Fuel Pump Availability Server System
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Solution Overview
Problem
Users face difficulty in determining whether fuel pumps at fuel stations are available, in-use, or out-of-service without physically visiting the station, making it challenging to find a suitable location for refueling.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that utilize a server device to receive requests for identifying available fuel pumps, determine selection parameters, gather pump information, and provide information about available fuel pumps to user devices, including their status, location, and fuel prices, allowing users to customize their search based on criteria such as price and proximity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If users physically visit fuel stations to check pump availability, then they can obtain accurate pump status information, but they waste time and travel effort
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by continuously monitoring and collecting pump status information from multiple fuel stations before users need it. The server proactively gathers data about pump availability, prices, and station status, storing it in a database ready for immediate retrieval when users query for nearby fuel options, eliminating the need for users to physically visit stations to check status
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a server as an intermediary between users and fuel stations. The server acts as a mediator that collects pump status information from stations and delivers it to users through their devices. This intermediary system allows users to obtain accurate real-time pump availability information remotely without physically visiting the stations
2Adaptability or versatility
If users search for fuel stations without pump status information, then they can find any station, but they cannot determine if pumps are available, in-use, or out-of-service
Solution Approach 1:
The system pre-collects and stores comprehensive pump status information including availability, operational status, and pricing data from multiple fuel stations before users initiate their search. This preliminary data gathering enables users to make informed decisions about which stations to visit based on current pump status, fuel types available, and price comparisons
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback mechanisms where pump status information is continuously updated and fed back to users. The server receives real-time status updates from fuel stations and relays this information back to users' devices, allowing users to see current pump availability, whether pumps are in-use or out-of-service, and make informed decisions about where to refuel
3Productivity
If the system monitors all fuel pumps at all stations, then users can find the best available option, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the fuel station monitoring network into discrete, manageable segments. Each fuel station and its pumps are treated as independent units that report status individually to the server. This segmentation allows the system to monitor multiple stations without creating a monolithic complex structure, as each station can be added or removed independently from the monitoring network
Solution Approach 2:
The server is designed as a universal platform that handles multiple functions: collecting pump status data, storing information in a database, processing user queries, filtering results based on criteria like price and proximity, and delivering personalized recommendations. This multi-functional design consolidates what could be multiple separate systems into a single versatile platform, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining comprehensive monitoring capabilities
Data Source
AI summary
A device may receive a request to identify one or more available fuel pumps. The device may determine selection parameters associated with identifying the one or more available fuel pumps. The selection parameters may include criteria used to identify whether a particular fuel pump is an available fuel pump. The device may receive pump information associated with a group of fuel pumps. The pump information may include information indicating whether each fuel pump, of the group of fuel pumps, is available. The device may identify, based on the selection parameters and the pump information, the one or more available fuel pumps. The device may provide, for display, information associated with the one or more available fuel pumps.