Electronics to remotely monitor and control a machine via a mobile personal communication device

Abstract

Embodiments may monitor operation of a machine and provide feedback to maintain use within certain parameters. Mobile personal communication device sensors are each configured to monitor at least one machine parameter (speed, acceleration, location, etc.), generate a signal encapsulating the monitored machine parameter, and transmit the generated sensor signals to a control unit of the communication device. The control unit may receive the generated sensor signals, store the received signals, and selectively combine the received signals. The communication device also includes a transmitter coupled to the control unit capable of transmitting the combined signal. A transceiver remote from the machine may determine a current machine condition and compare that condition to received conditions from other machines. Feedback may then be provided to adjust operation of the machine based on the comparison. For example, an operator interface may provide audio and/or visual feedback to the operator of a vehicle.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A system configured to monitor use conditions of a machine and provide feedback to an operator of the machine to maintain use within certain parameters, comprising:
 a mobile personal communication device associated with the operator and located proximate to the machine, including:
 a plurality of sensors, each sensor configured to monitor at least one parameter, the plurality of sensors selected from acceleration, speed, mileage, run-time and location sensors, each sensor generating a sensor signal encapsulating the monitored parameter and transmitting the generated sensor signal, 
 a control unit including a control unit memory that receives and stores the transmitted sensor signals and selectively combines the sensor signals, and 
 a control unit transmitter coupled to the control unit that transmits the combined signal; 
   a transceiver remote from the machine that receives the transmitted combined signal, and stores the combined signal in a memory unit, and a processor that processes the combined signal to capture the signal from each of the plurality of sensors, and compares a condition identified by the captured signals to received conditions from other mobile personal communication devices and provides an adjustment signal to the transceiver to broadcast to the mobile personal communication device providing feedback to adjust the use of the machine based on the comparison,   wherein the comparison of the condition utilizes a plurality of relativity factors, wherein each of the relativity factors is a numerical value generated based on the comparison of the condition for the machine to the conditions for other machines associated with corresponding conditions; and   an operator interface for providing feedback to the operator of the machine including at least one indication associated with the adjustment signal.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the feedback is at least one of a visual indication and an audible indication provided via the mobile personal communication device. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the feedback is provided to cause a physical alteration of operation of the machine. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3  wherein the machine is a vehicle and physically altering operation of the vehicle includes at least one of: (i) applying brakes, (ii) lowering a volume of a radio, and (iii) turning from a location. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the processor that processes the combined signal also automatically predicts an operator identifier associated with received machine information, wherein said prediction utilizes a prediction algorithm based on a pattern detected via a machine learning analysis of past operator usage of the machine. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the predicted operator identifier and the combined signal are used to calculate a risk score. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein a record for the operator of the machine is updated with the risk score. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the calculated risk score is also based on at least one machine safety feature associated with a machine identifier. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the machine safety feature is at least one of adaptive headlights, an autonomous operation feature, a camera, a sensor, an automatic braking feature, a brake warning feature, a parking feature and a lane departure warning. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1  wherein at least one of the plurality of relativity factors is based on a predetermined road segment. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1  wherein at least one of the plurality of relativity factors is a braking relativity factor, a speeding relativity factor, and a time of day relativity factor. 
     
     
         12 . A computerized method to monitor use conditions of a machine and provide feedback to an operator of the machine to maintain use within certain parameters, comprising:
 monitoring, by a plurality of sensors included in a mobile personal communication device associated with the operator, a plurality of parameters, wherein each sensor is configured to monitor at least one parameter, the plurality of sensors selected from acceleration, speed, mileage, run-time and location sensors, each sensor generating a sensor signal encapsulating the monitored parameter and transmitting the generated sensor signal,   receiving and storing, by a control unit of the mobile personal communication device, the control unit including a control unit memory, transmitted sensor signals,   selectively combining, by the control unit, the sensor signals,   comparing a condition identified by the combined sensor signals to received conditions from other mobile personal communication device,   providing an adjustment signal based on the comparison, wherein the adjustment signal provides feedback to adjust the use of the machine, and   wherein the comparison of the condition utilizes a plurality of relativity factors, wherein each of the relativity factors is a numerical value generated based on the comparison of the condition for the machine to the conditions for other machines associated with corresponding condition.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the feedback is at least one of a visual indication and an audible indication provided via the mobile personal communication device. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the feedback is provided to cause a physical alteration of operation of the machine. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14  wherein the machine is a vehicle and physically altering operation of the vehicle includes at least one of: (i) applying brakes, (ii) lowering a volume of a radio, and (iii) turning from a location. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 receiving machine information representing operation of the machine; and   automatically predicting an operator identifier associated with the received machine information, wherein the prediction utilizes a prediction algorithm based on a pattern detected via a machine learning analysis of past operator usage of the machine.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the predicted operator identifier and the combined signal are used to calculate a risk score.