Method and system for efficient processor usage

• US 6,529,812 B1
• Filed: 08/28/2001
• Issued: 03/04/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 08/28/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Inventors: Koehrsen, Craig Lawrence, Moughler, Eric Alan
• Primary Examiner(s): Cuchlinski, Jr., William A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): TO, TUAN C
• Application Number:
  US09/939,676
• Time in Patent Office: 553 Days
• Field of Search: 701/50, 701/49, 701/213, 701/300, 701/207, 701/36, 701/35, 701/208, 342/357, 342/457, 340/990, 700/60, 700/83, 700/59
• US Class Current: 701/50
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/26 Indicating devices E02F5/145 takes precedence

Abstract

A method is provided for providing a work machine with information about a processing machine. Information about a processing machine is determined. The determined information is sent to the work machine. The work machine then communicates the determined information to a controller of the work machine.

Claims

1. A method for providing a work machine with information about a processing machine, the method comprising:

selecting at least one processing machine from a plurality of processing machines;

determining information about the selected processing machine;

sending the determined information to the work machine; and

communicating the determined information to a controller of the work machine.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of selecting at least one processing machine includes:

determining a set of processing machines nearest to the work machine.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the step of determining a set of processing machines includes:

using a position sensing system to obtain the location of at least one processing machine nearest to the work machine.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of determining information includes:

determining information about each of the selected processing machines.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of communicating the determined information includes:

displaying the determined information in a graphical format.

6. The method of claim 5, further including:

providing additional information by varying the graphical format in which the determined information is displayed.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the addition information is provided by displaying the determined information in colors, wherein each color indicates an additional piece of information.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of communicating the determined information includes:

displaying at least one of the following;

a current level for the processing machine, a capacity level for the processing machine, a load level for the work machine, age information for the determined information, or the processing rate for the processing machine.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the controller of the work machine initiates the step of determining information about the processing machine.

10. The method of claim 1, further including:

updating the communicated information at regular intervals.

11. A system for providing information to a work machine, where the work machine includes a load to be delivered to a processing machine, the system comprising:

a plurality of processing machines, wherein each processing machine includes a monitoring system for determining information about the particular processing machine; and

a communication system configured to request and receive the determined information from at least one of the plurality of processing machines and to communicate the information,

wherein the communication system includes a base computer for selecting at least one processing machine from the plurality of processing machines and for requesting and receiving the determined information from one or more of the plurality of processing machines and an on-board computer of the work machine for communicating the information.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the on-board computer and the base computer are connected via a wireless communication system.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the on-board computer includes a position sensing system.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein the processing machine is a crusher machine.

15. A method of increasing efficiency in a system including a work machine and a plurality of processing machines, wherein the work machine delivers a load to one of the plurality of processing machines, the method comprising:

determining a set of processing machines nearest to the work machine;

requesting information about the set of processing machines;

displaying the requested information about the set of processing machines; and

delivering the load to one of the set of processing machines based on the displayed information.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the requested information includes a level and a capacity for each processing machine in the set.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the step of delivering the load to one of the set of processing machines includes:

determining a processing machine in the set of processing machines wherein the capacity of the processing machine minus the level of the processing machine is greater than the load to be delivered.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the step of delivering the load to one of the set of processing machines includes:

determining a processing machine in the set of processing machines wherein the level of the processing machines is less than a threshold value.