# US 2013/0158739 A1 · Data collection and communication system for waterborne vehicle > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2013/0158739 A1 - Document ID: US20130158739A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/687,513 - Filed: 2012-11-28 - Published: 2013-06-20 - Earliest claimed: 2011-11-28 - Inventors: LARRY C. WILKINS - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20130158739A1 ## CPC - H04L 67/12: specially adapted for proprietary or special-purpose networking environments, e.g. medical networks, sensor networks, networks in vehicles or remote metering networks - B65G 67/60: Loading or unloading ships (arrangement of ship-based loading or unloading equipment for cargo or passengers B63B27/00) - B65G 67/62: using devices influenced by the tide or by the movements of the ship, e.g. devices on pontoons - Y04S 40/18: Network protocols supporting networked applications, e.g. including control of end-device applications over a network - H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M) - B65G: TRANSPORT OR STORAGE DEVICES, e.g. CONVEYORS FOR LOADING OR TIPPING, SHOP CONVEYOR SYSTEMS OR PNEUMATIC TUBE CONVEYORS (packaging B65B; handling thin or filamentary materials, e.g. paper sheets or thread, B65H; cranes B66C; portable mobile or lifting or hauling appliances, e.g. hoists, B66D; devices for lifting or lowering goods for loading or unloading purposes, e.g. fork-lift trucks, B66F9/00; emptying bottles, jars, casks, barrels or similar containers, not otherwise provided for, B67C9/00; delivering or transferring liquids B67D; filling or discharging vessels for liquefied, solidified or compressed gases F17C; pipe-line systems for fluids F17D) - Y04S: SYSTEMS INTEGRATING TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO POWER NETWORK OPERATION, COMMUNICATION OR INFORMATION TECHNOLOGIES FOR IMPROVING THE ELECTRICAL POWER GENERATION, TRANSMISSION, DISTRIBUTION, MANAGEMENT OR USAGE, i.e. SMART GRIDS ## Abstract A system for collecting and communicating data associated with a waterborne vehicle, includes at least one sensor configured to provide signals indicative of data associated with a parameter related to a waterborne vehicle. The system further includes a communication module configured to receive the signals and communicate with a user interface located remote from the vehicle. A method for loading material onto a waterborne vehicle, includes conveying material onto the waterborne vehicle. The method further includes monitoring the draft of the waterborne vehicle using at least one sensor, and discontinuing conveying the material onto the waterborne vehicle when the draft of the waterborne vehicle reaches a predetermined draft as indicated by the at least ore sensor. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A system for collecting and communicating data associated with a waterborne vehicle, the system comprising: at least one sensor configured to provide signal indicative of data associated with a parameter related to a waterborne vehicle; and a communication module configured to receive the signals and communicate with a user interface located remote from the waterborne vehicle. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the parameter comprises at least one of location of the waterborne vehicle, draft of the waterborne vehicle, a load carried by the waterborne vehicle, whether the waterborne vehicle has collided with another object, whether fluid is located in wing voids of the waterborne vehicle, current and/or historical pressure in product tanks of the waterborne vehicle, current and/or historical vacuum in product tanks of the waterborne vehicle, current and/or historical temperature in product tanks of the waterborne vehicle, humidity in the product tanks of the waterborne vehicle, ambient temperature associated with the waterborne vehicle, ambient pressure associated with the waterborne vehicle, and ambient humidity associated with the waterborne vehicle. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the communication module is self-powered. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein power for the communication module is supplied via at least one of a rechargeable battery, solar power, wind power, and water current power. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, further comprising the user interface to facilitate viewing of data associated with the waterborne vehicle. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The system of claim 5, wherein the communication module is coupled to the user interface via one or more of the following: a hard-wired link, a wireless link, a communications tower, a communications satellite, and an Internet connection. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The system of claim 5, term the user interface comprises a website. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The system of claim 7, wherein access to the website is password protected. ### Claim 9 (depends on 5) The system of claim 5, wherein the user interface comprises at least one of a computer and mobile computer. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The system of claim 9, wherein the mobile computer comprises a smart phone. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the system is configured to determine the draft of the waterborne vehicle at at least one location associated with the waterborne vehicle. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The system of claim 11, wherein the system is configured to determine the draft of the waterborne vehicle at at least two locations associated with the waterborne vehicle. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The system of claim 11, wherein the system is configured to determine the draft of the waterborne vehicle at at least three locations associated with the waterborne vehicle. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The system of claim 11, wherein the system configured to determine the draft of the waterborne vehicle at at least four locations associated with the waterborne vehicle. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The system of claim 11, wherein the at least one sensor comprises a pressure sensor. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the communication with the user interface comprises a cellular message. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein a device associated with the user interface is configured to compare a value based on the signals indicative of data associated with the parameter with a predetermined set point value. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The system of claim 17, wherein the device associated with the user interface is further configured to output at least one of a warning and an alarm if the comparison satisfies a predetermined criterion. ### Claim 19 A method for loading material onto a waterborne vehicle, the method comprising: conveying material onto the waterborne vehicle; monitoring the draft of the waterborne vehicle using at least one sensor; and discontinuing conveying the material onto the waterborne vehicle when the draft of the waterborne vehicle reaches a predetermined draft as indicated by the at least one sensor. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The method of claim 19, further comprising communicating a signal measured by the at least one sensor to a remote location using a communication module. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The method of claim 20, wherein communicating the signal includes communicating data related to the draft of the waterborne vehicle. ### Claim 22 (depends on 19) The method of claim 19, wherein monitoring the draft of the waterborne vehicle further comprises outputting at least one of a warning and an alarm when the draft of the waterborne vehicle is equal to or exceeds the predetermined draft. ### Claim 23 (depends on 19) The method of claim 19, wherein monitoring the draft of the waterborne vehicle includes using at least one pressure sensor to monitor the draft. ### Claim 24 A waterborne vehicle comprising: a hull; and a system coupled to the hull, wherein the system is configured to collect and communicate data associated with the waterborne vehicle, the system comprising: at least one sensor configured to provide signals indicative of data associated with a parameter related to the waterborne vehicle, and a communication module configured to receive the signals and communicate with a user interface located remote from the vehicle. ### Claim 25 The waterborne vehicle of clam 24, wherein the waterborne vehicle comprises a barge. ### Claim 26 (depends on 24) The waterborne vehicle of claim 24, wherein the parameter comprises at least one of location of the waterborne vehicle, draft of the waterborne vehicle, a load carried by the waterborne vehicle, whether the waterborne vehicle has collided with another object, whether fluid is located in wing voids of the waterborne vehicle, current and/or historical pressure in product tanks of the waterborne vehicle, current and/or historical vacuum in product tanks of the waterborne vehicle, current and/or historical temperature in product tanks of the waterborne vehicle, humidity in the product tanks of the waterborne vehicle, ambient temperature associated with the waterborne vehicle, ambient pressure associated with the waterborne vehicle, and ambient humidity associated with the waterborne vehicle. ### Claim 27 (depends on 26) The waterborne vehicle of claim 26, wherein the communication module is self-powered. ### Claim 28 (depends on 26) The waterborne vehicle of claim 26, wherein power for the communication module is supplied via at least one of a rechargeable battery, solar power, wind power, and water current power. ### Claim 29 (depends on 24) The waterborne vehicle of claim 24, further comprising the user interface to facilitate viewing of data associated with the waterborne vehicle. ### Claim 30 (depends on 29) The waterborne vehicle of claim 29, wherein the communication module is coupled to the user interface via one or more of the following: a hard-wired link, a wireless link, a communications tower, a communications satellite, and an Internet connection. ### Claim 31 (depends on 29) The waterborne vehicle of claim 29, wherein the user interface comprises a website. ### Claim 32 (depends on 31) The waterborne vehicle of claim 31, wherein access to the website is password-protected. ### Claim 33 (depends on 29) The waterborne vehicle of claim 29, wherein the user interface comprises at least one of a computer and mobile computer. ### Claim 34 (depends on 33) The waterborne vehicle of claim 33, wherein the mobile computer comprises a smart phone. ### Claim 35 (depends on 24) The waterborne vehicle of claim 24, wherein the system is configured to determine the draft of the waterborne vehicle at at least one location associated with the waterborne vehicle. ### Claim 36 (depends on 35) The waterborne vehicle of claim 35, wherein the system is configured to determine the draft of the waterborne vehicle at at least two locations associated with the waterborne vehicle. ### Claim 37 (depends on 35) The waterborne vehicle of claim 35, wherein the system is configured to determine the draft of the waterborne vehicle at at least three locations associated with the waterborne vehicle. ### Claim 38 (depends on 35) The waterborne vehicle of claim 35, wherein the system is configured to determine the draft of the waterborne vehicle at at least four locations associated the waterborne vehicle. ### Claim 39 (depends on 35) The waterborne vehicle of claim 35, wherein the at least one sensor comprises a pressure sensor. ### Claim 40 (depends on 24) The waterborne vehicle of claim 24, where in the communication with the user interface comprises a cellular message. ### Claim 41 (depends on 41) The waterborne vehicle of claim 41, wherein a device associated with the user interface is configured to compare a value based on the signals indicative of data associated with the parameter with a predetermined set point value. ### Claim 42 The waterborne vehicle of clam 41, wherein the device associated with the user interface is further configured to output at least one of a warning and an alarm if the comparison satisfies a predetermined criterion.