Computer network-enabled sharing of state information for farming equipment or machines

Abstract

Technologies for sharing state information (160) of farming equipment or machines (110) via a computer network (104), such as sharing performance or operations parameters, locations, supply status, etc. The technologies include a system (100) including a farming apparatus (110) and a state sensing device (130) of the farming apparatus, configured to measure a state (160) of an aspect of the apparatus. The system also includes a local computing system (120), configured to associate the state with related information associated with the apparatus and send the state and the related information over a computer network. The system also includes a remote computing system (102), configured to receive the state and the related information, generate and associate an identifier with the state and the related information, and send the identifier (162) over the network (104), via a sharable link (164), such that the link and the identifier are usable to retrieve an attribute of the state and a part of the related information (166).

Description

COMPUTER NETWORK-ENABLED SHARING OF STATE INFORMATION FOR FARMING EQUIPMENT OR MACHINESTECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present disclosure relates to methods and systems for computer network-enabled sharing of state information for farming equipment or machines or for mobile machines in general.BACKGROUND

[0002] Developments in computer networking technology allow for data collected on machines, implements, and digital control systems to easily be uploaded to a computer network, such as a network that is part of a cloud computing system. However, providing access to that data is often handled poorly, especially when the creator wants to grant access to third-party entities. Most sharing is restricted to users within a specific ecosystem, or it is put behind a paywall. Thus, there appears to be a need to improve systems for sharing information. This is especially the case where operators are using their equipment or machines in the field. The operator would greatly benefit from coordinating with vendors, suppliers, and other types of partners in real time. Instead of dictating to vendors or suppliers, the operator of the equipment or machine would greatly benefit from a system that leverages advances in computer networking to allow flexible sharing of operational parameters and attributes to permit seamless coordination. This may allow for more efficient coordination between vendors, suppliers, and operators, especially in industrial farming and industries related to farming such as construction and forestry.SUMMARY

[0003] Described herein are techniques for computer network-enabled sharing of state information for farming equipment or machines or for mobile machines in general. The techniques disclosed herein provide specific technical solutions to at least overcome the technical problems mentioned in the background section or other parts of the application as well as other technical problems not described herein but recognized by those skilled in the art.

[0004] In some embodiments, disclosed herein are computerized methods for computer network-enabled sharing of state information for farming equipment or machines or for mobile machines in general, as well as a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium for carrying out technical operations of the computerized methods. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium has tangibly stored thereon, or tangibly encoded thereon, computer-readable instructions that when executed by one or more devices (e.g., one or more personal computers or servers) cause at least one processor to perform a method for computer network-enabled sharing of state information for farming equipment or machines or for mobile machines in general.

[0005] For example, some embodiments include a method including a state sensing device (e.g., see electronics 130 including sensors shown in FIG. 1) of a farming apparatus (e.g., see farming apparatus 110) measuring a state (e.g., see state 160) of an aspect of the farming apparatus (e.g., see step 302 of method 300 shown in FIG. 3). The method also includes a local computing system (e.g., see local computing syteml20) associating the state with related information associated with the farming apparatus (e.g., see step 304) and sending the state and the related information over a computer network (e.g., see network 104 shown in FIG. 1 and step 306 shown in FIG. 3). The method also includes a remote computing system (e.g., see remote computing system 102) receiving the state (160) and the related information (e.g., see step 308) and generating and associating an identifier (e.g., see identifier 162) with the state and the related information (e.g., see step 310). And, the method includes the remote computing system sending the identifier over the network, via a shareable link (e.g., see shareable link 164), such that the link and the identifier are usable to retrieve an attribute of the state and a part of the relatedinformation (e.g., see operator-selected information 166 shown in FIG. 1 and step 312 shown in FIG. 3). The method also includes an end-user device (e.g., see end-user device 146) providing at least part of a settings process to an operator of the farming apparatus via a browser (e.g., see browser 156) or any other type of client-side application, such as a native application, so that the operator can set access control parameters (e.g., see access control parameters 168) for the attribute of the state and the part of the related information (e.g., see operator-selected information 166 shown in FIG. 1 and step 314 shown in FIG. 3). Some other embodiments include a method analogous to the aforementioned method with a mobile machine, in general, replacing the farming apparatus. A mobile machine can include a farming, construction, or forestry machine that is mobile, or the like.

