Construction equipment component location tracking

• US 8,514,058 B2
• Filed: 08/18/2008
• Issued: 08/20/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 08/18/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Trimble Navigation Limited (Trimble Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Trimble Navigation Limited (Trimble Inc.)
• Inventors: Cameron, John F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Benjamin C
• Assistant Examiner(s): PHAM, QUANG
• Application Number:
  US12/193,171
• Publication Number:
  US 20100039262A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,828 Days
• Field of Search: 340/8.1, 340/586.1, 340/10.1, 340/539.13, 340/568.1
• US Class Current: 340/10.1
• CPC Class Codes: B66C 13/16 Applications of indicating, registering, or weighing devices in crane hooks B66C1/40; in safety gear B66C15/00; weighing-apparatus G01G; remote indicating in general G08
• CPC Class Codes: B66F 9/0755 Position control; Position detectors

Abstract

In a method for construction equipment component location tracking, a wireless mesh network communication is initiated between a component monitor and a component information unit which is mechanically coupled with the component. A location of the component is accessed in response to a movement of the component. The location of the component is stored within the component information unit to facilitate location tracking of the component.

Claims

1. A method for construction equipment component location tracking, said method comprising:

initiating a wireless mesh network communication between a component monitor and a component information unit mechanically coupled with the component;

accessing a location of said component as determined by a GNSS receiver of said component monitor in response to a movement of said component detected by a movement sensor of said component information unit;

storing said location of said component within said component information unit, said location received from said component monitor;

providing said location to said component monitor in response to a location request received from said component monitor to facilitate location tracking of said component; and

transmitting a notification message from said component information unit to said component monitor in response to determining a violation of a preset envelop of operation in conjunction with said movement of said component, wherein said transmitting said notification message is in response to determining a violation of a preset geo-fence associated with said component.

2. The method for construction equipment component location tracking as recited in claim 1, wherein said transmitting the notification message in response to determining the violation of the preset envelope of operation in conjunction with said movement of said component comprises:

transmitting said notification message in response to determining a violation of a preset time-fence associated with said component.

3. The method for construction equipment component location tracking as recited in claim 1, wherein said initiating the wireless mesh network communication between the component monitor and the component information unit mechanically coupled with said component comprises:

initiating said wireless mesh network communication on an ad hoc basis in response to sensing said movement of said component with a motion sensor of said component information unit.

4. The method for construction equipment component location tracking as recited in claim 1 wherein said initiating the wireless mesh network communication between the component monitor and the component information unit mechanically coupled with said component comprises:

identifying said component to said component monitor during said wireless mesh network communication.

5. The method for construction equipment component location tracking as recited in claim 1, wherein said accessing the location of said component in response to the movement of said component comprises:

accessing said location upon receiving a movement completion signal at said component information unit from said component monitor via said wireless mesh network, said movement completion signal indicating completion of an inventory movement of said component.

6. The method for construction equipment component location tracking as recited in claim 1, wherein said accessing the location of said component in response to the movement of said component comprises:

accessing said location upon sensing a cessation of movement of said component as indicated by a motion sensor of said component information unit.

7. The method for construction equipment component location tracking as recited in claim 1, wherein said storing said location of said component within said component information unit to facilitate location tracking of said component comprises:

storing said location in association with a timestamp.

8. A component information unit configured for mechanically coupling with a construction equipment component, said component information unit comprising:

a movement sensor;

a mesh network device configured for communicating via a wireless mesh network with a component monitor to access location information regarding said component in response to a movement of said component detected by said movement sensor, and transmitting a notification message to said component monitor in response to determining a violation of a preset envelop of operation in conjunction with said movement of said component, wherein said location information comprises a location accessed from a Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) receiver of said component monitor;

an identification module configured for identifying said component in association with said communicating; and

a storage module configured for storing said location information transmitted by said component monitor regarding said component;

wherein said location information is provided to said component monitor in response to a location request received from said component monitor to facilitate location tracking of said component; and

wherein said transmitting said notification message is in response to determining a violation of a preset geo-fence associated with said component.

9. The component information unit of claim 8, wherein said component information unit further comprises:

a sensor module comprising at least one sensor for sensing environmental information related to said component.

10. The component information unit of claim 9, wherein said at least one sensor comprises:

a temperature sensor for sensing a temperature during operation of said component.

11. The component information unit of claim 9, wherein said at least one sensor comprises:

a motion sensor for sensing the movement of said component.

12. The component information unit of claim 9, wherein said at least one sensor comprises:

a strain gauge for sensing strain on a portion of said component.

13. A location trackable construction equipment component assembly, said component assembly comprising:

a construction equipment component;

an attachment point on said component;

a mechanical coupling coupled with said attachment point; and

a component information unit coupled with said attachment point via said mechanical coupling, said component information unit comprising;

a movement sensor;

a storage module configured for storing location information regarding said component;

a mesh network device configured for communicating via a wireless mesh network to access and exchange said location information regarding said component in response to an inventory movement of said component such that, upon cessation of said inventory movement detected by said movement sensor, and transmitting a notification message to a component monitor in response to determining a violation of a preset envelop of operation in conjunction with said inventory movement, wherein a location of said component is accessed from a Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) receiver of said component monitor accessed via said wireless mesh network and stored within said storage module; and

an identification module comprising an identifier associated with said component and configured for identifying said component in association with said communicating such that said identifier is communicated to said component monitor;

wherein said location information is provided to said component monitor in response to a location request received from said component monitor to facilitate location tracking of said component; and

wherein said transmitting said notification message is in response to determining a violation of a preset geo-fence associated with said component.

14. The component assembly of claim 13, wherein said attachment point comprises:

a structural member of said component.

15. The component assembly of claim 13, wherein said attachment point comprises:

a pre-configured attachment point for mechanically coupling with said component information unit.

16. The component assembly of claim 13, wherein said mechanical coupling is selected from the group of mechanical couplings consisting of an adhesive, a magnet, a hook and loop fastener, an adhesive tape, an epoxy, and a plastic line tie.

17. The component assembly of claim 13, wherein said attachment point comprises an attachment point on a crane component.

18. The component assembly of claim 13, wherein said mesh network device is further configured for performing said communicating with said component monitor in response to said component being moved during an inventory movement operation.