Method and apparatus for management of automated fuel delivery system

• US 6,128,551 A
• Filed: 07/02/1998
• Issued: 10/03/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 07/02/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Megatronics International Corp.
• Original Assignee: Megatronics International Corp.
• Inventors: Davis, Keith, Lu, Wenyi
• Primary Examiner(s): Ellis, Christopher P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Tran, Khoi H
• Application Number:
  US09/109,424
• Time in Patent Office: 824 Days
• Field of Search: 700/236, 700/241, 700/244, 700/231, 700/232
• US Class Current: 700/236
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/341 Active cards, i.e. cards including their own processing means, e.g. including an IC or chip
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/363 with the personal data of a user
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/4093 Monitoring of device authentication
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 13/025 wherein the volume is determined during delivery
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/0866 by active credit-cards adapted therefor G07F7/1008 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/1008 Active credit-cards provided with means to personalise their use, e.g. with PIN-introduction/comparison system

Abstract

A system for monitoring and delivering fuel to vehicles, consisting of at least three levels of control and data storage. Each vehicle using the system has a key that stores transactional data and data concerning the vehicle and its fuel requirements, which key is received by a fuel delivery control device associated with a fuel pump. The control device may independently validate and authorize fuel transactions upon receipt of such key, and may maintain and transfer transactional and key parameter data. A central control unit gathers transactional data from any number of control devices and communicates updated information to the devices to facilitate their independent operation. A fourth level of control and data storage may be provided with a telecommunications link between a number of central control units and a master management system. Operational algorithms within each component of the system permit their independent operation and provide alternative means for transferring data when communication between components fails. Additionally, transfer keys are provided for transferring data from control devices to central control units and vice versa. Finally, fuel storage tank sensors communicate data to the central control unit concerning fuel levels, thereby allowing for fuel inventory management and the detection of environmental leaks.

Claims

1. A system for controlling and managing the delivery of fuel to motor vehicles from at least one fuel storage tank through a plurality of fuel dispensing devices, said system comprising:

a plurality of dispensing controllers, each of said dispensing controllers operating one of said plurality of fuel dispensing devices, said dispensing controllers comprising means for storing data and means for communicating data;

a plurality of vehicle data keys insertable into said dispensing controllers, said vehicle data keys comprising means for storing data and means for communicating data;

a central microprocessor in direct data communication with each of said dispensing controllers; and

at least one transfer data key insertable into said dispensing controllers and said central microprocessor said transfer data key comprising means for storing data and means for communicating data;

wherein information necessary for validation of a fueling request and information regarding a fueling transaction may be maintained in said plurality of dispensing controllers, or said plurality of vehicle data keys, or said central microprocessor.

2. A system for controlling and managing the delivery of fuel to motor vehicles from at least one fuel storage tank through a plurality of fuel dispensing devices, said system comprising:

a plurality of micro-control devices, each of said microcontrol devices associated with one of said plurality of fuel dispensing devices, said micro-control devices capable of receiving information from said fuel dispensing devices regarding a quantity of fuel flowing therethrough and further capable of activating and deactivating said fuel dispensing devices to start and stop a flow of fuel therethrough, said micro-control devices further comprising means for receiving confirmation data from an operator of said vehicle;

a plurality of vehicle data keys, each of said vehicle data keys associated with one of said motor vehicles, said vehicle data keys insertable into said micro-control devices for requesting a delivery of fuel, said vehicle data keys comprising means for storing identification and fuel transaction information, said vehicle data keys further comprising means for communicating said identification and fuel transaction information to and from said micro-control devices upon insertion of said vehicle data keys therein;

a central processing unit, said central processing unit connected to each of said micro-control devices and capable of communicating data to and from said micro-control devices, said central processing unit further comprising a display and a printer;

at least one transfer data key, said transfer data key insertable into said micro-control devices and said central processing unit, said transfer data key comprising means for storing fuel transaction information and fuel management information, said transfer data key further comprising means for communicating said fuel transaction and fuel management information to and from said micro-control devices and said central processing unit upon insertion of said transfer data key therein;

at least one fuel storage tank level sensor, said level sensor connected to said central processing unit and capable of communicating data to said central processing unit regarding a level of fuel within said tank;

a remote processing unit, said remote unit for uploading said fuel transaction information and downloading said fuel management information to and from said central processing unit; and

a telecommunications link between said central processing unit and said remote processing unit;

wherein insertion of one of said vehicle data keys into one of said micro-control devices initiates verification and processing of a fuel delivery request, said micro-control device confirming a validity of said request and activating a flow of fuel through one of said fuel delivery devices into said vehicle and storing information regarding said delivery of fuel.