[0006] Also, there are systems disclosed herein for computer network-enabled sharing of state information for farming equipment or machines. For example, some embodiments include a system including a farming apparatus (e.g., see farming apparatus 110) and a state sensing device of the farming apparatus (e.g., see electronics 130 including sensors), configured to measure a state (e.g., see state 160) of an aspect of the farming apparatus. The system also includes a local computing system (e.g., see local computing system 120), configured to associate the state with related information associated with the farming apparatus and send the state and the related information over a computer network (e.g., see network 104). The system also includes a remote computing system (e.g., see remote computing system 102), configured to receive the state and the related information, generate and associate an identifier (e.g., see identifier 162) with the state and the related information, and send the identifier over the network, via a shareable link (e.g., see shareable link 164), such that the link and the identifier are usable to retrieve an attribute of the state and a part of the related information (e.g., see operator-selected information 166).

[0007] Also, there are systems disclosed herein for computer network-enabled sharing of state information for mobile machines in general. For example, some embodiments include a system including a mobile machine (e.g., the farming apparatus 110 shown in FIG. 1 can be a mobile machine and, in some examples, a mobile machine can include a farming, construction, or forestry machine that is mobile, or the like. The system also includes a state sensing device of the mobile machine, configured to measure a state of an aspect of the machine. The system alsoincludes a local computing system, configured to associate the state with related information associated with the machine and send the state and the related information over a computer network. The system also includes a remote computing system, configured to receive the state and the related information and generate and associate an identifier with the state and the related information. The remote computing system is also configured to send the identifier over the network), via a shareable link, such that the link and the identifier are usable to retrieve an attribute of the state and a part of the related information.

[0008] In some embodiments of the systems and methods, the part of the related information is selected by an operator of the farming apparatus via a settings process configured for setting access control parameters (e.g., see access control parameters 168 shown in FIG. 1) for the part of the related information. In some embodiments, the attribute of the state is also selected by the operator of the farming apparatus via the setting process (e.g., see operator-selected information 166), and the settings process is configured for setting access control parameters (e.g., see access control parameters 168) for the attribute of the state and the part of the related information. In some embodiments, the state includes multiple attributes, and a part of the multiple attributes of the state is also selected by the operator of the farming apparatus via the setting process. In such examples, the settings process is configured for setting access control parameters for the part of the multiple attributes of the state and for the part of the related information (e.g., see operator- selected information 166).

[0009] In some embodiments of the systems and methods, the system or method further includes an end-user device (e.g., see end-user device 146 depicted in FIG. 1) configured to provide at least part of the settings process to the operator via a browser (e.g., see browser 156) or any other type of client-side application, such as a native application, so that the operator can set the access control parameters (e.g., see access control parameters 168).

[0010] In some embodiments of the systems and methods, the remote computing system is configured to match the identifier (e.g., see identifier 162) with the state and the related information and retrieve the attribute of the state and the part of the related information (e.g., see operator-selected information 166) according to the match and the access control parameters (e.g., see access control parameters 168). In some embodiments, the access control parameters (e.g., see access control parameters 168) include password protection parameters. In some cases,the access control parameters include a length of time a selected portion of information (e.g., see operator-selected information 166) is shareable. In some embodiments, the identifier includes a unique identifier and the remote computing system is configured to encrypt the unique identifier. In such examples, the encrypted identifier can serve as the identifier in the link (e.g., see link 164). And, the remote computing system can be configured to run a validation process to validate the link before sharing the attribute of the state and the part of the related information according to the access control parameters (whether or not the link is encrypted). In some examples, the remote computing system is configured to merge the identifier with the related information or the part of the related information (e.g., see operator-selected information 166), resulting in a merged object. And, the remote computing system can encrypt the merged object and then decrypt the merged object to share the state and the part of the related information.

[0011] In some embodiments of the systems and methods, the remote computing system is a part of a cloud computing system including a cloud computing network (e.g., see cloud computing network 103). In some cases, the farming apparatus is a mobile machine or a part of a mobile machine. In some examples, the farming apparatus is an agricultural storage system or a part of an agricultural storage system.

[0012] In some embodiment, the part of the related information (e.g., see operator-selected information 166) includes an identifier of the farming apparatus or the aspect of the farming apparatus, all or some of specifications of the farming apparatus or the aspect of the farming apparatus, an identifier of an operator or an owner or lessee of the farming apparatus, contact information of an operator or an owner or lessee of the farming apparatus, operational preferences of the operator or an owner or lessee of the farming apparatus, the like, or a combination thereof. In some examples, the attribute of the state (e.g., see operator-selected information 166) includes one or more performance parameters of a mobile machine. In some examples, the attribute of the state includes a location or a predicted location of a mobile machine. Also, the attribute of the state can include the location of a storage system. Also, the attribute of the state can include supply status information including a tank level (such as the tank level of a mobile machine or a storage system).

