Patent Application
20130311002
The present disclosure generally relates to an onboard remote integrated telematics system controlled by local systems for diagnostics, optimized maintenance, and other applications, and more specifically to a remote integrated device with a software interface for two way control of vessel and watercraft equipment operated remotely via software system over a communication network.
There are many types of vehicles, either land based, air based, or water based designed to transport goods, people, or conduct other type of work or recreational activities. While some of these vehicles are easily accessible like a car, a motorcycle, or truck, other crafts travel longer distances, move rapidly, or are in difficult to reach locations that create unique problems associated with the management of these crafts. For example, difficult to access crafts include aircrafts, ships, trains, space ships, deep sea exploration vehicles, submarines, military vessels, helicopters, rescue devices, etc.
One historical method of communication with crafts relies on a human element. A driver or pilot sits in front of a device and communicates via radio communication with a remote base. As technology evolved, the methods of communication between a remote station and a pilot improved but all these systems remain vulnerable to onboard problems experienced by the pilot. In case of a debilitating incident, or unexpected attack by a third party such as pirates, the remote craft is left vulnerable to theft, and manipulation. Typically a radio communication network helps provide voice and data communication between a mobile unit and a command and control center. In return, the data received from the mobile craft can include status data, such as geographic location, heading, speed, engine and fuel data transmitted back for monitoring.
In non land based system, on-board sensors and telematics can be mounted. Telematics is the integrated use of telecommunications and informatics, also known generally as Information and Communication Technology. Telematics is the science of sending, receiving and storing information via telecommunication devices, some telematics device also interact directly with sensors and other elements they monitor. Recently, with the arrival of the Global Positioning System (GPS), telematics are applied to navigational systems placed onboard vehicles with integrated computers and mobile communication systems. Within the scope of this disclosure, the term telematics is to be construed broadly to include land based asset tracking devices, vehicle tracking technology, fleet management control, satellite navigation, mobile data and mobile television telecommunication in vehicles, wireless vehicle safety communications, emergency warning onboard systems in vehicles, intelligent vehicle technologies, or even automate vehicle related services linked with vehicle movement.
This technology offers no remote control capacities for navigation, as signals are often delayed. Further the technology is passive as it only serves as an interface for the control of a software layer operated remotely. For example, if a plane is equipped with an aft video feed, an operator on the ground is given access via a network of communication such as an IP WAN network of the feed. Much like an auto pilot would work, assuming the feed if of sufficient quality to navigate remotely the place, a remote operator can send navigational commands to the plane. This technology is not central to the vessel and cannot serve to manipulate the different components of the plane. What is needed is a method and system for remote diagnostics of vessels and watercrafts based on remote control technology capable of greater flexibility and control over the vessel that simply at the software interface level.
What is needed is an integrated onboard system capable of interfacing as both a diagnostic agent and a control agent for difficult to access vessels using telematics. The system must also be used to process data and offer online monitoring, interception, diagnostic, and control. The integrated system must also be able to process data and ultimately create areas of opportunity where actions can result in optimized diagnostic and maintenance according to access to different facilities. Finally, what is needed is a remote watercraft diagnostic system capable of managing anticipatory routes of the watercraft with known maintenance ports to help optimize maintenance operations and reduce costs and disturbances with operations. Also what is needed is the capacity to interrupt normal operations of a vessel and take control in a deeper level of operation to better simulate sensitive information sent to the vessel via the telematics.
Telematics devices are computers with onboard memory and software operating within the memory. These devices also need to be serviced or accessed at regular intervals for upgrades of software, maintenance, to download stored information, access collected data, modify parameters, or collect test results when the telematics device is in test phase. To download the information, a hard wired connection via a port external to the device is accessed. A laptop, for example, can be used with a USB cable connected to a USB port on the telematics device. When the devices are difficult to access, the download and collection of data can be problematic. When data must be collected from a network of telematics devices, the collection process can be very burdensome. What is needed is a new method for collecting stored information on the telematics device, and interacting with the telematics device.
