System and method for maintaining machine operation

• US 7,764,188 B2
• Filed: 11/29/2007
• Issued: 07/27/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 11/29/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Inventors: Meiss, Trent Ray, O'Neal, Steven Wayne
• Primary Examiner(s): Bugg; George A
• Assistant Examiner(s): Fan; Hongmin
• Application Number:
  US11/998,338
• Publication Number:
  US 20090140872A1
• Time in Patent Office: 971 Days
• Field of Search: 340/679, 340/514, 340/517, 340/686.1, 340/425.5, 340/438, 714/25, 714/2, 361/88, 361/93.1, 701/34, 701/63
• US Class Current: 340/679
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2050/0075 Automatic parameter input, automatic initialising or calibrating means
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2556/65 Data transmitted between vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 9/03 with multiple-channel loop, i.e. redundant control systems

Abstract

A system for maintaining machine operation comprises at least one monitoring device coupled to a portion of a machine operating in a machine environment, the at least one monitoring device configured to monitor a parameter associated with the machine. The system also comprises a first electronic control module communicatively coupled to the at least one monitoring device. The electronic control module is configured to identify a data collection error associated with the at least one monitoring device. The electronic control module is also configured to detect, in response to the data collection error, a second electronic control module proximate the first electronic control module, the second electronic control module configured to collect at least one parameter that is interchangeable with the parameter. The electronic control module is further configured to establish a wireless communication channel with the second electronic control module and download the at least one parameter from the second control module via the wireless communication channel.

Claims

1. A system for maintaining machine operation, comprising:

at least one monitoring device coupled to a portion of a first machine operating in a machine environment, the at least one monitoring device configured to monitor a first parameter associated with the first machine; and

a first electronic control module communicatively coupled to the at least one monitoring device and configured to;

identify a data collection error associated with the at least one monitoring device;

detect, in response to the data collection error, a second electronic control module proximate the first electronic control module, the second electronic control module configured to collect at least one second parameter that is interchangeable with the first parameter;

establish a wireless communication channel with the second electronic control module; and

download the at least one second parameter from the second electronic control module via the wireless communication channel.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the first electronic control module is further configured to determine whether the second electronic control module is compatible with the first electronic control module.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the first electronic control module is located on the first machine and the second electronic control module is located on a second machine.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein determining whether the second electronic control module is compatible with the first electronic control module includes:

identifying a model number associated with the second machine; and

determining, based on the identified model number, whether the second electronic control module is compatible with the first electronic control module.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the first electronic control module is further configured to substitute the at least one second parameter for the first parameter associated with the data collection error.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the first electronic control module is further configured to generate a warning signal indicative of the data collection error.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the wireless communication channel includes a peer-to-peer wireless communication channel and the first and second electronic control modules are adapted to communicate via the peer-to-peer wireless communication channel.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the wireless communication channel includes a Bluetooth-compatible wireless communication channel and the first and second electronic control modules are adapted to communicate via the Bluetooth-compatible wireless communication channel.

9. A method for maintaining machine operation, comprising:

identifying a data collection error associated with a first parameter to be collected by a first electronic control module of a first machine;

detecting, in response to the data collection error, a second electronic control module proximate the first electronic control module, the second electronic control module configured to collect at least one second parameter that is interchangeable with the first parameter;

establishing, by the first electronic control module, a wireless communication channel between the first electronic control module and the second electronic control module;

querying the second electronic control module for the at least one second parameter; and

receiving the at least one second parameter from the second electronic control module via the wireless communication channel, in response to the query.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the second electronic control module is associated with a second machine.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein detecting the second electronic control module includes determining whether the second electronic control module is compatible with the first electronic control module.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein determining whether the second electronic control module is compatible with the first electronic control module includes:

identifying a model number associated with the second machine; and

determining, based on the identified model number, whether the second electronic control module is compatible with the first electronic control module.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein receiving the at least one parameter from the second electronic control module includes substituting the at least one parameter for the parameter associated with the data collection error.

14. The method of claim 13, further including generating a warning signal indicative of the data collection error.

15. The method of claim 9, wherein the wireless communication channel includes a peer-to-peer wireless communication channel and the first and second electronic control modules are adapted to communicate via the peer-to-peer wireless communication channel.

16. The method of claim 9, wherein the wireless communication channel includes a Bluetooth-compatible wireless communication channel and the first and second electronic control modules are adapted to communicate via the Bluetooth-compatible wireless communication channel.

17. A project environment, comprising:

a first machine operating in the project environment, the first machine being proximate a second machine;

at least one monitoring device coupled to a portion of the first machine, the at least one monitoring device configured to monitor a first parameter associated with the first machine; and

a first electronic control module disposed on the first machine and communicatively coupled to the at least one monitoring device, the first electronic control module configured to;

identify a data collection error associated with the at least one monitoring device;

detect, in response to the data collection error, a second electronic control module associated with the second machine, the second electronic control module configured to collect at least one second parameter that is interchangeable with the first parameter;

establish a wireless communication channel with the second electronic control module; and

download the at least one second parameter from the second electronic control module via the wireless communication channel.

18. The project environment of claim 17, wherein the first electronic control module is further configured to determine whether the second electronic control module is compatible with the first electronic control module.

19. The project environment of claim 18, wherein determining whether the second electronic control module is compatible with the first electronic control module includes:

identifying a model number associated with the second machine; and

determining, based on the identified model number, whether the second electronic control module is compatible with the first electronic control module.

20. The project environment of claim 17, wherein the first electronic control module is further configured to substitute the at least one second parameter for the first parameter associated with the data collection error.

21. The project environment of claim 17, wherein the first electronic control module is further configured to generate a warning signal indicative of the data collection error.