2. Description of Background Information During fleet refueling, a customer will contract with a fleet refueling company to refuel the storage tanks at a given customer site. The storage tanks may be stand alone tanks and/or tanks provided as part of vehicles or machines, such as trucks, cars, construction equipment, generators, and so. As part of this process, the refueling company will track delivery information including the volume and type of fuel transferred into each storage tank, and use the delivery information for accounting and billing and to prepare a customer ticket.

While refueling the storage tanks at a given customer site, the operator will drag a hose from the delivery truck, insert the hose nozzle into the storage tank's spigot, and actuate a fuel pump to effect the fuel transfer. The operator then manually records, among other information, the storage tank's identity and the quantity delivered. The operator may not be able to see a volume meter while refueling the storage tank. Thus, before recording each volume amount, the operator will need to return to the delivery truck to view the truck's volume meter. Some refueling companies mount a small volume display on the end of the hose to save the operator from having to return to the truck each time a delivery volume is recorded.

The operator is responsible for accurately recording the delivery information for each refueled storage tank and each customer site. The delivery information then needs to be reentered into a computerized accounting and billing system. The reentry process is costly, and will frequently introduce errors into the data.

U. S. Patent No. 5,579, 233 to Burns discloses a method for refueling vehicle (or other) tanks using electronic identification tags, a reading probe, and an on- board computer. Customer sites and vehicle tanks are provided with electronic identification tags comprising passive ROM devices, each storing identifying information. A portable hand-held digital probe is used to identify a given customer site and individual tanks by reading affixed passive ROM devices. When the operator arrives at a customer site, the operator uses the probe to interrogate the customer site's passive ROM device. Before refueling a given vehicle tank, the operator uses the probe to touch the vehicle's passive ROM device and to then touch a passive ROM device provided on the delivery truck to confirm that the operator is using the correct fuel.

After finishing refueling of all vehicles or storage tanks at a particular customer site, the operator will insert the hand-held probe into a downloader of the on-board computer, and transfer the vehicle data recorded in the hand-held probe to the on-board computer. The transferred data is later correlated with volume data recorded by the on-board computer.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the above, the present invention, through one or more of its various aspects and/or embodiments, is thus presented to accomplish one or more objects and advantages such as those noted below.

An object of the present invention is to improve upon systems and methods for fleet refueling and the gathering of refueling data, while simplifying the duties of the personnel involved.

The present invention, therefore, is directed to an apparatus, method, and system, or one or more parts thereof, for facilitating a refueler's delivery of fuel to a customer's site with the use of a delivery truck. A delivery hose is used to transfer fuel from the delivery truck to a customer storage tank of a given customer. A self- contained, hand-held wand is used to automatically collect unit identifier information from a memory device proximate to and associated with a given storage tank. The hand-held wand also permits the operator to write unit identifier information into

memory devices on-site without the need for the operator to carry additional equipment. The hand-held wand also permits the operator to manually input unit identifier information into local memory within the hand-held wand in instances where memory devices are not installed at a customer site. The collected information is downloaded to a computer on-board the delivery truck for correlation at the end of refueling with actual flow start-stop times recorded by the on-board computer, and a ticket/receipt is printed for the customer.

The above-listed and other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will be more fully set forth hereinafter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The present invention is further described in the detailed description which follows, by reference to the noted plurality of drawings, by way of non-limiting example embodiments of the present invention, in which like reference numerals represent similar parts throughout the several views of the drawings, and wherein: Fig. 1 is a block diagram of a fleet refueling system according to the illustrated embodiment; Fig. 2 shows the hand-held wand of the illustrated embodiment.

Fig. 3 is a block diagram of the hand-held wand of the illustrated embodiment.

Fig. 4 is a flowchart showing several process steps performed by a hand-held computer.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawings in greater detail, Fig. 1 shows an illustrated embodiment of a fleet refueling system 10. The system comprises a portable portion, i. e. , a portable, hand-held wand 100, together with an on-board subsystem 38 transported by a delivery truck. Generally, the hand-held wand 100 is a self- contained read-write-memory device that permits fuel truck delivery operators to automatically collect unit identifier information from a memory device proximate to

and associated with a given storage tank. The hand-held wand 100 also permits the operator to program information into memory devices 30a-30c on-site without the need for the operator to carry a computer, bar code equipment, or radio link to a master computer or other electronic equipment. The unit identifying information is stored in local memory on the wand 100 and is later transferred, or downloaded, to the on-board system 38 for processing.

