US 6,486,800 B1Granted

Fender and management system thereof

AssigneeThe Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd.

InventorYutaka Hattori

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Abstract

The present invention relates to a fender, which is used as cushioning material mainly at the time of a ship being moored, and a management system thereof. A transponder is mounted in a fender 1 that is an object to be managed, and an ID code is read by the transponder in the fender 1 being accessed by terminals 2A through 2D provided in areas where are areas to be managed and each have one or more terminals. Historical information showing an installed place and an installed period of the fender 1 and individual update information including the ID code is transferred to a control system 4 through communication networks 6A through 6D. The control system 4 not only stores manufacturing information and historical information of all the fenders 1 that are objects to be managed, but also updates the historical information on the basis of the individual update information received from the terminal 2. Furthermore, the control system 4 displays the manufacturing information and historical information of a specific fender 1 designated by an operator. Thereby, it is possible to perform management of fenders, installed in being dispersed, in real time.

Claims27

Dependent claims

A management system of a pneumatic fencer that is used as a cushioning material for a ship with the fender being fixed to an underwater structure or floated, comprising:

a transponder, which includes information memory means for storing predetermined information, and information read means for reading information stored in the information memory means, wherein said transponder can provide wireless access to the information read means, the transponder being located inside a tegument surface of the fender;
a plurality of terminals that can transfer information through a communication network with each other;
and
one or more control systems, wherein each terminal comprises:
identification information read means for accessing the transponder of the pneumatic fender and reading identification information;
historical information input means for inputting historical information showing at least an installed place and an installed period of a pneumatic fender having the identification information at this time;
and
transmission means for generating an individual update information, including the identification information and historical information, every pneumatic fender transmitting the individual update information through the communication network;
wherein the control system comprises:
manufacturing information memory means for storing manufacturing information of all the pneumatic fenders, which are objects to be managed, in a one-to-one correspondence between the historical information and the identification information;
historical information memory means for storing historical information of all the pneumatic fenders, which are objects to be managed, in a one-to-one correspondence between the historical information and the identification information;
reception means for receiving the individual update information from each terminal through the communication network;
historical information update means for updating historical information, stored in the historical information memory means, on the basis of individual update information received by the reception means;
and
information display means for displaying manufacturing information and historical information of a specific pneumatic fender that an operator designates.

12 more elements

A fender management system comprising:

a fender comprising a transponder, which includes information memory means for storing predetermined information, and information read means for reading information stored in the information memory means, wherein said transponder can provide wireless access to the information read means, the transponder being located inside a tegument surface of the fender;
a terminal for wirelessly accessing information memory means of the transponder;
a control system that can communicate with the terminal, and stores information inherent in each fender, which is obtained through the terminal and corresponding to each fender;
and
a computer that can communicate with the control system, wherein the control system reads information from the information memory means of the transponder through the terminal;
wherein the control system further reads information of the fender, which is stored in the computer, by communicating with the computer, receives information of each fender from the computer, and manages the fender on the basis of this information, and
the information memory means of the transponder stores at least identification information inherent in each transponder;
wherein the terminal has a corresponding table associating identification information inherent in each transponder with a serial number of the fender in which the transponder is mounted, and conversion means for converting identification information inherent in the transponder into the serial number of the fender on the basis of the corresponding table, converts identification information inherent in a transponder, which is read from the transponder, into the serial number of the fender, and transmits the serial number to the control system;
and wherein the control system stores information inherent in the fender in a one-to-one correspondence between the inherent information and the serial number.

6 more elements

A fender management system comprising:

a fender comprising a transponder, which includes information memory means for storing predetermined information, and information read means for reading information stored in the information memory means, wherein said transponder can provide wireless access to the information read means, the transponder being located inside a tegument surface of the fender;
a terminal for wirelessly accessing information memory means of the transponder;
a control system that can communicate with the terminal, and stores information inherent in each fender, which is obtained through the terminal and corresponding to each fender;
and
a computer that can communicate with the control system, wherein the control system reads information from the information memory means of the transponder through the terminal;
wherein the control system further reads information of the fender, which is stored in the computer, by communicating with the computer, receives information of each fender from the computer, and manages the fender on the basis of this information, and
the information memory means of the transponder stores at least identification information inherent in each transponder;
wherein the terminal has a corresponding table associating identification information inherent in each transponder with a serial number of the fender in which the transponder is mounted, and conversion means for converting identification information inherent in the transponder into the serial number of the fender on the basis of the corresponding table, and stores information inherent in the fender in a one-to-one correspondence between the inherent information and the serial number.

