Abstract:
A system and method for managing communication of a movable entity is provided. The system comprises a chargeable power source, at least one sensor unit which is connected with the movable entity, and a global positioning device which is powered by the chargeable power source and is connected with the movable entity, wherein the global positioning device is used to track moveable entity status in response to sensor data received from said at least one sensor unit, the global positioning device is configured to execute a power saving mode based on moveable entity status information. The system and method save electric energy consumption of a battery fro the GPS device by the mode switching between a sleep mode and a work mode, and judgment on the predetermined event provided may help to prevent the machine from being stolen.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0001]    The present disclosure generally relates to mobile machines provided with Global Position System (GPS) devices, more particularly, to a system and method of managing communication by systematically entering a GPS device into sleep mode for energy conservation. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    The Global Position System is a system that may be used to remotely determine the geographic location of a target or moveable entity. Typically, the system operates with a processor of a software system and a GPS receiver device. When a GPS receiver device is installed on the target entity, which may be a mobile machine, for example, the machine can then be remotely located and managed by the combination of the GPS receiver device and local cellular communication. 
         [0003]    The GPS device may be placed “on-board” the machine and in the situation where the machine is a heavy machine being operated at a construction site, the GPS device receives power from its alternator or power generator during operation and, in contrast, receives power solely from the battery when the machine is powered off. However, the power from the battery will be depleted quickly if the machine engine is not operating to replenish or recharge the battery assuming the GPS device continues to consume power by engaging in communication with remote entities, for example. Hence, the ability to collect machine data via the GPS device regardless of the operational status of the machine is important and remains a challenge for these machines. 
         [0004]    U.S. Pat. No. 6,445,341 to Hasegawa attempts to address adopting a power saving strategy to ensure GPS data collection is not disabled. Hasegawa provides a GPS receiver having a GPS antenna adapted to communicate with a satellite periodically and if the machine is not changed in location, then the GPS system is urged into standby. Hasegawa further suggests using a timer to switch the GPS system to active mode once a predetermined time period has lapsed. 
         [0005]    However, Hasegawa uses a frequency oscillator to initiate standby which is expensive and complicated to adapt to a mobile machine. For example, it is complex to read and determine the orbit information in order to switch the GPS receiver into a standby mode. Moreover, the oscillation frequency fluctuates before connecting and after disconnecting power to the GPS receiver and this frequency fluctuation directly affects the reading of the orbit information. As a result, the accuracy of the device during such fluctuation is questionable and therefore the application of standby is inconsistent. 
         [0006]    The present disclosure is directed to provide solutions to overcome one or more of the deficiencies set forth above. 
       SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE 
       [0007]    To overcome the above deficiencies, the present disclosure provides a system and a method for managing communication of a moveable entity, which enables power savings of the power source at a low cost. 
         [0008]    In one aspect, the present disclosure is directed to a system for managing communication of a moveable entity. The system may include a rechargeable power source and at least one sensor unit attached to the moveable entity. The system may include a global positioning device, which is powered by the power source and attached to the moveable entity. The global positioning device may be structured and arranged to track moveable entity status in response to sensor data received from at least one sensor unit. Wherein said global positioning device is configured to execute a power saving mode based on moveable entity status information. 
         [0009]    In another aspect, the present disclosure is directed to a method for managing communication of a moveable entity. The method may include checking on the signal of the entity engine sensor if the movable entity is powered off. The method may also include switching the global positioning device from work mode to sleep mode. During the sleep mode, global positioning device may detect signal from other members of the entity. The method may further include determining if a predetermined event happens and communicating with a remote controller system if a predetermined event happens. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0010]      FIG. 1  is an exemplary illustration of a system according to the present disclosure; 
           [0011]      FIG. 2  is an exemplary block diagram for a GPS device mounted in the machine according to the invention; 
           [0012]      FIG. 3  is an exemplary flowchart of a sleep mode determination process involving the GPS device of  FIG. 2 ; and 
           [0013]      FIG. 4  is an exemplary flowchart depicting mode selection and communication strategy for the determination process of  FIG. 3 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0014]    Now the invention will be described in detail with reference to the attaching drawings and in conjunction with the specific embodiments. 
         [0015]      FIG. 1  illustrates an exemplary disclosed system  100  including a mobile entity, for example a machine  60  which may be configured to perform an operation associated with a particular industry, such as mining, construction, farming, etc. Other examples may include, but should not be limited to, vocational machines, trucks, cranes, earth moving vehicles, mining vehicles, backhoes, material handling equipment, farming equipment, marine vessels, aircraft, and any other type of movable entity or machine. A machine may be powered by a combustion engine, an electric motor, transported by another machine or any other propulsion means known to those skilled in the art. 
         [0016]    System  100  may include a remote entity or entities, such as controller center  30 , and a mobile communication system  20  to provide a channel for communication between the machine and the remote entity. It is known to send machine information to a remote entity and in return the remote entity may transmit instruction and command to the machine. For example, mobile communication system  20  could be a satellite system, a cellular network, or other network and operate on 2G cellular standards, such as, for example, CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access), GSM (Global System for Mobile Communications), and TDMA (Time Division Multiple Access). Alternatively, or in addition, mobile communication system  20  may also operate on 2.5G and/or 3G standards, such as, for example, GPRS (General Packet Radio Service), TD-SCDMA (Time Division-Synchronous Code Division Multiple Access) or WCDM (Wideband Code Division Multiple Access) via one or any combination of cellular network providers. 
         [0017]    Information, perhaps in the form of an instruction, may be voice, data, or image information. In an exemplary embodiment, information to be transferred over mobile communication system  20  could be SMS (Short Message Service). Other software application platforms could also be implemented to transfer information between machine  60  and controller center  30 , such as instant communication software and all other software applications known to those having skill in the art. 
         [0018]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , controller center  30  is generally remotely located relative to machine  60  and is configured to monitor and manage machine  60  or a fleet of machines. Controller center  30  may be used as a platform to send instructions to machine  60  via mobile communication system  20 . The machine owner or business owner may require up-to-date machine status, for example, such as machine ID and machine work status. 
         [0019]    Alternatively, controller center  30  may be a central data distribution center with responsibility to dispatch machine data to multiple management centers. In an exemplary embodiment, controller center  30  may communicate with a plurality of off-board management centers through communication platform  40 . Management center  50  may send out instructions and commands to control machine operations and may also transmit information to control machine  60 . Communication platform  40  may be a cellular network, or other network such as Bluetooth, microwave, point-to-point wireless, point-to-multipoint wireless, multipoint-to-multipoint wireless, or any other appropriate communication platform known to those having skill in the art. 
         [0020]    System  100  includes GPS satellite  10  and a GPS receiver (not shown) mounted in machine  60  to communicate machine location information. Machine location information may be forwarded to controller center  30  and/or management center  50 . When there&#39;s a request for obtaining machine location information, GPS receiver may start a dialogue with GPS satellite  10 . Such request may be systematically transmitted at intervals such as, for example, every hour. The location information would be sent to controller center  30  when the interval had lapsed, however, information communicated in between intervals would be stored in the GPS device unless there&#39;s a command from controller center  30 . 
         [0021]      FIG. 2  shows an exemplary block diagram of GPS device  70  which may be mounted in machine  60  according to the present disclosure. GPS device  70  may be powered by a battery, which is recharged by the machine power system (not shown) during machine operation as is customary. Once machine  60  is powered off, power from the battery will continue to be consumed and eventually the communication between machine and remote entities, such as GPS satellite  10  and/or controller center  30 , would fail without the standby strategy set forth by the present disclosure. Therefore, in order to avoid losing data stored in GPS device  70 , GPS device  70  must shift to a standby or sleep mode when machine  60  shuts down. 
         [0022]    GPS device  70  includes position information module  204  to obtain machine location by communication with GPS satellite  10 . GPS device  70  may also include communication module  202  to transmit required machine information and/or instruction between machine  60  and controller center  30 . As shown in  FIG. 2 , GPS device may further include CPU  210 , memory  206  and Input/Output bus line  212  configured to communicate with other components, such as an engine through engine sensor  80 , of machine  60 . 
