Watercraft automation and aquatic effort data utilization

• US 9,463,860 B2
• Filed: 09/14/2015
• Issued: 10/11/2016
• 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:
  US14/853,812
• Publication Number:
  US 20160098865A1
• Time in Patent Office: 393 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 utilized for fishing and network communication. Prior aquatic effort data can be provided on an internet based service. Current aquatic effort data can be obtained on the internet based service from a first computing device. A processor associated with the internet based service can update the prior aquatic effort data having a matching position identifier with the current aquatic effort data. A second computing device associated with a second watercraft can be provided access to the update.

Claims

1. A system for sourcing aquatic effort data, the system comprising:

a first computing device associated with a first watercraft, the first computing device having a processor, a display and being in communication with a sonar device and a control mechanism of a trolling motor, the first computing device obtaining and storing current aquatic effort data, wherein the current aquatic effort data includes a current position identifier that facilitates indexing of current aquatic effort data obtained at the current position, wherein the current aquatic effort data further includes at least one member of a group consisting of;

a quantity indicator of current fish caught at the current position, a fish type indicator that indicates a type of fish currently caught at the current position, a fish size indicator that indicates a size of fish currently caught at the current position, a lure indicator that indicates a lure attribute for a lure currently utilized at the current position, a bait indicator that indicates a bait attribute for a bait currently utilized at the current position, a rod indicator that indicates an attribute of a rod currently utilized at the current position, and a reel indicator that indicates an attribute of a reel currently utilized at the current position;

an internet based service, wherein the internet based service includes prior aquatic effort data associated with the current position identifier, wherein the internet based service obtains the current aquatic effort data and causes a processor to update the prior aquatic effort data with the current aquatic effort data; 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 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:

synchronization from the first computing device to the internet based service, sending from the first computing device to an intermediate computing device for synchronization to the internet based service, uploading from the first computing device to the internet based service, and sending from the first computing device to an intermediate computing device for uploading to the internet based 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 current aquatic effort data further includes current environmental data associated with the current position.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the current aquatic effort data further includes current social network data.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the current social network data includes at least one member of a group consisting of:

text, video streams, and photographs.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the internet based service is an internet based mapping service.

9. 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 service, wherein the prior aquatic effort data is indexed by position identifiers;

obtaining, by the internet based service, current aquatic effort data from a first computing device associated with a first watercraft, wherein the current aquatic effort data includes a current position identifier, wherein the current aquatic effort data further includes at least one member of a group consisting of;

a quantity indicator of current fish caught at the current position, a fish type indicator that indicates a type of fish currently caught at the current position, a fish size indicator that indicates a size of fish currently caught at the current position, a lure indicator that indicates a lure attribute for a lure currently utilized at the current position, a bait indicator that indicates a bait attribute for a bait currently utilized at the current position, a rod indicator that indicates an attribute of a rod currently utilized at the current position, and a reel indicator that indicates an attribute of a reel currently utilized at the current position;

causing a processor associated with the internet based service to update the prior aquatic effort data having a matching position identifier with the current aquatic effort data; and

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

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

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

11. The computer-implemented method of claim 9, 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.

12. The computer-implemented method of claim 9, wherein the 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.

13. The computer-implemented method of claim 9, wherein the current aquatic effort data further includes current environmental data associated with the current position.

14. The computer-implemented method of claim 9, wherein the current aquatic effort data further includes current social network data.

15. The computer-implemented method of claim 14, wherein the current social network data includes at least one member of a group consisting of:

text, video streams, and photographs.

16. The computer-implemented method of claim 9, wherein the internet based service is an internet based mapping service.

17. The computer-implement method of claim 9, wherein a matching position identifier includes a position identifier within a geographic range of the current position identifier.

18. 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 on an internet based service, wherein the prior aquatic effort data is indexed by position identifiers;

obtain, by the internet based service, current aquatic effort data from a first computing device associated with a first watercraft, wherein the current aquatic effort data includes a current position identifier, wherein the current aquatic effort data further includes at least one member of a group consisting of;

a quantity indicator of current fish caught at the current position, a fish type indicator that indicates a type of fish currently caught at the current position, a fish size indicator that indicates a size of fish currently caught at the current position, a lure indicator that indicates a lure attribute for a lure currently utilized at the current position, a bait indicator that indicates a bait attribute for a bait currently utilized at the current position, a rod indicator that indicates an attribute of a rod currently utilized at the current position, and a reel indicator that indicates an attribute of a reel currently utilized at the current position;

causing a processor associated with the internet based service to update the prior aquatic effort data having a matching position identifier with the current aquatic effort data; and

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

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the internet based service is an internet based mapping service.

20. The system of claim 18, wherein a matching position identifier includes a position identifier within a geographic range of the current position identifier.