The present invention relates to fuel management more specifically the present invention relates to an IoT(Internet of Things) based fuel management system.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The world depends on a great deal of its energy in the form of fossil fuels. Most of the fuels come from non-renewable sources; once used, they are gone forever. Therefore fuel is an important and expensive resource and needs to be managed properly. As fuel price increases day by day effective fuel usage has become the most urgent and imperial task. Vehicle fuel consumption has become an important factor in cost saving for travel agencies and transport companies. Prediction of the exact amount of fuel required for a particular trip is difficult for the transport companies; hence these companies for the fuel requirement calculation depend on the estimates. Based on the mileage estimates of fleets, transport companies provide the corresponding amount of money to the operator for fuel refilling. And this estimate is always more than the actual fuel required for that journey. Hence all the calculations are rough estimates and exact quantity of fuel required for a particular journey cannot be calculated. This problem is also related to the taxi service companies and private vehicles in which drivers are responsible for fuelling the tanks and to provide bills to their employer so that the money could be reimbursed. In this case, with the mutual understanding and benefits of fuel station guy and vehicle-operator, there are chances of fraud that the bill provided by the fuel station operator is more than the actual fuel filled in the tank.All the above issues require a way of measurement which could provide the exact quantity of the fuel present in the fuel tank of the vehicle and tell the digital value of the fuel filled in the vehicle for every refilling. The fuel management system is the solution to optimize the expense and to reach fuel efficiency.
CN102080977A disclosesa vehicle gasoline consumption measuring device and measuring method, in particular to a vehicle gasoline consumption measuring device and measuring method based on a digital flow meter apparatus. The measuring device comprises a vehicle gasoline tank, a gasoline drain hole-substituted screw cap, a digital flow meter, a special drum for gasoline, a gasoline consumption sensor, an industrial PDA (Personal Digital Assistant) and a measuring program, wherein the vehicle gasoline tank is provided with a gasoline drain hole, the gasoline drain hole-substituted screw cap is mounted in the gasoline drain hole, the digital flow meter is connected with the gasoline drain hole through the gasoline drain hole-substituted screw cap, and the gasoline consumption sensor is mounted in a gasoline consumption sensor mounting hole of the vehicle gasoline tank; and the industrial PDA is connected with the digital flow meter and the gasoline consumption sensor. The measuring method comprises the following steps: 1) replacing the gasoline drain hole screw cap of the vehicle gasoline tank with the digital flow meter, and simultaneously connecting with the gasoline consumption sensor; and 2) connecting the industrial PDA with the digital flow meter and the gasoline consumption sensor, running the measuring program, and turning on the digital flow meter, so that the measuring program can acquire and record data, and the acquired data can be uploaded to a data center.
CN101470017B discloses a method for real-timely monitoring automobile fuel quantity and processing statistic on automobile fuel consumption via wireless network, comprising: using calibration method to obtain the corresponding relation between the fuel quantity of an automobile oil tank and the output value of a fuel level sensor; using an automobile terminal to obtain actual measured value via real-time data collection and data filter algorithm, to real-timely, accurately and reliably report prior fuel quantity to an automobile management center; based on the corresponding calibration relation between the fuel quantity of the oil tank and the output value of the fuel level sensor, using the management center to convert prior fuel quantity reported by the automobile terminal to actual fuel quantity, and display various application fuel quantity relative statistic reports according to the history data. The method has low cost, and automobile managers can real-timely and effectively monitor the real-time operation state and fuel consumption of automobiles, and find out the effect on fuel consumption via fuel consumption statistic, thereby realizing real-time management and effective distribution on the fuel consumption of automobiles.
The existing inventions disclose the system and method for fuel management. Though existing inventions provide a solution for fuel measurement, those are not providing fuel filling, fuel drainage, fuel stock, and fuel consumption data with better accuracy. The existing inventions also do not provide a cloud server for calculating and storage fuel data at any given time. The need, therefore, has arisen to develop a system and method for fuel management that is capable of overcoming all drawbacks of the existing inventions hence there is a need for the present invention.
OBJECTIVE OF THE INVENTION
The main objective of the present invention is to provide IoT(Internet of Things) based fuel management system.
The principal objective of the present invention is to measure fuel filling, fuel stock, fuel extract and fuel consumption data of any fuel-consuming machinery at any given time and send the data to a cloud-based server for analysis and display remotely.
