US6204772B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for monitoring the position of a machine
Assignee: Caterpillar Inc
•
Filing: 1999-12-16
•
Granted: 2001-03-20
•
Expires: 2019-12-16
Abstract
Abstract The present invention provides a method and apparatus for monitoring the operation of a mobile machine. The machine includes a mobile communicator adapted to communicate with a remote monitoring station. The method includes the steps of receiving a configuration message from the remote monitoring station via a wireless communication link, comparing at least one of a current machine position to the configuration information a current machine time of operation to the configuration message, and sending an alarm message to the remote monitoring station in response the comparison.
Inventors
- 👤 Rodney W. DeMay
- 👤 David B. Vernon
- 👤 Daniel C. Wood
- 👤 Donna J. Murr
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 16:07
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60R; B60R25/00; B60R25/10; B60R25/102; B60R25/1004; B60R25/1012; B60R25/30; B60R25/33; G; G07; G07C; G07C5/00; G07C5/008; B60R2325/00; B60R2325/20; B60R2325/205; B60W; B60W2556/00; B60W2556/45; B60W2556/50
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 35
Claim 1
Independent Claim
123 words
A method for monitoring the operation of a mobile machine, the machine including a mobile communicator adapted to communicate with a remote monitoring station, comprising the steps of: receiving a configuration message from the remote monitoring station via a wireless communication link, said configuration message including at least one of a geographic data packet and a time data packet, said geographic data packet identifying at least one monitoring region, and said time data packet including a desired time of operation of the machine; comparing at least one of a current machine position to said monitoring region and a current machine time of operation to said desired time of operation; and sending an alarm message to the remote monitoring station in response said comparison.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
123 words
A method for monitoring the operation of a mobile machine, the machine including a mobile communicator adapted to communicate with a remote monitoring station, comprising the steps of: receiving a configuration message from the remote monitoring station via a wireless communication link, said configuration message including at least one of a geographic data packet and a time data packet, said geographic data packet identifying at least one monitoring region, and said time data packet including a desired time of operation of the machine; comparing at least one of a current machine position to said monitoring region and a current machine time of operation to said desired time of operation; and sending an alarm message to the remote monitoring station in response said comparison.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
43 words
A method, as set forth in claim 1 , wherein said geographic data includes a monitoring activation time and a monitoring deactivation time associated with each of said monitoring regions, said monitoring position being monitored between said activation time and said deactivation time.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
34 words
A method, as set forth in claim 2 , wherein each said monitoring region includes an associated monitoring type, said monitoring type including one of an exclusion monitoring indicator and an inclusion monitoring indicator.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method, as set forth in claim 3 , wherein said geographic data includes a radius for each of said monitoring regions.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
41 words
A method, as set forth in claim 4 , wherein said geographic data includes a center point for each of said monitoring regions, further comprising the step of determining said monitoring region in response to said center point and said radius.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method, as set forth in claim 4 , further comprising the step of determining said monitoring region in response to said radius, and said current position of said machine.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
40 words
A method, as set forth in claim 4 , further including the step of notifying an end-user of an alarm in response to the remote monitoring station receiving one of a time of operation alarm and a monitoring region alarm.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
36 words
A method, as set forth in claim 7 , wherein the step of notifying said end-user includes the step of delivering one of an e-mail, a facsimile, a page, and a visual indicator to said end-user.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
37 words
A method, as set forth in claim 8 , wherein the step of notifying said end-user includes the step of accessing a reaction table, said reaction table including and end-user identifier and a end-user defined notification technique.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
44 words
A method, as set forth in claim 9 , including the step of delivering a partial configuration packet to said remote monitoring station from said end-user, said partial configuration packet including at least one of said geographic packet and said time of operation packets.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method, as set forth in claim 9 , wherein said wireless communication media includes one of a satellite communication link and a cellular telephone link.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
