Method and system for reporting machine status

• US 20080001771A1
• Filed: 07/31/2006
• Published: 01/03/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Inventors: Ramsey, Robert Winston, Gualandri, J. Joseph, Krueger, Daniel Jon, Faoro, Michael David
• Application Number:
  US11/495,896
• Publication Number:
  US 20080001771A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/679
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2325/105 Radio frequency identification data [RFID]
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/00 Fittings or systems for preventing or indicating unauthorised use or theft of vehicles locks for vehicles E05B77/00-E05B85/00
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/1004 Alarm systems characterised by the type of sensor, e.g. current sensing means using door lock sensors B60R25/1001
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/102 a signal being sent to a remote location, e.g. a radio signal being transmitted to a police station, a security company or the owner
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/33 of global position, e.g. by providing GPS coordinates
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/008 communicating information to a remotely located station transmission systems for measured values G08C
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/20 Monitoring the location of vehicles belonging to a group, e.g. fleet of vehicles, countable or determined number of vehicles

Abstract

A data communication system for a component of a machine includes a control module configured to monitor at least one type of machine data associated with the machine component configured to be mounted on the machine. The data communication system also includes a processor device configured to receive and process the machine data from the control module, and a transceiver device configured to communicate with the processor device and at least one off-board system. The processor device, the transceiver device, and the control module are formed integral with the machine component such that the data communication system communicates the machine data to the at least one off-board system when the machine component is not mounted on the machine.

Claims

1. A data communication system for a component of a machine, comprising:

a control module configured to monitor at least one type of machine data associated with a machine component configured to be mounted on a machine;

a processor device configured to receive and process the machine data from the control module; and

a transceiver device configured to communicate with the processor device and at least one off-board system;

wherein the processor device, the transceiver device, and the control module are formed integral with the machine component such that the data communication system communicates the machine data to the at least one off-board system when the machine component is not mounted on the machine.

2. The data communication system of claim 1, wherein the processor device, the transceiver device, and the control module remain attached to the machine component when the machine component is removed from the machine.

3. The data communication system of claim 1, wherein the machine component is disabled when at least one of the processor device, the transceiver device, and the control module is removed from the machine component.

4. The data communication system of claim 1, wherein the processor device is further configured to receive and process machine data from a plurality of control modules, each control module being configured to monitor machine data from at least one of the machine component or the machine.

5. The data communication system of claim 1, further including a locating device configured to determine a geographic location of the machine component and send location data reflecting the geographic location to the processor device.

6. The data communication system of claim 5, wherein the locating device remains attached to the machine component when the machine component is removed from the machine.

7. The data communication system of claim 5, wherein the processor device is configured to:

determine that the machine component is in an abnormal condition based on the machine data, and

send a notification message to the at least one off-board system including data reflecting a status of the machine component and the location data.

8. The data communication system of claim 5, wherein:

the machine data includes operational schedule data reflecting a time when at least one of the machine component or the machine has been operated and corresponding location data for the operation time; and

the processor device is further configured to compare the operational schedule data and corresponding location data with stored operational schedule data for the at least one of the machine component or the machine to determine whether the machine component was at least one of operating at an unauthorized time or operating in an unauthorized location.

9. A method for reporting that at least one of a machine or a machine component is missing, the method comprising:

determining a type of notification service for the at least one of the machine or the machine component;

collecting machine data from the at least one of the machine or the machine component via a communication system formed as an integral part of the machine component, the machine data including data reflecting at least one operational parameter associated with the respective at least one of the machine or the machine component;

determining that the at least one of the machine or the machine component is missing based on the collected machine data; and

sending a notification message to a first entity based on the specified type of notification service, the notification message including data reflecting that the at least one of the machine or the machine component is missing.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the determining of the type of notification service includes:

determining a known location of the at least one of the machine or the machine component; and

selecting the first entity based on a comparison between a location of the first entity and the known location of the at least one of the machine or the machine component.

11. The method of claim 10, further including receiving location data from the first entity in response to the notification message, the location data reflecting a location of the at least one of the machine or the machine component.

12. The method of claim 10, further including automatically generating, by the first entity, an alarm message if the first entity attempts to complete a transaction associated with the at least one of the machine or the machine component.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein the determining of the type of notification service includes identifying the first entity as an entity that deals with a same type of the at least one of the machine or the machine component.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein the at least one of the machine or the machine component is a missing machine, and wherein determining the type of notification service includes identifying the first entity as an entity that deals with a type of machine component associated with a type of the missing machine.

15. The method of claim 9, wherein the at least one of the machine or the machine component is a missing machine component, and wherein determining the type of notification service includes identifying the first entity as an entity that deals with a type of machine associated with a type of the missing machine component.

16. The method of claim 9, wherein determining the type of notification service includes determining at least one competitor of at least one entity that deals with a type of the at least one of the machine or the machine component, wherein the first entity is one of the at least one competitor.

17. A system for reporting a status of at least one of a machine or a machine component, the system comprising:

a data communication system formed as an integral part of a machine component configured to be mounted on a machine, the data communication system being configured to communicate machine data from the machine component, the machine data including data reflecting at least one operational parameter associated with the machine component; and

a service center configured to receive the machine data from the data communication system and store the machine data;

wherein the data communication system communicates the machine data to the service center when the machine component is not mounted on the machine, and

wherein at least one of the service center and the data communication system is further configured to;

determine a status of at least one of the machine or the machine component based on the collected machine data, and

send a notification message to a first entity, the notification message including data reflecting the status of the at least one of the machine or the machine component.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the service center is configured to:

store a type of notification service for the at least one of the machine or the machine component; and

send the notification message to the first entity based on the specified type of notification service.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the service center is further configured to:

determine a last known location of the at least one of the machine or the machine component; and

selecting the first entity based on a distance between a location of the first entity and the last known location of the at least one of the machine or the machine component.

20. The system of claim 17, wherein:

the service center is further configured to determine the first entity; and

the first entity is an entity that deals with a same type of the at least one of the machine or the machine component, an entity that deals with a type of a machine or machine component associated with the same type of the at least one of the machine or the machine component, or a competitor of the entity that deals with the same type of the at least one of the machine or the machine component.