Calendar interface scheduling tool for a data acquisition system

• US 20090003138A1
• Filed: 06/29/2007
• Published: 01/01/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/29/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Inventors: McNealy, Anthony Dean, Ferguson, Alan Lewis, Wood, Daniel Craig, Donnelli, Aaron Michael
• Application Number:
  US11/819,886
• Publication Number:
  US 20090003138A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 368/28
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 1/12 wherein the time is indicated in figures
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/085 using electronic data carriers

Abstract

A data acquisition system is disclosed. The data acquisition system includes one or more remote machines, and an off-board system in communication with the one or more remote machines. The off-board system is configured to display a calendar interface having a plurality of selectable entries each corresponding to a different period of time, receive a user'"'"'s selection of one of the plurality of selectable entries corresponding to a desired period of time, receive a user'"'"'s selection of one of the one or more remote machines, and receive a user'"'"'s selection of one of a plurality of available operational parameters monitored by the selected one of the one or more remote machines. The off-board system is further configured to update a configuration of the selected one of the one or more remote machines based on the desired period of time and the selected one of a plurality of available operational parameters.

Claims

1. A data acquisition system, comprising:

one or more remote machines; and

an off-board system in communication with the one or more remote machines, the off-board system being configured to;

display a calendar interface having a plurality of selectable entries each corresponding to a different period of time;

receive a user'"'"'s selection of one of the plurality of selectable entries corresponding to a desired period of time. receive a user'"'"'s selection of one of the one or more remote machines;

receive a user'"'"'s selection of one of a plurality of available operational parameters monitored by the selected one of the one or more remote machines; and

update a configuration of the selected one of the one or more remote machines based on the desired period of time and the selected one of a plurality of available operational parameters.

2. The data acquisition system of claim 1, wherein the selected one of the one or more remote machines is configured to transmit a value of the selected one of a plurality of available operational parameters to the off-board system during the desired period of time in response to the update.

3. The data acquisition system of claim 2, wherein the off-board system is further configured to generate a report including a value of the selected one of a plurality of available operational parameters for viewing by the user.

4. The data acquisition system of claim 3, wherein the report includes an electronic mail message transmitted during the desired period of time.

5. The data acquisition system of claim 3, wherein the off-board system is further configured to display a link corresponding to the report on the calendar interface, wherein the report is viewable upon the user'"'"'s selection of the link.

6. The data acquisition system of claim 1, wherein the off-board system is further configured to:

receive a user'"'"'s selection of an elapsed period of time; and

display links on the calendar interface corresponding to reports transmitted to the off-board system during the elapsed period of time, wherein the reports are viewable upon the user'"'"'s selection of the links.

7. The data acquisition system of claim 1, wherein the selected one of the one or more machines machine is configured to collect data corresponding to the selected one of a plurality of available operational parameters during the desired future period of time in response to the update.

8. The data acquisition system of claim 7, wherein the selected one of the one or more machines is further configured to store a value of the selected one of a plurality of available operational parameters in a machine operation log during the desired period of time in response to the update.

9. The data acquisition system of claim 1, wherein a total amount of time displayed on the calendar interface is selectable by a user and includes one or more of a year, a month, a week, a bi-week, a day, and an hour.

10. A local machine, comprising:

a power source configured to power operations of the local machine;

an operator interface to receive input from and provide information to an operator of the local machine; and

a controller in communication with the operator interface and one or more remote machines, the controller being configured to;

display a calendar interface having a plurality of selectable entries each corresponding to a different period of time;

receive the operator'"'"'s selection of a one of the plurality of selectable entries corresponding to a desired period of time;

receive the operator'"'"'s selection of the local machine or one of the one or more remote machines;

receive the operator'"'"'s selection of one of a plurality of available operational parameters monitored by the selected local machine or the selected one of the one or more remote machines; and

update a configuration of the selected local machine or the selected one of the one or more remote machines based on the desired period of time and the selected one of a plurality of operational parameters.

11. The local machine of claim 10, wherein the selected local machine or the selected one of the one or more remote machines is configured to collect data corresponding to the selected one of a plurality of operational parameters during the desired period of time in response to the update.

12. The local machine of claim 11, wherein the selected local machine or the selected one of the one or more remote machines is further configured to store a value of the selected one of a plurality of operational parameters in a machine operation log in response to the update.

13. The local machine of claim 10, wherein the selected local machine or the selected one of the one or more remote machines is configured to communicate a value of the selected one of a plurality of operational parameters to an off-board system during the desired period of time in response to the update.

14. The local machine of claim 10, wherein the controller is further configured to:

receive an operator'"'"'s selection of a desired elapsed period of time; and

display links on the calendar interface corresponding to reports transmitted to the off-board system during the elapsed period of time, wherein the reports are viewable upon the operator'"'"'s selection of the links.

15. The local machine of claim 10, wherein a total amount of time displayed on the calendar interface is selectable by an operator and includes one or more of a year, a month, a week, a bi-week, a day, and an hour.

16. A method of acquiring data, comprising:

displaying a calendar interface having a plurality of selectable entries each corresponding to a different period of time;

receiving a selection of a one of the plurality of selectable entries corresponding to a desired period of time;

receiving a selection of one of the one or more remote machines;

receiving a selection of one of a plurality of available operational parameters monitored by the selected one of the one or more remote machines; and

updating a configuration of the selected one of the one or more remote machines based on the desired period of time and the selected one of a plurality of available operational parameters.

17. The method of claim 16, further including transmitting, by the selected one of the one or more remote machines, a value of the selected one of a plurality of available operational parameters to an off-board system during the desired period of time in response to the update.

18. The method of claim 16, further including collecting, by the selected one of the one or more remote machines, data corresponding to the selected one of a plurality of available operational parameters only during the desired period of time in response to the update.

19. The method of claim 18, further including storing, by the selected one of the one or more remote machines, a value of the selected one of a plurality of available operational parameters in a machine operation log.

20. The method of claim 16, further including:

selecting an entry corresponding to an elapsed period of time; and

displaying links on the calendar interface corresponding to reports received during the elapsed period of time, wherein the reports are viewable upon selection thereof.