U.S. patent application number 14/743677 was filed with the patent office on 2016-12-22 for integrated fuel tracking system.
This patent application is currently assigned to KUANTAG NANOTEKNOLOJILER GELISTIRME VE URETIM A.S.. The applicant listed for this patent is KUANTAG NANOTEKNOLOJILER GELISTIRME VE URETIM A.S.. Invention is credited to OSMAN VEDAT AKGUN, EMRE HEVES.
Application Number | 20160371704 14/743677 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 56322249 |
Filed Date | 2016-12-22 |
United States Patent
Application |
20160371704 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
AKGUN; OSMAN VEDAT ; et
al. |
December 22, 2016 |
INTEGRATED FUEL TRACKING SYSTEM
Abstract
A system for tracking fuel in a fuel distribution network is
provided. The system includes a plurality of tracking devices
disposed at a plurality of fuel transport locations including a
supplier fuel storage location, a mobile fuel storage location, a
stationary fuel storage location and a vehicle fuel location,
wherein each tracking device is configured to read in real time the
digital tag by receiving a radiation emission spectrum associated
with the fuel identification information as the fuel is transported
through the plurality of fuel transfer locations. The digital tag
includes information about the fuel.
Inventors: |
AKGUN; OSMAN VEDAT;
(ISTANBUL, TR) ; HEVES; EMRE; (ISTANBUL,
TR) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
KUANTAG NANOTEKNOLOJILER GELISTIRME VE URETIM A.S. |
Istanbul |
|
TR |
|
|
Assignee: |
KUANTAG NANOTEKNOLOJILER GELISTIRME
VE URETIM A.S.
ISTANBUL
TR
|
Family ID: |
56322249 |
Appl. No.: |
14/743677 |
Filed: |
June 18, 2015 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06F 16/2477 20190101;
G06Q 30/018 20130101; G01N 33/2882 20130101; G06F 16/24573
20190101; G07C 3/143 20130101; G06K 7/10841 20130101; G06F 16/2358
20190101; B67D 7/3281 20130101; G06F 16/24575 20190101; H04W 4/44
20180201; G06K 7/12 20130101; H04W 4/029 20180201; G07C 3/00
20130101; H04W 4/40 20180201; B67D 7/342 20130101; G06K 7/10435
20130101 |
International
Class: |
G06Q 30/00 20060101
G06Q030/00; H04W 4/04 20060101 H04W004/04; G06F 17/30 20060101
G06F017/30; G06K 7/10 20060101 G06K007/10; G06K 7/12 20060101
G06K007/12 |
Claims
1. A system for tracking fuel in a fuel distribution network,
comprising: a plurality of tracking devices for tracking a fuel
including a digital tag carrying a fuel identification information,
the plurality of tracking devices being disposed in a plurality of
fuel transfer locations including a supplier fuel storage location,
a mobile fuel storage location, a stationary fuel storage location
and a vehicle fuel location, wherein each tracking device is
configured to read in real time the digital tag by receiving a
radiation emission spectrum associated with the fuel identification
information as the fuel is transported through the plurality of
fuel transfer locations; and a system server in communication with
the plurality of tracking devices to receive the fuel
identification information carried by the digital tag, the system
server being configured to determine whether the fuel
identification information received from the plurality of tracking
devices is valid and the same, wherein the system server includes a
data base and a system communication module which is configured to
communicate with the data base and a plurality of external data
bases.
2. The system of claim 1, wherein the system server receives
location information of the plurality of tracking devices from the
plurality of tracking devices.
3. The system of claim 2, wherein the tracking devices comprise
service sensor modules and a client sensor module.
4. The system of claim 3, wherein the service sensor modules are
located at the supplier fuel storage location, the mobile fuel
storage location and the stationary fuel storage location, and the
client sensor module is located at the vehicle fuel location.
5. The system of claim 4, wherein the service sensor modules
include: a first service sensor module is located at a fuel outlet
of the supplier fuel storage location, a second service sensor
module is located at a fuel inlet of the mobile fuel storage
location, a third service sensor module is located at a fuel outlet
of the mobile fuel storage location, a fourth service sensor module
is located at a fuel inlet of the stationary fuel storage location,
and a fifth service sensor module is located at a fuel outlet of
the stationary fuel storage location.
6. The system of claim 5, wherein the first sensor module takes a
first reading of the digital tag and the second sensor module takes
a second reading of the digital tag as the fuel delivered from the
fuel outlet of the supplier fuel storage location to the fuel inlet
of the mobile fuel storage location, wherein the first and the
second readings of the digital tag are transmitted to the system
server, the third sensor module takes a third reading of the
digital tag and the fourth sensor module takes a fourth reading of
the digital tag as the fuel delivered from the fuel outlet of the
mobile fuel storage location to the fuel inlet of the stationary
fuel storage location, wherein the third and the fourth readings of
the digital tag are transmitted to the system server, the fifth
sensor module takes a fifth reading of the digital tag as the fuel
delivered from the fuel outlet of the stationary fuel storage
location to the fuel inlet of the vehicle fuel location, wherein
the fifth reading of the digital tag is transmitted to the system
server, and the fifth sensor further receives a vehicle information
from the client sensor module before the fuel is delivered from the
fuel outlet of the stationary fuel storage location to the fuel
inlet of the vehicle fuel location, the vehicle information
including vehicle license plate number and the vehicle
identification number, wherein the fifth sensor module transmits
the vehicle information to the system server.
7. The system of claim 6, wherein the system server determines
whether the first reading and the second reading match, wherein if
the first reading is different from the second reading the system
server generates an alert signal indicating a mismatch between the
first and the second readings, and wherein if the first reading is
the same as the second reading the system server generates an
approval signal indicating a match between the first and the second
readings, the system server determines whether the second reading
and the third reading match, wherein if the third reading is
different from the fourth reading the system server generates an
alert signal indicating a mismatch between the second and the third
readings and wherein if the third reading is the same as the fourth
reading, the system server generates an approval signal indicating
a match between the second and the third readings, the system
server determines whether the fourth reading and the fifth reading
match, wherein if the fourth reading is different from the fifth
reading the system server generates an alert signal indicating a
mismatch between the fourth and the fifth readings, and wherein if
the fourth reading is the same as the fifth reading, the system
server generates an approval signal indicating a match between the
fourth and the fifth readings, and wherein prior to the delivery of
the fuel from fuel outlet of the stationary fuel storage location
to the vehicle fuel location the system server checks the validity
of the vehicle information by comparing the vehicle information to
a previously registered vehicle information stored in the system
database, wherein if the vehicle information is different from the
previously registered vehicle information the system server
generates an alert signal indicating a mismatch, and wherein if the
vehicle information is the same as the previously registered
vehicle information, the system server generates an approval signal
indicating a match.
8. The system of claim 1, wherein the digital tag material
comprises at least one fluorescent material configured to generate
a fluorescent radiation emission spectrum.
9. The system of claim 8, wherein the wavelength range of the
fluorescence radiation emission spectrum is in the range of 200 to
2000 nanometers.
10. The system of claim 9, wherein the fluorescent material
includes fluorescent dyes and quantum dots.
11. The system of claim 10, wherein the quantum dots comprise group
II-VI materials, group III-V materials, group IV-VI, group IV
materials.
12. The system of claim 3, wherein each service sensor module
includes a fiber optic sensor including a probe connected to a
light emitter unit to emit light to cause digital tag to generate
radiation emission spectrum and a detector unit to read the
radiation emission spectrum.
13. The system of claim 12, wherein the probe is in contact with
the fuel having the digital tag so as to read the radiation
emission spectrum in real time.
14. The system of claim 8, wherein the at least one fluorescent
material comprises a first fluorescent nanoparticles having a first
concentration and a second fluorescent nanoparticles having a
second concentration.
15. The system of claim 14, wherein the first fluorescence
nanoparticles and the second fluorescence nanoparticles are the
same material, wherein the first fluorescent nanoparticles comprise
the first fluorescent nanoparticles of first diameter, and the
second fluorescent nanoparticles comprise the second fluorescent
nanoparticles of second diameter, wherein the first diameter and
the second diameter are different.
16. The system of claim 14, wherein the first fluorescent
nanoparticles and the second fluorescent nanoparticles are
different materials.
17. The system of claim 1, wherein the digital tag includes a code
including at least one of a product ID, fuel type, fuel brand name,
a registered trademark and fuel company.
18. A method of real time tracking of fuel comprising: identifying
a fuel contained in a first fuel transfer location by adding a
digital tag material; real time reading a first digital tag
information from the digital tag material by a first sensor module
during a first fuel transfer operation as the fuel is unloaded from
the first fuel location for a second fuel transfer location; real
time reading a second digital tag information from the digital tag
material by a second sensor module during the first fuel transfer
operation as the fuel from the first fuel location is loaded into
the second transfer location; transmitting the first digital tag
information and the second digital tag information to a server
having a database; determining whether the second digital tag
information is the same as the first digital tag information;
generating a tracking data about the first fuel transfer operation;
and storing the tracking data about the first fuel transfer
operation in the database.
19. The method of claim 18, wherein the step of determining further
comprises inhibiting the first fuel transfer operation if the first
digital tag information is different from the second digital tag
information, allowing the first fuel transfer operation if the
first digital tag information is the same as the second digital tag
information.
20. The method of claim 19 further comprising: determining a first
quantity information of the fuel unloaded with the first fuel
transfer operation from the first fuel transfer location;
determining a second quantity information of the fuel received with
the first fuel transfer operation at the second fuel transfer
location; transmitting the first quantity information and the
second quantity information to the server; and updating the
tracking data about the first fuel transfer operation.
21. The method of claim 20 further comprising: determining GPS
location information of the first sensor module, a first sensor
module identification information, and a timestamp information for
the first fuel transfer location indicating duration of the first
fuel transfer operation; transmitting to the server, the GPS
location information of the first sensor module, the first sensor
module identification information, and the timestamp information
for the first fuel transfer location indicating duration of the
first fuel transfer operation; determining GPS location information
of the second sensor module, a second sensor module identification
information, and a timestamp information for the second fuel
transfer location indicating duration of the first fuel transfer
operation; transmitting to the server, the GPS location information
of the second sensor module, the second sensor module
identification information, and the timestamp information for the
second fuel transfer location indicating duration of the first fuel
transfer operation; and updating the tracking data about the first
fuel transfer operation.