5 more elements

A fender management system comprising a fender comprising a transponder, which includes information memory means for storing predetermined information, and information read means for reading information stored in the information memory means, wherein said transponder can provide wireless access to the information read means, the transponder being located inside a tegument surface of the fender, the fender management system further comprising a terminal, and a control system, wherein the terminal wirelessly communicates with a transponder, provided in the fender, and transfers information, which the transponder transmits, to the control system;

wherein the control system comprises:
information memory means for storing information of the fender that is an object to be managed;
reception means for receiving information, which the transponder transmits, from the terminal;
information update means for updating information, which the information memory means stores, on the basis of the received information;
and
information display means for displaying information of a fender that an operator designates,
wherein the information memory means of the transponder stores at least identification information inherent in each transponder;
wherein the terminal has a corresponding table associating identification information inherent in each transponder with a serial number of the fender in which the transponder is mounted, and conversion means for converting identification information inherent in the transponder into the serial number of the fender on the basis of the corresponding table, and stores information inherent in the fender in a one-to-one correspondence between the inherent information and the serial number.

5 more elements

wherein the control system comprises:
information memory means for storing information of the fender that is an object to be managed;
reception means for receiving information, which the transponder transmits, from the terminal;
information update means for updating information, which the information memory means stores, on the basis of the received information;
and
information display means for displaying information of a fender that an operator designates,
wherein the information memory means of the transponder stores at least identification information inherent in each transponder;
wherein the terminal has a corresponding table associating identification information inherent in each transponder with a serial number of the fender in which the transponder is mounted, and conversion means for converting identification information inherent in the transponder into the serial number of the fender on the basis of the corresponding table, converts identification information inherent in a transponder, which is read from the transponder, into the serial number of the fender, and transmits the serial number to the control system;
and wherein the control system stores information inherent in the fender in a one-to-one correspondence between the inherent information and said serial number.

6 more elements

A fender management system comprising:

a fender comprising a transponder, which includes information memory means for storing predetermined information, and information read means for reading information stored in the information memory means, wherein said transponder can provide wireless access to the information read means, the transponder being located inside a tegument surface of the fender;
a terminal for wirelessly accessing information memory means of the transponder;
a control system that can communicate with the terminal, and stores information inherent in each fender, which is obtained through the terminal and corresponding to each fender;
and
a computer that can communicate with the control system, wherein the control system reads information from the information memory means of the transponder through the terminal;
wherein the control system further reads information of the fender, which is stored in the computer, by communicating with the computer, receives information of each fender from the computer, and manages the fender on the basis of this information, and
wherein the information of the fender includes an installed place of the fender, which is an object to be managed, and a map or a photograph of its vicinity;
and wherein the control system comprises installed place display means for displaying an installed place of a specific fender, which an operator designates, and a map or a photograph of its vicinity.

5 more elements

wherein the control system comprises:
information memory means for storing information of the fender that is an object to be managed;
reception means for receiving information, which the transponder transmits, from the terminal;
information update means for updating information, which the information memory means stores, on the basis of the received information;
and
information display means for displaying information of a fender that an operator designates,
wherein the information of the fender includes an installed place of the fender, which is an object to be managed, and a map or a photograph of its vicinity;
and wherein the control system comprises installed place display means for displaying an installed place of a specific fender, which an operator designates, and a map or a photograph of its vicinity.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 09/319,948Filed 19 Aug 1999
Priority: JP 9-28991922 Oct 1997
Granted: 26 Nov 2002
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification16 codes

G06Q 10/087
Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management: inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling,…
B63B 59/02
Hull protection specially adapted for vessels; Cleaning devices specially adapted for vessels: fenders integral with waterborne vessels or…
E02B 3/26
Equipment for shipping on coasts, in harbours or on other fixed marine structures, e.g. bollards: fenders
G07C 3/00
Registering or indicating the condition or the working of machines or other