Location-centric project data delivery system for construction

• US 7,681,192 B2
• Filed: 01/31/2005
• Issued: 03/16/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Caterpillar Trimble Control Technologies LLC
• Original Assignee: Caterpillar Trimble Control Technologies LLC
• Inventors: Nichols, Mark Edwards, Dietsch, Christopher M., Taylor, Arthur J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Vo; Ted T
• Application Number:
  US11/047,131
• Publication Number:
  US 20060174239A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,870 Days
• Field of Search: 717100-103, 717169-173, 701/50
• US Class Current: 717/172
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling

Abstract

A project data delivery apparatus for automatically delivering project data files to a construction machine based on the geographical location and identification of the construction machine. The apparatus includes a project data distributor for storing, maintaining and transmitting project data files that are associated with project site locations and project plan machine identifications.

Claims

1. A location-centric construction project data delivery apparatus, comprising:

a database including construction project data files organized in association with data for project site locations, a particular one of said project site locations defined by said data for a geographical boundary of a particular one of multiple construction projects;

a receiver for receiving a machine signal having information for a geographical location from a remote construction machine;

a search program for selecting said project data files where said site location encompasses said machine location;

a data distribution transmitter for transmitting a distribution signal having said location-selected project data files to said construction machine for directing current work of said machine, and wherein;

said project data files are further organized in association with project plan machine identifications, said project data files for directing current work of said remote machine for said construction project;

said machine signal further includes information for a remote identification for uniquely identifying said machine; and

the search program searches said database for selecting said location-selected project data files where said project plan machine identification matches said remote machine identification.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

said machine signal is transmitted automatically at power-up of said construction machine.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

said location-selected project data files include a design digital terrain model for a surface that is required according to a construction plan corresponding to said construction project.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

said location-selected project data files include a work order for describing a task to be done with said remote machine.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

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

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

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

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

said machine signal includes information for a current digital terrain model; and

further comprising;

a model update program for updating said location-selected project data files with said current digital terrain model.

8. A location-centric construction project data delivery apparatus, comprising:

a database including construction project data files organized in association with data for project site locations, a particular one of said project site locations defined by said data for a geographical boundary of a particular one of multiple construction projects;

a receiver for receiving a machine signal having information for a geographical location from a remote construction machine;

a search program for selecting said project data files where said site location encompasses said machine location;

a data distribution transmitter for transmitting a distribution signal having said location-selected project data files to said construction machine for directing current work of said machine, and wherein;

said location-selected project data files include a geographical calibration for converting between coordinates of a local precise position determined by said remote machine and a coordinate system for precise work according to a digital terrain model, said local precise position different than said location determined from said information in said machine signal.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein:

said location-selected project data files include a design digital terrain model for a surface that is required according to a construction plan corresponding to said construction project.

10. A location-centric construction project data delivery apparatus, comprising:

a database including construction project data files organized in association with data for project site locations, a particular one of said project site locations defined by said data for a geographical boundary of a particular one of multiple construction projects;

a receiver for receiving a machine signal having information for a geographical location from a remote construction machine;

a search program for selecting said project data files where said site location encompasses said machine location;

a data distribution transmitter for transmitting a distribution signal having said location-selected project data files to said construction machine for directing current work of said machine, and wherein;

said project data files are further organized in association with location pages within said project site locations; and

the search program includes a geographical pager for paging said location-selected project data files when said machine location moves across a page boundary for selecting said location-selected project data files where said location page encompasses said machine location.

11. A location-centric construction project data delivery apparatus, comprising:

a database including construction project data files organized in association with data for project site locations, a particular one of said project site locations defined by said data for a geographical boundary of a particular one of multiple construction projects;

a receiver for receiving a machine signal having information for a geographical location from a remote construction machine;

a search program for selecting said project data files where said site location encompasses said machine location;

a data distribution transmitter for transmitting a distribution signal having said location-selected project data files to said construction machine for directing current work of said machine, and wherein;

said machine signal further includes information from said machine for a remote elevation;

said project data files are further organized in association with project elevation ranges; and

the search program includes an elevation selector for selecting said location-selected project data files where said project elevation range encompasses said remote elevation.

12. A location-centric construction project data delivery apparatus, comprising:

a database including construction project data files organized in association with data for project site locations, a particular one of said project site locations defined by said data for a geographical boundary of a particular one of multiple construction projects;

a receiver for receiving a machine signal having information for a geographical location from a remote construction machine;

a search program for selecting said project data files where said site location encompasses said machine location;

a data distribution transmitter for transmitting a distribution signal having said location-selected project data files to said construction machine for directing current work of said machine, and wherein;

said machine signal further includes information from said machine for a remote time;

said project data files are further associated with project time ranges; and

said search program includes a time selector for selecting said location-selected project data files where said project time range encompasses said remote time.

