Utility or upfit vehicle using communication portal
A method of transmitting data across a J1939 network comprises communicating at least one sensor, if not a plurality of sensors or operator interface devices, related to a utility service body data mounted on a chassis across the J1939 network on unassigned PGN/SPN combinations for various uses. Furthermore, at least one controller can evaluate other J1939 data, such as transmission gear and/or engine RPM before permitting operation of at least one function of the utility service body or upfit body with at least some embodiments.
1. A method of upfitting a refuse collection vehicle, the method comprising:
receiving the refuse collection vehicle, the refuse collection vehicle comprising:
a chassis comprising a vehicle bus configured to transmit data according to a first transmission protocol; and
a refuse service body physically coupled to the chassis, the refuse service body comprising a service body bus having a second transmission protocol;
communicatively coupling the service body bus to the vehicle bus via a controller; and
configuring the controller to perform the steps of:
receiving body data communicated through the service body bus via the second transmission protocol;
processing received body data; and
transmitting processed body data through the vehicle bus via the first transmission protocol.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the vehicle bus comprises one of a CAN bus or a CAN open network.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the refuse service body comprises a grabber arm, and wherein the body data comprises data corresponding to a position of the grabber arm.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the refuse service body further comprises an arm control joystick, and wherein the body data further comprises data corresponding to a position of the arm control joystick.
5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising: configuring a transmitter to:
receive the processed body data over the vehicle bus; and
transmit the processed body data over a wireless network to a remote computing device.
6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the transmitter comprises an integrated GPS device.
7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising: configuring the controller to transmit the processed body data to an OBD II port.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the second transmission protocol comprises an IOX protocol.
9. The method of claim 1 , further comprising: configuring the controller to:
receive, from the vehicle bus via the first transmission protocol, vehicle data corresponding to operation of at least one of a plurality of vehicle components;
process the vehicle data; and
regulate operation of the refuse service body based on the processed vehicle data.
10. The method of claim 9 , further comprising: configuring the controller to regulate operation of at least one of a grabber arm or an arm control joystick.
11. The method of claim 9 , wherein the vehicle data comprises an engine RPM.
12. The method of claim 9 , wherein the vehicle data comprises a transmission gear.
13. A method of upfitting a refuse collection vehicle, the method comprising:
receiving the refuse collection vehicle, the refuse vehicle comprising:
a chassis supporting a plurality of vehicle components and comprising a Controller Area Network (CAN) vehicle bus configured to transmit data according to a first J1939 transmission protocol in which each of the vehicle components is assigned a Parameter Group Number (PGN)/Suspect Parameter Number (SPN) combination in the CAN vehicle bus; and
a refuse service body physically coupled to the chassis, the refuse service body comprising a service body bus having a second transmission protocol;
communicatively coupling the service body bus to the CAN vehicle bus via a controller;
configuring the controller to perform the steps of:
receiving body data communicated through the service body bus via the second transmission protocol;
processing received body data; and
transmitting processed body data through the vehicle bus via the first J1939 transmission protocol; and
assigning the processed body data to a PGN/SPN combination unassigned to the vehicle components.
14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the refuse service body comprises a grabber arm, and wherein the body data comprises data corresponding to a position of the grabber arm.
15. The method of claim 13 , wherein the refuse service body further comprises an arm control joystick, and wherein the body data further comprises data corresponding to a position of the arm control joystick.
16. The method of claim 13 , further comprising: configuring a transmitter to:
receive the processed body data over the vehicle bus; and
transmit the processed body data over a wireless network to a remote computing device.
17. The method of claim 13 , further comprising: configuring the controller to transmit the processed body data to an OBD II port.
18. The method of claim 13 , further comprising: configuring the controller to:
receive, from the CAN vehicle bus via the first J1939 transmission protocol, vehicle data corresponding to operation of at least one of a plurality of vehicle components;
process the vehicle data; and
regulate operation of the refuse service body based on the processed vehicle data.
19. The method of claim 18 , further comprising configuring the controller to regulate operation of at least one of a grabber arm or an arm control joystick.
20. A method of upfitting a refuse collection vehicle, the method comprising:
receiving the refuse collection vehicle, the refuse vehicle comprising:
a chassis comprising a vehicle bus configured to transmit data according to a first transmission protocol; and
a refuse service body physically coupled to the chassis, the refuse service body comprising a service body bus having a second transmission protocol;
communicatively coupling the service body bus to the vehicle bus via wiring;
communicatively coupling a controller to the wiring; and
configuring the controller to perform the steps of:
receiving body data communicated through the service body bus via the second transmission protocol;
processing received body data; and
transmitting processed body data through the vehicle bus via the first transmission protocol.