System for collection and distribution of machine data via a cellular device

• US 20090111520A1
• Filed: 10/31/2007
• Published: 04/30/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Inventors: Ring, Paul Alan
• Granted Patent: US 8,195,231 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/557
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 3/00 Registering or indicating the condition or the working of machines or other apparatus, other than vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/008 communicating information to a remotely located station transmission systems for measured values G08C

Abstract

A data collection and distribution system associated with a machine comprises an electronic control module located on a machine. The electronic control module is configured to collect operation data associated with the machine. The system also comprises a personal area network (PAN) control module communicatively coupled to the electronic control module. The PAN control module is configured to detect a PAN-compatible cellular communication device proximate the PAN control module. The PAN control module is also configured to transmit the operation data to the PAN-compatible cellular communication device using a PAN connection between the PAN control module and the PAN-compatible cellular device, wherein the PAN-compatible cellular communication device is configured to transmit the operation data to a condition monitoring system via a cellular network.

Claims

1. A method for collection and distribution of machine data via a cellular communication device, comprising:

collecting, by an electronic control module of a machine, operation data associated with the machine;

detecting, by a personal area network (PAN) control module communicatively coupled to the electronic control module, a PAN-compatible cellular communication device proximate the PAN control module;

transmitting the operation data to the PAN-compatible cellular communication device, wherein the PAN-compatible cellular communication device is configured to transmit the operation data to a condition monitoring system via a cellular network.

2. The method of claim 1, further wherein detecting the PAN-compatible cellular communication device includes:

identifying the PAN-compatible cellular communication device;

authenticating the identity of the PAN-compatible cellular communication device; and

establishing a secure PAN communication channel with the PAN-compatible cellular communication device.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the electronic control module includes a serial communication port and the PAN control module includes a Bluetooth dongle adapted to interface with the serial communication port.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the electronic control module includes the PAN control module.

5. The method of claim 1, further including:

storing the operation data in memory associated with the PAN-compatible cellular communication device;

detecting, by the PAN-compatible cellular communication device, availability of the cellular network; and

transmitting the operation data to the condition monitoring system when the cellular network is available.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein transmitting the operation data to the condition monitoring system includes transmitting the operation data using a text messaging feature associated with the PAN-compatible cellular communication device.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the PAN-compatible cellular communication device includes a GSM-compatible cellular communication device.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the PAN-compatible cellular communication device includes a CDMA-compatible cellular communication device.

9. A system for collection and distribution of machine data via a cellular communication device, comprising:

an electronic control module located on a machine, the electronic control module configured to collect operation data associated with the machine;

a personal area network (PAN) control module communicatively coupled to the electronic control module and configured to;

detect a PAN-compatible cellular communication device proximate the PAN control module;

transmit the operation data to the PAN-compatible cellular communication device;

wherein the PAN-compatible cellular communication device is configured to transmit the operation data to a condition monitoring system via a cellular network.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the PAN control module is further configured to:

identify the PAN-compatible cellular communication device;

authenticate the identity of the PAN-compatible cellular communication device; and

establish a secure PAN communication channel with the PAN-compatible cellular communication device.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein the electronic control module includes a serial communication port and the PAN control module includes a Bluetooth dongle adapted to interface with the serial communication port.

12. The system of claim 9, wherein the electronic control module includes the PAN control module.

13. The system of claim 9, wherein the PAN-compatible cellular communication device includes a GSM-compatible cellular communication device.

14. The system of claim 9, wherein the PAN-compatible cellular communication device includes a CDMA-compatible cellular communication device.

15. The system of claim 9, wherein the PAN-compatible cellular communication device is configured to:

store the operation data in memory associated with the PAN-compatible cellular communication device;

detect availability of the cellular network; and

transmit the operation data to the condition monitoring system when the cellular network is available.

16. The system of claim 9, wherein the condition monitoring system is further configured to:

receive operation data associated with the machine; and

output the received operation data on a display.

17. The system of claim 9, wherein the PAN-compatible cellular communication device is configured to transmit the operation data using a text messaging feature associated with the PAN-compatible cellular communication device.

18. A project environment, comprising:

at least one monitoring device configured to monitor at least one operational aspect associated with a machine operating in the project environment;

an electronic control module communicatively coupled to the at least one monitoring device, the electronic control module configured to collect data indicative of the at least one operational aspect from the at least one monitoring device;

a Bluetooth control module communicatively coupled to the electronic control module and configured to;

detect a Bluetooth-compatible cellular communication device proximate the Bluetooth control module;

transmit the data indicative of the at least one operational aspect to the Bluetooth-compatible cellular communication device;

wherein the Bluetooth-compatible cellular communication device is configured to transmit the data indicative of the at least one operation aspect to a condition monitoring system via a cellular network.

19. The project environment of claim 18, wherein the Bluetooth control module is further configured to:

identify the Bluetooth-compatible cellular communication device;

authenticate the identity of the Bluetooth-compatible cellular communication device; and

establish a secure Bluetooth communication channel with the Bluetooth-compatible cellular communication device.

20. The project environment of claim 18, wherein the electronic control module includes a serial communication port and the Bluetooth control module includes a Bluetooth dongle adapted to interface with the serial communication port of the electronic control module.

21. The project environment of claim 18, wherein the electronic control module includes the Bluetooth control module.

22. The project environment of claim 18, wherein the Bluetooth-compatible cellular communication device is configured to:

store the operation data in memory associated with the Bluetooth-compatible cellular communication device;

detect availability of the cellular network; and

transmit the operation data to the condition monitoring system when the cellular network is available.