• 专利附录
  • 专利说明
  • 权利要求
  • 类似技术
  • 同族专利
  • 引用文献
  • 法律状态
  • 优先权
    • 专利摘要:
    The device has a central software server (4) that stores identification data registered to each operator, selects software block for a specific reference to operator, and provides selected block to central operator computer (5). A synchronization unit synchronizes the software blocks of mobile communication terminal (6) with software blocks of operator computer. Another synchronization unit synchronizes the software blocks of control computer (2) with software blocks of terminal automatically after establishing a communication link between control computer and terminal.
    公开号:NL2008421A
    申请号:NL2008421
    申请日:2012-03-07
    公开日:2012-09-10
    发明作者:Klaus Pottinger
    申请人:Alois Pa Ttinger Maschinenfabrik Gmbh；
    IPC主号:
    专利说明:

    Device for controlling the operation of agricultural machines.
    The present invention relates to a device for controlling the operation of agricultural machines, which are provided with a control computer with a communication interface for loading software modules, with a central software server on which different software modules for several agricultural machines are ready, a central company computer on which at least one software module for at least one agricultural machine from an agricultural machine operator is stored, and a mobile communication terminal.
    Modern agricultural machinery, for example in the form of attachments, which can be attached to a tractor, are often provided with a control computer or computer in the form of an on-board computer, which can perform various control functions, recording functions or control functions. With such on-board computers, tools from the relevant agricultural machines are regularly controlled, for example, appropriate control algorithms are processed, or output parameters and / or field treatment parameters are also collected and, in the given case, processed and analyzed, e.g. harvested crop mixes determined and work performance calculated such as cultivated surface, imported crop crop or sown crop surface.
    For this purpose, the control computer mentioned is, in addition to the usual hardware such as microprocessors and memory elements, also provided with software which contains the correct control functions. In order to be able to optimize control functions afterwards or also to be able to execute control functions developed afterwards, the control computers of the agricultural machines are equipped with communication interfaces to be able to load new or changed software or software updates. In order to prevent malfunctions or even damage to the agricultural machine, the cause of which is only subsequently difficult to determine, it is hereby ensured that no software not authorized by the agricultural machine operator can be loaded. On the other hand, loading for the agricultural machine operator should be made as simple as possible, in order to avoid loading errors caused by the user and to be able to add improvements or additional functions to the agricultural machine afterwards. By loading software modules, upgrades or updates, the operation of the relevant agricultural machine can be controlled insofar as the functions executable for the agricultural machine have changed.
    Publication EP 21 32 971 A1 discloses an on-board computer for agricultural machine combinations consisting of a tractor and an attachment, which comprises computer units both on the tractor and on the attachment, which are to communicate with each other. In order to avoid communication problems, in particular compatibility problems between the computer units, it is provided, when establishing a communication connection between the two computer units, to first determine which software on the computer units is necessary to enable the cooperation, and then in a automatic wireless download, update or installation step from an external server to load the necessary software module into the tractor computer and / or the setup computer. The loading of software takes place directly from the central software server via a satellite connection, with which the tractor computer or the device computer can be connected via a corresponding mobile interface. This permits the loading of the software modules practically everywhere and in particular during field work, when the tractor and the attachment are coupled to each other.
    However, it has been found in practice that such loading operations are highly susceptible to interference. For example, in blind spots it comes to an interruption of the download operation or only partial data transfer. Furthermore, such loading systems develop a life of their own that the agricultural machine operator cannot actually control, that is to say, the agricultural machine operator can no longer prevent a software module that he does not want to be loaded into his agricultural machine. In any case, there is a lack of control over which software module is actually loaded into the agricultural machine.
    The present invention has for its object to provide an improved device of the above-mentioned type, which avoids disadvantages of the prior art and further develops the latter advantageously. Preferably, trouble-free loading of software modules into the agricultural machine computers is made possible, whereby uncontrolled loading of defective software modules is avoided and the agricultural machine operator retains control of the software installed on his agricultural machine.
    According to the invention this object is achieved with a device according to claim 1. Preferred embodiments of the invention are the subject of the dependent claims.
    It is proposed to stop loading the software to be loaded into the on-board computer of the agricultural machine directly from a central software server, but to insert at least one mobile communication terminal for this purpose, on the one hand for transfer problems, for example due to blind spots and the like. and to give the agricultural machinery operator control over the loading and management of the software on the agricultural machinery. The software is first loaded on the mobile communication terminal such as, for example, an iPod or an iPad from the central software server and then loaded from the said mobile communication terminal onto the on-board computer of the agricultural machine. To simplify maintaining the relevant loading progress, the central software server or the mobile communication terminal or the control computer of the agricultural machine has a synchronization function which initiates a synchronization function when establishing a communication connection, by which then , if additional or updated software modules are available, they are first loaded on the mobile communication terminal and then loaded on to the agricultural machine. Said synchronization progress here preferably takes place fully automatically during or after establishing a communication connection between the relevant pair of devices, possibly also semi-automatically such that confirmation is requested from the device user before the loading of the software module is started and that loading starts only then , when this confirmation is given. According to the invention, it is provided that the central software server comprises access control means for controlling access to the ready software modules, said access control means comprising registration means for registering agricultural machine operators and storing identification data, said identification data being both the registered agricultural machine operator and identify its at least one agricultural machine, so that the software server knows on a call, who is calling and which agricultural machine the caller owns. In order to avoid unnecessary data traffic and to limit the data to be transferred, the central software server and / or the central data processing device are provided with selection means, by means of which only those software modules that are selected for the access are based on the identification data provided upon access. agricultural machine of the relevant operator are suitable and are known on the basis of the registered identification data. The central software server then makes available with relevant provisioning means only those software modules for loading or transfer that are selected on the basis of said identification data. This allows the easy-to-use yet safe and controllable provisioning process to be obtained. The relevant agricultural machine operator only needs to register with the central software server and to indicate "his" agricultural machine during registration, whereby this can possibly also be done via a separate database or a separate machine management server, on which the agricultural machine manufacturer or distributor stores which agricultural machine a particular machine operator so that by linking the machine operator identifying data with the data from the separate database or the separate server, the agricultural machinery belonging to the registering machine operator can be identified. As soon as the machine operator is registered with the central software server, the relevant machine operator can gain access to the server in a desired way to load or transfer new or additional software modules, and then load them into the control computer of the relevant agricultural machine.
    The selected and ready software modules can in principle be transmitted directly from the central software server to the aforementioned mobile communication terminal if the mobile communication terminal has communication interfaces to enable it to communicate directly with the software server, for example by means of a telecommunications connection. However, it can advantageously also be provided for the synchronization of the mobile communication terminal with the software modules made available on the central software server to take place indirectly via an intermediate central company computer. As a result, a relevant agricultural machine operator can first load the relevant software modules from the central software server onto his central company computer from his company or office or synchronize them accordingly, so that he can check this from his central workplace, which new or additional software modules are available for his agricultural machine. and are ready. The agricultural machine operator can also perform the registration process on the central software server in a aforementioned manner from said central business computer. In a second step, synchronization of the mobile communication terminal with the central business computer then follows to load the software downloaded from the central software server onto the mobile communication terminal, and subsequently to load the software into the control computer of the agricultural machine.
    In order to give simple shape to this multi-step, in particular three-step download process, in the further elaboration of the invention, the central business computer and / or the mobile communication terminal are provided with first synchronization means, which software modules on the mobile communication terminal are connected to the software modules on the central business computer ready-to-use software modules, whereby the synchronization means are advantageously designed automatically or semi-automatically, such that when connecting or establishing a communication connection between the mobile communication terminal and the company computer automatically, possibly with a request for confirmation, new or additional or updated software modules that are ready on the company computer, or software modules currently being loaded on it at the same time, in particular at the same time from the central software server, on the mobile communication terminal. This can be done, for example, by connecting the mobile communication terminal to the company computer via a USB interface or by communicating with the company computer via a wireless communication connection, in particular in the form of a Bluetooth connection. Preferably, an operating menu is obtained on the company computer and / or the communication terminal, which makes it possible to operate the synchronization progress, preferably with the possibility of preventing synchronization or selecting some of the available software modules.
