Marine vessel monitoring system

• US 20050096803A1
• Filed: 11/04/2004
• Published: 05/05/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/15/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Yacht Watchman International, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Yacht Watchman International, Inc.
• Inventors: Dalrymple, Melvin L., Williams, William D., Knoska, James J.
• Granted Patent: US 7,327,286 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/21
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 17/00 Testing of vehicles testing fluid tightness G01M3/00; testing elastic properties of bodies or chassis, e.g. torsion-testing, G01M5/00; testing alignment of vehicle headlight devices G01M11/06; testing of engines G01M15/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/085 using electronic data carriers

Abstract

The marine vessel monitoring system of the present invention enables marine vessel owners to monitor their vessels when they are unable or unavailable to personally do so. The system of the present invention provides an efficient method for inspecting and repairing a designated marine vessel at periodic intervals and for reporting the results of such inspections and repairs to the vessel'"'"'s owner in a timely manner for the owner'"'"'s review and consideration.

Claims

1-46. -46. (canceled)

47. :

A marine vessel monitoring system comprising;

a plurality of sensors adapted to monitor a plurality of items of a marine vessel, each item having at least two operative states that may be detected by a corresponding sensor; and

a telemetry unit adapted to receive input data from each sensor indicating the state of the monitored item by the corresponding sensor and transmit a telemetry signal to a remote receiver, the telemetry signal including data indicating the state of the monitored items by the corresponding sensors.

48. :

The marine vessel monitoring system of claim 47, wherein an alarm event occurs when the input data from a sensor indicates that the monitored item has entered the undesirable state, and wherein the telemetry unit is configured to transmit the telemetry signal in response to the occurrence of the alarm event.

49. :

The marine vessel monitoring system of claim 47, wherein the telemetry unit is configured to transmit the telemetry signal on a periodic basis.

50. :

The marine vessel monitoring system of claim 47, wherein the telemetry unit includes a cellular telephone control system radio transceiver.

51. :

The marine vessel monitoring system of claim 47, wherein the plurality of sensors includes at least one of;

a high bilge water sensor;

a battery voltage sensor;

a shore cord and power disconnect sensor;

a hatch entry sensor;

a smoke and fire sensor;

an intrusion sensor;

a hydrocarbon and combustible gas sensor;

an equipment tampering sensor;

a bilge pump cycle count sensor; and

a bilge pump power sensor.

52. :

A monitoring station for remotely monitoring the status of a boat, the monitoring station comprising;

a receiver for receiving data from the boat indicating operative states of monitored items on board the boat; and

a display for displaying the location of the boat and the operative states of the monitored items on board the boat.

53. :

The monitoring station of claim 52, wherein the receiver includes a network server configured to receive data over a computer network.

54. :

The monitoring station of claim 52, wherein the receiver includes a cellular telephone control system receiver.

55. :

The monitoring station of claim 52, wherein the display is configured to display instructions for responding to an alarm event when data received from the boat indicates that a component or system on board the boat has reached an undesirable state.

56. :

The monitoring station of claim 55, wherein said instructions include and instruction to contact a designated entity.

57. :

A telemetry unit for monitoring a boat comprising;

an input for receiving input signals from a plurality of sensors installed on the boat for monitoring operative states of items on the boat; and

a transmitter for transmitting a telemetry signal containing data representing the operative states of the systems and components monitored by the sensors to a remote receiver.

58. :

The telemetry unit of claim 57, wherein the transmitter includes a radio transceiver.

59. :

The telemetry unit of claim 57, wherein the transmitter includes a cellular telephone radio transceiver.