22. The method of claim 19 further comprising: real time reading a
third digital tag information from the digital tag material by a
third sensor module in a second fuel transfer operation as the fuel
is unloaded from the second fuel location for a fuel tank of a
vehicle; transmitting a vehicle information from a client sensor
module disposed on the vehicle to the third sensor module before
the fuel is loaded from the second fuel location to the fuel tank
of the vehicle, the vehicle information including vehicle license
plate number and the vehicle identification number; transmitting
the third digital tag information and the vehicle information to
the system server; determining whether the third digital tag
information is the same as the second digital tag information;
generating a tracking data about the second fuel transfer
operation; and storing the tracking data about the second fuel
transfer operation in the database.
23. The method of claim 22, wherein the step of determining further
comprises generating an alert signal indicating a mismatch if the
third digital tag information is different from the second digital
tag information, and generating an approval signal indicating a
match if the third digital tag information is the same as the
second digital tag information.
24. The method of claim 18, wherein the digital tag material is a
fluorescent material and wherein the first digital tag information
includes the first fluorescence radiation and the second digital
tag information includes the second fluorescence radiation.
25. The method of claim 24, wherein the fluorescent material
includes fluorescent dyes and quantum dots.
26. The method of claim 25, wherein the quantum dots comprise group
II-VI materials, group III-V materials, group IV-VI, group IV
materials.
27. A sensor module for tracking fuel, comprising: a controller; a
communication module connected to the controller; at least one
sensor connected to the controller and is configured to in-situ
detect a digital tag within the fuel and in real time manner as the
fuel is flowed through one location to another, wherein the at
least one sensor comprising: at least one light detector; at least
one light source; a first light guide configured to emit light in a
predetermined spectral range to fluoresce the digital tag within
the fuel, wherein the first light guide is a distal end of an
optical fiber transmitting light from the light source; and a
second light guide configured to receive fluorescence emitted by
the digital tag, wherein the second light guide is a distal end of
an optical fiber connected to the light detector, and the first
light guide and the second light guide are bundled together and are
in direct contact with the fuel being tracked.
28. The sensor module of claim 27 further comprising: a memory unit
connected to the controller; and a GPS module connected to the
controller.
29. The sensor module of claim 27 further comprising another
communication module connected the controller.
30. The sensor module of claim 29 wherein the other communication
module is disposed in a sensor module located on a vehicle using
the fuel.
Description
FIELD
[0001] The present invention generally relates to fuel
identification and tracking, more particularly, to a method,
apparatus and system for identification and tracking of fuels in
real time.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Today oil is the fuel of choice for most of the
transportation modes in the world. In fact, more than 50 percent of
oil used around the world is consumed by the transportation sector.
In particular, approximately 75 percent of the oil consumed by
overall transportation sector is in the field of road
transportation. This is because oil is currently the only fuel
which has a distinctive combination of availability, portability,
affordability and high energy density factors.
[0003] In many developed and developing countries, oil and gas
industries are very important because excise tax revenues from fuel
sales contribute their economies. Especially in growing economies,
high excise tax can add up to the price of fuel.
[0004] Due to its monetary value and the transportation sector's
dependence on fuel, fuel smuggling, fuel adulteration and fuel tax
evasions have become a growing problem in some countries and pose
serious threats to the revenues of such countries as well as energy
companies worldwide. The most common way of adulteration involves
blending or diluting high quality branded fuel products with
inferior products, such as diluting gasoline with cheaper kerosene.
Since the key chemistry of the branded fuel is still present in
such blended fuel, an expensive and time consuming quantitative
analysis is often required to detect such dilution with an inferior
product. Estimated economic value of such improper actions is in
the range of billions of USD per year. Therefore, fuel supply
integrity and quality are of vital importance for fuel tax
revenues.
[0005] Some conventional techniques for detecting fuel adulteration
in a fuel product often require collecting fuel samples for testing
in laboratories away from fuel storage or transfer locations, which
can be time consuming and expensive. Some other conventional
techniques rely on on-field or off-field bulky analysis equipment
such as spectrometers to test the fuel product to detect
adulteration, which techniques are also time consuming and
expensive as well as require trained operators.
[0006] Thus, it will become readily apparent that it would be
highly desirable to provide systems and methods which can monitor
fuel distribution networks effectively to protect the integrity and
the quality and the fuel supply as well as to enable secure fuel
tax collection and prevent revenue losses.
SUMMARY
[0007] The present inventions are related to fuel identification
and tracking, more particularly, to a method, apparatus and system
for a real time identification and tracking of fuels. An aspect of
the present invention includes a system for tracking fuel in a fuel
distribution network, including: a plurality of tracking devices
for tracking a fuel including a digital tag carrying a fuel
identification information, the plurality of tracking devices being
disposed in a plurality of fuel transfer locations including a
supplier fuel storage location, a mobile fuel storage location, a
stationary fuel storage location and a vehicle fuel location,
wherein each tracking device is configured to read in real time the
digital tag by receiving a radiation emission spectrum associated
with the fuel identification information as the fuel is transported
through the plurality of fuel transfer locations; and a system
server in communication with the plurality of tracking devices to
receive the fuel identification information carried by the digital
tag, the system server being configured to determine whether the
fuel identification information received from the plurality of
tracking devices is valid and the same, wherein the system server
includes a data base and a system communication module which is
configured to communicate with the data base and a plurality of
external data bases.
[0008] Another aspect of the present invention includes a method of
real time tracking of fuel, including: identifying a fuel contained
in a first fuel transfer location by adding a digital tag material;
real time reading a first digital tag information from the digital
tag material by a first sensor module during a first fuel transfer
operation as the fuel is unloaded from the first fuel location for
a second fuel transfer location; real time reading a second digital
tag information from the digital tag material by a second sensor
module during the first fuel transfer operation as the fuel from
the first fuel location is loaded into the second transfer
location; transmitting the first digital tag information and the
second digital tag information to a server having a database;
determining whether the second digital tag information is the same
as the first digital tag information; generating a tracking data
about the first fuel transfer operation; and storing the tracking
data about the first fuel transfer operation in the database.
[0009] Yet another aspect of the present invention includes a
sensor module for tracking fuel, including: a controller; a
communication module connected to the controller; at least one
sensor connected to the controller and is configured to in-situ
detect a digital tag within the fuel and in real time manner as the
fuel is flowed through one location to another, wherein the at
least one sensor comprising: at least one light detector; at least
one light source; a first light guide configured to emit light in a
predetermined spectral range to fluoresce the digital tag within
the fuel, wherein the first light guide is a distal end of an
optical fiber transmitting light from the light source; and a
second light guide configured to receive fluorescence emitted by
the digital tag, wherein the second light guide is a distal end of
an optical fiber connected to the light detector, and the first
light guide and the second light guide are bundled together and are
in direct contact with the fuel being tracked.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0010] These and other aspects and features of the present
invention will become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the
art upon review of the following description of specific
embodiments of the invention in conjunction with the accompanying
figures, wherein:
[0011] FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram of an exemplary fuel
distribution network of the present invention;
[0012] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of an embodiment of a fuel
tracking an identification system of the exemplary fuel
distribution network shown in FIG. 1;
[0013] FIG. 3A is a schematic illustration of a service sensor
module of the present invention, wherein the service sensor module
has been shown real time reading a digital tag in the fuel;
[0014] FIG. 3B is a graph showing an exemplary fluorescence
emission spectrum of a digital tag;
[0015] FIG. 3C is a graph showing an exemplary absorbance spectrum
of a digital tag;
[0016] FIGS. 4A-4B are schematic illustrations showing service
sensor modules disposed at fuel inlets and fuel outlets of various
fuel transfer locations;
[0017] FIG. 5 is a schematic illustration showing a client sensor
module disposed at a vehicle having an ECU unit;
[0018] FIG. 6A is a schematic diagram of a service sensor module
(SSM);
[0019] FIG. 6B is a schematic diagram of a client sensor module
(CSM);
[0020] FIG. 7 is a schematic illustration of an embodiment of a
gasoline tracking an identification system;
[0021] FIG. 8 is a flow chart illustrating an embodiment of an
exemplary method of tracking fuel delivery from a refinery fuel
storage tank to a fuel tanker truck;
[0022] FIG. 9 is a flow chart illustrating an embodiment of an
exemplary method of tracking fuel delivery from the fuel tanker
truck to a fuel station storage tank; and
[0023] FIG. 10 is a flow chart illustrating an embodiment of an
exemplary method of tracking fuel delivery from a fuel station
storage tank to a vehicle fuel tank.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0024] The present invention relates to a system for marking,
tracking, monitoring of liquids in order to detect unwanted
alteration of liquids during transportation, storage or usage, and
its methods thereof. In some embodiments, the liquid may be a fuel
such as gasoline or diesel, oil or the like, and/or any combination
thereof. Embodiments of the present invention provide systems and
methods for tagging, tracking, monitoring of fuels or altered fuels
in order to detect unwanted or illegal alterations of fuels during
transportation, storage or usage. For the purposes of the present
invention, the term "altered fuel" is understood to mean a fuel
that has been mixed, diluted, and/or adulterated. A fuel can be
altered by being mixed, diluted, and/or adulterated with one or
more other fuels, solvents, oils, petrochemicals and/or any
combination thereof. The term `fuel` used herein is understood to
mean any hydrocarbons, petroleum based products, bio-fuels, fossil
fuels including, but not limited to, gasoline, diesel, kerosene,
and engine oils.
[0025] In some embodiments, the present invention may provide
integrated systems and methods for identifying and tracking fuel in
fuel supply chains, or fuel distribution networks, which fuel
supply chains may for example include: fuel refineries; one or more
fuel delivery, handling shipping or transportation systems, such as
fuel tanks, pipelines or fuel trucks; and end-users or consumer
vehicles such as automobiles powered by that particular fuel.
[0026] In one embodiment, a system of the present invention may
include a plurality of fuel tracking locations or fuel tracking
points, which may generally be located at fuel transfer or
transport locations including fuel storage facilities or
containers, including at least one fuel supplier storage location,
e.g., a refinery terminal, at least one mobile fuel storage
location, e.g. a tanker truck, at least one stationary fuel storage
location, e.g., a gas station with gas pump, and at least one fuel
consumer or vehicle fuel location, e.g., a fuel consumer vehicle.
