Lock Control System and Method for Working Machine, Working Machine, Lock Control Device and Lock Control Management Device for Working Machine

• US 20080150677A1
• Filed: 01/06/2006
• Published: 06/26/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/11/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Komatsu Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Komatsu Ltd.
• Inventors: Arakawa, Shuji
• Granted Patent: US 8,098,128 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/5.2
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/2018 Central base unlocks or authorises unlocking
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/205 Remotely operated machines, e.g. unmanned vehicles E02F3/8866 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/24 Safety devices , e.g. for preventing overload E02F9/226 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/008 communicating information to a remotely located station transmission systems for measured values G08C
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/085 using electronic data carriers
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00563 using personal physical data of the operator, e.g. finger prints, retinal images, voicepatterns
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/0069 actuated in a predetermined sequence
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00896 specially adapted for particular uses

Abstract

The lock control system of the present invention makes it possible to perform lock control of a working machine both by remote actuation and by local actuation, so that the convenience of use and so on is enhanced. A lock setting device 140 is provided to the working machine. The lock setting device 140 is provided with a user password storage unit 144, a manager password storage unit 145, and a one-time password storage unit 146. The user is able to perform lock setting and release by local actuation using the user password. A maintenance person is able to perform lock setting and release by local actuation using the one-time password. And lock setting and release can also be performed by remote actuation via a satellite communication network. It is possible to perform lock setting and release by selecting the appropriate method for each individual scenario.

Claims

1. A system for performing lock control of a working machine, comprising a working machine and a management device which are connected via a communication network so as to be capable of mutual communications, wherein:

said working machine comprises;

an input means for inputting information;

a first communication means which performs mutual communication with said management device via said communication network; and

a control means which restricts an operation of said working machine, or releases the operational restriction, based upon either or both of information which has been inputted from said management device via said first communication means, and information which has been inputted from said input means; and

said management device comprises;

a second communication means which performs mutual communication with said working machine via said communication network;

a lock setting means which transmits information for restricting the operation of said working machine, via said second communication means, to said working machine; and

a lock release means which transmits to said working machine a signal for releasing the operational restriction which has been set, via said second communication means.

2. The lock control system for a working machine as described in claim 1, wherein:

said control means comprises;

a first password storage means which stores first password information for comparison with information inputted from said input means;

a second password storage means which stores second password information for comparison with information inputted from said input means; and

a third password storage means which stores third password information for comparison with information inputted from said management device; and

said control means;

executes said lock control, if information which has been inputted from said input means matches at least either one of said first password information and said second password information; and

executes said lock control, if information which has been inputted from said management device matches said third password information.

3. The lock control system for a working machine as described in claim 2, wherein said second password information is one-time password information, and further comprising a second password rewriting means for, if said second password information which is stored in said second password storage means has been used, rewriting said used second password information to new second password information.

4. The lock control system for a working machine as described in claim 2, wherein said second password information is one-time password information, and further comprising a second password deletion means for, if said second password information which is stored in said second password storage means has been used, deleting said used second password information.

5. The lock control system for a working machine as described in claim 2, wherein said control means comprises a second password rewriting means, and, if said second password information which is stored in said second password storage means has been used, said second password rewriting means rewrites said used second password information to new second password information.

6. The lock control system for a working machine as described in claim 2, wherein:

said control means comprises a second password deletion means and a second password rewriting means, and;

if said second password information which is stored in said second password storage means has been used, said second password deletion means deletes said used second password information; and

if an issuance request for said second password information has been inputted from said input means, said second password rewriting means generates new second password information according to a predetermined generating conditional expression which has been set in advance, and stores the new second password information in said second password storage means.

7. The lock control system for a working machine as described in claim 6, wherein said control means decides that the issuance request for said second password information has been inputted, if information other than information which is registered in advance in said control means has been inputted via said input means.

8. The lock control system for a working machine as described in claim 2, wherein:

said management device comprises a second password rewriting means; and

the second password rewriting means, upon receipt from said control means via said communication network of information to the effect that said second password information which is stored in said second password storage means has been used, generates new second password information, transmits the new second password information which has been generated via said communication network to said control means, and causes it to be stored in said second password storage unit.

9. The lock control system for a working machine as described in claim 2, wherein:

said management device comprises;

a reset means for resetting said first password information which is stored in said first password storage means to its initial value; and

a second password rewriting means which updates said second password information which is stored in said second password storage means to new second password information; and

said control means;

based upon a command from said reset means, resets said first password information which is stored in said first password storage means to said initial value; and

based upon a command from said second password rewriting means, updates said second password information which is stored in said second password storage means (146) to said new second password information.

