Engine speed data usage system and method
First Claim
1. An apparatus comprising:
- a transceiver configured to receive an equipment identification (ID) code, an operator ID code, and RPM data from an equipment data sensor located on a piece of outdoor power equipment located remotely from the apparatus, the equipment data sensor being in communication with an RPM sensor affixed to the outdoor power equipment, the RPM sensor being configured capture the RPM data by sensing revolutions per minute of a motor shaft of the outdoor power equipment or sensing electromagnetic waves generated by components of the outdoor power equipment that vary with revolution per minute of an engine of the outdoor power equipment, the RPM data being sampled throughout a period of operation of the piece of outdoor power equipment, wherein the operator ID code is sampled by a short range transceiver associated with the equipment data sensor and the RPM data comprises RPM values of a rotating component of the piece of outdoor power equipment;
a memory having one or more parameters stored therein as a function of RPM determined through testing of a particular model of equipment or type of equipment;
a processing device communicably coupled to the transceiver and the memory, wherein the processing device is configured to;
generate a RPM histogram for a particular operator and/or for a particular piece of outdoor power equipment based on the RPM data,determine a total parameter value or an average parameter value over the period of operation using the RPM histogram and the function,determine additional information about the particular operator, the particular piece of outdoor power equipment, and/or the period of operation, wherein the additional information comprises information about skill, experience, performance, exposure, or safety of an operator associated with the operator ID code,generate an output based at least partially on the additional information determined about the particular operator, the particular piece of equipment, and/or the period of operation, and the total parameter value or the average parameter value; and
a network interface communicably coupled to the processing device and configured to;
cause the output to be transmitted to a client computing system or the piece of outdoor power equipment and displayed on a user interface, wherein the output comprises a data chart or an alert.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A fleet management system is provided for outdoor power equipment and is, in some embodiments, configured to estimate operator performance and/or skill for a particular operator based at least partially on engine speed data sensed during the particular operator'"'"'s use of one or more pieces of equipment. Embodiments of the invention also provide an apparatus configured to receive data comprising RPM values of a rotating component of a piece of outdoor power equipment sampled throughout a period of operation of the piece of outdoor power equipment, and further configured to generate a RPM histogram for a particular operator and/or for a particular piece of outdoor power equipment in order to use the RPM histogram to determine additional information about the particular operator, the particular piece of equipment, and/or the particular period of operation.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. An apparatus comprising:
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a transceiver configured to receive an equipment identification (ID) code, an operator ID code, and RPM data from an equipment data sensor located on a piece of outdoor power equipment located remotely from the apparatus, the equipment data sensor being in communication with an RPM sensor affixed to the outdoor power equipment, the RPM sensor being configured capture the RPM data by sensing revolutions per minute of a motor shaft of the outdoor power equipment or sensing electromagnetic waves generated by components of the outdoor power equipment that vary with revolution per minute of an engine of the outdoor power equipment, the RPM data being sampled throughout a period of operation of the piece of outdoor power equipment, wherein the operator ID code is sampled by a short range transceiver associated with the equipment data sensor and the RPM data comprises RPM values of a rotating component of the piece of outdoor power equipment; a memory having one or more parameters stored therein as a function of RPM determined through testing of a particular model of equipment or type of equipment; a processing device communicably coupled to the transceiver and the memory, wherein the processing device is configured to; generate a RPM histogram for a particular operator and/or for a particular piece of outdoor power equipment based on the RPM data, determine a total parameter value or an average parameter value over the period of operation using the RPM histogram and the function, determine additional information about the particular operator, the particular piece of outdoor power equipment, and/or the period of operation, wherein the additional information comprises information about skill, experience, performance, exposure, or safety of an operator associated with the operator ID code, generate an output based at least partially on the additional information determined about the particular operator, the particular piece of equipment, and/or the period of operation, and the total parameter value or the average parameter value; and a network interface communicably coupled to the processing device and configured to; cause the output to be transmitted to a client computing system or the piece of outdoor power equipment and displayed on a user interface, wherein the output comprises a data chart or an alert. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. An apparatus comprising:
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a transceiver configured to receive an equipment identification (ID) code, an operator ID code, and RPM data from an equipment data sensor located on a piece of outdoor power equipment located remotely from the apparatus, the equipment data sensor being in communication with an RPM sensor affixed to the outdoor power equipment, the RPM sensor being configured capture the RPM data by sensing revolutions per minute of a motor shaft of the outdoor power equipment or sensing electromagnetic waves generated by components of the outdoor power equipment that vary with revolution per minute of an engine of the outdoor power equipment, the RPM data being sampled throughout a period of operation of the piece of outdoor power equipment, wherein the operator ID code is sampled by a short range transceiver associated with the equipment data sensor and the RPM data comprises RPM values of a rotating component of the piece of outdoor power equipment; a memory having one or more parameters stored therein as a function of RPM determined through testing of a particular model of equipment or type of equipment; a processing device communicably coupled to the transceiver and the memory, wherein the processing device is configured to; generate a RPM histogram for a particular operator and/or for a particular piece of outdoor power equipment based on the RPM data, determine additional information about the particular operator and/or the particular piece of outdoor power equipment based on the consistency of the RPM histogram associated with the operator over two or more work sessions, wherein the additional information comprises information about performance of the operator, determine a total parameter value or an average parameter value over the period of operation using the RPM histogram and the stored function, and generate an output based at least partially on the additional information determined about the particular operator, the particular piece of outdoor power equipment, and/or the period of operation, and the total parameter value or the average parameter value; and a network interface communicably coupled to the processing device and configured to; cause the output to be transmitted to a client computing system or the piece of outdoor power equipment and displayed on a user interface, wherein the output comprises a data chart or an alert.
