Electronic mail system for a work machine

• US 20070124391A1
• Filed: 11/30/2005
• Published: 05/31/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Inventors: Ferguson, Alan, Donnelli, Aaron, McNealy, Anthony
• Application Number:
  US11/289,524
• Publication Number:
  US 20070124391A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/206
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/00 Arrangements for maintenance, administration or management of data switching networks, e.g. of packet switching networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/00 User-to-user messaging in packet-switching networks, transmitted according to store-and-forward or real-time protocols, e.g. e-mail
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/12 specially adapted for proprietary or special-purpose networking environments, e.g. medical networks, sensor networks, networks in vehicles or remote metering networks
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 40/18 Network protocols supporting networked applications, e.g. including control of end-device applications over a network

Abstract

An electronic mail system for a work machine is disclosed. The system includes a controller configured to affect at least one operation of the work machine. The system also includes at least one communicator operatively connected with the controller and configured to communicate at least one signal with the controller. The system further includes a server configured to communicate electronic mail between the controller and a user.

Claims

1. An electronic mail system for a work machine comprising:

a controller configured to affect at least one operation of the work machine;

at least one communicator operatively connected with the controller and configured to communicate at least one signal with the controller; and

a server configured to communicate electronic mail between the controller and a user.

2. The electronic mail system of claim 1, further including a service provider configured to communicate at least one electronic mail between the server and the user.

3. The electronic mail system of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to perform at least one algorithm in response to at least one input communicated by the user via an electronic mail sent to the server.

4. The electronic mail system of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to send an electronic mail via the server to the user, the electronic mail configured to indicate a value of the at least one signal.

5. The electronic mail system of claim 4, wherein the controller is configured to automatically send the electronic mail when the value of the at least one signal exceeds or falls within a predetermined range of values.

6. The electronic mail system of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to affect operation of a component operatively connected to the work machine as a function of an input received from the user, the input communicated to the controller in an electronic mail.

7. The electronic mail system of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to perform at least one algorithm in response to a first electronic mail received from the user, the algorithm configured to determine a value of at least one parameter of the work machine and send a second electronic mail to the user, the second electronic mail indicating the value of the at least one parameter.

8. The electronic mail system of claim 1, wherein the user is disposed remotely with respect to the work machine.

9. A method of operating a work machine having at least one component and at least one controller, the method comprising:

sending at least one electronic mail between a user and the least one controller;

communicating an operational condition of the at least one component with the at least one controller; and

communicating the operational condition of the at least one component with at least one user via electronic mail.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein sending at least one electronic mail between a user and the at least one controller includes sending an electronic mail from the user to the work machine, the electronic mail configured to affect an operation of at least one component.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the electronic mail is further configured to command the at least one controller to perform at least one algorithm configured to output at least one signal to a communicator to affect the operation.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein sending at least one electronic mail between a user and the at least one controller includes sending an electronic mail from the user to the work machine, the electronic mail configured to monitor an operation of at least one component.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the electronic mail is further configured to command the at least one controller to perform at least one algorithm configured to receive at least one signal from a communicator indicative of the operation.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein sending at least one electronic mail between a user and the at least one controller includes the at least one controller automatically sending an electronic mail to the user, the electronic mail configured to indicate a value of at least one signal received by the controller.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the at least one controller is further configured to:

receive the at least one signal from at least one communicator; and

send the electronic mail when the value of the at least one signal is greater or less than a predetermined value.

16. A work machine comprising:

at least one component configured to be operated to affect a performance of at least one task;

an electronic mail system including at least one controller and at least one server, the electronic mail system configured to communicate electronic mail with a user, the electronic mail containing information indicative of an operation of the at least one component.

17. The work machine of claim 16, wherein the server is configured to send an electronic mail to the user.

18. The work machine of claim 16, wherein the server is configured to receive an electronic mail from the user.

19. The work machine of claim 16, wherein the electronic mail is further configured to affect control of the at least one component.

20. The work machine of claim 16, wherein the electronic mail is further configured to textually represent at least one operational parameter of the work machine.

21. The work machine of claim 16, wherein the controller configured to:

affect the operation of the at least one component;

monitor at least one parameter of the work machine;

perform one or more algorithms to generate a first electronic mail when a value of the at least one parameter exceeds or falls within a predetermined range of values; and

control the server to send the first electronic mail to a user.