Systems and methods for providing proxy control functions in a work machine

• US 7,983,820 B2
• Filed: 08/25/2003
• Issued: 07/19/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/02/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Inventors: Kelly, Thomas J., Meiss, Trent R., Wood, Daniel C., Swanson, Andrew J., Jenkins, Brian L., Ferguson, Alan L., Bierdeman, Paul W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran; Khoi
• Assistant Examiner(s): Broadhead; Brian J
• Application Number:
  US10/646,685
• Publication Number:
  US 20050004735A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,885 Days
• Field of Search: 340/3.1, 340/3.5, 340/3.53, 340/3.54, 700/9, 709/246, 709/249, 370/466, 701/50, 701/33, 701/48, 701/36
• US Class Current: 701/50
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/12 specially adapted for proprietary or special-purpose networking environments, e.g. medical networks, sensor networks, networks in vehicles or remote metering networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/563 Data redirection of data network streams
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/565 Conversion or adaptation of application format or content adding application control or application functional data H04L67/561
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]

Abstract

Methods and systems of the present invention are provided for performing proxy control functions in an environment including one or more work machines. Such methods and systems may leverage one or more gateways to serve as a proxy for one or more distinct modules. A gateway, located in a work machine, may be programmed with proxy logic that performs functions associated with certain modules used in a work machine environment. The gateway may monitor a data link and retrieve broadcasted messages. The broadcasted messages may include source and/or destination module address identifiers. The gateway may retrieve messages from the data link based on a determination that the message is destined for a module for which the gateway serves as a proxy. The gateway may route a retrieved message, using a mapping structure, to the appropriate proxy logic that performs functions associated with the destination module.

Claims

1. A system for processing messages in a work machine environment, comprising:

a first work machine including a first gateway and a first destination module; and

a second work machine including a second gateway and a second destination module,

wherein the first gateway is configured to;

receive a first message having an identifier that identifies a destination module as a target for the first message, and

determine, based on the identifier, whether to process the first message with the first gateway or to route the first message from the first gateway, wherein;

when the first gateway can process the first message, it performs functions similar to those of the first destination module using data included in the first message, and

when the first gateway cannot process the first message, it routes the first message to the second gateway.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the second gateway is configured to:

determine, based on the identifier, whether to process the first message within the second gateway or to route the first message from the second gateway, wherein;

when the second gateway can process the first message, it performs functions similar to those of the second destination module using data included in the first message, and

when the second gateway cannot process the first message, it routes the first message from the second gateway.

3. A method for processing messages in a work machine environment, comprising:

receiving, at a first gateway located in a first work machine, a message addressed to a destination module located in a work machine;

performing by the first gateway functions associated with the destination module, when the first gateway is able to process the message; and

routing the message from the first gateway to a second gateway located in a second work machine, when the first gateway is unable to process the message.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

receiving at the second gateway the message from the first gateway, if the first gateway routes the message to the second gateway;

performing by the second gateway functions associated with the destination module, when the second gateway is able to process the message; and

routing the message from the second gateway, when the second gateway is unable to process the message.