Self coordinated machine network

• US 7,184,423 B2
• Filed: 04/23/2002
• Issued: 02/27/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 04/23/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Machinetalker Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Machinetalker Incorporated
• Inventors: Bryan, Roland F., Kleveland, Chris T., Harris, Mark P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen; Chau
• Assistant Examiner(s): SOL, ANTHONY M
• Application Number:
  US10/131,165
• Publication Number:
  US 20040114557A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,771 Days
• Field of Search: 370/338
• US Class Current: 370/338
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/00 Locating users or terminals or network equipment for network management purposes, e.g. mobility management
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/22 Processing or transfer of terminal data, e.g. status or physical capabilities
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/245 from a network towards a terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 92/00 Interfaces specially adapted for wireless communication networks
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A self coordinated machine network is established by two or more machines in proximity with each other via a wired or wireless network infrastructure. The machines are configured to establish an ad hoc network between themselves for sharing information related to their common applications. New machines that come into proximity of the network infrastructure are configured to join an existing ad hoc network. Machines that power down or are removed from proximity of the network infrastructure are eliminated from the ad hoc network. Communications between the constituent machines of the ad hoc network allow the machines to self coordinate the network and redundantly store information pertaining to the common and disparate applications of the various machines that comprise the self coordinated machine network.

Claims

1. A communications device for enabling ad hoc networking between machines, the communications device communicatively coupled with a communications network and electrically coupled with a machine, the communication device comprising:

a network interface adaptable to communicate over a wireless network;

a machine interface adaptable to communicate over a communications bus;

a controller having a sensor, an actuator, a link interface, and

a bus controller, wherein the link interface manages communications between the controller and the network interface and wherein the bus controller manages communications between the controller and the machine interface; and

a data storage area communicatively coupled with the controller, adapted to store data including programming information for the machine and other machines on the network, machine characteristics for the machine and other machines on the network, and machine status and condition for the machine and other machines on the network.

2. The communication device of claim 1 wherein the sensor is configured to sense information from a machine via the machine interface and provide the information to the controller.

3. The communication device of claim 1 wherein the actuator is configured to receive commands from the controller and initiate actions on a machine via the machine interface.

4. The communication device of claim 1 wherein the controller is configured to provide the machine profile from the data storage area via the machine interface.

5. The communication device of claim 1 wherein the controller is configured to communicate using a simple machine management protocol.

6. A system for redundant storage of information in a local community of machines communicatively coupled via an ad hoc network, the system comprising:

a plurality of devices communicatively coupled via a communication network, each device in electrical communication with a machine and each device comprising;

a network interface;

a machine interface; and

a controller communicatively coupled with a data storage area, the controller having a sensor, an actuator, a link interface, and a bus controller, wherein the link interface manages communications over the network interface between the device and the communication network interface and the bus controller manages communication over the machine interface between the device and its respective machine; and

wherein each device gathers information from its respective machine via the sensor and causes its respective machine to take action via the actuator, and wherein data reflecting the gathered information and the initiated actions is shared with each of the plurality of devices over the communication network and each of the plurality of devices stores the data; and

wherein the redundantly stored information includes;

programming information for the machine and other machines on the network,

machine characteristics for the machine and other machines on the network, and

machine status and condition for the machine and other machines on the network;

whereby

machines on the network operate as members in a community of equals, whereby members can relay information through each other or communicate directly to other members or the outside world, and can use the redundant information, to initialize, program or re-program new members, and share all pertinent information about the personality and status of all members in order to constitute a distributed decision making and processing system.

7. The system of claim 6 wherein the communication network is a wireless communication network.

8. The system of claim 6 wherein the communication network is a wired communication network.

9. A system for ad hoc machine networks, wherein:

the networks are self-coordinated in a wired, wireless, or combination of wired and wireless network infrastructure;

machines that come into proximity with any member of an existing self-coordinated machine network are configured to join the existing network;

machines that come into proximity with each other where no self-coordinated network exists are configured to establish an ad hoc network,

information pertaining to the machines in the self-coordinated network is redundantly stored on the participant machines;

wherein the redundant information includes;

programming information for the machine and other machines on the network,

machine characteristics for the machine and other machines on the network, and

machine status and condition for the machine and other machines on the network; and

,

machines on the network operate as members in a community of equals, whereby members can relay information through each other or communicate directly to other members or the outside world, and can use the redundant information, to initialize, program or re-program new members, and share all pertinent information about the personality and status of all members in order to constitute a distributed decision making and processing system.

10. A system for ad hoc networks of intelligent devices, wherein:

the networks are self-coordinated in a wired, wireless, or combination wired and wireless network infrastructure;

intelligent processing and communication devices that come into proximity of any member of an existing self-coordinated intelligent device network are configured to join the existing network;

intelligent processing and communication devices that come into proximity with each other where no self-coordinated network exists are configured to establish an ad hoc network, information pertaining to the intelligent processing and communication devices in the self-coordinated network is redundantly stored on the participant devices;

wherein the redundant information includes;

programming information for the device and other devices on the network,

device characteristics for the device and other devices on the network, and

device status and condition for the device and other devices on the network; and

,

devices on the network operate as members in a community of equals, whereby members can relay information through each other or communicate directly to other members or the outside world, and can use the redundant information, to initialize, program or re-program new members, and share all pertinent information about the personality and status of all members in order to constitute a distributed decision making and processing system.

11. The system of claim 10 wherein some of the devices on the network are associated with containers of material, wherein the intelligent processing and communication device represents the container by acquiring, storing and sharing container data, which may include profile, inventory, usage history, and location during loading, transit or storage.