Method and system for inspecting machines

• US 7,690,565 B2
• Filed: 07/31/2006
• Issued: 04/06/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Inventors: Ramsey, Robert Winston, Gualandri, J. Joseph, Krueger, Daniel Jon, Faoro, Michael David
• Primary Examiner(s): Hess; Daniel A
• Application Number:
  US11/496,028
• Publication Number:
  US 20080001739A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,345 Days
• Field of Search: 235/382, 701/50
• US Class Current: 235/382
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2325/105 Radio frequency identification data [RFID]
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2325/202 Personal digital assistant [PDA]
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2325/205 Mobile phones
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/04 operating on the propulsion system, e.g. engine or drive motor
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/1004 Alarm systems characterised by the type of sensor, e.g. current sensing means using door lock sensors B60R25/1001
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/102 a signal being sent to a remote location, e.g. a radio signal being transmitted to a police station, a security company or the owner
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/307 using data concerning maintenance or configuration
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/33 of global position, e.g. by providing GPS coordinates
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/1409 for removal detection of electrical appliances by detecting their physical disconnection from an electrical system, e.g. using a switch incorporated in the plug connector
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0213 System disabling if a separation threshold is exceeded disabling electrical appliances in case of unplugging G08B13/1409

Abstract

A method for locating a machine includes collecting machine data from a first machine over a communications network. The machine data for the first machine includes data reflecting at least one operational parameter associated with the first machine. The method also includes determining that the first machine is missing based on the collected machine data and receiving, from the first machine, over the communications network, a location message including location data reflecting a geographic location of the first machine. The method further includes sending a notification message to a first entity including data reflecting a status of the first machine and the location data, and sending a command to the first machine to control at least one operation of the first machine based on determining that the first machine is missing.

Claims

1. A method for locating a machine, comprising:

collecting machine data from a first machine over a communications network, the machine data including data reflecting at least one operational parameter associated with the first machine;

determining that the first machine is missing based on the collected machine data;

receiving, from the first machine, over the communications network, a location message including location data reflecting a geographic location of the first machine;

sending a notification message to a first entity including data reflecting a status of the first machine and the location data; and

sending a command to the first machine to control at least one operation of the first machine based on determining that the first machine is missing;

wherein the sending of the command to the first machine to control the at least one operation of the first machine includes transmitting a message commanding the first machine to derate an engine speed; and

wherein the transmitting of the message commanding the first machine to derate the engine speed includes allowing the first machine to complete a job before derating the engine speed.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first entity includes at least one of an owner of the machine, a vendor of a type of the machine, a dealer of the type of the machine, and a law enforcement agent.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the first entity is a machine dealer that provides services for machines, and the method further includes:

maintaining at the dealer a list of machines that are flagged as being in an abnormal condition;

collecting, by the dealer, the machine data from the first machine; and

determining, by the dealer, that the first machine is a machine that is reported missing based on the collected machine data from the first machine.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the machine data collected from the first machine includes operational schedule data reflecting times when the first machine has been operated and corresponding location data for the respective operation times, and wherein determining that the first machine is missing includes:

comparing the operational schedule data and corresponding location data for the first machine with stored operational schedule data for a set of machines to determine whether the first machine was at least one of operating at an unauthorized time and operating in an unauthorized location.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the comparing of the operational schedule data and the corresponding location data is performed by the machine.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein the comparing of the operational schedule data and the corresponding location data is performed by a portable device.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining that the first machine is missing includes:

maintaining schedule data on the first machine reflecting authorized times when the first machine has been operated and corresponding authorized location data for the respective operation times, and

collecting machine data by the first machine reflecting times when the first machine is operated and location data of the first machine during the times when the first machine is operated; and

comparing, by the first machine, the schedule data for the first machine with the collected machine data to determine whether the first machine was at least one of operating at an unauthorized time and operating in an unauthorized location.

8. A system for inspecting a machine, comprising:

at least one of a service center and a reader device configured to collect and store machine data from a first machine over a communications network, the machine data including data reflecting at least one operational parameter associated with the first machine,

wherein the reader device is disposed external to the first machine, the reader device being configured to;

determine that the first machine is missing based on the collected machine data,

send a command to the first machine to control at least one operation of the first machine based on determining that the first machine is missing, and

send a notification message to the service center including data reflecting a status of the first machine and location data reflecting a geographic location of the first machine;

wherein the sending of the command to the first machine to control the at least one operation of the first machine includes transmitting a message commanding the first machine to derate an engine speed; and

wherein the transmitting of the message commanding the first machine to derate the engine speed includes allowing the first machine to complete a job before derating the engine speed.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the reader device is further configured to:

collect, from the first machine, data reflecting operational schedule data reflecting when the first machine has been operated and location data for the respective operation times associated with the first machine;

compare the operational schedule data and corresponding location data to determine whether the first machine was at least one of operating at an unauthorized time and operating in an unauthorized location; and

determine that the first machine is missing based on the comparison of the operational schedule data and the corresponding location data.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the service center is further configured to:

maintain a database of machine data for each of a set of machines, and

flag machine data associated with each machine that is identified as missing.

11. The system of claim 8, wherein the machine data collected by the service center includes data reflecting operational schedule data when the first machine has been operated and location data for the respective operation times associated with the first machine, the service center being further configured to:

compare the operational schedule data and corresponding location data to determine whether the first machine was at least one of operating at an unauthorized time and operating in an unauthorized location; and

determine that the first machine is missing based on the comparison of the operational schedule data and the corresponding location data.

12. The system of claim 8, further including sending the notification message to at least one of an owner of the first machine, a vendor of a type of the first machine, a dealer of the type of the first machine, and a law enforcement agent.

13. The system of claim 8, wherein the service center is further configured to:

store location data of each of a plurality of entities;

determine whether at least one of the plurality of entities is located within a predetermined distance from the first machine; and

transmit the location data for the first machine to the at least one entity located within the predetermined distance from the first machine.

14. A method for locating a machine, comprising:

collecting machine data from a first machine over a communications network, the machine data for the first machine including data reflecting operational schedule data when the first machine has been operated and location data for the respective operation times associated with the first machine;

comparing the operational schedule data and corresponding location data to determine whether the first machine was at least one of operating at an unauthorized time and operating in an unauthorized location;

determining that the first machine is missing based on the comparison of the operational schedule data and the corresponding location data; and

sending a command to the first machine to control at least one operation of the first machine based on determining that the first machine is missing;

wherein the sending of the command to the first machine to control the at least one operation of the first machine includes transmitting a message commanding the first machine to derate an engine speed; and

wherein the transmitting of the message commanding the first machine to derate the engine speed includes allowing the first machine to complete a job before derating the engine speed.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein a service center performs the comparing of the operational scheduling data and corresponding location data, the method further including:

sending a notification message from the service center to a first entity, the notification message including data reflecting a status of the first machine and the location data.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein a reader device external to the first machine performs the comparing of the operational scheduling data and corresponding location data, the method further including:

sending a notification message from the reader device to a service center over the communications network, the notification message including data reflecting a status of the first machine and the location data.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein the first machine performs the comparing of the operational scheduling data and corresponding location data, the method further including:

sending a notification message from the first machine to a service center over the communications network, the notification message including data reflecting a status of the first machine and the location data.