On-board system 38 comprises a master control unit 18, which is coupled to, among other elements (not shown), a printer 28, and a plurality of rear display units (RDUs) 24a, 24b, and 24c. Master control unit 18 comprises, among other elements, a memory 20. On-board system 38 also includes a plurality of respective valves 22a, 22b, and 22c that are connected to corresponding RDUs 24a, 24b, and 24c. More specifically, each valve 22a-22c is coupled to its respective RDU 24a-24c via a valve control connection 40a-40c and a pulser connection 42a-42c. Each valve 22a - 22c comprises an inlet 44a-44c and a respective outlet 46a-46c. Each inlet 44a- 44c is coupled to a respective fuel pump and corresponding fuel transport tank (not shown) provided on-board the delivery truck 38, and each respective outlet 46a-46c is coupled to a hose 48 which comprises a nozzle 50 actuable to control the flow of fuel into a storage tank 26a, 26b, or 26c. A computer 12, which interfaces with a cradle 16, is connected to master control unit 18 via a serial cable 34. Computer 12 is an interface that the operator can use to, for example, retrieve screen displayable, customer specific information, such as account information, fuel tax rates, etc.

Computer 12 can be removed from cradle 16 for use elsewhere.

Master control unit 18, computer 12, cradle 16, RDUs 24a-24c, printer 28, and each of valves 22a-22c are part of on-board system 38.

N fuel storage tanks 26a-26c (storage tanks 1,2, and N are shown) are located at a particular customer site 52, and corresponding memory devices 30a-30c are provided either on or adjacent their respective storage tanks 26a-26c. Storage tanks 26a-26c may include ground storage tanks, truck tanks, or any other fuel storage device. Memory devices 30a-30c are hereinafter referred to as passive identification (ID) devices (buttons) 30a-30c. In the illustrated embodiment, passive ID devices 30a-30c comprise touch buttons, such as the iButton sold by Dallas <BR> <BR> Semiconductor, Inc. , which comprises a non-volatile RAM that can be read from with

the use of a touch button wand, such as hand-held wand 100. These passive ID devices 30a-30c each comprise identifying information pertaining to the customer, or more specifically pertaining to the customer site. In the illustrated embodiment, a separate passive ID device 30a-30c is provided for each storage tank. Thus, each passive ID device holds information uniquely identifying its storage tank.

In the preferred embodiment, the passive ID devices may comprise the DS 1991 (DS 1425) 512 Bit or the DS 1992 1 K Bit password-protected memory iButtons, which have a unique unalterable 64-Bit unique registration number engraved both on a silicon chip and on the steel lid of the button. Such passive ID devices contain sufficient memory to store (by writing to the passive ID device, described below) an additional storage tank identification number. Or, if such additional information is not to be stored, passive ID devices with less memory, such as the DS 1990A (DS 1420) 64-Bit ROM iButton, could be used.

The computer 12 may comprise, for example, a PEN*KEYW 6100 hand-held computer by NORMAND@, which comprises a 386 33MHz processor and enhanced power management capabilities for prolonged battery life. The 6100 hand-held computer is also provided with a standard IrDA interface for wireless communication.

Cradle 16 may comprise the NORAND 6100 dock, which is compatible with the 6100 hand-held computer. In any event, it is preferred that computer 12 comprise a rugged, yet small computer having sufficient processing power and speed, as well as local memory capabilities. In the illustrated embodiment, which utilizes a 6100 computer, computer 12 comprises 8MB FLASH memory and 16 MB of RAM.

Computer 12 comprises a touch-sensitive screen 13 which serves as a graphical-user- interface activated by touching options or icons on the screen.

Computer 12 and master control unit 18 are each provided with an application program interface (API) for facilitating the seamless running of a fleet refueling application. In the illustrated embodiment, master control unit 18 comprises its own microprocessor, and performs such functions as computing delivery quantities, providing temperature-volume compensation, and utilizing a 10 point linearization technique to compensate for variable flow rates. Master control unit 18 comprises mechanisms for handling data transfers, for example, to printer 28 via printer cable

35, to an internal memory 20, to an external disk storage (not shown), and to a centralized accounting system by a radio transmission.

Each rear display unit (RDU) 24a-24c serves as a fuel volume measuring unit, and comprises a digital display which displays information concerning the current delivery from a fuel transport tank corresponding to its associated valve 22a- 22c. The volume delivered by its associated valve 22a-22c will be displayed. Each RDU 24a-24c also relays pulses it receives from a respective pulser 32a-32c, and forwards such pulses to master control unit 18 by way of a corresponding fiber optic link 36a-36c. Each RDU 24a-24c is further provided with a mechanism for controlling the opening and closing of its associated valve via a valve control connection 40a-40c, and receives temperature information from respective temperature probes (not shown) so that temperature information can be taken into account in calculating the volume of fuel being delivered. Thus, by the above, master control unit 18 senses a zero flow of the fuel from the fuel transport tank being used to refuel the given storage tank 26a. More specifically, master control unit 18, provided in the cab of the delivery truck, is used to log, in memory 20, zero flow indications and respective zero flow times at which the zero flow indications occur.

Each RDU 24a-24c may be provided with additional control interface mechanisms for allowing the operator to initiate various activities without the direct use of master control unit 18 or computer 12. For example, each RDU 24a-24c may be provided with a print button for initiating the printing of tickets before the operator returns to master control unit 18 located in the cab of the delivery truck.

By using fiber optic cables 36a-36c, the data is transferred to master control unit 18 without the noise and attenuation caused by electrical cables.

Each RDU 24a-24c may be configured to display in real-time such information as the delivery volume, the fuel temperature, the rate of flow, and the total volume delivered for its associated fuel transport tank for a given customer site.

The hand-held wand 100 is shown in Fig. 2. Hand-held wand 100 comprises a <BR> <BR> mechanism 102 for reading a unit identifier from a given memory device (i. e. , passive ID device 30a-30c), a storage 107 for storing the unit identifier, an interface 104 for transferring unit information, including the unit identifier to a computer on-board the delivery truck, a display screen 106, and an input mechanism 108 for use by the

operator in conjunction with display screen 106 to optionally manually input identifier information into storage 107. Power for wand 100 is provided by at least one battery (not shown) installed through the bottom of a tubular handle portion 110 via a twist- off cap 112. In the preferred embodiment, two AA batteries are used. The above elements are contained in a cubical housing 101 that is attached at the top end of tubular handle portion 110.

In the illustrated embodiment, mechanism 102 comprises a circular head 103 located at the top of cubical housing 101 of hand-held wand 100. When circular head 103 is brought into electrical contact with the passive ID devices 30a-30c (buttons), the information stored on the buttons-unit identifying information-is downloaded into the wand's storage 107. In the illustrated embodiment, storage 107 comprises 4MB FLASH memory and circular head 103 comprises, for example, an ID contact sensor which is sold by Dallas Semiconductor, Inc. Data is kept in storage 107 even with total battery failure or with batteries removed. Therefore, batteries may be changed during a delivery if necessary.

The hand-held wand 100 further comprises a real time clock 116, which in the preferred embodiment comprises a time keeping chip, such as that sold by Dallas Semiconductor, Inc. When a passive ID device is read, the wand 100 simultaneously annotates and stores in storage 107 the unit identifier read with the precise time, as specified by clock 116, it was read into the wand.

A processor (not shown) is included in the hand-held wand 100 to facilitate the operation of the wand. The processor comprises a micro controller, such as that sold by Atmel, Inc.

When delivering fuel, an operator will use a delivery hose 48 to transfer fuel from a delivery tank (not shown) to a given customer storage tank 26a of a given customer site 52. Hand-held wand 100 is used to capture an identifier specific to customer site 52. More specifically, in the illustrated embodiment, it captures an identifier specific to the given storage tank 26a. Before the operator fuels each vehicle/device, he or she places hand-held wand 100 in close proximity to touch button 30a, which allows wand 100 to capture, or read, and store the individual unit identifier stored within touch button 30a and to automatically record the specific time each passive ID device is read. This method is repeated N times until all of the

storage tanks/devices at a customer site are refueled. Thus, an array ButtonInfo [ReadTime (j), UnitInformation (j)], which comprises an array of read times at which wand 100 is utilized to gather unit information corresponding to each refueled unit (truck or storage tank). This data is stored in the storage 107 of the wand for correlation at the end of refueling with the actual flow start-stop times, as recorded by master control unit 18 on-board the fuel delivery truck. At the end of all deliveries at a site, the hand-held wand 100 at interface 104 is attached by cable 114 (Fig. 1) directly to master control unit 18 at port 116 (which comprises a serial port) on the fuel delivery truck and the information stored in storage 107 is transferred to master control unit 18. After the ButtonInfo array is transferred, the fuel flow data, individual fuel delivery start/stop times, unit identification information, and the times the unit identification information was recorded are correlated by aligning the times the passive ID devices were read (i. e., ReadTime (j)) with the fuel flow start/stop times recorded by the master control unit 18. A ticket/receipt is then printed for the customer listing every storage tank/device that was fueled and the quantity of fuel dispensed to each. The wand 100 storage 107 is not cleared at this time in case any problems are discovered in the download or subsequent data processing. The data is therefore available for another download. The storage 107 is cleared at the beginning of a new delivery.

When a new truck/device has a passive ID device installed but not yet programmed (i. e. , initialized) with unit identification information, or where the truck/device does not have a passive ID device installed, the operator uses input mechanism 108 in conjunction with screen display 106 on hand-held wand 100 to program the non-initialized passive ID device (i. e. , to write an identifier onto the passive ID device) with the unit identification information immediately on-site, or to manually input an identifier, respectively, and to record the time the serial number was entered. When a new passive ID device is to be initialized on-site, the operator employs the input mechanism 108 and screen display 106 to enter the truck/device <BR> <BR> serial number (i. e. , identifier) onto the screen display 106. In a manner similar to the way buttons are read, the operator makes electrical contact of the circular head 103 of mechanism 102 with the new passive ID device to be initialized and the unit identifier is automatically written to the passive ID device. The operator then reads the passive

ID device that he just programmed with wand 100 before filing the tank and stores the read unit identification information into storage 107.

When a truck/device does not have a passive ID device, the identifier (which may include a serial number displayed on a tag located on the truck/device and/or the license plate number of the truck) is entered by the operator and stored in storage 107, along with the time the identifier is stored. In this manner, the information is stored in the hand-held wand 100 as if the information had been read off of a memory device, and is later transferred via interface 104 to the master control unit 18 for correlation (as described above) along with any other information that was read off of the passive ID devices. Thus, even though the storage tank/device does not have a passive ID device to read or to program, the method of collecting the unit identification information for later processing is unaffected and continues as if all tanks/devices were outfitted with passive ID devices. This, therefore, eliminates an additional step of separating out, for separate ticket/receipt processing, those tanks/devices that either had non-initialized passive ID devices or none at all. This provides for a more efficient refueling and ticket/receipt process by reducing the time to process the information and reducing the chance for the operator to make a clerical error.

In the preferred embodiment, the screen display 106 comprises an LCD screen programmed to display two rows (a top and bottom row) of information. The top row provides the operator with information on the current one of four modes of operation of the wand 100, which are: button reading, button writing (or programming), numeric data input, and save. The operator toggles between the four modes using the input mechanism 108, which is discussed in detail below. A"low battery"indication is displayed on the top row when the battery has deteriorated to the point where enough power remains for approximately 100 more passive ID device reads to be made.

The bottom screen serves two functions. First, when a passive ID device is read using wand 100, a backlight (not shown) of screen display 106 automatically activates and the truck/device serial number is displayed. This informs the operator that the button has been successfully read, and that the truck/device serial number is now stored in storage 107 of wand 100. Second, when a new passive ID device is to

be programmed, the operator enters the truck/device serial number into wand 100 by using the input mechanism 108 located on the sides of wand 100. As the serial number is entered, the digits (alphanumeric) are displayed in the lower screen so that the operator can view what is being entered, thus ensuring accuracy before the new passive ID device is programmed.

