System for monitoring propane or other consumable liquid in remotely located storage tanks
DCFirst Claim
1. A computer implemented method for monitoring fluid levels of a consumable liquid in a storage tank, the method comprising:
- providing at least one monitoring unit associated with a storage tank, said monitoring unit in close proximity to the storage tank and communicatively linked with a sensor that provides fluid level information indicative of the amount of fluid in the storage tank, wherein the monitoring unit includes at least one processor with circuitry for receiving and processing the fluid level information;
wherein at least one monitoring unit is capable of calculating predicted fluid levels based upon communicated tank sensor information and comparing actual fluid levels to predicted fluid levels to determine whether a predefined out-of-ordinary event has occurred.
0 Assignments
Litigations
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An improved apparatus and method for monitoring the levels of propane or other consumable liquid in remotely located storage tanks and coordinating delivery of liquid to those tanks, including an improved method of using the remote monitoring data to identify out-of-ordinary conditions at remote tanks, optimally schedule purchases or deliveries, improve safety, and more efficiently operate a propane dealership. More accurate and timely information concerning the status of customer tanks serves to improve operational efficiencies and increase safety. Data received from remote sensors can be collected and organized so that it is easily understood and utilized through the implementation of a user interface accessible via the Internet that allows the information to be presented in an efficient graphical and contextual fashion. Operational efficiencies can also be improved by calculating site-specific Degree-days and K-factors for each tank and by taking historical propane usage for each tank, weather conditions, and projected fuel usage into account.
-
Citations
20 Claims
-
1. A computer implemented method for monitoring fluid levels of a consumable liquid in a storage tank, the method comprising:
-
providing at least one monitoring unit associated with a storage tank, said monitoring unit in close proximity to the storage tank and communicatively linked with a sensor that provides fluid level information indicative of the amount of fluid in the storage tank, wherein the monitoring unit includes at least one processor with circuitry for receiving and processing the fluid level information; wherein at least one monitoring unit is capable of calculating predicted fluid levels based upon communicated tank sensor information and comparing actual fluid levels to predicted fluid levels to determine whether a predefined out-of-ordinary event has occurred. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
-
-
20. A computer implemented method for monitoring fluid levels of a consumable liquid in a storage tank, the method comprising:
-
providing at least one monitoring unit associated with a storage tank, said monitoring unit in close proximity to the storage tank and communicatively linked with a sensor that provides fluid level information indicative of the amount of fluid in the storage tank, wherein the monitoring unit includes at least one processor with circuitry for receiving and processing the fluid level information; wherein at least one monitoring unit is also communicatively linked with a temperature sensor that provides temperature information indicative of the ambient temperature at the storage tank location, and wherein said monitoring unit processor also receives and processes the communicated temperature information and said memory stores processed temperature information; wherein at least one monitoring unit is capable of calculating predicted fluid levels based upon communicated tank sensor information and comparing actual fluid levels to predicted fluid levels to determine whether a predefined out-of-ordinary event has occurred; providing a central server remotely located from the storage tank, said central server communicatively linked with the monitoring unit so that fluid level information can be transmitted via a communications link to the central server from the monitoring unit; receiving, by the processor, fluid level information from the sensor; determining, by the processor, whether a predefined out-of-ordinary event has occurred; in response to a determination that a predefined out-of-ordinary event has occurred, sending notice via the communications link to the central server from the monitoring unit; transmitting fluid level information from the monitoring unit to the central server via the communications link between the monitoring unit and the central server; and receiving, by the central server, fluid level information, the central server then processing received fluid level information (i) to provide displayable fluid level data, and (ii) to forecast future fluid levels utilizing at least stored fluid level data.
-
Specification