JP7820209B2 - Fuel supply system and program - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a fuel supply system and program, and relates to a fuel supply system that includes a fuel supply vehicle that supplies loaded fuel and a terminal control device that can communicate with the fuel supply vehicle, and a program executed by the terminal control device.

A fuel supply system is disclosed in which a fuel truck delivers fuel from a tank loaded with fuel to each home via a flow meter and nozzle, and a receipt output device outputs a receipt showing the amount of fuel supplied (Patent Document 1).

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2000-7100

A fuel supply device in a fuel tanker (equipped with a tank, flow meter, nozzle, and receipt printer) can be equipped with a portable terminal that can communicate with the flow meter via a wireless communication device installed in the fuel tanker and that can be operated by an attendant to print a receipt from the receipt printer.This allows the attendant to check the amount of fuel supplied from the flow meter and issue a receipt even if the attendant is away from the fuel supply device.However, if communication between the portable terminal and the flow meter is lost, the information on the amount of fuel supplied cannot be received, and there is a possibility that a discrepancy will occur between the actual amount of fuel supplied, including the amount of fuel supplied after reception was lost, and the amount of fuel supplied (the amount of fuel supplied printed on the receipt) managed by the portable terminal at the time the receipt is issued using the portable terminal.

The present invention provides a fuel supply system and program that can prevent discrepancies between the actual amount of fuel supplied and the amount of fuel supplied (the amount of fuel supplied printed on the invoice) managed by the terminal control device at the time the invoice is issued by the terminal control device.

The fuel supply system of the present invention comprises a fuel supply vehicle that supplies loaded fuel and has a measuring means for measuring the flow rate of the supplied fuel and a transmitting means for transmitting flow rate information indicating the flow rate of the fuel measured by the measuring means; a receiving means for receiving the flow rate information transmitted by the transmitting means; an output means for outputting invoice information relating to an invoice including information indicating the amount of fuel supplied based on the flow rate information received by the receiving means; and a terminal control device having a control means for prohibiting the output means from outputting the invoice information if communication between the transmitting means and the receiving means becomes impossible.

This invention makes it possible to prevent discrepancies between the actual amount of fuel dispensed and the amount of fuel dispensed managed by the terminal control device at the time the invoice is issued (the amount of fuel dispensed printed on the invoice).

1 is a diagram showing an overall configuration of a fuel supply system according to a first embodiment; FIG. 2 is a hardware block diagram of a control unit of the terminal control device. 10A and 10B are diagrams showing a refueling screen and a search screen displayed on the display unit of the terminal control device. 10 is a flowchart showing a slip issuing method by a terminal control device. 10 is a flowchart showing a slip issuing method by a terminal control device. 10 is a flowchart showing a slip issuing method by a terminal control device.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. It goes without saying that components in the following embodiments are not necessarily essential unless specifically stated otherwise or considered to be clearly essential in principle.

Figure 1 shows the overall configuration of a fuel supply system. As shown in Figure 1, the fuel supply system 100 includes a fuel tanker 1, a terminal control device 2 that is connected to a wireless communication device 17 installed in the fuel tanker 1 so that it can communicate wirelessly, and a mobile printer 3 that is connected to the terminal control device 2 so that it can communicate wirelessly. The fuel supply system 100 is a system for managing the home delivery, supply, and sales of fuel loaded on the fuel tanker 1.

(Fuel truck 1)
The fuel tanker (fuel supply vehicle) 1 is a fuel tanker that delivers fuel such as kerosene loaded onto it to homes and the like, and supplies the fuel to a fuel tank 200 or a polyethylene tank. The fuel supplied by the fuel tanker 1 is not limited to kerosene, but may also be liquefied natural gas (LPG), compressed natural gas (CNG), compressed hydrogen gas, etc. The fuel tanker 1 includes a tank 10, a pump 11, a flow meter 12, a hose reel 13, a fuel supply hose 14, a fuel supply nozzle 15, a fuel supply control device 16, and a wireless communication device 17.

