System and method for backing up distributed controllers in a data network

• US 6,725,106 B1
• Filed: 02/28/2001
• Issued: 04/20/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Retailstack, LLC
• Original Assignee: Auto-Gas Systems, Inc.
• Inventors: Covington, Steve, Ashby, David
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel, Ramesh
• Assistant Examiner(s): Shute, Douglas
• Application Number:
  US09/796,664
• Time in Patent Office: 1,147 Days
• Field of Search: 700/79, 700/82, 700/241, 700/9, 700/20, 700/21, 700/3, 700/19, 709/220, 714/13, 222/52
• US Class Current: 700/82
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 7/14 responsive to input of recorded programmed information, e.g. on punched cards
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 13/025 wherein the volume is determined during delivery
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 15/00 Coin-freed apparatus with meter-controlled dispensing of liquid, gas or electricity
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 5/18 specially adapted for controlling several coin-freed apparatus from one place
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/08 by coded identity card or credit card or other personal identification means without personal verification means G07F7/02
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/12 Card verification
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/002 Vending machines being part of a centrally controlled network of vending machines

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.

Claims

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.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the data network is the Internet, and further comprising a function available in the site hub for selectively translating site communications addressed to the site controller into an Internet protocol so that the communications can be routed through the Internet to the spare controller when it assumes management of the fuel-dispensing equipment.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the means for determining when configuration of the spare controller is required comprises:

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.

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.

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.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the site-configuration database is maintained at the fuel-distribution site.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the central control system includes:

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.

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:

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.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the means for determining when backing up of the site controller at the selected site is required resides on the hub at the selected site, and wherein the hub at the selected site further comprises means for generating a notification message to alert the central controller that a site controller failure at the selected site has been detected.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the central controller also includes a function that directs the hub to begin routing to the spare controller communications addressed to the site controller.

11. The system of claim 8, further comprising:

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.

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:

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.

13. The router of claim 12, further comprising a function in the router for converting between serial-interface data and Internet protocol (IP) data packets.

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:

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.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the step of detecting a station controller failure includes detecting the failure of a station-controller heartbeat signal.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the step of providing at least one spare controller includes providing a plurality of spare controllers remotely located from the site, and the method further comprises the step of selecting one of the plurality of controllers to act as a backup upon detecting a station controller failure.

17. The method of claim 14, further comprising the step of translating the station communications before rerouting them.

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:

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.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the distributed network includes a plurality of spare controllers, and the method further comprises the step of selecting a spare controller from the plurality of spare controllers.

20. The method of claim 18, further comprising the steps of:

determining that the site controller is ready to return to service; and

transferring site management back to the site controller.