US-12619786-B2 - System and methods for smart fluid transfer register applications

US12619786B2US 12619786 B2US12619786 B2US 12619786B2US-12619786-B2

Abstract

One or more techniques and/or systems are disclosed for a smart pump register device used during fluid transfer operations. The register allows third party software, such as third-party applications, to be downloaded to the register. The third-party software may be downloaded from a cloud-based application store without hardware modifications. The third-party software may be used for various tasks associated with fluid transfer events. A fluid transfer system can comprise a cloud computing environment that can maintain an application database of third-party applications. A register device can comprise a regulated software portion and an unregulated software portion. The unregulated portion can run third party applications downloaded from the application database, and the regulated portion can remain isolated from the unregulated portion to maintain integrity of the regulated portion. A metering device can be used to communicate metering data to the register.

Inventors

Dan Clevenger
Jeff Hageman

Assignees

ADVANCED FLOW SOLUTIONS, INC.

Dates

Publication Date: 20260505
Application Date: 20230104

Claims (20)

1 . A fluid transfer system, comprising: a network-based computing environment comprising a remote computing device, wherein the remote computing device maintains an application database of one or more downloadable, third-party applications; a fluid transfer register, comprising: a regulated software portion; and an unregulated software portion, the unregulated portion is configured to run at least one third party application downloaded from the application database; wherein at least one element of the regulated software portion is communicatively isolated from at least one element of the unregulated software portion using hardware and/or software separation, such that the at least one isolated element of the unregulated software portion cannot communicate with the at least one regulated element of the regulated software portion; and a fluid meter that operably generates fluid metering data indicative of measured fluid flow characteristics and communicates the fluid metering data to the fluid transfer register.
2 . The system of claim 1 , the fluid transfer register integrated with the fluid meter.
3 . The system of claim 1 , the fluid transfer register communicatively coupled with the fluid meter wirelessly or using a wired connection.
4 . The system of claim 1 , the fluid flow characteristics comprising one or more of: flow rate; fluid pressure; and fluid density.
5 . The system of claim 1 , the regulated software portion of the fluid transfer register communicatively isolated from unregulated software portion such that any one of the one or more third party application is unable to transmit data to any part of the regulated software portion.
6 . The system of claim 1 , the regulated software portion of the fluid transfer register comprising one or more regulated software elements configured to process the fluid metering data to generate regulated results data indicative of regulated fluid transfer information.
7 . The system of claim 6 , the regulated software portion of the fluid transfer register configured to allow any one of the one or more regulated software elements to communicate regulated results data to the network-based computing environment, and any one of the one or more third party applications are configured to receive the regulated results data from the network-based computing environment.
8 . The system of claim 7 , the network-based computing environment comprising a regulated results data database that operably stores regulated results data received from one or more regulated software elements in the regulated software portion, wherein the one any one of the one or more third party applications on the unregulated software portion are configured to access the regulated results data from the regulated results data database.
9 . The system of claim 6 , the regulated software portion of the fluid transfer register configured to allow any one of the one or more regulated software elements to communicate regulated results data to the unregulated software portion such that any one of the one or more third party application is able to receive the regulated results data.
10 . The system of claim 1 , comprising a user computing device operably, communicatively coupled with the network-based computing environment to receive data indicative of fluid flow characteristics, processed data indicative of regulated fluid transfer information, and/or data indicative of fluid flow characteristics processed by one of the one or more third party applications resident on the unregulated portion of the fluid transfer register.
11 . The system of claim 10 , the user computing device operably displaying information related to the fluid flow characteristics, regulated fluid transfer information, and/or fluid flow characteristics processed by one of the one or more third party applications.
12 . The system of claim 10 , the user computing device configured to operably receive input from a user and communicate the input to the network-based computing environment, wherein the input is indicative of a command for an operation by one of the one or more third party applications resident on the unregulated portion of the fluid transfer register.
13 . The system of claim 1 , comprising a user computing device operably, communicatively coupled with the fluid transfer register to receive data indicative of fluid flow characteristics, processed data indicative of regulated fluid transfer information, and/or data indicative of fluid flow characteristics processed by one of the one or more third party applications resident on the unregulated portion of the fluid flow register.
14 . A fluid transfer system, comprising: a fluid transfer register configured to generate regulated results data indicative of regulated fluid transfer information, the fluid transfer register comprising: a control unit comprising a processor for processing data and instruction, and memory for storing data and instructions; a user interface that displays regulated results data; and a communication interface that communicates with one or more networks; a regulated software portion; and an unregulated software portion, the unregulated portion comprising at least one downloaded third-party application; wherein at least one element of the regulated software portion is communicatively isolated from at least one element of the unregulated software portion using hardware and/or software separation, such that the at least one isolated element of the unregulated software portion cannot communicate with the at least one regulated element of the regulated software portion; and a fluid meter that operably generates fluid metering data indicative of measured fluid flow characteristics and communicates the fluid metering data to the fluid transfer register; and a network-based computing environment comprising one or more remote computing devices, wherein the network-based computing environment maintains an application database of one or more downloadable, third-party applications, and wherein the at least one isolated element of the unregulated software portion comprises at least a portion of an application from the application database in the network-based computing environment.
