Patent Publication Number: US-2007124391-A1

Title: Electronic mail system for a work machine

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD  
      The present disclosure relates to an electronic mail system and, more particularly, to an electronic mail system for a work machine.  
     BACKGROUND  
      Work machines such as, for example, tractors, marine vessels, generator sets, engines, and/or other types of machinery typically include one or more components, such as for example, work implements, traction devices, propellers, and/or shafts, to perform one or more operations. Work machines often include a controller configured to control the operation of the components to perform a variety of tasks, such as, for example, digging, hauling, moving, and/or power generation. Often the controller receives inputs indicative of a desired operation from an operator and outputs commands to affect the desired operation as a function of the inputs. Typically, the controller interacts with one or more communicators, such as, for example, sensors or actuators, to affect a desired operation and to provide feedback to the operator regarding operating parameters of the work machine. Operators usually communicate with the work machine via a transmission of one or more signals, e.g., a voltage or current level, indicative of, for example, a position of a joystick or a value of an operating parameter.  
      U.S. Pat. No. 6,760,757 (“the U.S. Pat. No. &#39;757 patent”) issued to Lundberg et al. discloses techniques for using a web based server in a vehicle. Specifically, the system of the U.S. Pat. No. &#39;757 patent discloses an aircraft including a plurality of user terminals configured to communicate with a proxy server. The proxy server is configured to communicate with a satellite via a wireless link during a flight and configured to be connected via a wired link with a ground-based server when the aircraft is stationary on the ground, between flights. During a flight, users may access Internet pages and produce and send electronic mail (hereinafter “e-mail”) via a respective user terminal. The e-mail is temporarily stored within the proxy server and downloaded to the ground-based server when the aircraft lands. The ground-based server subsequently downloads the e-mail via a conventional link for onward transmission. A user may selectively identify and send e-mail via the wireless link via the satellite.  
      Although the system of the U.S. Pat. No. &#39;757 patent may disclose an aircraft having an e-mail server, users may not be able to request and receive e-mail indicative of an operation of the aircraft. Additionally, the system of the U.S. Pat. No. &#39;757 patent may not control an operation of the aircraft as a function of commands sent via e-mail from users. Furthermore, the aircraft of the U.S. Pat. No. &#39;757 patent may not automatically communicate with users via e-mail.  
      The present disclosure is directed to overcoming one or more of the shortcomings set forth above.  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      In one aspect, the present disclosure is directed to an e-mail system for a work machine. The system includes a controller configured to affect at least one operation of the work machine. The system also includes at least one communicator operatively connected with the controller and configured to communicate at least one signal with the controller. The system further includes a server configured to communicate e-mail between the controller and a user.  
      In another aspect, the present disclosure is directed to a method of operating a work machine having at least one component and at least one controller. The method includes sending at least one electronic mail between a user and the least one controller. The method also includes communicating an operational condition of the at least one component with the at least one controller. The method further includes communicating the operational condition of the at least one component with at least one user via electronic mail.  
      In yet another aspect, the present disclosure is directed to a work machine. The work machine includes at least one component configured to be operated to affect a performance of at least one task. The work machine further includes an electronic mail system including at least one controller and at least one server configured to communicate electronic mail with a user. The electronic mail contains information indicative of an operation of the at least one component. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       FIG. 1  is a diagrammatic illustration of an exemplary work machine in accordance with the present disclosure; and  
       FIG. 2  is a diagrammatic illustration of an exemplary e-mail system of the work machine of  FIG. 1 . 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       FIG. 1  illustrates an exemplary work machine  10 . Work machine  10  may be a fixed or mobile machine that performs some type of operation associated with an industry, such as, for example, mining, construction, farming, and/or any other industry known in the art. For example, work machine  10  may include a tractor, a marine vessel, a generator set, an engine, and/or any other machinery known in the art. For exemplary purposes only, work machine  10  has been illustrated as a tractor, however, it is noted that the disclosure herein is applicable to any work machine. Work machine  10  may include components  12 , a controller  14 , communicators  16 , and a server  18 . Controller  14  may be configured to affect control of components  12  as a function of inputs received from communicators  16  and/or via server  18 .  