The tank 10 is a container filled with fuel such as kerosene. The pump 11 is started and stopped, for example, by operating a pump start button and a pump stop button (not shown) provided on the fuel supply control device 16 of the fuel tanker 1. The pump 11 also draws up fuel from the tank 10 and supplies it to the hose reel 13 and the fuel supply hose 14. The fuel supply nozzle 15 is connected to the end of the fuel supply hose 14 and discharges the fuel through the fuel supply hose 14. The flow meter 12 measures the flow rate of the fuel drawn up by the pump 11. Specifically, the flow meter 12 functions as a measuring device that measures the amount of fuel supplied to the fuel tank 200 (fuel supply amount), and sequentially transmits the fuel supply amount to the terminal control device 2 via the wireless communication device 17 until it receives a completion signal from the terminal control device 2. When refueling, the fuel nozzle 15 is inserted into the fuel tank 200 of each household or the fuel filler opening (not shown) of a polyethylene tank, and the lever of the fuel nozzle 15 is operated to open the fuel flow path. When refueling is to be stopped, the lever of the fuel nozzle 15 is released to close the fuel flow path. This causes fuel pumped by the pump 11 to be supplied to the fuel tank 200 or the like via the hose reel 13 and fuel supply hose 14, or to stop supplying fuel. The wireless communication device 17 functions as a transmission means for transmitting information such as the amount of fuel supplied (flow rate information) measured by the flow meter 12 to the terminal control device 2.

(Terminal control device 2)
The terminal control device 2 is connected wirelessly to the wireless communication device 17 and also connected wirelessly to the mobile printer 3. The terminal control device 2 acquires the amount of fuel supplied measured by the flow meter 12 via the communication I/F 35 described below. The terminal control device 2 then outputs invoice information relating to an invoice, including the amount of fuel supplied to the tank 10, the fee for the supplied fuel, the unit price of the fuel, etc., to the mobile printer 3. Upon receiving the invoice information from the terminal control device 2, the mobile printer 3 issues invoice 4 on which the invoice information is printed.

The terminal control device 2 also periodically acquires the communication strength with the wireless communication device 17. For example, the terminal control device 2 executes a command to acquire the communication strength at one-second intervals using an API for measuring communication strength that is standard on the Android (registered trademark) OS, and acquires the communication strength with the wireless communication device 17. The terminal control device 2 then displays the acquired communication strength as a graphic (for example, see graphic 401 in Figure 3(a)).

(Control unit 30 of terminal control device 2)
FIG. 2 is a hardware block diagram of the control unit 30 of the terminal control device 2. The terminal control device 2 has the control unit 30. The control unit 30 is a computer and includes a processor 31, a main memory unit 32, an auxiliary memory unit 33, an input/output I/F 34, a communication I/F 35, and a bus 36. The communication I/F 35 is communicatively connected to the wireless communication device 17 and the mobile printer 3. The communication I/F 35 receives the fuel amount from the flow meter 12 via the wireless communication device 17. The communication I/F 35 functions as a receiving means for receiving the fuel amount transmitted from the wireless communication device 17. The communication I/F 35 also measures the communication strength with the wireless communication device 17. The communication I/F 35 then transmits invoice information to the mobile printer 3. The communication I/F 35 functions as an output means for outputting the invoice information. The terminal control device 2 has a display unit 37 that displays various information and an input unit 38, such as a touch sensor, provided on the surface of the display unit 37.

The processor 31 is a central processing unit that controls the operation of each part of the terminal control device 2. The processor 31 is, for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit), DSP (Digital Signal Processor), or ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit). The processor 31 deploys programs stored in the auxiliary memory 33 in an executable manner in the working area of the main memory 32. The main memory 32 stores programs executed by the processor 31 and data processed by the processor. The main memory 32 is, for example, a RAM (Random Access Memory). The auxiliary memory 33 stores various programs and data. The auxiliary memory 33 stores, for example, an OS (Operating System), various programs, various tables, etc. The auxiliary memory 33 is, for example, a silicon disk including non-volatile semiconductor memory (flash memory, EPROM (Erasable Programmable ROM)), a solid state drive (SSD) device, a hard disk (HDD) device, etc.

The communication I/F 35 receives the fuel amount from the flow meter 12 via the wireless communication device 17. The communication method of the communication I/F 35 may be wired or wireless. Furthermore, the communication method between the communication I/F 35 and the flow meter 12 may be Bluetooth (registered trademark), Wi-Fi (registered trademark), Wi-Sun (registered trademark), LTE (registered trademark), LPWA, Zigbee (registered trademark), WirelessHART (registered trademark), or EnOcean (registered trademark).

When communication between the wireless communication device 17 and the communication I/F 35 becomes impossible (in this embodiment, whether communication has become impossible is determined by whether the aforementioned communication strength has dropped below a predetermined value), the control unit 30 prohibits the communication I/F 35 from outputting slip information to the mobile printer 3. Furthermore, when communication becomes possible between the wireless communication device 17 and the communication I/F 35 of the terminal control device 2 (when the communication strength exceeds a predetermined value), the control unit 30 permits the communication I/F 35 to output slip information to the mobile printer 3. The control unit 30 functions as a control means that prohibits and permits the output of slip information.

