Software application that allows a user to utilize a mobile device to control frozen precipitation treatment systems

• US 9,096,979 B2
• Filed: 09/26/2013
• Issued: 08/04/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 09/27/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Swenson Spreader, LLC
• Original Assignee: The Louis Berkman Company
• Inventors: Larsen, Eric S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cheung, Calvin
• Application Number:
  US14/037,938
• Publication Number:
  US 20140088795A1
• Time in Patent Office: 677 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: E01H 10/007 Mobile apparatus specially adapted for preparing or applying liquid or semi-liquid thawing material or spreading granular material on wintry roads
• CPC Class Codes: E01H 5/00 Removing snow or ice from roads or like surfaces; Grading or roughening snow or ice by applying de-icing agents E01H10/00; obstruction removers on vehicles B60R19/00; sand, gravel or salt spreaders E01C19/20
• CPC Class Codes: E01H 5/04 Apparatus propelled by animal or engine power; Apparatus propelled by hand with driven dislodging or conveying levelling elements, conveying pneumatically for the dislodged materialE01H5/10, E01H5/12 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06313 Resource planning in a project environment
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06316 Sequencing of tasks or work

Abstract

A frozen precipitation treatment system may include a vehicle, a frozen precipitation treatment device, such as a snow plow or spreader, and an electronic mobile device that that controls the frozen precipitation treatment device.

Claims

1. A frozen precipitation treatment system comprising:

a vehicle;

at least one frozen precipitation treatment assembly physically attached to the vehicle and that comprises;

(1) a frozen precipitation treatment mechanism that is operable to remove or prevent the accumulation of frozen precipitation on an associated ground surface;

(2) an electronic controller that operates the frozen precipitation treatment mechanism; and

,

(3) a receiver that receives electric control signals and communicates them to the electronic controller to operate the frozen precipitation treatment mechanism; and

,

an electronic mobile device that comprises;

(1) software that controls the frozen precipitation treatment mechanism;

(2) input controls that are manipulatable by an associated user to use the software; and

,

(3) an electronic control signal generator that generates and sends the electric control signals to the receiver based on the associated user'"'"'s manipulation of the input controls.

2. The frozen precipitation treatment system of claim 1 wherein the input controls comprise at least one voice activated control.

3. The frozen precipitation treatment system of claim 1 wherein at least a portion of the input controls are displayed on or within the vehicle other than on or within the electronic mobile device.

4. The frozen precipitation treatment system of claim 1 wherein the input controls comprises a tactile feedback device that provides tactile feedback to the associated user as the associated user manipulates the input controls.

5. The frozen precipitation treatment system of claim 1 wherein:

the at least one frozen precipitation treatment assembly comprises;

(1) at least one component that has a measurable characteristic;

(2) a sensor that senses the measurable characteristic; and

, (3) an electronic measure signal generator that generates and sends an electric measure signal to the electronic mobile device based on the measurable characteristic sensed by the sensor; and

,

the electronic mobile device indicates to the associated user the measurable characteristic based on the electric measure signal.

6. The frozen precipitation treatment system of claim 1 wherein the electronic mobile device further comprises:

a Global Positioning System (GPS); and

,

software that combines the GPS and inputted information from the associated user concerning work site locations to produce a work flow plan, indicated on the electronic mobile device, that suggests an order in which the works sites locations could be worked.

7. The frozen precipitation treatment system of claim 1 wherein the electronic mobile device further comprises:

a Global Positioning System (GPS);

software that tracks information related to the operation of the frozen precipitation treatment mechanism; and

,

software that combines the GPS and the information related to the operation of the frozen precipitation treatment mechanism to analyze operation characteristics of the frozen precipitation treatment mechanism.

8. The frozen precipitation treatment system of claim 1 wherein the frozen precipitation treatment mechanism is a spreader that spreads a frozen precipitation treatment substance on the associated ground surface.

9. The frozen precipitation treatment system of claim 1 wherein the frozen precipitation treatment mechanism is a snow plow that plows snow from the associated ground surface.

10. A frozen precipitation treatment system comprising:

a vehicle;

at least one frozen precipitation treatment assembly physically attached to the vehicle and that comprises;

(1) a frozen precipitation treatment mechanism that is operable to remove or prevent the accumulation of frozen precipitation on an associated ground surface;

(2) an electronic controller that operates the frozen precipitation treatment mechanism; and

,

(3) a receiver that receives electric control signals and communicates them to the electronic controller to operate the frozen precipitation treatment mechanism; and

,

an electronic mobile device that comprises;

(1) a Global Positioning System (GPS);

(2) software that uses information from the GPS to determine the ground speed of the vehicle;

(3) software that controls the frozen precipitation treatment mechanism based on the ground speed of the vehicle; and

,

(4) an electronic control signal generator that generates and sends the electric control signals to the receiver based on the software that controls the frozen precipitation treatment mechanism.

11. The frozen precipitation treatment system of claim 10 wherein the electronic mobile device comprises input controls that include at least one voice activated control.

12. The frozen precipitation treatment system of claim 10 wherein:

the frozen precipitation treatment mechanism is a spreader that spreads a frozen precipitation treatment substance on the ground; and

,

the electronic mobile device sends the electric control signals to the receiver to control the rate that the spreader spreads the frozen precipitation treatment substance on the ground.

13. The frozen precipitation treatment system of claim 10 wherein at least some information within the electronic mobile device is displayed on or within the vehicle other than on or within the electronic mobile device.

14. The frozen precipitation treatment system of claim 10 wherein:

the electronic mobile device further comprises input controls that are manipulatable by an associated user to use the software; and

,

the electronic control signal generator generates and sends the electric control signals to the receiver based on the associated user'"'"'s manipulation of the input controls.