METHOD FOR MONITORING AN OPERATION LOCATION OF A SURFACE PROCESSING APPARATUS, AND MONITORING SYSTEM

• US 20160277887A1
• Filed: 06/01/2016
• Published: 09/22/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 12/02/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Alfred Kã¤Rcher GmbH & Company KG
• Original Assignee: Alfred Kã¤Rcher GmbH & Company KG
• Inventors: Grohmann, Alexander
• Granted Patent: US 9,961,492 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4008 Arrangements of switches, indicators or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4011 Regulation of the cleaning machine by electric means; Control systems and remote control systems therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 2201/00 Robotic cleaning machines, i.e. with automatic control of the travelling movement or the cleaning operation
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/91 Remote control based on location and proximity
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 25/04 by recording transmitted signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/125 involving control of end-device applications over a network
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/021 Services related to particular areas, e.g. point of interest [POI] services, venue services or geofences

Abstract

A method for monitoring an operation location of a surface processing apparatus is provided, wherein a surface processing apparatus is allocated to a spatially delimited operation area by way of an allocating unit, and wherein the position of the surface processing apparatus is established, and it is determined whether the surface processing apparatus is disposed inside or outside the operation area. For versatility, the surface processing apparatus is allocated to a first operation area and at least one second operation area that is spatially separated from the first operation area, and it is determinable whether the surface processing apparatus is disposed outside the first operation area but inside the at least one second operation area. Furthermore, the invention relates to a monitoring system for performing the method.

Claims

1. A method for monitoring an operation location of a surface processing apparatus, wherein a surface processing apparatus is allocated to a spatially delimited operation area by way of an allocating unit, and wherein the position of the surface processing apparatus is established, and it is determined whether the surface processing apparatus is disposed inside or outside the operation area, wherein the surface processing apparatus is allocated to a first operation area and at least one second operation area that is spatially separated from the first operation area, and wherein it is determinable whether the surface processing apparatus is disposed outside the first operation area but inside the at least one second operation area.

2. The method in accordance with claim 1, wherein the surface processing apparatus is further allocated to a monitoring area that comprises the first operation area and the at least one second operation area, and wherein it is determinable whether the surface processing apparatus is disposed outside the first operation area and the at least one second operation area but inside the monitoring area, or whether the surface processing apparatus is disposed outside the monitoring area.

3. The method in accordance with claim 1, wherein the allocating unit has an input interface that preferably provides, comprises or takes the form of an internet portal.

4. The method in accordance with claim 3, wherein, by way of the input interface, the allocating unit is accessible using an external, portable device having an allocation application program stored thereon, for the allocation of an operation or monitoring area to the surface processing apparatus.

5. The method in accordance with claim 1, wherein position data of the surface processing apparatus are sent to a report unit and at least one report is sent from the report unit to at least one member of the operating personnel if the surface processing apparatus is not disposed in the first operation area.

6. The method in accordance with claim 5, wherein the allocating unit is used as the report unit.

7. The method in accordance with claim 5, wherein the report unit has an output interface that preferably provides, comprises or takes the form of an internet portal.

8. The method in accordance with claim 7, wherein, by way of the output interface, the report unit is accessed using an external, portable device having a report application program stored thereon, for at least one of calling up and displaying the at least one report.

9. The method in accordance with claim 5, wherein the at least one report differs, in dependence on where outside the first operation area the surface processing apparatus is disposed, at least in respect of the member of the operating personnel to whom the at least one report is directed.

10. The method in accordance with claim 5, wherein there is stored a first user profile, to which the at least one report is sent if the surface processing apparatus is disposed outside the first operation area.

11. The method in accordance with claim 10, wherein a different report is generated in dependence on whether the surface processing apparatus is disposed in the at least one second operation area or in neither the first operation area nor the at least one second operation area.

12. The method in accordance with claim 10, wherein a different report is generated in dependence on whether the surface processing apparatus is disposed inside or outside a monitoring area that comprises the first operation area and the at least one second operation area.

13. The method in accordance with claim 10, wherein a report is sent to the first user profile if a further surface processing apparatus that is allocated to a third operation area, which differs spatially from the first operation area and from the at least one second operation area, is disposed in the first operation area.

14. The method in accordance with claim 10, wherein there is stored a second user profile, to which the at least one report is sent if the surface processing apparatus is disposed outside a monitoring area that comprises the first operation area and the at least one second operation area.