In one embodiment, the fuel may be tracked and identified by
identifying and tracking a digital tag in the fuel at fuel tracking
locations as this digitally tagged fuel is distributed through a
fuel distribution network. It is understood that for the purposes
of this application, "digitally tagged fuel" refers to a fuel mixed
with at least one digital tag.
[0027] In one embodiment, the tracking locations include a
plurality of sensor modules including sensor units or other units
configured to detect and read the digital tag in the fuel. Sensor
modules may be used to track and identify a digitally tagged fuel
in real-time throughout the fuel distribution network by initiating
a tracking operation from refineries, through various storage or
transportation terminals to fuel users, consumers or clients using
the digitally tagged fuel for their vehicles. Sensor modules may be
configured to in-situ detect or read a code or coded information
carried by a digital tag within the fuel in real time as the fuel
is transported through the fuel distribution network. A digital tag
may carry a including information identifying a selected fuel. In
one embodiment, a digital tag may include any desired information
proving fuel's integrity, such as fuel type, fuel company
identification, brand name identification, information about fuel's
approved quality and an indication that the fuel is taxed, and the
like. Digital tag may also include other information such as
refinery identification, production lot of the fuel, a product ID,
or a number or code for the fuel to identify it.
[0028] Turning now to the Figures, FIG. 1 shows an exemplary fuel
distribution network 100 or fuel distribution chain distributing a
digitally tagged fuel. As will be explained below, in one
embodiment, a digitally tagged fuel distributed within the network
100 may be tracked and identified in real time using a tracking and
identification system of the present invention depicted in FIG.
2.
[0029] The fuel distribution network 100 may include a plurality of
fuel transfer locations 110 and a plurality of fuel consumer
locations 120. A first fuel transfer location 110A of the network
100 may be a fuel supplier location, a fuel terminal or oil
refinery where the fuel being initially stored and digitally
tagged, i.e., a digital tag is added to the fuel, and where the
digitally tagged fuel distribution may be initiated. The first fuel
transfer location 110A may include one or more fuel storage
containers to contain the digitally tagged fuel which is formed by
adding a digital tag including a digital tag material from a
digital tag supply unit 102 into refinery fuel or branded fuel that
will be tracked. Optionally, the first fuel transfer location 110A
may be a fuel terminal adjacent a refinery (not shown) or a
location outside a refinery so that a refinery fuel flow 103
including the refinery fuel may be optionally transported via a
refinery supply truck 104 and delivered to the first fuel transfer
location 110A. The digital tag may be added to the refinery fuel in
very small amounts, preferably, within less than ppm (parts per
million) range, or within the range of ppb (parts per billion). The
digital tag may include one or more codes related to information
about the fuel type such as whether it is gasoline or diesel; the
octane rating of the fuel; and the may be company specific, i.e.,
identifying the oil company, fuel brand name with the fuel type.
Such information about the digitally tagged fuel corresponding to
the assigned identification code is stored in the system data
storage to be used.
[0030] A second fuel transfer location 110B of the fuel
distribution network 100, which may be a fuel transport vehicle,
such as a tanker truck, ship, airplane or train to transport fuel,
receives a first tagged fuel flow 105A including the digitally
tagged fuel, from the first fuel transfer location 110A. A third
fuel transfer location 110C of the fuel distribution network 100
receives a second tagged fuel flow 105B including the digitally
tagged fuel from the second fuel transfer location 110B. The third
fuel transfer location 110C may be a fuel storage tank at a fuel
sales location such as a fuel storage tank of a gas station. A
third tagged fuel flow 105C including the digitally tagged fuel
from the third fuel transfer location 110C may be received by a
fourth fuel transfer location 110D of the fuel distribution network
100, such as a fuel pump, preferably integrated with a fifth fuel
transfer location 110E, such as a fuel pump gun or nozzle dispenser
to dispense fuel.
[0031] Finally, a fuel consumer location 120 of the fuel
distribution network 100, such as a gas tank of a consumer vehicle
(not shown) with an engine 130 to use the digitally tagged fuel to
operate the consumer vehicle. The consumer vehicle may be a car,
truck or any vehicle having an engine using fuel to operate. The
fuel consumer location 120 receives a fourth tagged fuel flow 105D
including the digitally tagged fuel from the fifth fuel transfer
location 110E. Optionally, a fifth tagged fuel flow 105E including
the digitally tagged fuel may be directly delivered to the third
fuel transfer location 110C from the first fuel transfer location
110A using for example a pipeline (not shown) connecting the first
fuel transfer location 110A to the third fuel transfer location
110C. Although it may preferably be added to the refinery fuel
contained in the first fuel transfer location 110A, the digital tag
may be directly injected into the refinery fuel flow filling the
first transfer location 110A. In other embodiments, the refinery
fuel may be initially filled into the first fuel transfer location
110A without adding the digital tag, and then the digital tag may
be injected into a refinery fuel flow from the first fuel transfer
location 110A as it is delivered to other transfer locations from
the first fuel transfer location.
[0032] FIG. 2 shows an embodiment of a tracking and identifying
integrated system 200 for the exemplary fuel distribution network
100 to real time track and identify the digitally tagged fuel
within the network 100 described above. Accordingly, the above
described exemplary fuel transfer locations, namely, the first fuel
transfer location 110A, the second fuel transfer location 110B, the
third fuel transfer location 110C, the fourth fuel transfer
location 110D, the fifth fuel transfer location 110E and the fuel
consumer location 120 may include tracking locations or tracking
points that the digitally tagged fuel may be tracked and identified
by the system 200. The system 200 includes a system server 202
which may be in communication with a system data storage module 204
or a data base through a system communication module 206. The
system 200 may also include a system memory module (not shown).
[0033] The system server 202 may typically include a processing
unit or processor, a memory unit, various communication interfaces,
an operation software or other software, computer program products,
a monitor with many display options, data retrieval and data entry
tools such as a keyboard, mouse and/or touch screen display
pointing devices. System server 202 may be the heart of the system
200, which may receive and register encrypted digital tag
information sent by the service sensor modules (SSMs), client
sensor modules (CSMs) and other type of information sent by other
modules which may be installed throughout the fuel distribution
network 100 to track other qualitative and quantitative information
such as transfer locations, transferred fuel quantities, vehicle
identity, and the like. With the fuel tracking and identifying
system 200 of the present invention, the transport of the digitally
tagged fuel throughout the fuel distribution network 100 may be
tracked and identified in real time using SSMs and CSMs disposed at
fuel tracking points at each fuel transfer location of the
exemplary fuel distribution network 100. The system database 204 of
the system 200 may store very large data including, but not limited
to, all the reports, documents, information with regard to the fuel
distribution and the vehicles computer instructions to perform
tasks. This data can be accessed by the system server 202 through
the system communication module 206. The system data storage module
204 may include a data library of previously decided digital tag
information or ID or code identifying each digitally tagged fuel
distributed within the network 100, i.e., information carried by
the digital tag, in a first data library. Digital tag information
or code identifies the digitally tagged fuel by brand name,
company, fuel type, country, a trademark, quality indicators, and
the like, which are previously mentioned. In a second data library,
the system data storage module 204 may further include the digital
tag information read or detected by the SSMs as the digitally
tagged fuel is tracked as it is distributed.
[0034] In one embodiment, as the digitally tagged fuel is being
transported within the network 100, the system server 202 compares
in real time the digital tag reading from the SSMs and CSMs, which
are stored in the second data library, with the digital tag data of
the same fuel stored in the first data library to track and
authenticate the digitally tagged fuel. The data kept in the system
data storage module 204 may further include vehicle ID data
identifying the vehicles receiving the digitally tagged fuel, GPS
location data identifying location of each fuel transfer, timestamp
data identifying time of the fuel transfer, and the transferred
fuel quantity data from the fuel transfer locations. In addition to
the system data storage, each SSM and each CSM may also store the
same data at their data storages. The system data storage module
204 and the system memory module (not shown) may be in the form of
non-transitory computer readable medium configured to store files
and executable computer instructions. A computer program product
stored on a non-transitory computer readable medium may include
instructions executable by the processing unit or processor of the
server to operate the system 200.
[0035] The system server 202 may also communicate with various
external systems such as an external system 300 which may be an
optional refinery system including servers (not shown) and
databases (not shown) and employing the refinery supply truck 104
to deliver the refinery fuel to the first fuel transfer location
110A. The system server 202 of the system 200 may receive data
about the refinery fuel from the refinery supply truck 104 via an
external system communication module 302 of the external system
300.
[0036] Another external system 400 may include a server (not shown)
and a data storage 404 containing vehicle and driver information.
The system server 202 of the system 200 may be in data
communication with the database 404 of the external system 400
through the system communication module 206 and the external system
communication module 402 of the external system 400. The system 400
may be a system containing vehicle and driver related public
information such as Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) system (in
the USA) or a traffic police headquarter system or other similar
public or non-public record systems containing such vehicle and
driver data, so as to check the vehicle and driver records to
identify the driver and the vehicle or to confirm driver and
vehicle identity. Such information about the vehicle may also be
used for example (1) to generate system warnings about the
identified vehicle or (2) optionally, in extreme cases, to prevent
the vehicle from refueling by interrupting fuel flow to the vehicle
using the SSM at the fuel pump if the information detected by the
CSM generates error signals because of a suspicious previous
activity, for example: a previous refueling activity done at an
unknown location, or an unknown service station or facility.
[0037] In one embodiment, the system server 202 may include service
sensor modules 210 such as a first SSM 210A, a second SSM 210B, a
third SSM 210C, a fourth SSM 210D, a fifth SSM 210E, a sixth SSM
210F and a seventh SSM 210G as well as one or more client sensor
modules CSM 220 to track and identify digitally tagged fuel
distributed in the network 100. The system server 202 registers
data from each sensor module with sensor module identification
(sensor ID) including sensor's location.
