NON-METERED WIRELESS SYSTEM AND METHOD TO RENDER USAGE BASED INVOICES FOR STORAGE TANK CONSUMABLES

• US 20140156478A1
• Filed: 11/28/2013
• Published: 06/05/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/05/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ken Stauffer, Loren Owens
• Original Assignee: Ken Stauffer, Loren Owens
• Inventors: Owens, Loren, Stauffer, Ken
• Granted Patent: US 9,646,330 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/34
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/04 Billing or invoicing

Abstract

A method, system and computer-readable medium for managing usage of storage tank consumables in a storage tank are provided. This is achieved by receiving and storing by a central server comprising a processor and a storage device, measurements of storage tank consumables from a remote system associated with a storage tank; periodically calculating by the processor usage-based data for generating invoices for storage tank consumables based on sensor measurements representative of an estimated usage of the storage tank consumables; receiving and storing by the central server a fill value representing an actual usage reported to the central server when the storage tank is filled; and reconciling the estimated usage with the actual usage by the processor by summing all estimated usages since a last fill of the storage tank, calculating a difference between the sum of the estimated usages and the fill value, and issuing a debit or credit based on the difference for reconciliation.

Claims

1. A method for managing usage of storage tank consumables in a storage tank, comprising:

receiving and storing by a central server comprising a processor and a storage device, measurements of storage tank consumables from a remote system associated with a storage tank;

periodically calculating by the processor usage-based data for generating invoices for storage tank consumables based on sensor measurements representative of an estimated usage of the storage tank consumables;

receiving and storing by the central server a fill value representing an actual usage reported to the central server when the storage tank is filled;

reconciling the estimated usage with the actual usage by the processor by summing all estimated usages since a last fill of the storage tank, calculating a difference between the sum of the estimated usages and the fill value, and issuing a debit or credit based on the difference for reconciliation.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

measuring storage tank consumables via a sensor device of the remote system adapted to measure usage of the storage tank consumables.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

processing the sensor measurements by a processing device in communication with the sensor device, wherein the processing device is adapted to convert the sensor measurements into a predetermined protocol message for transmission.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

communicating between the central server and the remote system via a communication interface adapted to transmit the predetermined protocol message.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

providing a user interface adapted to grant access to data stored and processed by the central server and provide reports based on the data.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

providing storage tank consumable data and customer data graphically via a map displayed on a display device for one or more storage tanks managed by the central server, by generating via the processor a map view comprising icons overlaid on the map based on service addresses, wherein the icons provide selectable links to the storage tank consumable data and customer data, and further wherein the icons are color coded to be indicative of tank level readings.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

generating via the processor tank level reports for one or more storage tanks managed by the central server, wherein the tank level reports are adapted to report data that exceeds certain predetermined thresholds and generate a report based on routing zones for tank filling routes.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

periodically generating via the processor invoices based on the estimated usage of the storage tank consumables to allow for a plurality of billing cycles between tank fills;

wherein after the storage tank is filled, adjusting the next invoice via the processor in order to reconcile the estimated usage with the actual usage.

9. A non-transitory computer readable medium containing instructions that when executed by a processor perform acts comprising:

receiving and storing by a processor and storage device of a central server measurements of storage tank consumables from a remote system located at a storage tank;

periodically calculating by the processor usage-based data for generating invoices for storage tank consumables based on sensor measurements representative of an estimated usage of the storage tank consumables;

receiving and storing a fill value representing an actual usage reported to the central server when the storage tank is filled;

reconciling by the processor the estimated usage with the actual usage by summing all estimated usages since a last fill of the storage tank, calculating a difference between the sum of the estimated usages and the fill value, and issuing a debit or credit based on the difference for reconciliation.

10. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 9, further comprising instructions that when executed by a processor perform acts comprising:

processing sensor measurements by a processing device in communication with a sensor device of the remote system adapted to measure usage of the storage tank consumables, wherein the processing device is adapted to convert the sensor measurements into a predetermined protocol message for transmission.

11. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 9, further comprising instructions that when executed by a processor perform acts comprising:

providing storage tank consumable data and customer data graphically via a map displayed on a display device for one or more storage tanks managed by the central server, by generating via the processor a map view comprising icons overlaid on the map based on service addresses, wherein the icons provide selectable links to the storage tank consumable data and customer data, and further wherein the icons are color coded to be indicative of tank level readings.

12. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 9, further comprising instructions that when executed by a processor perform acts comprising:

generating tank level reports for one or more storage tanks managed by the central server, wherein the tank level reports are adapted to report data that exceeds certain predetermined thresholds and generate a report based on routing zones for tank filling routes.

13. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 9, further comprising instructions that when executed by a processor perform acts comprising:

periodically generating invoices based on the estimated usage of the storage tank consumables to allow for a plurality of billing cycles between tank fills;

wherein after the storage tank is filled, adjusting the next invoice in order to reconcile the estimated usage with the actual usage.

14. A system for managing usage of storage tank consumables in a storage tank, comprising:

a central server comprising a processor and a database adapted to communicate with a processing device of a remote system associated with the storage tank through a communication interface, wherein the processed sensor measurements of the remote system are received by the central server for further processing and storage, wherein the further processing comprises executing a usage based billing process adapted to;

periodically calculate usage-based data for generating invoices for storage tank consumables based on sensor measurements representative of an estimated usage of the storage tank consumables;

receive and store a fill value representing an actual usage reported to the central server when the storage tank is filled;

reconcile the estimated usage with the actual usage by summing all estimated usages since a last fill of the storage tank, calculating a difference between the sum of the estimated usages and the fill value, and issuing a debit or credit based on the difference for reconciliation.

15. The system of claim 14, further comprising:

a remote system associated with the storage tank comprising;

a sensor device unit adapted to measure storage tank consumables;

a processing device in communication with the sensor device adapted process sensor measurements; and

a communication interface.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the processing device of the remote system is further adapted to convert the sensor measurements into a predetermined protocol message for transmission via the communication interface.

17. The system of claim 14, wherein the usage based billing process is further adapted to:

provide storage tank consumable data and customer data graphically via a map displayed on a display device for one or more storage tanks managed by the central server, by generating via the processor a map view comprising icons overlaid on the map based on service addresses, wherein the icons provide selectable links to the storage tank consumable data and customer data, and further wherein the icons are color coded to be indicative of tank level readings.

18. The system of claim 14, wherein the usage based billing process is further adapted to:

generate tank level reports for one or more storage tanks managed by the central server, wherein the tank level reports are adapted to report data that exceeds certain predetermined thresholds and generate a report based on routing zones for tank filling routes.

19. The system of claim 14, wherein the usage based billing process is further adapted to:

periodically generate invoices based on the estimated usage of the storage tank consumables to allow for a plurality of billing cycles between tank fills;

wherein after the storage tank is filled, the usage based billing process is further adapted to adjust the next invoice in order to reconcile the estimated usage with the actual usage.

20. The system of claim 14, wherein the usage based billing process is further adapted to generate monthly invoices based on the estimated usage of the storage tank consumables and wherein after the storage tank is filled, the usage based billing process is further adapted to adjust the next monthly invoice in order to reconcile the estimated usage with the actual usage.