Method and apparatus for dynamically updating representation of a work site and a propagation model

• US 6,771,609 B1
• Filed: 11/30/1999
• Issued: 08/03/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/11/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Inventors: Gudat, Adam J., Stancil, Daniel D., Johnson, David B., Bennington, Bernard J.
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, BRIAN D
• Application Number:
  US09/452,327
• Time in Patent Office: 1,708 Days
• Field of Search: 370/254, 370/229, 370/231, 370/252, 370/310, 370/352, 370/353, 370/400, 370/401, 370/908, 370/328, 370/332, 370/310.2, 370/395.5, 370/395.52, 455/67.11, 455/67.16, 455/446, 761/200, 761/207, 761/208, 761/213, 342/357.06, 342/357.17, 342/457, 342/450, 342/451
• US Class Current: 370/254
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 17/373 Predicting channel quality or other radio frequency [RF] parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 17/3912 Simulation models, e.g. distribution of spectral power density or received signal strength indicator [RSSI] for a given geographic region
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/18 Network planning tools

Abstract

The present invention includes a method for dynamically updating a propagation model of communication signals in an area being subjected to earthworking operations which alter the topology of the terrain in which the method comprises the steps of dynamically updating a terrain map of the area as a function of the earthworking operations and dynamically updating the propagation model in response to updating the terrain map. An apparatus for dynamically updating a propagation model of communication signals in an area being subjected to a mobile geography-altering machine capable of altering the topology of the terrain, the apparatus comprises circuitry for storing a terrain map representative of the terrain prior to the terrain being subjected to alteration by the mobile geography-altering machine, circuitry for dynamically updating the terrain map as the terrain is being subjected to alteration by the mobile geography-altering machine, and circuitry for dynamically updating the propagation model in response to updating the terrain map.

Claims

1. A method for dynamically updating a propagation model of communication signals in an area being subjected to earthworking operations by an earthworking machine which alter a topology of a terrain, the method comprising the steps of:

storing a terrain map representative of the terrain prior to the terrain being subjected to alteration by the earthworking machine;

dynamically updating the terrain map of the area as a function of the earthworking operations in real time with a computer;

dynamically updating the propagation model in response to updating the terrain map in real time with the computer; and

predicting the quality of communication signals at a location at a future time based on the propagation model.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of dynamically updating an environmental map of the area, the environmental map including at least one structure in the area.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the structure is a stationary structure.

4. The method of claim 2 wherein the structure is a moving struck.

5. The method of claim 2 further comprising the step of dynamically updating the terrain map in response to the updating of the environmental map.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of providing an operator display of the terrain map.

7. The method of claim 6 further comprising the step of displaying the terrain map on the operator display.

8. An apparatus for dynamically updating a propagation model of communication signals in an area being subjected to a mobile geography-altering machine capable of altering a topology of a terrain, the apparatus comprising:

means for storing a terrain map representative of the terrain prior to the terrain being subjected to alteration by the mobile geography-altering machine;

means for dynamically updating the terrain map as the terrain is being subjected to alteration by the mobile geography-altering machine in real time with a computer,

means for dynamically updating the propagation model in response to updating the terrain map in real time with the computer; and

means for predicting the quality of communication signals at a location at a future time based on the updating of the propagation model.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the storing means is located remotely from the mobile geography-altering machine.

10. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the storing means is located on the mobile geography-altering machine.

11. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the mobile geography-altering machine comprises a display, which is capable of displaying the updated terrain map.

12. The apparatus of claim 8 further comprising a second geography-altering machine and the apparatus further comprises means for dynamically updating the terrain map as the terrain is being subjected to alteration by the second mobile geography-altering machine.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 further comprising means for dynamically updating the propagation model in response to updating the terrain map as the terrain map is being subjected to alteration by the second mobile geography-altering machine.

14. An apparatus for dynamically updating a propagation model of communication signals in an area being subjected to a mobile geography-altering machine capable of altering a topology of a terrain, the apparatus comprising:

means for storing a terrain map representative of the terrain prior to the terrain being subjected to alteration by the mobile geography-altering machine;

means for dynamically updating the terrain map as the terrain is being subjected to alteration by the mobile geography-altering machine;

means for dynamically updating the propagation model in response to updating the terrain map; and

means for predicting the quality of communication signals at a future time based on a predicted location of the mobile geography-altering machine as a function of the speed and direction of travel of the mobile geography-altering machine.

15. An apparatus for dynamically updating a propagation model of communication signals in an area being subjected to a mobile geography-altering machine capable of altering a topology of a terrain, the apparatus comprising:

means for storing a terrain map representative of the terrain prior to the terrain being subjected to alteration by the mobile geography-altering machine;

means for dynamically updating the terrain map as the terrain is being subjected to alteration by the mobile geography-altering machine;

means for dynamically updating the propagation model in response to updating the terrain map; and

means for predicting the quality of communication signals at a location at a future time based on the previous quality of communication signals at a predicted location of the mobile geography-altering machine.

16. A method for dynamically updating a propagation model of communication signals in an area being subjected to a first and a second earthworking machine which alter a topology of a terrain, the method comprising the steps of:

storing a terrain map representative of the terrain prior to the terrain being subjected to alteration by the first and the second earthworking, machines;

dynamically updating the terrain map of the area as a function of the first and the second earthworking machines in real time with at least one computer;

dynamically updating the propagation model in response to updating the terrain map in real time with the at least one computer; and

predicting the quality of communication at a location at a future time based on the propagation model.

17. The method of claim 16 further comprising the step of dynamically updating an environmental map of the area, the environmental map including structures in the area.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein the structures are stationary structures.

19. The method of claim 17 wherein the structures are moving structures.

20. The method of claim 17 further comprising the step of dynamically updating the terrain map in response to the updating of the environmental map.

21. The method of claim 16 further comprising the step of providing an operator display of the terrain map on the first and the second earthworking machines.

22. The method of claim 21 further comprising the step of displaying the terrain map on the operator displays.

23. The method of claim 22 further comprising the step of dynamically updating the terrain map on the operator displays.

24. An apparatus for dynamically updating a propagation model of communication signals in an area being subjected to a first and a second earthworking machine which alter a topology of a terrain, the apparatus comprising:

a means for storing a terrain map representative of the terrain prior to the terrain being subjected to alteration by the first and the second earthworking machines;

a means for dynamically updating the terrain map of the area as a function of the first and the second earthworking machines;

a means for dynamically updating the propagation model in response to updating the terrain map; and

a means for predicting the quality of communication at a location at a future time based on the propagation model.

25. The apparatus of claim 24 wherein the first and the second earthmoving machines each comprise an operator display for displaying the terrain map.

26. The apparatus of claim 25 wherein the terrain map is dynamically updated on each of the operator displays.