Computerized mine production system

• US 7,941,158 B2
• Filed: 12/08/2006
• Issued: 05/10/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/09/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Leica Geosystems Mining Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Jigsaw Technologies Incorporated (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Olson, Jonathan P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pérez-Gutiérrez; Rafael
• Assistant Examiner(s): VIANA DI PRISCO, GERMAN
• Application Number:
  US11/608,681
• Publication Number:
  US 20070135137A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,614 Days
• Field of Search: 455/456.1
• US Class Current: 455/456.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/02 Agriculture; Fishing; Forestry; Mining
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1095 Replication or mirroring of data, e.g. scheduling or transport for data synchronisation between network nodes
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/12 specially adapted for proprietary or special-purpose networking environments, e.g. medical networks, sensor networks, networks in vehicles or remote metering networks

Abstract

The system contains a central computer unit having a first database controlled by a first logic unit. At least one mobile computer unit is joined with the mobile equipment. Each of the mobile computer units has a second database controlled by a second logic unit. At least one wireless communication device enables communication between said first logic unit and said second logic unit, wherein said mobile computer unit is operable independent of the first logic unit.

Claims

1. A system for tracking the location, movement and activity status of mobile equipment at a remote working site comprising:

a central computer unit remote from the working site having access to information in a first database controlled by a first logic unit;

at least one mobile computer unit joined with a respective mobile equipment unit, each of the at least one mobile computer units having access to information in a second database controlled by a second logic unit, wherein the second database contains at least one database, the mobile computer unit being configured to collect and transmit to the central computer unit data describing known paths along the working site as well as data describing grades and conditions of the paths, wherein data describing the known paths along the working site, paths, and conditions of the paths are collected based on travels of the mobile equipment unit and communication with the at least one mobile computer unit;

a programmable mapping system in communication with the second logic unit and situated to map the at least one database to an object model used by the second logic unit and maintain a referential integrity within the at least one database; and

at least one wireless communication device enabling communication between said first logic unit and said second logic unit, wherein said mobile computer unit is operable independently of the first logic unit utilizing information in said second database while communication with said first logic unit is interrupted;

said central computer unit in communication with the first logic unit and in communication with the second logic unit, whereby the central computer unit issues commands to the second logic unit through said wireless communication network to update the information in the second database with information from the first database facilitating said mobile computer unit being operable independently of the first logic unit utilizing information in said second database while communication with said first logic unit is interrupted, wherein information from at least one of the first database and the second database is used to perform trend analysis of at least one of current data, historical data, or a combination thereof.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the site comprises a mining site.

3. The system of claim 1, further comprising an access point in communication with the central computer unit and in communication with the Internet, wherein the second database is accessible through the Internet, the access point, and the central computer unit.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the wireless communication devices enable communication between a plurality of second logic units.

5. The system of claim 1, further comprising a messaging and database replication server in communication with the first logic unit and a message and database replication client in communication with the second logic unit, whereby the messaging and database replication client uploads local changes to the messaging and database replication server, which changes are communicated to the first logic unit.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein information/commands communicated between the at least one mobile computer and the central computer are periodically updated.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein information/commands communicated between the at least one mobile computer and the central computer are regularly updated.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein different layers of information are communicated.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the layers of information are selected from the group consisting of vehicle health information, payload information, vehicle position, vehicle speed and vehicle direction.

10. A method for tracking the location, movement and activity status of mobile equipment at a mobile equipment working site, said method comprising the steps of:

tracking information regarding a status of the mobile equipment with a mobile computer unit joined to a respective mobile equipment unit;

storing information regarding the location, movement and/or activity status of the respective mobile equipment unit on the mobile computer unit joined to the respective mobile equipment unit, wherein the information regarding the location, movement and/or activity status of the mobile equipment unit is stored within a database on the mobile computer unit, wherein the database contains at least one database;

mapping the at least one database to an object model used by a logic unit within the mobile computer unit with a programmable mapping system in communication with the logic unit, thereby maintaining;

a referential integrity within the at least one database;

transmitting information regarding the location, movement and/or activity status of the mobile equipment unit from the mobile computer unit joined to the respective mobile equipment to a central computer unit emote from the working site; and

synchronizing a first plurality of data stored in a second database with a second plurality of data stored in said second database, whereby the synchronized data in said second database is utilized by said mobile computer unit when communication between said central computer unit and said mobile computer unit is interrupted, wherein the information regarding at least one of the location, movement and activity status of the respective mobile equipment unit is used to perform trend analysis of at least one of current data, historical data, or a combination thereof;

assigning tasks for mobile equipment including;

a first step of creating an assignment set including an ordered queue of the mobile equipment assigned to each loading unit;

a second step of finding a neediest path which minimizes (mobile equipment travel time) * ((average feed rate of the path)-(target feed rate for the path));

a third step of evaluating cost for allocating each unallocated truck to the path using a weighted algorithm of excess travel time incurred by all trucks in an assignment set, the total truck waiting time incurred by all trucks in the assignment set, and a total loading unit idle time incurred by all shovels in the assignment set;

a fourth step of for the smallest total truck value for cost, allocating one of the mobile equipment to the assignment set; and

a fifth step of repeating said second through fourth steps until the assignment set with a minimum total cost is found.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising the steps of:

receiving instruction from the central computer unit at the mobile computer unit;

interrupting communication between the central computer unit and the mobile computer unit; and

directing the mobile equipment to act with the mobile computer unit based on the received instruction and the synchronized data in said second database while communication is interrupted.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the step of tracking information further comprises tracking a location of the mobile equipment.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the step of tracking information further comprises tracking functionality data of the mobile equipment.

