Method and apparatus for monitoring the status of a boat

Abstract

A status monitoring system and the devices used for the status monitoring system is disclosed. The status monitoring system includes a controller device, a plurality of rod monitoring devices, and a motor monitoring device which works together to provide a layered approach to securing the boat. The controller device is configured to communicate with a smart device via cellular network. The controller device triggers an alert once it detects unexpected events on the boat or receives intrusion notifications from other devices in the status monitoring system. Unexpected events can include the boat moving out of the geofence, boat vibration, and unexpected starting of the vehicle. A method for monitoring the status of the boat is also disclosed. The method can include receiving an activation signal, receiving a GPS signal, receiving vibration signals, energizing the siren and transmitting notification and boat location to the cloud when detecting at least one trigger.

1 - 15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . A status monitoring system, comprising:
 a motor monitoring device configured to monitor a status of an outboard motor, the motor monitoring device comprising
 a motor monitoring communication device configured to communicate with a remote user electronic device; 
 a first accelerometer; and 
 a motor monitoring GPS receiver; 
 the motor monitoring device being programmed to:
 receive motor location data from the motor monitoring GPS receiver; 
 set an initial motor location when the status monitoring system is activated; 
 determine a motor location change by comparing current motor location data received from the motor monitoring GPS receiver and the initial motor location; 
 determine a motor speed by calculating a motor location change during a pre-programmed time period; 
 determine whether the motor location change and the motor speed both exceed pre-programmed thresholds; 
 when the motor location change exceeds a pre-programmed threshold, send a motor geofence status notification to the remote user electronic device; 
 when the motor location change and the motor speed both exceed pre-programmed thresholds, send a motor geofence status notification to the remote user electronic device and send a motor geofence status notification and the motor location to the remote user electronic device. 
 
   
     
     
         17 . The status monitoring system according to  claim 16 , wherein the motor monitoring device is further programmed to:
 receive first vibration data from the first accelerometer;   determine whether the first vibration data exceeds a user-set threshold;   when the first vibration exceeds a user-set threshold, send a motor vibration status notification to the controller device and send a motor vibration status notification and the motor location to the remote user electronic device;   
     
     
         18 . The status monitoring system according to  claim 16 , the motor monitoring device further comprising a battery;
 the motor monitoring device being connected to a vehicle battery;   the motor monitoring device configured to receive power from the vehicle battery; and   the motor monitoring device configured to receive power from the battery when the power supply from the vehicle battery is lost.   
     
     
         19 . The status monitoring system according to  claim 18 , further comprising a controller device comprising:
 a communication device configured to communicate with a remote user electronic device;   a master node of a wireless mesh network configured to communicate with a motor monitoring device;   a controller device battery;   the controller device being configured to communicate with the motor monitoring device;   the controller device being connected to the vehicle battery;   the controller device configured to receive power from the vehicle battery; and   the motor monitoring device configured to receive power from the controller device battery when the power supply from the vehicle battery is lost.   
     
     
         20 . The status monitoring system according to  claim 19 , the controller device being further programmed to:
 monitor the battery level of the vehicle battery;   determine whether there is a transient drop in battery level caused by a drain from the vehicle start; and   when there is a transient drop in battery level, energize a siren and send vehicle start status notification and the boat location to the remote user electronic device.   
     
     
         21 . The status monitoring system according to  claim 20 , wherein the vehicle battery is charged by the onboard battery charger, the onboard battery charger being powered from shore power. 
     
     
         22 . The status monitoring system according to  claim 21 , the controller device further comprising a shore power monitor circuit,
 the shore power monitor circuit configured to be connected to a power adapter;   the power adapter configured to take power from the shore power; and   the shore power monitor circuit configured to monitor power supply from the shore power to the power adapter.   
     
     
         23 . The status monitoring system according to  claim 22 , the controller device further being programmed to:
 determine whether a power supply from the shore power is present on the power adapter; and   when the power supply to the power adapter from the shore power is lost, send shore power lost status notification to the remote user electronic device.   
     
     
         24 . The status monitoring system according to  claim 23 , further comprising an ignition cut off relay that interrupts the power to the ignition key switch. 
     