15 . The system of claim 14 , the network-based computing environment comprising one or more of: at least one computing device disposed in a local area network; and at least one computing devise disposed in a remote, cloud-based network.
16 . The system of claim 14 , the at least one downloaded third-party application comprising software downloaded from the network-based computing environment to the fluid transfer register using the application database.
17 . The system of claim 14 , comprising a user computing device operably, communicatively coupled with the network-based computing environment and the fluid transfer register, and the at least one downloaded third-party application downloaded from the user computing device.
18 . The system of claim 14 , the at least one downloaded third-party application comprising software that provides a customized user interface on the fluid transfer register.
19 . The system of claim 14 , the regulated software portion of the fluid transfer register communicatively isolated from unregulated software portion such that any one of the one or more third party application is unable to transmit data to any part of the regulated software portion.
20 . A method for using a fluid transfer system, comprising: operating a fluid meter during a fluid transfer event, wherein the fluid meter operably generates fluid metering data indicative of measured fluid flow characteristics; transferring the fluid metering data to a fluid transfer register, wherein the fluid transfer register comprises: a regulated software portion; and an unregulated software portion, the unregulated portion is configured to run at least one third party application downloaded from the application database; wherein at least one element of the regulated software portion is communicatively isolated from at least one element of the unregulated software portion using hardware and/or software separation, such that the at least one isolated element of the unregulated software portion cannot communicate with the at least one regulated element of the regulated software portion; and communicatively coupling the fluid transfer register to a network-based computing environment comprising a remote computing device, wherein the remote computing device maintains an application database of one or more third-party applications that are downloadable to the unregulated portion of the fluid transfer register.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 63/296,256, entitled SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR SMART REGISTER APPLICATIONS, filed Jan. 4, 2022, which is incorporated herein by reference. BACKGROUND Pumps can be used to transfer liquid from a source to a target delivery location, such as transferring fuel from a storage vessel to a target vehicle. Often, when transferring fluids, such as fuels, from a storage vessel to a receiving vehicle or container, a metering apparatus is used to identify an amount of liquid transferred so that appropriate records may be maintained. A metering register device may be connected to the metering apparatus or various other devices to collect data associated with the fluid transfer. SUMMARY This Summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed Description. This Summary is not intended to identify key factors or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used to limit the scope of the claimed subject matter. As one example, a system of web-based applications can be provided for use in the fluid transfer industry. In one implementation, a smart fluid register device can be devised to allow third party software (e.g., third party applications) to be downloaded to the fluid register. In some implementations, the third-party software may be downloaded (e.g., installed) on the fluid register from a web-based application store and may require little to no hardware modifications. The third-party software may be used for various tasks associated with fluid transfer needs of the third party. By way of example, the third-party software may be used for data collection, dispatching, remote diagnostics, valve control, inventory management, training, customer data customization, and more. In one implementation, a fluid transfer system can comprise a cloud computing environment that comprises a remote computer. In this implementation, the remote computer can be configured to maintain an application database of third-party applications. Further, a fluid transfer register can comprise a regulated software portion, and an unregulated software portion. In this implementation, the unregulated portion is configured to run at least one third party application that is downloaded from the application database. Additionally, at least one element of the regulated portion is isolated from at least one element of the unregulated portion using hardware and/or software separation. A fluid meter can generate fluid metering data indicative of measured fluid flow characteristics, and can communicate the metering data to the fluid transfer register. To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, the following description and annexed drawings set forth certain illustrative aspects and implementations. These are indicative of but a few of the various ways in which one or more aspects may be employed. Other aspects, advantages and novel features of the disclosure will become apparent from the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the annexed drawings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a component diagram illustrating an exemplary system where one or more portions of one or more systems described herein may be implemented. FIG. 2 is an exemplary implementation of a register where one or more portions or one or more systems described herein may be implemented. FIG. 3 is an exemplary implementation of register partitions where one or more portions or one or more systems described herein may be implemented. FIG. 4 is a system diagram illustrating an exemplary system where one or more portions of one or more systems described herein may be implemented. FIG. 5 is an exemplary system where one or more portions of one or more systems described herein may be implemented. FIG. 6 is an exemplary system where one or more portions of one or more systems described herein may be implemented. FIG. 7 is an exemplary system where one or more portions of one or more systems described herein may be implemented. FIG. 8 is an exemplary display of a register device where one or more portions of one or more systems described herein may be implemented. DETAILED DESCRIPTION The claimed subject matter is now described with reference to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals are generally used to refer to like elements throughout. In the following description, for purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the claimed subject matter. It may be evident, however, that the claimed subject matter may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, structures and devices are shown in block diagram form in order to facilitate describing the claimed subject matter. A cloud computing or web-based application platform and/or applicati