13. A location-centric method for distributing project data files for construction, comprising:

organizing construction project data files in association with data for project site locations in a database, a particular one of said project site locations defined by said data for a geographical boundary of a particular one of multiple construction projects;

receiving a machine signal having information for a geographical location from a remote construction machine;

selecting said project data files where said project site location encompasses said machine location;

transmitting a distribution signal having said location-selected project data files to said construction machine for directing current work of said machine;

organizing said project data files in association with project plan machine identifications; and

wherein;

said machine signal further includes information for a remote identification for uniquely identifying said machine; and

selecting said project data files further includes selecting said project data files where said project plan machine identification matches said remote machine identification.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein:

said machine signal is transmitted automatically at power-up of said construction machine.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein:

said location-selected project data files include a design digital terrain model for a surface that is required according to a construction plan corresponding to said construction project.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein:

said location-selected project data files include a work order for describing a task to be done with said remote machine.

17. The method of claim 13, wherein:

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

18. The method of claim 13, wherein:

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

19. The method of claim 13, wherein:

said machine signal includes information for a current digital terrain model; and

further comprising;

a model update program for updating said location-selected project data files with said current digital terrain model.

20. A location-centric method for distributing project data files for construction, comprising:

organizing construction project data files in association with data for project site locations in a database, a particular one of said project site locations defined by said data for a geographical boundary of a particular one of multiple construction projects;

receiving a machine signal having information for a geographical location from a remote construction machine;

selecting said project data files where said project site location encompasses said machine location;

transmitting a distribution signal having said location-selected project data files to said construction machine for directing current work of said machine; and

wherein;

said location-selected project data files include a geographical calibration for converting between coordinates of a local precise position determined by said remote machine and a coordinate system for precise work according to a digital terrain model, said precise position different that said location determined from said information in said machine signal.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein:

said location-selected project data files include a design digital terrain model for a surface that is required according to a construction plan corresponding to said construction project.

22. A location-centric method for distributing project data files for construction, comprising:

organizing construction project data files in association with data for project site locations in a database, a particular one of said project site locations defined by said data for a geographical boundary of a particular one of multiple construction projects;

receiving a machine signal having information for a geographical location from a remote construction machine;

selecting said project data files where said project site location encompasses said machine location;

transmitting a distribution signal having said location-selected project data files to said construction machine for directing current work of said machine;

organizing said project data files in association with location pages within said project site locations; and

paging said location-selected project data files when said machine location moves across a page boundary for selecting said location-selected project data files where said location page encompasses said machine location.

23. A location-centric method for distributing project data files for construction, comprising:

organizing construction project data files in association with data for project site locations in a database, a particular one of said project site locations defined by said data for a geographical boundary of a particular one of multiple construction projects;

receiving a machine signal having information for a geographical location from a remote construction machine;

selecting said project data files where said project site location encompasses said machine location;

transmitting a distribution signal having said location-selected project data files to said construction machine for directing current work of said machine;

organizing said project data files in association with project elevation ranges;

selecting said location-selected project data files where said project elevation range encompasses a remote elevation; and

wherein;

said machine signal further includes information from said machine for said remote elevation.

24. A location-centric method for distributing project data files for construction, comprising:

organizing construction project data files in association with data for project site locations in a database, a particular one of said project site locations defined by said data for a geographical boundary of a particular one of multiple construction projects;

receiving a machine signal having information for a geographical location from a remote construction machine;

selecting said project data files where said project site location encompasses said machine location;

transmitting a distribution signal having said location-selected project data files to said construction machine for directing current work of said machine;

organizing said project data files in association with project time ranges;

selecting said location-selected project data files where said project time range encompasses a remote time; and

wherein;

said machine signal further includes information from said machine for said remote time.

25. A tangible medium having a database in a form that may be read by a processor, wherein the tangible medium is a digital memory device, comprising:

data for project site locations, a particular one of said project site locations defined by said data for a geographical boundary of a particular one of multiple construction projects;

project plan machine identifications for construction machines;

construction project data files organized in association with the project site locations and the project plan machine identifications; and

wherein;

said project data files include a geographical calibration for converting between coordinates of a local precise position determined by a remote machine and said machine'"'"'s position in a local coordinate system for precise work according to a digital terrain model.

26. The tangible medium of claim 25, further comprising:

location pages with the project site locations; and

wherein;

the construction project data files are further organized in association with the location pages.

27. The tangible medium of claim 25, wherein:

the construction project data files include applets having programming for the construction machines for using the construction project data files at the project site locations.

28. The tangible medium of claim 25, wherein:

the construction project data files include a design digital terrain model representing a surface that is required according to a construction plan at the project site location.

29. The tangible medium of claim 25, wherein:

the construction project data files include a current digital terrain model representing a surface as it exists at the project site location.

30. The tangible medium of claim 25, wherein:

the construction project data files include a communication system specification for at least one of equipment, channel, coding and routing information for transmitting the construction project data files to the construction machines.

31. The tangible medium of claim 25, wherein:

the construction project data files include work orders for specifying tasks that are to be performed by the construction machines.

32. The tangible medium of claim 25, wherein:

the construction project data files include background files having at least one of an avoidance zone, a property boundary, an intersecting existing roadway and aerial photograph.