3. A method for controlling and managing the delivery of fuel to motor vehicles from at least one fuel storage tank to a plurality of fuel dispensing devices, said method comprising the steps of:

providing a plurality of dispensing controllers for operating each of said plurality of fuel dispensing devices and having means for retaining and communicating informational data thereon;

providing a plurality of vehicle data keys insertable into said dispensing controllers and having means for retaining and communicating informational data thereon;

providing a central microprocessor in direct data communication with each of said dispensing controllers;

inserting one of said vehicle data keys into one of said dispensing controllers to request fuel delivery;

verifying said fuel delivery request;

dispensing fuel into said vehicle;

storing fueling transaction information in a memory device, said memory device comprising one of said central microprocessor, said dispensing controllers, or said vehicle data keys;

providing a transfer data key having means for retaining and communicating informational data thereon;

retrieving informational data from said dispensing controller with said transfer data key; and

transferring said informational data from said transfer data key to said central microprocessor.

4. A method for controlling and managing the delivery of fuel to motor vehicles from at least one fuel storage tank to a plurality of fuel dispensing devices, said method comprising the steps of:

providing a plurality of dispensing controllers for operating each of said plurality of fuel dispensing devices and having means for retaining and communicating informational data thereon;

providing a plurality of vehicle data keys insertable into said dispensing controllers and having means for retaining and communicating informational data thereon;

providing a central microprocessor in direct data communication with each of said dispensing controllers;

inserting one of said vehicle data keys into one of said dispensing controllers to request fuel delivery;

verifying said fuel delivery request;

dispensing fuel into said vehicle;

storing fueling transaction information in a memory device said memory device comprising one of said central microprocessor, said dispensing controllers, or said vehicle data keys;

providing a transfer data key having means for retaining and communicating informational data thereon;

retrieving informational data from said central microprocessor with said transfer data key; and

transferring said informational data from said transfer data key to said dispensing controller.

5. A method for controlling and managing the delivery of fuel to motor vehicles from at least one fuel storage tank through a plurality of fuel dispensing devices, said method comprising the steps of:

providing a plurality of micro-control devices, each of said micro-control devices associated with one of said plurality of fuel dispensing devices;

providing a plurality of vehicle data keys, each of said vehicle data keys associated with one of said motor vehicles, said vehicle data keys insertable into said micro-control devices and having means for retaining and communicating informational data thereon;

providing at least one fuel storage tank level sensor;

providing a central processing unit in data communication with each of said micro-control devices;

inserting one of said vehicle data keys into one of said micro-control devices to request a delivery of fuel to said vehicle;

verifying a validity of said fuel transaction request from said informational data contained on said vehicle data key;

initiating a flow of fuel through said fuel dispensing devices to said vehicle upon verification of said fuel request;

receiving information through said micro-control devices from said fuel dispensing devices regarding a quantity of fuel flowing therethrough;

terminating a flow of fuel from said fuel dispensing devices at a pre-determined level associated with a fuel capacity for said motor vehicle;

storing fueling transactional information in a memory device, said memory device comprising one of said central processing unit, said micro-control devices, or said vehicle data keys;

receiving information from said level sensor regarding a level of fuel in said storage tank;

comparing changes in said level of fuel in said storage tank over time with said fueling transactional information to identify a leak in said fuel storage tank from a discrepancy in said information;

providing a transfer data key, said transfer data key insertable into said micro-control devices and having means for retaining and communicating informational data thereon;

inserting said transfer data key into one of said microcontrol devices;

transferring informational data from said micro-control device to said transfer data key;

removing said transfer data key from said micro-control device;

inserting said transfer data key into said central processing unit; and

transferring informational data from said transfer data key to said central processing unit.