Another objective of the present invention is to calculate and display digitally the exact quantity of fuel in the fuel tank.
Yet another objective of the present invention is to provide the quantity of exact fuel used/burnt during a particular distance traveled in case of vehicles.
Yet another objective of the present invention is to provide a history of fuel filled and mileage for a particular distance traveled in case of vehicles.
Yet another objective of the present invention is to detect fuel level with better measurement and accuracy.
Yet another objective of the present invention is to prevent fuel theft from fuel tanks.
Yet another objective of the present invention is to optimize the fuel expenses for transportation and travel companies.
Further objectives, advantages, and features of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description provided herein below, in which various embodiments of the disclosed invention are illustrated by way of example and appropriate reference to accompanying drawings.
SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
The present invention relates to an IoT(Internet of Things) based fuel management system. The IoT(Internet of Things) based fuel management system includes a fuel tank, a fuel sensor, a control unit, a battery, a fuel-filled display meter, a fuel management cloud server, and a user device. The fuel sensor is fitted inside the fuel tank and covering the whole depth of the fuel tank. The fuel sensor is connected to the control unit. The fuel sensor and the control unit are connected to the battery for power supply. The fuel-filled display meter is connected to the control unit. The control unit is connected to the fuel management cloud server. The user device is connected to the fuel management cloud server. The fuel sensor senses the fuel level inside the fuel tank and sends real-time fuel level data to the control unit. The control unit is a computing and communication unit. The control unit calculates and logs real-time fuel level data of the fuel, stores in the fuel tank of moving or non-moving machinery. The fuel-filled display meter gets quantity of fuel, filled at any particular time in the fuel tank, from the control unit and shows on display. The fuel management cloud server collates real-time fuel level data of fuel filling, fuel consumption, fuel drainage and fuel stock from the control unit at regular intervals. The control unit stores fuel level data locally in absence of connection with the fuel management cloud server. The fuel management cloud server collates the fuel level data and generates reports, alerts, and notifications of fuel filling, fuel consumption, fuel drainage, and fuel stock. The fuel management cloud server analyses the fuel level data. The fuel management cloud server is accessible remotely through internet by the user device. The user device is a computing and display device and the user device holds by user at remote location. The fuel management cloud server also has APIs. The APIs integrate to various user-side applications in the user device and provides advanced analytics based on the fuel level data available in real-time over internet. The fuel management cloud server maintains a digital archive of fuel level data and enables user to read fuel level data history.
The present invention relates to a method of fuel measurement. The method includes: sensing quantity of fuel inside a fuel tank, by a fuel sensor; sending real-time fuel level data to a control unit, by the fuel sensor; calculating real-time fuel level data of the fuel, by the control unit; showing quantity of fuel on display, by a fuel-filled display meter; sending real-time fuel level data to a fuel management cloud server, by the control unit; analysing real-time fuel level data, and generating reports, alerts and notifications of fuel level data, by the fuel management cloud server; wherein, the fuel management cloud server collates real-time fuel level data of fuel filling, fuel consumption, fuel drainage and fuel stock from the control unit in regular intervals; accessing reports, alerts, and notifications of real-time fuel data, by a user device.
One of the principal advantages of the present invention is that the present invention measures fuel filling, fuel stock, fuel extract, and fuel consumption data of any fuel-consuming machinery at any given time and sends data to a cloud-based server for analysis and display remotely.
Another of the advantage of the present invention is that the present invention calculates and displays digitally the exact quantity of fuel in the fuel tank.
Yet another of the advantage of the present invention is that the present invention provides a quantity of exact fuel used/burnt during a particular distance traveled in case of vehicles.
Yet another of the advantage of the present invention is that the present invention provides a history of fuel filled and mileage for a particular distance traveled in case of vehicles.
Yet another of the advantage of the present invention is that the present invention detects fuel level with better measurement and accuracy.
Yet another of the advantage of the present invention is that the present invention prevents fuel theft from fuel tanks.
Yet another of the advantage of the present invention is that the present invention optimizes the fuel expenses for transportation and travel companies.
Further objectives, advantages, and features of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description provided herein below, in which various embodiments of the disclosed invention are illustrated by way of example and appropriate reference to accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The accompanying drawings are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification to provide a further understanding of the invention. The drawings illustrate one embodiment of the invention and together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.