    On the other hand, in a further embodiment of the invention, the control computer of the agricultural machine and / or the mobile communication terminal can be provided with second synchronization means, in order to synchronize the software modules present on the control computer of the agricultural machine with the software modules present on the mobile communication terminal such that new and / or updated and / or additional software modulus are loaded on the communication terminal in the control computer of the agricultural machine. This loading progress also advantageously takes place automatically and / or semi-automatically than when the mobile communication terminal is connected to the control computer of the agricultural machine or a communication connection is established between these two parts in another way. For example, the mobile communication terminal can be connected to the agricultural machine computer via a USB interface or connect to it via a Bluetooth connection or another wireless connection. Advantageously also here on the communication terminal and / or the control computer of the agricultural machine a menu for controlling the synchronization progress can be obtained, which advantageously allows the selection of certain software modules and / or allows the rejection of a synchronization progress with respect to one or all software modules .
    In order to be able to quickly execute the synchronization process and to limit the data data to be transmitted, the aforementioned selection means, which make available to a relevant machine operator on the basis of registered identification data only those software which fit the machine, are provided with an update function, to select and make available only those software modules that have not already been made available to the requesting machine operator and have been transferred. Said update function can in particular only select and make available software modules that have been loaded since a last call from or provision of software modules to the same central business computer on the central software server of the agricultural machine manufacturer or distributor. As a result, the relevant synchronization progress can be limited to the actually new software modules, so that existing software modules do not have to be updated every time.
    In order to also avoid unnecessary data traffic between the control computer of the agricultural machine and the mobile communication terminal and to shorten the synchronization progress carried out between these components, in a further embodiment of the invention the aforementioned second synchronization means may be provided with a selection function which, when the control computer of the agricultural machine connects to the mobile communication terminal, selects only those software modules on the communication terminal that are intended for the relevant agricultural machine. Advantageously, software modules on the communication terminal can in this case be provided with identification data which, during synchronization, are compared with corresponding identification data which are stored on the control computer of the agricultural machine. Advantageously, software modules for several different agricultural machines can be stored or stored temporarily on the communication terminal, so that the machine operator can use one and the same communication terminal for software updating of different agricultural machines.
    Advantageously, the synchronization of the control computer of the agricultural machine with the mobile communication terminal is also initiated automatically when the communication terminal is connected to the agricultural machine control computer or becomes wirelessly connected to it, for example via a Bleutooth connection. In order to further simplify the loading progress here, in a further embodiment of the invention proximity detection can be provided, which makes it possible automatically when the communication terminal is moved close enough to the control computer, for example to transfer data over the Bleutooth connection. If a stable proximity, i.e. a sufficient proximity and / or suitable long proximity, is determined, the aforementioned synchronization progress can be started automatically, possibly with a confirmation request as an intermediate step.
    The present invention is explained in more detail below with the aid of an exemplary embodiment and the accompanying drawing. In the drawing:
    FIG. 1: a schematic representation of the components of the software loading device into the on-board computer of an agricultural machine according to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, and
    FIG. 2: a schematic flow chart for clarifying the selection and transfer of the software modules from a central software server on a central business computer, from the central business computer to a communication terminal and from this communication terminal connected to the on-board computer of the agricultural machine.
    As is clarified in Figures 1 and 2, a part of the system is formed by a central software server 4, on which for a multitude of agricultural machines and a multitude of different software modules are loaded and are kept ready and continuously updated. The aforementioned software server 4 can be managed by an agricultural machine manufacturer and in that case only contain software modules for agricultural machines from one manufacturer. Alternatively, however, a software server independent of an agricultural machine manufacturer can also be provided, on which software modules are then made available for one or more agricultural machine manufacturers or distributors for various agricultural machine software. In Fig. 2, the blocks 20.1, 20.2 to 20.x show the software module blocks on the server 4 for the different agricultural machines, wherein each software module block can in each case comprise a plurality of software modules, for example 20.2-a, 20.2-b to 20.2-n.
    The machine operator can now load "his" agricultural machine from the aforementioned software server 4 some software modules suitable for his machine, to subsequently load them into the control computer 2 of the relevant agricultural machine 1.
    To this end, the machine operator first registers with his central business computer 5 at the software server 4, with which the business computer 5 can communicate over a suitable telecommunication connection 21, for example over the internet. The farm computer 5 firstly registers with software server 4, whereby, for example, identification data is transferred from the farm computer 5 to the software server 4, which on the one hand identifies the agricultural machine operator and, on the other hand, its agricultural machine. In FIG. 1, the identification data stored on software server 4 is symbolically represented by 22a, 22b to 22n.
    For the recording step and the subsequent access to the software server 4 from the company computer 5, the software server 4 is provided with corresponding access control means 7 and recording means 8, with which the said recording step can be performed and the identification data 22a can be stored.
    After registration, the company computer 5 can load software modules suitable for the agricultural machine of the operator. For this purpose, selection means 9 are provided on the software server 4 for this purpose, which selection means are selected on the basis of stored identification data 22a and which are intended and suitable for the agricultural machines of the relevant agricultural machine operator. For example, the agricultural machine operator has three different agricultural machines, for which the agricultural machine manufacturer has stored software modules on the software server 4, as shown in FIG. 2, from the different software module blocks, for example, three software modules 20.1-a, 20.2-n and 20.4-c selected on the basis of the identification data identifying the relevant agricultural machines.
    The aforementioned three software modules 20.1-a, 20.2-n and 20.4-c are made available on demand by the provisioning means 10 of the software server 4 and transmitted over the aforementioned communication link 21 to the company computer 5. This transfer step can be sent by the operator to his company computer 5 via a suitable menu, possibly including connection functions such that the transfer only takes place after payment or other release has been made. Advantageously, the software server 4 can also realize a push function that, whenever new software modules are made available on the server 4, which are intended for the relevant operator and his agricultural machine, these software modules are automatically forwarded to the farm computer 5, or at least a notification to the company computer 5 issues that new software is ready. As a result, the operator is always up to date when switching on his company computer 5, as to which current software is available for his agricultural machines.
    To transfer the software loaded on the farm computer 5 to the control computer 2 of the relevant agricultural machine 1, the relevant operator connects a suitable mobile communication terminal 6, for example in the form of an iPod, to his farm computer 5. By appropriate first synchronization means 11, upon connection, the software stored on the communication terminal 6 is synchronized or updated with the corresponding software modules on the company computer 5. Advantageously, all three software modules 20.1-a, 20.2-n and 20.4-c are transferred to the communication terminal 6, so that the various agricultural machines of the operator can be updated from the communication terminal 6.
    In order to load one or more software modules into the control computer 2 of an agricultural machine 1, the communication terminal 6 is connected, for example via a USB interface or otherwise, to the control computer 2, as is shown in the right-hand part of Figs. 1 and 2 displayed. Second synchronization means 12 now synchronize the software modules on the control computer 2 with the software modules on the communication terminal 6. Since in the relevant exemplary embodiment only the one software module 20.1-a is intended for the agricultural machine 1, only this one software module is loaded on the control computer 2.
    权利要求:
    Claims (8)
    [1]
    A device for controlling the operation of agricultural machines (1), which comprises a control computer (2) with a communication interface (3) for installing software modules, with a central software server (4) on which different software modules for different agricultural machinery (1), a central company computer (5), on which at least one software module for at least one agricultural machine (1) of an agricultural machine operator can be stored, and their mobile communication terminal (6), characterized in that - the central software server (4) a) is provided with access control means (7) for controlling access to the ready software modules, the access control means (7) comprising registration means (8) for registering agricultural machine operators and storing identification data, which are the registered agricultural machine operator and characteristics of at least one agricultural machine. b) is provided with selection means (9) for automatically selecting at least one software module for a particular agricultural machine operator or basis of the stored identification data, and c) is provided with provisioning means (10) for providing the selected at least one software module to the central farm computer (5) of the agricultural machine operator on the basis of the identification data, - the central farm computer (5) and / or the mobile communication terminal (6) are / are provided with first synchronization means (11) for synchronizing the data on the mobile communication terminal (6) ready software modules with the software modules ready on the central farm computer (5) of the agricultural machine operator, and - the control computer (2) of the agricultural machine (1) and / or the mobile communication terminal (6) are / are provided with second synchronizing means ( 12) for automatically synchronizing the data stored in the control computer (2) software modules succeed at least one of the software module stored on the mobile communication terminal (6) after establishing a communication connection between the control computer (2) of the agricultural machine (1) and the mobile communication terminal (6).
