Method and Apparatus of Managing Wireless Communication in a Worksite

• US 20070268852A1
• Filed: 03/04/2005
• Published: 11/22/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/04/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Leica Geosystems AG (Hexagon AB)
• Original Assignee: Leica Geosystems AG (Hexagon AB)
• Inventors: Schneider, Klaus, Stegmaier, Peter
• Granted Patent: US 8,031,629 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/328
• CPC Class Codes: A01B 79/005 Precision agriculture
• CPC Class Codes: E01C 19/004 Devices for guiding or controlling the machines along a predetermined path for graders or bulldozers E02F3/841; for other soil-shifting machines E02F9/2045
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 3/841 Devices for controlling and guiding the whole machine, e.g. by feeler elements and reference lines placed exteriorly of the machine construction of roads E01C19/008
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/2045 Guiding machines along a predetermined path for graders E02F3/841; machines for construction of roads E01C19/004
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0274 using mapping information stored in a memory device navigation using map-matching G01C21/30
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0278 using satellite positioning signals, e.g. GPS
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0297 by controlling means in a control room

Abstract

A method of controlling wireless messaging between mobile apparatuses and an onsite office in a worksite comprises the steps of: dividing the worksite area into elementary cells (C) mapped in correspondence with the topology of the area and into and communication zones (CZ), for a given communication zone of the worksite, establishing at least one updatable communication attribute value pertaining to a parameter of wireless communication to or from the given cell or communication zone, for a given elementary cell, establishing at least one worksite management attribute value of the worksite at that cell, the worksite management attribute value pertaining to a parameter other than a wireless communication parameter, storing, in an electronic memory (20), values of the worksite and communication attributes, each stored attribute value being electronically indexed to the elementary cell, or to the communication zone, for which it was determined, forming a worksite management message with an electronically readable content containing at least one worksite management attribute value, accessing the memory to obtain at least one current communication attribute value in respect of a cell or communication zone to or from which the formed management message is to be communicated by a wireless communication, and establishing a wireless communication to or from the communication zone to send or receive the management message on the basis of the current communication attribute value(s) electronically accessed from the memory.

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51. A method of controlling wireless messaging in a worksite area, in which worksite management messages are received by, or sent from, communicating entities operating within said worksite, comprising the steps of:

dividing at least part of said worksite area into elementary cells mapped in correspondence with the topology of said area, or into said cells and determined communication zones;

for a given cell or communication zone of said worksite, establishing at least one communication attribute value pertaining to a parameter of wireless communication to or from said given cell or communication zone;

for a given cell, establishing at least one worksite management attribute value of the worksite for said given cell, said worksite management attribute value pertaining to a parameter other than a said communication attribute parameter;

storing, in a memory, values of said worksite management and communication attributes, each stored attribute value being electronically indexed to the elementary cell, or to the communication zone, for which it was determined;

forming a said worksite management message with an electronically readable content containing at least one worksite management attribute value;

accessing said memory to obtain at least one current communication attribute value in respect of a cell or communication zone to or from which said formed management message is to be communicated by a wireless communication; and

establishing a wireless communication to or from said cell or communication zone to send or receive said management message on the basis of said current communication attribute value(s) electronically accessed from said memory.

52. Method according to claim 51, wherein said memory is provided as a common resource whose contents are accessible to communicating parties exchanging worksite management messages.

53. according to claim 51, wherein said at least one communication attribute is at least one of the members of the set of following attributes:

a communication frequency or channel allocation;

a signal strength indicator, indicating a signal strength to use;

a bandwidth capacity indicator;

a detected signal-to-noise ratio;

data communication security parameters, such as encryption/decryption codes, keys;

data messaging format information; and

data transmission protocol information.

54. Method according to claim 51, comprising the act of indexing in said memory worksite management attributes and communication attributes to a common elementary cell to which they pertain.

55. Method according to claim 51, further comprising the acts of:

analysing a detected wireless communication signal at a determined elementary cell or communication zone;

determining, on the basis of said analysis, whether a value of a said communication attribute of that signal is appropriate under current wireless communication conditions; and

if said value of a said communication attribute is determined not to be appropriate, sending a message to said memory to cause the value of said communication attribute to be updated to an appropriate value, or to adjust the value of another communication parameter.

56. Method according to claim 55, further comprising sending a message directly to the source of said detected wireless signal to cause said source to update the value of said communication attribute to an appropriate value or to adjust the value of another communication parameter.

