Watercraft automation and aquatic effort data utilization

• US 9,266,589 B2
• Filed: 08/21/2015
• Issued: 02/23/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 10/19/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Garmin Switzerland GmbH (Garmin Limited)
• Original Assignee: Garmin Switzerland GmbH (Garmin Limited)
• Inventors: Grace, Ted V., Grace, Ryan T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Marc, McDieunel
• Application Number:
  US14/832,273
• Publication Number:
  US 20150353171A1
• Time in Patent Office: 186 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 includes 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 sourcing aquatic effort data among multiple watercrafts, the system comprising:

a first computing device associated with a first watercraft, the first computing device having a processor and a display, the first computing device in communication with a sonar device of the first watercraft, the first computing device obtaining and storing current aquatic effort data, wherein the current aquatic effort data includes at least a current position and current sonar information of the sonar device of the first watercraft;

an internet based mapping service, wherein the internet based mapping service includes prior aquatic effort data, wherein the prior aquatic effort data includes at least map data, wherein the internet based mapping service obtains the current aquatic effort data and causes a processor to update the prior aquatic effort data with the current aquatic effort data, wherein the update includes updating the map data with the current position and the current sonar information of the sonar device of the first watercraft, wherein the internet based mapping service provides access to the update; and

a second computing device associated with a second watercraft, the second computing device having a processor and a display, the second computing device having access to the update of the internet based mapping service.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the current aquatic effort data is obtained from the first computer via at least one member of a group consisting of:

automatic synchronization from the first computing device to the internet based mapping service, sending from the first computing device to an intermediate computing device for automatic synchronization to the internet based mapping service, uploading from the first computing device to the internet based mapping service, and sending from the first computing device to an intermediate computing device for uploading to the internet based mapping service.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the current aquatic effort data is updated to the prior aquatic effort data in association with at least one member of a group consisting of:

an open network of users, a password protected group of users, and users having group privileges.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the provided access to the update includes at least one member of a group consisting of:

open access, password protected access, and access according to group privileges.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the sonar information includes at least a current depth.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the first computing device is at least one member of a group consisting:

a stationary computing device, a mobile computing device, a touch screen device, a cellular telephone device, a depth finder device and a watch device.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the second computing device is at least one member of a group consisting:

a stationary computing device, a mobile computing device, a touch screen device, a cellular telephone device, a depth finder device and a watch device.

8. A computer-implemented method for sourcing aquatic effort data among multiple watercrafts, the computer-implemented method comprising:

providing prior aquatic effort data on an internet based mapping service, wherein the prior aquatic effort data includes at least map data;

obtaining, by the internet based mapping service, current aquatic effort data from a first computing device associated with a first watercraft, wherein the current aquatic effort data includes at least a current position and current sonar information of a sonar device of the first watercraft;

causing a processor associated with the internet based mapping service to update the prior aquatic effort data with the current aquatic effort data, wherein the update includes updating the map data with the current position and the current sonar information of the sonar device of the first watercraft; and

providing a second computing device associated with a second watercraft access to the update.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 8, wherein the current aquatic effort data is obtained from the first computer via at least one member of a group consisting of:

automatic synchronization from the first computing device to the internet based mapping service, sending from the first computing device to an intermediate computing device for automatic synchronization to the internet based mapping service, uploading from the first computing device to the internet based mapping service, and sending from the first computing device to an intermediate computing device for uploading to the internet based mapping service.

10. The computer-implemented method of claim 8, wherein the current aquatic effort data is updated to the prior aquatic effort data in association with at least one member of a group consisting of:

an open network of users, a password protected group of users, and users having group privileges.

11. The computer-implemented method of claim 8, wherein the provided access to the second computing device includes at least one member of a group consisting of:

open access, password protected access, and access according to group privileges.

12. The computer-implemented method of claim 8, wherein the sonar information includes at least a current depth.

13. The computer-implemented method of claim 8, wherein the first computing device is at least one member of a group consisting:

a stationary computing device, a mobile computing device, a touch screen device, a cellular telephone device, a depth finder device and a watch device.

14. The computer-implement method of claim 8, wherein the second computing device is at least one member of a group consisting:

a stationary computing device, a mobile computing device, a touch screen device, a cellular telephone device, a depth finder device and a watch device.

18. The computer-implemented method of claim 8, wherein the provided access to the second computing device includes at least one member of a group consisting of:

open access, password protected access, and access according to group privileges.

15. A system for sourcing aquatic effort data among multiple watercrafts, the system comprising:

a processor; and

a memory having computer-executable instructions stored thereon, the computer-executable instructions causing the processor to;

provide prior aquatic effort data, wherein the prior aquatic effort data includes at least map data,

obtain current aquatic effort data from a first computing device associated with a first watercraft, wherein the current aquatic effort data includes at least a current position and current sonar information of a sonar device of the first watercraft,

update the prior aquatic effort data with the current aquatic effort data, wherein the update includes updating the map data with the current position and the current sonar information of the sonar device of the first watercraft, and

provide a second computing device associated with a second watercraft access to the update.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the current aquatic effort data is obtained from the first computer via at least one member of a group consisting of:

automatic synchronization, an intermediate computing device for automatic synchronization, uploading from the first computing device, and an intermediate computing device for uploading.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein the current aquatic effort data is updated to the prior aquatic effort data in association with at least one member of a group consisting of:

an open network of users, a password protected group of users, and users having group privileges.

19. The system of claim 15, wherein the first computing device is at least one member of a group consisting:

a stationary computing device, a mobile computing device, a touch screen device, a cellular telephone device, a depth finder device and a watch device.

20. The system of claim 15, wherein the second computing device is at least one member of a group consisting:

a stationary computing device, a mobile computing device, a touch screen device, a cellular telephone device, a depth finder device and a watch device.