Patent ID: 9685009
Date: 2017-06-20
CPC Classifications: G06Q,G07C

Claim:
1. A method for managing mixed-fleet worksites, comprising: receiving, by one or more processors of a central station, one or more models relating to a worksite or a fleet of machines at the worksite, the fleet of machines including an in-network machine configured to communicate with the central station, and an out-of-network machine that is not configured to communicate with the central station; receiving, by the one or more processors of the central station, first sensor data associated with the out-of-network machine at the worksite, the first sensor data comprising one or more of image data and audio data; receiving, by the one or more processors of the central station, second sensor data associated with the in-network machine at the worksite; determining, by the one or more processors, a machine state of each of the in-network machine and the out-of-network machine, the machine state of the out-of-network machine based at least on a comparison of a feature of an object detected in the image data of the first sensor data to a signature that represents a known or learned machine state, the machine state of the in-network machine based at least on the second sensor data, the machine state one of a full load, an empty load, a payload material type, a payload to air ratio, a payload placement, a payload compaction, a payload water content, a material amount moved, a drop placement, an excavator position, an idle state, a swing state, a dump position, a deformation of machine, an operator characteristic and a ground crew location relative to machine; comparing the determined machine states to a modeled machine state represented by the received one or more models to detect a non-failure irregularity in site operations or an inefficiency in site operations; generating a response based at least on the detected irregularity or inefficiency, the response including a warning or a remote reconfiguration of operational parameters of the in-network machine; and transmitting the response to an operator, a display at the worksite, or to the in-network machine, wherein the one or more models include a machine model, a payload model or a worksite model wherein the worksite includes a mining site or a construction site, wherein the out-of-network machine is an out-of-network digging machine, an out-of-network loading machine or an out-of-network hauling machine, wherein the in-network machine is an in-network digging machine, an in-network loading machine or an in-network hauling machine, wherein the out-of-network hauling machine and in-network hauling machine are each configured to carry excavated materials between different locations at the worksite.