Fig.1 illustrates a system view (block diagram) of an IoT(Internet of Things) based fuel management system.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
While this invention is susceptible to embodiment in many different forms, there is shown in the drawings and will herein be described in detail specific embodiments, with the understanding that the present disclosure of such embodiments is to be considered as an example of the principles and not intended to limit the invention to the specific embodiments shown and described. In the description below, like reference numerals are used to describe the same, similar or corresponding parts in the several views of the drawings. This detailed description defines the meaning of the terms used herein and specifically describes embodiments in order for those skilled in the art to practice the invention.
Definition
The terms “a” or “an”, as used herein, are defined as one or as more than one. The term “plurality”, as used herein, is defined as two or more than two. The term “another”, as used herein, is defined as at least a second or more. The terms “including” and/or “having”, as used herein, are defined as comprising (i.e., open language). The term “coupled”, as used herein, is defined as connected, although not necessarily directly, and not necessarily mechanically.

The term “comprising” is not intended to limit inventions to only claiming the present invention with such comprising language. Any invention using the term comprising could be separated into one or more claims using “consisting” or “consisting of” claim language and is so intended. The term “comprising” is used interchangeably used by the terms “having” or “containing”.

Reference throughout this document to “one embodiment”, “certain embodiments”, “an embodiment”, “another embodiment”, and “yet another embodiment” or similar terms means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, the appearances of such phrases or in various places throughout this specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment. Furthermore, the particular features, structures, or characteristics are combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments without limitation.

The term “or” as used herein is to be interpreted as an inclusive or meaning any one or any combination. Therefore, “A, B or C” means any of the following: “A; B; C; A and B; A and C; B and C; A, B and C”. An exception to this definition will occur only when a combination of elements, functions, steps or acts are in some way inherently mutually exclusive.
Fig.1 illustrates the system view (block diagram) of an IoT(Internet of Things) based fuel management system (100). The IoT(Internet of Things) based fuel management system (100) includes a fuel tank (102), a fuel sensor (104), a control unit (106),a battery (108), a fuel-filled display meter (110),a fuel management cloud server (112) and a user device (114). The fuel sensor (104) is fitted inside the fuel tank (102) and covering the whole depth of the fuel tank (102). The fuel sensor (104) is connected to the control unit (106). The fuel sensor (104) and the control unit (106) are connected to the battery (108) for power supply. The fuel-filled display meter (110) is connected to the control unit (106). The control unit (106) is connected to the fuel management cloud server (112). The user device (114) is connected to the fuel management cloud server (112). The fuel management cloud server (112) is accessible remotely through the internet by the user device (114).
The present invention relates to an IoT(Internet of Things) based fuel management system. The IoT(Internet of Things) based fuel management system includes a fuel tank, a fuel sensor, a control unit, a battery, a fuel-filled display meter, a fuel management cloud server, and a user device. The term “Internet of Things” refers to an interconnection via the Internet of computing devices embedded in everyday objects, enabling them to send and receive data. The term “sensor” refers to a device, module, or subsystem whose purpose is to detect events or changes in its environment and send the information to other electronics, frequently a computer processor. The term “cloud server” refers to a logical server that is built, hosted and delivered through a cloud computing platform over the Internet. The fuel sensor is fitted inside the fuel tank and covering the whole depth of the fuel tank. The fuel sensor is connected to the control unit. The fuel sensor and the control unit are connected to the battery for power supply. The fuel-filled display meter is connected to the control unit. The control unit is connected to the fuel management cloud server. The user device is connected to the fuel management cloud server. In an embodiment the fuel sensor is selected from a float level sensor, pneumatic level sensor, conductive level sensor, capacitance level sensor, optical sensor, and ultrasonic level sensor. In the preferred embodiment the fuel sensor is highly accurate capacitance-based fuel sensor.
In an embodiment, the fuel sensor senses the fuel level inside the fuel tank and sends real-time fuel level data to the control unit. In the preferred embodiment, the fuel sensor senses the fuel level inside the fuel tank and sends voltage to the microprocessor of the control unit. The microprocessor, in turn, processes the voltage to provide the exact fuel level present in the fuel tank after calibration.