In the preferred embodiment, the input mechanism 108 comprises three pushbuttons 120,122, and 124, pushbutton 124 located on one side of cubical housing 101, which is attached to the top of cylindrical handle 110, and pushbuttons 120,122 located on the opposite side of cubical housing 101. Actuation of pushbutton 124 toggles wand 100 between the one of four functions or modes, the current mode being displayed by the top row of screen display 106, the four functions being:"read", "program","manual", and"save. "As described earlier, the"read"allows the operator to contact a passive ID device with the wand 100, as described above, and read the specific identifier for the given truck/device. After contact with the circular head 103 with the passive ID device, the bottom row of display screen 106 shows the identification number, indicating a valid read. The identification number and associated time (from an internal clock in the wand) are stored in storage 107 of the wand. The"program"mode allows the operator, as described above, to enter an identification number into the wand's display screen 106 and write the identification number to a passive ID device. After programming the new passive ID device, the operator then selects the"read"function and reads the identification number from the passive ID device before filing the tank. The"manual"mode allows the operator, as described above, to enter an identification number to be stored in storage 107 of the wand when he encounters a truck/device that does not have a button installed. After the operator has entered the identification number using pushbuttons 120,122, he toggles the wand to the"save"mode, which allows the operator to save the"manual" entry. In the preferred embodiment, hand-held wand 100 automatically returns to the "read"mode after 15 seconds of inactivity.

Pushbutton 122 allows the operator to select the number or character to be entered when using the"program"or"manual"modes. In the preferred embodiment, numbers or characters are entered one place at a time starting on the left side of the screen display 106, the number or character being displayed on the bottom row of

screen display 106. The number place being changed, of which there are eight, is indicated by a blinking digit. When the entry is started, all eight digit places are held with spaces (hex 20). When pushbutton 122 is pressed, the display changes to"0".

The next press changes the number to"1", and so on. After the digit"9", the display changes to the alphabet starting with the letter"A". The operator may rapidly scroll through the numbers and letters at any time by holding pushbutton 122 down for 2 seconds.

Pushbutton 120 saves the current number or letter and moves to the next position (indicated by a blinking digit) for entry of the next number or letter. Should the operator mistakenly save an incorrect digit, it can be corrected by repeatedly pressing pushbutton 120 until the selected digit again comes to the position of the incorrect digit, after which the operator makes the correction. Although shown in the illustrated embodiment with three buttons 120,122, 124, the input mechanism may include only one button. In such case, toggling between the four modes of operation and scrolling through the numbers and letters would be performed by a special sequence of depressions of the button.

A block diagram of hand-held wand 100 is depicted in Fig. 3. The circular <BR> <BR> head 103 at block B 1 reads the passive ID device and transfers that read data (i. e. , unit identifier) into a processor in block B2, which then automatically appends the time and date (received from the time keeping device in block B4) and stores the data into storage 107 at block B3. When the operator inputs unit identifier information using mechanism 108 in conjunction with the screen display 106 (block B6), which is powered the power supply in block B5, the information is transferred to the processor in block B2 and into storage 107 in block B3. The information stored in storage 107 in block B3 is transferred back through the processor to the interface 104, in block B7, for transfer to the master control unit 18 via port 116 in block B8.

The above described features of the hand-held wand 100 are provided in a small, light weight structure. Because it is self-contained, with all of the hardware and software components required to read passive ID devices, store the unit information that is read from the buttons, generate and collect time data, program new buttons, and manually input unit information, the operator is not required to carry any other piece of equipment to perform these functions. Additionally, hand-held wand

100 is provided to be small and light weight. Thus, the operator's task of refueling customer storage tanks or trucks and providing a printed ticket/receipt is made significantly easier and more accurate.

In the illustrated embodiment, a separate identifier is provided for each storage tank. Alternatively, one identifier may be provided per customer site. Also, separate individual passive ID devices 30a-30c may be provided for each corresponding storage tank 26a-26c, while a separate customer site indicating passive ID device (not shown) may be provided for capturing the identification of the customer site 52 before then capturing the identification of each storage tank 26a-26c.