[0013] These and other important aspects of the invention are described more fully in the detailed description below. The invention is not limited to the particular methods and systemsdescribed herein. Other embodiments can be used and changes to the described embodiments can be made without departing from the scope of the claims that follow the detailed description. Within the scope of this application, it should be understood that the various aspects, embodiments, examples, and alternatives set out herein, and individual features thereof may be taken independently or in any possible and compatible combination. Where features are described with reference to a single aspect or embodiment, it should be understood that such features are applicable to all aspects and embodiments unless otherwise stated or where such features are incompatible.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0014] The present disclosure will be understood more fully from the detailed description given below and from the accompanying drawings of various example embodiments of the disclosure.

[0015] FIG. 1 illustrates an example system, in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0016] FIG. 2 illustrates a block diagram of example aspects of a computing system (such as one or more of the computing systems shown in FIG. 1), in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0017] FIG. 3 illustrates a method, in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure.DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS

[0018] Details of example embodiments of the invention are described in the following detailed description with reference to the drawings. Although the detailed description provides reference to example embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention disclosed herein is not limited to such example embodiments. But to the contrary, the invention disclosed herein includes numerous alternatives, modifications, and equivalents as will become apparent from consideration of the following detailed description and other parts of this disclosure.

[0019] Described herein are techniques for computer network-enabled sharing of state information for farming equipment or machines or for mobile machines in general. The techniques disclosed herein provide specific technical solutions to at least overcome the technical problems mentioned in the background section or other parts of the application as well as other technical problems not described herein but recognized by those skilled in the art.

[0020] Developments in computer networking technology allow for data collected on machines, implements, and digital control systems to easily be uploaded to a computer network, such as a network that is part of a cloud computing system. However, providing access to that data is often handled poorly, especially when the creator of such data wants to grant access to third-party entities. For example, sharing is often restricted to users within a specific ecosystem, or it is put behind a paywall. Thus, there appears to be a need to improve systems for sharing information. This is especially the case where operators are using their equipment or machines in the field. The operator would greatly benefit from coordinating with vendors, suppliers, and other types of partners in real time. Instead of dictating to vendors or suppliers, the operator of the equipment or machine would greatly benefit from a system that leverages advances in computer networking to allow flexible sharing of operational parameters and attributes to permit seamless coordination. The system 100 shown in FIG. 1 provides such a benefit. And, it can allow for more efficient coordination between vendors, suppliers, and operators, especially in industrial farming and industries related to farming such as construction and forestry. Also, the method 300 shown in FIG. 3 can provide such a benefit.

[0021] FIG. 1 illustrates a system 100 configured for computer network-enabled sharing of state information for farming equipment or machines or for mobile machines in general. FIG. 1 illustrates a system 100 having a network of farming apparatuses (in which the apparatus could be farming equipment, storage devices, or mobile machines, or mobile machines in general) that communicate with remote computing systems (such as the remote computing system 102) through a communications network 104 and that can contribute to the techniques for computer network-enabled sharing of state information for farming equipment or machines or for mobile machines in general according to some of the embodiments described herein. Specifically, FIG. 1 illustrates the system 100 including a remote computing system 102, the communications network 104, and farming apparatuses (e.g., see farming apparatuses 106, 108, and 110). Theremote computing system (e.g., see remote computing system 102) is remote in that it is physically and geographically separated from the farming apparatuses of the system 100. It should also be understood that the remote computing system 102 can embody multiple remote computing systems. The farming apparatuses are shown communicating with the remote computing system 102 of the system 100 through a communications network 104. As shown in FIG. 1, the farming apparatuses of the system 100 can each include its own computing system including electronics such as connected controllers, sensors, cameras, busses, and computers (e.g., see local computing systems 116, 118, and 120, and see electronics 126, 128, and 130). A computing system of a farming apparatus can include a processor, memory, a communication interface, and one or more sensors that can make the farming apparatuses individual computing devices. In the case of communications network 104 including the Internet, the farming apparatuses of the system 100 are considered Internet of Things (loT) devices. Also, in some embodiments, the remote computing system 102 is a part of a cloud computing system (e.g., see cloud computing network 103).

