Watercraft automation and aquatic effort data utilization

• US 8,082,100 B2
• Filed: 10/19/2007
• Issued: 12/20/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/19/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Garmin Switzerland GmbH (Garmin Limited)
• Original Assignee: Ryan T. Grace, Ted V. Grace
• Inventors: Grace, Ted V., Grace, Ryan T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Trammell, James
• Assistant Examiner(s): Marc, McDieunel
• Application Number:
  US11/875,659
• Publication Number:
  US 20090105952A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,523 Days
• Field of Search: 701/1, 701/29, 701/37, 701/45, 701/49, 701/200, 701/211, 701/300, 340/425, 340/425.5, 340/438, 340/457.1, 340/461, 340/549, 340/815.4, 340/815.45, 340/988, 210/242.1, 56/8, 56/9, 414/242, 414/244, 440/30, 440/38, 440/73, 405/3, 405/52
• US Class Current: 701/300
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 83/02 Expanding fish-hook assembly
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 85/00 Artificial bait for fishing
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 85/02 with means for concealing or protecting hooks, e.g. to prevent entanglement with weeds
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 91/08 Trolling devices
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 93/02 with signalling devices
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 97/00 Accessories for angling fish stringers A01K65/00; landing-nets or landing-spoons for fishing A01K77/00
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 2201/18 Sonar
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 2211/02 Oceanography
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 2213/02 using satellite radio beacon positioning systems, e.g. the Global Positioning System GPS
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 51/00 Marking of navigation route
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 79/15 for monitoring environmental variables, e.g. wave height or weather data
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 79/40 for controlling the operation of vessels, e.g. monitoring their speed, routing or maintenance schedules
• CPC Class Codes: B63H 20/007 Trolling propulsion units trolling plates for slowing down B63H25/50; dynamo-electric machines of trolling units H02K
• CPC Class Codes: B63H 2021/216 using electric control means
• CPC Class Codes: B63H 2025/045 making use of satellite radio beacon positioning systems, e.g. the Global Positioning System [GPS]
• CPC Class Codes: B63H 2025/425 Propulsive elements, other than jets, substantially used for steering or dynamic anchoring only, with means for retracting, or otherwise moving to a rest position outside the water flow around the hull
• CPC Class Codes: B63H 21/21 Control means for engine or transmission, specially adapted for use on marine vessels
• CPC Class Codes: B63H 25/04 automatic, e.g. reacting to compass
• CPC Class Codes: B63J 99/00 Subject matter not provided for in other groups of this subclass
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/005 with correlation of navigation data from several sources, e.g. map or contour matching G01C21/30 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/20 : Instruments for performing navigational calculations G01C21/24, G01C21/26 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 15/89 : for mapping or imaging
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/13 : Receivers
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0206 : specially adapted to water vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 3/00 : Control of position or direction G05D1/00 takes precedence; numerical control to execute positioning G05B19/18
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/14 : Digital output to display device ; Cooperation and interconnection of the display device with other functional units
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/008 : communicating information to a remotely located station transmission systems for measured values G08C
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/02 : Registering or indicating driving, working, idle, or waiting time only apparatus forming part of taximeters G07B13/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 40/80 : in fisheries management

Abstract

In one aspect of watercraft automation and aquatic data utilization for aquatic efforts, an anchor point is obtained and a watercraft position maintenance routine is actuated to control the watercraft to maintain association with the anchor point. In another aspect, prior aquatic effort data is obtained in association with an anchor point. In yet another aspect, current aquatic effort data is generated in association with an anchor point. In still another aspect, current aquatic effort data and prior aquatic effort data are utilized for prediction generation. In yet another aspect, current aquatic effort data and prior aquatic effort data are utilized to obtain another anchor point for a watercraft.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for anchoring a fishing boat with a position maintenance routine associated with an anchor point, the method comprising:

obtaining an anchor point identifier that indicates a position of an anchor point of the fishing boat, wherein the anchor point identifier is a storage indicator to cause association with current fishing data obtained at the anchor point, wherein the current fishing data includes at least one member of a group comprising;

a fish quantity indicator, a fish type indicator, a fish size indicator, a lure indicator and a bait indicator;