57. Method according to claim 51, wherein for at least one communication attribute, said memory stores a plurality of values indexed as a function of at least one of the following set:

a classification of the wireless communication sending party;

a classification of the wireless communication receiving party;

a classification of a worksite management attribute to be conveyed in a said worksite management message;

a location of the wireless communication sending party; and

a location of the wireless communication receiving party.

58. Method according to claim 51, further comprising the act of establishing or maintaining a radio link at a receiving party, comprising the steps of:

accessing at least one stored communication attribute value; and

automatically configuring receiver means of said receiving party on the basis of a said accessed communication attribute value(s).

59. Method according to claim 51, comprising the act of establishing or maintaining a radio link at a transmitting party, comprising the steps of:

accessing at least one stored communication attribute value; and

automatically configuring transmitter means of said transmitting party on the basis of a said accessed communication attribute value(s).

60. Method according to claim 51, wherein a said communication attribute is a radio frequency or channel allocation, for exchanging data with a remote resource, said method further comprising the act of automatically updating and using said updated radio frequency or channel allocation as a function of communication conditions.

61. Method according to claim 51, wherein a said communication attribute is signal strength indicator specifying a modulation or carrier signal strength value to use for a transmission in a communication link, said method further comprising the acts of:

detecting a received signal strength at a receiving party;

determining whether said received signal strength is below a threshold; and

if the received signal strength is below the threshold, sending a message by the receiving party to correspondingly update said signal strength indicator value in said memory accessible to communicating parties.

62. Method according to claim 51, wherein a said communication attribute is a bandwidth capacity parameter expressing the bandwidth capacity limit of a given carrier or channel over a given communication link, said method further comprising the acts of:

determining the current amount of occupied bandwidth of a given communication carrier or channel;

comparing said current amount of occupied bandwidth with the bandwidth capacity limit, indicated by said bandwidth capacity parameter, for that given communication carrier or channel, to determine if a determined saturation criterion is reached; and

in the affirmative, sending a message to said memory and/or to communicating parties concerned, requesting to use another carrier or channel.

63. Method according to claim 51, wherein said stored worksite and communication attribute parameter values are organised in a three-dimensional matrix of which the first and second dimensions map the topology of said worksite area and define the locations of said elementary cells or communication zones, and the third dimension corresponds to the set of worksite management and communication attribute parameter(s).

64. Method according to claim 51, wherein a said elementary cell is dimensioned as a function of at least one of the following set:

the variation in contour at said cell;

the variation in contour at the immediate vicinity of said cell;

the rate of variation with respect to position in the value of at least one data to be managed; and

the type of tool(s) scheduled to operate in the area occupied by said elementary cell.

65. Method according to claim 51, wherein dimensions of elementary cells are variable over said worksite area.

66. Method according to claim 51, wherein communication attribute and/or worksite management attribute values are acquired and communicated and/or stored by mobile apparatus as they are conducting site modifying tasks on the worksite.

67. Method according to claim 51, further comprising the acts of:

interrogating at least one source of dynamically updatable data, on board mobile apparatus active on said worksite, capable of delivering at least one current attribute parameter value for a communication attribute and/or for a worksite management attribute;

determining the geographical location at which said current value(s) is/are acquired; and

storing said attribute parameter value(s) acquired at said interrogating step, in association with the cell or communication zone corresponding to the said determined geographical location, as an updated communication attribute and/or a worksite management attribute parameter value.

68. Method according to claim 67, wherein a said updated communication attribute and/or worksite management attribute value is sent to a remote data management resource for dynamically updating said stored data values by at least the acts of:

forming a message containing said communication attribute and/or a worksite management attribute parameter value(s) and said geographical location data; and

sending said message to said remote data management resource.

69. Method according to claim 51, further comprising the acts of:

interrogating at least one source of dynamically updatable data on board said mobile apparatus, capable of delivering at least one current communication attribute and/or worksite management attribute parameter value;

determining the geographical location at which said current value(s) is/are acquired; and

associating and locally storing said current communication attribute and/or worksite management attribute parameter value(s) and said geographical location data on board said mobile apparatus.

70. Method according to claim 69, further comprising the act of uploading said communication attribute and/or a worksite management attribute parameter value(s) and said geographical location data from said mobile apparatus to a remote data management resource at a determined updating moment.

