Method and system for providing work machine multi-functional user interface

• US 20060092033A1
• Filed: 10/29/2004
• Published: 05/04/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/29/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Inventors: Akasam, Sivaprasad, Baker, Thomas M., Hoff, Brian D.
• Granted Patent: US 7,242,311 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/679
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/20 Drives; Control devices gearings in general F16H; controlling in general G05; electric multi-motor drives H02K, H02P
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/26 Indicating devices E02F5/145 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 23/027 Alarm generation, e.g. communication protocol; Forms of alarm
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/0739 in a data processing system embedded in automotive or aircraft systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/0781 Error filtering or prioritizing based on a policy defined by the user or on a policy defined by a hardware/software module, e.g. according to a severity level
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 3/12 in graphical form

Abstract

A method is performed to provide a multi-functional user interface on a work machine for displaying suggested corrective action. The process includes receiving status information associated with the work machine and analyzing the status information to determine an abnormal condition. The process also includes displaying a warning message on the display device indicating the abnormal condition and determining one or more corrective actions to handle the abnormal condition. Further, the process includes determining an appropriate corrective action among the one or more corrective actions and displaying a recommendation message on the display device reflecting the appropriate corrective action. The process may also include displaying a list including the remaining one or more corrective actions on the display device to provide alternative actions to an operator.

Claims

1. A method for providing a multi-functional user interface on a work machine equipped with a display device, comprising:

receiving status information associated with the work machine;

analyzing the status information to determine an abnormal condition;

displaying a warning message on the display device indicating the abnormal condition;

determining an appropriate corrective action from one or more possible corrective actions; and

displaying a recommendation message on the display device reflecting the appropriate corrective action.

2. The method according to claim 1, prior to determining an appropriate corrective action, further including:

determining the one or more possible corrective actions to handle the abnormal condition.

3. The method according to claim 2, further including:

displaying a listing message including the remaining one or more corrective actions on the display device to provide alternative actions to an operator.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein the status information, the recommendation message and the listing message are concurrently displayed in different areas of a display screen of the display device.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the display screen is a touch screen.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the work machine is a hybrid electric and fuel cell powered work machine.

7. A method for providing a multi-functional interface on a work machine equipped with a display device, comprising:

receiving status information from one or more on-board devices on the work machine;

displaying the status information on the display device;

analyzing the status information to determine an abnormal condition;

displaying a warning message on the display device indicating the abnormal condition;

determining one or more corrective actions to handle the abnormal condition;

determining an appropriate corrective action from the one or more corrective actions;

performing the appropriate corrective action automatically; and

displaying a notification message on the display device to explain the corrective action performed.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein the status information, the warning message, and the notification message are concurrently displayed in different areas of a display screen of the display device.

9. The method according to claim 7, wherein the work machine is a hybrid electric and fuel cell powered work machine.

10. A method for providing a multi-functional user interface on a work machine equipped with a display device having a display screen, comprising:

displaying work machine status information in a first display area of the display screen;

displaying a warning message indicating an abnormal operation condition of the work machine in a second display area of the display screen;

displaying a recommendation message indicating suggested corrective action to respond to the abnormal operation condition in the second display area; and

displaying a listing message indicating alternative corrective actions to respond to the abnormal operation condition in a third area of the display screen.

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein the display screen is a touch screen.

12. The method according to claim 10, further including:

displaying troubleshooting information in the second and the third display areas of the display screen.

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein displaying troubleshooting information further includes:

receiving a troubleshooting request from an operator;

listing available troubleshooting procedures in the third display area;

determining a troubleshooting procedure based on a selection from the operator via the display screen;

displaying one or more steps of the troubleshooting procedure in the third display area;

automatically performing the one or more steps of the troubleshooting procedure based on a selection from the operator; and

displaying results of the one or more steps of the troubleshooting procedure and suggestions of further troubleshooting steps in the second display area.

14. The method according to claim 13, further including:

displaying contents of one or more maintenance and operation manuals associated with the work machine; and

automatically updating the one or more maintenance and operation manuals upon requests from an operator.

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein updating further includes:

establishing a communication connection to an off-board system containing version information associated with the one or more manuals;

downloading the version information from the off-board system;

comparing stored version information with the version information from the off-board system to determine an out-of-date manual; and

updating any out-of-date maintenance and operation manuals with the current versions of the out-of-date manuals.

16. The method according to claim 10, further including:

retrieving a remote service record of the work machine from an off-board system.

17. The method according to claim 16, wherein retrieving further includes:

receiving a request from an operator of the work machine to retrieve the remote service record;

establishing a communication connection to the off-board system;

downloading the remote service record from the off-board system; and

displaying the remote service record from the off-board system in the second display area of the display screen.

18. The method according to claim 17, further including:

determining that the remote service record was not successfully downloaded; and

displaying a service record stored on the work machine.

19. A system for providing a multi-functional user interface on a work machine, comprising:

a user interactive display device having a display screen comprising a first display area, a second display area, and a third display area; and

a control module including;

a memory including program code that performs an operation process when executed, the operation process including;

receiving status information associated with operation of the work machine;

displaying the status information in the first display area;

analyzing the status information to determine an abnormal condition;

displaying a warning message in the second display area indicating the abnormal condition;

determining one or more corrective actions to handle the abnormal condition;

determining an appropriate corrective action among the one or more corrective actions; and

displaying a recommendation message in the second display area to recommend the corrective action; and

a microprocessor configured to execute the program code.

20. The system according to claim 19, wherein the operation process further includes:

displaying a list including the remaining one or more corrective actions in the third display area to provide alternative actions to an operator.

21. The system according to claim 20, further including:

a wireless interface coupled to the control module to provide communication connections to an off-board system.

22. The system according to claim 19, wherein the work machine includes a memory storing maintenance and operation manuals associated with the work machine.

23. A system for providing a multi-functional user interface on a work machine equipped with a display device, comprising:

means for receiving status information associated with the work machine;

means for displaying the status information on the display device;

means for analyzing the status information to determine an abnormal condition;

means for displaying a warning message on the display device indicating the abnormal condition;

means for determining one or more corrective actions to handle the abnormal condition; and

means for determining an appropriate corrective action among the one or more corrective actions.

24. The system according to claim 23, further including:

means for displaying a recommendation message on the display device reflecting the appropriate corrective action.

25. The method according to claim 24, further including:

means for displaying a list including the remaining one or more corrective actions on the display device to provide alternative actions to an operator.

26. The system according to claim 23, further including:

means for performing the appropriate corrective action automatically.

27. The method according to claim 26, further including:

means for displaying a notification message on the display device to explain the appropriate corrective action performed.