System and method for backing up distributed controllers in a data network
First Claim
1. A system for controlling, through a data network, an automated fuel-distribution site having fuel-dispensing equipment, said system comprising:
- a site control system located at the site, comprising;
a site controller in communication with the fuel-dispensing equipment, the site controller being configured to manage operations of the fuel-dispensing equipment; and
a site hub for routing communications between the site equipment and the site controller, and for routing communications to and from the data network;
a site-configuration database populated with information regarding the configuration of the site controller;
a central control system remotely located from the site comprising;
a spare controller reconfigurable to at least partially match the configuration of the site controller and manage the operations of the fuel-dispensing equipment;
a central controller that reconfigures the at least one spare controller when required with information from the site-configuration database; and
a central hub for routing communications between the central controller, the spare controller, and the site-configuration database, and for routing communications to and from the data network; and
means for determining when configuration of the spare controller is required for managing the operations of the fuel-dispensing equipment.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method for the rapid configuration and connection of a backup controller in a distributed data network such as an automated fuel distribution network. Each service-station site in the network has a site controller that supervises operations of the site components, such as the fuel dispenser and credit-card reader, communicating with them through an on-site router, or hub. The fuel-distribution site also communicates with the central network controller through the same hub. In the event of a site-controller outage, one of several spare controllers, usually co-located with the network controller, is loaded and configured to function as the site controller. It is then placed in communication with the site components via a data-network connection, such as through the Internet. The hub switches communications protocols from serial data to packets suitable for Internet communications.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A system for controlling, through a data network, an automated fuel-distribution site having fuel-dispensing equipment, said system comprising:
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a site control system located at the site, comprising;
a site controller in communication with the fuel-dispensing equipment, the site controller being configured to manage operations of the fuel-dispensing equipment; and
a site hub for routing communications between the site equipment and the site controller, and for routing communications to and from the data network;
a site-configuration database populated with information regarding the configuration of the site controller;
a central control system remotely located from the site comprising;
a spare controller reconfigurable to at least partially match the configuration of the site controller and manage the operations of the fuel-dispensing equipment;
a central controller that reconfigures the at least one spare controller when required with information from the site-configuration database; and
a central hub for routing communications between the central controller, the spare controller, and the site-configuration database, and for routing communications to and from the data network; and
means for determining when configuration of the spare controller is required for managing the operations of the fuel-dispensing equipment. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
means at the site for generating a predetermined signal pattern when the site controller is functioning properly; and
means for detecting when the predetermined signal pattern has been interrupted, indicating that the site controller is not functioning properly.
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4. The system of claim 1, wherein the means for determining when configuration of the spare controller is required resides on the site hub, and wherein the site hub further comprises means for generating a notification message to alert the central controller that a site controller failure has been detected.
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5. The system of claim 1, further comprising a function in the central controller for directing the site hub to begin routing to the spare controller communications addressed to the site controller.
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6. The system of claim 1, wherein the site-configuration database is maintained at the fuel-distribution site.
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7. The system of claim 1, wherein the central control system includes:
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a plurality of spare controllers in communication with the data network and remotely located from the site; and
a function in the central controller for selecting one of the plurality of spare controllers to be configured to manage the operations of the site equipment.
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8. A system for backing up a site controller in a distributed network having a plurality of sites, each site having a site controller that is configured to manage operating equipment located at the site and a site hub for routing communications between the site equipment and the site controller, each site hub also being in communication with a data communications network, said system comprising:
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a configuration database populated with configuration information indicating how each of the plurality of site controllers is configured;
a configurable spare controller remotely located from the sites and in communication with the data communications network, said spare controller being configurable using the configuration information in the database to manage the operating equipment at a selected site by communicating with the hub at the selected site over the data communications network;
a central controller remotely located from the sites and in communication with the data communications network, the central controller including means for configuring the spare controller with configuration information for the site controller at the selected site when backing up of the site controller at the selected site is required; and
means for determining when backing up of the site controller at the selected site is required. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11)
a plurality of spare controllers remotely located from the sites and in communication with the data network; and
a function in the central controller for selecting one of the plurality of spare controllers to assume the function of the site controller at the selected site.
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12. A router for connecting a plurality of site components to a site controller and for connecting the site controller through a data network to a central controller and at least one backup site controller, the router comprising:
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means for determining when the site controller is not operational; and
means for rerouting to the backup site controller, communications directed to site controller when the site controller is not operational. - View Dependent Claims (13)
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14. A method of backing-up an automated fueling-station controller that manages station components at a fueling station by communicating with them through a station router, the fueling station being part of a distributed network having a central controller that communicates with the station router through a data network, said method comprising the steps of:
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providing at least one spare controller remotely located from the site and in communication with the data network;
populating a database with configuration information for the station controller;
detecting a station controller failure;
configuring the spare controller using the configuration information from the database so that the spare controller is capable of at least partially functioning as the station controller; and
rerouting, by the station router, station communications to and from the spare controller over the data communications network so that the spare controller can manage the station components. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17)
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18. A method of backing-up a site controller that manages a site in a distributed network by communicating through a hub, the distributed network including a central controller, a database, and at least one spare controller remotely located from the site and in communication with the hub through a data network, the method comprising the steps of:
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populating the database with configuration parameters for the site controller;
detecting a site controller failure;
configuring the spare controller with the configuration parameters for the site controller; and
managing the site using the spare controller as a replacement for the failed site controller by routing site-management communications through the data network. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
determining that the site controller is ready to return to service; and
transferring site management back to the site controller.
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Specification