Postec Communications Controller Overview Today’s fuelling environment is a low margin, volume based business with an increasing emphasis on Is it for you? technology. Oil companies are looking for ways to Retail Site Automation improve business efficiencies, increase system uptime and improve customer experience. At the heart of Flexibility to deal with all forecourt devices found any fuelling environment, and core to the technology in retail service stations, and a requirement for employed, is the forecourt controller. maximum site uptime, makes PCC4 the first choice in forecourt controller for many retailers. The Postec Communications Controller, the PCC, is All on site devices such as dispensers and tank a highly reliable and scalable embedded device for gauges, as well as indoor PC POS equipment, connecting to a wide variety of devices used in the communicate via the PCC4. As the single point of industry. connection, the PCC4 is able to store transaction level data for analysis and reporting. Off site The PCC’s modular hardware and software architecture systems such as HOS connect to the PCC4 to upload facilitates a vast range of optional application add- transaction data. ons including: Automatic Tank Gauging, Price Sign, Vending machines, Automatic Car Wash, Card Readers in Dispensers, Automatic Vehicle Identification, Commercial Unmanned Fuelling Attendant Tagging, Alarm Monitoring and Remote With no staff on site, the system must control Communications. dispensers and interface to a Customer Authorization Terminal such as an OPT. High system uptime is Detailed information from the applications and devices critical to commercial fuelling, in these often remote on site is also accumulated by the PCC, from which locations, which is the key to the PCC’s success. a comprehensive range of reports can be extracted Commercial fuelling includes Truck stops, Marinas allowing you to make more informed decisions about and “offroad” Homebase sites. your site. TELEPHONE +649 415 8803 FAX +64 9 415 9042 EMAIL info@postec.co.nz WEB www.postec.co.nz Key features Benefits to your business Proven solid state technology Increased system uptime With over 9,000 units deployed already, the PCC Every time your system goes down, you lose money. product has been proven over the past 20+ years. Therefore you need a technology platform that you Operating 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, the PCC know will run 24/7. The PCC is highly reliable and operates all around the world, and has been installed designed to run in the harshest of environments, day in some of the harshest environmental conditions that after day for years – something you can’t achieve with exist in the petroleum industry. a PC based system. Not reliant on mechanical disk drives and failure prone Plan for future growth moving parts, the battery backed solid state PCC With the PCC you can start with what you need, and operates well even in regions where reliable and clean add more functionality over time as your business power is difficult to obtain. needs grow. Rest assured that your investment is Security protected, while still giving you options for future growth. Be safety conscious when it comes to your data. With the PCC, the embedded nature of the technology Improve business efficiency ensures that your devices are not susceptible to PC Not only will the PCC control the devices on your site, hackers or viruses. it will log data and provide a range of reports allowing Modular and scalable you to make informed decisions about your business. It also automates many previously manual functions on A range of communications control systems can be site, freeing up staff to focus on your customer. created by selecting from Postec’s extensive library of modules and matching peripheral equipment. The Improve customer experience enclosure has been designed with expansion in mind, With the PCC, you can configure a wide range of with a back plane designed to accommodate a vast operating modes. This allows you to provide a great array of interface boards. The PCC can interface to customer experience, while still controlling your site most devices found on a forecourt right out of the box, and protecting your stock. For example, support for even PC based equipment. prepay and postpay; night and day modes. Built for supportability Reduce your costs New application software can be downloaded into Choose what functionality you need for your site from the PCC’s flash memory remotely, or locally on site a wide range of options, but rest assured you will only from a PC or laptop. Extensive diagnostic monitoring, pay for what you use. data logging and online access is built in to provide the highest level of support for trouble-shooting site Protect your investment related problems. As a low margin high value good, fuel is important to Head Office ready you. With the PCC, you have a variety of tools at your disposal to protect and track the movement of your The PCC4 is ready to connect with the Postec 4COM fuel. Even when the connected PC system is down, you Head Office. When you need consolidated reporting can have confidence that the PCC is still online and accross your entire network, the PCC4 can send its actively monitoring all fuel transactions stored data on deliveries and transactions to 4COM. PCC4 even stores site statistics which can be usedto generate exception reports. TELEPHONE 64-9-415 8803 FAX 64-9-415 9042 EMAIL info@postec.co.nz WEB www.postec.co.nz How it works Architecture The PCC is an embedded controller in a standalone With an