[0038] Referring back to FIG. 2, the first service sensor module
(SSM) 210A including a sensor probe 212A may be located at the
first fuel transfer location 110A or the first fuel tracking
location, preferably adjacent a fuel outlet of the first fuel
transfer location 110A. The sensor probe 212A may be in contact
with the digitally tagged fuel in the first fuel transfer location
110A to read the digital tag in real time and in-situ within the
digitally tagged fuel. As explained above, the first fuel transfer
location 110A may be a fuel supplier location, an oil refinery fuel
storage tank or terminal storage location having fuel storage
facilities where the fuel is initially stored and digitally tagged
using the digital tag material delivered from the digital tag
supply unit 102, and where the digitally tagged fuel begins its
distribution cycle within the fuel distribution network 100.
[0039] The first SSM 210A may include a location identification
(ID) information indicating that it is located at the fuel outlet
of the first fuel transfer location 110A, e.g., the refinery or
terminal storage tank. The first SSM 210A may gather the following
data from the fuel outlet of the first fuel transfer location 110A:
(a) the digital tag information in the first tagged fuel flow 105A
when it is transferred from the first transfer location 110A to the
second transfer location 110B; (b) transferred fuel quantity
gathered from the fuel gauges on the first transfer location 110A
and/or the second transfer location 110B; (c) GPS data indicating
the location or geographical location of the first SSM 210A. The
first SSM 210A may communicate with the system server 202 to
provide or upload the following data from the first fuel transfer
location 110A: the location ID information; digital tag
information; transferred fuel quantity, a time stamp for the fuel
transfer operation; GPS information and location information. The
digital tag supply unit 102 may also be in data communication with
the system server 202 to report about the digital tag material such
as type and quantity of digital tag material used, and the like
information.
[0040] The second SSM 210B including a sensor probe 212B may be
located adjacent a fuel inlet of the second fuel transfer location
110B or the second fuel tracking location, which may be a fuel
tanker truck for transporting fuel. The sensor probe 212B may be in
contact with the first tagged fuel flow 105A flowing into the
second fuel transfer location 110B to read the digital tag in real
time and in-situ within the digitally tagged fuel. The second SSM
210B may include a location identification (ID) information
indicating that it is located at the fuel inlet of the second fuel
transfer location 110B, e.g., the fuel tanker truck. The second SSM
210B may gather the following data from the fuel inlet of the
second fuel transfer location 110B: (a) the digital tag information
in the first tagged fuel flow 105A when it is transferred from the
first fuel transfer location 110A to the second fuel transfer
location 110B; (b) transferred fuel quantity information gathered
from the fuel gauges on the first fuel transfer location 110A
and/or the second transfer location 110B; (c) GPS data indicating
the location or geographical location of the SSM 210B. The second
SSM 210B may communicate with the system server 202 to provide or
upload the following data from the fuel inlet of the second fuel
transfer location 110B: the location ID information; digital tag
information; transferred fuel quantity, a time stamp for the fuel
transfer operation; GPS information and location information.
[0041] The third SSM 210C including a sensor probe 212C may be
located adjacent a fuel outlet of the second fuel transfer location
110B or the second fuel tracking location. The sensor probe 212C
may be in contact with the second tagged fuel flow 105B flowing out
of the second fuel transfer location 110B to read the digital tag
in real time and in-situ within the digitally tagged fuel. The
third SSM 210C may include a location identification (ID)
information indicating that it is located at the fuel outlet of the
second fuel transfer location 110B. The third SSM 210C may gather
the following data from the fuel outlet of the second fuel transfer
location 110B: (a) the digital tag information in the second tagged
fuel flow 105B when it is transferred from the second transfer
location 110B to the third transfer location 110C; (b) transferred
fuel quantity information gathered from the fuel gauges on the
second fuel transfer location 110B and/or the second fuel transfer
location 110C; (c) GPS data indicating the location or geographical
location of the SSM 210C. The third SSM 210C may communicate with
the system server 202 to provide or upload the following data from
the fuel outlet of the second fuel transfer location 110B: the
location ID information; digital tag information; transferred fuel
quantity, a time stamp for the fuel transfer operation; GPS
information and location information.
[0042] The fourth SSM 210D including a sensor probe 212D may be
located adjacent a fuel inlet of the third fuel transfer location
110C or the third fuel tracking location, which may be a gas
station fuel storage tank for storing fuel for fuel pumps. The
sensor probe 212D may be in contact with the second tagged fuel
flow 105B flowing into the third fuel transfer location 110C to
read the digital tag in real time and in-situ within the digitally
tagged fuel. The fourth SSM 210D may include a location
identification (ID) information indicating that it is located at
the fuel inlet of the third fuel transfer location 110C, e.g., the
fuel tanker truck. The fourth SSM 210D may gather the following
data from the fuel inlet of the third fuel transfer location 110C:
(a) the digital tag information in the second tagged fuel flow 105B
when it is transferred from the second transfer location 110B to
the third transfer location 110C; (b) transferred fuel quantity
information gathered from the fuel gauges on the second fuel
transfer location 110B and/or the third fuel transfer location
110C; (c) GPS data indicating the location or geographical location
of the fourth SSM 210D. The fourth SSM 210D may communicate with
the system server 202 to provide or upload the following data from
the fuel inlet of the third fuel transfer location 110C: the
location ID information; digital tag information; transferred fuel
quantity, a time stamp for the fuel transfer operation; GPS
information and location information.
[0043] The fifth SSM 210E including a sensor probe 212E may be
located adjacent a fuel outlet of the third fuel transfer location
110C or the third fuel tracking location. The sensor probe 212E may
be in contact with the third tagged fuel flow 105C flowing out of
the third fuel transfer location 110C to read the digital tag in
real time and in-situ within the digitally tagged fuel. The fifth
SSM 210E may include a location identification (ID) information
indicating that it is located at the fuel outlet of the third fuel
transfer location 110C. The fifth SSM 210E may gather the following
data from the fuel outlet of the third fuel transfer location 110C:
(a) the digital tag information in the third tagged fuel flow 105C
when it is transferred from the third fuel transfer location 110C
to the fourth fuel transfer location 110D; (b) transferred fuel
quantity information gathered from the fuel gauges on the third
fuel transfer location 110C and/or the fourth fuel transfer
location 110D; (c) GPS data indicating the location or geographical
location of the fifth SSM 210E. The fifth SSM 210E may communicate
with the system server 202 to provide or upload the following data
from the fuel outlet of the third fuel transfer location 110C: the
location ID information; digital tag information; transferred fuel
quantity, a time stamp for the fuel transfer operation; GPS
information and location information.
[0044] The sixth SSM 210F including a sensor probe 212F may be
located adjacent a fuel inlet of the fourth fuel transfer location
110D or the forth fuel tracking location, which may be a gas
station fuel pump which receives fuel from the gas station fuel
storage when activated by a user and passes the fuel to the fuel
gun or nozzle. The sensor probe 212F may be in contact with the
third tagged fuel flow 105C flowing into the fourth fuel transfer
location 110D to read the digital tag in real time and in-situ
within the digitally tagged fuel. The sixth SSM 210F may include a
location identification (ID) information indicating that it is
located at the fuel inlet of the fourth fuel transfer location
110D, e.g., the fuel pump. The sixth SSM 210F may gather the
following data from the fuel inlet of the fourth fuel transfer
location 110D: (a) the digital tag information in the third tagged
fuel flow 105C when it is transferred from the third fuel transfer
location 110C to the fourth fuel transfer location 110D; (b)
transferred fuel quantity information gathered from the fuel gauges
on the third fuel transfer location 110C and/or the fourth fuel
transfer location 110D; (c) GPS data indicating the location or
geographical location of the sixth SSM 210F. The sixth SSM 210F may
communicate with the system server 202 to provide or upload the
following data from the fuel inlet of the fourth fuel transfer
location 110D: the location ID information; digital tag
information; transferred fuel quantity, a time stamp for the fuel
transfer operation; GPS information and location information.
[0045] The seventh SSM 210G including a sensor probe 212G may be
located adjacent a fuel outlet of the fifth fuel transfer location
110E or the fifth fuel tracking location, which may be a fuel
nozzle, or fuel dispenser or fuel gun attachment of the gas station
fuel pump. The fourth and fifth transfer locations 110D and 110E
may be integrated locations, such as conventional fuel pump and a
fuel gun which is attached to the fuel pump to discharge the fuel
pumped by the fuel pump. The sensor probe 212G may be in contact
with the fourth tagged fuel flow 105D flowing out of the sixth fuel
transfer location 110E to read the digital tag in real time and
in-situ within the digitally tagged fuel. The seventh SSM 210G may
include a location identification (ID) information indicating that
it is located at the fuel outlet of the fifth fuel transfer
location 110E.
[0046] The seventh SSM 210G may gather the following data from the
fuel outlet of the fifth fuel transfer location 110E: (a) the
digital tag information in the fourth tagged fuel flow 105D when it
is transferred from the fifth fuel transfer location 110E to the
fuel consumer location 120, which may be a consumer vehicle to
refuel at the gas station; (b) transferred fuel quantity
information gathered from the fuel gauges on the fourth and fifth
fuel transfer locations 110D and 110E and/or on the fuel consumer
location 120; (c) GPS data indicating the location or geographical
location of the seventh SSM 210G. The seventh SSM 210G communicates
with the system server 202 to provide or upload the following data
from the fuel outlet of the fifth fuel transfer location 110E: the
location ID information; digital tag information; transferred fuel
quantity, a time stamp for the fuel transfer operation; GPS
information and location information. The seventh SSM 210G as well
as the sixth SSM 210F may communicate with the client sensor module
(CSM) 220 during refueling and receive information such as VIN
and/or LP numbers of the vehicle, mileage on the vehicle, fuel
type, GPS data, etc. The seventh SSM 210G as well as the sixth SSM
210F on fuel pumps can also control fuel nozzle electronics and
activates the appropriate fuel nozzle on the fuel pump, depending
on vehicle fuel type, i.e., diesel or gasoline, etc.
[0047] The CSM 220 may be located adjacent a fuel inlet of the fuel
consumer location 120, i.e., a fuel tank of the vehicle driven by
the vehicle's engine 130. The CSM 220 may carry a location
identification (ID) information identifying the fuel consumer
location 120 or the vehicle including the fuel consumer location
120. The CSM 220 may communicate with an ECU unit 230 or BCU unit
of the vehicle through wired or wireless manner. The CSM 220 may
receive data including mileage information (odometer information),
vehicle's identification number (VIN), fuel level (FL) and fuel
type (FT) information from the ECU unit 230 and stores this
information in its data storage (see FIG. 6B). At fuel stations
during refueling events, the CSM 220 may communicate with the SSM
110E or the SSM 110D, or both sensor modules, to exchange
information. As previously mentioned, the CSM 220 on the vehicles
may detect an impermissible refueling activity. If the vehicle
refuels at an unknown location and the vehicle CSM may register
this information in the data storage and transmit the information
to the system server 202 via the SSM 110D and the SSM 110E during a
subsequent refueling activity at a known fuel station that is a
part of the monitored distribution network. Optionally, the CSM 220
may include a probe/sensor unit 222 in the fourth tagged fuel flow
105D flowing into the fuel consumer location 120 to read the
digital tag in real time and in-situ within the digitally tagged
fuel.
[0048] FIG. 3A illustrates an SSM 210 reading a digital tag
comprising a digital tag material 242 dispersed within a fuel
matrix 244 of the digitally tagged fuel 240. As mentioned above,
digital tags include information about the fuel to be monitored
within the distribution network. The digital tag may be formed by
the digital tag material 242 which may be comprised of one or more
type of fluorescent materials. The SSM 210 may be a fiber optic
sensor module including the probe 212 which is preferably extended
into the digitally tagged fuel 240 flowing through exemplary fuel
inlet 112A and fuel outlet 112B in the flow direction denoted with
arrow `F`.
[0049] The probe 212 may be in direct physical contact with the
digitally tagged fuel or immersed into the digitally tagged fuel.
As the digitally tagged fuel 240 flows through the fuel inlet 112A
or the fuel outlet 112B of a fuel transfer location, the probe 212
detects the digital tag in real time. The probe 212 includes a
radiation emitter portion 213A which emits a light beam L1 having a
predetermined wavelength range to cause the digital tag material
242 to fluoresce with a predetermined wavelength or a signature
wavelength (see also FIG. 3B). Fluorescence radiation L2 or
emission emitted by the digital tag material 242, which is detected
by the detector portion 213B of the probe 212, may include the
specific digital tag information about the digitally tagged fuel
240. The fluorescence radiation L2 detected by the detector portion
213B of the probe is transmitted to the SSM 210 as an optical
signal carrying the digital tag ID and/or digital tag information.
The probe 212 may be connected to the SSM 210 using optical fibers,
or the probe 212 and hence the radiation emitter portion 213A and
the detector portion 213B may be the distal ends of optical fibers
214A and 214B. Optical signal received from the probe 212 through
the optical fibers may be first transformed into an electrical
signal and then into a digital signal at the SSM 210 and the
digital signal including the information carried by the digital tag
may be transmitted to the system server from the SSM 210.
[0050] In one embodiment, in the context of this application, the
terms real time, online, or in-situ which may be used to describe
the implementation of how the digital tag is read using the present
invention generally refer to a tracking and identification
operation of a digitally tagged fuel. In this respect, the tracking
and identification operation may preferably be performed at a point
of transfer and within the dynamic environment of flowing fuel or
being transferred fuel so that any quality indicators or any
information identifying the fuel carried by the digital tag may be
read or detected and identified as the fuel is dynamically flowed
from one fuel storage location or fuel tank to another fuel storage
location or another fuel tank, or a fuel user's vehicle. As opposed
to the present invention's real time reading feature, conventional
techniques involve collecting test samples for testing and taking
them to laborites located away from the storage areas or rely on
on-field or off-field bulky analysis equipment such as
spectrometers to test the fuel or liquids, often quantitatively.
Many of such analysis equipment also employ separate sampling
chambers on them, which can be filled with fuel or liquid samples
to conduct tests using the analysis equipment.
[0051] In one embodiment, digital tag material 242 forming the
digital tag may include fluorescent materials including quantum dot
materials. Quantum dots are nanometer (nm) size crystal
nanoparticles and their bandgap may be tuned with their particle
size. Quantum dots may comprise group II-VI materials, group III-V
materials, group IV-VI, and group IV materials. Quantum dots may
emit radiation in the form of one of DUV, UV, VIS, NIR and IR. In
one embodiment, for gasoline fuel, NIR emitting quantum dots (about
700-1000 nm) may be added as a digital tag to the gasoline since
the gasoline has low background fluorescence at these wavelengths.
Examples of quantum dot materials may include, but not limited to,
PbS, CdS and ZnS. Such quantum dot materials may have wide
absorption bands; therefore, they may be excited with a wide range
of light from UV light (about 400 nm) to red light (about 700 nm).
The light sources used to illuminate the quantum dot materials
dispersed in the fuel may include laser diodes or light emitting
diodes. Since gasoline has high absorption at UV wavelengths and
absorption decreases towards higher wavelengths, the light source
may be in the range of about 450 nm-650 nm.
[0052] In one embodiment, digital tag may be coded information
generated by a single digital tag material or a combination of
digital tag materials. The coded information or digital tag ID
carried by the digital tag may be configured as a barcode. In this
respect the code may include a predetermined series of digits or
predetermined group of numbers. Each code refers to a previously
defined fuel identity indicators, which are previously stored in
the system 202 such as product number, fuel type, brand name,
company name, country, quality indicators, tax status etc., which
are mentioned above. The coded information may be generated using a
combination of fluorescent particles having different wavelengths
and concentrations. Each digital tag material forming the digital
tag may have identifiable emission or radiation wavelengths and
emission intensity levels.
[0053] FIG. 3B shows an exemplary fluorescence emission spectrum
250 of an exemplary digital tag having exemplary emission peaks
such as the peaks P.sub.1, P.sub.2, P.sub.3, P.sub.4 and P.sub.5.
The fluorescence emission spectrum 250 may be the same as the
fluorescence radiation L2 detected by the fiber optic sensor
module, SSM 210 shown in FIG. 3A. The emission peaks
P.sub.1-P.sub.5 may form distinctively when the digital tag is
excited or illuminated with a light source as described above. In
the exemplary emission spectrum 250, the emission peak P.sub.1 may
form at a wavelength .lamda..sub.1 with an intensity I.sub.5,
P.sub.2 may form at a wavelength .lamda..sub.2 with an intensity
I.sub.4, P.sub.3 may form at a wavelength .lamda..sub.3 with an
intensity I.sub.3, P.sub.4 may form at a wavelength .lamda..sub.4
with an intensity I.sub.2, and P.sub.5 may form at a wavelength
.lamda..sub.5 with an intensity I.sub.1. The emission peak P.sub.1
may have the shortest wavelength .lamda..sub.1 and the highest
arbitrary intensity value I.sub.5, and the emission peak P.sub.5
may have the longest wavelength in this digital tag. In this
respect, for the emission peaks P.sub.1-P.sub.5 corresponding
wavelengths and arbitrary intensity values may be ordered as
.lamda..sub.1<.lamda..sub.2<.lamda..sub.3<.lamda..sub.4<.lamd-
a..sub.5 and I.sub.1<I.sub.2<I.sub.3<I.sub.4<I.sub.5
respectively.
[0054] As an example, .lamda..sub.1 may be about 500 nm,
.lamda..sub.2 may be about 600 nm, .lamda..sub.3 may be about 700
nm, .lamda..sub.4 may be about 800 nm and .lamda..sub.5 may be
about 900 nm for the digital tag having the emission spectrum 250.
Exemplary concentration levels of the fluorescent nanoparticles for
the same example may be 500 ppb for P.sub.1, 400 ppb for P.sub.2,
300 ppb for P.sub.3, 200 ppb for P.sub.2 and 100 ppb for P.sub.1.
It is understood that the emission spectrum 250 may be formed by
five different materials each having either the same particle size
or each having different particle sizes or any combination of the
same and different size particles for five different materials.
Furthermore, five different materials may be introduced into the
fuel: either with five different concentration levels, i.e., each
material having its own unique concentration, or the all the
materials having the same concentration level, or less than five
concentration levels, i.e., at least two of the materials having
the same concentration level. The emission spectrum 250 may also be
formed by the same material having five different particle sizes.
Five different material sizes may be introduced into the fuel:
either with either each particle size having its concentration
level, or all the particle sizes having the same concentration
level, or less than 5 concentration levels, i.e., at least two of
the particle sizes having the same concentration level. The
emission spectrum 250 may also be formed with various mixtures of
such material types and sizes at five of less than five
concentration levels.
[0055] In this embodiment, each emission peak of the spectrum acts
as a bit and emission peaks of the emission spectrum 250 all
together form a code. When the emission spectrum 250 is received by
an SSM 210 of the system of the present invention as an optical
signal, it is transformed into a digital signal or a code having
digits ordered as 54321 and this code is transmitted to system
server by the SSM. As explained above this code may refer to a
plurality of information about the fuel. This way, different or the
same fluorescent nanomaterials with different emission peaks and
different intensity may be used to create different spectrums
identifying different codes for digital tags. By controlling or
tuning the size, type, concentration and mixtures of the digital
tag materials including the fluorescent nanomaterials, a plurality
of codes as digital tags may be configured and added to the fuel,
wherein each digital tag generates a different emission spectrum
referring to a specific code and related or an assigned information
about the fuel. For example a first emission spectrum may include a
first information; a second emission spectrum includes a second
information, a third emission spectrum includes a third information
and so on. Emission spectrums of the present invention may be
formed in a spectrum wavelength range of about 200 nm to 2000
nm.
[0056] In one embodiment, in a first method, a digital tag may be
formed using a fluorescent nanomaterial having different particle
sizes, for example, using the same material in three particle sizes
to generate a plurality of emission spectrums for digital tags. In
this example, a first particle size may be larger than a second
particle size and a third particle size, or the second particle
size may be larger than the first and the third particle sizes, and
so on. In this context, particle size or diameter refers to the
largest distance across a particle. Since each size may have its
own intensity and wavelength a plurality of specific emission
spectrums may be formed by mixing the particles. In a second
method, another digital tag may be formed using a mixture of
different nanomaterials having the same or different particle
sizes, such as a first nanomaterial, a second nanomaterial, a third
nanomaterial and so on. Many specific emission spectrums for
digital tags may be created using a mixture of different
nanomaterials having the same or different particle sizes. In
addition in a third method, digital tags may be formed by preparing
the above described the first or the second method materials with
the same or different sizes in various concentration levels to form
the digital tags having different emission spectrums. For example,
if the digital tag material includes a composition including three
different fluorescent nanomaterials with different wavelengths and
if each of these fluorescent materials has 10 different intensity
levels at ten concentration levels, 999 barcodes can be generated
from this digital tag composition. In some embodiments, fluorescent
nanomaterial concentration levels may be in the range of about 1
ppb-100 ppm, or about 10 ppb-10 ppm, or about 100 ppb-1 ppm. In
some embodiments, nanoparticle sizes may be in the range of about
1-100 nm, or about 1-50 nm, or about 1-40 nm, or about 1-30 nm, or
about 1-20 nm, or about 1-10 nm, or about 2-10 nm.