10. The lock control system for a working machine as described in claim 1, wherein said control means, as said lock control, sets said working machine to either one of a locked state in which the operation of said working machine is made impossible or the operation which it is capable of executing is restricted, and an unlocked state in which this locked state is released.

11. The lock control system for a working machine as described in claim 2, wherein said first password information is information which can be repeatedly used at a plurality of times for said lock control, and said second password information is information which is changed at each time when said lock control is performed.

12. A lock control method for a working machine, being a method for performing lock control of a working machine which is connected to a management device via a communication network so as to be capable of mutual communication therewith, comprising:

a first locking step of setting a locked state in which an operation of said working machine is made impossible or the operation which it is capable of executing is restricted, based upon a first lock command which has been inputted from said management device via said communication network;

a second locking step of setting said working machine to said locked state, based upon a second lock command which has been inputted from an input means which is provided to said working machine;

a first unlocking step of releasing said locked state and setting an unlocked state, based upon a first unlock command which has been inputted from said management device via said communication network; and

a second unlocking step of setting said working machine to said unlocked state, based upon a second unlock command which has been inputted from said input means;

wherein, in said second unlocking step, said second unlocked state is set, if said second unlock command which has been inputted from said input means matches at least one of first password information and second password information which is set in advance in said working machine.

13. A working machine, being a working machine which is connected to a management device via a communication network so as to be capable of communication therewith, comprising:

an input means for inputting information;

a first communication means which performs mutual communication with said management device via said communication network; and

a control means which restricts an operation of said working machine, or releases the operational restriction, based upon either or both of information which has been inputted from said management device via said first communication means; and

information which has been inputted from said input means.

14. A system for performing lock control of a working machine, comprising a working machine and a management device which are connected via a communication network so as to be capable of mutual communication wherein:

said working machine comprises;

a communication means for connecting to said management device via said communication network;

a password storage means for storing password information which is used for lock control;

a used notification means which, if said password information has been used, transmits from said communication means via said communication network to said management device a used notification which specifies the fact that said password information has been used; and

a rewriting means which, if new password information has been received from said management device via said communication network, rewrites said password information which is stored in said password storage means to said new password information; and

said management device comprises;

a communication means for connecting to said working machine via said communication network;

a password generation means which generates said new password information if said used notification has been received from said working machine; and

a password transmission means which transmits said new password information which has been generated from said communication means via said communication network to said working machine.

15. A lock control system for a working machine, being a system for performing lock control of a working machine, comprising a working machine and a management device which are connected via a communication network so as to be capable of mutual communication, wherein:

said working machine comprises;

a password storage means for storing password information which is used for lock control; and

a password deletion means for, if said password information which is stored in said password storage means has been used, deleting said used password information; and

a machine side password generation means which, if an issuance request for password information has been inputted, generates new password information according to a predetermined generating conditional expression which is set in advance, and stores the new password information in said password storage means; and

said management device comprises a manager side password generation means which, if a request has been made, generates new password information according to the same generating conditional expression as said predetermined generating conditional expression.

16. The lock control system for a working machine as described in claim 15, wherein said machine side password generation means decides that the issuance request for said password information has been inputted, if information other than information which is registered in advance has been inputted.

17. The lock control system for a working machine as described in claim 15, wherein said management device comprises a notification means for notifying said new password information which has been generated.

18. A lock control device for a working machine, which is a device for performing lock control for a working machine, comprising:

a communication means which performs mutual communication with a management device via a communication network;

a lock control means which, based upon a command which has been inputted, sets either a locked state or an unlocked state of said working machine;

a password storage means for storing a password for releasing said state of locking by said lock control means;

a password comparison means which compares a password which has been inputted from a password input means and said password which is stored in said password storage means, and, if said passwords match with one another, issues a command to said lock control means to set it from said locked state into said unlocked state;

a used notification means which, if said password which is stored in said password storage means has been used, transmits from said communication means via said communication network to said management device a used notification which specifies the fact that said password has been used; and

a rewriting means which, if a new password has been received from said management device via said communication network, rewrites said password which is stored in said password storage means to said new password.

19. A lock control management device for a working machine, being a management device for performing lock control for a working machine, comprising:

a communication means for performing mutual communication with said working machine; and

a password generation means which generates a password which is used by said working machine;

wherein when a password issuance request has been received from said working machine via said communication means, a new password is generated by said password generation means, and the new password is transmitted to said working machine via said communication means.