System and Method for Total Management of Ships

• US 20080147257A1
• Filed: 03/03/2006
• Published: 06/19/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/07/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Jorg Britz, Klaus Kuhlgatz
• Original Assignee: Jorg Britz, Klaus Kuhlgatz
• Inventors: Kuhlgatz, Klaus, Benzel, Michael F.
• Application Number:
  US11/885,790
• Publication Number:
  US 20080147257A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/21
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 49/00 Arrangements of nautical instruments or navigational aids nautical measuring instruments G01C; radio navigation, analogous arrangements using other waves G01S

Abstract

The system consists of a central, stationary Tele Connect Centre (15) with stationary servers (14), software modules, databases and call centre (21) on land. The call centre on land contains all ship-specific data relevant for the management and the operation of the individual ships. Further, there are mobile communication platforms (16), which consist of a central unit (1), software modules and input interface/control panel (2) each, on the ships equipped with the system, each with antennae and power supply for 12/24 Volt supply for communicating via GSM, marine radio or satellite network with the stationary Tele Connect Centre (15). A process can be operated with this system, by which data transmitted from the mobile central unit (1) can be processed and maintained with the servers (14) as well as all types of data relevant for the management and operation of the ships can be provided in the corresponding databases, besides the ship-relevant ones. The data are exchanged in both directions round the clock by means of corresponding software modules according to regulated and requirement-wise cost-payable access authorisation.

Claims

1. System for the total and permanent economical and technical management and operation of ships, consisting of a central, stationary Tele Connect Centre (15) with stationary servers (14), software modules and databases, containing all ship-specific data relevant for the management and operation of the individual ships, and a call centre (21) on land and consisting of mobile communication platforms (16) on the ships serviced with the system, with central unit (1), software modules (6) and input-interface/control panel (2) each, with antennae (4) and power supply for 12/24 Volt supply (5) for the communicating via GSM, marine radio or satellite network (IRIDIUM) with the stationary Tele Connect Centre (15), where data transmitted from the mobile central unit (1) can be processed and maintained with the servers (14) as well as ship-independent data of all types relevant for the management and operation of the ships can be provided in the corresponding databases, and that the data can be exchanged round the clock in both directions by means of corresponding software modules according to regulated and requirement-wise cost-payable access authorisation.

2. System for the total and permanent economical and technical management and operation of ships according to claim 1 characterised by the fact that each mobile, that is, central unit (1) installed on the ship is networked with additional extension modules (3), which contain tailor-made software applications (6) like the central unit (1) and are configured as intelligent interfaces for the connection to the on-board electrical system and by means of which active ship components like rudder and hydraulics can be controlled.

3. System for the total and permanent economical and technical management and operation of ships according to one of the claims 1 or 2 characterised by the fact that each mobile, that is, central unit (1) installed on the ship has extension modules (3) and interfaces, through which measuring sensors (8), nautical devices (9, 11), external computers/laptops (10), multimedia devices, antenna systems and transmitting systems (4) can be connected.

4. System for the total and permanent economical and technical management and operation of ships according to one of the claims 1 to 3 characterised by the fact that the control panel (2) connected to the central unit (1) is an input interface and consists of LCD Display (13) with touch screen, turning knobs, input keys and interfaces for computer mouse and multimedia devices.

5. System for the total and permanent economical and technical management and operation of ships according to one of the claims 1 to 4 characterised by the fact that the central unit (1) is fitted with an alarm unit (7), which is connected to the 12/24V power supply (5), and by means of which the entire system can be monitored as voltage monitoring.

6. System for the total and permanent economical and technical management and operation of ships according to one of the claims 1 to 5 characterised by the fact that at the minimum following data can be exchanged between the Tele Connect Centre (15) and the individual ships by GSM, marine radio and satellite in both directions:

Telemetric data for navigation like position with speed and direction, waypoints, average speed, calculated arrival time

Trackback, MOB, GOTO

GMDSS emergency call, MMSI number, EPIRP

Data for medical help

Data for the bilge, bilge umps

Fuel stock

Fresh water stock, foodstuff stock, stock of materials

Charge status condition of the power supply (Batteries)

All operation-relevant technical data of the ship

All relevant data for the (Diesel) engine

All data and localisation for the fitting out of the ship

All data for the navigation

Weather data and forecasts for particular routes

Dynamic representation of weather images (Wind, Air pressure, Wind sea, Wave height, Swell), graphical representation of weather situation, weather warnings and weather forecasts

Local actual data of the ship about air and water temperature, humidity, barometric reading with forecast, wind speed and direction

Actual data of the ship for type and area of the set sails, ocean depth, heeling

Actual data of the ship for sonar, radar

Ship voyage-specific infrastructure data about ports and landings

Reservation and booking plans of all yachts of a fleet

Electronic payment handling

Touristic information on the port location and landings and infrastructure data like hotels, airports, railway stations, restaurants

Reservations and booking service for all types of services

Image, sound and document transmission (Multimedia) in different formats

7. Process for the total and permanent economical and technical management and operation of ships with a central, stationary Tele Connect Centre (15) with stationary servers (14), software modules, databases and call centre (21) on land as well as mobile communication platforms (16) consisting of central unit (1), software modules (6) and input interface (2) on the ships, each with antennae (4) and power supply for 12/24 Volt supply (5) for communicating via GSM, marine radio or satellite network with the stationary Tele Connect Centre (15), in which the servers (14) existing therein contain all ship-specific data relevant for the management and operation of the individual ships and process and maintain data transmitted from the mobile central unit (1) as well as provide all types of data relevant for the management and operation of the ships in relevant databases besides the ship-relevant ones and that the data are exchanged round the clock in both directions by means of corresponding software modules according to regulated and requirement-wise cost-payable access authorisation.

8. Process for the total economical and technical management and operation of ships according to claim 7 characterised by the fact that the stationary Tele Connect Centre (15) on the servers (14) maintain specially conceived software applications and databases, whose data are fetched from the mobile central units (1) and which process the technical measurement data delivered by the mobile central units (1) and integrate the databases and software applications for the further communication.

9. Process for the total economical and technical management and operation of ships according to one of the claims 7 to 8 characterised by the fact that contact is maintained with the mobile central units (1) installed on the ships from the stationary Tele Connect Centre (15) through personnel via one or more manned Connect call centres (21) round the clock and data, voice and images are exchanged in both directions, in which these data can originate both from the central servers, databases and software applications as well as from third sources and specialists consulted.

10. Process for the total economical and technical management and operation of ships according to one of the claims 7 to 9 characterised by the fact that following data are exchanged between the stationary Tele Connect Centre and the individual ships by GSM, marine radio and satellite in both directions:

Telemetric data for navigation like position with speed and direction, waypoints, average speed, calculated arrival time

Trackback, MOB, GOTO

GMDSS emergency call, MMSI number, EPIRP

Data for medical help

Data for the bilge, Bilge pumps

Fuel stock

Fresh water stock, foodstuff stock, stock of materials

Charge status condition of the power supply (Batteries)

All operation-relevant technical data of the ship

All relevant data for the (Diesel) engine

All data and localisation for the fitting out of the ship

All data for the navigation

Weather data and forecasts for particular routes

Dynamic representation of weather images (Wind, Air pressure, Wind sea, Wave height, Swell), graphical representation of weather situation, weather warnings and weather forecasts

Local actual data of the ship about air and water temperature, humidity, barometric reading with forecast, wind speed and direction

Actual data of the ship for type and area of the set sails, ocean depth, heeling

Actual data of the ship for sonar, radar

Ship voyage-specific infrastructure data about ports and landings

Reservation and booking plans of all yachts of a fleet

Electronic payment handling

Touristic information on the port location and landings and infrastructure data like hotels, airports, railway stations, restaurants

Reservations and booking service for all types of services

Image, sound and document transmission (Multimedia) in different formats