Fluid Quantity Monitoring With Automatic Vessel-Device Association
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Solution Overview
Problem
Manual association of telemetry-enabled telemetric device identifiers with vessel identifiers in fluid delivery systems is prone to errors, leading to incorrect billing, fluid quantity mismanagement, and inefficient delivery operations, which are costly and inconvenient for both suppliers and consumers.
Innovation Solution
A system and method for automatically associating telemetric devices with vessels by using location sensing technology to correlate device location with deployment locations, enabling electronic association in a remote server based on proximity and geographical boundaries, thereby reducing human error and ensuring accurate data linkage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If manual association of telemetric device identifiers with vessel identifiers is used, then the system is simple to implement, but errors occur leading to incorrect billing and fluid quantity mismanagement
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual mechanical association processes with automated electronic association using GPS location data and RFID technology. The system automatically links telemetric devices to vessels by comparing device location with vessel location and using RFID reader data, eliminating manual identifier matching and reducing errors in device-to-vessel association.
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables self-service automatic association where the telemetric device and vessel automatically establish their linkage without human intervention. The GPS receiver continuously provides location data, and the processor automatically determines when the device is near the vessel and establishes the association electronically, allowing the system to self-correct and self-maintain accurate linkages.
2Productivity
If manual association processes are used, then implementation is straightforward, but delivery operations become inefficient due to errors and rework
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements continuous feedback through GPS location monitoring and automatic verification. The processor constantly receives location data from the GPS receiver and compares it with expected vessel locations, providing real-time feedback on association accuracy. This enables immediate detection and correction of association errors, preventing wasted deliveries and reducing time lost to rework.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary automatic association before delivery operations begin. By establishing accurate device-to-vessel linkages in advance using GPS and RFID data, the system prevents errors from occurring during delivery operations, eliminating the need for time-consuming error correction and rework later in the process.
3Measurement precision
If automated location-based association is implemented, then association accuracy improves, but system complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses multi-functional GPS receivers that serve multiple purposes: providing location data for association, tracking vessel movement, and verifying delivery locations. This universal approach consolidates multiple functions into single devices, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining high measurement precision for device-to-vessel association.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces RFID readers as intermediary devices that simplify the association process. The RFID reader automatically captures vessel identifier data when the telemetric device is near the vessel, serving as a mediator that bridges the gap between location-based detection and definitive device-to-vessel linkage, reducing the complexity of direct GPS coordinate matching.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enhances the accuracy of fluid quantity monitoring and billing processes by minimizing manual errors, optimizing delivery operations, and reducing operational costs through automated and precise device-to-vessel association.
Implementation Method 1
The unassociated telemetric device is configured with a location sensing device and being configured to communicate with a remote server. The processor receiving the unassociated telemetric device location information from the location sensing device
Data Source
AI summary
A method for automatically electronically associating vessel identity information of a vessel with an unassociated telemetric device, the unassociated telemetric device comprising a processor and being configured to detect and transmit quantity or usage data and being configured with a location sensing device, wherein the unassociated telemetric device is configured to communicate with a remote server, the method comprising the steps of: the remote server receiving the vessel identity information comprising a deployment location for the unassociated telemetric device; the unassociated telemetric device operating in accordance with an automatic action rule; in response to the unassociated telemetric device operating in accordance with the automatic action rule, the processor receiving location information of the unassociated telemetric device from the location sensing device; the unassociated telemetric device transmitting the location information; the remote server receiving the location information; the remote server correlating the location information with the vessel identity information when resolving that the location information represents that the unassociated telemetric device is within a proximity to the deployment location, and the remote server automatically electronically associating the unassociated telemetric device with the vessel identity information, resulting in the unassociated telemetric device becoming an associated telemetric device, so that when the associated telemetric device generates quantity or usage information, the quantity or usage information transmitted by the associated telemetric device is applied to a data store of the remote server related to the vessel identity information.