US7278567B2
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Systems and methods for self-service dispatch
Assignee: Caterpillar Inc
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Filing: 2004-08-25
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Granted: 2007-10-09
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Expires: 2024-08-25
Abstract
Abstract Systems and methods are disclosed that process service requests associated with one or more work machines. In one embodiment, a process is disclosed that includes receiving status information associated with operations of the first work machine and analyzing a first work machine flow sequence associated with the first work machine based on the status information. Based on the analysis, a service request is generated. To fulfill the service request, the process may include modifying a second work machine flow sequence associated with a second work machine.
Inventors
- 👤 Alan Lewis Ferguson
- 👤 Trent Ray Meiss
- 👤 Brian Lane Jenkins
- 👤 Steven Wayne O'Neal
- 👤 Daniel Craig Wood
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 17:12
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06Q; G06Q10/00; G06Q10/06
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 34
Claim 1
Independent Claim
61 words
A method for providing service to a first machine, comprising: receiving status information associated with operations of the first machine; analyzing a first machine flow sequence associated with the first machine based on the status information; generating a service request based on the analysis; and modifying a second machine flow sequence associated with a second machine to fulfill the service request.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
61 words
A method for providing service to a first machine, comprising: receiving status information associated with operations of the first machine; analyzing a first machine flow sequence associated with the first machine based on the status information; generating a service request based on the analysis; and modifying a second machine flow sequence associated with a second machine to fulfill the service request.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein analyzing the first machine flow sequence includes monitoring a list of tasks to be performed by the first machine.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 2 , wherein modifying the first machine flow sequence includes adjusting the list of tasks to be performed by the first machine.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
56 words
The method of claim 1 , further including modifying the second machine flow sequence to fulfill the service request, the method includes: transmitting a message to an off-board system; and modifying an environment flow sequence to fulfill the service request, wherein the environment flow sequence includes tasks associated with the first and second machine flow sequences.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 4 , further including: sending a message to the second machine; and modifying the second machine flow sequence to fulfill the service request based on the message.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 5 , wherein the off-board system is associated with an entity that is unaffiliated with an entity associated with at least one of the first and second machines.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 4 , wherein fulfilling the service request with the off-board system includes automatically scheduling delivery of consumable materials or service to the first machine.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein modifying the second machine flow sequence includes: adding a task to the second machine flow sequence that directs the second machine to provide a service to the first machine.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 1 , further including: providing a message to an operator of the second machine to deliver or remove consumable material or service to the first machine.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein receiving status information includes: collecting, by the first machine, parameter information from one or more on-board modules.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
92 words
An on-board control system for a machine, comprising: a control module that is configured to monitor an operation of the first machine: and an interface control system operable to: analyze a first machine flow sequence associated with the first machine; generate a service request associated with the first machine based on the analysis; and send the service request to a remote system to fulfill the service request, wherein the remote system is a second machine that modifies a second machine flow sequence associated with the second machine to fulfill the service request.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
92 words
An on-board control system for a machine, comprising: a control module that is configured to monitor an operation of the first machine: and an interface control system operable to: analyze a first machine flow sequence associated with the first machine; generate a service request associated with the first machine based on the analysis; and send the service request to a remote system to fulfill the service request, wherein the remote system is a second machine that modifies a second machine flow sequence associated with the second machine to fulfill the service request.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
37 words
The system of claim 11 , wherein the interface control system is further operable to: receive a remote service request from a remote machine; and modify the first machine flow sequence to fulfill the remote service request.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
29 words
The system of claim 12 , wherein the first machine is a machine that is operable to provide at least one of services and material to the remote machine.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
54 words
The system of claim 12 , wherein the interface control system is further operable to: modify an environment flow sequence to fulfill at least one of the service request and the remote service request, wherein the environment flow sequence includes tasks associated with at least one of the first and second machine flow sequences.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
43 words
The system of claim 12 , wherein the interface control system is further operable to: provide a message to an operator of the first machine to perform a task to fulfill at least one of the service request and the remote service request.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
24 words
The system of claim 15 , wherein the task includes at least one of delivering consumable material and providing service to the remote machine.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
42 words
The system of claim 11 , wherein the remote system is an off-board system that modifies an environment flow sequence to fulfill the service request, wherein the environment flow sequence includes at least one task included in the first machine flow sequence.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
24 words
The system of claim 17 , wherein the off-board system is associated with an entity unaffiliated with an entity associated with the first machine.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
26 words
The system of claim 11 , wherein the interface control system is further operable to: adjust the first machine flow sequence to fulfill the service request.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
69 words
A system for providing service to a first machine, comprising: means for receiving status information associated with operations of the first machine; means for analyzing a first machine flow sequence associated with the first machine based on the status information; means for generating a service request based on the analysis; and means for modifying a second machine flow sequence associated with a second machine to fulfill the service request.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
69 words
A system for providing service to a first machine, comprising: means for receiving status information associated with operations of the first machine; means for analyzing a first machine flow sequence associated with the first machine based on the status information; means for generating a service request based on the analysis; and means for modifying a second machine flow sequence associated with a second machine to fulfill the service request.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
31 words
The system of claim 20 , wherein the means for analyzing the first machine flow sequence includes means for monitoring a list of tasks to be performed by the first machine.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
31 words
The system of claim 21 , wherein the means for modifying the first machine flow sequence includes means for adjusting the list of tasks to be performed by the first machine.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
49 words
The system of claim 20 , wherein the system further includes: means for transmitting a message to an off-board system; and means for modifying an environment flow sequence to fulfill the service request, wherein the environment flow sequence includes tasks associated with the first and second machine flow sequences.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 23 , further including: means for sending a message to the second machine; and means for modifying the second machine flow sequence to fulfill the service request based on the message.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
32 words
The system of claim 24 , wherein the off-board system is associated with an entity that is unaffiliated with an entity associated with at least one of the first and second machines.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
33 words
The system of claim 23 , wherein the means for fulfilling the service request with the off-board system includes means for automatically scheduling delivery of consumable materials or service to the first machine.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
41 words
The system of claim 20 , wherein the means for modifying the second machine flow sequence includes: means for adding a task to the second machine flow sequence that directs the second machine to provide a service to the first machine.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
31 words
The system of claim 20 , further including: means for providing a message to an operator of the second machine to deliver a consumable material or service to the first machine.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
26 words
The system of claim 20 , wherein receiving status information includes: means for collecting, by the first machine, parameter information from one or more on-board modules.
Claim 33
Independent Claim
104 words
A system for providing service to a first machine, comprising: a control module that is configured to monitor an operation of the first machine; and an interface control system including program code that performs a process, when executed by a processor, including the steps of: analyzing a first machine flow sequence associated with the first machine; generating a service request associated with the first machine based on the analysis; sending the service request to a remote system to fulfill the service request; receiving a remote service request from a remote machine; and modifying the first machine flow sequence to fulfill the remote service request.
Claim 34
Independent Claim
104 words
A system for providing service to a first machine, comprising: a control module that is configured to monitor an operation of the first machine; and an interface control system including program code that performs a process, when executed by a processor, including the steps of: analyzing a first machine flow sequence associated with the first machine; generating a service request associated with the first machine based on the analysis; sending the service request to a remote system to fulfill the service request; receiving a remote service request from a remote machine; and modifying the first machine flow sequence to fulfill the remote service request.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2010-10-08 | 2011-04-09 | 2011-10-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2014-10-08 | 2015-04-09 | 2015-10-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2018-10-08 | 2019-04-09 | 2019-10-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |