Maintaining desired distribution of machines using time multiplexed global positioning system

• US 6,529,823 B1
• Filed: 01/28/1999
• Issued: 03/04/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 01/28/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Berstis, Viktors, Smith, Joel Leslie
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, TAN QUANG
• Application Number:
  US09/239,253
• Time in Patent Office: 1,496 Days
• Field of Search: 701/208, 701/202, 701/204, 701/205, 701/210, 701/211, 701/214, 455/456, 455/457, 455/521, 340/902, 340/989, 340/992, 340/993, 340/994, 340/995, 370/262, 370/263
• US Class Current: 701/208
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0027 of actual mobile position, i.e. position determined on mobile
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/207 with respect to certain areas, e.g. forbidden or allowed areas with possible alerting when inside or outside boundaries

Abstract

A method for maintaining a desired distribution of machines with respect to a stationary map is disclosed. Each machine determines its location via a global positioning system calculation. Next, the machine determines a cell corresponding to the determined location. Each machine broadcasts a message at a time slice allocated for the cell. A central control center receives the broadcasted messages from a plurality of machines and uses the received broadcasted messages to determine the locations of the plurality of machines. It then matches the determined locations of the machines against a desired distribution of machines. Responsive to a finding that the determined locations do not adequately match the desired distribution, the central command center issues commands to respective machines to bring the machines into compliance with the desired distribution.

Claims

1. A method for maintaining a desired distribution of machines with respect to a stationary map, comprising the steps of:

at each machine, determining a location of the machine via a global positioning system calculation;

at each machine, determining a cell corresponding to the determined location;

at each machine, broadcasting a message at a time slice allocated for the cell;

receiving broadcasted messages from a plurality of machines;

using the received broadcasted messages to determine the locations of the plurality of machines;

matching the determined locations of the machines against a desired distribution of machines;

responsive to a finding that the determined locations do not adequately match the desired distribution, issuing commands to respective machines to bring the machines into compliance with the desired distribution.

2. A system including processor and memory for maintaining a desired distribution of machines with respect to a stationary map, comprising:

means for determining a location of the machine via a global positioning system calculation;

means for determining a cell corresponding to the determined location;

means for broadcasting a message at a time slice allocated for the cell;

means for receiving broadcasted messages from a plurality of machines;

means for using the received broadcasted messages to determine the locations of the plurality of machines;

means for matching the determined locations of the machines against a desired distribution of machines;

means for responsive to a finding that the determined locations do not adequately match the desired distribution for issuing commands to respective machines to bring the machines into compliance with the desired distribution.

3. A computer program product in a computer readable medium for maintaining a desired distribution of machines with respect to a stationary map, comprising:

means for determining a location of the machine via a global positioning system calculation;

means for determining a cell corresponding to the determined location;

means for broadcasting a message at a time slice allocated for the cell;

means for receiving broadcasted messages from a plurality of machines;

means for using the received broadcasted messages to determine the locations of the plurality of machines;

means for matching the determined locations of the machines against a desired distribution of machines;

means for responsive to a finding that the determined locations do not adequately match the desired distribution for issuing commands to respective machines to bring the machines into compliance with the desired distribution.