[0057] Different from the embodiment using florescence radiation,
alternatively, the sensor module may also employ a sensing
mechanism based on absorbance or transmittance measurements. In
this embodiment, digital tag materials having specific absorbance
characteristics at specified wavelengths ranging from DUV to IR may
be used. Absorption of an applied radiation by the fuel, which
contains the digital tag, is proportional to the concentration of
the digital tag material in the fuel. Accordingly, by measuring
absorption or transmission of the applied radiation at specific
wavelengths that are defined by different materials that form the
digital tag, the digital tag information can be obtained.
[0058] FIG. 3C shows an exemplary absorbance spectrum 260 of an
exemplary digital tag having exemplary absorption peaks such as the
peaks P.sub.1A and P.sub.2A. The absorbance value A.sub.0 is the
absorbance value of the fuel for a specific wavelength range, which
is about 0% or a value above and close to 0. The emission peaks
P.sub.1A and P.sub.2A of the absorbance spectrum 260 may form
distinctively when the digitally tagged fuel is excited with a
broadband light source. In the exemplary absorbance spectrum 260,
the absorbance peak P.sub.1A may form at a wavelength
.lamda..sub.1A with an absorbance value of A.sub.1 (about 100%),
P.sub.2A may form at a wavelength .lamda..sub.2A with an absorbance
value A.sub.0.5 (about 50%). As an example, .lamda..sub.1A may be
about 800 nm, .lamda..sub.2A may be about 900 nm for the digital
tag in the fuel. In this spectral configuration each absorbance
peak acts as a bit and all together form a code. The exemplary
absorbance spectrum 260 may form a code having digits ordered as
21.
[0059] In one embodiment, fluorescent nanomaterials which
fluorescence at specific wavelengths at predetermined
concentrations may be used to form a digital tag to track the
integrity of the digitally tagged fuel. In this embodiment, any
change in the concentration of the fluorescent nanomaterial or
digital tag material in the tracked fuel, having a known wavelength
and an intensity value at this wavelength, may change the intensity
value for that wavelength, i.e., changes in concentration may
result in changes in the emission intensity values while the
wavelength remains unchanged. This way, by tracking intensity
values at specific wavelengths, changes in the digital tag
concentrations may also be tracked. If a deviation or change in the
intensity values is detected during any of the fuel transfers, this
may indicate a concentration change for the fluorescent
nanomaterial, which may be translated as some other liquid or fuel
is mixed into the digitally tagged fuel. In fact, in one
embodiment, this deviation in intensity may be used to determine
the amount of liquid or fuel which may be illegally mixed into a
digitally tagged fuel. For example, an exemplary branded or
approved fuel, such as gasoline, may be digitally tagged with an
exemplary fluorescent nanomaterial having a concentration of about
1 ppm by mixing it into the branded fuel to provide a predetermined
emission at about 800 nm with an intensity peak of about 1000 units
to track at sensor readings. Accordingly, throughout the fuel
transfer operations from one location to other, service sensors
modules should read 1000 units for this digitally tagged fuel at
each transfer location. Any deviation from this predetermined
digital tag reading may indicate a change in the concentration of
the digital material or the fluorescent nanomaterial. For example,
at one of the fuel transfer locations, if the intensity peak is
read as about 900 units at about 800 nm, this may indicate a
digital tag concentration of about 0.9 ppm which may further
indicate that the digitally tagged fuel is mixed or diluted with
some other liquid or fuel with a volume ratio of about 10%. In this
manner a liquid or fuel mixed into a branded or approved fuel can
be quantified. It will be appreciated that the emission intensity
and wavelength values used in this example may be exemplary values,
thus the same may be done for deviations from any intensity values
within the emission spectrum wavelength range of about 200 nm to
2000 nm. In all the embodiments fuel may include gasoline and the
digital tags may include PbS, CdS and ZnS quantum dot
materials.
[0060] By utilizing the above described coding or barcoding scheme,
the digital tag may carry data including various specifications or
information about the fuel. Digital tag may be configured as one or
more digital tags having codes including information about the
fuel, such as an authorization code for the fuel which may provide
proof for integrity of the fuel, indicating that the fuel is
approved, and thus there is no tax evasion. Furthermore, the
digital tag may include a fuel type code that indicates if the fuel
is gasoline, diesel, etc., and a company code that identifies the
distributer of the fuel, a trademark for the fuel and a region code
which indicates the origin of the fuel such as in the form of
region ID, terminal ID, etc. In this application, digital tag
refers to either a single digital tag carrying a multiple
information codes or a plurality of digital tags carrying a
plurality of information codes related to the fuel that is being
monitored within the fuel distribution network.
[0061] FIGS. 4A and 4B exemplify various installation
configurations for the SSMs 210 on various fuel transfer locations
110. FIG. 4A shows a fuel transfer location 110 having a fuel inlet
112A and a fuel outlet 112B. A single SSM 210 may be installed at
the fuel outlet 112B and real time reads digital tag information in
the digitally tagged fuel as the digitally tagged fuel flows
through the fuel outlet 112B in the direction of arrow `F`. In FIG.
4A, the fuel transfer location 110 may exemplify the first fuel
transfer location 110A, e.g., a fuel terminal or a refinery storage
tank, having the first SSM 210A at the fuel outlet 212A (FIG.
2).
[0062] FIG. 4B shows a fuel transfer location 110 configured to
have two SSM 210 installed at a fuel inlet 112A and a fuel outlet
112B of the fuel transfer location 110. In this configuration, the
digitally tagged fuel is flowed into the fuel transfer location 110
through the fuel inlet 112A in the direction of arrow `F` while the
digital tag information is read in real time by the SSM 210
installed at the fuel inlet, and the digitally tagged fuel is
flowed out of the fuel transfer location 110 through the fuel
outlet 112B in the direction of arrow `F` while the digital tag
information is read in real time by the SSM 210 installed at the
fuel outlet 112B. Referring to FIG. 4B and FIG. 2, the fuel
transfer location 110 may exemplify any one of: the second fuel
transfer location 110B, e.g., the fuel tanker truck, having the
second SSM 210B installed at the fuel inlet and the third SSM 210C
installed at the fuel outlet; or the third fuel transfer location
110C, e.g. the gas station storage tank, having the fourth SSM 210D
installed at the fuel inlet and the fifth SSM 210E installed at the
fuel outlet; or the combination of the fourth and fifth fuel
transfer locations 110D and 110E, e.g., the gas station fuel pump
and the pump gun or nozzle, having the sixth SSM 210F installed at
the fuel inlet of the pump and the seventh SSM 210G installed at
the fuel outlet of the pump or the nozzle.
[0063] FIG. 5 exemplifies an installation configuration for the CSM
220 on the fuel consumer location 120 of a vehicle 140, for
example, the fuel tank of the vehicle 140 such as a car or truck,
etc., having the vehicle engine 130. The fuel consumer location 120
having a fuel inlet 122A and a fuel outlet 122B. A single CSM 220
may be installed adjacent the fuel consumer location 120,
optionally at the fuel inlet 122A. The CSM 220 may communicate with
the ECU unit 230 or BCU unit through wired or wireless manner.
Optionally, the probe 222 of the CSM 220 may be located at the fuel
inlet 122A so as to real time read digital tag information in the
digitally tagged fuel as the digitally tagged fuel flows through
the fuel inlet 112A in the direction of arrow `F`. The digitally
tagged fuel is filled into the fuel consumer location 120 is
consumed by the vehicle as it is operated.
[0064] FIG. 6A shows an exemplary structure of the service sensor
modules SSMs 210 used in the system 200. Accordingly the SSM 210
may comprise: a controller 215A such as a CPU; a communication unit
215B, such as a transmitter receiver (transceiver), to communicate
with the system server, other SSMs and the CSMs to receive or
transmit data, wirelessly or wired; a sensor unit 215C including an
emitter and a detector (not shown) connected to the sensor probe
via optical fibers to detect digital tag in the digitally tagged
fuel; a GPS unit 215D to determine the global position of the SSM
210; a memory and data unit 215E to store all the data collected by
the sensor unit 215C, the GPS unit 215D, and the data received by
the communication unit 215B. The memory and data unit 215E may also
include an operation software and computer instructions to operate
the SSM 210. The emitter of the sensor unit 215C comprises a light
source comprising a laser diode or a light emitting diode with a
preferred emission wavelength that is transferred via sensor probe
(FIG. 3A) to the digitally tagged fuel and used to excite the
digital tag material in the fuel.
[0065] The sensor probe receives the fluorescence emission from the
digital tag and transmits it as an optical signal to the detectors
in the sensor unit 215C, which may be for example a silicon based
photodiode and/or GaAs based photodiode with probably a band
selective filter to read the specific digital tag. In the sensor
unit 215C, this optical signal including the ID or code carried by
the digital tag is transformed into a digital signal which is sent
to the system server by the controller 215A. Employing the emitter
and detectors, the sensor unit 215C reads the digital tag in real
time manner. The memory and data unit 215E also stores the ID of
the SSM 210, quantity of the transferred fuel, GPS location of the
SSM 210, digital tag information of the transferred fuel and the
timestamp of the fuel transfer operation. The data stored or kept
in the memory and data unit 215E may be transmitted to the system
server 202 (FIG. 2) either wirelessly or using a wired connection.
The units 215B, 215C, 215D and 215E are all connected to the
controller 215A. Each SSM 210 may also have a power unit (not
shown) to power the SSM.
