Fender and management system thereof

• US 6,486,800 B1
• Filed: 08/19/1999
• Issued: 11/26/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 10/22/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Yokohama Rubber Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Yokohama Rubber Company Limited
• Inventors: Hattori, Yutaka
• Primary Examiner(s): SWARTHOUT, BRENT
• Application Number:
  US09/319,948
• Time in Patent Office: 1,195 Days
• Field of Search: 340/999, 340/984, 340/572.8, 340/3.1, 340/539, 701/21, 705/28, 235/384, 235/385, 405/215
• US Class Current: 340/984
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 2059/025 pneumatic, e.g. inflatable
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 2203/00 Communication means
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 59/02 Fenders integral with waterborne vessels or specially adapted therefor, e.g. fenders forming part of the hull or incorporated in the hull; Rubbing-strakes fenders on coasts, in harbours or on other fixed marine structures E02B3/26
• CPC Class Codes: E02B 3/26 Fenders fenders for protecting offshore constructions E02B17/003; fenders integral with waterborne vessels or specially adapted therefor B63B59/02
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• 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 9/27 with central registration
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/28 the pass enabling tracking or indicating presence
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 3/00 Traffic control systems for marine craft marking of navigational route B63B22/16, B63B51/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 30/30 in transportation, e.g. on roads, waterways or railways

Abstract

The present invention relates to a fender, which is used as cushioning material mainly at the time of a ship being moored, and a management system thereof. A transponder is mounted in a fender 1 that is an object to be managed, and an ID code is read by the transponder in the fender 1 being accessed by terminals 2A through 2D provided in areas where are areas to be managed and each have one or more terminals. Historical information showing an installed place and an installed period of the fender 1 and individual update information including the ID code is transferred to a control system 4 through communication networks 6A through 6D. The control system 4 not only stores manufacturing information and historical information of all the fenders 1 that are objects to be managed, but also updates the historical information on the basis of the individual update information received from the terminal 2. Furthermore, the control system 4 displays the manufacturing information and historical information of a specific fender 1 designated by an operator. Thereby, it is possible to perform management of fenders, installed in being dispersed, in real time.

Claims

1. A management system of a pneumatic fencer that is used as a cushioning material for a ship with the fender being fixed to an underwater structure or floated, comprising:

a transponder, which includes information memory means for storing predetermined information, and information read means for reading information stored in the information memory means, wherein said transponder can provide wireless access to the information read means, the transponder being located inside a tegument surface of the fender;

a plurality of terminals that can transfer information through a communication network with each other; and

one or more control systems, wherein each terminal comprises;

identification information read means for accessing the transponder of the pneumatic fender and reading identification information;

historical information input means for inputting historical information showing at least an installed place and an installed period of a pneumatic fender having the identification information at this time; and

transmission means for generating an individual update information, including the identification information and historical information, every pneumatic fender transmitting the individual update information through the communication network;

wherein the control system comprises;

manufacturing information memory means for storing manufacturing information of all the pneumatic fenders, which are objects to be managed, in a one-to-one correspondence between the historical information and the identification information;

historical information memory means for storing historical information of all the pneumatic fenders, which are objects to be managed, in a one-to-one correspondence between the historical information and the identification information;

reception means for receiving the individual update information from each terminal through the communication network;

historical information update means for updating historical information, stored in the historical information memory means, on the basis of individual update information received by the reception means; and

information display means for displaying manufacturing information and historical information of a specific pneumatic fender that an operator designates.

2. The pneumatic fender management system according to claim 1, wherein instead of the transponder, the pneumatic fender uses a transponder that has information memory means for storing identification information inherent in a transponder and information read means for reading information, stored in the information memory means, and can access the information memory means by wireless;

wherein the terminal has a corresponding table, associating identification information inherent in a transponder with a serial number of a pneumatic fender in which the transponder is mounted, and conversion means for converting identification information, read from the said transponder, into the serial number on the basis of the corresponding table;

wherein transmission means of the terminal generates individual update information, including a serial number and historical information, for every pneumatic fender, and transmits the individual update information through the communication network; and

wherein the control system uses the serial number as identification information.

3. The pneumatic fender management system according to claim 1, wherein instead of the transponder, the pneumatic fender uses a transponder that has information memory means for storing identification information inherent in a transponder and information read means for reading information, stored in the information memory means, and can access the information memory means by wireless;

wherein the control system has a corresponding table, associating identification information inherent in a transponder with a serial number of a pneumatic fender in which the transponder is mounted, and conversion means for converting identification information inherent in the transponder, which is included in the individual update information into the serial number of the pneumatic fender on the basis of the corresponding table; and

wherein the control system uses the serial number of the pneumatic fender as identification information.