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12. An apparatus comprising:
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a transceiver configured to receive an equipment identification (ID) code, an operator ID code, and RPM data from an equipment data sensor located on a piece of outdoor equipment located remotely from the apparatus, the equipment data sensor being in communication with an RPM sensor affixed to the outdoor power equipment, the RPM sensor being configured capture the RPM data by sensing revolutions per minute of a motor shaft of the outdoor power equipment or sensing electromagnetic waves generated by components of the outdoor power equipment that vary with revolutions per minute of an engine of the outdoor power equipment, the RPM data being sampled throughout a period of operation of the piece of outdoor power equipment, wherein the operator ID code is sampled by a short range transceiver associated with the equipment data sensor and the RPM data comprises RPM values of a rotating component of the piece of outdoor power equipment; a memory having one or more parameters stored therein as a function of RPM determined through testing of a particular model of equipment or type of equipment; a processing device communicably coupled to the transceiver and the memory, wherein the processing device is configured to; generate a RPM histogram for a particular operator and/or for a particular piece of outdoor power equipment based on the RPM data, determine additional information about the particular operator and/or the particular piece of outdoor power equipment based on a comparison of the RPM histogram of the operator to a baseline histogram stored in the memory of the apparatus, wherein the additional information comprises information about performance of the operator, determine a total parameter value or an average parameter value over the period of operation using the RPM histogram and the stored function, and generate an output based at least partially on the additional information determined about the particular operator, the particular piece of outdoor power equipment, and/or the period of operation, and the total parameter value or the average parameter value; and a network interface communicably coupled to the processing device and configured to; cause the output to be transmitted to a client computing system or the piece of outdoor equipment and displayed on a user interface, wherein the output comprises a data chart or an alert.
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13. An apparatus comprising:
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a transceiver configured to receive an equipment identification (ID) code, an operator ID code, and RPM data from an equipment data sensor located on a piece of outdoor power equipment located remotely from the apparatus, the equipment data sensor being in communication with an RPM sensor affixed to the outdoor power equipment, the RPM sensor being configured capture the RPM data by sensing revolutions per minute of a motor shaft of the outdoor power equipment or sensing electromagnetic waves generated by components of the outdoor power equipment that vary with revolution per minute of an engine of the outdoor power equipment, the RPM data being sampled throughout a period of operation of the piece of outdoor power equipment, wherein the operator ID code is sampled by a short range transceiver associated with the equipment data sensor and the RPM data comprises RPM values of a rotating component of the piece of outdoor power equipment; a memory communicably having one or more parameters stored therein as a function of RPM determined through testing of a particular model equipment or type of equipment; a processing device communicably coupled to the transceiver and the memory, wherein the processing device is configured to; generate a RPM histogram for a particular operator and/or for a particular piece of outdoor power equipment based on the RPM data, determine additional information about the particular operator and/or the particular piece of outdoor power equipment, determine a total parameter value or an average parameter value over the period of operation using the RPM histogram and the stored function, wherein the total parameter value or the average parameter value comprises emissions, fuel consumption, or a measure of wear and tear, generate an output based at least partially on the additional information determined about the particular operator, the particular piece of outdoor power equipment, and/or the period of operation, and the total parameter value or the average parameter value; and a network interface communicably coupled to the processing device and configured to; cause the output to be transmitted to a client computing system or the piece of outdoor equipment and displayed on a user interface, wherein the output comprises a data chart or an alert.
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14. An apparatus comprising:
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a transceiver configured to receive an equipment identification (ID) code, an operator ID code, and RPM data from an equipment data sensor located on a piece of outdoor power equipment located remotely from the apparatus, the equipment data sensor being in communication with an RPM sensor affixed to the outdoor power equipment, the RPM sensor being configured capture the RPM data by sensing revolutions per minute of a motor shaft of the outdoor power equipment or sensing electromagnetic waves generated by components of the outdoor power equipment that vary with revolution per minute of an engine of the outdoor power equipment, the RPM data being sampled throughout a period of operation of the piece of outdoor power equipment, wherein the operator ID code is sampled by a short range transceiver associated with the equipment data sensor and the RPM data comprises RPM values of a rotating component of the piece of outdoor power equipment; a memory having one or more parameters stored therein as a function of RPM determined through testing of a particular model equipment or type of equipment; a processing device communicably coupled to the transceiver and the memory, wherein the processing device is configured to; generate a RPM histogram for a particular operator and/or for a particular piece of outdoor power equipment based on the RPM data, determine additional information about a particular operator, a particular piece of outdoor power equipment, and or the period of operation based on the RPM histogram, wherein the additional information comprises an amount of time or a number of times that the operator did a certain action with the piece of outdoor power equipment, determine a total parameter value or an average parameter value over the period of operation using the RPM histogram and the stored function, and determine if the number or amount exceeds or falls below a predefined threshold stored in a memory of the apparatus, and generate an output, based on the determination of the number or amount exceeding or falling below a predefined threshold, wherein the output is based at least partially on the additional information determined about the particular operator, and/or the particular piece of outdoor power equipment, the period of operation, and the total parameter value or the average parameter value; and a network interface communicably coupled to the processing device and configured to; cause the output to be transmitted to a client computing system or the piece of outdoor equipment and displayed on a user interface, wherein the output comprises a data chart or an alert. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification