Trimble Navigation Limited

Leading Edge Technologies, Inc.

Prolink, Inc.

Other

John R Coffee

Richard W Rudow

Kirk H Bingeman

Douglas L Lecker

Tuan Duc Pham

Kevin Marvin

David A Dye

Robert W Lewis

Robert F Allen

Robert D Sleeper

Mark L Kirchner

Robert D Camiano

William A Tekniepe

Mark Billings

Brad Garn

Terry Gin

David Anderson

A method and system for efficient extended data communications using a GPRS (General Packet Radio Service) carrier network. In a communications system having a server and client device coupled by a GPRS network, a communication session is initiated by the client. A combination of data packet transmission frequency adjustment and the transmission of 'keep alive' packets are used to prevent carrier network time-out of the communication session. In multiple server environments such as those using load sharing, a queuing mechanism is provided for outbound messages to client devices.

Method and system for efficient extended data communications using GPRS

A vehicle fleet management information system identifies location and direction of movement of each vehicle in a fleet in real-time, and automatically reports such information, as well as status of predetermined events in which the vehicle is engaged, directly to the fleet manager. One aspect relates to automated reporting of status of a ready mix slurry material truck having a mixer drum. A sensor detects the begin pour event by detecting the mixer drum being run in a discharge direction.

Vehicle tracking, communication and fleet management system

A vehicle fleet management information system for identification of location and direction of movement of each vehicle in the fleet in real-time and automatic communication directly with management offices to report its location and heading, and status of predetermined events in which the vehicle may be engaged. One example is a cement delivery truck which monitors location, speed and status information such as start pour, pouring, end pour, wash and leave job, and automatically transmits this information with a management office without requiring affirmative action by the vehicle operator.

A vehicle fleet management information system identifies location and direction of movement of each vehicle in a fleet in real-time, and automatically reports such information, as well as status of predetermined events in which the vehicle is engaged, directly to the fleet manager. Each fleet vehicle has an assigned time slot to transmit its reporting information over a communications network without interfering with transmissions from other vehicles in their own respective time slots. A timing control phase lock loop (PLL) provides precise time synchronization for timing corrections from a global positioning system (GPS) based time reference. A dual band full-duplex interface of the network has TDMA on one-half and broadcast on the other half. Microprocessor time processing units in components of the network perform precise clock synchronization. Space diversity performed on received vehicle transmitted messages avoids data corruption. Different vehicles have different periodic transmission intervals, by dynamically allocating the slots for various update rates. Auxiliary reporting slots enable prompt reporting of important data by the respective vehicle transmitters independent of the slower periodic transmission intervals.

A player position determining and course management system for a golf course having a plurality of roving units for use by players in playing the course is disclosed. Each roving unit includes a central processing unit (CPU) including a data processor for executing various tasks ranging from fastest-execution of a task to slowest execution of a task on a schedule of priorities of task completion, a real-time means for controlling the processor to give the tasks priority ranging from fastest execution of a task with highest priority to slowest execution of a task with lowest priority, and a means for precisely timing functions of the system including modulating means utilizing a common digital modulation technique for digitally modulating data transmitted to and from all of the roving units. Each of the roving units include a monitor for displaying the golf course including each of the holes with its tee box, fairway, green, cup and hazards, as well as the position of the roving unit on the course in real time. Additionally, the system includes a course management base station for transmitting and receiving information to the roving units and a monitor for displaying the location of each roving unit on the golf course in real time.

Golf course yardage and information system with zone detection

Display monitor for golf cart yardage and information system

A ball position determining and course management system for a golf course includes a base station for course management and a plurality of golf carts for use during play of the course. The base station and the golf carts are adapted to operate in conjunction with a system for use in determining the relative position of and distance between objects on the course. Each golf cart has a roof and a monitor for displaying a map of each hole of the golf course with its tee boxes, fairways, greens and cups, and hazards. The monitor is mounted on the underside of the roof for shading and ease of viewing in sunlight, and has a screen which is canted back by a predetermined angle to reduce the amount of light reflected from the screen into the eyes of a viewer seated in the golf cart. The underside of the roof has a diffuse, black coating to reduce the reflectivity of its surface and to enhance the contrast of the display on the monitor. The monitor displays images in color, and the map of each hole of the course displayed on the monitor has selected features in distinctive colors relatively closely matching those of the respective actual features of each hole, for enhanced realistic display. The position determining system enables the position of the respective golf cart itself to be displayed in real time on the monitor as a unique symbol whose movement tracks that of the golf cart on the displayed map.

A player position determining and course management system for a golf course having a plurality of roving units for use by players in playing the course is disclosed. Each roving unit includes a central processing unit (CPU) including a data processor for executing various tasks ranging from fastest execution of a task to slowest execution of a task on a schedule of priorities of task completion, a real-time means -For controlling the processor to give the tasks priority ranging from fastest execution of a task with highest priority to slowest execution of a task with lowest priority, and a means for precisely timing functions of the system including modulating means utilizing a common digital modulation technique for digitally modulating data transmitted to and from all of the roving units. Each of the roving units include a monitor for displaying the golf course including each of the holes with its tee box, fairway, green, cup and hazards, as well as the position of the roving unit on the course in real time. Additionally, the system includes a course management base station for transmitting and receiving information to the roving units and a monitor for displaying the location of each roving unit on the golf course in real time.

Golf course yardage and information system

A method for calibrating and updating a golf course position, yardage and measurement system for golf carts that utilize dead reckoning navigation, to avoid gradual buildup of error from components of the dead reckoning system as the golf cart is being driven on the course during play, for the purpose of aiding golfers in playing the course by displaying distance measurements between the golf cart and various course features of interest. In one embodiment, the method includes storing a map of the course golf cart path in the database of the cart navigation system, determining from a comparison of the golf cart position in the dead reckoning navigation system and the stored golf cart path whether the golf cart is on the cart path during at least a part of the play of each hole; and, if so, calibrating and updating the dead reckoning navigation system according to a correction of error in the indicated position of an icon representing the golf cart relative to the cart path on a display screen in the cart to restore the icon to the cart path. In another embodiment, the travel of the cart is compared to the meanderings of the cart path on the stored map by comparing the dead reckoning trajectory of the cart to sequences of segments along the cart path until a pathway trajectory is found that closely matches the trajectory of the golf cart; and then correcting the indicated position of the golf cart accordingly, by which to calibrate and update the dead reckoning navigation system.

Map-matching golf navigation system

A player position determining and course management system for a golf course having a plurality of roving units for use by players in playing the course is disclosed. Each roving unit includes a central processing unit (CPU) including a data processor for executing various tasks ranging from fastest execution of a task to slowest execution of a task on a schedule of priorities of task completion, a real-time means for controlling the processor to give the tasks priority ranging from fastest execution of a task with highest priority to slowest execution of a task with lowest priority, and a means for precisely timing functions of the system including modulating means utilizing a common digital modulation technique for digitally modulating data transmitted to and from all of the roving units. Each of the roving units include a monitor for displaying the golf course including each of the holes with its tee box, fairway, green, cup and hazards, as well as the position of the roving unit on the course in real time. Additionally, the system includes a course management base station for transmitting and receiving information to the roving units and a monitor for displaying the the location of each roving unit on the golf course in real time.

Growing community of inventors

Gilbert, AZ, United States of America

John R Coffee