      Components  12  may be configured to perform or affect performance of one or more operations of work machine  10 . Specifically, components  12  may include movable and/or fixed components, may interact with an environment external to work machine  10 , and/or interact with other components  12 . For example, components  12  of work machine  10  may include movable frame members, hydraulic actuators, traction devices, and/or work implements. One or more of components  12  may work in conjunction with one another to affect movement of a work implement to affect an operation such as, for example, digging. It is contemplated that work machine  10  may include any number and/or any type of component known in the art.  
      Controller  14  may be configured to affect control of components  12  and thus work machine  10 . Controller  14  may include one or more microprocessors, a memory, a data storage device, a communications hub, and/or other components known in the art. Controller  14  may be integrated within a general work machine control system capable of controlling additional various functions of work machine  10 . Specifically, controller  14  may be configured to receive inputs communicated from communicators  16  and/or from a user  22  (see  FIG. 2 ) via server  18 , e.g. signals or e-mail. Controller  14  may perform one or more algorithms to determine appropriate output signals, and communicate the output signals to one or more of communicators  16  to affect control of components  12 . Additionally, controller  14  may be configured to perform one or more algorithms to generate e-mail as a function of signals communicated with communicators  16  and/or inputs received via server  18 . The generated e-mail may be created within server  18  and/or generated within controller  14  and delivered to server  18 . It is contemplated that controller  14  may be further configured to receive inputs indicative of various operating parameters of work machine  10  and/or components  12  from one or more of communicators  16 . It is also contemplated that controller  14  may be configured to control the operation of additional systems of work machine  10 , such as, for example, audio or visual displays and/or any other system known in the art. It is further contemplated that controller  14  may be configured to recognize text within e-mail to identify inputs communicated from user  22 , by performing appropriate algorithms such as, for example, executing one or more software programs.  
      Communicators  16  may be configured to communicate signals indicative of an operation of components  12  and/or operating parameters of work machine  10  with controller  14 . Specifically, communicators  16  may include active, e.g., a voltage level, and/or passive, e.g., a non-invasive sensor, to monitor and/or affect operation of components  12  and/or work machine  10 . For example, communicators  16  may include operator interface devices, temperature and/or position sensors, audio and/or visual alarms, timers, displays, monitors, input/output devices, controllers, global positioning systems, radio frequency transmitters, voltage and/or current transmitters, infrared and/or optical transmitters, solenoids, mechanical, electrical and/or virtual switches, and/or any other known communication device known in the art. Communicators  16  may each be configured to monitor and/or affect operation of one or more of components  12 . For example and considering work machine  10  to embody a tractor for exemplary purposes only, one of communicators  16  may be configured to monitor a position of a hydraulic actuator which may, via an extension or retraction thereof, affect movement of a work implement. For another example, one of communicators  16  may be configured to affect movement of a valve operatively associated with a hydraulic system which may, dependant upon a position thereof, direct pressurized fluid to and/or from chambers within a hydraulic actuator affecting movement of a hydraulic actuator. It is contemplated that communicators  16  may include any number of communicators each configured to communicate with controller  14  and operatively associated with one or more of components  12  and/or work machine  10 . It is further contemplated that communicators  16  may interact with controller  14  in any suitable manner, such as, for example, via radio frequencies, hardwired connections, optically, and/or any manner known in the art.  
       FIG. 2  illustrates server  18  with respect to controller  14 , a service provider  20 , and a user  22 . Specifically, server  18  may be configured to communicate with controller  14  and service provider  20  to send and receive e-mail therebetween. Service provider  20  may be configured to send and receive e-mail with server  18  and enable user  22  to generate and access e-mail. It is contemplated that server  18 , service provider  20 , and user  22  may respectively communicate with one another in any suitable manner, such as, for example, via a wired or wireless connection, via the Internet, via a local area network, and/or any other manner known in the art. It is contemplated that user  22  may include a worker, a controller, a computer, and/or any suitable entity configured to affect an operation of work machine  10 .  
