Caterpillar Inc.

Carnegie Mellon University

Bernard J Bennington

Daniel D Stancil

David B Johnson

Adam J Gudat

The present invention includes a method for dynamically updating a propagation model of communication signals in an area being subjected to earthworking operations which alter the topology of the terrain in which the method comprises the steps of dynamically updating a terrain map of the area as a function of the earthworking operations and dynamically updating the propagation model in response to updating the terrain map. An apparatus for dynamically updating a propagation model of communication signals in an area being subjected to a mobile geography-altering machine capable of altering the topology of the terrain, the apparatus comprises circuitry for storing a terrain map representative of the terrain prior to the terrain being subjected to alteration by the mobile geography-altering machine, circuitry for dynamically updating the terrain map as the terrain is being subjected to alteration by the mobile geography-altering machine, and circuitry for dynamically updating the propagation model in response to updating the terrain map.

Method and apparatus for dynamically updating representation of a work site and a propagation model

An apparatus and method for communicating between a first communication node and a second communication node in an area having a plurality of communication nodes is disclosed which comprises generating a propagation model of signals from selected communication nodes in the area. The communication nodes may be fixed or mobile. The propagation model is based on an environmental map that includes the topography of the terrain and structures in the area. The propagation model is generated at selected intervals to provide updated information for predicting the quality of communication at a location at a future time.

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Pittsburgh, PA, United States of America

Bernard J Bennington