Distributed intelligence engineering casualty and damage control management system using an AC power line carrier-current lan
First Claim
1. A distributed data acquisition and equipment control system for communicating information over AC power lines, comprising:
- an electrical power distribution line;
a plurality of carrier-current communication means positioned at predetermined locations on said power distribution line for transmitting and receiving information, said plurality of carrier-current communication means forming a local area network (LAN);
said LAN of carrier-current communication means comprising at least one Terminal Unit;
said Terminal Unit comprising;
a power line carrier current (PLCC) transceiver means for sending and receiving electrical signals constituting a LAN message over said power distribution line;
a slave processing means for interfacing and controlling communication with a first plurality of sensors and equipment;
an input/output (I/O) means for allowing an operator to input information onto and obtain information from the LAN;
a controller means for providing an interactive interface via said I/O means and for maintaining a data base of integrated command, equipment parameter and damage control information in a local non-volatile memory; and
a master processing means for controlling the exchange of information between said slave processing means, said controller means and said PLCC transceiver means, and for controlling the formation, transmission and reception of LAN messages with any other carrier-current communication means in said LAN via said PLCC transceiver means.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A distributed artificial intelligence data acquisition and equipment control system forms a local area network (LAN) over the AC power lines of a vessel for communicating shipboard engineering casualty and damage control information. Each node in the LAN includes a power line carrier current (PLCC) transceiver, a slave processing unit for interfacing with local sensors or equipment and a master processing unit for controlling the formation, transmission and reception of offset-quadrature-phase-shift-keyed (OQPSK) LAN messages. Nodes in the LAN are strategically positioned at various locations throughout the ship and are configured to function either as a Terminal Unit or as a Data & Control Unit. Terminal Units are equipped with a touch screen display and an intelligent controller that provides a user-friendly interactive operator interface through a series of display screen prompts and includes a data base of ship casualty and damage control information stored in a local non-volatile random access memory. The data base, containing both archived and current data, is maintained and constantly updated by each terminal unit in response to information acquired both locally and from other nodes in the LAN. Each Terminal Unit is assigned specific damage control responsibilities for monitoring conditions, controlling equipment and for exchanging data and commands with other nodes. Data and Control units perform monitoring and control functions similar to Terminal Units, but have no touch screen and provide no user interface. The PLCC transceiver at each node includes an improved low noise transmitter that employs a direct digital modulation (DDM) technique utilizing ROM stored waveforms and an improved receiver that uses a passive linear-phase bandpass detection filter and a switchable phase-locked/Costas loop for highly reliable, rapid acquisition of PSK signals.
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Citations
150 Claims
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1. A distributed data acquisition and equipment control system for communicating information over AC power lines, comprising:
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an electrical power distribution line; a plurality of carrier-current communication means positioned at predetermined locations on said power distribution line for transmitting and receiving information, said plurality of carrier-current communication means forming a local area network (LAN); said LAN of carrier-current communication means comprising at least one Terminal Unit; said Terminal Unit comprising; a power line carrier current (PLCC) transceiver means for sending and receiving electrical signals constituting a LAN message over said power distribution line; a slave processing means for interfacing and controlling communication with a first plurality of sensors and equipment; an input/output (I/O) means for allowing an operator to input information onto and obtain information from the LAN; a controller means for providing an interactive interface via said I/O means and for maintaining a data base of integrated command, equipment parameter and damage control information in a local non-volatile memory; and a master processing means for controlling the exchange of information between said slave processing means, said controller means and said PLCC transceiver means, and for controlling the formation, transmission and reception of LAN messages with any other carrier-current communication means in said LAN via said PLCC transceiver means.