The auxiliary storage unit 33 includes:
a receiving means for receiving the amount of fuel supplied to the fuel tank 200 from the fuel tanker 1 via a wireless communication device 17;
The device stores a program 39 for functioning as an output means for outputting invoice information to be printed on an invoice, such as the amount of fuel supplied received by the receiving means and the fuel charge calculated based on the amount of fuel supplied, and a control means for prohibiting the output means from outputting the invoice information when communication between the wireless communication device 17 and the terminal control device 2 becomes impossible.

(Screen displayed on the display unit of the terminal control device 2)
3A and 3B are diagrams showing screens displayed on the display unit of the terminal control device. The refueling screen 400 shown in FIG. 3A includes a graphic 401 indicating the strength of communication with the wireless communication device 17, information 402 indicating the flow rate (amount of fuel supplied) of fuel (kerosene in FIG. 3A ) measured by the flow meter 12 (220.1 L in FIG. 3A ), information 403 indicating the unit price of the supplied fuel (100 yen in FIG. 3A ), and information 404 indicating the amount of the supplied fuel (22,010 yen in FIG. 3A ). The refueling screen 400 also includes a receipt issue button 405 for issuing a receipt. When the input unit 38, such as a touch sensor, detects a touch operation on the receipt issue button 405 (hereinafter referred to as a receipt issue instruction operation), the terminal control device 2 transmits receipt information related to the receipt to the mobile printer 3, which includes the amount of fuel supplied, the amount of fuel supplied, the unit price of the fuel, and the like.

The slip issue button 405 is enabled or disabled based on the strength of the wireless communication with the wireless communication device 17. If communication with the wireless communication device 17 is possible, a slip can be issued by operating the slip issue button 405. If communication with the wireless communication device 17 is not possible, a slip cannot be issued by operating the slip issue button 405. On the search screen 500 shown in FIG. 3(b), if communication with the wireless communication device 17 is not possible, the slip issue button 405 is grayed out, allowing the user to recognize that the slip issue button 405 is unavailable. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 3(a), if communication with the wireless communication device 17 is possible, the slip issue button 405 is not grayed out, allowing the user to recognize that the slip issue button 405 is available. Note that if communication with the wireless communication device 17 is not possible, the search screen 500 shown in FIG. 3(b) displays a message 501 indicating that a device capable of communication is being searched for. The slip issue button 405 is grayed out on the search screen 500.

(Mobile Printer 3)
The mobile printer 3 is a slip printing device that prints slips 4, is communicatively connected to the terminal control device 2, and prints slips 4 based on slip information related to the slip received from the terminal control device 2. The communication method between the mobile printer 3 and the terminal control device 2 is Bluetooth, but other communication methods may also be used.

(How to issue a receipt)
4 to 6 are flowcharts showing a slip issuing method by the terminal control device 2. Each step of the flowcharts in FIGS.

The control unit 30 displays a start button (not shown) on the display unit 37. When a touch operation on this start button is detected (step S500), the control unit 30 displays the refueling screen 400 shown in FIG. 3(a) on the display unit 37 and starts communication with the refueling truck 1 via the wireless communication device 17 (step S501). As a result, the refueling control device 16 of the refueling truck 1 resets the amount of refueling measured by the flow meter 12 (the previous amount of refueling) to zero and then starts sequentially transmitting the amount of refueling measured by the flow meter 12 to the control unit 30 of the terminal control device 2 via the wireless communication device 17. Note that this transmission of the amount of refueling to the control unit 30 via the wireless communication device 17 continues repeatedly until a completion signal is input from the terminal control device 2 in step S509, described below. Next, the control unit 30 sequentially determines whether communication with the wireless communication device 17 is available (steps S502, S503, S504). If it is determined that communication between the control unit 30 and the wireless communication device 17 is not disabled (communication is established) (step S504: Yes), the control unit 30 updates and displays the amount of fuel dispensed, the price of fuel, etc. on the display unit 37 based on the amount of fuel dispensed obtained from the flow meter 12 via the wireless communication device 17 (step S505).

When the control unit 30 detects a touch operation on the receipt issue button 405 on the refueling screen 400 (step S506: Yes), it determines whether communication with the wireless communication device 17 has been established (whether the communication strength exceeds a predetermined value) (step S507). If the control unit 30 determines that communication has been established in step S507 (if the refueling amount has been acquired), it updates the amount of fuel supplied, the fuel price, etc. on the display unit 37 based on the refueling amount acquired in step S508. Then, in S509, it sends a completion signal to the refueling control device 16. Upon receiving the completion signal, the refueling control device 16 stops sending the refueling amount measured by the flow meter 12 to the terminal control device 2. Therefore, the refueling amount updated in S508 becomes the final refueling amount. Then, in S510, it generates invoice information for a invoice that describes the amount of fuel supplied, the price of the supplied fuel, the unit price of the fuel, etc., and sends it to the mobile printer 3 (step S510). The mobile printer 3 prints the slip 4 based on the received slip information.

