Construction machine having location based auto-start

• US 7,245,999 B2
• Filed: 01/31/2005
• Issued: 07/17/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Caterpillar Trimble Control Technologies LLC
• Original Assignee: Trimble Navigation Limited (Trimble Inc.)
• Inventors: Taylor, Arthur J., Dietsch, Christopher M., Nichols, Mark Edwards
• Primary Examiner(s): ARTHUR JEANGLAUDE, GERTRUDE
• Application Number:
  US11/047,108
• Publication Number:
  US 20060173600A1
• Time in Patent Office: 897 Days
• Field of Search: 701/49, 701/50, 701/207, 701/213, 701/214, 701/300, 172/4.5, 172/9, 373/48
• US Class Current: 701/50
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0297 by controlling means in a control room

Abstract

A construction machine for automatically receiving selected project data files based on the geographical location and identification of the machine. The machine includes an auto-start transceiver for transmitting the local location and identification of the machine and receiving project data files from a project data distributor that are selected for the local location and identification for operation of the machine.

Claims

1. A construction machine, comprising:

a location device for determining information for a local geographical location; and

a transceiver for transmitting a machine signal having said local location information and receiving a distribution signal from a project data distributor having project data files selected according to said local location for directing construction work of the machine;

wherein;

said selected project data files include a digital terrain model for a surface corresponding to said location.

2. The machine of claim 1, wherein:

said machine signal is transmitted automatically at power-up of said machine; and

further comprising;

a display for displaying said selected project data files so they can be used by an operator for directing the machine for said construction work.

3. The machine of claim 1, wherein:

said machine signal further includes information for an identification of said machine; and

said project data files are further selected according to said identification.

4. The machine of claim 1, wherein:

said selected project data files include a work order for describing a task to be done by said machine.

5. The machine of claim 1, wherein:

said selected project data files include background files having at least one of an avoidance zone, a property boundary, an intersecting existing roadway or an aerial photograph.

6. The machine of claim 1, wherein:

said machine signal includes information defining a current surface at said local location; and

wherein the current surface is used for updating said selected project data files.

7. The machine of claim 1, wherein:

said local location is entered by a user into said location device.

8. The machine of claim 1, wherein:

said local location includes an elevation; and

said selected project data files are further selected according to said elevation.

9. The machine of claim 1, wherein:

said local location includes a time; and

said selected project data files are further selected according to said time.

10. A construction machine, comprising:

a location device for determining information for a local geographical location; and

a transceiver for transmitting a machine signal having said local location information and receiving a distribution signal from a project data distributor having project data files selected according to said local location for directing construction work of the machine;

wherein;

said selected project data files include a geographical calibration for converting between coordinates in a coordinate system used by the machine for determining its position and coordinates in a coordinate system used in said project data files for directing said construction work.

11. A construction machine, comprising:

a location device for determining information for a local geographical location; and

a transceiver for transmitting a machine signal having said local location information and receiving a distribution signal from a project data distributor having project data files selected according to said local location for directing construction work of the machine;

wherein;

said selected project data files include an applet having programming for using at least one of said selected project data files in said machine.

12. A construction machine, comprising:

a location device for determining information for a local geographical location; and

a transceiver for transmitting a machine signal having said local location information and receiving a distribution signal from a project data distributor having project data files selected according to said local location for directing construction work of the machine;

wherein;

said project data distributor has said project data files for multiple construction sites organized in association with multiple project site locations, respectively, defined by geographical boundaries; and

further organized into location pages defined by geographical boundaries, a particular one of said project site locations segmented into a plurality of said location pages; and

said distribution signal includes newly selected said project data files according to a new said local location as said machine moves across a one of said location page boundaries at said construction site.

13. A method for use in a construction machine, comprising:

determining information for a local geographical location;

transmitting a machine signal having said local location information; and

receiving a distribution signal from a project data distributor having project data files selected according to said local location for directing construction work of the machine;

wherein;

said selected project data files include a digital terrain model corresponding to said location.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein:

transmitting said machine signal includes automatically transmitting said machine signal at power-up of said machine; and

further comprising;

displaying said selected project data files so they can be used by an operator for directing the machine for said construction work.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein:

said machine signal further includes information for an identification of said machine; and

selecting said project data files further includes selecting said project data files according to said identification.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein:

said selected project data files include a work order for describing a task to be done by said machine.

17. The method of claim 13, wherein:

said selected project data files include background files having at least one of an avoidance zone, a property boundary, an intersecting existing roadway or an aerial photograph.

18. The method of claim 13, wherein:

said machine signal includes information defining a current surface at said local location; and

wherein said current surface is used for updating said selected project data files.

19. The method of claim 13, wherein:

determining said local location includes entering said local location by a user.

20. The method of claim 13, wherein:

said local location includes an elevation; and

said selected project data files are further selected according to said elevation.

21. The method of claim 13, wherein:

said local location includes a time; and

said selected project data files are further selected according to said time.

22. A method for use in a construction machine, comprising:

determining information for a local geographical location;

transmitting a machine signal having said local location information; and

receiving a distribution signal from a project data distributor having project data files selected according to said local location for directing construction work of the machine;

wherein;

said selected project data files include a geographical calibration for converting between coordinates in a coordinate system used by the machine for determining its position and coordinates in a coordinate system used in said project data files for directing said construction work.

23. A method for use in a construction machine, comprising:

determining information for a local geographical location;

transmitting a machine signal having said local location information; and

receiving a distribution signal from a project data distributor having project data files selected according to said local location for directing construction work of the machine;

wherein;

said selected project data files include an applet having programming for using at least one of said selected project data files in said machine.

24. A method for use in a construction machine, comprising:

determining information for a local geographical location;

transmitting a machine signal having said local location information; and

receiving a distribution signal from a project data distributor having project data files selected according to said local location for directing construction work of the machine;

wherein;

said project data distributor has said project data files for multiple construction sites organized in association with multiple project site locations, respectively, defined by geographical boundaries; and

further organized into location pages defined by geographical boundaries, a particular one of said project site locations segmented into a plurality of said location pages; and

said distribution signal includes newly selected said project data files according to a new said local location as said machine moves across a one of said location page boundaries at said construction site.

25. A tangible medium containing a set of instructions for causing a machine to carry out the following steps:

determining information of a local geographical location;

transmitting a machine signal having said local location information; and

receiving a distribution signal from a project data distributor having project data files selected according to said local location for directing construction work of the machine;

wherein;

said selected project data files include a digital terrain model corresponding to said location.

26. A construction machine, comprising:

a location device for determining a local location; and

an auto-start transceiver for transmitting a machine signal having said local location and receiving a distribution signal from a project data distributor having project data files selected according to said local location for operation of the machine wherein;

said selected project data files include a geographical calibration for converting between coordinates in a coordinate system used by the machine for determining its position and coordinates in a coordinate system used in said project data files for said operation of the machine.

27. A method for use in a construction machine, comprising:

determining a local location;

transmitting a machine signal having said local location; and

receiving a distribution signal from a project data distributor having project data files selected according to said local location for operation of the machine, wherein;

said selected project data files include a geographical calibration for converting between coordinates in a coordinate system used by the machine for determining its position and coordinates in a coordinate system used in said project data files for said operation of the machine.

28. A tangible medium containing a set of instructions for causing a machine to carry out the following steps:

determining information of a local geographical location;

transmitting a machine signal having said local location information; and

receiving a distribution signal from a project data distributor having project data files selected according to said local location for directing construction work of the machine;

wherein;

said selected project data files include a geographical calibration for converting between coordinates in a coordinate system used by the machine for determining its position and coordinates in a coordinate system used in said project data files for directing said construction work.

29. A tangible medium containing a set of instructions for causing a machine to carry out the following steps:

determining information of a local geographical location;

transmitting a machine signal having said local location information; and

receiving a distribution signal from a project data distributor having project data files selected according to said local location for directing construction work of the machine;

wherein;

said selected project data files include an applet having programming for using at least one of said selected project data files in said machine.

30. A tangible medium containing a set of instructions for causing a machine to carry out the following steps:

determining information for a local geographical location;

transmitting a machine signal having said local location information; and

receiving a distribution signal from a project data distributor having project data files selected according to said local location for directing construction work of the machine;

wherein;

said project data distributor has said project data files for multiple construction sites organized in association with multiple project site locations, respectively, defined by geographical boundaries; and

further organized into location pages defined by geographical boundaries, a particular one of said project site locations segmented into a plurality of said location pages; and

said distribution signal includes newly selected said project data files according to a new said local location as said machine moves across a one of said location page boundaries at said construction site.