In the preferred embodiment, the unit identification information comprises the passive ID device serial number, which is imprinted onto the device by the manufacturer, and the storage tank number or other identifier, such as a truck license plate number, which is written to the passive ID device either by the customer or by the operator using hand-held wand 100, as described above. Because the passive ID device stores both the passive ID device's serial number and the storage tank's number, a second step of correlating the passive ID's serial number with a data base stored on the master control unit's 18 memory 20 is not required. In order to eliminate this second step, the preferred embodiment utilizes passive ID devices with sufficient memory, such as the DS 1991 (DS 1425) 512 Bit or the DS 1992 1 K Bit memory iButtons. Alternatively, passive ID devices with less memory (such as the DS 1990A (DS1420) 64-Bit ROM iButton) could be used and the storage tank's number would not be written to the passive ID device. In such instances, because the wand 100 only reads the passive ID device's serial number, this information, after being downloaded to the master control unit 18, must be correlated with another, predefined and stored data base in order to match up the passive ID device to its associated storage tank.

Fig. 4 provides a flowchart of several process steps performed using the hand- held wand 100 that are described above. In the first step S2, the operator determines whether a passive ID device (button) is installed for a given storage tank. If yes, then the operator determines whether the button installed is programmed in step S4. If no button is installed, then the operator proceeds to step S 18 and manually inputs a unit identifier. The operator then, in step S22, stores this unit identifier into storage 107 of

wand 100 and the wand records the time that this unit identifier is stored. The operator then proceeds to refuel the storage tank at step S8. If a button is installed, and the button is programmed, then the operator proceeds to read the button with hand-held wand 100 in step S6, which automatically stores the unit identification information into storage 107 and records the time that the information is read. He then proceeds to refuel the storage tank at step S8.

If a button is installed but is not programmed (i. e. , initialized), the operator proceeds to step S 12 and inputs unit identifier information using the input mechanism 108 in conjunction with the display screen, and then writes this information to the button at step S 16. The operator then proceeds to step S6, where the information just written to the button is read back to wand 100 and stored into storage 107. Then, the operator refuels the storage tank at step S8.

The operator repeats the above steps N times, corresponding to the number of storage tanks at a customer site, thus creating array ButtonInfo [ReadTime (j), Unitlnformation (j)]. After the operator has finished refueling all of the tanks, he transfers the ButtonInfo array to the master computer unit 18 for processing of customer tickets/receipts in step S24.

A printed ticket may comprise information such as the identification numbers of the individual units refilled, the quantity delivered for each unit, and the time and date of the overall delivery. More or less information may be provided on the ticket as desired. Alternatively, or in addition, an electronic indication may be forwarded to the customer; for example, an e-mail message or a fax may be sent to the customer contemporaneously during the delivery shift of the operator.

As noted above, master control unit 18 keeps a delivery array of stop times and incremental volume values. It should be noted that the flow of fuel transferred to a given storage tank 26a-26c can stop many times for a duration of greater than 1 second. This may occur if the operator attempts to"top"the fuel tank by squeezing the pump handle 50 momentarily. This, however, does not affect the accuracy of the volume measurements, as the fuel delivered to a given storage tank is tracked based upon when a zero flow is sensed in relation when the identifier for that storage tank 26a-26c is captured.

If accurate information is desired concerning the specific storage tank into which the fuel is transferred, the passive ID device 30 corresponding to that storage tank must be read before the initial zero flow indication for fuel being transferred to that storage tank. Accordingly, the storage tank identifier can be read before commencing the transfer of fuel to that storage tank, or while fuel is being transferred into that storage tank, provided the operator does not wait until a point in time at which the flow of fuel to that storage tank is stopped for any length of time. This provides the operator with great flexibility, and can greatly increase the efficiency with which an operator handles deliveries. Rather than incurring a delay in identifying units before commencing the pumping of fuel into those units, which can add up to a considerable delay within a given shift, the operator can simply put the hose nozzle 50 into the fueling spigot of the appropriate storage tank first, and while fuel is being transferred to the storage tank, capture the unit information with the use of wand 100.

Additional details of the fuel delivery process can be found in commonly- assigned copending Patent Application No. 09/255,656 that was filed on March 23, 1999, the content of which is hereby expressly incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

While the invention has been described by way of example embodiments, it is understood that the words which have been used herein are words of description, rather than words of limitation. Changes may be made, within the purview of the appended claims, without departing from the scope and the spirit of the invention in its broader aspects. Although the invention has been described herein with reference to particular structures, materials, and embodiments, it is understood that the invention is not limited to the particulars disclosed. The invention extends to all proper equivalent structures, means and uses.