The control unit is a computing and communication unit. The control unit calculates and logs real-time fuel level data of the fuel, stores in the fuel tank of moving or non-moving machinery. The fuel-filled display meter gets a quantity of fuel, filled at any particular time in the fuel tank, from the control unit and shows on display. In an embodiment the control unit is connected to the fuel management cloud server through different connection medium selected from wire, wireless, Bluetooth and internet. In the preferred embodiment the control unit is connected to the fuel management cloud server through an internet connection. The fuel management cloud server collates real-time fuel level data of fuel filling, fuel consumption, fuel drainage and fuel stock from the control unit on regular intervals. The control unit stores fuel level data locally in absence of connection with the fuel management cloud server. The fuel management cloud server collates the fuel level data and generates reports, alerts, and notifications of fuel filling, fuel consumption, fuel drainage, and fuel stock. The fuel management cloud server analyzes the fuel level data. The fuel management cloud server is accessible remotely through internet by the user device. In an embodiment the user device is selected from mobile phone, laptop computer, tablet device, and desktop computer. The user device is a computing and display device and the user device holds by user at remote location. The fuel management cloud server also has APIs. The term “API” refers to, application programming interface, a set of routines, protocols, and tools for building applications. The APIs integrate to various user side applications in the user device and provides advanced analytics based on the fuel level data available in real-time over internet. The fuel management cloud server maintains a digital archive of fuel level data and enables user to read fuel level data history.
The present invention relates to an IoT(Internet of Things) based fuel management system. The IoT(Internet of Things) based fuel management system includes one or more fuel tanks, one or more fuel sensors, one or more control units, one or more batteries, one or more fuel-filled display meters, a fuel management cloud server and one or more user devices. The one or more fuel sensors are fitted inside the one or more fuel tanks and covering the whole depth of the one or more fuel tanks. The one or more fuel sensors are connected to the one or more control units. The one or more fuel sensors and the one or more control units are connected to the one or more batteries for power supply. The one or more fuel-filled display meters are connected to the one or more control units. The one or more control units are connected to the fuel management cloud server. The one or more user devices are connected to the fuel management cloud server. In an embodiment, the one or more fuel sensors are selected from float level sensors, pneumatic level sensors, conductive level sensors, capacitance level sensors, optical sensors, and ultrasonic level sensors. In the preferred embodiment, the one or more fuel sensors are highly accurate capacitance-based fuel sensors. In an embodiment, the one or more fuel sensors sense the fuel level inside the one or more fuel tanks and send real-time fuel level data to the one or more control units. In the preferred embodiment, the one or more fuel sensors sense the fuel level inside the one or more fuel tanks and send voltage to the microprocessor of the one or more control units. The microprocessor, in turn, processes the voltage to provide the exact fuel level present in the one or more fuel tanks after calibration. The one or more control units are computing and communication units. The one or more control units calculate and log real-time fuel level data of the fuel, store in the one or more fuel tanks of moving or non-moving machinery. The one or more fuel-filled display meters get quantity of fuel, filled at any particular time in the one or more fuel tanks, from the one or more control units and show on display. In an embodiment, the one or more control units are connected to the fuel management cloud server through different connection medium selected from wire, wireless, Bluetooth and internet. In the preferred embodiment the one or more control units are connected to the fuel management cloud server through an internet connection.The fuel management cloud server collates real-time fuel level data of fuel filling, fuel consumption, fuel drainage and fuel stock from the one or more control units on regular intervals. The one or more control units store fuel level data locally in absence of connection with the fuel management cloud server. The fuel management cloud server collates the fuel level data and generates reports, alerts, and notifications of fuel filling, fuel consumption, fuel drainage, and fuel stock. The fuel management cloud server analyses the fuel level data. The fuel management cloud server is accessible remotely through internet by the one or more user devices.In an embodiment, the one or more user devices are selected from mobile phones, laptop computers, tablet devices, and desktop computers. The one or more user devices are computing and display devices and the one or more user devices hold by users at remote locations. The fuel management cloud server also has APIs. APIs integrate to various user side applications in the one or more user devices and provides advanced analytics based on the fuel level data available in real-time over the internet. The fuel management cloud server maintains a digital archive of fuel level data and enables user to read fuel level data history.
The present invention relates to a method of fuel measurement. The method includes: sensing quantity of fuel inside a fuel tank, by a fuel sensor; sending real-time fuel level data to a control unit, by the fuel sensor; calculating real-time fuel level data of the fuel, by the control unit; showing quantity of fuel on display, by a fuel-filled display meter; sending real-time fuel level data to a fuel management cloud server, by the control unit;analysing real-time fuel level data, and generating reports, alerts and notifications of fuel level data, by the fuel management cloud server; herein, the fuel management cloud server collates real-time fuel level data of fuel filling, fuel consumption, fuel drainage and fuel stock from the control unit in regular intervals; accessing reports, alerts, and notifications of real-time fuel data, by a user device.
