Systems and methods for radio frequency trigger

• US 7,330,117 B2
• Filed: 08/25/2004
• Issued: 02/12/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/25/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Inventors: Jenkins, Brian Lane, Ferguson, Alan Lewis, O'Neal, Steven Wayne, Meiss, Trent Ray, Wood, Daniel Craig
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee; Benjamin C.
• Assistant Examiner(s): BLOUNT, ERIC
• Application Number:
  US10/924,865
• Publication Number:
  US 20060044146A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,266 Days
• Field of Search: 340/572.1
• US Class Current: 340/572.1
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 3/08 Registering or indicating the production of the machine either with or without registering working or idle time
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/008 communicating information to a remotely located station transmission systems for measured values G08C

Abstract

Systems and methods are provided for utilizing a work machine having a radio frequency device. The system includes a radio frequency reader that transmits a radio frequency signal over a first communication channel to the radio frequency device when the work machine travels within range of the radio frequency reader. The radio frequency device generates a trigger signal in response to the radio frequency signal, and an interface control system receives the trigger signal from the radio frequency device and performs a predetermined programmed function associated with the work machine based on information included in the trigger signal.

Claims

1. A system including a machine having a radio frequency device, comprising:

a radio frequency reader that transmits a radio frequency signal over a first external communication channel to the radio frequency device when the machine travels within range of the radio frequency reader, wherein the radio frequency device generates a trigger signal in response to the radio frequency signal; and

an interface control system that receives the trigger signal from the radio frequency device and performs a predetermined programmed function associated with the machine based on information included in the trigger signal, wherein the predetermined programmed function includes collecting performance data from at least one on-board control module and sending the collected data over a second external communication channel different from the first external communication channel.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the machine performance data includes at least one of fuel consumption, hours of operation, average speed, and pay load carried.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the second external communication channel is at least one of a wireless or wireline communication channel.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein sending the performance data over the second external communication channel includes:

sending the performance data over the second external communication channel to an external computing system.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the external computing system is at least associated with one of a machine service station, a rental yard, a fuel service station, and another machine.

6. The system of claim 4, wherein the external computing system is an on-board system of a second machine.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the predetermined programmed function includes at least one of sending machine operation data to an off-board system, adjusting operations of the machine, and collecting information from an on-board control module within the machine.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the interface control system analyzes identification information included in the trigger signal to determine the predetermined programmed function, wherein the identification information is associated with the radio frequency reader.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the interface control system analyzes a map of programmed functions against the identification information to determine the predetermined programmed function to perform.

10. The system of claim 1, further including a second radio frequency reader that transmits a second radio frequency signal to the radio frequency device when the machine travels within range of the second radio frequency reader, wherein the radio frequency device generates a second trigger signal in response to the second radio frequency signal;

and

the interface control system receives the second trigger signal from the radio frequency device and performs a second predetermined programmed function associated with the machine based on information included in the second trigger signal.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein, prior to performing any of the predetermined program functions, the interface control system analyzes a radio frequency reader sequence list to determine whether the sequence of radio frequency readers encountered by the machine during travel authorizes the performance of any one of the predetermined program functions.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the machine includes a second radio frequency device, and wherein the radio frequency device provides to the radio frequency reader a first unique identification number associated with the machine and the second radio frequency device provides to the radio frequency reader a second unique identification number associated with an operator of the machine.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the radio frequency reader provides the unique identification numbers to an off-board system for off-board analysis to determine whether an association between the operator and the machine is authorized.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the off-board system provides a message to the machine based on the off-board analysis, and the interface control system performs a second programmed function based on the received message.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the second programmed function includes adjusting operations of the machine.

16. A method performed in an environment including a machine having a radio frequency device, the method comprising:

transmitting a radio frequency signal from a radio frequency reader over a first external communication channel to the radio frequency device when the machine travels within a range of the radio frequency reader;

providing, by the radio frequency device in response to the radio frequency signal, a trigger signal to an interface control system within the machine;

determining, by the interface control system, a predetermined programmed function to perform based on the trigger signal; and

performing the predetermined programmed function at the machine by collecting performance data from at least one on-board control module and sending the collected data over a second external communication channel different from the first external communication channel.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein collecting the performance data includes collecting at least one of fuel consumption, hours of operation, average speed, and pay load carried.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein sending performance data over the second external communication channel includes using at least one of a wireless or wireline communication channel.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein sending the performance data over the second external communication channel includes:

sending the performance data over the second external communication channel to an external computing system.

20. The method of claim 19, further including associating the external computing system with at least one of a machine service station, a rental yard, and a fuel service station.

21. The system of claim 19, wherein sending the performance data to the external computing system includes sending the performance data to an on-board system of a second machine.

22. The method of claim 16, wherein performing the predetermined programmed function includes at least one of sending machine operation data to an off-board system, adjusting operations of the machine, and collecting information from an on-board control module within the machine.

23. The method of claim 16, further including analyzing identification information included in the trigger signal with the interface control system to determine the predetermined programmed function, wherein the identification information is associated with the radio frequency reader.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein analyzing the identification information includes analyzing a map of programmed functions against the identification information to determine the predetermined programmed function to perform.

25. The method of claim 16, further including transmitting a second radio frequency signal from a second radio frequency reader to the radio frequency device when the machine travels within range of the second radio frequency reader, wherein the radio frequency device generates a second trigger signal in response to the second radio frequency signal;

and

receiving the second trigger signal with the interface control system from the radio frequency device and performing a second predetermined programmed function associated with the machine based on information included in the second trigger signal.

26. The method of claim 25, further including analyzing a radio frequency reader sequence list, prior to performing any of the predetermined program functions, to determine whether the sequence of radio frequency readers encountered by the machine during travel authorizes the performance of any one of the predetermined program functions.

27. The method of claim 16, further including providing the radio frequency reader with a first unique identification number associated with the machine from the radio frequency device, and providing the radio frequency reader with a second unique identification number associated with an operator of the machine from a second radio frequency device.

28. The method of claim 27, further including providing the unique identification numbers from the radio frequency reader to an off-board system for off-board analysis to determine whether an association between the operator and the machine is authorized.

29. The method of claim 28, further including providing a message to the machine based on the off-board analysis, and performing a second programmed function with the interface control system based on the received message.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein performing the second programmed function includes adjusting operations of the machine.

31. A computer-readable media stored in a machine having computer executable instructions for performing steps comprising:

receiving a trigger signal from a radio frequency device in response to a radio frequency signal received from a radio frequency reader over a first external communication channel;

determining a predetermined programmed function to perform based on the trigger signal; and

performing the predetermined programmed function at the machine, wherein performing the predetermined programmed function includes collecting performance data from at least one on-board control module and sending the collected data over a second external communication channel different from the first external communication channel.

32. The computer-readable media of claim 31, wherein collecting the performance data includes collecting at least one of fuel consumption, hours of operation, average speed, and pay load carried.

33. The computer-readable media of claim 31, wherein performing the predetermined programmed function includes at least one of sending machine operation data to an off-board system, adjusting operations of the machine, and collecting information from an on-board control module within the machine.

34. The computer-readable media of claim 31, further including instructions for analyzing identification information included in the trigger signal to determine the predetermined programmed function.

35. The computer-readable media of claim 34, wherein analyzing the identification information includes analyzing a map of programmed functions against the identification information to determine the predetermined programmed function to perform.

36. The computer-readable media of claim 31, further including instructions to receive a second trigger signal from the radio frequency device in response to a second radio frequency signal transmitted from a second radio frequency reader when the machine travels within range of the second radio frequency reader;

and

performing a second predetermined programmed function associated with the machine based on information included in the second trigger signal.

37. The computer-readable media of claim 36, further including instructions to analyze a radio frequency reader sequence list, prior to performing any of the predetermined program functions, to determine whether the sequence of radio frequency readers encountered by the machine during travel authorizes the performance of any one of the predetermined program functions.