[0022] In general, the communications network 104 includes one or more local area networks (LAN(s)) and / or one or more wide area networks (WAN(s)). In some embodiments, the communications network 104 includes the Internet and / or any other type of interconnected communications network. The communications network 104 can also include a single computer network or a telecommunications network. More specifically, in some embodiments, the communications network 104 includes a local area network (LAN) such as a private computer network that connects computers in small physical areas, a wide area network (WAN) to connect computers located in different geographical locations, and / or a middle area network (MAN) to connect computers in a geographic area larger than that covered by a large LAN but smaller than the area covered by a WAN.

[0023] As shown in FIG. 1, each one of the farming apparatuses includes a respective computer and respective electronics (e.g., see computing systems 116, 118, and 120, and see electronics 126, 128, and 130). In some embodiments, the electronics of a farming apparatus include electronic hardware and software of the farming apparatus such as sensors and other types of electrical and / or mechanical feedback devices that are communicatively coupled with the computer of the farming apparatus(e.g., see electronics 220 depicted in FIG. 2). In someembodiments, the computer of the farming apparatus is configured to connect or integrate with the farming machine electronics (e.g., see electronics 126, 128, and 130) and communicate with one or more remote computing systems (e.g., see remote computing system 102 and end-user devices 142, 144, and 146) via the communications network 104). Communicating with remote computing systems can occur through applications such as a client-side application, a native application, a mobile application, a web application, or a web browser (e.g., see browsers 152, 154, and 156 of respective end-user devices 142, 144, and 146 as well as the remote computing system 102 which can include a cloud-computing application in some embodiments).

[0024] In some embodiments, the farming apparatus (e.g., see farming apparatus 106, 108, or 110) includes a farming mobile machine. In some examples, the farming apparatus is a mobile machine in general, such as a machine that includes a fuel tank. In some instances, the apparatus being a mobile machine can be or include an agricultural machine, a construction machine, a forestry machine, a mobile landscaping machine, or some other type of mobile machine. In some embodiments, the apparatus is an agricultural machine and it can include or be a combine harvester, a tractor, a planter, a sprayer, a baler, etc. In some embodiments, where the apparatus is a construction machine, it can include or be an excavator, a compaction machine (such as one with rollers), a loader, a bulldozer, a skid steer machine, a grader, etc. In some embodiments, where the apparatus is a forestry or landscaping machine, it can include or be a delimber, a feller buncher, a stump grinder, a mulcher, a yarder, a forwarder, a log loader, a harvester, etc. In some embodiments, the apparatus can be or include a vehicle in that it is self-propelling. Also, in some embodiments, the apparatus can be a part of a group of similar machines or a group of different types of mobile machines.

[0025] In some embodiments, the farming apparatus (e.g., see farming apparatus 106, 108, or 110) includes a farming storage system such as a system that includes a farming supply tank for any type of fluid or liquid used in farming including a fluid made of a granular solid such as a fluid made of a harvested and processed grain. In some examples, the farming apparatus includes any type of farming implement or equipment. Such as a farming implement or equipment attachable to a mobile machine or not.

[0026] As shown in FIG. 1 , some embodiments include a system 100 including multiple farming apparatuses (e.g., see farming apparatuses 106, 108, and 110) and corresponding state sensingdevices of the farming apparatus (e.g., see electronics 126, 128, and 130, which including sensors). In such examples, a farming apparatus is configured to measure a state 160 of an aspect of the farming apparatus. The system 100 also includes respective local computing systems of the farming apparatuses (e.g., see local computing systems 116, 118, and 120). In some examples, a local computing system is configured to associate the state 160 with related information associated with the farming apparatus and send the state and the related information over network 104. The system 100 also includes remote computing systems, including end-user devices (e.g., see end-user devices 142, 144, and 16) as well as remote computing system 102. In some examples, the remote computing system 102 is configured to receive the state 160 and the related information. The remote computing system 102 can also be configured to generate and associate an identifier 162 with the state 160 and the related information and send the identifier over the network 104, via shareable link 164, such that the link and the identifier are usable to retrieve an attribute of the state and a part of the related information (e.g., see operator- selected information 166).

[0027] In some embodiments of the system 100, the part of the related information is selected by an operator of the farming apparatus via a settings process configured for setting access control parameters for the part of the related information (e.g., see access control parameters 168). In some embodiments, the attribute of the state is also selected by the operator of the farming apparatus via the setting process (e.g., see operator-selected information 166), and the settings process is configured for setting access control parameters for the attribute of the state and for the part of the related information (e.g., see access control parameters 168). In some embodiments, the state includes multiple attributes, and a part of the multiple attributes of the state is also selected by the operator of the farming apparatus via the setting process. In such examples, the settings process is configured for setting access control parameters for the part of the multiple attributes of the state and for the part of the related information (e.g., see operator- selected information 166).

[0028] In some embodiments, as shown in FIG. 1, the system 100 includes end- user devices (e.g., see end-user devices 142, 144, and 146). An end-user device of the system 100 can be configured to provide at least part of the settings process to the operator via a browser or any other type of client-side application, such as a native application, so that the operator can set theaccess control parameters (e.g., see browsers 152, 154, and 156 which are hosted by corresponding end-user devices 142, 144, and 146 as well as see access control parameters 168).

[0029] In some embodiments, as shown in FIG. 1, the part of the related information is selected by an operator of the farming apparatus via a settings process configured for setting access control parameters (e.g., see access control parameters 168) for the part of the related information. In some embodiments, the attribute of the state is also selected by the operator of the farming apparatus via the setting process (e.g., see operator-selected information 166), and the settings process is configured for setting access control parameters (e.g., see access control parameters 168) for the attribute of the state and the part of the related information. In some embodiments, the state 160 includes multiple attributes, and a part of the multiple attributes of the state is also selected by the operator of the farming apparatus via the setting process. In such examples, the settings process is configured for setting access control parameters (e.g., see access control parameters 168) for the part of the multiple attributes of the state and for the part of the related information (e.g., see operator-selected information 166 which can include the part of the multiple attributes of the state and the part of the related information).

[0030] In some embodiments, such as shown in FIG. 1, the remote computing system 102 is configured to match the identifier 162 with the state 160 and the related information and retrieve the attribute of the state and the part of the related information (e.g., see operator-selected information 166) according to the match and the access control parameters (e.g., see access control parameters 168). In some embodiments, the access control parameters (e.g., see access control parameters 168) include password protection parameters. In some cases, the access control parameters include a length of time of a selected portion of information (e.g., see operator-selected information 166) that is shareable. In some embodiments, the identifier 162 includes a unique identifier and the remote computing system is configured to encrypt the unique identifier. In such examples, the encrypted identifier can serve as the identifier in the link 164 (which in some cases can be a URL). And, the remote computing system 102 can be configured to run a validation process to validate the link 164 before sharing the attribute of the state and the part of the related information according to the access control parameters (whether or not the link is encrypted). In some examples, the remote computing system 102 is configured to merge the identifier with the related information or the part of the related information (e.g., seeoperator-selected information 166), resulting in a merged object. And, the remote computing system 102 can encrypt the merged object and then decrypt the merged object to share the state and the part of the related information (e.g., see operator-selected information 166).

[0031] In some embodiments, such as shown in FIG. 1, the remote computing system 102 is a part of a cloud computing system including a cloud computing network 103. In some cases, the farming apparatus (such as apparatus 110) is a mobile machine or a part of a mobile machine. In some examples, the farming apparatus is an agricultural storage system or a part of an agricultural storage system.

[0032] In some embodiment, such as shown in FIG. 1, the part of the related information (e.g., see operator-selected information 166) includes an identifier 162 of the farming apparatus or the aspect of the farming apparatus, all or some of specifications of the farming apparatus or the aspect of the farming apparatus, an identifier of an operator or an owner or lessee of the farming apparatus, contact information of an operator or an owner or lessee of the farming apparatus, operational preferences of the operator or an owner or lessee of the farming apparatus, the like, or a combination thereof. In some examples, the attribute of the state (e.g., see operator-selected information 166) includes one or more performance parameters of a mobile machine. In some examples, the attribute of the state includes a location or a predicted location of a mobile machine. Also, the attribute of the state can include the location of a storage system. Also, the attribute of the state can include supply status information including a tank level (such as the tank level of a mobile machine or a storage system). These are just some of the many examples of operator-selected information that is possible to share with third-party end users via the shareable link 164.

[0033] For instance, the operator-selected attribute of the state can also include performance parameters such as yield, spillage levels, crop lodging levels, compaction levels, fuel efficiency, or adherence to routing or operational plans just to name a few. Also, for example, the attribute of the state can include monitorable conditions such as tank level (as mentioned), e.g., fuel tank level, seed tank level, herbicide or pesticide tank level, water tank level, grain or seed storage tank level, etc. Also, for example, the attribute of the state can include monitorable conditions such as machine or machine component speed, component pressure, component temperature, RPM, land speed, geographic location, field conditions, weather, etc.

[0034] FIG. 2 illustrates a block diagram of example aspects of a computing system 200 that can implement the parts of the technical solutions described herein. Also, FIG. 2 illustrates parts of the computing system 200 within which a set of instructions are executed for causing a machine (such as a computer processor or processing device 202) to perform any one or more of the steps of the methodologies discussed herein performed by a computing system (e.g., see the method steps of the method 300 shown in FIG. 3). In some embodiments, the computing system 200 operates with additional computing systems to provide increased computing capacity in which multiple computing systems operate together to perform any one or more of the methodologies or processes discussed herein that are performed by a computing system.

[0035] In some embodiments, the computing system 200 corresponds to a host system that includes, is coupled to, or utilizes memory or is used to perform the operations performed by any one of the computing systems described herein. In some embodiments, the machine is connected (e.g., networked) to other machines in a LAN, an intranet, an extranet, or the Internet. In some embodiments, the machine operates in the capacity of a server in a client-server network environment, as a peer machine in a peer-to-peer (or distributed) network environment, or as a server in a cloud computing infrastructure or environment. In some embodiments, the machine is a personal computer (PC), a tablet PC, a cellular telephone, a web appliance, a server, or any machine capable of executing a set of instructions (sequential or otherwise) that specify actions to be taken by that machine. Further, while a single machine is illustrated, the term “machine” shall also be taken to include any collection of machines that individually or jointly execute a set (or multiple sets) of instructions to perform any one or more of the methodologies or processes discussed herein performed by computing systems.

[0036] The computing system 200 includes a processing device 202, a main memory 204 (e.g., read-only memory (ROM), flash memory, dynamic random-access memory (DRAM), etc.), a static memory 206 (e.g., flash memory, static random-access memory (SRAM), etc.), and a data storage system 210, which communicate with each other via a bus 218. The processing device 202 represents one or more general-purpose processing devices such as a microprocessor, a central processing unit, or the like. More particularly, the processing device can include a microprocessor or a processor implementing other instruction sets, or processors implementing a combination of instruction sets. Or, the processing device 202 is one or more special-purposeprocessing devices such as an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a field programmable gate array (FPGA), a digital signal processor (DSP), a network processor, or the like. The processing device 202 is configured to execute instructions 214 for performing the operations discussed herein performed by a computing system. In some embodiments, the computing system 200 includes a network interface device 208 to communicate over a communications network. Such a communications network can include one or more local area networks (LAN(s)) and / or one or more wide area networks (WAN(s)). In some embodiments, the communications network includes the Internet and / or any other type of interconnected communications network. The communications network can also include a single computer network or a telecommunications network.

[0037] The data storage system 210 includes a machine-readable storage medium 212 (also known as a computer-readable medium) on which is stored one or more sets of instructions 214 or software embodying any one or more of the methodologies or functions described herein performed by a computing system. The instructions 214 also reside, completely or at least partially, within the main memory 204 or within the processing device 202 during execution thereof by the computing system 200, the main memory 204 and the processing device 202 also constituting machine-readable storage media. While the machine- readable storage medium 212 is shown in an example embodiment to be a single medium, the term “machine-readable storage medium” should be taken to include a single medium or multiple media that store the one or more sets of instructions. The term “machine-readable storage medium” shall also be taken to include any medium that is capable of storing or encoding a set of instructions for execution by the machine and that causes the machine to perform any one or more of the methodologies of the present disclosure performed by a computing system. The term “machine-readable storage medium” shall accordingly be taken to include solid-state memories, optical media, or magnetic media.

[0038] Also, as shown, the computing system 200 includes a user interface 216 that includes a display, in some embodiments, and, for example, implements functionality corresponding to any one of the UI devices disclosed herein. A UI, such as UI 216, or a UI device described herein includes any space or equipment where interactions between humans and machines occur. A UI described herein allows the operation and control of the machine from a human user, while themachine simultaneously provides feedback information to the user. Examples of a user interface, or UI device include the interactive aspects of computer operating systems (such as GUIs), machinery operator controls, and process controls. Also, as shown, the computing system 200 includes electronics 220 that includes that are a part of the computing system or interact directly with the computing system such as any one of the sensors described herein or controller hardware that is at least partially controlled by input generated via instructions 214, or control instructions 230 specifically.

[0039] In some embodiments, the computing system 200 can record location of an apparatus described herein or the computing system itself with corresponding GNSS references based on a geographic location tracked by a GNSS system or a location tracking system in general, e.g., see location tracking 215.

[0040] FIG. 3 illustrates a method 300 in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure. The steps of method 300 are performed by any state sensing device (or sensor), computing system, or end-user device described herein where practical or technically fitting. In some systems of the technologies disclosed herein, any steps performed by the computing system of embodiments of the methods described herein are implementable by executing instructions corresponding to the steps, which are stored in memory (such as the instructions 214 shown in FIG. 2).

