Systems and methods for exchanging display data between machines

• US 20060041845A1
• Filed: 05/20/2004
• Published: 02/23/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/20/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Inventors: Ferguson, Alan L., O'Neal, Steven Wayne, Meiss, Trent Ray, Jenkins, Brian Lane, Wood, Daniel Craig
• Application Number:
  US10/849,305
• Publication Number:
  US 20060041845A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/751
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/451 Execution arrangements for user interfaces

Abstract

A method and system are provided for performing a process of exchanging display data between work machines. In one embodiment, the process includes displaying, at a first work machine, first display data associated with operations of the first work machine and sending the first display data to a second work machine. The first display data is then displayed at the second work machine. Further, the process includes generating, at the second work machine, feedback data based on the first display data and generating second display data based on the feedback data. The second display data is sent from the second work machine to the first work machine. The second display data is displayed at both the first work machine and the second work machine.

Claims

1. A method for exchanging display data between work machines, comprising:

displaying, at a first work machine, first display data associated with operations of the work machine;

sending the first display data to a second work machine;

displaying the first display data at the second work machine;

generating, at the second work machine, feedback data based on the first display data;

generating second display data based on the feedback data;

sending the second display data from the second work machine to the first work machine; and

displaying the second display data on the first work machine and the second work machine.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first display data includes data reflecting graphical representations of the first work machine and its relative position in a work site, and wherein displaying the first display data at the second work machine includes:

displaying the first display data in the second work machine such that an operator of the second work machine views the graphical representations.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the first display data includes at least one of:

data reflecting graphical representations of the first work machine and its relative position in a work site;

operational data reflecting one or more parameter values of the first work machine; and

event data associated with one or more events experienced by the first work machine.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein generating feedback data includes:

analyzing the first display data to determine at least one of;

a progress of the first work machine in performing a first task,

an operational status of the first work machine,

an operational status of one or more components of the first work machine, and

one or more parameters values associated with respective parameters associated with the operations of the first work machine.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein generating feedback data includes:

analyzing the first display data to determine a recommendation associated with the operation of the first work machine; and

generating the feedback data based on the recommendation.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein generating feedback data includes:

determining whether dynamic or static feedback data should be provided to the first work machine; and

generating either static or dynamic feedback data based on the determination.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein generating static feedback data includes:

modifying the first display data at the second work machine based on input from an operator of the second work machine; and

generating the static feedback data based on the modification.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein generating the second display data includes:

generating the second display data based on the static feedback data, wherein the second display data includes data reflecting a modified version of the first display data.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein displaying the second display data at the first work machine includes:

displaying the modified version of the first display data such that an operator of the first work machine views the modifications to the first display data.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the feedback data includes suggestions made by an operator of the second work machine associated with a performance of the first work machine in performing a first task.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the feedback data includes instructions made by an operator of the second work machine for the first work machine to perform a specified task.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the instructions are at least one of visual, audio, and textual-based instructions.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the instructions are included in the second display data, and wherein when the instructions are at least one of textual and visual-based instructions, the first work machine displays the second display data on a display device, and wherein when the instructions are audio-based instructions, the first work machine plays audio sounds reflective of the audio-based instructions.

14. The method of claim 6, wherein generating dynamic feedback data includes:

generating initial display data based on the first display data;

sending the initial display data to the first work machine; and

displaying the initial display data at the first work machine.

15. The method of claim 14, further including:

generating dynamic feedback data using the initial display data;

generating the second display data based on the dynamic feedback data; and

displaying the second display data at the first work machine such that the dynamic feedback data is displayed at the first work machine as the dynamic feedback data is generated and displayed at the second work machine.

16. The method of claim 6, wherein the dynamic feedback data includes modifications made to the first display data by an operator of the second work machine and wherein the second display data includes a visual representation reflecting the modifications to the first display data.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein the feedback data includes visual manipulations made to the first display data as it is displayed at the second work machine.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein displaying the second display data includes displaying the visual manipulations at the first work machine as they are made and displayed at the second work machine.

19. The method of claim 1, wherein the first display data and the second display data are sent wirelessly.

20. A system for exchanging display data between work machines in a work site, comprising:

a subordinate work machine configured to generate first display data associated with operations of the subordinate work machine, wirelessly transmit the first display data, receive second display data, and display the first and second display data; and

a supervisor work machine configured to receive the first display data from the subordinate work machine, display the first display data, generate feedback data regarding operations of the subordinate work machine based on the first display data, generate the second display data based on the feedback data, and wirelessly transmit the second display data to the subordinate work machine.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein the first display data includes data reflecting graphical representations of the subordinate work machine and its relative position in a work site, and wherein the supervisor work machine is further configured to display the first display data to an operator of the supervisor work machine.

22. The system of claim 20, wherein the first display data includes at least one of:

data reflecting graphical representations of the subordinate work machine and its relative position in a work site;

operational data reflecting one or more parameter values of the subordinate work machine; and

event data associated with one or more events experienced by the subordinate work machine.