[0066] FIG. 6B shows an exemplary structure of the client sensor
module 220 used in connection with system 200. Accordingly the CSM
220 may include: a controller 225A such as a CPU; a first
communication unit 225B1 to communicate with the SSMs to receive or
transmit data; a second communication unit 225B2 to communicate
with the ECU unit 230 (electrical control unit) or BCU unit (body
control unit) of the vehicle; an optional sensor unit 225C
including an emitter and a detector (not shown) connected to the
sensor probe via optical fibers to detect digital tag information
in the digitally tagged fuel; a GPS unit 225D to determine the
global position of the CSM 220; a memory and data unit 215E to
store all the data collected by the GPS unit 225D as well as the
first and second communication units 225B1 and 225B2. The first and
second communication units 225B1, 225B2 may be transmitter
receivers (transceivers) operating wirelessly or wired. The memory
and data unit 225E stores the GPS location of refueling or the
location of the service stations where the fuel is purchased, ID of
the fuel pump at the gas station, mileage information during
refueling, quantity of the fuel filled to the vehicle, digital tag
information of the digitally tagged fuel, and the timestamp of the
refueling operation. In particular, the sixth and seventh SSMs 210F
and 210G (FIG. 2) located on the fuel pump and the fuel nozzle may
receive the vehicle identification number (VIN), vehicle license
plate number (LPN), fuel type of the vehicle and mileage
information from the CSM 220 on the vehicle via the communication
unit 215B of the SSM 210 and the during refueling of the vehicle at
the gas station. The memory and data unit 225E may include an
operation software and computer instructions to operate the CSM
220. The CSM 220 may include other smart units or modules such as a
fuel level sensor module.
[0067] As described above the system 200 enables a platform that
the digitally tagged fuel can be tracked, for example, starting
from a refinery to the user vehicles by means of digital tag to
check if the fuel is approved in terms of quality and quantity. The
system 200 also enables organizations to trackback the history of
the fuel with help of the information from all the tracking points
including the fuel transfer locations and the consumer fuel
locations, i.e., tracking the fuel filled into the gas tank of a
vehicle in terms of the service station that the vehicle is
refueled, the tanker that brings fuel to that gas station, the
refinery or terminal that the tanker takes the fuel initially from.
The system 200 also enables organizations to track the quantity of
the fuel that is circulating through a fuel distribution network
and make sure that no fuel is lost during the distribution. The
system 200 may also enable organizations to track the GPS position
of the fuel transfers at transfer locations and refueling of
vehicles at the service stations. The system 200 also enables
organizations to track vehicles by their VIN and/or license plate
and store the refueling information by their mileage and refueled
quantity. This large amount of information registered on the system
200 may be advantageously utilized for development of many business
models.
[0068] FIG. 7 shows an application example for a digitally tagged
fuel transport operation monitored by an exemplary fuel tracking
and identification system 200A. Digitally tagged gasoline is first
loaded to a tanker truck 110BB from the refinery storage tank
110AA. The tanker truck 110BB transports the digitally tagged
gasoline to a gas station, and unloads the digitally tagged
gasoline into a storage tank 110CC or gasoline reservoir of the gas
station. When a gasoline pump 110DD of the gas station is activated
to refuel a vehicle 120A such as a car, the digitally tagged
gasoline is withdrawn from the storage tank 110CC by the pump 110DD
and delivered to the vehicle via a gasoline nozzle 110EE. During
this transport operation a first SSM 210AA of the refinery storage
tank, a second SSM 210BB and a third SSM 210CC on the tanker truck,
a fourth SSM 210DD and a fifth SSM 210EE of the gas station storage
tank, a sixth SSM 210FF and a seventh SSM 210GG of the fuel pump,
and a CSM 220A of the vehicle, which is in connection with a ECU
230A, are all in data communication with one another and a system
server 202A as depicted with dotted line arrows and as described
above with respect to FIG. 2.
[0069] FIGS. 8-10 show flow charts 500A, 500B and 500C describing
an exemplary embodiment of a fuel tracking and identification
process of the present invention using the system 200 shown in FIG.
2.
[0070] FIG. 8 is a flow chart showing an exemplary method 500A of
tracking the first tagged fuel flow 105A from the first fuel
transfer location 110A (fuel terminal or fuel terminal tank) to the
second fuel transfer location 110B (fuel tanker truck), which
components have been shown in FIG. 2. As described above, the first
SSM 210A may be at the fuel outlet of the fuel terminal tank and
the second SSM 210B may be at the fuel inlet of the fuel tanker
truck used to transport the digitally tagged fuel. The method 500A
begins with operation steps 501A and 502A during which the first
SSM 210A and the second SSM 210B start data communication process
or handshake. At operation step 503A, the system server 202
receives both the fuel terminal tank ID and the fuel tanker truck
ID from the first SSM 210A and the second SSM 210B respectively.
Further, in operation step 501A, a quality certificate of the
digitally tagged fuel in the form of the digital tag may be read or
identified by the first SSM 210A and registered with the system
database 204 through the system server. The quality certificate may
include all the information obtained by the first SSM 210A which
described above with respect to FIG. 2. A quality certificate may
be prepared by analyzing the fuel according to the internationally
accepted norms (ASTM or API, or EN norms) when it is produced at
the refinery. In one embodiment, this quality information of the
fuel, i.e., the digitally tagged fuel may be tracked and verified
in each transfer location to enable further distribution of the
digitally tagged fuel within the fuel distribution network.
[0071] Operation step 504A may be then performed by the system
server 202 to determine whether the ID data about the transfer
locations submitted by the first SSM 210A and the second SSM 210B
is approved. If the ID data is not approved, operation step 505A is
performed to generate an alert signal by the server and,
optionally, to block any fuel transfer from the fuel terminal tank
to the fuel tanker truck. If the ID data is approved, operation
step 506A is performed by starting and allowing the tagged fuel
flow from the fuel terminal tank to the fuel tanker truck. As soon
as operation step 506A begins, operation step 507A is performed to
recheck the integrity of the digital tag using real time readings
of the first SSM 210A and the second SSM 210B and this data is
transmitted to the system server. Operation step 507A involves
matching the digital tag information from the first SSM 210A and
the second SSM 210B from operation step 507A with the original
digital tag information that was read in operation step 501A.
Alternatively, the original digital tag information may be stored
in the system 200 prior to the distribution of the fuel, prior to
operation step 501A. If the digital tag readings don't match in
operation step 507A, an alert signal is produced by the system
server in operation step 508A and, optionally, the fuel transfer
may be blocked. If the digital tag readings match, the digitally
tagged fuel continues to flow into the fuel tanker truck until
operation step 509A. Between the operation steps 506A and 509A, the
first SSM 210A and the second SSM 210B may continuously take
readings of the digital tag and feed the data to the system server
202.
[0072] Once the digitally tagged fuel transfer is completed,
operation step 510A is performed to receive the transferred fuel
quantity data involving the amount of the digitally tagged fuel,
which is sent to the tanker truck, from the gauges of the fuel
tanker truck and from a gauge on a pump of the fuel loading station
associated with the fuel terminal tank or fuel terminal location.
The fuel quantity data is received by the first SSM 210A and the
second SSM 210B. Operation step 511A is then performed to transmit
the digital tag information, fuel quantity information, time stamp
information and the GPS information to the system server.
[0073] Specifically, the first SSM 210A may transmit the following
information in encrypted form to the system server: (a) I.D. of the
fuel terminal tank; (b) quantity of the transferred digitally
tagged fuel; (c) GPS location of the fuel terminal tank; (d)
digital tag information of the transferred digitally tagged fuel;
and, (e) time stamp of the transfer operation including transfer
date and time information. The second SSM 210B may transmit the
following information in encrypted form to the system server: (a)
I.D. of the fuel tanker; (b) quantity of the digitally tagged fuel
loaded to the fuel tanker; (c) GPS location of the fuel tanker; (d)
digital tag information of the loaded fuel; (e) and, time stamp of
the fuel loading operation including loading date and time. After
receiving and storing the encrypted information sets from the first
SSM 210A and the second SSM 210B, these two information sets may be
compared at the system server 202 and the transaction is
approved.
[0074] FIG. 9 is a flow chart showing an exemplary method 500B of
tracking the second tagged fuel flow 105B from the second fuel
transfer location 110B (fuel tanker truck) to the third fuel
transfer location 110C (fuel station storage tank), which
components have been shown in FIG. 2. As described above, the third
SSM 210C may be at the fuel outlet of the fuel tanker truck
transporting the digitally tagged fuel from the fuel terminal to
the fuel station and the fourth SSM 210D may be at the fuel inlet
of the fuel station storage tank. The method 500B begins with
operation steps 501B and 502B during which the third SSM 210C and
the fourth SSM 210D start data communication process or handshake.
At operation step 503B, the system server 202 receives both the
fuel tanker truck ID and the fuel station storage tank ID from the
third SSM 210C and the fourth SSM 210D respectively.
[0075] Operation step 504B may be then performed by the system
server 202 to determine whether the ID data about the transfer
locations submitted by the third SSM 210C and the fourth SSM 210B
is approved. If the ID data is not approved, operation step 505B is
performed to generate an alert signal by the server and,
optionally, to block any fuel transfer from the fuel tanker truck
to the fuel station storage tank. If the ID data is approved,
operation step 506B is performed by starting and allowing the
tagged fuel flow from the fuel tanker truck to the fuel station
storage tank. As soon as operation step 506B begins, operation step
507B is performed to recheck the integrity of the digital tag using
real time readings of the third SSM 210C and the fourth SSM 210D
and this data is transmitted to the system server. Operation step
507B involves matching the digital tag information from the third
SSM 210C and the fourth SSM 210D that is read in operation step
507B with the digital tag information of the digitally tagged fuel
which was registered with the system server when the fuel tanker
truck was loaded, and which identifies the digitally tagged fuel in
the fuel tanker truck. If the digital tag readings don't match in
operation step 507B, an alert signal is produced by the system
server in operation step 508B and, optionally, the fuel transfer
may be blocked. If the digital tag readings match, signifying no
adulteration suspected, the digitally tagged fuel continues to flow
into the fuel tanker truck until operation step 509B. Between the
operation steps 506B and 509B, the third SSM 210C and the fourth
SSM 210D may continuously take readings of the digital tag and feed
the data to the system server 202.