71. Method according to claim 51, wherein the value(s) of at least one said communication attribute and/or worksite management is/are dynamically updatable, and acquired and communicated on-the-fly by, and as, a mobile apparatus performs worksite modifying tasks evolves over said worksite area.

72. Method according to claim 51, wherein at least one worksite management attribute relates to physical or chemical material characteristics of said worksite and/or physical or chemical atmospheric characteristics of said worksite.

73. Method according to claim 51, wherein at least one worksite management attribute parameter value is inferred from operating parameters of a site-modifying apparatus operative in said worksite area.

74. Method according to claim 51, wherein at least one worksite management attribute value is established prior to site modifying operations on said worksite and relates to a non-dynamic land characteristic of said worksite.

75. Method according to claim 51, wherein said at least one worksite management attribute value is established prior to site modifying operations on said worksite and relates to operating characteristics of mobile apparatus.

76. Method according to claim 51, wherein said at least one worksite management attribute value is established prior to site modifying operations on said worksite and relates to legal, administrative, or contractual data associated to said worksite.

77. Method according to claim 51, wherein at least one worksite management attribute relates to a reference level, its value for a cell expressing reference level value with respect to which elevation/depth values are established for that cell.

78. Method according to claim 51, further comprising the act of preparing an individualised dataset specific to an identified site-modifying mobile apparatus, said individualised dataset comprising selected communication attribute and/or a worksite management attribute parameter values for the requirements of that site-modifying mobile apparatus.

79. Method according to claim 78, wherein said individualised dataset relates only to cells of a region of said worksite where said site-modifying apparatus is programmed to be present over a determined time window.

80. A storage medium containing an individualised dataset specific to an identified site-modifying mobile apparatus, said individualised dataset being prepared specifically for the execution of the method according claim 51, and comprising selected data elements of said attribute worksite management and/or communication attribute parameters for the specific requirements of that site-modifying mobile apparatus.

81. Storage medium according to claim 80, wherein said individualised dataset relates only to cells of a region of said worksite where said contour-modifying apparatus is programmed to be present over a determined time window.

82. Code executable by processor means, said code causing said processor means to carry out the method according to claim 51.

83. A system for controlling wireless messaging in a worksite area, in which worksite management messages are received by, or sent from, communicating entities operating within said worksite, at least part of said worksite area being divided into elementary cells mapped in correspondence with the topology of said area, or being divided into said cells and determined communication zones, said system comprising:

means for establishing, for a given cell or communication zone of said worksite, at least one communication attribute value pertaining to a parameter of wireless communication to or from said given cell or communication zone;

means for establishing, for a given elementary cell, at least one worksite management attribute value of the worksite for said given cell, said worksite management attribute value pertaining to a parameter other than a said wireless communication parameter;

memory means for storing values of said worksite management and communication attributes, each stored attribute value being electronically indexed to the elementary cell, or to the communication zone, for which it was determined;

means for forming a said worksite management message with an electronically readable content containing at least one worksite management attribute value;

means for accessing said memory to obtain at least one current communication attribute value in respect of a cell or communication zone to or from which said formed management message is to be communicated by a wireless communication; and

means for establishing a wireless communication to or from said cell or communication zone to send or receive said management message on the basis of said current communication attribute value(s) electronically accessed from said memory.

84. System according to claim 83, wherein said at least one communication attribute is one of the members of the following set of attributes:

a communication frequency or channel allocation;

a signal strength indicator, indicating a signal strength to use;

a bandwidth capacity indicator;

a detected signal-to-noise ratio;

data communication security parameters, such as encryption/decryption codes, keys;

data messaging format information; and

data transmission protocol information.

85. System according to claim 83, further comprising:

means for analysing a detected wireless communication signal at a determined elementary cell or communication zone; and

means for determining, on the basis of said analysis, whether a value of a said communication attribute of that signal is appropriate under current wireless communication conditions, said determining means being responsive, if said value of a said communication attribute is determined not to be appropriate, to send a message to said memory to cause the value of said communication attribute to be updated to an appropriate value, or to adjust the value of another communication parameter.

86. System according to claim 85, further comprising means for sending a message directly to the source of said detected wireless signal to cause said source to update the value of said communication attribute to an appropriate value or to adjust the value of another communication parameter.

