Flying J, Inc.

Other

Flymg J, Inc.

John D Hillam

Gary I Shellabarger

Vincent J Memmott

Richard D Peterson

Jon M Scoleri

Thierry J Guillerm

Aaron R Peterson

Alan D Blakeslee

Gary L Shellabarger

Kerby L Cate

Disclosed are methods, systems, and computer program products for performing an on-demand book balance to physical balance reconciliation process for liquid product. The method can include receiving an indication that a delivery of product is about to occur at a retail facility. Based on the received indication, and optionally while fuel is dispensed from one or more storage tanks, a first book balance to physical balance reconciliation can be initiated for one or more storage tanks at the retail facility prior to receiving a delivery of liquid product. Following completion of the first book to physical balance reconciliation, an amount of liquid product as indicated on a delivery document is delivered and then the system automatically performs a second book to physical reconciliation process to identify one or more discrepancies between the amount of liquid product in the storage tanks and a physical amount of liquid product actually delivered.

Performing an on-demand book balance to physical balance reconciliation process for liquid product

Disclosed are methods, systems, and computer program products for determining a volume of liquid product in a manifold set of tanks. The method includes identifying a plurality of book volumes of liquid product in the manifold set of tanks. The method further includes identifying a plurality of measured physical volumes of liquid product in the manifold set of tanks, each measured physical volume being associated with one book volume of the plurality of book volumes. Following collecting the volumes, the method includes determining a variance between each measured physical volume of the plurality of measured volumes and each book volume of the plurality of book volumes and then using those variances to generate an expected variance to each of the plurality of measured physical volumes, the combination of the expected variance and the measured physical volume being the volume of the liquid product in the manifold set of tanks.

Methods and systems for measuring physical volume

Disclosed are methods, systems, and computer program products for collecting and communicating temperature and volume data directly from a dispenser for use during a book to physical reconciliation process. The temperature and volume readings can be received directly from a dispenser by at least one of a retail system and a central inventory management system. The method can include collecting flow data indicative of a volume of a liquid product dispensed from the dispenser at a plurality of times during a defined time interval and collecting temperature data indicative of a temperature of the liquid product dispensed from the dispenser at the plurality of times during the defined interval. Once collected, the temperature data and the flow data can be transmitted to at least one of a retail system and a central inventory management system.

Collecting and communicating temperature and volume data directly from a dispenser

Disclosed is methods, systems, and computer program products for monitoring and reporting liquid product dispenser transaction states for book to physical reconciliation purposes. The method can provide virtual real-time status of sales transactions in order to perform liquid product fuel reconciliation regardless of ongoing sales. The method can include receiving a request to perform the liquid product book to physical reconciliation for one or more storage tanks at a retail facility. Once the requested is received, the method can entail identifying a duration for accumulation of measurement data used for the reconciliation and during the identified duration, monitoring the status of one or more dispensers that dispense liquid product from the one or more storage tanks. Based on the status of the one or more dispensers, the method can include updating either a physical inventory or a book value to appropriately determine the book to physical reconciliation.

Monitoring and reporting liquid product dispenser transaction states for book to physical reconciliation purposes

Disclosed is a virtual real-time liquid product book to physical reconciliation process within a dynamic environment. The method can include receiving a request to perform a liquid product book to physical reconciliation process for one or more storage tanks at a retail facility. Once received, the status of one or more liquid product dispensers corresponding to the one or more storage tanks can be identified. A plurality of measurements can be made while the one or more liquid product dispensers are in an active state and dispensing the liquid product. With the data indicative of the plurality of measurements, the method can automatically perform the liquid product book to physical reconciliation process.

Virtual real-time liquid product book to physical reconciliation process in a dynamic environment

Disclosed are methods, systems, and computer program products for balancing net inventory using a dynamic expansion coefficient of liquid product relative to the temperature changes with density. The method can include receiving an API gravity report that includes a measurement of a specific gravity and a temperature of the product reported at a rack. Utilizing the API gravity report, the method can include maintaining correct densities of the liquid product by utilizing a plurality of expansion coefficients to dynamically convert a gross volume measurement to a net volume measurement for transactions of liquid product in a tank and at a dispenser in order to maintain a net perpetual book balance.

Balancing net inventory using a dynamic expansion coefficient of liquid product relative to temperature changes

Disclosed are methods, systems, and computer program products for collecting liquid product volume data at a dispenser. The dispenser can include first and second totalizers that receive signals from a pulser that identifies the flow rate of liquid product dispensed from the dispenser. The dispenser further includes a data acquisition unit communicating with at least the second totalizer, the data acquisition unit receives data indicative of a volume of the liquid product dispensed from the dispenser from the second totalizer. The method can include receiving a plurality of pulses at a first totalizer and a second totalizer within the dispenser. Upon receiving the pulses, the method includes generating data indicative of a volume of liquid product flowing from the dispenser. Following generating the data, the method can include sending the data corresponding to the second totalizer to at least one of a retail system and a central inventory management system.

Collecting liquid product volume data at a dispenser

Disclosed are systems, methods, and computer program products to compensate for surface movement of liquid product within one or more tanks during a liquid product book to physical reconciliation process. A plurality of measurement data at a plurality of times can be received. Each measurement data represents a volume of liquid product within the tank. The volume of liquid product represented by the measurement data can be compared against at least one predetermined volume identified as being unreliable. Following eliminating the measurement data that is unreliable, a sample mean and a standard deviation for the remaining measurement data are calculated and then used to filter the remaining measurement data by eliminating any measurement data that has a value plus or minus a predetermined number of the standard deviations from the standard mean for the second set of measurement data.

Compensating for surface movement of liquid product within one or more liquid product tanks during capture of height and volume data

Disclosed are methods, systems, and computer program products to prevent a delivery vehicle from making an unauthorized delivery of liquid product to a liquid product storage tank at a retail store facility. A retail system and/or a centralized inventory management system can monitor one or more tanks at the retail facility for liquid product delivery from the carrier. The retail system and/or the centralized inventory management system can automatically interrupt delivery of liquid product when the delivery vehicle begins to delivery the liquid product to an unauthorized tank.

Preventing unauthorized delivery of liquid product to a liquid product storage tank

Disclosed are methods, systems, and computer program products for performing temperature standardization of the volume of a liquid product from a distributor to a consumer. Using a volume measurement device and a temperature measurement device located at a rack, a storage tank, and a dispenser, a gross volume and temperature of the liquid product at, respectively, the rack, the storage tank, and the dispenser can be measured. Volume data indicative of the gross volume and temperature data indicative of the temperature can be generated. A time-stamp system at each of the rack, the storage tank, and the dispenser allocates a time-stamp to each of the volume data and the temperature data so that a reconciliation process can use each of the time-stamps, the temperature data, and the volume data to reconcile gross to net volumes at a single point in time.

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Perry, UT, United States of America

John D Hillam