User access management for dispensing particulate material

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11733719-B2
Application number	US-201816161268-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 16, 2018
Priority date	Oct 16, 2018
Publication date	Aug 22, 2023
Grant date	Aug 22, 2023

Abstract

The present inventors have determined that implementation of an authentication process which can be selectively applied to safeguard parameters which modify dispensing of particulate material during agricultural operations can advantageously allow users of varying levels of experience and understanding to maintain ease of conducting field operations while reducing the possibility of waste and expense. A control system can determine a level of access for an operator or user on an individual basis. Upon determining a level of access for the operator to be sufficient for modifying a parameter, the control system can apply an input from the operator to modify the parameter, and can accordingly adjust dispensing of particulate material.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A system for distributing particulate material to an agricultural field, comprising:
a meter module configured to dispense particulate material through a product distribution system, the meter module being controllable to dispense the particulate material at a metering rate that is adjustable;
an input source configured to receive an input from an operator for a selected function and for modifying a parameter associated with the selected function and effecting dispensing of the particulate material; and
a controller in communication with the meter module and the input source, the controller executing a program stored in a non-transient medium to:
determine an accessibility of the selected function based on the operator providing the input;
upon determining the accessibility of the selected function, determine an input range for the parameter associated with the selected function based on the operator providing the input;
compare the input to the input range; and
upon confirming the input to be within the input range, apply the input to modify the parameter.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein determining the accessibility of the selected function based on the operator comprises authenticating a password provided by the operator.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the accessibility of the selected function and the input range are determined by referencing a data structure indicating, for a plurality of operators, accessibility for a plurality of functions and minimum and maximum values for respective parameters associated with the plurality of functions.

4. The system of claim 1 , further comprising, upon failing to determine the accessibility of the selected function, executing to maintain the parameter without applying the input.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the parameter relates to at least one of a meter calibration for the meter module and a ground speed calibration.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the parameter relates to a configuration of the product distribution system, wherein the configuration is selected from the group consisting of: a number of distribution headers; a number of distribution lines; and a dimension of the product distribution system.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the parameter relates to a selection of particulate material.

8. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a display for displaying the parameter, wherein the controller further executes to authenticate a password provided by the operator before displaying the parameter.

9. The system of claim 8 , wherein the input source is combined with the display as a Human Machine Interface (HMI).

10. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a wireless communications system, wherein the controller further executes to send a notification through the wireless communications system after executing to apply the input to modify the parameter.

11. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a wireless communications system, wherein the input source is configured to receive the input from a remote operator through the wireless communications system.

12. A method for distributing particulate material to an agricultural field, comprising:
receiving, via an input source, an input from an operator for a selected function and for modifying a parameter associated with the selected function and effecting dispensing of the particulate material, wherein a meter module is configured to dispense the particulate material through a product distribution system, the meter module being controllable to dispense the particulate material at a metering rate that is adjustable;
determining, via a controller having a memory and a processor, an accessibility of the selected function based on the operator providing the input;
upon determining the accessibility of the selected function, determining, via the controller, an input range for the parameter associated with the selected function based on the operator providing the input;
comparing, via the controller, the input to the input range; and
upon confirming the input to be within the input range, applying, via the controller, the input to modify the parameter.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein determining the accessibility of the selected function based on the operator comprises authenticating, via the controller, a password provided by the operator.

14. The method of claim 12 , wherein the accessibility of the selected function and the input range are determined, via the controller, by referencing a data structure indicating, for a plurality of operators, accessibility for a plurality of functions and minimum and maximum values for respective parameters associated with the plurality of functions.

15. The method of claim 12 , further comprising sending, via the controller, a notification through a wireless communications system after applying the input to modify the parameter.

16. A system for distributing particulate material to an agricultural field, comprising:
an air cart comprising:
a product storage tank configured to store particulate material; and
a meter module configured to dispense the particulate material from the product storage tank to a primary product distribution line, the meter module being controllable to dispense the particulate material at a metering rate that is adjustable;

an agricultural implement comprising:
a product distribution header configured to receive the particulate material from the air cart through the primary product distribution line; and
a plurality of row units, each row unit being configured to receive the particulate material from the product distribution header through a secondary product distribution line and deposit the particulate material to the agricultural field;

an input source configured to receive an input from an operator for a selected function and for modifying a parameter associated with the selected function and effecting dispensing of the particulate material; and
a controller in communication with the meter module and the input source, the controller executing a program stored in a non-transient medium to:
determine an accessibility of the selected function based on the operator providing the input;
upon determining the accessibility of the selected function, determine an input range for the parameter associated with the selected function based on the operator providing the input;
compare the input to the input range; and
upon confirming the input to be within the input range, apply the input to modify the parameter.

17. The system of claim 16 , further comprising a wireless communications system, wherein the controller further executes to send a notification through the wireless communications system after executing to apply the input to modify the parameter.

18. The system of claim 16 , further comprising, upon failing to determine the input to be within the input range, executing to maintain the parameter without applying the input.

19. The system of claim 1 , further comprising, upon failing to determine the input to be within the input range, executing to maintain the parameter without applying the input.

20. The method of claim 12 , further comprising, upon failing to determine the input to be within the input range, maintaining, via the controller, the parameter without applying the input.

Assignees

• Cnh Ind Canada Ltd

Inventors

• Turner Jack
• Engel Gord

Classifications

• G05D7/0611 Primary

  characterised by the set value given to the control element · CPC title

• A01C7/08

  Broadcast seeders; Seeders depositing seeds in rows · CPC title

• A01C15/005

  Undercarriages, tanks, hoppers, stirrers specially adapted for seeders or fertiliser distributors · CPC title

• G05B2219/24167

  Encryption, password, user access privileges · CPC title

• G05B2219/36133

  MMI, HMI: man machine interface, communication · CPC title