System and method for wirelessly linking electronic marine components

• US 6,909,946 B1
• Filed: 10/31/2002
• Issued: 06/21/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Garmin Switzerland GmbH (Garmin Limited)
• Original Assignee: Garmin Limited
• Inventors: Burrell, Jonathan C., Kabel, Darrin W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Zanelli, Michael J.
• Application Number:
  US10/284,830
• Time in Patent Office: 964 Days
• Field of Search: 701/1, 701/21, 701/36, 340/484
• US Class Current: 701/21
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 80/00 Wireless network protocols or protocol adaptations to wireless operation
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/005 Moving wireless networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/10 Small scale networks; Flat hierarchical networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks

Abstract

A system and method for wirelessly linking electronic marine components (14) to associated displays (16) to reduce or eliminate the need for application-specific wiring between the components (14) and the displays (16). The system includes an electronic component (14) adapted for mounting on a marine vessel (12) and operable for generating data representative of a function of the electronic component (14); a wireless transmitter (20) coupled with the electronic component (14) for wirelessly transmitting the data; a display (16) adapted for mounting on the marine vessel (12) remotely from the electronic component (14) and operable for displaying information corresponding to the data; and a wireless receiver (24) coupled with the display (16) and operable for wirelessly receiving the data from the wireless transmitter (20). The wireless transmitter (20) and the wireless receiver (24) transmit and receive the data via BlueTooth or WiFi communication protocols.

Claims

1. A system for wirelessly linking components on a marine vessel, the system comprising:

a first electronic marine component adapted for mounting on the marine vessel and operable to generate data representative of a function of the first electronic marine component, the first electronic component being selected from the group consisting of a GPS receiver,s depth sounder, a marine radio, and an autopilot;

a wireless communications element coupled with the first electronic marine component for transmitting data from the first electronic marine component to a second marine component, the wireless communication element utilizing a communication protocol selected from the group consisting of WiFi and Bluetooth; and

wherein the second marine component is selected from the group consisting of a GPS receiver, a depth sounder, a marine radio, and an autopilot.

2. The system as set forth in claim 1, wherein the function of the first electronic marine component includes determining the heading of the marine vessel.

3. The system as set forth in claim 1, wherein the wireless communications element is operable to receive data from the second marine component.

4. The system as set forth in claim 1, further including a third electronic marine element coupled with another wireless communications element such that the other wireless communications element is operable to wirelessly transmit data from the third electronic marine element.

5. A system for wirelessly linking components on a marine vessel, the system comprising:

a plurality of electronic marine components adapted for mounting on the marine vessel, each marine component being operable to generate data representative of a function of the marine component;

a wireless communications element coupled with each of the marine components for transmitting the data from each of the marine components; and

wherein the electronic marine components are selected from the group consisting of an autopilot, a depth sounder, a marine radio, and a GPS receiver.

6. The system as set forth in claim 5, further including a plurality of wireless communications elements such that each marine component is coupled to a corresponding wireless communications element.

7. The system as set forth in claim 6, wherein data may be transmitted from each marine component utilizing the wireless communications elements.

8. The system as set forth in claim 5, wherein the wireless communication element utilizes a communication protocol selected from the group consisting of WiFi and Bluetooth.

9. A method for wirelessly linking components on a marine vessel, the method comprising:

coupling a first electronic marine component with a first wireless communications element, the first electronic marine component being adapted to mount on the marine vessel;

coupling a second electronic marine component with a second wireless communications element, the second electronic marine component being adapted to mount on the marine vessel;

generating first data utilizing the first electronic marine component, the first data representative of a function of the first electronic marine component;

generating second data utilizing the second electronic marine component, the second data representative of a function of the second electronic marine component;

wirelessly transmitting the first data from the first electronic marine component utilizing the first wireless communications element;

wirelessly transmitting the second data from the second electronic marine component utilizing the second wireless communications element; and

wherein the first electronic marine component includes a GPS receiver.

10. The method as set forth in claim 9, wherein the first electronic marine component includes a depth sounder.

11. The method as set forth in claim 9, wherein the first electronic marine component includes an autopilot.

12. The method as set forth in claim 9, wherein the first electronic marine component includes a marine radio.

13. The method as set forth in claim 9, wherein the first data and second data are transmitted utilizing a communication protocol selected from the group consisting of WiFi and Bluetooth.

14. A method for wirelessly linking components on a marine vessel, the method comprising:

coupling a first electronic marine component with a first wireless communications element, the first electronic marine component being adapted to mount on the marine vessel;

coupling a second electronic marine component with a second wireless communications element, the second electronic marine component being adapted to mount on the marine vessel;

generating first data utilizing the first electronic marine component, the first data representative of a function of the first electronic marine component;

generating second data utilizing the second electronic marine component, the second data representative of a function of the second electronic marine component;

wirelessly transmitting the first data from the first electronic marine component utilizing the first wireless communications element;

wirelessly transmitting the second data from the second electronic marine component utilizing the second wireless communications element; and

wherein the first electronic marine component includes an autopilot.

15. The method as set forth in claim 14, wherein the first electronic marine component includes a depth sounder.

16. The method as set forth in claim 14, wherein the first electronic marine component Includes a marine radio.

17. The method as set forth in claim 14, wherein the first data and second data are transmitted utilizing a communication protocol selected from the group consisting of WiFi and Bluetooth.