Caterpillar Inc.

Paul William Bierdeman

Alan Lewis Ferguson

Daniel Craig Wood

Trent Ray Meiss

Brian Lane Jenkins

Thomas J Kelly

John L Traenkenschuh

Andrew J Swanson

Todd Wagner

Joshua D Reed

Harold Duane Dabbs

Arjun Veneshetty

Kirk S Shively

Bradley Bergerhouse

Derek J Light

Rohinikumar Adivi

Jeffrey David Rule

Sudhakar Subramaniyan

A system and method to access a machine through a mobile device includes sending a machine key to a controller on-board the machine, and a mobile device key to the mobile device using a remote server. The mobile device sends a mobile device ID to the controller. The controller determines the mobile device key based on the mobile device ID and the machine key. The controller sends a random number to the mobile device. The mobile device processes the random number to derive a first processed random number, and sends the first processed random number to the controller. The controller processes the random number to derive a second processed random number. The controller enables a start button to send a request to start the machine, when the first processed random number matches the second processed random number. The controller starts the machine upon receiving the request to start the machine.

Starting a machine through a mobile device

A method and apparatus are provided for verifying authenticity of program code for an electronic control unit. In one implementation, a method is provided. According to the method, program code for an the electronic control unit is received. The method may access metadata embedded in the program code. The metadata may identify a source of the program code. The method may further communicate via a network with a server to determine a status of the program code. The method may verify the authenticity of the program code based on the source of the program code and the status.

Verifying authenticity of electronic control unit code

Methods and systems are provided for securing electronic control unit code. In one implementation, a method is provided. According to the method, an order for the program code may be transmitted to a developer. The order may include specifications and an authentication key. The method may further include receiving the program code and the authentication certification from the developer and verifying the authentication certificate to determine whether the developer was an authorized source of the program code. The method may generate metadata identifying the authorized source of the program code and embed the metadata in the program code.

Securing electronic control unit code

A computer-readable medium is disclosed. The computer-readable medium stores a virtualized service tool application program for running on a computer running an existing operating system platform. The virtualized service tool application program has operating system software configured to execute as an internal operating system platform separate from the existing operating system platform, and that is configured with settings that permit the computer to communicate with one or more machines coupled to the computer. The virtualized service tool application additionally has a service module configured to perform service-related tasks for the one or more machines coupled to the computer.

Virtualized service tool and virtualized control tool

Methods and systems of the present invention are provided for performing proxy control functions in an environment including one or more work machines. Such methods and systems may leverage one or more gateways to serve as a proxy for one or more distinct modules. A gateway, located in a work machine, may be programmed with proxy logic that performs functions associated with certain modules used in a work machine environment. The gateway may monitor a data link and retrieve broadcasted messages. The broadcasted messages may include source and/or destination module address identifiers. The gateway may retrieve messages from the data link based on a determination that the message is destined for a module for which the gateway serves as a proxy. The gateway may route a retrieved message, using a mapping structure, to the appropriate proxy logic that performs functions associated with the destination module.

Systems and methods for providing proxy control functions in a work machine

Methods and systems are provided for performing protocol conversions in an environment including a work machine having one or more modules coupled to one or more data links. Such methods and systems may leverage one or more gateways to perform tunneling, translating, and bridging operations. Tunneling processes may include receiving a message from a source module in a first protocol, encapsulating the message within transmission units of a second protocol, and transmitting the encapsulated message via the second protocol. Translating processes may include receiving, by the gateway, a message in a first data link protocol including a parameter identifier. The gateway may match the parameter identifier with a parameter identifier included in a translation table and scale associated parameter data using a scale factor corresponding to a second data link protocol. The gateway may then provide the scaled parameter data to a module using the second data link protocol.

Systems and methods for performing protocol conversions in a machine

A method and system are provided to perform a process of managing communications in an environment including a mobile work machine having one or more on-board data links connected to one or more on-board modules and a gateway and including one or more off-board data links connected to one or more off-board systems and the gateway. The process is performed by the gateway and includes receiving a request generated by a source device and transmitted on a first data link. In one embodiment, the first data link may be either one of the on-board data links and one of the off-board data links. Based on the request, the gateway selectively executes a server application that performs a server process. Further, the gateway identifies a destination device associated with the request, configures the request to a format compatible with the destination device, and provides the formatted request to the destination device. Additionally, the gateway receives a response to the formatted request generated by the destination device, configures the response to a format compatible with the first data link, and sends the response to a target device over the first data link.

Growing community of inventors

East Peoria, IL, United States of America

Paul William Bierdeman