14. The method of claim 10, further comprising predicting an arrival time for a predetermined destination using the mobile computer unit;

and relaying the predicted arrival time to the central computer unit.

15. The method of claim 10, wherein information between the at least one mobile computer unit and the central computer is transmitted periodically.

16. The method of claim 10, wherein information between the at least one mobile computer unit and the central computer is transmitted regularly.

17. The method of claim 10, including the step of transmitting different layers of information.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the layers of information are selected from the group consisting of vehicle health information, payload information, vehicle position, vehicle speed and vehicle direction.

19. The method of claim 10, further comprising enabling an operator the mobile equipment to use a graphical user interface to track dump information, perform trend analysis for dumping rates, and coordinate accurate data with dumping locations.

20. A system for tracking the location, movement and activity status of mobile equipment at a remote working site comprising:

means for tracking information regarding a the location, movement and/or activity status of a respective mobile equipment unit;

means for storing information regarding the status of the respective mobile equipment unit on the respective mobile equipment unit, wherein the information regarding the status of the mobile equipment unit is stored within a database on a mobile computer unit, wherein the database contains at least one database;

means for mapping the at least one database to an object model used by a logic unit within the mobile computer unit, thereby maintaining a referential integrity within the at least one database;

means for transmitting information regarding the status of the respective mobile equipment unit from the respective mobile equipment unit to a central computer unit for incorporation into a central database remote from the site;

a graphical user interface on the mobile equipment unit, the graphical user interface displaying a map including all roads of the work site, the current locations of all mobile equipment units on the remote working site as well as path information for each loaded mobile equipment unit, the graphical user interface further displaying an audio-visual alarm for misrouted loads as well as GPS velocity information along with real-time comparison with planned values;

means for synchronizing a plurality of data stored in the means for storing information on the respective mobile equipment unit with a plurality of data stored in the central database and synchronizing a plurality of data stored in the central database with a plurality of data stored in the means for storing information on the respective mobile equipment unit;

whereby the synchronized data stored in the means for storing information on the respective mobile equipment unit is utilized by the system for control when communication between said central computer unit and said mobile equipment is interrupted, wherein the information regarding at least one of the location, movement and activity status of the respective mobile equipment unit is used to perform trend analysis of at least one of current data, historical data, or a combination thereof.

21. The system of claim 20, further comprising:

means for receiving instruction from the central computer unit at the mobile equipment;

interrupting communication between the central computer unit and the mobile equipment; and

directing the mobile equipment to act based on the received instruction and the synchronized data stored in the mobile equipment while communication is interrupted.

22. The system of claim 20, wherein the means for transmitting information transmits the information periodically.

23. The system of claim 20, wherein the means for transmitting information transmits the information regularly.

24. The system of claim 20, wherein different layers of information are communicated.

25. The system of claim 24, wherein the layers of information are selected from the group consisting of vehicle health information, payload information, vehicle position, vehicle speed and vehicle direction.

26. An article of manufacture comprising a tangible computer readable medium having computer readable program code dispersed therein for tracking the location, movement and activity status of mobile equipment at a remote working site, the computer readable program code comprising a series of computer readable program steps to effect:

tracking information regarding a location, movement and/or activity status of a respective mobile equipment unit with a mobile computer unit joined to the respective mobile equipment unit;

storing information regarding the status of the mobile equipment unit on the mobile computer unit joined to the mobile equipment unit, wherein the information regarding the status of the mobile equipment unit is stored within a database on the mobile computer unit, wherein the database contains at least one database;

mapping the at least one database to an object model used by a logic unit within the mobile computer unit with a programmable mapping system in communication with the logic unit, thereby maintaining a referential integrity within the at least one database;

assigning tasks for mobile equipment by;

a first step of creating an assignment set including an ordered queue of the mobile equipment assigned to each loading unit;

a second step of finding a neediest path which minimizes (mobile equipment travel time)*((average feed rate of the path)-(target feed rate for the path));

a third step of evaluating cost for allocating each unallocated truck to the path using a weighted algorithm of excess travel time incurred by all trucks in an assignment set, the total truck waiting time incurred by all trucks in the assignment set, and a total loading unit idle time incurred by all shovels in the assignment set;

a fourth step of for the smallest total truck value for cost, allocating one of the mobile equipment to the assignment set; and

a fifth step of repeating said second through fourth steps until the assignment set with a minimum total cost is found;

transmitting information regarding the status of the mobile equipment unit from the mobile computer unit joined to the mobile equipment unit to a central computer unit remote from the working site for incorporation into a first database remote from the working site; and

synchronizing a plurality of data stored in the mobile computer unit with a plurality of data stored in the first database and synchronizing a plurality of data stored in the first database with a plurality of data stored in a second database accessible by the mobile computer unit;

whereby the synchronized data stored in the second database is utilized by said mobile computer unit for control when communication between said central computer unit and said mobile computer unit is interrupted, wherein information regarding the status of the mobile equipment unit is used to perform trend analysis of at least one of current data, historical data, or a combination thereof.

