Communication system and method for mobile and stationary devices

• US 8,213,964 B2
• Filed: 05/07/2008
• Issued: 07/03/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 07/19/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Claas Selbstfahrende Erntemaschinen GmbH (CLAAS KGaA mbH)
• Original Assignee: Claas Selbstfahrende Erntemaschinen GmbH (CLAAS KGaA mbH)
• Inventors: Fitzner, Werner, Wippersteg, Heinz-Hermann, Steckel, Thilo
• Primary Examiner(s): LE, DANH C
• Application Number:
  US12/116,609
• Publication Number:
  US 20080242335A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,518 Days
• Field of Search: 455/456.6, 455/456.1, 455/404.2, 340/903, 701/1
• US Class Current: 455/456.6
• CPC Class Codes: A01B 79/005 Precision agriculture
• CPC Class Codes: A01D 41/12 Details of combines
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0278 using satellite positioning signals, e.g. GPS
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0282 generated in a local control room
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0289 with means for avoiding collisions between vehicles vehicle fittings for automatically controlling speed including means for detecting potential obstacles B60K31/0008; avoiding obstacles by action on the steering system B62D; radar, sonar, lidar systems designed for anti-collision purposes G01S13/93, G01S15/93, G01S17/93
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/00 Network topologies

Abstract

A communication system for mobile and stationary devices has at least one transmitter/receiver unit provided for the mobile and stationary devices and covering a defined transmission/reception range, and is formed so that at least partial overlap of the transmission/reception ranges of the mobile and/or stationary devices results in accidental communication between the mobile and/or stationary devices, and this accidental communication changes to a targeted communication.

Claims

1. A communication system for mobile and stationary agricultural working machines, comprising

a transmitter/receiver unit provided for the mobile and/or stationary agricultural working machines and covering a defined transmission/reception range, so that at least partial overlap of the transmission/reception range of the mobile and/or stationary agricultural working machines induces accidental communication between the mobile and/or stationary agricultural working machines and,

whereby, this accidental communication then changes to a targeted communication when event-dependent and/or location-dependent relationships exist between the mobile and/or stationary agricultural working machines,

wherein the targeted communication is formed in a drive-support system that transfers planned driving routes, instructions for load-transferring processes between the mobile and/or stationary agricultural working machines, and safety-relevant data, as needed.

2. The communication system as defined in claim 1, wherein the system communication is formed so that the communication is controlled in a location-dependent manner, and a control of the communication in the location-dependent manner is carried out using GPS.

3. The communication system as defined in claim 1, wherein the targeted communication is formed in a method data transfer system that includes authorization and release of users and functions for defined working methods and working procedures, and a documentation of process data.

4. The communication system as defined in claim 1, wherein the targeted communication is formed as an information service system that provides machine-specific and plant-specific parameters and external basic conditions.

5. The communication system as defined in claim 4, wherein the machine-specific parameters are parameters selected from the group consisting of machine settings, plant-specific parameters of harvested crops, properties, and external basic conditions of ground conditions and climate information.

6. The communication system as defined in claim 4, wherein the system communication is formed so that the provision of machine parameters includes region-specific provision of machine settings.

7. The communication system as defined in claim 1, wherein the system communication is formed so that the communication is carried out in an Internet-based manner.

8. A communication method for mobile and stationary agricultural working machines, comprising the steps of

providing a transmitter/receiver unit for the mobile and/or stationary agricultural working machines;

which covers a defined transmission/reception range;

at least partially overlapping of the transmission/reception range of the mobile and/or stationary agricultural working machines, including accidental communication between the mobile and/or stationary agricultural working machines; and

thereby, changing accidental communication to a targeted communication when event-dependent and/or location-dependent relationships exist between the mobile and/or stationary agricultural working machines; and

performing the targeted communication as a drive-support method that transfers land driving routes, instructions for load-transferring processes between the mobile and/or stationary agricultural working machines, and safety-relevant data, as needed.

9. The communication method as defined in claim 8;

and further comprising controlling the communication in a location-dependent manner; and

carrying out the control of a the communication in the location-dependent manner is carried out using GPS.

10. The communication method as defined in claim 8;

and further comprising performing the targeted communication as a method data transfer method that includes authorization and release of users and functions for defined working methods and working procedures, and a documentation of process data.

11. The communication method as defined in claim 8;

and further comprising performing targeted communication as an information service method that provides machine-specific and plant-specific parameters arid external basic conditions.

12. The communication method as defined in claim 11;

and further comprising selecting the machine-specific parameters from the group consisting of machine settings, plant-specific parameters of harvested crops, properties, and external basic conditions of ground conditions and climate information.

13. The communication method as defined in claim 11;

and further comprising including in the provision of machine specific parameters, region-specific provision of machine settings.

14. The communication method as defined in claim 11;

and further comprising carrying out the communication in an Internet-based manner.