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.

We claim: 
     
         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.