Further objectives, advantages, and features of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description provided herein below, in which various embodiments of the disclosed present invention are illustrated by way of example and appropriate reference to accompanying drawings. Those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains may make modifications resulting in other embodiments employing principles of the present invention without departing from its spirit or characteristics, particularly upon considering the foregoing teachings. Consequently, while the present invention has been described with reference to particular embodiments, modifications of structure, sequence, materials and the like apparent to those skilled in the art still fall within the scope of the invention as claimed by the applicant.

CLAIMS:I/WE CLAIM
1. An IoT (Internet of Things) based fuel management system (100), the IoT (Internet of Things) based fuel management system (100) comprising:
an at least one fuel tank (102),
an at least one fuel sensor (104), the at least one fuel sensor (104) is fitted inside the at least one fuel tank (102) and covering the whole depth of the at least one fuel tank (102),
an at least one control unit (106), the at least one fuel sensor (104) is connected to the at least one control unit (106),
an at least one battery (108), the at least one fuel sensor (104) and the at least one control unit (106) are connected to the at least one battery (108) for power supply,
an at least one fuel filled display meter (110), the at least one fuel filled display meter (110) is connected to the at least one control unit (106),
a fuel management cloud server (112), the at least one control unit (106) is connected to the fuel management cloud server (112), and
an at least one user device (114), the at least one user device (114) is connected to the fuel management cloud server (112);
wherein, the at least one fuel sensor (104) senses the fuel level inside the at least one fuel tank (102) and sends real time fuel level data to the at least one control unit (106),
wherein, the at least one control unit (106) is a computing and communication unit,
wherein, the at least one control unit (106) calculates and logs real time fuel level data of the fuel, stores in the at least one fuel tank (102),
wherein, the at least one fuel filled display meter (110) gets quantity of fuel, filled at any particular time in the at least one fuel tank (102), from the at least one control unit (106) and shows on display,
wherein, the at least one control unit (106) stores fuel level data locally in absence of connection with the fuel management cloud server (112),
wherein, the fuel management cloud server (112) collates the fuel level data and generates reports, alerts and notifications of fuel filling, fuel consumption, fuel drainage and fuel stock,
2. TheIoT(Internet of Things) based fuel management system claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one fuel sensor (104) is selected from float level sensor, pneumatic level sensor, conductive level sensor, capacitance level sensor, optical sensor and ultrasonic level sensor.
3. The IoT(Internet of Things) based fuel management system claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one control unit (106) is connected to the fuel management cloud server (112) through different connection medium selected from wire, wireless, bluetooth and internet.
4. The IoT (Internet of Things) based fuel management system claimed in claim 1, wherein the fuel management cloud server (112) analyses the fuel level data.
5. The IoT(Internet of Things) based fuel management system claimed in claim 1, wherein the fuel management cloud server (112) is accessible remotely through internet by the at least one user device (114).
6. The IoT (Internet of Things) based fuel management system claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one user device (114) is selected from mobile phone, laptop computer, tablet device and desktop computer.
7. The IoT (Internet of Things) based fuel management system claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one user device (114) is a computing and display device and the at least one user device (114) holds by user at remote location.
8. The IoT (Internet of Things) based fuel management system claimed in claim 1, wherein the fuel management cloud server (112) maintains a digital archive of fuel level data and enables user to read fuel level data history.
9. A method of fuel measurement, the method comprising:
sensing quantity of fuel inside an at least one fuel tank (102), by an at least one fuel sensor (104);
sending real time fuel level data to an at least one control unit (106), by the at least one fuel sensor (104);
calculating real time fuel level data of the fuel, by the at least one control unit (106);
showing quantity of fuel on display, by an at least one fuel filled display meter (110);
sending real time fuel level data to a fuel management cloud server (112), by the at least one control unit (106);
analysing real time fuel level data, and generating reports, alerts and notifications of fuel level data, by the fuel management cloud server (112); wherein, the fuel management cloud server (112) collectes real time fuel level data of fuel filling, fuel consumption, fuel drainage and fuel stock from the at least one control unit (106) in regular intervals;
accessing reports, alerts and notifications of real time fuel data, by an at least one user device (114).