[0041] As shown in FIG. 3, method 300 begins with step 302, which includes a state sensing device (e.g., see electronics 130 including sensors shown in FIG. 1) of a farming apparatus (e.g., see farming apparatus 110) measuring a state (e.g., see state 160) of an aspect of the farming apparatus.

[0042] At step 304, the method 300 includes a local computing system (e.g., see local computing system 120) associating the state with related information associated with the farming apparatus. At step 306, the method 300 includes the local computing system sending the state and the related information over a computer network (e.g., see network 104).

[0043] At step 308, the method 300 includes a remote computing system (e.g., see remote computing system 102) receiving the state (160) and the related information. And, at step 310,the method 300 includes the remote computing system generating and associating an identifier (e.g., see identifier 162) with the state and the related information.

[0044] At step 312, method 300 includes the remote computing system sending the identifier over the network, via a shareable link (e.g., see shareable link 164), such that the link and the identifier are usable to retrieve an attribute of the state and a part of the related information (e.g., see operator-selected information 166 shown in FIG. 1).

[0045] At step 314, the method 300 includes an end-user device (e.g., see end-user device 146) providing at least part of a settings process to an operator of the farming apparatus via a browser (e.g., see browser 156) or any other type of client-side application, such as a native application, so that the operator can set access control parameters (e.g., see access control parameters 168) for the attribute of the state and the part of the related information (e.g., see operator-selected information 166).

[0046] Some other embodiments include a method analogous to the aforementioned method with a mobile machine, in general, replacing the farming apparatus. A mobile machine can include a farming, construction, or forestry machine that is mobile, or the like.

[0047] An example type of information that can be made shareable that would greatly benefit equipment operators is tank level. As an example, tank level can be an attribute of the state 160 that is included in the operator-selected information 166 shown in FIG. 1 and related to step 312 shown in FIG. 3. Sharing tank level would also benefit suppliers that work with the operators. With a system leveraging such information, such as system 100 or a system implemented via method 300, a third-party vendor knowing the tank level of one of its customers could meet the operator at an advantageous location when it is time to re- fill. Or, a vendor would know when a refill is needed in general without the operator needing to take the step of directly contacting the supplier. An operator may also want to share tank level information with a central management entity, such as a co-op dispatcher. Tank level is just one of the many types of operations information that can be made shareable and would greatly benefit equipment operators. As such, it is to be understood that the technologies described herein can leverage any type of information or data that can be sensed or captured in any type of farming apparatus (such as any type of farming machine or storage device). Also, it is to be understood that the technologies described herein can leverage any type of information or data that can be sensed or captured in any typeof mobile machine in general (such as any type of farming, construction, or forestry mobile machine).

[0048] In general, information or data about one or more performance parameters, operations, or supply (e.g., product level such as fuel or other measurable liquid level) is collected from a farming apparatus or a mobile machine, using some kind of sensor, control unit, or computing system, or a combination thereof (e.g., see apparatus 110 shown in FIG. 1 and method 300 shown in FIG. 3). The collected data or information can then be communicated to a cloud computing system (e.g., see cloud computing network 103) or another type of remote computing system (e.g., see state 160). The upload of data or information can be directly communicated to the remote system (e.g., see system 102) from the apparatus or mobile machine or via an intermediary device such as an end-user device (e.g., a smartphone, tablet computer, etc.), e.g., see end-user devices 142, 144, and 146.

[0049] Once in the remote computing system (e.g., see system 102), the data or information is stored and indexed using a user identifier, apparatus or feature identifier, and timestamps. Also, other types of information related to the apparatus or feature can be stored, organized, and structured accordingly (such as location information and access control parameters, e.g., see access control parameters 168).

[0050] To share information with a third party, the operator can use a browser (e.g., see browsers 152, 154, and 156) or any other type of client-side application, such as a native application, to create a shareable link at least partially (e.g., see shareable link 164). In some embodiments, the link is generated by a server-side application at least partially. To create the link the operator can select the share duration, the time period of data to share, and the specific feature, aspect, or state of the feature or aspect of the apparatus to share. The user can also choose a password to protect the information, but this can be optional. The browser or the application captures such access control parameters and the information about the apparatus, and then can generate an object that is then sent to the remote computing system. Once in the remote computing system, a corresponding object identifier can be generated (e.g., see identifier 162), and sent back to the browser or application. In some cases, the browser or application can append the identifier to a base uniform resource locator (URL), which can be or be included in link 164 in embodiments of system 100. The base URL can point to an application hosted by the remote computing system(such as system 102). The combined URL is then displayed to the operator (such as via an enduser device or local computing system), and the operator can then share the URL with others such as vendors and suppliers and other third-party partners. When an end-user uses the URL to navigate a computer network (such as the Internet), the application hosted by the remote computing system (which is accessible via the base URL) will be accessed and the identifier appended to the URL will be parsed by the application to perform a lookup to retrieve the operator-selected information for sharing (e.g., see operator-selected information 166). The application then can provision the application instance with the operator-selected information for sharing.