If a touch operation on the receipt issue button 405 is not detected (step S506: No) and a predetermined time has passed since the start of refueling (step S511: Yes), the control unit 30 determines that the time required for refueling is abnormally long and notifies the user of the abnormality (step S512).

If the control unit 30 determines in step S502 or step S504 that communication with the wireless communication device 17 has not been established (step S502: No, step S504: No), it displays the search screen 500 on the display unit 37, grays out the slip issue button 405, and prohibits the issuance of a slip (step S600). The control unit 30 then sets n to 0 (step S601) and determines whether communication with the wireless communication device 17 has been established (step S602). If the control unit 30 determines that communication with the wireless communication device 17 has not been established (step S602: No), it determines whether n is greater than a predetermined number of times (e.g., 3 times) (step S603). If n is equal to or less than the predetermined number of times (step S603: No), the control unit 30 sets n to n+1 (step S601). On the other hand, if n is greater than the predetermined number of times (step S603: Yes), the control unit 30 displays a communication error on the display unit 37 (step S604).

If the control unit 30 determines in step S602 that communication with the wireless communication device 17 has been restored (communication has been established) (step S602: Yes), it ungrays out the invoice issue button 405 and allows the communication I/F 35 to output invoice information to the mobile printer 3 (step S605). The control unit 30 then returns the process to step S503 and obtains the amount of fuel refueled from the flow meter 12 via the wireless communication device 17.

If communication with the wireless communication device 17 is not established in step S507 (step S507: No), the control unit 30 starts timing a predetermined time (step S700: Yes) and again checks whether communication with the wireless communication device 17 has been established (step S701). If communication with the wireless communication device 17 is not established before the predetermined time has elapsed (step S702: Yes), the control unit 30 displays a communication error on the display unit 37 (step S703). On the other hand, if communication with the wireless communication device 17 is established (step S701: Yes), the control unit 30 sets the last refueling amount received from the refueling amounts transmitted via the wireless communication device 17 as the final refueling amount, sets this final refueling amount as the current refueling amount, and calculates the refueling fee from this refueling amount. Then, in step S509, a completion signal is sent to the refueling control device 16. Invoice information for an invoice listing the amount of fuel supplied, the amount of fuel supplied, the unit price of the fuel, etc. is generated and sent to the mobile printer 3 (step S510).

(Effects of the fuel supply system of the above embodiment)
Communication between the wireless communication device 17 and the terminal control device 2 can become unstable due to factors such as terrain, buildings, and natural phenomena such as snow. If communication between the wireless communication device 17 and the terminal control device 2 becomes unavailable, real-time display of information such as the amount of fuel refueled and the price of fuel on the display unit 37 of the terminal control device 2 stops. Meanwhile, fuel supply continues, resulting in a discrepancy between the actual amount of fuel refueled and the amount of fuel refueled managed by the terminal control device 2. Therefore, if communication between the wireless communication device 17 and the terminal control device 2 becomes unavailable, the receipt issue button 405 is grayed out, and the communication I/F 35 is prohibited from outputting receipt information. This prevents a discrepancy between the actual amount of fuel refueled and the amount of fuel refueled managed by the terminal control device 2 at the time the terminal control device 2 issues a receipt issue instruction (the amount of fuel refueled printed on the receipt).

When communication is possible between the wireless communication device 17 and the terminal control device 2, the invoice issue button 405 is ungrayed out and the communication I/F 35 is permitted to output invoice information. For example, by having an attendant move the terminal control device 2 within communication range, it becomes possible to obtain the actual amount of fuel refueled and output a invoice showing the actual amount of fuel refueled.

After a touch operation on the slip issue button 405 is detected, slip information is output on the condition that communication is possible between the wireless communication device 17 and the terminal control device 2, making it possible to issue a slip that prints the amount of fuel added at the time the slip issue button was pressed (final amount of fuel added (actual amount of fuel added)).

The present invention has been described above in conjunction with embodiments, but these embodiments merely illustrate specific examples of how the present invention may be implemented, and the technical scope of the present invention should not be interpreted as being limited by these embodiments. In other words, the present invention can be implemented in various forms without departing from its technical concept or main features.

In the above embodiment, the mobile printer 3 prints the slip 4, but the present invention is not limited to this. The terminal control device 2 may send the electronic slip via email or other means to the customer's mobile terminal, the attendant's mobile terminal, or a remote management computer. The terminal control device 2 may also be a device with printing capabilities. Furthermore, if the terminal control device 2 is unable to communicate with the wireless communication device 17, it may be possible to prohibit the electronic slip from being sent to devices other than the terminal control device 2 (the customer's mobile terminal, the attendant's mobile terminal, or a remote management computer).

In addition, in the above embodiment, the slip issue button 405 displayed on the display unit 37 is grayed out, but slip issuance may be prohibited by other methods. For example, if communication between the wireless communication device 17 and the control unit 30 becomes impossible, the slip issue button 405 may be hidden. Also, if communication between the wireless communication device 17 and the control unit 30 becomes impossible, touch operation of the slip issue button 405 may be disabled within the control unit 30 without changing the form of the slip issue button 405.

In the above embodiment, the lever on the fuel nozzle 15 was released to close the fuel flow path, but the amount of fuel to be dispensed may be specified in advance, and refueling may be stopped when the amount of fuel dispensed reaches the specified target amount.

1: Fuel tanker, 2: Terminal control device, 3: Mobile printer, 12: Flow meter, 16: Fuel control device, 25: Communication I/F, 30: Control unit, 35: Communication I/F, 39: Program, 100: Fuel supply system, 200: Fuel tank, 405: Invoice issuing button

Claims (7)

A fuel supply vehicle that supplies loaded fuel,
a fuel supply vehicle having a measuring means for measuring the amount of fuel supplied, and a transmitting means for sequentially transmitting the amount of fuel supplied measured by the measuring means;
a receiving means for receiving the supply amount transmitted by the transmitting means;
a display means for displaying the supply amount received by the receiving means;
a control means for outputting slip information relating to a slip including information indicating the supply amount based on the supply amount received by the receiving means;
a slip issuance instruction means operated by an operator to instruct the issuance of the slip;
a slip issuing machine that issues a slip based on the slip information output from the control means when an instruction to issue a slip is given from the slip issuing instruction means;
A terminal control device having
When the slip issuance instruction means is operated, if communication is possible between the transmitting means and the receiving means, the control means causes the slip issuing machine to issue a slip, and if communication is not possible between the transmitting means and the receiving means, prohibits the slip issuing machine from issuing a slip.
A terminal control device;
A fuel supply system comprising: 2. The fuel supply system according to claim 1, wherein the control means determines the supply amount received last by the transmission means as a final supply amount and calculates the supply fee from the supply amount. The control means outputs the slip information when communication between the transmission means and the reception means becomes possible .
3. A fuel supply system according to claim 1 or 2 . The system further includes a slip printer that receives the slip information output from the control means and prints the slip,
4. The fuel supply system according to claim 3 , wherein the control means outputs the slip information to the slip printing device on the condition that communication is possible between the transmission means and the reception means. The control means periodically acquires the communication strength between the transmitting means and the receiving means, determines whether or not communication between the transmitting means and the receiving means has become impossible based on the acquired communication strength , and does not output the slip information when it determines that communication between the transmitting means and the receiving means has become impossible.
2. The fuel supply system according to claim 1. 2. The fuel supply system according to claim 1, wherein, when communication between the transmitting means and the receiving means becomes impossible, the control means displays a search screen indicating that a device capable of communication is being searched for, and prohibits output of the invoice information by a invoice issue button on the search screen for outputting the invoice information. A program that causes a computer of a terminal control device that can communicate with a fuel supply vehicle that supplies loaded fuel to function,
The fuel supply vehicle is
a measuring means for measuring the amount of fuel supplied; and
a transmitting means for sequentially transmitting the amount of fuel supplied measured by the measuring means;
The program causes the computer to:
receiving means for receiving supply amount information indicating the amount of fuel supplied from the fuel supply vehicle;
a control means for outputting invoice information relating to an invoice including information indicating the amount of fuel supplied based on the supply amount information received by the receiving means;
a slip issuance instruction means operated by an operator to instruct the issuance of the slip;
a slip issuing machine that issues a slip based on the slip information output from the control means when an instruction to issue a slip is given from the slip issuing instruction means;
It functions as
When the slip issuance instruction means is operated, if communication is possible between the transmitting means and the receiving means, the control means causes the slip issuing machine to issue a slip, and if communication is not possible between the transmitting means and the receiving means, prohibits the slip issuing machine from issuing a slip .
program.