Machine communication using a multi-stage suitability algorithm

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016234259-A1
Application number	US-201514617625-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Feb 9, 2015
Priority date	Feb 9, 2015
Publication date	Aug 11, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

System and methods for managing an equipment fleet including one or more machines are disclosed. One method includes receiving first information relating to an availability of one or more machines of a plurality of machines, receiving second information relating to a machine role of the one or more machines, receiving third information relating to a pairing state of the one or more machines, and determining a suitable pairing for at least one of the plurality of machines based upon at least the first information, the second information, and the third information.

First claim

We claim:

1 . A method for managing an equipment fleet comprising one or more machines, the method comprising:
receiving, by one or more processors, first information relating to an availability of one or more machines of a plurality of machines; receiving, by the one or more processors, second information relating to a machine role of the one or more machines; receiving, by the one or more processors, third information relating to a pairing state of the one or more machines; and determining, by the one or more processors, a suitable pairing for at least one of the plurality of machines based upon at least the first information, the second information, and the third information.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the first information comprises one or more of a proximity to other machines of the plurality of machines, maintenance schedule, current site tasks, operator information, and pairing capability.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the machine roles relate to operational capabilities of the one or more machines.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the third information comprises a paired state or an unpaired state.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the third information comprises an identifier of machine pairings.

6 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising receiving, by the one or more processors, fourth information relating to a positional state of the one or more machines, wherein the suitable pairing is determined based upon at least the first information, the second information, the third information, and the fourth.

7 . The method of claim 6 , wherein the fourth information comprises one or more of a location, heading, and speed of the one or more machines.

8 . A system comprising:
a processor; and a memory bearing instructions that, upon execution by the processor, cause the system at least to:
receive first information relating to an availability of one or more machines of a plurality of machines;
receive second information relating to a machine role of the one or more machines;
receive third information relating to a pairing state of the one or more machines; and
determine a suitable pairing for at least one of the plurality of machines based upon at least the first information, the second information, and the third information.

9 . The system of claim 8 , wherein the first information comprises one or more of a proximity to other machines of the plurality of machines, maintenance schedule, current site tasks, operator information, and pairing capability.

10 . The system of claim 8 , wherein the machine roles relate to operational capabilities of the one or more machines.

11 . The system of claim 8 , wherein the third information comprises a paired state or an unpaired state.

12 . The system of claim 8 , wherein the third information comprises an identifier of machine pairings.

13 . The system of claim 8 , further comprising instructions that, upon execution by the processor, cause the system at least to receive fourth information relating to a positional state of the one or more machines, wherein the suitable pairing is determined based upon at least the first information, the second information, the third information, and the fourth.

14 . The system of claim 13 , wherein the fourth information comprises one or more of a location, heading, and speed of the one or more machines.

15 . A computer-implemented method comprising:
receiving, by one or more processors, first information relating to an availability of one or more machines of a plurality of machines; receiving, by the one or more processors, second information relating to a machine role of the one or more machines; receiving, by the one or more processors, one or more of third information relating to a pairing state of the one or more machines and fourth information relating to a positional state of the one or more machines; determining, by the one or more processors, a suitable pairing for at least one of the plurality of machines based upon at least the first information, the second information, and the third information; and establishing a pairing between two or more of the plurality of machines.

16 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the first information comprises one or more of a proximity to other machines of the plurality of machines, maintenance schedule, current site tasks, operator information, and pairing capability.

17 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the machine roles relate to operational capabilities of the one or more machines.

18 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the third information comprises a paired state or an unpaired state.

19 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the third information comprises an identifier of machine pairings.

20 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the fourth information comprises one or more of a location, heading, and speed of the one or more machines.

Assignees

• Caterpillar Inc

Inventors

• TALMAKI Sanat Arun
• Smallenberger Jason

Classifications

• B60P1/00 Primary

  Vehicles predominantly for transporting loads and modified to facilitate loading, consolidating the load, or unloading (vehicles for carrying harvested crops with means for self-loading or self-unloading A01D90/00; peculiar to refuse collecting-vehicles B65F; loading or unloading vehicles by means not incorporated therein B65G) · CPC title

• H04L67/10

  in which an application is distributed across nodes in the network (software deployment G06F8/60; multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/46) · CPC title

• H04L67/025

  for remote control or remote monitoring of applications · CPC title

• H04L65/1069 Primary

  Session establishment or de-establishment · CPC title

• H04L41/08

  Configuration management of networks or network elements (address allocation H04L61/50) · CPC title