      Server  18  may be configured to send and receive e-mail and may include any suitable server known in the art. Specifically, server  18  may be configured to communicate with controller  14  and service provider  20  to send and receive e-mail with both controller  14  and service provider  20 . Server  18  may include software and/or hardware configured to perform one or more algorithms to send and receive e-mail as is conventional in the art. It is contemplated that server  18  may be integrated within controller  14 .  
      Service provider  20  may be configured to send and receive e-mail with server  18  and may include any suitable service provider known in the art. Specifically, service provider  20  may be configured to enable user  22  to create and send e-mail to server  18 . Service provider  20  may also be configured to receive e-mail from server  18  and enable user  22  to access and/or view received e-mail. For example, service provider  20  may include software and/or hardware configured to perform one or more algorithms to communicate according to any conventional e-mail protocol as is known in the art. It is contemplated that user  22  may create, send, and/or access e-mail within service provider  20  via a computer including input and output devices, via a cellular phone, and/or via any other suitable manner known in the art. It is also contemplated that service provider  20  and/or user  22  may be disposed at any position with respect to work machine  10 . For example, service provider  20  and/or user  22  may be disposed at a local position, e.g., within visual range of work machine  10 , and/or a remote location, e.g., a field office or a headquarters, separated from work machine  10  by any distance.  
      E-mail may include any message including text communicated over an electronic communication system. E-mail may be communicated via Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (“SMTP”), e.g., communicated via the Internet, via non-standard protocols, e.g., communicated within a local area network, and/or via any protocol known in the art. E-mail may include an address header, a subject, and a body as is conventional in the art. The address heading may include a recipient address and a sender address, e.g., “user@serviceprovider.com.” The subject may include text identifying the topic of the e-mail and the body may include any text arranged to communicate one or more ideas. It is contemplated that e-mail may include any type of text including, for example, any type of font, letters, numbers, symbols, language, encoded text, encrypted text, and/or quantity of text within the subject and/or body. It is also contemplated that e-mail may be communicated to and/or from any address and may or may not include text within either a body or a subject. It is further contemplated that e-mail may include one or more attachments such as, for example, text files, executable program files, picture files, and/or any type of file known in the art.  
      Specifically, e-mail communicated by user  22  may include text configured as one or more commands to controller  14 . User  22  may generate and send e-mail to controller  14 , via service provider  20  and server  18 , including text arranged within a subject, body, and/or attachment which controller  14  may recognize as an input. E-mail sent by user  22  may control controller  14  to perform one or more algorithms and to output appropriate signals to communicators  16  to affect operation of components  12  and thus work machine  10 . As such, controller  14  may be controllable as a function of inputs received via e-mail. Additionally, controller  14  may automatically generate e-mail when a value of a parameter of work machine  10  exceeds or falls within a predetermined range of values and/or is greater or less than a predetermined value. As such, user  22  may be notified of the operational condition of work machine  10  as a function of e-mail sent from controller  14 . It is contemplated that an e-mail sent from user  22  including an attachment may include inputs recognizable by controller  14  to perform an algorithm included within the attachment, such as, for example, an algorithm to reprogram a portion of controller  14 , e.g., a software update.  
     INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY  
      The disclosed e-mail system may be applicable to any work machine and may allow e-mail communications between user  22  and work machine  10 . The operation of work machine  10  and, in particular, server  18  is explained below with reference to work machine  10  embodied as a tractor for exemplary purposes only and it is noted that the explanation below is applicable to any work machine.  
      Work machine  10  may be operated as a function of inputs communicated from communicators  16 . For example, controller  14  may include one or more algorithms configured to monitor communicators  16  and automatically control components  12  as a function of signals received from communicators  16 . Also, components  12  and thus operation of work machine  10  may be controllable by an operator operatively associated with respect to work machine  10  as is conventional in the art. For example, an operator may via actuation of operator interface devices, control components  12 , e.g., movement of a joystick.  