4. A pneumatic fender management system according to any one of claims 1, 2, or 3, wherein the manufacturing information includes manufacturing drawings.

5. A pneumatic fender management system according to any one of claims 1 through 3, wherein the control system comprises installed place display means for displaying an installed place of a specific pneumatic fender, which an operator designates, and a map or photograph of its vicinity.

6. A pneumatic fender management system according to any one of claims 1 through 3, wherein the control system comprises installation state display means for displaying an installation state of pneumatic fenders in a specific area that an operator designates.

7. A fender management system comprising:

a fender comprising a transponder, which includes information memory means for storing predetermined information, and information read means for reading information stored in the information memory means, wherein said transponder can provide wireless access to the information read means, the transponder being located inside a tegument surface of the fender;

a terminal for wirelessly accessing information memory means of the transponder;

a control system that can communicate with the terminal, and stores information inherent in each fender, which is obtained through the terminal and corresponding to each fender; and

a computer that can communicate with the control system, wherein the control system reads information from the information memory means of the transponder through the terminal;

wherein the control system further reads information of the fender, which is stored in the computer, by communicating with the computer, receives information of each fender from the computer, and manages the fender on the basis of this information, and

the information memory means of the transponder stores at least identification information inherent in each transponder;

wherein the terminal has a corresponding table associating identification information inherent in each transponder with a serial number of the fender in which the transponder is mounted, and conversion means for converting identification information inherent in the transponder into the serial number of the fender on the basis of the corresponding table, converts identification information inherent in a transponder, which is read from the transponder, into the serial number of the fender, and transmits the serial number to the control system; and

wherein the control system stores information inherent in the fender in a one-to-one correspondence between the inherent information and the serial number.

8. A fender management system comprising:

a fender comprising a transponder, which includes information memory means for storing predetermined information, and information read means for reading information stored in the information memory means, wherein said transponder can provide wireless access to the information read means, the transponder being located inside a tegument surface of the fender;

a terminal for wirelessly accessing information memory means of the transponder;

a control system that can communicate with the terminal, and stores information inherent in each fender, which is obtained through the terminal and corresponding to each fender; and

a computer that can communicate with the control system, wherein the control system reads information from the information memory means of the transponder through the terminal;

wherein the control system further reads information of the fender, which is stored in the computer, by communicating with the computer, receives information of each fender from the computer, and manages the fender on the basis of this information, and

the information memory means of the transponder stores at least identification information inherent in each transponder;

wherein the terminal has a corresponding table associating identification information inherent in each transponder with a serial number of the fender in which the transponder is mounted, and conversion means for converting identification information inherent in the transponder into the serial number of the fender on the basis of the corresponding table, and stores information inherent in the fender in a one-to-one correspondence between the inherent information and the serial number.

9. A fender management system comprising a fender comprising a transponder, which includes information memory means for storing predetermined information, and information read means for reading information stored in the information memory means, wherein said transponder can provide wireless access to the information read means, the transponder being located inside a tegument surface of the fender, the fender management system further comprising a terminal, and a control system, wherein the terminal wirelessly communicates with a transponder, provided in the fender, and transfers information, which the transponder transmits, to the control system;

wherein the control system comprises;

information memory means for storing information of the fender that is an object to be managed;

reception means for receiving information, which the transponder transmits, from the terminal;

information update means for updating information, which the information memory means stores, on the basis of the received information; and

information display means for displaying information of a fender that an operator designates,

wherein the information memory means of the transponder stores at least identification information inherent in each transponder;

wherein the terminal has a corresponding table associating identification information inherent in each transponder with a serial number of the fender in which the transponder is mounted, and conversion means for converting identification information inherent in the transponder into the serial number of the fender on the basis of the corresponding table, and stores information inherent in the fender in a one-to-one correspondence between the inherent information and the serial number.

10. A fender management system comprising a fender comprising a transponder, which includes information memory means for storing predetermined information, and information read means for reading information stored in the information memory means, wherein said transponder can provide wireless access to the information read means, the transponder being located inside a tegument surface of the fender, the fender management system further comprising a terminal, and a control system, wherein the terminal wirelessly communicates with a transponder, provided in the fender, and transfers information, which the transponder transmits, to the control system;

wherein the control system comprises;

information memory means for storing information of the fender that is an object to be managed;

reception means for receiving information, which the transponder transmits, from the terminal;

information update means for updating information, which the information memory means stores, on the basis of the received information; and

information display means for displaying information of a fender that an operator designates,

wherein the information memory means of the transponder stores at least identification information inherent in each transponder;

wherein the terminal has a corresponding table associating identification information inherent in each transponder with a serial number of the fender in which the transponder is mounted, and conversion means for converting identification information inherent in the transponder into the serial number of the fender on the basis of the corresponding table, converts identification information inherent in a transponder, which is read from the transponder, into the serial number of the fender, and transmits the serial number to the control system; and

wherein the control system stores information inherent in the fender in a one-to-one correspondence between the inherent information and said serial number.

