Watercraft automation and aquatic effort data utilization

• US 9,162,743 B2
• Filed: 05/29/2014
• Issued: 10/20/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 10/19/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Garmin Switzerland GmbH (Garmin Limited)
• Original Assignee: Grace Technology LLC
• Inventors: Grace, Ted V., Grace, Ryan T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Marc, McDieunel
• Application Number:
  US14/289,971
• Publication Number:
  US 20140277851A1
• Time in Patent Office: 509 Days
• Field of Search: 701/21, 701/300, 340/995.19, 440/6, 440/53, 114/144.RE
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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

Watercraft automation and aquatic data utilization for aquatic efforts are disclosed. In one aspect, 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 system for controlling a trolling motor, the system comprising:

a control mechanism associated with the trolling motor for controlling at least one member of a group consisting of;

a speed of the trolling motor and a direction of the trolling motor;

an electronic GPS mapping computer having an electronic display for displaying data;

a network connection between the control mechanism and the electronic GPS mapping computer; and

computer executable instructions executable by a processor of the electronic GPS mapping computer, wherein the computer executable instructions are configured for;

obtaining current position maintenance data generated by current control of the trolling motor, wherein the position maintenance data includes at least one member of a group consisting of;

speed data, direction data, location data, position duration data, and position tolerance data,

storing the current position maintenance data as a tour,

subsequently activating the stored tour; and

causing the processor to send instructions to the control mechanism to control the trolling motor in accordance with the tour.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the network connection includes at least one member of a group consisting of:

a wireless network connection and a wired network connection.

3. The system of claim 1, further comprising a remote for controlling the control mechanism.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the electronic GPS-equipped mapping computer is a depth finder.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein causing the processor to send instructions to the control mechanism to control the trolling motor in accordance with the tour includes:

obtaining current location data,

comparing the current location data to a start location of the tour, and

sending instructions to the control mechanism to cause the trolling motor to navigate to the start location.

6. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

obtaining an anchor point,

obtaining current location data,

determining whether the current location data is within a tolerance of the obtained anchor point,

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

sending instructions to the control mechanism to cause the tolling motor to propel in the direction of the anchor point.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the anchor point is obtained from the stored tour.

8. The system of claim 6, wherein the anchor point is obtained via a selection received by the electronic GPS mapping computer.

9. The system of claim 6, wherein the anchor point is obtained via a selection received by a remote for controlling the control mechanism.

10. A system for controlling a trolling motor, the system comprising:

an electronic GPS mapping computer having an electronic display for displaying data;

computer executable instructions executable by a processor of the electronic GPS mapping computer, wherein the computer executable instructions are configured for;

obtaining current position maintenance data generated by current control of the trolling motor, wherein the position maintenance data includes at least one member of a group consisting of;

speed data, direction data, location data, position duration data, and position tolerance data,

storing the current position maintenance data as a tour,

subsequently activating the stored tour; and

causing the processor to send instructions to a control mechanism to control the trolling motor in accordance with the tour.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the electronic GPS-equipped mapping computer is a depth finder.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein causing the processor to send instructions to the control mechanism to control the trolling motor in accordance with the tour includes:

obtaining current location data,

comparing the current location data to a start location of the tour, and

sending instructions to the control mechanism to cause the trolling motor to navigate to the start location.

13. The system of claim 10, further comprising:

obtaining an anchor point,

obtaining current location data,

determining whether the current location data is within a tolerance of the obtained anchor point,

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

sending instructions to the control mechanism to cause the tolling motor to propel in the direction of the anchor point.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the anchor point is obtained from the stored tour.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein the anchor point is obtained via a selection received by the electronic GPS mapping computer.

16. The system of claim 13, wherein the anchor point is obtained via a selection received by a remote for controlling the control mechanism.