         [0023]    As part of the CPU  210  execution function, a machine location request may be made and information from position information module  204  and machine work information from engine sensor  80  via Input/Output bus  212  may be obtained. CPU  210  may also receive instruction data from communication module  202  simultaneously with such request and prompt for instruction based on machine position and/or engine sensor information. CPU  210  may also manage the storage of machine information and instruction data in a storage device, such as memory  206 . In addition, CPU  210  may also detect a signal from machine components, such as engine sensor  80 , and shut down one or more functions of GPS device  70  to conserve power and streamline data collection of actual machine condition and status. For example, CPU  210  may only shut down position information module  204 ; however sustain communication between controller center  30  and machine  60  in the event machine  60  is shutdown. 
         [0024]    In an exemplary embodiment, GPS device  70  may also include a device, for example, timer  208  shown in  FIG. 2 , for generating a signal to send to CPU  210  for the purpose of systematically returning the GPS device  70  to work mode. Furthermore, GPS device  70  may include a sensor to monitor machine movement, such as motion sensor  214 . Motion sensor  214  may communicate with CPU  210  through Input/Output bus  212 . Signal from motion sensor  214  may be detected by CPU  210  and activate GPS device  70  to re-initiate data collection since the machine is active. 
         [0025]    Referring to  FIG. 3 , an exemplary method of a sleep mode determination  300  for GPS device  70  will now be described. When machine  60  is operating, GPS device  70  is in work mode and sleep mode is inactive. For example, in work mode position information module  204  may acquire machine position information and, per request of CPU  210 , store such information in memory  206 , and thereafter communication module  202  may communicate machine information to controller center  30 . Periodically CPU  210  may check whether machine  60  is shut down by requesting a signal be sent from engine sensor  80 . If there&#39;s no engine signal, GPS device  70  will enter sleep mode as shown in step  306 . Otherwise, GPS device will remain in work mode. 
         [0026]    In contrast, GPS device  70  may be urged to enter sleep mode when the machine  60  is not in operation and one or more components within GPS device  70  may be shut down to conserve energy. Typically, communication module  202  and position information module  204  require a significant amount of power; therefore, CPU  210  is designed to shut down these two components when appropriate to save power. It should be apparent to those having skill in the art that other components may also be shut down to minimize power consumption, for example memory  206  may be shut down. However, if controller center  30  requires ongoing communication with machine  60 , communication module  202  will not be deactivated. Since controller center  30  communicates instruction to machine  60  over communication module  202 , such as, for example, an instruction for activating GPS device  70 , a timer may be used with the communication module  202  to shut down communication module  202  for short periods of time to conserve energy. 
         [0027]    Referring to specific steps according to  FIG. 3 , as stated in Step  308 , CPU  210  determines whether there&#39;s a signal received, such signal may be the signal from timer  208 , engine sensor  80  or motion sensor  214 , or any other of the above-mentioned components. If there&#39;s no signal received, GPS device  70  may remain in sleep mode. If there&#39;s a signal GPS device  70  may be activated (Step  310 ), the components that were shut down may be re-energized and power re-supplied. Immediately after the power is re-supplied, position information module  204  may receive real time location information from machine through GPS satellite  10  to ensure the machine has not been moved out of range. In addition, it may be prudent to urge communication module  204  to purge all machine information in queue to controller center  30 , which may have been stored in memory  206 . 
         [0028]    Step  312  of sleep mode determination flowchart  300  prompts for determination of whether a pre-determined event has occurred. A pre-determined event, which will be described in further detail herein below, may be, for example, a situation where the machine  60  is in transit but not detectably operating signifying that the machine may be subject to theft. If such a pre-determined event has occurred, there will be an urgent need to immediately communicate this event to controller center  30 . Otherwise, CPU  210  will return to execute Step  304 , which is to detect whether machine  60  is working, for example, by detecting whether there&#39;s a signal from engine sensor  80 . 