actuating a position maintenance routine for automatically anchoring the fishing boat within a tolerance of the anchor point, wherein the position maintenance routine includes;

determining a current position of the fishing boat;

determining whether the current position is within the tolerance of the anchor point;

when the current position is not within the tolerance of the anchor point, determining a direction to the anchor point; and

causing a trolling device to propel the fishing boat in the determined direction.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the current fishing data further includes an anchor point duration value.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the position maintenance routine further comprises:

comparing the current fishing data associated with the anchor point identifier to prior fishing data;

in response to the comparison, obtaining a prior stored anchor point identifier for another anchor point;

determining a direction to the another anchor point; and

causing the trolling device to propel the fishing boat in the determined direction.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:

obtaining a second anchor point identifier associated with a second anchor point of a fishing boat, wherein the second anchor point is associated with a different location than the first anchor point;

actuating a second position maintenance routine for automatically anchoring the fishing boat within a tolerance of the second anchor point, wherein the second position maintenance routine includes;

determining a current position of the fishing boat;

determining whether the current position is within the tolerance of the second anchor point;

when the current position is not within the tolerance of the second anchor point, determining a direction to the second anchor point; and

causing a second trolling device to propel the fishing boat in the determined direction.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the tolerance includes at least one member of a group comprising:

a position tolerance, a drift tolerance, and no tolerance.

6. A computer-implemented method for storing current fishing data with an anchor point identifier that indicates the position of an anchor point of a fishing boat, the method comprising:

obtaining, on a processor, the anchor point identifier that indicates the position of the anchor point of the fishing boat, wherein the anchor point identifier is a storage indicator to cause association with current fishing data obtained at the anchor point;

receiving, on the processor, current fishing data, wherein the current fishing data includes at least one member of a group comprising;

a quantity indicator of fish caught at the anchor point, a fish type indicator that indicates a type of fish caught at the anchor point, a fish size indicator that indicates a size of fish caught at the anchor point, a lure indicator that indicates a lure attribute for a lure utilized at the anchor point, a bait indicator that indicates a bait attribute for a bait utilized at the anchor point, and an anchor point duration value that indicates a time period that the fishing boat is positioned at the anchor point; and

storing the current fishing data in association with the anchor point identifier to facilitate identification of the current fishing data via the anchor point identifier.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 6, wherein the current fishing data includes data associated with a position maintenance routine for maintaining the fishing boat within a tolerance of the anchor point.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 7, wherein the data associated with a position maintenance routine includes at least one member of a group comprising:

tolerance data, anchor point duration data, and anchor point location data.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 6, wherein the current fishing data includes data received from sensors associated with the fishing boat.

10. The computer-implemented method of claim 6, wherein the current fishing data includes internet services that are based on the position of the anchor point of the fishing boat.

11. A computer-implemented method for obtaining prior fishing data identified by an anchor point identifier, the method comprising:

obtaining, on a processor, an anchor point identifier that indicates a position of an anchor point of a fishing boat;

querying a storage with the anchor point identifier to identify prior fishing data associated with the anchor point identifier;

obtaining, on the processor, the prior fishing data indicated by the query, wherein the prior fishing data includes at least one member of a group comprising;

a quantity indicator of fish caught at the anchor point on a prior date, a fish type indicator that indicates a type of fish caught at the anchor point on a prior date, a fish size indicator that indicates a size of fish caught at the anchor point on a prior date, a lure indicator that indicates a lure attribute for a lure utilized at the anchor point on a prior date, and a bait indicator that indicates a bait attribute for a bait utilized at the anchor point on a prior date.

12. The computer-implemented method of claim 11, wherein the prior fishing data includes prior data associated with a prior position maintenance routine for maintaining a fishing boat within a tolerance of the anchor point.

13. The computer-implemented method of claim 12, wherein the prior data associated with the prior position maintenance routine includes at least one member of a group comprising:

prior tolerance data, prior anchor point duration data, and prior anchor point location data.

14. The computer-implemented method of claim 11, wherein the prior fishing data includes data received from sensors.

15. The computer-implemented method of claim 11, wherein the prior fishing data includes internet services that are based on the position of the anchor point of the fishing boat.