    [2]
    Device according to the preceding claim, wherein the selection means (9) provided on the central software server (4) comprise an update function, which only those software modules which since a last retrieval / provision of a software module to / at the central business computer at the central software server are loaded, make selectable based on stored identifiers.
    [3]
    Device as claimed in one or more of the foregoing claims, wherein the second synchronization means (12) of the control computer (2) of the agricultural machine (1) and / or the mobile communication terminal (6) are provided with a selection function for automatically selecting only those software modules available on the communication terminal (6), which are intended for the control computer (2) of the relevant agricultural machine (1), from all the software modules stored on the communication terminal (6).
    [4]
    Device according to one or more of the preceding claims, wherein the provisioning means (10) provided on the central software server (4) comprise a push function for automatically routing a software module loaded on the software server (4) to the relevant business computer (5) based on the stored identification data.
    [5]
    Device according to one or more of the preceding claims, wherein the central computer operator (5) comprises a pull function (14) for automatically calling / requesting software modules from the software server (4) when between the company computer (5) and the software server (4) a communication connection has been established.
    [6]
    Device according to one or more of the preceding claims, wherein the second synchronization means (12) of the control computer (2) of the agricultural machine (1) and / or the mobile communication terminal (6) comprise a push / pull function for automatic synchronization of the software modules on the control computer (2) and the communication terminal (6) then, when a communication connection has been established between the control computer (2) and the communication terminal (6).
    [7]
    Device according to one or more of the preceding claims, wherein the mobile communication terminal (6) is provided with differently designed communication interfaces, preferably in the form of a USB interface (16) and a Bluetooth interface (17), for communication with the control computer (2) of the agricultural machine (1) and the farm computer (5).
    [8]
    Device as claimed in one or more of the foregoing claims, wherein the mobile communication terminal (6) and / or the control computer (2) of the agricultural machine (1) are / are provided with proximity detection means (18) for detecting the proximity of the mobile communication terminal (6) on the control computer (2) as well as an activator for the second synchronizing means (12) when establishing an approximation of the mobile communication terminal (6) on the control computer (2).
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    同族专利:
    公开号 | 公开日
    FR2972550A1|2012-09-14|
    DE102011013241A1|2012-09-13|
    FR2972550B1|2017-02-10|
    NL2008421C2|2013-01-17|
    引用文献:
    公开号 | 申请日 | 公开日 | 申请人 | 专利标题
    US6070673A|1996-11-22|2000-06-06|Case Corporation|Location based tractor control|
    DE10217398A1|2001-06-12|2003-01-02|Poettinger Gmbh Geb|Agricultural vehicle and means for its remote control via an electronic control device with a Bluetooth interface so that the tool, e.g. plough, being used can be accurately controlled by a remotely, comfortably, located operator|
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    US20090300595A1|2008-05-30|2009-12-03|Ise Corporation|System and Method for Remotely Updating Control Software in a Vehicle With an Electric Drive System|
    EP2132971A1|2008-06-12|2009-12-16|Amazonen-Werke H. Dreyer GmbH & Co. KG|On-board computer|
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    US20090094593A1|2007-10-05|2009-04-09|Jaung Richard L|Wirelessly upgrading software in a mobile computing device|CN106054685B|2016-08-16|2018-07-10|武汉盛硕电子有限公司|Off highway vehicle management system based on short-distance wireless communication|
    DE102017126122A1|2017-11-08|2019-05-09|Grimme Landmaschinenfabrik Gmbh & Co. Kg|A method of operating an agricultural implement and arrangement comprising an agricultural implement|
    DE102020103658A1|2020-02-12|2021-08-12|Horsch Maschinen Gmbh|Communication device for an agricultural machine and method for data transmission between an agricultural machine and an external server|
    法律状态:
    2020-11-04| MM| Lapsed because of non-payment of the annual fee|Effective date: 20200401 |
    优先权:
    申请号 | 申请日 | 专利标题
    DE102011013241A|DE102011013241A1|2011-03-07|2011-03-07|Device for controlling operation of agricultural machinery of tractor, synchronizes software blocks of control computer and mobile communication terminal after establishing communication link between control computer and terminal|
    DE102011013241|2011-03-07|
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