Telematics devices are equipped with a software layer in a processing space, and some type of wireless communication interface linked functionally to the processing space for communication with the external world. After data is collected from the telematics device, a software layer is used to conduct data processing before it is sent to users. For example, test data, based on the data acquired may be sent and manipulated more frequently, or may need to reach different users.
To be written . . .
Certain embodiments are shown in the drawings. However, it is understood that the present disclosure is not limited to the arrangements and instrumentality shown in the attached drawings.
For the purposes of promoting and understanding the principles disclosed herein, reference is now made to the preferred embodiments illustrated in the drawings, and specific language is used to describe the same. It is nevertheless understood that no limitation of the scope of the invention is hereby intended. Such alterations and further modifications in the illustrated devices and such further applications of the principles disclosed and illustrated herein are contemplated as would normally occur to one skilled in the art to which this disclosure relates.
Within the scope of this invention, in addition to ordinary terms in the art given to the terms vessel or crafts, these terms may be understood to include any and all vehicles or movable devices containing onboard control mechanisms and capable of holding telematics for the diagnostic and control of different onboard systems of these devices. Vessels and crafts shall not be meant to be limited to man made, or man operated structures, or structures of a specific size for the transportation of regular size equipment. These terms are to be construed broadly to include any and all technology where the scope of this invention can be implemented. For example, vessels may include deep sea mobile units, aircraft carriers, oil platforms, orbital devices, dolphin mounted sonar equipment, encapsulated mobile tracers for intravenous medical treatment, and in one best mode contemplated watercrafts such as cargo ships navigating on the open sea.
As part of this disclosure, an open handed numeral series is used and given as [A, B, . . . N] to illustrate a group of remote crafts 2, 3, or 4, or remote devices 5, 6, or 7 or any other group of several elements. As part of this disclosure, the series listed as A, B, . . . N is to be understood to mean 1 or more, and is used this way as means of illustration of a multitude of elements on the drawings. For example, the series A, B, . . . N, can include any number including but not limited to 1, 2 or more. The open handed numeral series shall not be read to limit the description to any group to series larger than 2 but shall be used to describe an element, a limitation, or a function that can be used to a single element as well as to a plurality of elements where 1 is also part of the open handed series.
Generally, as part of the method and system for remote diagnostics of vessels and watercraft described herein, information is received and sent 20 as shown on
What is described as an operation service center 31 is a hardware 130 having local software interface 150 as shown for example at
In contrast, an operational center 32 is a local system 30 where functional elements as part of the operations of the remote vessel itself are taken into consideration. For example, all vessels operate using energy, data communication, process of information, mobility, and ultimately function. Sensors are used in association with telematics to monitor and act upon the different functions of the vessels 1. An operational center 32 may be merged in with operation service centers 31 or be distinct based on the different systems. For example, in spacecrafts, a mission control center is used to manage operations of the craft, while on a deeper level operation centers monitor each different subsystem of the spacecraft and performs different tasks on the crafts.
A third party notification system 33 is a local system that interacts with external third parties, for example in the case of naval vessels, maintenance or supply can be done by different third party entities such as grain suppliers, ports, loading dock corporations, etc. One local system as part of the system for remote diagnostics is an interface that operates and notifies third parties of . . .
to remote vessels 1 as part of a series 1, 2, . . . n of remote crafts A, B, . . . N illustrated In the numeral series listed from 1 to n where n is any number greater than 0 including 1, what is contemplated is the use of one or more
Any remote communication is contemplated, for example the use of wireless technology 11 where this protocol can be used, a Global Positioning System (GPS) if the pro
Telematics devices are integrated informatics and telecommunication devices capable of remote communication.
It is understood that the preceding detailed description of some examples and embodiments of the present invention may allow numerous changes to the disclosed embodiments in accordance with the disclosure made herein without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. The preceding description, therefore, is not meant to limit the scope of the invention but to provide sufficient disclosure to one of ordinary skill in the art to practice the invention without undue burden.