60 words
A method, as set forth in claim 11 , wherein the step of comparing said current position includes the steps of: setting an alarm when said current position is outside said monitored region and said inclusion monitoring is being performed; and setting said alarm when said current position is inside said monitored region and said exclusion monitoring is being performed.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
48 words
A method, as set forth in claim 12 , further including the step of resetting said alarm in response to one of a reset message from a local data port message, a reset message from said remote monitoring station, a timer based expiration, and a position based resetting.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
54 words
A method as set forth in claim 12 , including the steps of: resetting said alarm when said current machine position is inside said monitored region and said inclusion monitoring is being performed; and resetting said alarm when said current machine position is outside said monitored region and said exclusion monitoring is being performed.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
51 words
A method, as set forth in claim 14 , wherein the step of comparing said current time of operation includes the steps of: determining if said machine is running; and setting an alarm when said current time of operation is outside said desired time of operation and said machine is running.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method as set forth in claim 15 , including the step of resetting said alarm when said machine is not running.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method, as set forth in claim 15 , including the step of displaying said monitoring region and said current machine position to an operator.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method, as set forth in claim 17 , wherein said operator is one of an on-board operator, a remote operator, and an end-user.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
130 words
A method for monitoring the operation of a mobile machine, the machine including a mobile communicator adapted to communicate with a remote monitoring station, comprising the steps of: receiving a configuration message from the remote monitoring station via a wireless communication link, said configuration message including at least one of a geographic data packet and a time data packet; wherein said geographic data packet identifies at least one monitoring region; wherein said time data packet includes a desired time of operation of the machine; comparing a current machine position to said monitoring region; comparing a current machine time of operation to said desired time of operation; and sending an alarm message to the remote monitoring station in response to one of said position comparison and said time of operation comparison.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
130 words
A method for monitoring the operation of a mobile machine, the machine including a mobile communicator adapted to communicate with a remote monitoring station, comprising the steps of: receiving a configuration message from the remote monitoring station via a wireless communication link, said configuration message including at least one of a geographic data packet and a time data packet; wherein said geographic data packet identifies at least one monitoring region; wherein said time data packet includes a desired time of operation of the machine; comparing a current machine position to said monitoring region; comparing a current machine time of operation to said desired time of operation; and sending an alarm message to the remote monitoring station in response to one of said position comparison and said time of operation comparison.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
133 words
A system adapted to monitor the operation of a mobile machine, comprising: a remote monitoring station adapted to generate a configuration message, said message including at least one of a geographic data packet and a time data packet, said geographic data packet identifying at least one monitoring region, and said time data packet identifying a desired time of operation of the machine; a mobile communicator adapted to receive said configuration message and responsively compare at least one of a current machine position to said monitoring region and a current machine time of operation to said desired time of operation, and send an alarm message to said remote monitoring station in response said comparison; and a wireless communication link adapted to deliver said configuration message from said remote monitoring station to said mobile communicator.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
133 words
A system adapted to monitor the operation of a mobile machine, comprising: a remote monitoring station adapted to generate a configuration message, said message including at least one of a geographic data packet and a time data packet, said geographic data packet identifying at least one monitoring region, and said time data packet identifying a desired time of operation of the machine; a mobile communicator adapted to receive said configuration message and responsively compare at least one of a current machine position to said monitoring region and a current machine time of operation to said desired time of operation, and send an alarm message to said remote monitoring station in response said comparison; and a wireless communication link adapted to deliver said configuration message from said remote monitoring station to said mobile communicator.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
43 words
A system, as set forth in claim 20 , wherein said geographic data includes a monitoring activation time and a monitoring deactivation time associated with each of said monitoring regions, said monitoring position being monitored between said activation time and said deactivation time.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
34 words
A system, as set forth in claim 21 , wherein each said monitoring region includes an associated monitoring type, said monitoring type including one of an exclusion monitoring indicator and an inclusion monitoring indicator.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
22 words
A system, as set forth in claim 22 , wherein said geographic data includes a radius for each of said monitoring regions.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
44 words
A system, as set forth in claim 23 , wherein said geographic data includes a center point for each of said monitoring regions, and wherein said mobile communicator is adapted to determine said monitoring region in response to said center point and said radius.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
32 words
A system, as set forth in claim 23 , wherein said mobile communicator is adapted to determine said monitoring region in response to said radius and said current position of said machine.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
44 words
A system, as set forth in claim 23 , wherein said remote monitoring facility is adapted to deliver an end-user notification to an end-user in response to receiving one of a time of operation alarm and a monitoring region alarm from said mobile communicator.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
33 words
A system, as set forth in claim 26 , wherein the step of notifying said end-user includes delivering one of an e-mail, a facsimile, a page, and a visual indicator to said end-user.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
34 words
A system, as set forth in claim 27 , wherein the step of notifying said end-user includes accessing a reaction table, said reaction table including and end-user identifier and a end-user defined notification technique.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
26 words
A system, as set forth in claim 20 , wherein said wireless communication media includes one of a satellite communication link and a cellular telephone link.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
54 words
A system, as set forth in claim 28 , wherein said mobile communicator is further adapted to set an alarm when said current position is outside said monitored region and said inclusion monitoring is performed, and set said alarm when said current position is inside said monitored region and said exclusion monitoring is performed.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
43 words
A system, as set forth in claim 20 , further comprising a display in communication with said mobile communicator, said display being adapted to receive and display at least one said monitoring region and adapted to receive and display said current machine position.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
44 words
A system, as set forth in claim 20 , further comprising a display in communication with said remote monitoring station, said display being adapted to receive and display at least one said monitoring region and adapted to receive and display said current machine position.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3573783A
Cited
US3599195A
Cited
US3623159A
Cited
US3727208A
Cited
US3727206A
Cited
US3815131A
Cited
US3812484A
Cited
US3956743A
Cited
US4079361A
Cited
US4091367A
Cited
US3938128A
Cited
US4053877A
Cited
US4191953A
Cited
US4134101A
Cited
US4064499A
Cited
US4001771A
Cited
US4174518A
Cited
US4197529A
Cited
US4258421A
Cited
US4169260A
Cited
US4236145A
Cited
US4346373A
Cited
US4376298A
Cited
US4595924A
Cited
US4527151A
Cited
US4551801A
Cited
US4656463A
Cited
US4613939A
Cited
US4651157A
Cited
US4926331A
Cited
US4792804A
Cited
US4887069A
Cited
US4750197A
Cited
US4807127A
Cited
US4852680A
Cited
US5194844A
Cited
US5223817A
Cited
US5610815A
Cited
US5053768A
Cited
US5646845A
Cited
US5438517A
Cited
US5111401A
Cited
US5170849A
Cited
US5210521A
Cited
US5612668A
Cited
US5243530A
Cited
US5446390A
Cited
US5475367A
Cited
US5442558A
Cited
US5581464B1
Cited
US5581464A
Cited
US5590040A
Cited
US5758313A
Cited
US5594650A
Cited
US5884216A
Cited
US5636122A
Cited
US5400018A
Cited
US5311197A
Cited
US5440303A
Cited
US5796365A
Cited
US5402106A
Cited
US5917405A
Cited
US5497149A
Cited
US5463567A
Cited
US5684476A
Cited
US5760686A
Cited
US5754965A
Cited
US5646844A
Cited
US5659470A
Cited
US5600558A
Cited
US5469356A
Cited
US5619412A
Cited
US5635693A
Cited
US5880679A
Cited
US5887269A
Cited
US5844473A
Cited
US5922040A
Cited
US5767804A
Cited
US5724316A
Cited
US5661474A
Cited
US5742915A
Cited
US5883598A
Cited
US5801618A
Cited
US5796178A
Cited
US5806016A
Cited
US5895436A
Cited
US5705984A
Cited
US5894266A
Cited
US5917433A
Cited
US5774876A
Cited
US5870029A
Cited
US5852351A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2004-03-19 | 2004-09-18 | 2005-03-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2008-03-19 | 2008-09-18 | 2009-03-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2012-03-19 | 2012-09-18 | 2013-03-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |