DESC:FIELD
The present disclosure relates to systems and methods to determine the fuel consumption of a vehicle.
DEFINITIONS
As used in the present disclosure, the following term is generally intended to have the meaning as set forth below, except to the extent that the context in which it is used indicate otherwise.
The expression “periodically reading” used hereinafter in this specification refers to, but is not limited to, reading the fuel values at regular interval of time pre-defined in the processor. The time interval can be selected from the group consisiting of second, minute, hour, days, month and year.
The definition is in addition to those expressed in the art
BACKGROUND
The background information herein below relates to the present disclosure but is not necessarily prior art.
Fuel consumption in a vehicle has always been one of the critical most factors taken into consideration while purchasing or using a vehicle, say for commercial purposes. In most vehicular operations, fuel expenses account for at least 32% of the operating costs. To reduce the operating cost, fuel efficient engines are continuously being developed in the last two-three decades. It has been observed that there are various factors that lead to unnecessary consumption of fuel such as inefficient way of driving, faulty working of vehicle parts, and excessive load on engine. Increased fuel consumption mostly occurs due to non-awareness of the owner/driver of the vehicle of the possible reasons leading to fuel wastage. Towards this end, monitoring and computation of fuel consumption thus becomes an essential step in lowering down the expenses to run a vehicle. There is system available to monitor fuel consumption in vehicles; however, most of them have complex design and configuration. The systems would require complex algorithms to calculate data sensed by expensive sensors to reach to a final figure. Notwithstanding all this, there is no learning or intelligence that one can expect out of these systems.
Therefore, there is felt a need to provide a system and method to determine fuel consumption of a vehicle that alleviates the aforementioned drawbacks.
OBJECTS
Some of the objects of the present disclosure, which at least one embodiment herein satisfies, are as follows:
It is an object of the present disclosure to ameliorate one or more problems of the prior art or to at least provide a useful alternative.
An object of the present disclosure is to provide a system to determine fuel consumption of a vehicle.
Another object of the present disclosure is to provide a system to monitor situations of excess or less fuel consumption.
Still another object of the present disclosure is to provide a system to detect re-fueling of vehicle or theft of fuel.
Other objects and advantages of the present disclosure will be more apparent from the following description, which is not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure.
SUMMARY
The present disclosure envisages a method to determine fuel consumption of a vehicle. The method includes:
The steps include:
• periodically reading, a fuel value from a fuel gauge of said vehicle;
• allotting, time stamps to said read fuel values and creating a set of timestamped marked fuel values;
• sorting, said timestamped marked fuel values in a chronological order;
• extracting, a first and last timestamped marked fuel values as start fuel value and an end fuel value from said sorted timestamped marked fuel values;
• selecting, one intermediate fuel value apart from said start fuel value and an end fuel value;
• extracting, said timestamped marked fuel values prior to said intermediate fuel value and determining a first mathematical mean of first extracted fuel values;
• extracting, said timestamped marked fuel values post said intermediate fuel value and determining a second mathematical mean of second extracted fuel values;
• computing, a delta value based on said first and second mathematical mean;
• computing, a refuel value based on said computed delta and a first pre-determined threshold value;
• computing, a theft value, based on said computed delta value and a second pre-determined threshold value; and
• determining, said fuel consumption of said vehicle based on values of start fuel, end fuel, total theft and total refuel.
The present disclosure envisages a system to determine fuel consumption of a vehicle comprises a processor and a server.
The processor is configured to periodically read a fuel value from a fuel gauge of said vehicle, and further configured to allot time stamp to said fuel values.
In an embodiment, a digital signal corresponding to the fuel level detected in said fuel gauge is generated by said fuel gauge, wherein said digital signal comprises discrete fuel values which are read by said processor.
The server is configured to cooperate with said processor to receive said time stamped fuel values.
The server comprises a repository, a conditioning module, an analyser and a fuel consumption unit.
The repository is configured to store a set of pre-determined filtration rules, a first pre-determined threshold value and a second pre-determined threshold value.
The conditioning module is configured to filter and sort said received time-stamped marked values in a chronological order. The conditioning module is further configured to extract a first and last timestamped marked fuel values as a start fuel value and an end fuel value from said sorted timestamped marked fuel values.
The conditioning module includes a filtration module, a sorting module and a first extractor.
The filtration module is configured to filter said received timestamped fuel values using said filtration rules. The sorting module is configured to cooperate with said filtration module to sort said filtered fuel values in said chronological order. The first extractor is configured to cooperate with said sorting module to extract said first and last timestamped marked fuel values as said start fuel value and an end fuel value from said sorted timestamped marked fuel values.
The analyser is configured to cooperate with said conditioning module to periodically select one intermediate fuel value apart from said start fuel value and an end fuel value, and is further configured to periodically extract said timestamped marked fuel values prior to said intermediate fuel value and determining a first mathematical mean of first extracted fuel values and said timestamped marked fuel values post said intermediate fuel value and determining a second mathematical mean of second extracted fuel values. The analyser is further configured to compute a delta value based on said first and second mathematical mean.
The analyser includes a selector, a second extractor, a third extractor and a delta value computing unit.
The selector is configured to periodically select said intermediate fuel value apart from said start fuel value and an end fuel value. The second extractor is configured to cooperate with said selector to periodically extract said timestamped marked fuel values prior to said intermediate fuel value and determining said first mathematical mean of first extracted fuel values. The third extractor is configured to cooperate with said selector to periodically extract said timestamped marked fuel values post said intermediate fuel value and determining said second mathematical mean of second extracted fuel values. The delta value computing unit is configured to cooperate with said second extractor and said third extractor to compute said delta value by computing a difference between said first and said second mathematical mean.
The fuel consumption unit is configured to cooperate with said conditioning module and said analyser to compute
• a refuel value based on said computed delta and a first pre-determined threshold value;
• a theft value, based on said computed delta value and a second pre-determined threshold value; and
• a fuel consumption value based on said start fuel value, said end fuel value, said refuel value and said theft value.
The fuel consumption value is displayed on a user device associated with a user.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF ACCOMPANYING DRAWING
A system and method to determine fuel consumption of a vehicle, of the present disclosure will now be described with the help of the accompanying drawing, in which:
Figure 1 illustrates a flow diagram depicting steps involved in a method to determine fuel consumption of a vehicle; and

Figure 2 illustrates a block diagram of a system to determine fuel consumption of a vehicle.
LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS USED IN DETAILED DESCRIPTION AND DRAWING
200 System
202 processor
204 server
206 repository
208 conditioning module
210 analyser
212 fuel consumption unit
214 filtration module
216 sorting module
218 First extractor
220 Second extractor
222 selector
224 third extractor
226 delta value computing unit
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Embodiments, of the present disclosure, will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawing.
Embodiments are provided so as to thoroughly and fully convey the scope of the present disclosure to the person skilled in the art. Numerous details are set forth, relating to specific components, and methods, to provide a complete understanding of embodiments of the present disclosure. It will be apparent to the person skilled in the art that the details provided in the embodiments should not be construed to limit the scope of the present disclosure. In some embodiments, well-known processes, well-known apparatus structures, and well-known techniques are not described in detail.
The terminology used, in the present disclosure, is only for the purpose of explaining a particular embodiment and such terminology shall not be considered to limit the scope of the present disclosure. As used in the present disclosure, the forms "a,” "an," and "the" may be intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly suggests otherwise. The terms "comprises," "comprising," “including,” and “having,” are open ended transitional phrases and therefore specify the presence of stated features, elements, modules, units and/or components, but do not forbid the presence or addition of one or more other features, elements, components, and/or groups thereof.
A system and method to determine fuel consumption of a vehicle is now being described with reference to Figure 1 through Figure 2.
Figure 1 illustrates a flow diagram depicting steps involved in a method to determine fuel consumption of a vehicle. The steps include:
• Step 102: periodically reading (102), a fuel value from a fuel gauge of said vehicle;
• Step 104: allotting, time stamps to said read fuel values and creating a set of timestamped marked fuel values;
• Step 106: sorting, said timestamped marked fuel values in a chronological order;
• Step 108: extracting, a first and last timestamped marked fuel values as start fuel value and an end fuel value from said sorted timestamped marked fuel values;
• Step 110: selecting, one intermediate fuel value apart from said start fuel value and an end fuel value;
• Step 112: extracting, said timestamped marked fuel values prior to said intermediate fuel value and determining a first mathematical mean of first extracted fuel values;
• Step 114: extracting, said timestamped marked fuel values post said intermediate fuel value and determining a second mathematical mean of second extracted fuel values;
• Step 116: computing, a delta value based on said first and second mathematical mean;
• Step 118: computing, a refuel value based on said computed delta and a first pre-determined threshold value;
• Step 120: computing, a theft value, based on said computed delta value and a second pre-determined threshold value; and
• Step 122: determining, said fuel consumption of said vehicle based on values of start fuel, end fuel, total theft and total refuel.
Referring to Figure 2, a system (200) to determine fuel consumption of a vehicle (hereinafter referred as “system”) comprises a processor (202) and a server (204).
The processor (202) is configured to periodically read a fuel value from a fuel gauge of said vehicle, and further configured to allot time stamp to said fuel values.
In an embodiment, a digital signal corresponding to the fuel level detected in said fuel gauge is generated by said fuel gauge, wherein said digital signal comprises discrete fuel values which are read by said processor (202).
The server (204) is configured to cooperate with said processor (202) to receive said time stamped fuel values.
The server (204) comprises a repository (206), a conditioning module (208), an analyser (210) and a fuel consumption unit (212).
The repository (206) is configured to store a set of pre-determined filtration rules, a first pre-determined threshold value and a second pre-determined threshold value.
The conditioning module (208) is configured to filter and sort said received time-stamped marked values in a chronological order. The conditioning module (208) is further configured to extract a first and last timestamped marked fuel values as a start fuel value and an end fuel value from said sorted timestamped marked fuel values.
The conditioning module (208) includes a filtration module (214), a sorting module (216) and a first extractor (218).
The filtration module (214) is configured to filter said received timestamped fuel values using said filtration rules. The sorting module (216) is configured to cooperate with said filtration module to sort said filtered fuel values in said chronological order. The first extractor (218) is configured to cooperate with said sorting module to extract said first and last timestamped marked fuel values as said start fuel value and an end fuel value from said sorted timestamped marked fuel values.
The analyser (210) is configured to cooperate with said conditioning module (208) to periodically select one intermediate fuel value apart from said start fuel value and an end fuel value, and is further configured to periodically extract said timestamped marked fuel values prior to said intermediate fuel value and determining a first mathematical mean of first extracted fuel values and said timestamped marked fuel values post said intermediate fuel value and determining a second mathematical mean of second extracted fuel values. The analyser (210) is further configured to compute a delta value based on said first and second mathematical mean.
The analyser (210) includes a selector (222), a second extractor (220), a third extractor (224) and a delta value computing unit (226).
The selector (222) is configured to periodically select said intermediate fuel value apart from said start fuel value and an end fuel value. The second extractor (220) is configured to cooperate with said selector to periodically extract said timestamped marked fuel values prior to said intermediate fuel value and determining said first mathematical mean of first extracted fuel values. The third extractor (224) is configured to cooperate with said selector to periodically extract said timestamped marked fuel values post said intermediate fuel value and determining said second mathematical mean of second extracted fuel values. The delta value computing unit (226) is configured to cooperate with said second extractor (220) and said third extractor (224) to compute said delta value by computing a difference between said first and said second mathematical mean.
The fuel consumption unit (212) is configured to cooperate with said conditioning module (208) and said analyser (210) to compute
• a refuel value based on said computed delta and a first pre-determined threshold value;
• a theft value, based on said computed delta value and a second pre-determined threshold value; and
• a fuel consumption value based on said start fuel value, said end fuel value, said refuel value and said theft value.
The Fuel consumption values are generated by the equation
start fuel – end fuel + refuel – theft