[0076] Once the digitally tagged fuel transfer is completed,
operation step 510B is performed to receive the transferred fuel
quantity data involving the amount of the digitally tagged fuel,
which is sent to the system server, from the gauges of the fuel
tanker truck and from a fuel gauge associated with the fuel station
storage tank. The fuel quantity data is received by the third SSM
210C and the fourth SSM 210D. Operation step 511B is then performed
to transmit the digital tag information, fuel quantity information,
time stamp information and the GPS information to the system server
202. Specifically, the third SSM 210C may transmit the following
information in encrypted form to the system server: (a) I.D. of the
fuel tanker; (b) quantity of the digitally tagged fuel transferred
from the fuel tanker; (c) GPS location of the fuel tanker; (d)
digital tag information of the unloaded fuel; (e) and, time stamp
of the unloading operation including unloading date and time
information. The fourth SSM 210D may transmit the following
information in encrypted form to the system server: (a) I.D. of the
fuel station storage tank; (b) quantity of the digitally tagged
fuel loaded; (c) GPS location of the fuel station storage tank; (d)
digital tag information of the loaded digitally tagged fuel; and,
(e) time stamp of the loading operation including loading date and
time information. After receiving and storing the encrypted
information sets from the third SSM 210C and the fourth SSM 210D,
these two information sets may be compared at the system server and
if they match the transaction is approved.
[0077] FIG. 10 is a flow chart showing an exemplary method 500C of
tracking the transfer of fuel to the fuel consumer location 120,
i.e., the vehicle such as a car, from the third fuel transfer
location 110C, i.e., the fuel station storage tank via the
combination of the fourth fuel transfer location 110D, i.e., the
fuel pump, and the fifth fuel transfer location 110E, i.e., the
pump nozzle or fuel dispenser device. As described above, the third
tagged fuel flow 105C delivers the digitally tagged fuel from the
fuel outlet of the fuel station storage tank to the inlet of the
fuel pump and the fourth tagged fuel flow 105D is delivered from a
fuel outlet of the nozzle of the fuel pump to the vehicle, which
components have been shown in FIG. 2. As described above, the fifth
SSM 210E may be at the fuel outlet of the fuel station storage tank
holding the digitally tagged fuel, the sixth SSM 210F may be at the
fuel inlet of the fuel pump, the seventh SSM 210G may be at the
fuel outlet of the nozzle and the CSM 220 is on the vehicle.
[0078] The method 500C begins with operation steps 501C and 502C
during which the CSM 220 and the seventh SSM 210G start data
communication process or handshake, preferably when the vehicle
arrives at the fuel station for refueling. The CSM 220 stores the
vehicles identification number (VIN), fuel type (FT) information on
its memory and updates the fuel level (FL) and vehicle mileage
information en route. The seventh SSM 210G receives vehicle GPS
information from the CSM 220 and compares this information with the
GPS information from the seventh SSM 210G. Then the seventh SSM
210G registers both GPS information and the fuel station pump ID,
which is available on the seventh SSM 210G, to the memory unit of
the CSM 220 with a timestamp. This information stored in the CSM
220 is used to track the vehicle refueling locations. Next, the
seventh SSM 210G collects the vehicle identification data such as
VIN number and license plate number either from the CSM 220 or
manually from an operator working for the fuel station. For
example, while the seventh SSM 210G may receive the vehicle
identification number (VIN number) from the CSM 220, the license
plate number of the vehicle may be manually entered to the SSM 210G
using an input device such as a computer or a hand held license
plate reader used by the operator at the service station. The
seventh SSM 210G registers the vehicle identification data with the
system server 202 which in turn access for example DMV (department
of motor vehicles) database to verify the identity information by
comparing the information from the vehicle and the information from
the DMV database. The vehicle identification data from both the
vehicle and the DMV database is registered to the system database
204 and the memory unit of the seventh SSM 210G. The seventh SSM
210G also receives the updated mileage information from the CSM 220
before refueling or during refueling and registers this information
to the system database 204 and the memory units of the seventh SSM
210G and the CSM 220. Also before the refueling starts, the seventh
SSM 210G receives the fuel type information of the vehicle from the
CSM 220 and sends this information to the system server 202. The
seventh SSM 210G activates the correct fuel nozzle depending on the
fuel type information from the CSM 220 to start refueling
process.
[0079] The method 500C follows with operation steps 503C and 504C
during which the fifth SSM 210E and the sixth SSM 210F start data
communication process with one another and also with the seventh
SSM 210G and the CSM 220. In operation step 505C, the system server
202 receives the fuel station storage tank ID from the fifth SSM
210E and the fuel pump ID from the sixth SSM 210F and the seventh
SSM 210G. Operation step 506C may be then performed by the system
server 202 to determine whether the ID data about the transfer
locations submitted by the fifth SSM 210E, the sixth SSM 210F and
the seventh SSM 210G is approved. If the ID data is not approved,
operation step 507C is performed to generate an alert signal by the
server and, optionally, to block any fuel transfer from the fuel
pump to the vehicle. If the ID data is approved, operation step
508C is performed by starting and allowing the digitally tagged
fuel flow from the fuel pump to vehicle for refueling the vehicle.
As soon as operation step 508C begins, operation step 509C is
performed to recheck the integrity of the digital tag using real
time readings of the fifth SSM 210E, the sixth SSM 210F and the
seventh SSM 210G and this data is transmitted to the system server
202. Operation step 509C involves matching the digital tag
information from the fifth SSM 210E, the sixth SSM 210F and the
seventh SSM 210G that is read in operation step 509C with the
digital tag information of the digitally tagged fuel which was
registered with the system server 202 when the fuel station storage
tank was loaded, and which identifies the digitally tagged fuel in
the fuel station storage tank. If the digital tag readings don't
match in operation step 509C, an alert signal is produced by the
system server in operation step 510C and, optionally, the fuel
transfer to the vehicle may be blocked. If the digital tag readings
match, signifying no adulteration suspected, the digitally tagged
fuel continues to flow into the vehicle's fuel tank until operation
step 511C. Between the operation steps 508C and 511C, the fifth SSM
210E, the sixth SSM 210F and the seventh SSM 210G may continuously
take readings of the digital tag in real time and feed this data to
the system server 202.
[0080] Once the pumping of the digitally tagged fuel into the
vehicle's fuel tank is completed, operation step 512C is performed
to receive the transferred fuel quantity data involving the amount
of the digitally tagged fuel, which is transferred to the system
server, from the gauges of the fuel pump and from a fuel gauge
associated with the fuel station storage tank. The fuel quantity
data is received by the fifth SSM 210E, the sixth SSM 210F and the
seventh SSM 210G. Operation step 513C is then performed to transmit
the digital tag information, fuel quantity information, time stamp
information and the GPS information to the system server 202.
[0081] Specifically, the fifth SSM 210E may transmit the following
information in encrypted form to the system server: (a) I.D. of the
fuel station storage tank; (b) quantity of the digitally tagged
fuel transferred to the fuel pump; (c) GPS location of the fuel
station storage tank; (d) digital tag information of the loaded
digitally tagged fuel; and, (e) time stamp of the fuel transfer
operation including the transfer date and time information. The
seventh SSM 210G and/or the sixth SSM 210F may transmit the
following information in encrypted form to the system server and
the CSM 220 of the vehicle: (a) I.D. of the fuel station pump and
vehicle that is being refueled; (b) quantity of the digitally
tagged fuel transferred to the vehicle; (c) GPS location of the
fuel station pump; (d) digital tag information of the digitally
tagged fuel transferred to the vehicle; (e) timestamp information
about the transfer; (f) registered data on the fifth SSM 210E, the
sixth SSM 210F and the seventh SSM 210G; (g) data stored on the CMS
220.
[0082] The data stored on the CMS 220 may include the location of
the refueling event, ID of the fuel pump at the fuel station,
vehicle mileage information during refueling, quantity of the fuel
filled to the vehicle and digital tag information. Data on the
fifth SSM 210E, the sixth SSM 210F and the seventh SSM 210G may
include I.D. of each SSM, quantity of the fuel transferred to the
vehicle, GPS location data, digital tag information of the
transferred digitally tagged fuel and the timestamp information.
The sixth SSM 210F and/or the seventh SSM 210G located on the fuel
pump may also include vehicle identification number (VIN), vehicle
plate number (PN), fuel type of the vehicle and vehicle mileage
information during refueling. The system database 204 may receive
the digital tag information throughout the SSMs placed at fuel
transfer locations all over the fuel distribution chain. The system
database also stores vehicle ID information, GPS location
information, timestamp information, transferred fuel quantity
information from these fuel transfer locations. In addition, the
data registered on the SSMs and CSM is also transferred to system
server 202 and stored in the system database 204. After receiving
and storing the encrypted information sets from the fifth SSM 210E,
the sixth SSM 210F and the seventh SSM 210G, these information sets
are compared at the system server 202 and if they match the
transaction is approved.
[0083] The data that is formed on the system server of the system
of the present invention may be further tailored and put into
valuable form for government and/or companies to use. Mainly,
digital tagging data collected from the fuel transfer points and
fuel stations may be tailored for real time monitoring and tracking
of the approved (digitally tagged) fuel throughout the distribution
network. Accordingly, governments and oil companies may use this
data to monitor the fuel distribution and prevent fuel adulteration
or other illegal activity involving such as fuel tax evasions.
[0084] In one embodiment, international transportation companies
may track the fuel loading/unloading positions of their vehicles
and also may track if the fuel transported is approved with digital
tag or not. Also using the present invention the data on the CSM
may be tailored to extract the more realistic consumption
information about the vehicles. Especially, fleet rental companies
may advantageously use of the system with the same principle.
[0085] Moreover, present invention may ease the process for oil
companies to apply business models such as fuel assurance systems.
By tailoring the data on the SSMs and the system database, a
company may track whether the vehicle is refueling from their fuel
stations only and loyal to their brand or not. In addition, the
companies may track their customers' behavior of fuel consumption
and also measure the effectiveness of their campaigns for
attracting new users to use their fuel stations.
[0086] Although aspects and advantages of the present invention are
described herein with respect to certain preferred embodiments,
modifications of the preferred embodiments will be apparent to
those skilled in the art. Thus the scope of the present invention
should not be limited to the foregoing discussion, but should be
defined by the appended claims.
* * * * *