System and method for backing up distributed controllers in a data network

A system for backing up a site controller in a distributed network having a plurality of sites, each site having a site controller that is configured to manage operating equipment located at the site and a site hub for routing communications between the site equipment and the site controller, each site hub also being in communication with a data communications network, said system comprising:

• a configuration database populated with configuration information indicating how each of the plurality of site controllers is configured;
• a configurable spare controller remotely located from the sites and in communication with the data communications network, said spare controller being configurable using the configuration information in the database to manage the operating equipment at a selected site by communicating with the hub at the selected site over the data communications network;
• a central controller remotely located from the sites and in communication with the data communications network, the central controller including means for configuring the spare controller with configuration information for the site controller at the selected site when backing up of the site controller at the selected site is required;
• and
• means for determining when backing up of the site controller at the selected site is required.

A method of backing-up an automated fueling-station controller that manages station components at a fueling station by communicating with them through a station router, the fueling station being part of a distributed network having a central controller that communicates with the station router through a data network, said method comprising the steps of:

• providing at least one spare controller remotely located from the site and in communication with the data network;
• populating a database with configuration information for the station controller;
• detecting a station controller failure;
• configuring the spare controller using the configuration information from the database so that the spare controller is capable of at least partially functioning as the station controller;
• and
• rerouting, by the station router, station communications to and from the spare controller over the data communications network so that the spare controller can manage the station components.

A method of backing-up a site controller that manages a site in a distributed network by communicating through a hub, the distributed network including a central controller, a database, and at least one spare controller remotely located from the site and in communication with the hub through a data network, the method comprising the steps of:

• populating the database with configuration parameters for the site controller;
• detecting a site controller failure;
• configuring the spare controller with the configuration parameters for the site controller;
• and
• managing the site using the spare controller as a replacement for the failed site controller by routing site-management communications through the data network.