     
         25 . A status monitoring system comprising:
 a controller device comprising:
 a communication device configured to communicate with a remote user electronic device; 
 a master node of a wireless mesh network configured to communicate with a motor monitoring device; 
   a motor monitoring device configured to monitor a status of an outboard motor, the motor monitoring device comprising:
 a motor monitoring communication device configured to communicate with a remote user electronic device; 
 a motor node of the wireless mesh network configured to communicate with the master node; 
 a first accelerometer; and 
 a motor monitoring GPS receiver; 
 the controller device being configured to communicate with the motor monitoring device; 
 the motor monitoring device being programmed to:
 receive motor location data from the motor monitoring GPS receiver; 
 set an initial motor location when the status monitoring system is activated; 
 determine a motor location change by comparing current motor location data received from the motor monitoring GPS receiver and the initial motor location; 
 determine a motor speed by calculating a motor location change during a pre-programmed time period; 
 determine whether the motor location change and the motor speed both exceed pre-programmed thresholds; 
 when the motor location change and the motor speed both exceed pre-programmed thresholds, send a motor geofence status notification to the controller device and send a motor geofence status notification and the motor location to the remote user electronic device; 
 
   
     
     
         26 . The status monitoring system according to  claim 25 , the motor monitoring device being further programmed to:
 receive vibration data from the first accelerometer;   determine whether the vibration data exceeds a user-set threshold; and   when the vibration exceeds a user-set threshold, send a motor vibration status notification to the controller device and send a motor vibration status notification and the motor location to the remote user electronic device.   
     
     
         27 . The status monitoring system according to  claim 26 , the controller device being further programmed to:
 receive motor status notifications from the motor monitoring device;   when receiving a motor geofence status notification from the motor monitoring device, send a communication to the remote user electronic device; and   when receiving a motor vibration status notification from the motor monitoring device, send a communication to the remote user electronic device.   
     
     
         28 . The status monitoring system according to  claim 26 , the controller device further comprising a shore power monitor circuit,
 the shore power monitor circuit configured to be connected to a power adapter;   the power adapter configured to take power from the shore power; and   the shore power monitor circuit configured to monitor power supply from the shore power to the power adapter.   
     
     
         29 . The status monitoring system according to  claim 28 , the controller device further being programmed to:
 determine whether a power supply from the shore power is present on the power adapter; and   when the power supply to the power adapter from the shore power is lost, send shore power lost status notification to the remote user electronic device.   
     
     
         30 . A method for monitoring a status of a boat motor, the method comprising the steps of:
 receiving an activation signal from a remote user electronic device;   receiving GPS signals from a GPS receiver;   setting an initial motor location when receiving the activation signal;   determining a motor location change by comparing current motor location data received from the GPS receiver and the initial motor location;   determining a motor speed by calculating motor location change during a pre-programmed time period; and   transmitting a trigger status notification and the motor location to the remote user electronic device when detecting a geofence trigger,   wherein the geofence trigger is triggered when the motor location change and the motor speed exceed a pre-programmed threshold;   
     
     
         31 . The method according to  claim 30 , further comprising:
 receiving a motor vibration signal from a motor accelerometer;   determining whether an override for the motor intrusion trigger is active;   determining whether the motor vibration signal exceeds a predetermined threshold;   when the override is not active and when the motor vibration signal exceeds the predetermined threshold, transmitting a motor intrusion notification and the motor location to the remote user electronic device.   
     
     
         32 . The method according to  claim 31 , further comprising: when detecting a transient drop in a vehicle battery level below a pre-programmed threshold, transmitting a motor start notification and the motor location to the remote user electronic device. 
     
     
         33 . The method according to  claim 32 , further comprising: disabling a siren and terminating GPS coordinate transmission to the remote user electronic device when receiving acknowledgement signal from the remote user electronic device. 
     
     
         34 . The method according to  claim 33 , further comprising: when detecting a permanent drop in the vehicle battery level below a pre-programmed threshold, transmitting a check motor notification and the motor location to the remote user electronic device.