15. The method in accordance with claim 14, wherein no report is sent to the second user profile if the surface processing apparatus is disposed inside the monitoring area.

16. The method in accordance with claim 14, wherein the allocation of the surface processing apparatus to an operation area or to a monitoring area is performed by way of the second user profile.

17. The method in accordance with claim 1, wherein the method is used with a surface processing apparatus in the form of a surface cleaning device.

18. The method in accordance with claim 1, wherein as the surface processing apparatus there is used a self-propelling and self-steering surface processing apparatus.

19. A monitoring system comprising a surface processing apparatus and an allocating unit which is configured to allocate a spatially delimited operation area to the surface processing apparatus, wherein the position of the surface processing apparatus is establishable by means of a position sensor, and it is determinable whether the surface processing apparatus is disposed inside or outside the operation area, wherein the surface processing apparatus is configured to be allocated to a first operation area and to at least one second operation area that is spatially separated from the first operation area, and wherein it is determinable whether the surface processing apparatus is disposed outside the first operation area but inside the at least one second operation area.

20. The monitoring system in accordance with claim 19, wherein the surface processing apparatus comprises the position sensor.

21. The monitoring system in accordance with claim 19, wherein the surface processing apparatus is further configured to be allocated to a monitoring area that comprises the first operation area and the at least one second operation area, and wherein it is determinable whether the surface processing apparatus is disposed outside the first operation area and the at least one second operation area but inside the monitoring area, or whether the surface processing apparatus is disposed outside the monitoring area.

22. The monitoring system in accordance with claim 19, wherein the allocating unit has an input interface that preferably provides, comprises or takes the form of an internet portal.

23. The monitoring system in accordance with claim 22, wherein the input interface takes a form such that thereon the allocating unit is accessible using an external, portable device having an allocation application program stored thereon, for the allocation of an operation or monitoring area to the surface processing apparatus.

24. The monitoring system in accordance with claim 19, wherein the monitoring system comprises a report unit to which position data are sent and from which at least one report is sendable to at least one member of the operating personnel if the surface processing apparatus is not disposed in the first operation area.

25. The monitoring system in accordance with claim 24, wherein the allocating unit comprises or forms the report unit or vice versa.

26. The monitoring system in accordance with claim 24, wherein the report unit has an output interface that preferably provides, comprises or takes the form of an internet portal.

27. The monitoring system in accordance with claim 26, wherein the output interface is configured such that the report unit is accessible using an external, portable device having a report application program stored thereon, for at least one of calling up and displaying the at least one report.

28. The monitoring system in accordance with claim 27, wherein the at least one report differs, in dependence on where outside the first operation area the surface processing apparatus is disposed, at least in respect of the member of the operating personnel to whom the at least one report is directed.

29. The monitoring system in accordance with claim 24, wherein there is stored in the memory unit a first user profile to which the at least one report is sent if the surface processing apparatus is disposed outside the first operation area.

30. The monitoring system in accordance with claim 29, wherein a different report is generated in dependence on whether the surface processing apparatus is disposed in the at least one second operation area or is in neither the first operation area nor the at least one second operation area.

31. The monitoring system in accordance with claim 29, wherein a different report is generated in dependence on whether the surface processing apparatus is disposed inside or outside a monitoring area that comprises the first operation area and the at least one second operation area.

32. The monitoring system in accordance with claim 29, wherein a report is sent to the first user profile if there is disposed in the first operation area a further surface processing apparatus that is allocated to a third operation area, which differs spatially from the first operation area and from the at least one second operation area.

33. The monitoring system in accordance with claim 29, wherein there is stored in the memory unit a second user profile, to which the at least one report is sent if the surface processing apparatus is disposed outside a monitoring area that comprises the first operation area and the at least one second operation area.

34. The monitoring system in accordance with claim 33, wherein no report is sent to the second user profile if the surface processing apparatus is disposed inside the monitoring area.

35. The monitoring system in accordance with claim 33, wherein the allocation of the surface processing apparatus to an operation area or a monitoring area is performable by way of the second user profile.

36. The monitoring system in accordance with claim 19, wherein the surface processing apparatus is a surface cleaning device.

37. The monitoring system in accordance with claim 19, wherein surface processing apparatus is a self-propelling and self-steering surface processing apparatus.