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2. A distributed intelligence data acquisition and equipment control system for communicating data and control information over AC power lines, comprising:
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an electrical power distribution line; a plurality of carrier-current communication means positioned at predetermined locations on said power distribution line and forming a local area network (LAN) for transmitting and receiving information; at least one of said carrier-current communication means including a distributed artificial intelligence controller (DAIEC) means for controlling the exchange of information with other carrier-current communication means in the LAN, maintaining a local data base of stored information, and for providing an interactive user interface to said local data base and said plurality of carrier-current communication means in the LAN; said DAIEC means comprising a main processor connected to a non-volatile addressable memory and a user operable I/O device means for allowing a user to input information onto and obtain information from the LAN. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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3. A distributed intelligence data acquisition and equipment control system for communicating shipboard engineering casualty and damage control information over the AC power lines of a vessel, comprising:
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an electrical power distribution line located throughout the vessel; a plurality of carrier-current communication units which are positioned at predetermined locations throughout said vessel and connected to said power line to form a local area network (LAN); said LAN of carrier-current communication units comprising at least one Terminal Unit and one Data and Control Unit; said Terminal Unit comprising; a power line carrier current (PLCC) transceiver for sending and receiving electric signals constituting LAN messages over said power distribution line; a slave processing unit for interfacing and controlling communication with sensors and equipment located aboard said vessel; an input/output (I/O) touch-screen display device; an intelligent controller means for providing an interactive user-friendly operator interface via said touch-screen display and for maintaining a data base of said shipboard engineering casualty and damage control information in a local non-volatile memory; a master processing unit connected to said slave processing unit, to said PLCC transceiver and to said intelligent controller for controlling the exchange of information between said slave processing unit, said intelligent controller and any other carrier-current communications units in the LAN via said PLCC transceiver, including the formation, transmission and reception of said LAN messages; said Data and Control unit comprising; a second PLCC transceiver; a second slave processing unit; a second master processing unit connected to said second slave processing unit and said second PLCC transceiver for controlling the exchange of information between said second slave processing unit and other carrier-current communications units in the LAN via said second PLCC transceiver, including the formation, transmission and reception of said LAN messages. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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4. A distributed intelligence data acquisition and equipment control system for communicating shipboard engineering casualty and damage control information over the AC power lines of a vessel, comprising:
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an electrical power distribution line located throughout the vessel; a plurality of carrier-current communication means for transmitting and receiving data and control information positioned at predetermined locations throughout said vessel and connected to said power line to form a local area network (LAN); said LAN of carrier-current communication means comprising at least one Terminal Unit and one Data and Control Unit; said Terminal Unit comprising; a power line carrier current (PLCC) transceiver means for sending and receiving electrical signals constituting a LAN message over said power distribution line; a slave processing means for interfacing and controlling communication with a first plurality of sensors and equipment located aboard said vessel; a user operable terminal means for inputting, outputting and displaying data and control information; an intelligent controller means for providing an interactive user-friendly operator interface via a display of said terminal means and for maintaining a data base of said shipboard engineering casualty and damage control information in a local non-volatile memory; a master processing means for controlling the exchange of information between said slave processing means, said intelligent controller means and said PLCC transceiver means, and for controlling the formation, transmission and reception of LAN messages with any other carrier-current communications means in said LAN via said PLCC transceiver means; said Data and Control means comprising; a second PLCC transceiver means for sending and receiving electrical signals constituting a LAN message over said power distribution line; a second slave processing means for interfacing and controlling communication with a second plurality of sensors and equipment located aboard said vessel; a second master processing means, connected to said second slave processing means and said second PLCC transceiver means, for controlling the exchange of information between said second slave processing means and said PLCC transceiver means, and for controlling the formation, transmission and reception of LAN messages with any other carrier-current communications means in sand LAN via said PLCC transceiver means. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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5. A distributed intelligence data acquisition and equipment control system for communicating shipboard engineering casualty and damage control information over the AC power lines of a vessel, comprising:
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an electrical power distribution line located throughout the vessel; a plurality of carrier-current communication units which are positioned at predetermined locations throughout said vessel and connected to said power line to form a local area network (LAN); said LAN of carrier-current communication units comprising at least one Terminal Unit; said Terminal Unit comprising; a power line carrier current (PLCC) Transceiver for sending and receiving electrical signals constituting LAN messages over said power distribution line; a slave processing unit for interfacing and controlling communication with sensors and equipment located aboard said vessel; an input/output (I/O) touch-screen display device; an intelligent controller means for providing an interactive user-friendly operator interface via said touch-screen display and for maintaining a data base of said shipboard engineering casualty and damage control information in a local non-volatile memory; and a master processing unit connected to said slave processing unit, to said PLCC transceiver and to said intelligent controller for controlling the exchange of information between said slave processing unit, said intelligent controller and any other carrier-current communications units in the LAN via said PLCC transceiver, including the formation, transmission and reception of said LAN messages. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40)
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6. A distributed intelligence data acquisition and equipment control system for communicating data and control information over the AC power lines of a vessel, comprising:
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an electrical power distribution line located throughout said vessel; a plurality of carrier-current communication means for transmitting and receiving data and control information positioned at predetermined locations throughout said vessel and connected to said power line to form a local area network (LAN); said LAN of carrier-current communication means comprising at least one Terminal Unit; said Terminal Unit comprising; a power line carrier current (PLCC) transceiver means for sending and receiving electrical signals constituting a LAN message over said power distribution line; a slave processing means for interfacing and controlling communication with a first plurality of sensors and equipment located aboard said vessel; a user operable terminal means for inputting, outputting and displaying data and control information; an intelligent controller means for providing an interactive user-friendly operator interface via a display of said user operable terminal means and for maintaining a data base of said shipboard engineering casualty and damage control information in a local non-volatile memory; and a master processing means for controlling the exchange of information between said slave processing means, said intelligent controller means and said PLCC transceiver means, and for controlling the formation, transmission and reception of LAN messages with any other carrier-current communications means in said LAN via said PLCC transceiver means. - View Dependent Claims (41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50)
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51. A system for monitoring conditions of predetermined areas and equipment and for communicating data and control command information over existing on-site power lines, comprising:
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a plurality of carrier-current communication means positioned at predetermined locations on said power lines and forming a local area network (LAN) for transmitting and receiving information, wherein at least one of said carrier-current communication means includes a controller means for controlling the exchange of information with other carrier-current communication means in the LAN, maintaining a local data base of stored information indicative of monitored conditions and equipment, and for providing a user interface to said local data base and to said plurality of carrier-current communication means in the LAN; said controller means comprising a digital processor connected to a non-volatile memory and a user operable I/O means for allowing a user to input information onto and obtain information from the LAN. - View Dependent Claims (52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73)
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74. A distributed intelligence system for monitoring and controlling conditions of predetermined areas and electrical and mechanical apparatus aboard a vessel and for communicating damage control information relating to said areas and apparatus over existing power lines of said vessel, comprising:
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a plurality of communication means coupled to said power lines at predetermined locations for transmitting and receiving said damage control information; condition sensing means, coupled to said communication means, for monitoring equipment and sensing ambient conditions within said predetermined areas of said vessel; equipment control means, coupled to said communication means, for controlling at least one of said electrical and mechanical apparatus in response to control signals from said communication means. - View Dependent Claims (75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 147)
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94. A damage control management system for a vessel, comprising:
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a network comprising a plurality of electrically interconnected communication nodes distributed throughout said vessel, wherein said nodes comprise means for monitoring and controlling equipment and conditions within corresponding predetermined areas aboard said vessel, at least one of said nodes comprise; user operable I/O terminal means for displaying information and inputting user selections, and a processor means, connected to said I/O terminal and to said means for monitoring, for providing an interactive user interface via said I/O terminal, said processor means including means for generating a visual display of various data and damage control information on said user operable I/O terminal means in response to inputted user selections. - View Dependent Claims (95, 96, 97, 98, 99, 145, 146)
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100. A damage control management system for a vessel, comprising:
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a network comprising a plurality of electrically interconnected communication nodes distributed throughout said vessel, wherein said nodes comprise means for monitoring and controlling equipment and conditions within corresponding predetermined areas aboard said vessel, at least one of said nodes comprising; a memory means for storing a local data base of common damage control information comprising commands, parameters and sensor data for said areas of said vessel, and a means for maintaining and updating said data base through communication of said information between predetermined nodes. - View Dependent Claims (101, 102, 103, 104, 105, 106, 107)
