Method and system for monitoring and communicating fill rate of container
First Claim
1. A method for measuring a fill rate of a container and communicating the measured fill rate to a server, the container comprising a gauge affixed to the container, the gauge comprising a fill rate sensor configured to measure the fill rate of the container, a microcontroller communicatively coupled to the fill rate sensor and a transceiver device, the microcontroller and the transceiver device being in a normally non-active mode, the method comprising:
- the gauge receiving and storing an operational model from the server, the operational model defining in the gauge;
a communication schedule for communication from the gauge to the server;
a pre-determined fill rate level for the container, the pre-determined fill rate level defining a predefined maximum value of the fill rate and a predefined minimum value of the fill rate; and
a wake-up signal for the gauge, the wake-up signal configured to initiate a communication comprising the measured fill rate from the gauge to the server outside of the communication schedule, wherein the wake-up signal is generated when the measured fill rate is equal to or above the predefined maximum value of the fill rate or is equal to or below the predefined minimum value of the fill rate,the method further comprising the fill rate sensor;
measuring the fill rate of the container;
comparing the measured fill rate with the pre-determined fill rate level defined in the operational model; and
generating the wake-up signal to switch on the microcontroller and the transceiver device from the normally non-active mode to a transmitting mode in order to cause the gauge to transmit the communication comprising the measured fill rate to the server only if;
the measured fill rate is equal to or above the predefined maximum value of the fill rate defined in the operational model;
orthe measured fill rate is equal to or below the predefined minimum value of the fill rate defined in the operational model; and
receiving an updated operational model from the server in response to the transmitted communication comprising the measured fill rate, the updated operational model being used as the operational model for the gauge.
5 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Disclosed is a method for monitoring a fill rate of a container and communicating it, which container comprises at least a first sensor which is a fill rate sensor. The method comprises receiving an operational model from a server, comprising a predefined maximum and/or minimum value of the fill rate. The method also comprises measuring the fill rate of the container. The method further comprises comparing the measured fill rate with the operational model. The method also comprises communicating the fill rate to the server, if the fill rate is equal or above the predefined maximum fill rate and/or if the fill rate is equal or below the predefined minimum fill rate.
25 Citations
15 Claims
-
1. A method for measuring a fill rate of a container and communicating the measured fill rate to a server, the container comprising a gauge affixed to the container, the gauge comprising a fill rate sensor configured to measure the fill rate of the container, a microcontroller communicatively coupled to the fill rate sensor and a transceiver device, the microcontroller and the transceiver device being in a normally non-active mode, the method comprising:
the gauge receiving and storing an operational model from the server, the operational model defining in the gauge; a communication schedule for communication from the gauge to the server; a pre-determined fill rate level for the container, the pre-determined fill rate level defining a predefined maximum value of the fill rate and a predefined minimum value of the fill rate; and a wake-up signal for the gauge, the wake-up signal configured to initiate a communication comprising the measured fill rate from the gauge to the server outside of the communication schedule, wherein the wake-up signal is generated when the measured fill rate is equal to or above the predefined maximum value of the fill rate or is equal to or below the predefined minimum value of the fill rate, the method further comprising the fill rate sensor; measuring the fill rate of the container; comparing the measured fill rate with the pre-determined fill rate level defined in the operational model; and generating the wake-up signal to switch on the microcontroller and the transceiver device from the normally non-active mode to a transmitting mode in order to cause the gauge to transmit the communication comprising the measured fill rate to the server only if; the measured fill rate is equal to or above the predefined maximum value of the fill rate defined in the operational model;
orthe measured fill rate is equal to or below the predefined minimum value of the fill rate defined in the operational model; and receiving an updated operational model from the server in response to the transmitted communication comprising the measured fill rate, the updated operational model being used as the operational model for the gauge. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
-
11. A system for measuring and communicating a fill rate of a container, the system comprising:
-
a gauge mounted on the container, the gauge comprising a fill rate sensor configured to measure the fill rate of the container, a microcontroller communicative coupled to the fill rate sensor and a transceiver, the microcontroller and the transceiver being in a normally non-active mode; and a server communicably coupled to the gauge to provide an operational model to the gauge, the operational model defining in the gauge; a communication schedule for communication from the gauge to the server; a pre-determined fill rate level for the container, the pre-determined fill rate level defining a predefined maximum value of the fill rate and a predefined minimum value of the fill rate; a wake-up signal for the gauge, the wake-up signal configured to initiate a communication comprising the measured fill rate from the gauge to the server outside of the communication schedule, wherein the wake-up signal is generated when the measured fill rate is equal to or above the predefined maximum value of the fill rate or is equal to or below the predefined minimum value of the fill rate; wherein, based on the operational model the gauge is configured to measure the fill rate of the container with the fill rate sensor, compare the measured fill rate with the pre-determined fill rate level defined in the operational model, and generate the wake-up signal to cause the microcontroller and the transceiver to switch from the normally non-active mode to an active state in order for the gauge to transmit the communication comprising the measured fill rate to the server only if; the measured fill rate is equal to or above the predefined maximum value of the fill rate defined in the operational model, or the measured fill rate is equal to or below the predefined minimum value of the fill rate defined in the operational model; and receiving an updated operational model from the server in response to the transmitted communication comprising the measured fill rate, the updated operational being used as the operational model for the gauge. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15)
-
Specification