The fuel consumption value is displayed on a user device associated with a user.
In an embodiment, the start and end fuel values are extracted after analysis of the sorted fuel values.
In another embodiment, the intermediate value is selected from a moving window of a first pre-determined time which includes a plurality of smaller windows of a second pre-determined time. The moving window’s time period may allow a refuel or theft event but not combined. The first pre-determined time and the second pre-determined time are pre-stored in the repository (206).
The processors disclosed herein may be general-purpose processors, Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs), Application Specific Integrated Circuits (ASICs), Digital Signal Processors (DSPs), and/or the like. The processors may be configured to retrieve data from and/or write data to a memory/repository. The memory/repository can be for example, a random access memory (RAM), a memory buffer, a hard drive, a database, an erasable programmable read only memory (EPROM), an electrically erasable programmable read only memory (EEPROM), a read only memory (ROM), a flash memory, a hard disk, a floppy disk, cloud storage, and/or so forth.
The foregoing description of the embodiments has been provided for purposes of illustration and not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure. Individual components of a particular embodiment are generally not limited to that particular embodiment, but, are interchangeable. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the present disclosure, and all such modifications are considered to be within the scope of the present disclosure.
TECHNICAL ADVANCES AND ECONOMICAL SIGNIFICANCE
The present disclosure described herein above has several technical advantages including, but not limited to, the realization of a system and method to determine fuel consumption of a vehicle that:
• monitors situations of excess or less fuel consumption; and
• detect re-fueling of vehicle or theft of fuel.
The foregoing description of the specific embodiments so fully reveals the general nature of the embodiments herein that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily modify and/or adapt for various applications such specific embodiments without departing from the generic concept, and, therefore, such adaptations and modifications should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalents of the disclosed embodiments. It is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation. Therefore, while the embodiments herein have been described in terms of preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that the embodiments herein can be practiced with modification within the spirit and scope of the embodiments as described herein.
Throughout this specification the word “comprise”, or variations such as “comprises” or “comprising”, will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated element, step, or group of elements, steps, but not the exclusion of any other element, step, or group of elements, or steps.
While considerable emphasis has been placed herein on the components and component parts of the preferred embodiments, it will be appreciated that many embodiments can be made and that many changes can be made in the preferred embodiments without departing from the principles of the disclosure. These and other changes in the preferred embodiment as well as other embodiments of the disclosure will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the disclosure herein, whereby it is to be distinctly understood that the foregoing descriptive matter is to be interpreted merely as illustrative of the disclosure and not as a limitation.
,CLAIMS:WE CLAIM:
1. A method (100) to determine fuel consumption of a vehicle, said method (100) comprising:
• periodically reading (102), a fuel value from a fuel gauge of said vehicle;
• allotting (104), time stamps to said read fuel values and creating a set of timestamped marked fuel values;
• sorting (106), said timestamped marked fuel values in a chronological order;
• extracting (108), a first and last timestamped marked fuel values as start fuel value and an end fuel value from said sorted timestamped marked fuel values;
• selecting (110), one intermediate fuel value apart from said start fuel value and an end fuel value;
• extracting (112), said timestamped marked fuel values prior to said intermediate fuel value and determining a first mathematical mean of first extracted fuel values;
• extracting (114), said timestamped marked fuel values post said intermediate fuel value and determining a second mathematical mean of second extracted fuel values;
• computing (116), a delta value based on said first and second mathematical mean;
• computing (118), a refuel value based on said computed delta and a first pre-determined threshold value;
• computing (120), a theft value, based on said computed delta value and a second pre-determined threshold value; and
• determining (122), said fuel consumption of said vehicle based on values of start fuel, end fuel, theft and refuel.

