TELEMATICS SYSTEM WITH LOCAL NETWORK

• US 20110025495A1
• Filed: 07/30/2009
• Published: 02/03/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/30/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Genie Industries Incorporated (Terex Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Genie Industries Incorporated (Terex Corporation)
• Inventors: Allen, Bradley K.
• Application Number:
  US12/512,378
• Publication Number:
  US 20110025495A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/539.13
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/002 with telemetering systems telemetering in general G08C

Abstract

A telematics system includes a central system, a telematics server unit, and a telematics local unit. The central system receives and processes information relating to a plurality of pieces of equipment located remotely from the central system, and provides services relating to the information to an end user. The telematics server unit includes a telecommunications device for wirelessly communicating with the central system. The telematics local unit installs at a piece of equipment and includes an input for receiving a condition of the piece of equipment. The telematics local unit further includes a local communications device for wirelessly communicating with the telematics server unit. The telematics server unit provides and facilitates communication between the telematics local unit and the central system.

Claims

1. A telematics system comprising:

a central system for receiving and processing information relating to a plurality of pieces of equipment located remotely from the central system, and for providing services relating to the information to an end user;

a telematics server unit including a telecommunications device for wirelessly communicating with the central system;

a telematics local unit for installation at a piece of equipment and including an input for receiving a condition of the piece of equipment, the telematics local unit further including a local communications device for wirelessly communicating with the telematics server unit; and

wherein the telematics server unit provides and facilitates communication between the telematics local unit and the central system.

2. The telematics system of claim 1 wherein the telematics server unit is for installation at a second piece of equipment and further includes an input for receiving a condition of the second piece of equipment.

3. The telematics system of claim 2 wherein the telematics server unit includes a global positioning system (GPS) device.

4. The telematics system of claim 2 wherein the telematics server unit is configured to receive an input indicative of run-time hours.

5. The telematics system of claim 2 wherein the telematics server unit is configured to receive an input indicative of a diagnostic code.

6. The telematics system of claim 1 wherein the telematics server unit is a stand-alone unit.

7. The telematics system of claim 6 wherein the telematics server unit includes a global positioning system (GPS) device.

8. The telematics system of claim 1 wherein the telematics server unit further includes a local communications device that communicates with the local communications device on the telematics local unit.

9. The telematics system of claim 8 wherein the local communications device on the telematics server unit and the local communications device on the telematics local unit are both radio frequency devices.

10. The telematics system of claim 1 wherein the telematics local unit is configured to receive an input indicative of run-time hours.

11. The telematics system of claim 1 wherein the telematics local unit is configured to receive an input indicative of a diagnostic code.

12. The telematics system of claim 1 wherein the telecommunications device on the telematics server unit is a cellular communication device.

13. The telematics system of claim 1 wherein the telecommunications device on the telematics server unit is a satellite communication device.

14. The telematics system of claim 1 wherein the telematics local unit is configured to send a signal to the telematics server unit, the signal indicating the condition received at the input;

and

wherein the telematics server unit is configured to send information received from the telematics local unit to the central server.

15. The telematics system of claim 1 wherein the telematics server unit is configured with an owner code, and is configured to broadcast the owner code;

and

wherein the telematics local unit is configured with an owner code, and is configured such that when a received, broadcast owner code matches the owner code of the telematics local unit, the telematics local unit sends a signal to the telematics server unit, the signal indicating the condition received at the input.

16. The telematics system of claim 1 wherein the central system is configured to send a signal to the telematics server unit;

wherein the telematics server unit is configured to relay the signal, as appropriate, to the telematics local unit; and

wherein the telematics local unit is configured to take action at the piece of equipment, as appropriate, based on the received signal.

17. A telematics system comprising:

a telematics server unit including a telecommunications device for wirelessly communicating with a central system;

a plurality of telematics local units, each telematics local unit being configured for installation at a corresponding piece of equipment and including an input for receiving a condition of the piece of equipment, each telematics local unit further including a local communications device for wirelessly communicating with the telematics server unit; and

wherein the telematics server unit provides and facilitates communication between the telematics local unit and the central system.

18. The telematics system of claim 17 wherein each telematics local unit is configured to send a signal to the telematics server unit, the signal indicating the condition received at the input;

and

wherein the telematics server unit is configured to send information received from each telematics local unit to the central server.

19. The telematics system of claim 17 wherein the telematics server unit is configured with an owner code, and is configured to broadcast the owner code;

and

wherein each telematics local unit is configured with an owner code, and is configured such that when a received, broadcast owner code matches the owner code of the telematics local unit, the telematics local unit sends a signal to the telematics server unit, the signal indicating the condition received at the input.

20. A telematics system comprising:

a telematics server unit including a telecommunications device for communicating with a central system;

a telematics local unit for installation at a piece of equipment and including an input for receiving a condition of the piece of equipment, the telematics local unit further including a local communications device for wirelessly communicating with the telematics server unit; and

wherein the telematics server unit provides and facilitates communication between the telematics local unit and the central system.