onboard watchdog, the PCC can even restart enclosure with its own power supply and battery the internal modem in case of failure. Now a remote backup. Universal Pump Interface cards (UPIs) are head office or call centre can be contacted to upload available to handle the wide variety of physical pump data and send alarms when any errors occur onsite. In communication interfaces to enable the PCC4 to many instances, call centre staff are able to remotely interface to the various dispenser makes. A variety dial into the site and correct problems without of peripheral communication cards are available needing to dispatch anyone to site. A wide range of to extend the capability of the PCC4 and allow it to communication methods are supported, including communicate with external devices, such as carwash, traditional PSTN (dial modem), GSM and WAN ATG and modems. connections. Automated Tank Gauging (ATG) PCC4 Extended A critical component of site automation is managing For a larger and more complex site, there is an your fuel inventory. Combining the PCC with an ATG increasing demand for sophisticated site functionality, provides the most accurate tracking of fuel deliveries such as full online credit/debit card acceptance on to the site and fuel dispensed to customers. Without the forecourt. Enter the PCC4 Extended. Unlike many an ATG installed the PCC provides logical tank gauging, other suppliers, we cater for this increasingly complex which involves manually entering tank deliveries technology environment without adding a PC and and tank dips into the PCC. The PCC automatically, therefore introducing a new point of failure. PCC4 reconciles the data available and produces wetstock Extended adds a dedicated Single Board Computer inventory reports. (SBC) into the PCC4 enclosure, running off the same reliable power supply as the PCC4 and also completely Remote Communications solid state, which can run separate industry standard applications. Whether you need an Electronic Payment One of the real strengths of the PCC is the ability to Server (EPS) application to enable interfaces to reliably communicate offsite. When installed in a Outdoor Payment Terminals, or wish to host your remote location, often hours from the nearest support own Loyalty program on site, the PCC4 Extended will staff, this provides a significant cost saving to your more than meet these requirements now and into the business. future. TELEPHONE 64-9-415 8803 FAX 64-9-415 9042 EMAIL info@postec.co.nz WEB www.postec.co.nz Forecourt Centric Architecture Key to Postec’s success is the Forecourt Centric Forecourt Centric Architecture Architecture. Built around the highly reliable PCC4 embedded communications controller, it provides a flexible and modular site architecture for the oil industry. All forecourt devices, indoor PC equipment and even off- site systems connect to and communicate via the PCC4. As the single point of connection, the PCC4 is able to store transaction level data for analysis and reporting. Off site systems connect to the PCC4 to upload transactions, as well as a full audit trail of site activity. The PCC4 is also able to send information and alarms off site to notify of any problems, for example connecting to a central service provider when an error condition occurs. If you need to use 3rd party software to communicate directly with a device connected to the PCC4, the PCC4 can route the data through transparently. Benefits of a solid state site server Since a consistent interface is presented to all offsite systems, no matter the size or type of site you are always • Highly robust with increased uptime presented with the same format of data and functionality. • No dependency on mechanical, error Now any ERP system or Head Office can provide you prone moving parts with complete site data for your smallest entry level site, • Modular and scalable, easily add new right on up to the largest premium site. Whether you’re forecourt functionality communicating with a retail or commercial site, you will have the same reports, even consolidated across the entire • All communications via the PCC network. • Consistency of data format across Without a PC involved, uptime for your site is improved networks of all types drastically. And in this day of PC hackers and viruses, a • Transparent routing of message to 3rd Forecourt Centric Architecture insures site security. party peripherals OPTIONS Attendant Tagging Using a very secure contactless card reader and integrated display, the TVD is designed to mount on the side of a dispenser and communicate back to the PCC. If required, the pump will only be authorised to dispense fuel when an appropriate contactless device is presented to the reader. And with the integrated iWire display and LEDs, you can even provide messages iWire provides a wireless connection for back to the user. connecting your PCC and other forecourt devices such as dispensers and the TVD. No conduit available to lay cable? Don’t want to cut up your forecourt? No problem. Install an iWire Master and iWire Slave at each end, and now the forecourt device can communicate wirelessly back to the controller. TELEPHONE 64-9-415 8803 FAX 64-9-415 9042 EMAIL info@postec.co.nz WEB www.postec.co.nz What it does Select from the following modules to configure and customize a solution which best meets your requirements. Dispenser Control & Monitoring Alarm Monitoring Dispenser Control Retail 8 input contactor Interface card • Authorization operating modes • Refrigerator, Security, Fire Extinguisher, Environmental sensors etc… • Selling price System Diagnostic Alarms • Totals Management • Dispenser errors • Grade and limit authorization • ATG: low prod, high water, Theft etc… Dispenser Control Unattended • Power: Failure, low, Battery • Authorization (grade and limit controls) Reporting • Selling price • To local POS/Console / Back Office • Totals Management • Head office polling for reports Dispenser Monitoring Active • Dial Out to Alarm Bureau - link to Internet/ • Attended mode operation pagers/fax • Selling price Forecourt Devices • Totals Management • Automatic Car-Wash Interface (ACW) Serves Dispenser Monitoring Passive ACW to multiple POS / CRIND /OPT • Monitoring dispenser sales from third party • Automatic Pole Price Sign controller • Automatic Vehicle Identification (AVI) Integrated Site Totals Monitoring • Attendant Tagging (RFID) Dispenser sales totalled by hose – daily, on selling • Forecourt Logging / Journal Printer price change, hourly, at shift change. The totals record includes dispenser, hose, unit price, money total, • Postec Data Logger volume total and number of sales. Electronic Meter • Vending Machines / Oil pack dispensers Totals are logged for reconciliation. • Island Card Readers – Integration with PCC Point of Sale / Console Integration allows dispenser to be shared between console C-Store / Kiosk / Island OPT and ICR • Real-time forecourt status update • Intelligent run box for sequencing Submersible Pumps • Full dispenser control Site Diagnosis • Wetstock Management Records all site events in an historical journal file for • Site Configuration Load examination and provides remote monitoring of the • File Transfer PCC’s communications channels • Diagnostics Optional PC Software Integrated Automatic Tank Gauging Application FOCUS - On site Wetstock Management (see Focus Inventory monitoring Brochure) • Product Volume, Volume Temperature • Visual Console compensated, Ullage, Water level, Temperature • Forecourt Manager Delivery Measurement • Forecourt Configuration • Including dispenser sales made during delivery • Report Generator process • Multi-Site: Head/Regional/RAF office • Automatic Historical Wetstock Reconciliation 4COM Head Office Wetstock Management (see 4COM • Tank volumes, deliveries and dispenser sales Brochure) Alarm monitoring • Automated Process Scheduler • high/low product, high water, sudden loss, leak • Wetstock data retrieval Automatic Tank Calibration Process • Reporting and Data Export • Generates a 500 coordinate strapping chart • Card File Management (Unattended Refuelling) which is interpolated to a resolution only • Scheduled dispenser unit prices changes limited by the probe Supports range of popular ATG consoles and also a direct probe interface TELEPHONE 64-9-415 8803 FAX 64-9-415 9042 EMAIL info@postec.co.nz WEB www.postec.co.nz Specifications • Programmable Auto-answer Dispenser Control • Industry Standard File Transfer Protocols 4 Pump loops • Modem Emulation & Transparent 64 filling positions communications to other devices 4 Protocols (any mix) • Protocol conversion to other equipment • PEC (Compac Fuelquip) • Support for external ISDN and Wireless • Gilbarco Australia & USA • WAN • Email Australia • Dresser Wayne (Current loop & ISM Dartline) PCC Hardware Platform • Tokheim • Siemens 80c517 micro controller • Tatsuno • 64Kbyte Boot EPROM • Schlumberger • 512Kbyte FLASH memory for PCC software • A G Walker • 512Kbyte CMOS battery backed memory for • Nuovo Pignone data storage • Dong Hwa • Serial EEPROM for hardware configuration • Midco setting • Larsen & Toubro • Real-time calendar clock chip (y2k compliant) • Avery • 10 async serial com ports (not used for • Aplab dispenser I/F) • Bennett • 4 synchronous serial com ports • Petrotec • Robust power supply providing multiple • Alternative Fuels: Batchen, Sulzer, Kraus, isolated outputs Universal • 12 Channel 10 bit A/D Converter CRIPS/CRINDS • LCD Driver port • Gilbarco • 6 Counter Timer channels MECHANICAL PUMP • 2 Optically isolated inputs for reading forecourt • Orpac SCU switches • Postec MPC • High Speed Sync Bus (HSSB) for Intelligent slave Electronic Cash Register card communications Forman console interface for Transaction download via: • Sealed Lead Acid battery backup • Relay board • Intelligent Universal Pump Interface (UPI) cards • RS-232 • Array of communications cards including Emulation of popular self-serve console POS interfaces • RS-232, RS-485/RS-422, Current Loop, Modem, LAN, Point of Sale / Console Integration • Modular Parallel Input / Output cards for • Multi-drop Serial com port interface (8 clients) monitoring and control RS-232 / RS-485 / RS-422 • Data Logger expansion memory • LAN / WAN (16 clients) using IP based Protocols Ethernet 10Base-T General Drivers Power Requirements • MS DOS Driver • Nominal 220/230/240 VAC (110V supply • 32 bit Windows DLL option) • XML messaging (using TCP/IP) • Power Max 30 Watts typical 15 watts • Emulation of popular controllers Operating Temperature • -10°C to 55°C Automatic Tank Gauging Approvals Interfaces to popular ATG consoles including: • Australian National Standards Commission • Veeder Root • Pattern approval no S244A, S398 (OIML) • Red Jacket • Electrical: AS/NZ 3260 • Enraf Stic • Telecom: A-Tick, NZ Telepermit • US-Test • EMC - AS/NZS 3548 • Tatsuno Micon • Postec ISO 9001:2000 Certificate No 747 Direct Magneto-Strictive probe interface • South African Bureau Standard SABS Remote Communications • Battery backed Internal Modem with Industrial watchdog reliability (PSTN/GSM/GPRS) TELEPHONE 64-9-415 8803 FAX 64-9-415 9042 EMAIL info@postec.co.nz WEB www.postec.co.nz