2. A system (200) to determine fuel consumption of a vehicle, said system (200) comprising:
• a processor (202) configured to periodically read a fuel value from a fuel gauge of said vehicle, and further configured to allot time stamp to said fuel values; and
• a server (204) configured to cooperate with said processor (202) to receive said time stamped fuel values, said server (204) comprising:
o a repository (206) configured to store a set of pre-determined filtration rules, a first pre-determined threshold value and a second pre-determined threshold value;
o a conditioning module (208) configured to filter and sort said received time-stamped marked values in a chronological order, said conditioning module (208) further configured to extract a first and last timestamped marked fuel values as a start fuel value and an end fuel value from said sorted timestamped marked fuel values;
o an analyser (210) configured to cooperate with said conditioning module (208) to periodically select one intermediate fuel value apart from said start fuel value and an end fuel value, and further configured to periodically extract said timestamped marked fuel values prior to said intermediate fuel value and determining a first mathematical mean of first extracted fuel values and said timestamped marked fuel values post said intermediate fuel value and determining a second mathematical mean of second extracted fuel values, and further configured to compute a delta value based on said first and second mathematical mean; and
o a fuel consumption unit (212) configured to cooperate with said conditioning module (208) and said analyser (210) to compute
? a refuel value based on said computed delta and a first pre-determined threshold value;
? a theft value, based on said computed delta value and a second pre-determined threshold value; and
? a fuel consumption value based on said start fuel value, said end fuel value, said refuel value and said theft value.

3. The system as claimed in claim 2, wherein said conditioning module (208) includes:
• a filtration module (214) configured to filter said received timestamped fuel values using said filtration rules;
• a sorting module (216) configured to cooperate with said filtration module to sort said filtered fuel values in said chronological order; and
• a first extractor (218) configured to cooperate with said sorting module to extract said first and last timestamped marked fuel values as said start fuel value and an end fuel value from said sorted timestamped marked fuel values.

4. The system as claimed in claim 2, wherein said analyser (210) includes:
• a selector (222) configured to periodically select said intermediate fuel value apart from said start fuel value and an end fuel value;
• a second extractor (220) configured to cooperate with said selector to periodically extract said timestamped marked fuel values prior to said intermediate fuel value and determining said first mathematical mean of first extracted fuel values;
• a third extractor (224) configured to cooperate with said selector to periodically extract said timestamped marked fuel values post said intermediate fuel value and determining said second mathematical mean of second extracted fuel values; and
• a delta value computing unit (226) configured to cooperate with said second extractor (220) and said third extractor (224) to compute said delta value by computing a difference between said first and said second mathematical mean.

5. The system as claimed in claim 2, wherein said fuel consumption value is displayed on a user device associated with a user.

6. The system as claimed in claim 2, wherein a digital signal corresponding to the fuel level detected in said fuel gauge is generated by said fuel gauge, wherein said digital signal comprises discrete fuel values which are read by said processor (202).