Watercraft automation and aquatic effort data utilization

• US 9,505,477 B2
• Filed: 09/14/2015
• Issued: 11/29/2016
• 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:
  US14/853,824
• Publication Number:
  US 20160098867A1
• Time in Patent Office: 442 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 updating map data. A GPS mapping computer and a sonar device are in communication. The GPS mapping computer displays aquatic effort data. Current aquatic effort data is obtained on the GPS mapping computer. The GPS mapping computer is updated with the current aquatic effort data. The update includes updating map data with the current position and the current sonar information.

Claims

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

a control mechanism and a trolling motor, wherein the control mechanism is executable to control the trolling motor;

an electronic GPS mapping computer, the electronic GPS mapping computer having a display and being in communication with a sonar device and the control mechanism;

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

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

obtain current aquatic effort data, wherein the current aquatic effort data includes at least a current position and current sonar information of the sonar device,

update the 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, and

send instructions from the electronic GPS mapping computer to the control mechanism to cause control of the trolling motor in accordance with the update to the aquatic effort data.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising displaying the update on the display of the electronic GPS mapping computer.

3. The system of claim 1, further comprising a secondary computing device, wherein a processor of the secondary computing device causes the update to be displayed on the secondary computing device, wherein the secondary computing device is at least one member of a group consisting of:

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

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

5. The system of claim 1, wherein current aquatic effort data further includes at least one member of a group consisting of:

a current temperature, a current weather condition, and a current water condition.

6. The system of claim 1, further comprising causing the processor to transmit the update to an internet based mapping service.

7. The system of claim 1, further comprising causing the processor to store the update on a removable storage of the electronic GPS mapping computer.

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

providing a trolling device, wherein the trolling device includes a control mechanism;

providing an electronic GPS mapping computer, the electronic GPS mapping computer having a processor, a display and being in communication with a sonar device and the control mechanism of the trolling device;

obtaining, on the GPS mapping computer, aquatic effort data, wherein the aquatic effort data includes at least map data,

obtaining, on the GPS mapping computer, current aquatic effort data, wherein the current aquatic effort data includes at least a current position and current sonar information of the sonar device, and

updating the 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.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 8, further comprising displaying the update on the display of the electronic GPS mapping computer.

10. The computer-implemented method of claim 8, further comprising causing a secondary computing device to display the update, wherein the secondary computing device is at least one member of a group consisting of:

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

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

12. The computer-implemented method of claim 8, wherein current aquatic effort data further includes at least one member of a group consisting of:

a current temperature, a current weather condition, and a current water condition.

13. The computer-implemented method of claim 8, further comprising causing the processor to transmit the update to an internet based mapping service.

14. The computer-implemented method of claim 8, further comprising causing the processor to store the update on a removable storage of the electronic GPS mapping computer.

15. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having computer executable instructions for sourcing aquatic effort data, the instructions comprising comprising:

providing communication between an electronic GPS mapping computer and a sonar device, wherein the GPS mapping computer includes a processor and a display;

displaying, on the GPS mapping computer, aquatic effort data, wherein the aquatic effort data includes at least map data,

obtaining, on the GPS mapping computer, current aquatic effort data, wherein the current aquatic effort data includes at least a current position and current sonar information of the sonar device, and

causing a processor of the GPS mapping computer to update the 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.

16. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 15, further comprising displaying the update on the display of the electronic GPS mapping computer.

17. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein the current sonar information includes at least a current depth.

18. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein current aquatic effort data further includes at least one member of a group consisting of:

a current temperature, a current weather condition, and a current water condition.

19. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 15, further comprising causing the processor to transmit the update to an internet based mapping service.

20. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 15, further comprising causing the processor to store the update on a removable storage of the electronic GPS mapping computer.