23. The system of claim 20, wherein the supervisor work machine generates the feedback data by analyzing the first display data to determine at least one of:

a progress of the subordinate work machine in performing a first task,

an operational status of the subordinate work machine,

an operational status of one or more components of the subordinate work machine, and

one or more parameters values associated with respective parameters associated with the operations of the subordinate work machine.

24. The system of claim 20, wherein an operator of the supervisor work machine generates the feedback data by analyzing the first display data to determine at least one of:

a progress of the subordinate work machine in performing a first task,

an operational status of the subordinate work machine,

an operational status of one or more components of the subordinate work machine, and

one or more parameters values associated with respective parameters associated with the operations of the subordinate work machine.

25. The system of claim 20, wherein an operator of the supervisor work machine analyzes the displayed first display data to determine a recommendation associated with the operation of the subordinate work machine and generates the feedback data based on the recommendation.

26. The system of claim 25, wherein the operator of the supervisor work machines generates the feedback data by editing the first display data and the supervisor work machine generates the second display data based on the feedback data.

27. The system of claim 20, wherein the supervisor work machine is configured to generate static and dynamic feedback data.

28. The system of claim 27, wherein the supervisor work machine generates either static or dynamic feedback data based input received from an operator of the supervisor work machine.

29. The system of claim 28, wherein the supervisor work machine generates static feedback data by allowing the operator to modify the first display data and generating the static feedback data based on the modification.

30. The system of claim 29, wherein the supervisor work machine generates the second display data based on the static feedback data, wherein the second display data includes data reflecting a modified version of the first display data.

31. The system of claim 30, wherein the subordinate work machine displays the second display data by displaying the modified version of the first display data to allow an operator of the subordinate work machine to view the modifications to the first display data.

32. The system of claim 20, wherein the feedback data includes suggestions made by an operator of the supervisor work machine associated with a performance of the subordinate work machine in performing a task.

33. The system of claim 20, wherein the feedback data includes instructions made by an operator of the supervisor work machine for the subordinate work machine to perform a specified task.

34. The system of claim 33, wherein the instructions are at least one of visual, audio, and textual-based instructions.

35. The system of claim 34, wherein the instructions are included in the second display data, and wherein when the instructions are at least one of textual and visual-based instructions, the subordinate work machine displays the second display data on a display device, and wherein when the instructions are audio-based instructions, the subordinate work machine plays audio sounds reflective of the audio-based instructions.

36. The system of claim 27, wherein the supervisor work machine generates dynamic feedback data by generating initial display data based on the first display data, sending the initial display data to the subordinate work machine, and wherein the subordinate work machine displays the initial display data.

37. The system of claim 36, wherein the supervisor work machine is configured to:

generate dynamic feedback data using the initial display data and input received by an operator of the supervisor work machine, and generate the second display data based on the dynamic feedback data, and

wherein the subordinate work machine is configured to display the second display data as the dynamic feedback data is generated and displayed at the supervisor work machine.

38. The system of claim 27, wherein the dynamic feedback data is modifications made to the first display data by an operator of the supervisor work machine and wherein the second display data includes a visual representation reflecting the modifications to the first display data.

39. The system of claim 20, wherein the feedback data includes graphical modifications made by an operator to the first display data displayed at the supervisor work machine.

40. The system of claim 39, wherein the subordinate work machine displays the second display data as the second display data is generated and displayed at the supervisor work machine.

41. A system for exchanging display data between work machines, including:

a set of subordinate work machines each configured to;

generate first display data reflecting operations of the respective subordinate work machine,

wirelessly transmit the first display data,

receive second display data, and

display the first and second display data; and

a supervisor work machine configured to;

receive the first display data from each of the subordinate work machine,

generate work site display data based on the received first display data, wherein the work site display data includes graphical representations of a work site and of each of the subordinate work machines relative to their position in the work site,

generate feedback data based on the work site display data and input received from an operator of the supervisor work machine,

generate the second display data based on the feedback data, and

wirelessly transmit the second display data to the subordinate work machine,

wherein each of the subordinate work machines displays the second display data such that an operator of each of the subordinate work machines may review the feedback data provided by the supervisor work machine.

42. A method for exchanging display data between work machines, comprising:

displaying graphical representations of a work site and at least one subordinate work machine at a supervisor work machine, wherein the graphical representations reflect a real time image of the at least one subordinate work machine relative to the work site;

modifying at least one of the graphical representations based on input received from an operator of the supervisor work machine;

sending the modified graphical representations to the subordinate work machine for display on a display device at the subordinate work machine; and

performing a task using the subordinate work machine based on the modified graphical representations displayed at the subordinate work machine.

43. A system for providing feedback between work machines, comprising:

means for displaying, at a first work machine, first display data associated with operations of the work machine;

means for sending the first display data to a second work machine;

means for displaying the first display data at the second work machine;

means for generating, at the second work machine, feedback data based on the first display data;

means for generating second display data based on the feedback data;

means for sending the second display data from the second work machine to the first work machine; and

means for displaying the second display data on the first work machine and the second work machine.