87. System according claim 83, wherein for at least one communication attribute, said memory stores a plurality of values indexed as a function of at least one of the set:

a classification of the wireless communication sending party;

a classification of the wireless communication receiving party;

a classification of a worksite management attribute to be conveyed in a said worksite management message;

a location of the wireless communication sending party; and

a location of the wireless communication receiving party.

88. System according to claim 83, adapted to establish or maintain a radio link at a receiving party, said system further comprising:

means for accessing at least one stored communication attribute value; and

means for automatically configuring receiver means of said receiving party on the basis of a said accessed communication attribute value(s).

89. System according to claim 83, adapted to establish or maintain a radio link at a transmitting party, said system further comprising:

means for accessing at least one stored communication attribute value; and

means for automatically configuring transmitter means of said transmitting party on the basis of said accessed communication attribute value(s).

90. System according to claim 83, wherein a said communication attribute is a radio frequency or channel allocation, for exchanging data with a remote resource, said system comprising means for automatically updating and using said updated radio frequency or channel allocation as a function of communication conditions.

91. System according claim 83, wherein a said communication attribute is signal strength indicator specifying a modulation or carrier signal strength value to use for a transmission in a communication link, said system further comprising:

means for detecting a received signal strength at a receiving party; and

means for determining whether said received signal strength is below a threshold and, in the affirmative, for sending a message by the receiving party to correspondingly update said signal strength indicator value in said memory accessible to communicating parties.

92. System according to claim 83, wherein a said communication attribute is a bandwidth capacity parameter expressing the bandwidth capacity limit of a given carrier or channel over a given communication link, said system further comprising:

means for determining the current amount of occupied bandwidth of a given communication carrier or channel; and

means for comparing said current amount of occupied bandwidth with the bandwidth capacity limit, indicated by said bandwidth capacity parameter, for that given communication carrier or channel, to determine if a determined saturation criterion is reached and, in the affirmative, for sending a message to said memory and/or to communicating parties concerned, requesting to use another carrier or channel.

93. System according to claim 83, further comprising means, aboard mobile apparatus conducting site modifying tasks, adapted to acquire communication attribute and/or worksite management attribute values, and to communicate and/or store said values as said mobile apparatus is conducting site modifying tasks on the worksite.

94. System according to claim 83, further comprising:

means for interrogating at least one source of dynamically updatable data on board mobile apparatus active on said worksite, said source being capable of delivering at least one current attribute parameter value for a communication attribute and/or for a worksite management attribute;

means for determining the geographical location at which said current value(s) is/are acquired; and

means for storing said attribute parameter value(s) acquired at said interrogating step, in association with the cell corresponding to the said determined geographical location, as an updated communication attribute and/or for a worksite management attribute parameter value.

95. System according to claim 94, further comprising means for sending said updated communication attribute and/or a worksite management attribute value to a remote data management resource for dynamically updating said stored data values, said system further comprising:

means for forming a message containing said communication attribute and/or a worksite management attribute parameter value(s) and said geographical location data; and

means for sending said message to said remote data management resource.

96. System according to claim 83, further comprising:

means for interrogating at least one source of dynamically updatable data on board said mobile apparatus, said source being capable of delivering at least one current communication attribute and/or a worksite management attribute parameter value;

means for determining the geographical location at which said current value(s) is/are acquired; and

means for associating and locally storing said current communication attribute and/or a worksite management attribute parameter value(s) and said geographical location data on board said mobile apparatus.

97. System according to claim 96, further comprising means for uploading said communication attribute and/or a worksite management attribute parameter value(s) and said geographical location data from said mobile apparatus to a remote data management resource at a determined updating moment.

98. System according to claim 83, wherein the value(s) of at least one said communication attribute and/or a worksite management is/are dynamically updatable, said system comprising means, aboard mobile apparatus, for acquiring and communicating attribute data on-the-fly as said mobile apparatus performs worksite modifying tasks and evolves over said worksite area.

99. System according to claim 83, further comprising means for acquiring worksite attribute parameter value(s) comprising at least one of the set:

a total station type of surveying device;

an aerial view sensor;

a GPS (global positioning by satellite) device; and

an LPS (local positioning system).

100. System according to claim 83, further comprising:

data filtering means for selecting, from the stored attribute values, those items of information relevant to at least one of the set;

selected cells;

selected site-modifying apparatus; and

selected tasks on said worksite; and

means for sending said filtered information to targeted recipients.