SYSTEM, APPARATUS, AND METHOD FOR PROTECTING VEHICLE ENGINES

1 . A method for engine protection configuration comprising:

providing a run-time configurable engine protection configuration, wherein the engine protection configuration is stored in an engine protection module that is linked to a sensor associated with an engine;

identifying an engine protection setting corresponding to the engine protection configuration, wherein the engine protection setting includes at least three of the following: a threshold value, a unique message, an action, or an alarm;

presenting the engine protection setting to an operator via an interface, wherein the interface comprises at least one of a control panel or a computing device;

receiving, via the interface, an instruction corresponding to a revised engine protection setting; and,

updating, during run-time, the engine protection configuration, pursuant to the instruction, to reflect the revised engine protection setting, responsive to the receiving of the instruction corresponding to the revised engine protection setting.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the threshold value is at least one of a temperature, vibration, speed, torque, or fuel consumption.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the unique message is at least one of a user customizable message or an automatically created message.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the action is at least one of a disable, warning, slowdown request, or shutdown.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the alarm is at least one of a visible or audible alarm.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the control panel is not power cycled responsive to receiving the instruction corresponding to the revised engine protection setting.

7 . The method of claim 6 , wherein the control panel is an instrument panel associated with at least one of a marine engine system, a marine engine safety system, or a navigation system.

8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the engine protection setting comprises a corresponding first threshold value, first unique message, and first action, and wherein the revised engine protection setting comprises a corresponding second threshold value, second unique message, and second action that differ from the first threshold value, first unique message, and first action.

9 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the engine protection setting and the revised engine protection setting each comprise plural engine protection suites, each engine protection suite comprising a corresponding threshold value, message, and action.

10 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the engine protection setting is associated with and configured for a first mode of operation, and wherein the revised engine protection setting is associated with and configured for a second mode of operation.

11 . A system for engine protection comprising:

an engine protection module configured for run-time updating of an engine protection configuration associated with an engine, wherein the engine protection configuration comprises an engine protection setting comprising at least three of the following, a threshold value, a unique message, an action, or an alarm; and

a data store configured to store at least one of the engine protection configuration or an alarm log, wherein the alarm log comprises of at least one of a timestamp, an engine state, a threshold indicator, or an alarm message.

12 . The system of claim 11 , further comprising:

a protection handler configured to associate the engine protection configuration with a sensor, wherein the sensor is configured to measure an engine parameter of the engine during runtime;

a threshold manager configured to determine when the engine parameter measured by the sensor satisfies the threshold value of the engine protection configuration; and

an action controller configured to select at least one permissible engine operation based on the engine parameter using the engine protection configuration.

13 . The system of claim 12 , wherein the engine operation is at least one of a disable, warning, slowdown request, or shutdown.

14 . The system of claim 11 , further comprising plural configurable engine protection configurations, wherein each engine protection configuration is associated with a unique alarm log.

15 . The system of claim 11 , further comprising an interface configured to allow an operator to at least one of select or modify the engine protection configuration.

16 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the engine protection setting comprises a corresponding first threshold value, first message, and first action, and wherein a revised engine protection configuration comprises a corresponding second threshold value, second message, and second action that differ from the first threshold value, first message, and first action.

17 . The system of claim 16 , wherein the engine protection setting and the revised engine protection setting each comprise plural engine protection suites, each engine protection suit comprising a corresponding threshold value, message, and action.

18 . A tangible and non-transitory computer readable medium comprising one or more computer software modules configured to direct a processor to:

provide a run-time configurable engine protection configuration, wherein the engine protection configuration is stored in an engine protection module that is linked to a sensor associated with an engine;

identify an engine protection setting corresponding to the engine protection configuration, wherein the engine protection setting includes at least three of the following: a threshold value, a unique message, an action, or an alarm;

present the engine protection setting to an operator via an interface, wherein the interface comprises at least one of a control panel or a computing device;

receive, via the interface, an instruction corresponding to a revised engine protection setting; and,

update, during run-time, the engine protection configuration pursuant to the instruction to reflect the revised engine protection setting, responsive to receiving of the instruction corresponding to the revised engine protection setting.

19 . The computer readable medium of claim 18 , wherein the engine protection setting comprises a corresponding first threshold value, first message, and first action, and wherein the revised engine protection setting comprises a corresponding second threshold value, second message, and second action that differ from the first threshold value, first message, and first action.

20 . The computer readable medium of claim 18 , wherein the engine protection setting and the revised engine protection setting each comprise plural engine protection suites, each engine protection suite comprising a corresponding threshold value, message, and action.

21 . The computer readable medium of claim 18 , wherein the engine protection setting is associated with and configured for a first mode of operation, and wherein the revised engine protection setting is associated with and configured for a second mode of operation.