Machine security system having remote access code management

• US 20050264396A1
• Filed: 05/28/2004
• Published: 12/01/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/28/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Inventors: Staub, Michael David, O'Neal, Steven Wayne, Spadin, Gary Lee, Horkavi, Robert Ahern
• Application Number:
  US10/855,574
• Publication Number:
  US 20050264396A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/5.280
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/2018 Central base unlocks or authorises unlocking

Abstract

A security system for a work machine has a controller operatively disposed on the work machine that includes a memory with a list of access codes stored in the memory. The security system also has an input device in communication with the controller. The input device is configured to receive an identification code and to transfer the identification code to the controller. The security system further has an off-board system disposed at a location remote from the work machine and configured to receive a change to the list of access codes and to store the change in at least one removable memory device. The security system further has a memory reader in communication with the controller. The memory reader is configured to read the at least one removable memory device and to transfer the change from the at least one removable memory device to the memory of the controller.

Claims

1. A security system for a work machine, comprising:

a controller operatively disposed on the work machine and including a memory with a list of access codes stored in the memory;

an input device operatively disposed on the work machine and in communication with the controller, the input device configured to receive an identification code and to transfer the identification code to the controller;

an off-board system, disposed at a location remote from the work machine, configured to receive a change to the list of access codes and to store the change in at least one removable memory device; and

a memory reader operatively disposed on the work machine and in communication with the controller, the memory reader configured to read the at least one removable memory device and to transfer the change from the at least one removable memory device to the memory of the controller to update the list of access codes stored on the memory of the controller.

2. The security system of claim 1, wherein at least two of the controller, input device, and memory reader are integrated as a single unit.

3. The security system of claim 1, wherein the change to the list of access codes includes a replacement of the list of access codes.

4. The security system of claim 1, wherein the identification code corresponds to at least one of a work machine operator, an access level, an access time, and an access time period.

5. The security system of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to compare the identification code with the list of access codes and to grant access to the work machine when the identification code matches one of the access codes on the list of access codes and to block access to the work machine when the identification code does not match one of the access codes on the list of access codes.

6. The security system of claim 1, wherein the change to the list of access codes is stored on a plurality of removable memory devices and configured for parallel distribution to a plurality of work machines.

7. A security system for a work machine, comprising:

a controller operatively disposed on the work machine and including a memory with a list of access codes stored in the memory;

an input device operatively disposed on the work machine and in communication with the controller, the input device configured to receive an identification code and to transfer the identification code to the controller;

an off-board system disposed at a location remote from the work machine, configured to receive a change to the list of access codes, and configured to receive input indicative of work machines targeted for the change; and

a communication module operatively disposed on the work machine and configured to wirelessly communicate with the off-board system, wherein the off-board system automatically distributes the change to the targeted work machines via the communication module to update the list of access codes stored on the memory of the controller.

8. The security system of claim 7, wherein at least two of the controller, input device, and communication module are integrated as a single unit.

9. The security system of claim 7, wherein the change to the list of access codes includes a replacement of the list of access codes.

10. The security system of claim 7, wherein the identification code corresponds to at least one of a work machine operator, an access level, an access time, and an access time period.

11. The security system of claim 7, wherein the controller is configured to compare the identification code with the list of access codes and to grant access to the work machine when the identification code matches one of the access codes on the list of access codes and to deny access to the work machine when the identification code does not match one of the access codes on the list of access codes.

12. The security system of claim 7, wherein the controller is configured to compare the identification code with the list of access codes and to grant access to the work machine when the identification code matches one of the access codes on the list of access codes and to poll the off-board system for an updated list of access codes when the identification code does not match one of the access codes on the list of access codes.

13. The security system of claim 12, wherein the controller is further configured to block access to the work machine when the identification code does not match one of the access codes on the list of access codes and the updated list of access codes is not available.

14. A method of updating a security system for a work machine, the method comprising:

providing a list of access codes in a memory of the work machine;

creating a change to the list of access codes at a location remote from the work machine

storing the change in at least one removable memory device;

reading the removable memory device with a memory reader; and

transferring the change to the memory of the work machine to update the list of access codes.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the identification code corresponds to at least one of a work machine operator, an access level, an access time, and an access time period.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the list of access codes is updated upon initiation of a work machine triggering condition.

17. A method of updating a security system for a plurality of work machines, the method comprising:

providing a list of access codes in a memory of each of the plurality of work machines;

generating a change to the list of access codes at a location remote from the plurality of work machines;

providing an indication of which ones of the plurality of work machines the change should be applied to; and

automatically distributing the change to the indicated ones of the plurality of work machines.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein distributing includes wirelessly sending the change to the indicated ones of the plurality of work machines.

19. A method of operating a security system for a work machine, the method comprising:

receiving a list of access codes in a memory of the work machine;

comparing an identification code input to the work machine with the list of access codes;

granting access to the work machine when the identification code matches one of the access codes on the list of access codes; and

polling an off-board system for an updated list of access codes.

20. The method of claim 19, further including blocking access to the work machine when the identification code does not match one of the access codes on the list of access codes and the updated list of access codes is not available.

21. The method of claim 19, wherein the identification code corresponds to at least one of a work machine operator, an access level, an access time, and an access time period.

22. A security system for a work machine, comprising:

a means for storing a list of access codes, the means for storing disposed on the work machine;

a means for receiving an identification code and for transferring the identification code to the means for storing, the means for receiving disposed on the work machine;

an off-board system disposed at a location remote from the work machine, configured to receive a change to the list of access codes, and configured to receive input indicative of work machines targeted for the change; and

a means for wirelessly communicating with the off-board system, wherein the off-board system automatically distributes the change to the targeted work machines via the means for wirelessly communicating.

23. The security system of claim 22, wherein at least two of the means for storing, the means for receiving, and the means for wirelessly communicating are integrated as a single unit.

24. The security system of claim 23, further including a means for comparing the identification code with the list of access codes, for granting access to the work machine when the identification code matches one of the access codes on the list of access codes, and for blocking access to the work machine when the identification code does not match one of the access codes on the list of access codes.

25. The security system of claim 23, further including a means for comparing the identification code with the list of access codes, for granting access to the work machine when the identification code matches one of the access codes on the list of access codes, and for polling the off-board system for an updated list of access codes.

26. The security system of claim 25, wherein the means for comparing and granting is also a means for blocking access to the work machine when the identification code does not match one of the access codes on the list of access codes and the updated list of access codes is not available.

27. The security system of claim 23, wherein the identification code corresponds to at least one of a work machine operator, an access level, an access time, and an access time period.