Modular control system
First Claim
1. A method for managing operation of a machine, comprising:
- communicating, to a collection computer, component identification data separately stored in each of a plurality of component identification (ID) Tags that correspond to one or more components for the machine, wherein the component identification data includes a component type;
determining a combination of the component types based on at least the component identification data;
automatically determining a machine type for the machine based on a comparison of the combination of the component types and one or more previously provided combinations of component types that correspond to a previously determined machine type, wherein the likeliest comparison is employed to determine the machine type;
automatically determining a machine configuration for the machine based on one or more of the machine type and the combination of component types, wherein a statistical evaluation of a look up table that maps correlations between specific combinations of component types and machine types is employed to determine the machine type; and
controlling one or more characteristics of usage of the machine for one or more users permitted to operate the machine or maintenance of the machine based on at least the machine configuration.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Embodiments are directed towards automatically identifying, configuring, monitoring, controlling, managing, and maintaining a machine, via collection computers in communication with the machine components. The components include ID Tags that store identification data, such as a component type and a unique identifier. Interrogation of the ID Tags enables the automatic identification and configuration of the machine. Data provided by the sensors, during usage of the machine, enables the remote monitoring and managing of the usage, as well as maintaining of the machine. Machine maintenance includes automatically predicting and scheduling the replacement of various components. Embodiments provide suggestions for suppliers of replacement components, as well as suggestions for alternative components that may be better optimized for the configuration and usage of the machine. Heuristics and crowd-generated data, via machine user social networks, inform predictive analyses employed to automatically identify, configure, manage, operate, and maintain the machine.
28 Citations
27 Claims
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1. A method for managing operation of a machine, comprising:
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communicating, to a collection computer, component identification data separately stored in each of a plurality of component identification (ID) Tags that correspond to one or more components for the machine, wherein the component identification data includes a component type; determining a combination of the component types based on at least the component identification data; automatically determining a machine type for the machine based on a comparison of the combination of the component types and one or more previously provided combinations of component types that correspond to a previously determined machine type, wherein the likeliest comparison is employed to determine the machine type; automatically determining a machine configuration for the machine based on one or more of the machine type and the combination of component types, wherein a statistical evaluation of a look up table that maps correlations between specific combinations of component types and machine types is employed to determine the machine type; and controlling one or more characteristics of usage of the machine for one or more users permitted to operate the machine or maintenance of the machine based on at least the machine configuration. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A processor readable non-transitory storage media that includes instructions for managing operation of a machine, wherein the execution of the instructions by a processor enables actions, comprising:
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communicating, to a collection computer, component identification data separately stored in each of a plurality of component identification (ID) Tags that correspond to one or more components for the machine, wherein the component identification data includes a component type; determining a combination of the component types based on at least the component identification data; automatically determining a machine type for the machine based on a comparison of the combination of the component types and one or more previously provided combinations of component types that correspond to a previously determined machine type, wherein a statistical evaluation of a look up table that maps correlations between specific combinations of component types and machine types is employed to determine the machine type; automatically determining a machine configuration for the machine based on one or more of the machine type and the combination of component types, wherein the machine configuration includes one or more component configurations for each component that corresponds to one or more of the plurality of component ID tags; and controlling one or more characteristics of usage of the machine for one or more users permitted to operate the machine or maintenance of the machine based on at least the machine configuration. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A system for managing operation of a machine, comprising:
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a plurality of component identification (ID) Tags that separately store component identification data, wherein each of the plurality of ID Tags corresponds to one or more components for the machine and the component identification data includes a component type; and a network computer; a memory for storing at least instructions; and a processor device that executes the instructions to enable actions, including; communicating component identification data; determining a combination of the component types based on at least the component identification data; automatically determining a machine type for the machine based on a comparison of the combination of the component types and one or more previously provided combinations of component types that correspond to a previously determined machine type, wherein a statistical evaluation of a look up table that maps correlations between specific combinations of component types and machine types is employed to determine the machine type; automatically determining a machine configuration for the machine based on one or more of the machine type and the combination of component types, wherein the machine configuration includes one or more component configurations for each component that corresponds to one or more of the plurality of component ID tags; and controlling one or more characteristics of usage of the machine for one or more users permitted to operate the machine or maintenance of the machine based on at least the machine configuration. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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Specification