13. The fender management system according to any of claims 7 to 12, wherein the transponder further comprises information write means for making it possible to wirelessly access said information memory means and write information into the information memory means.

14. The fender management system according to any of claims 7 to 12, wherein the transponder further comprises:

reception means for receiving an electromagnetic wave having a first frequency;

energy conversion means for converting energy of the electromagnetic wave having the first frequency, received by the reception means, into electric energy; and

transmission means for transmitting information, read from the information memory means by the information read means, by an electromagnetic wave having a second frequency that is higher than the first frequency, wherein the transponder operates by electric energy obtained by the energy conversion means.

15. The fender management system according to any of claims 7 to 12, wherein predetermined information stored in the information memory means includes at least identification information, which is inherent in each fender, for identifying the fender.

16. The fender management system according to any of claims 7 to 12, wherein the predetermined information stored in the information memory means includes at least identification information, which is inherent in each transponder, for identifying the transponder mounted in the fender.

17. The fender management system according to any of claims 7 to 12, wherein the information includes manufacturing information or historical information of the fender.

18. The fender management system according to any of claims 7 to 12, wherein the fender is a floating tender floating on the water.

19. The fender management system according to any of claims 7 to 12, wherein the fender has a shape having a contact area that is subject to contacting a shock object giving shock during use, and a noncontact area that is not subject to contacting the shock object, and the transponder is provided in the noncontact area.

20. The fender management system according to any of claims 7 to 12,

wherein the terminal further comprises at least information display means for displaying the information read from the information memory means of the transponder in the fender.

21. The fender management system according to any of claims 7 to 12, wherein communication between the control system and computer is performed through a communication network.

22. The fender management system according to any one of claims 7 to 12, wherein communication between the terminal and control system is performed through a communication network.

23. The fender management system according to any one of claims 7 to 12, wherein the terminal comprises information write means for writing information into information memory means of the transponder.

24. The fender management system according to any of claims 7 to 12, wherein the information, which the computer stores, includes specifications, structure, characteristics, and manufacturing information of each fender.

25. The fender management system according to any of claims 7 to 12, wherein the information of the fender includes manufacturing drawings.

26. The fender management system according to any of claims 7 to 12, wherein the control system comprises installation state display means for displaying an installation state of fenders in a specific area where an operator designates.

27. The fender management system according to any of claims 7 to 10, wherein the information of the fender includes an installed place of the fender, which is an object to be managed, and a map or a photograph of its vicinity;

and wherein the control system comprises installed place display means for displaying an installed place of a specific fender, which an operator designates, and a map or a photograph of its vicinity.

11. A fender management system comprising:

a fender comprising a transponder, which includes information memory means for storing predetermined information, and information read means for reading information stored in the information memory means, wherein said transponder can provide wireless access to the information read means, the transponder being located inside a tegument surface of the fender;

a terminal for wirelessly accessing information memory means of the transponder;

a control system that can communicate with the terminal, and stores information inherent in each fender, which is obtained through the terminal and corresponding to each fender; and

a computer that can communicate with the control system, wherein the control system reads information from the information memory means of the transponder through the terminal;

wherein the control system further reads information of the fender, which is stored in the computer, by communicating with the computer, receives information of each fender from the computer, and manages the fender on the basis of this information, and

wherein the information of the fender includes an installed place of the fender, which is an object to be managed, and a map or a photograph of its vicinity; and

wherein the control system comprises installed place display means for displaying an installed place of a specific fender, which an operator designates, and a map or a photograph of its vicinity.

12. A fender management system comprising a fender comprising a transponder, which includes information memory means for storing predetermined information, and information read means for reading information stored in the information memory means, wherein said transponder can provide wireless access to the information read means, the transponder being located inside a tegument surface of the fender, the fender management system further comprising a terminal, and a control system, wherein the terminal wirelessly communicates with a transponder, provided in the fender, and transfers information, which the transponder transmits, to the control system;

wherein the control system comprises;

information memory means for storing information of the fender that is an object to be managed;

reception means for receiving information, which the transponder transmits, from the terminal;

information update means for updating information, which the information memory means stores, on the basis of the received information; and

information display means for displaying information of a fender that an operator designates,

wherein the information of the fender includes an installed place of the fender, which is an object to be managed, and a map or a photograph of its vicinity; and

wherein the control system comprises installed place display means for displaying an installed place of a specific fender, which an operator designates, and a map or a photograph of its vicinity.