         [0029]    Referring to  FIG. 4 , further explanation for the pre-determined event determination in Step  312  will now be explained. Such pre-determined event may be a potential theft  401 , for example. If CPU  210  detects a signal from motion sensor  214 , but no contemporaneous signal from engine sensor  80 , it could be considered that machine is being transported, signifying a potential theft is happening. GPS device  70  would then report machine&#39;s location information to controller center  30  and await further instruction. 
         [0030]    Another predetermined event may occur when CPU  210  detects that the power storage of GPS battery has fallen to a critically low level or reached a “pre-set percentage”  402 , for example, such as 10% of maximum power. If the battery has reached or fallen below the pre-set percentage, then CPU  210  will require that communication module  202  immediately report the current machine information to controller center  30  in order to memorialize the available data to avoid the situation where GPS device  70  loses power and is no longer able to record machine data. Additionally, controller center  30  may send a message to machine operator so the operator can service the battery. 
         [0031]    Yet another pre-determined event may be triggered when a required communication  403  is initiated by controller center  30 . For example, the controller center  30  may be programmed to automatically collect machine data at a pre-set time point, for example, every two hours, rather than collecting ceaselessly, so that the electricity consumption and the communication resources of the mobile communication system  20  are saved. If GPS device  70  is activated just at the preset time point for reporting information of the machine, communication module  202  will send all the information of the machine to controller center  30 . 
       INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY 
       [0032]    Although methods and systems associated with the disclosed embodiments are described in relation to machines and system, they may be applicable to any environment or situation where it may be advantageous to utilize a GPS system with a local mobile communication system to process data using an on-board GPS device to communicate to a remote controller center. 
         [0033]    In operation, the GPS device  70  having communication module  202  and position information module  204  may be mounted in the machine  60  for communication between the machine  60  and a controller center  30 . During machine  60  operation, the GPS device  70  is in work mode, that is, position information module  204  may receive machine location data periodically and such machine location data could be transmitted to controller center  30  over communication module  202 . In this manner it is contemplated that the GPS device  70  would be powered by the battery (not shown) at full charge due to the alternator or power generator supplying a contemporaneous recharge to the battery. However, while machine is shutdown or powered off, the GPS device  70  receives power exclusively from the battery and therefore exhaustion of the battery is a concern if the GPS device  70  continues to collect data for an extended period during shutdown. 
         [0034]    Referring to  FIG. 3 , when shutdown of the machine  60  is detected, GPS device  70  will return to sleep mode to conserve battery power. In sleep mode, a plurality of components may be shut down, such as the position information module  204  and the communication module  202 . To reactivate the GPS device  70  a signal must be transmitted to the GPS device  70 . Such signal may be a signal from motion sensor  214 , engine sensor  80  or timer  208 . Whether a predetermined event has occurred may be determined by the GPS device  70  when it&#39;s active. If such predetermined event occurs, the GPS device  70  will communicate with the controller center  30  and wait for further instruction. 
         [0035]    As shown in  FIG. 4 , a predetermined event may refer to a potential theft  401 , a power storage level  402 , or a required communication  403 . For example, if there&#39;s no signal from engine sensor  80  however a signal from motion sensor  214  is detected, a potential theft will be considered. GPS device  70  may report to the controller center  30 , and in order to safeguard the asset, controller center  30  may send instruction to lock or disable the machine, track its movement, or send an alert message to local authorities so the machine may be repossessed. 
         [0036]    The disclosed system and method could be applied to facilitate power savings for the battery powering the GPS device by systematically switching between sleep mode and work mode. The system and method also prevents machines from being stolen or lost which is a significant risk in emerging markets. It is envisioned that rental companies could benefit from such a system and method and operate their businesses with little additional cost by using the disclosed system and method since many of the communications may be carried out on a local cellular network. 
         [0037]    It will be noted that the invention is mot limited to the exemplary embodiments described in detail in the above. And it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made without departing the scope or spirit of the invention.