16. A computer-implemented method for generating a prediction suggestion based on current fishing data and prior fishing data identified by an anchor point identifier that indicates the position of an anchor point of a fishing boat, the method comprising:

obtaining, on a processor, an anchor point identifier that indicates a position of an anchor point of a fishing boat, wherein the anchor point identifier is a storage indicator to cause association with current fishing data obtained at the anchor point;

receiving current fishing data, wherein the current fishing data includes current environmental condition data;

associating the current fishing data with the anchor point identifier;

obtaining, on the processor, prior fishing data associated with the anchor point identifier and having prior environmental condition data related to the current environmental condition data, wherein the prior fishing data includes at least one member of a group comprising;

a quantity indicator of fish caught at the anchor point on a prior date, a fish type indicator that indicates a type of fish caught at the anchor point on a prior date, a fish size indicator that indicates a size of fish caught at the anchor point on a prior date, a lure indicator that indicates a lure attribute for a lure utilized at the anchor point on a prior date, and a bait indicator that indicates a bait attribute for a bait utilized at the anchor point on a prior date;

comparing the current fishing data with the prior fishing data; and

based on the comparison, generating a prediction suggestion, wherein the prediction suggestion includes at least one member of a group comprising;

a predictive suggestion associated with a lure type, a predictive suggestion associated with a bait type, a predictive suggestion based on a location of the fishing boat, and a predictive suggestion associated with a fish limit.

17. The computer-implemented method of claim 16, wherein the prediction suggestion includes at least one member of a group comprising:

a predictive suggestion based on a rod type, a predictive suggestion based on a reel type.

18. The computer-implemented method of claim 16, wherein the prediction suggestion includes information obtained from an internet based service, wherein the information is at least one member of a group comprising:

currently obtained from an internet based service and obtained from the internet based service on a prior date.

19. The computer-implemented method of claim 16, wherein the prediction suggestion includes another anchor point.

20. The computer-implemented method of claim 16, wherein the prediction suggestion includes a predictive suggestion associated with an aquatic tour.

21. A computer-implemented method for automatically navigating anchor points of an aquatic tour based on current fishing data and prior fishing data, the method comprising:

obtaining, on a processor, an anchor point identifier that is associated with the aquatic tour;

actuating a position maintenance routine for automatically anchoring the watercraft within a tolerance of the anchor point, wherein the position maintenance routine causes a trolling device to maintain the watercraft within the tolerance of the anchor point;

obtaining, on the processor, current fishing data, wherein the current fishing data includes at least one member of a group comprising;

a quantity indicator of fish caught at the anchor point, a fish type indicator that indicates a type of fish caught at the anchor point, a fish size indicator that indicates a size of fish caught at the anchor point, a lure indicator that indicates a lure attribute for a lure utilized at the anchor point, a bait indicator that indicates a bait attribute for a bait utilized at the anchor point, and an anchor point duration value that indicates a time period that the fishing boat is positioned at the anchor point;

comparing the current fishing data to prior fishing data of the aquatic tour to determine whether another anchor point is implicated; and

generating a predictive suggestion related to the another anchor point when the comparison of the current fishing data to the prior fishing data implicates the another anchor point.

22. The computer implemented method of claim 21, wherein the prior fishing data includes an anchor point duration limit, wherein the another anchor point is implicated when the current anchor point duration value exceeds the anchor point duration limit.

23. The computer-implemented method of claim 21, wherein the current fishing data includes the quantity indicator of fish caught at the anchor point in association with the anchor point duration value that indicates a time period that the fishing boat is positioned at the anchor point, wherein the prior fishing data includes an aquatic quantity associated with an anchor point duration limit, wherein the another anchor point is implicated when the current aquatic quantity associated with the anchor point duration implicates the aquatic quantity associated with the anchor point duration limit.

24. The computer-implemented method of claim 21, wherein the prior fishing data includes prior data associated with a position maintenance routine for maintaining a fishing boat within a tolerance of the anchor point.

25. The computer-implemented method of claim 21, wherein the current fishing data includes data associated with a position maintenance routine for maintaining a fishing boat within a tolerance of the anchor point.