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108. A system for monitoring conditions of predetermined areas and equipment and for communicating information over existing on-site power lines, comprising:
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a plurality of carrier-current communication means positioned at predetermined locations on said power lines and forming a local area network (LAN) for transmitting and receiving information, wherein at least one of said carrier-current communication means comprises; a slave processor means for interfacing and controlling communications with sensors and equipment in a predetermined area, a transceiver means for transmitting and receiving electrical signals over said power lines; and a master processor means connected to said transceiver means and said slave processor for controlling exchange of information between said slave processor and other communication means in the LAN via said transceiver means. - View Dependent Claims (109, 110, 111, 112, 113, 114, 115, 116, 117, 118, 119, 120, 148)
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121. A carrier-current transceiver circuit for transmitting and receiving phase shift keyed (PSK) signals over an electrical power line, comprising:
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transmit logic means for generating a PSK modulated waveform signal from binary signal information; and receiver logic means for detecting and demodulating PSK signals to produce binary signal information. - View Dependent Claims (122, 123, 124, 125, 126, 127, 128, 129)
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130. A system for communicating information over a power line, comprising:
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a plurality of communication means positioned at predetermined locations on said power line for transmitting and receiving information; said plurality of communication means comprising at least one terminal unit communication means; said terminal unit communication means comprising; a power line transceiver for sending and receiving electrical signals over said power line; a non-volatile memory for storing information local to said Terminal Unit; a user operable I/O device for inputting information and obtaining information from said Terminal Unit communication means for local storage or for transmission to other communication units via said power line transceiver; a terminal unit controller for providing an interactive user interface via said user operable I/O device and for maintaining a data base of communications information in said local non-volatile memory; and a master processor for controlling the exchange of information between said controller means and other said communications units via said power line transceiver. - View Dependent Claims (131, 132, 133, 134, 135, 136, 137, 138, 139, 140, 141, 142)
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143. In a phase locked loop circuit for a receiver, an improved VCO circuit comprising:
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input means form providing a VCO circuit input control voltage; a pair of high frequency crystal-stabilized voltage controlled oscillators each including a frequency determining network means for setting a preferred operational frequency;
said frequency determining network means comprising at least one varactor diode and a crystal and each of said oscillators set to operate at a different frequency;oscillator frequency pulling means for equally and oppositely varying the operational frequencies of said pair of crystal-stabilized voltage controlled oscillators slightly in direct response to said VCO circuit input control voltage; and demodulator circuit means connected to said pair of crystal-stabilized voltage controlled oscillators for providing a VCO circuit output frequency corresponding to the difference between operational frequencies of each oscillator of said pair of crystal-stabilized voltage controlled oscillators. - View Dependent Claims (144)
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149. A method for monitoring and controlling conditions of predetermined areas and equipment and for communicating data and control information over existing on-site power lines, said method comprising:
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providing a plurality of carrier-current communication units positioned at predetermined locations on said power lines for transmitting and receiving information; electronically monitoring conditions of predetermined areas and equipment; providing data regarding said conditions and equipment to an associated communication unit; maintaining a local data base of damage control information at predetermined communication units; exchanging said data and control information between carrier-current communication units; and providing a user interface to said local data base and to said plurality of carrier-current communication means via an I/O device operatively connected to one of said communication units.
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150. A method for exercising damage control management aboard a vessel, said method comprising:
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providing a plurality of electrically interconnected communication units distributed throughout said vessel; monitoring conditions and equipment within predetermined areas of said vessel corresponding to locations of said distributed communication units, said units receiving data regarding monitored conditions and equipment in said corresponding areas; providing said data and further damage control information to other predetermined interconnected communication units; creating at least one data base of damage control information operatively connected to one of said communication units, said data base comprising operational parameterscorresponding to monitored conditions and equipment for said predetermined areas; maintaining and updating said data base with data obtained by said monitoring and with damage control information provided from other communication units; and providing interactive user access to said damage control information stored in said data base via an I/O device operatively connected to one of said communication units.
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Specification