Watercraft automation and aquatic effort data utilization

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9505477-B2
Application number	US-201514853824-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 14, 2015
Priority date	Oct 19, 2007
Publication date	Nov 29, 2016
Grant date	Nov 29, 2016

Abstract

Watercraft automation and aquatic data utilization for aquatic efforts are utilized for updating map data. A GPS mapping computer and a sonar device are in communication. The GPS mapping computer displays aquatic effort data. Current aquatic effort data is obtained on the GPS mapping computer. The GPS mapping computer is updated with the current aquatic effort data. The update includes updating map data with the current position and the current sonar information.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A system for sourcing aquatic effort data, the system comprising:
a control mechanism and a trolling motor, wherein the control mechanism is executable to control the trolling motor;
an electronic GPS mapping computer, the electronic GPS mapping computer having a display and being in communication with a sonar device and the control mechanism;
a memory having computer-executable instructions stored thereon, the computer-executable instructions causing a processor to:
provide aquatic effort data, wherein the aquatic effort data includes at least map data,
obtain current aquatic effort data, wherein the current aquatic effort data includes at least a current position and current sonar information of the sonar device,
update the aquatic effort data with the current aquatic effort data, wherein the update includes updating the map data with the current position and the current sonar information of the sonar device, and
send instructions from the electronic GPS mapping computer to the control mechanism to cause control of the trolling motor in accordance with the update to the aquatic effort data.

2. The system of claim 1 , further comprising displaying the update on the display of the electronic GPS mapping computer.

3. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a secondary computing device, wherein a processor of the secondary computing device causes the update to be displayed on the secondary computing device, wherein the secondary computing device is at least one member of a group consisting of: a stationary computing device, a mobile computing device, a touch screen device, a cellular telephone device, a depth finder device and a watch device.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the current sonar information includes at least a current depth.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein current aquatic effort data further includes at least one member of a group consisting of: a current temperature, a current weather condition, and a current water condition.

6. The system of claim 1 , further comprising causing the processor to transmit the update to an internet based mapping service.

7. The system of claim 1 , further comprising causing the processor to store the update on a removable storage of the electronic GPS mapping computer.

8. A computer-implemented method for sourcing aquatic effort data, the system comprising:
providing a trolling device, wherein the trolling device includes a control mechanism;
providing an electronic GPS mapping computer, the electronic GPS mapping computer having a processor, a display and being in communication with a sonar device and the control mechanism of the trolling device;
obtaining, on the GPS mapping computer, aquatic effort data, wherein the aquatic effort data includes at least map data,
obtaining, on the GPS mapping computer, current aquatic effort data, wherein the current aquatic effort data includes at least a current position and current sonar information of the sonar device, and
updating the aquatic effort data with the current aquatic effort data, wherein the update includes updating the map data with the current position and the current sonar information of the sonar device.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 8 , further comprising displaying the update on the display of the electronic GPS mapping computer.

10. The computer-implemented method of claim 8 , further comprising causing a secondary computing device to display the update, wherein the secondary computing device is at least one member of a group consisting of: a stationary computing device, a mobile computing device, a touch screen device, a cellular telephone device, a depth finder device and a watch device.

11. The computer-implemented method of claim 8 , wherein the current sonar information includes at least a current depth.

12. The computer-implemented method of claim 8 , wherein current aquatic effort data further includes at least one member of a group consisting of: a current temperature, a current weather condition, and a current water condition.

13. The computer-implemented method of claim 8 , further comprising causing the processor to transmit the update to an internet based mapping service.

14. The computer-implemented method of claim 8 , further comprising causing the processor to store the update on a removable storage of the electronic GPS mapping computer.

15. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having computer executable instructions for sourcing aquatic effort data, the instructions comprising comprising:
providing communication between an electronic GPS mapping computer and a sonar device, wherein the GPS mapping computer includes a processor and a display;
displaying, on the GPS mapping computer, aquatic effort data, wherein the aquatic effort data includes at least map data,
obtaining, on the GPS mapping computer, current aquatic effort data, wherein the current aquatic effort data includes at least a current position and current sonar information of the sonar device, and
causing a processor of the GPS mapping computer to update the aquatic effort data with the current aquatic effort data, wherein the update includes updating the map data with the current position and the current sonar information.

16. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 15 , further comprising displaying the update on the display of the electronic GPS mapping computer.

17. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 15 , wherein the current sonar information includes at least a current depth.

18. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 15 , wherein current aquatic effort data further includes at least one member of a group consisting of: a current temperature, a current weather condition, and a current water condition.

19. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 15 , further comprising causing the processor to transmit the update to an internet based mapping service.

20. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 15 , further comprising causing the processor to store the update on a removable storage of the electronic GPS mapping computer.

Assignees

• Grace Ted V
• Grace Ryan T
• Garmin Switzerland Gmbh

Inventors

• Grace Ted V
• Grace Ryan T

Classifications

• A01K97/00

  Accessories for angling (fish stringers A01K65/00; landing-nets or landing-spoons for fishing A01K77/00) · CPC title

• B63H21/21 Primary

  Control means for engine or transmission, specially adapted for use on marine vessels · CPC title

• G07C5/02

  Registering or indicating driving, working, idle, or waiting time only (apparatus forming part of taximeters G07B13/00) · CPC title

• G05D1/0206

  specially adapted to water vehicles · CPC title

• A01K85/00

  Artificial bait for fishing · CPC title