27. The article of manufacture of claim 26, further comprising the program steps of:

receiving instruction from the central computer unit at the mobile computer unit;

interrupting communication between the central computer unit and the mobile computer unit; and

directing the mobile equipment to act with the mobile computer unit based on the received instruction and the synchronized data stored in the second database while communication is interrupted.

28. The article of manufacture of claim 26, wherein the step of tracking information further comprises tracking a location of the mobile equipment.

29. The article of manufacture of claim 26, wherein the step of tracking information further comprises tracking functionality data of the mobile equipment.

30. The article of manufacture of claim 26, further comprising the program step of predicting an arrival time for a predetermined destination using the mobile computer unit;

and relaying the predicted arrival time to the central computer unit.

31. The article of manufacture of claim 26, wherein information from the mobile computer to the central computer is transmitted periodically.

32. The article of manufacture of claim 26, wherein information from the mobile computer to the central computer is transmitted regularly.

33. The article of manufacture of claim 26, wherein the information includes different layers of information.

34. The article of manufacture of claim 33, wherein the layers of information are selected from the group consisting of vehicle health information, payload information, vehicle position, vehicle speed and vehicle direction.

35. A system for making operational work assignments of respective pieces of equipment at a remote working site comprising:

a central computer unit having access to information in a first database positioned remotely from the site;

at least one equipment computer unit joined with a respective piece of equipment, the at least one equipment computer unit having access to information in a second database at the site˜

wherein the second database contains at least one database;

a programmable mapping system in communication with a logic unit within the at least one equipment computer unit and situated to map the at least one database to an object model used by the logic unit and maintain a referential integrity within the at least one database; and

a graphical user interface on the mobile equipment unit, the graphical user interface displaying a map including all roads of the work site, the current locations of all mobile equipment units on the remote working site as well as path information for each loaded mobile equipment unit, the graphical user interface further displaying an audio-visual alarm for misrouted loads as well as GPS velocity information along with real-time comparison with planned values;

at least one wireless communication device enabling communication between said first database and said second database, wherein said first database is updated with information from respective equipment computer units or from said second database;

whereby the central computer issues commands to the respective equipment computer units through the at least one communication device and the respective at least one equipment computer unit temporarily accesses the second database when communication with the central computer unit is temporarily interrupted, wherein information from at least one of the first database and the second database is used to perform trend analysis of at least one of current data, historical data, or a combination thereof.

36. The system of claim 35 further comprising:

the at least one equipment computer unit executing an equipment allocation algorithm independently of the central computer unit while communication with the central computer unit is interrupted.

37. The system of claim 35, wherein information between the at least one equipment computer unit and the central computer is communicated periodically.

38. The system of claim 35, wherein information between the at least one equipment computer unit and the central computer is communicated regularly.

39. The system of claim 35, wherein the information communicated includes different layers of information.

40. The system of claim 39, wherein the layers of information includes vehicle health information or payload information.

41. A method for making operational work assignments of respective pieces of equipment at a remote working site comprising:

utilizing a central computer unit having access to information in a first database positioned remotely from the site;

utilizing at least one equipment computer unit joined with a respective piece of equipment, the at least one equipment computer unit accessing information in a second database at the site, wherein the second database contains at least one database;

mapping the at least one database to an object model used by a logic unit within the at least one equipment computer unit, thereby maintaining a referential integrity within the at least one database;

utilizing at least one wireless communication device to enable communication between said first database and said second database, updating the first database with information from respective equipment computer units or from said second database and updating the second database with information from the first database;

the at least one equipment computer unit collecting and transmitting to the central computer unit data describing known paths along the working site as well as data describing grades and conditions of the paths, wherein data describing the known paths along the working site, paths, and conditions of the paths are collected based on travels of the piece of equipment and communication with the piece of equipment;

issuing commands from the central computer to the respective equipment computer units through the at least one communication device; and

,

utilizing the respective at least one equipment computer unit to temporarily issue commands to the respective equipment computer units using access to the second database when communication with the central computer unit is temporarily interrupted, wherein information from at least one of the first database and the second database is used to perform trend analysis of at least one of current data, historical data, or a combination thereof.

42. The system of claim 41 further comprising:

utilizing the at least one equipment computer unit to execute an equipment allocation algorithm independently of the central computer unit while communication with the central computer unit is interrupted.

43. The method of claim 41, wherein information updates/commands are issued periodically.

44. The method of claim 41, wherein information updates/commands are issued regularly.

45. The method of claim 41, wherein the information communicated includes different layers of information.

46. The method of claim 45, wherein the different layers of information are selected from the group consisting of vehicle health information, payload information, vehicle position, vehicle speed and vehicle direction.