Agricultural communication network

• US 5,689,418 A
• Filed: 01/03/1995
• Issued: 11/18/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 07/22/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ag-Chem Sales Company Incorporated (AGCO Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Ag-Chem Sales Company Incorporated (AGCO Corporation)
• Inventors: Monson, Robert J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hayes, Gail O.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Tkacs, Stephen R.
• Application Number:
  US08/367,952
• Time in Patent Office: 1,050 Days
• Field of Search: 111/130, 364/420, 395/129, 395/200.02, 395/200.06, 395/200.09, 395/200.14, 395/727, 395/601, 395/609, 395/610, 395/615, 395/928, 382/100, 382/113
• US Class Current: 702/2
• CPC Class Codes: A01B 79/005 Precision agriculture
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/00 Arrangements for maintenance, administration or management of data switching networks, e.g. of packet switching networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 706/928 Earth science

Abstract

An agricultural communications network including a master system which polls lower level systems for digital maps, each map comprising field character information indicative of a feature at each location of a farmer'"'"'s field. An agronomist can correlate the data of the digital maps to ascertain common conditions which realize maximum yields. Farmers and their regional dealers participate in the system through subscription. Anonymity is maintained through hierarchy such that the farmers will participate in the network, thus expanding the data base for use by the agronomist. Thus, the participating subscribers facilitate expansion of the field of agronomy for the benefit of all.

Claims

1. An agricultural communication network system, comprising:

(a) at least one electronic dealer station having storage means storing a plurality of individual digital maps therein, each of said digital maps characterized as comprising agricultural-related data geo-referenced to an individual one of a plurality of agricultural fields, said dealer station including a transmitting means for transmitting a preselected one of said digital maps when polled;

(b) master processing means geographically located remote from said dealer station for polling said dealer station, said master processing means including receiving means for receiving said preselected digital map along with said agricultural-related data polled from said dealer station, said master processing means further including memory means for storing said preselected polled digital map and its agricultural-related data;

(c) communication means for electronically communicating each of said digital maps and its agricultural-related data between said dealer station and said master processing means;

(d) wherein each said dealer station comprises an electronic terminal, and wherein each said electronic terminal storage means stores a plurality of said digital maps therein;

(e) wherein said master processing means further includes security means for restricting access of said digital map stored therein by said dealer station; and

(f) wherein said master processing means further includes distribution means for selectively distributing said digital maps stored in said memory means to selected said terminals.

2. The network system as specified in claim 1 wherein said analyzing means also correlates said digital maps as a function of said at least one preselected parameter when analyzing said digital maps.

3. An agricultural communication network system, comprising:

(a) master processing means comprising memory means having a plurality of individual digital maps contained therein, each of said digital maps characterized as comprising agricultural-related data geo-referenced to an individual one of a plurality of agricultural fields, said master processing means comprising analyzing means for analyzing said digital maps stored in said memory means and providing an output indicative of said analyzed digital maps, whereby said analyzing means analyzes selected said digital maps as a function of at least one preselected parameter to provide said output, said master processing means comprising transmitting means for transmitting said output;

(b) at least one electronic dealer station geographically located remote from said master processing means having receiving means for receiving said output from said master processing means;

(c) communication means for electronically communicating said output from said master processing means to said dealer station; and

(d) wherein said analyzing means analyzes selected of said plurality of digital maps stored in said memory means to provide said output by correlating selected of said digital maps as a function of said selected parameter.

4. The network system as specified in claim 3 wherein each said dealer station comprises an electronic terminal, each terminal comprising a personal computer having storage means for storing said output received from said master processing means.

5. The network system as specified in claim 4 wherein each said terminal further comprises security means for restricting access of said digital maps stored in said respective storage means from other said terminals.

6. The network system as specified in claim 4 wherein said plurality of electronic dealer stations are geographically distributed and remotely located from one another.

7. The network system as specified in claim 3 wherein said network system comprises a plurality of said electronic dealer stations, wherein said output comprises at least one said digital map, and said communicating means electronically communicating said outputted digital maps between said master processing means and each of said electronic dealer stations.

8. A method of implementing an agricultural communication network system, comprising:

(a) at least one electronic dealer station having storage means storing a plurality of individual digital maps therein, said digital maps characterized as comprising agricultural-related data geo-referenced to an individual one of a plurality of agricultural fields, said dealer station including a transmitting means for transmitting preselected ones of said digital maps when polled;

(b) master processing means geographically located remote from said dealer station for polling said dealer station, said master processing means including receiving means for receiving preselected ones of said digital maps polled from said dealer station, said master processing means further including memory means for storing said preselected polled digital map; and

(c) communication means for electronically communicating said digital maps between said dealer station and said master processing means; and

(d) wherein said network system master processing means further comprising analyzing means for analyzing preselected individual ones of said digital maps stored in said memory means and providing an output indicative of said analyzed digital maps, whereby said analyzing means analyzes and correlates selected said digital maps as a function of at least one selected parameter to provide said output, said master processing means further comprising downloading means for downloading said output to said dealer station;

comprising the steps of;

(i) storing at least one of the plurality of digital maps in said storage means of at least one said electronic dealer station;

(ii) polling at least one said dealer stations using said master processing means to retrieve at least one of said digital maps stored in said storage means via said communication means; and

(iii) analyzing at least one of said retrieved digital maps stored in said memory means using said analyzing means and providing an output by correlating preselected ones of said digital maps as a function of at least one selected parameter, and downloading said output to said dealer station using said downloading means.