IP Library Granted Patent US 10,775,176
Granted Patent B2
US 10,775,176 · App. 15/682,361 · Granted Sep 15, 2020

Interactive remote guidance system for seaborne vessels

Inventors: John Darius Robideaux (Lafayette, LA); Dickie Andrew Martin (Opelousas, LA); Stephen John Wesley Underwood (Beckenham, AU); Jacob Nicholas Stanley (Potts Point, AU)
Assignee: FUGRO CHANCE, INC.
G01C21/20B63B49/00G01S19/48G08C17/02
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,775,176
App. No.
15/682,361
Granted
Sep 15, 2020
Kind
B2
Abstract

Techniques for providing instructions to an operator of a sea vessel via a computing device are described. The computing device can request, from another computing device, instructions regarding one or more of an intended course and action plan for the sea vessel, which can include at least one navigational instruction and/or deployment instruction. The computing device can send data to a display device to cause a prompt to be displayed. The prompt can include options regarding the at least one instruction. The computing device can send state information of the sea vessel to the other computing device. The state information can include the received input and location information of the sea vessel. Additionally, data can be received by the computing device from a shore based operator and data can be sent to one or more clients on shore.

Claims (42)

1. A remote navigational control system for a sea vessel, the system comprising:

a local server located on a sea vessel, the local server comprising a processor and memory, the local server configured to process position data of the sea vessel, wherein the local server comprises a first set of instructions based on a type of the sea vessel;

the local server configured to communicate with a user interface;

a second server remotely located from the local server and the sea vessel, wherein the second server comprises a second set of instructions, the second set of instructions comprises at least some of the first set of instructions and additional instructions; and

the local server configured to process instructions received from the second server and displaying information in response to the received instructions on the user interface.

2. The remote navigational control system of claim 1 , wherein the local server has undersea map data saved thereon.

3. The remote navigational control system of claim 2 , wherein the local server receives Global positioning system (GPS) data and processes the GPS data in relation to the map data and a position of the vessel on the user interface.

4. The remote navigational control system of claim 3 , wherein the local server receives inertial information regarding the sea vessel.

5. The remote navigational control system of claim 1 , wherein the first set of instructions is configurable by the second server to include specified instructions.

6. The remote navigational control system of claim 1 , wherein the second server is capable of configuring the first set of instructions from the second set of instructions to include instructions particularized to the type of sea vessel and transmit the first set of instructions to the local server.

7. The remote navigational control system of claim 1 , wherein the first set of instructions is configured from the second set of instructions comprising instructions particularized to whether the sea vessel is a dive boat or derrick barge.

8. The remote navigational control system of claim 1 , wherein the second set of instructions includes instructions to adjust map viewpoint on the user interface.

9. The remote navigational control system of claim 1 , wherein the second set of instructions includes instructions to lift or release anchor or mooring.

10. A remote navigational control system for a sea vessel, the system comprising:

a sea vessel server located on a sea vessel, the sea vessel server comprising a processor connected with a memory, the memory storing undersea map data;

the sea vessel server communicating with a remotely located operator interactive unit comprises a display screen, a processor and an input device configured to receive input, the sea vessel server configured to receive commands from the remotely located operator interactive unit based on the received input;

the sea vessel server configured to receive global positioning data from a plurality of global position receivers on the sea vessel;

the sea vessel server configured to wirelessly receive commands;

the processor of the sea vessel server configured to process the global positioning data in relation to the undersea map data and transmit for display, to the remotely located operator interactive unit, a position of the sea vessel on the display screen;

wherein the sea vessel server receives commands from among a first set of commands specific to a type of the sea vessel, received from the remotely located operator interactive unit, wherein the remotely located operator interactive comprises a second set of commands includes at least some of the first set of commands and additional commands.

11. The remote navigational control system of claim 10 , wherein the sea vessel server receives inertial information regarding the sea vessel, and

the processor configured to processes the global positioning data and the inertial information in relation to the undersea map data and display vessel position on the display screen.

12. The remote navigational control system of claim 10 , wherein the second set of commands is configurable by the remotely located operator interactive unit.

13. The remote navigational control system of claim 10 , wherein the remotely located operator interactive unit is capable of configuring the first set of commands from the second set of commands to include commands depending on the type of the sea vessel and transmit the first set of commands to the sea vessel server.

14. The remote navigational control system of claim 10 , wherein the remotely located operator interactive unit is capable of configuring the first set of commands from the second set of commands to include commands particularized to whether the sea vessel is a dive boat or derrick barge.

15. The remote navigational control system of claim 10 , wherein the second set of commands includes commands to adjust map viewpoint on the display screen.

16. The remote navigational control system of claim 10 , wherein the second set of commands includes commands to lift or release anchor or mooring.

17. The remote navigational control system of claim 10 , wherein the sea vessel server is enclosed by a body having no display screen physically connected thereto.

18. The remote navigational control system of claim 10 , wherein the sea vessel server communicates with the operator interactive unit wirelessly.

19. A method for remote navigational control a sea vessel, the method comprising:

processing, via a vessel server located on a sea vessel, position data of the sea vessel,

communicating, via the vessel server, with a user interface and displaying position of the vessel on the user interface based on the position data;

communicating, via the vessel server, with a second server located on-shore remote from the vessel server, the second server including a display configured to display the position of the vessel; and

receiving and processing instructions, at the vessel server, from the second server selected from a first set of instructions particular to a type of the sea vessel, and from the user interface selected from a second set of instructions, wherein the first and the second set of instructions are not identical.

20. The method of claim 19 , wherein the vessel server has undersea map data saved thereon.

21. The method of claim 19 , wherein the vessel server receives Global positioning system (GPS) data and processes the GPS data in relation to the map data and a position of the sea vessel on the user interface.

22. The method of claim 19 , wherein the vessel server receives inertial information regarding the sea vessel.

23. The method of claim 19 , wherein the first set of instructions is configurable by the second server to include specified instructions.

24. The method of claim 19 , wherein the second server is capable of configuring the first set of instructions from the second set of instructions to include instructions particularized to the type of sea vessel and transmit the first set of instructions to the vessel server.

25. The method of claim 19 , wherein the first set of instructions is configured from the second set of instructions comprising instructions particularized to whether the sea vessel is a dive boat or derrick barge.

26. The method of claim 19 , wherein the second set of instructions includes instructions to adjust map viewpoint on the user interface.

27. The method of claim 19 , wherein the second set of instructions includes instructions to lift or release anchor or mooring.

Assignments (2)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Aug 7, 2020
From: FUGRO CHANCE, INC.
To: FUGRO USA MARINE, INC.
Reel/Frame 053427/0638 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 17, 2019
From: ROBIDEAUX, JOHN DARIUS; MARTIN, DICKIE ANDREW; UNDERWOOD, STEPHEN JOHN WESLEY; STANLEY, JACOB NICHOLAS
To: FUGRO CHANCE, INC.
Reel/Frame 051301/0732 →
Continuity (6)
Continuation 14914396
Provisional Application 62038491 · Aug 18, 2014
Provisional Application 61873574 · Sep 4, 2013
Provisional Application 61873330 · Sep 3, 2013
Provisional Application 61873331 · Sep 3, 2013
Related Publication 20170343358A1 · Nov 30, 2017