      Additionally, components  12  and thus work machine  10  may be controllable by user  22  via e-mail communicated via service provider  20  and server  18 . For example, user  22  may monitor and/or control components  12  to perform one or more operations via server  18 . Specifically, controller  14  may receive an e-mail from user  22  including text arranged as one or more inputs. Controller  14  may recognize the inputs and may perform one or more algorithms in response thereto. Controller  14  may send and/or receive signals with communicators  16  as a function of the inputs and the performed algorithms to monitor and/or control components  12 . Controller  14  may deliver an e-mail to user  22  via server  18  including text indicative of the performed algorithms, signals sent or received with communicators  16 , and/or other information, e.g., any type of data.  
      User  22  and controller  14  may send and receive e-mail therebetween so as to monitor and/or control the operation of work machine  10 . Specifically, user  22  may be interested in the operation of work machine  10  and may desire information indicative of one or more operating parameters of work machine  10 . As such, user  22  may generate and send an e-mail via server  18  to controller  14  configured to command controller  14  to perform a particular algorithm, such as, for example, an algorithm configured to receive a signal from one of communicators  16 , generate an e-mail, and send the e-mail to user  22  via server  18  to textually represent the received signal. Additionally, user  22  may desire movement of one or more of components  12  to establish a particular operation of work machine  10 . As such, user  22  may similarly generate and send an e-mail to controller  14  configured to command controller  14  to perform a particular algorithm, such as, for example, an algorithm configured to communicate an output signal to one or more of communicators  16  to affect movement of one or more of components  12  to establish the particular operation of work machine  10 . Furthermore, controller  14  may be configured to perform one or more algorithms configured to automatically generate and send e-mail in response to signals received from communicators  16  exceeding or falling within predetermined ranges and/or being greater or less than a predetermined value.  
      For example, if user  22  desired information regarding a pressure of pressurized fluid within a hydraulic actuator, user  22  may send an e-mail to controller  14  including inputs therein recognizable by controller  14  as a command to determine the appropriate pressure, e.g., including the text “pressure of hydraulic actuator” within the subject. Accordingly, controller  14  may recognize the text and perform an algorithm to receive a signal from one of communicators  16 , e.g., a pressure sensor operatively associated with the hydraulic actuator. Controller  14  may be configured to automatically generate and send an e-mail via server  18  to user  22  including text recognizable by user  22  as the determined pressure, e.g., the text “pressure equals 120 kPa.” Similarly, user  22  may deliver inputs to controller  14  to affect operation of components  12 . It is contemplated that user  22  may generate text within predetermined and/or unrestrained arrangements for recognition by controller  14 . It is also contemplated that controller  14  may alternatively not generate and send an email indicative of an executed command such as, for example, when user  22  desires an operation of one of components  12 .  
      Because work machine  10  may send an e-mail to user  22  containing information indicative of the operational condition of work machine  10  and/or components  12 , user  22  may not require prior knowledge to interpret the e-mail. For example, if work machine  10  communicated a signal, e.g., a voltage or current level, user  22  would require prior knowledge as to what the signal represents and/or indicates. By sending e-mail, user  22  may not require prior knowledge and may interpret the information communicated from work machine  10  by recognizing text. Because work machine  10  communicates with user  22  via a service provider, work machine  10  and user  22  may be untethered and/or located at any distance relative to work machine  10 , e.g., work machine  10  and user  22  may send and receive e-mail via a wireless connection and/or the Internet and allow remote monitoring and/or control of one or more operations of work machine  10 . Additionally, work machine  10  may be controllable by an operator, e.g., not user  22 , operatively associated with work machine  10 , e.g., positioned locally with respect to work machine  10 , via a conventional manner, e.g., via operator interface devices regardless of e-mail communication between user  22  and controller  14 . It is contemplated that priority between a remote input, e.g., from user  22  via e-mail and a local command, e.g., from an operator via an operator interface device, may be resolved on a case by case basis and/or user  22  may, via one or more particular commands, selectively override an input delivered to controller  14  from an operator interface device.  
      It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made to the disclosed e-mail system for a work machine. Other embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art from consideration of the specification and practice of the disclosed system. It is intended that the specification and examples be considered as exemplary only, with a true scope being indicated by the following claims and their equivalents