[0051] For example, an operator creates a shared link 164 with a duration of five days, starting on January 2, and sets a password that needs to be entered to access the operator-selected information for sharing. Once the operator selects the creation of the shareable object, the application constructs an object with corresponding access control parameters 168 and sends it to the remote computing system 102 where it is stored. Once stored, the remote system 102 can reply with an identification pointing to the stored shared information and access control (e.g., see identifier 162). Again, the identification can be added to a URL displayed to the user or communicated to a third-party user in another way (e.g., see shareable link 164). The third-party user can then use the URL or another type of link to the application, in which the application on the remote system retrieves the operator-selected information for sharing with the third-party user via an end-user device of the third-party user (e.g., see any one of the end-user devices 142, 144, and 146 which can be devices of the operator or the third-party user). In some examples, the identification is unique and must match a parameter set. In such examples, if the match is valid, the application can share the operator-selected information with the third-party user.

[0052] One example benefit of the technology described above and herein is the decoupling of information from the shareable links. Although there can be free access to the information in some cases there is still a layer of security provided with the link and the identification pointing to the information. For example, it can help limit the effect of an attack trying to overwhelm the remote system with a massive amount of falsified information in fake links. For instance, if the fake link does not match a certain expected pattern, it can be immediately rejected without much processing by the remote computing system during an attack. Also, using the link as mentionedherein, can allow for flexibility in that the application can be accessed from any client-side application, browser or end-user device. This is especially the case when the link is constructed as a URL or included in a URL.

[0053] Some portions of the preceding detailed descriptions have been presented in terms of algorithms and symbolic representations of operations on data bits within a computer memory. These algorithmic descriptions and representations are the ways used by those skilled in the data processing arts to most effectively convey the substance of their work to others skilled in the art. An algorithm is here, and generally, conceived to be a self-consistent sequence of operations leading to a predetermined result. The operations are those requiring physical manipulations of physical quantities. Usually, though not necessarily, these quantities take the form of electrical or magnetic signals capable of being stored, combined, compared, and otherwise manipulated. It has proven convenient at times, principally for reasons of common usage, to refer to these signals as bits, values, elements, symbols, characters, terms, numbers, or the like. It should be borne in mind, however, that these and similar terms are to be associated with the appropriate physical quantities and are merely convenient labels applied to these quantities. The present disclosure can refer to the action and processes of a computing system, or similar electronic computing device, which manipulates and transforms data represented as physical (electronic) quantities within the computing system's registers and memories into other data similarly represented as physical quantities within the computing system memories or registers or other such information storage systems.

[0054] While the invention has been described in conjunction with the specific embodiments described herein, it is evident that many alternatives, combinations, modifications and variations are apparent to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, the example embodiments of the invention, as set forth herein are intended to be illustrative only, and not in a limiting sense. Various changes can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Claims

CLAIMSWhat is claimed is:

1. A system, comprising: a farming apparatus (110); a state sensing device (130) of the farming apparatus (110), configured to measure a state (160) of an aspect of the farming apparatus; a local computing system (120), configured to: associate the state (160) with related information associated with the farming apparatus (110); and send the state and the related information over a computer network (104); a remote computing system (102), configured to: receive the state (160) and the related information; generate and associate an identifier (162) with the state (160) and the related information; and send the identifier (162) over the network (104), via a sharable link (164), such that the link and the identifier are usable to retrieve an attribute of the state and a part of the related information (166).

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the part of the related information (166) is selected by an operator of the farming apparatus (110) via a settings process configured for setting access control parameters (168) for the part of the related information.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the attribute of the state (166) is also selected by the operator of the farming apparatus (110) via the setting process, and wherein the settings process is configured for setting access control parameters (168) for the attribute of the state and for the part of the related information.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein the state (160) comprises multiple attributes, wherein a part of the multiple attributes (166) of the state is also selected by the operator of the farming apparatus (110) via the setting process, and wherein the settings process is configured forsetting access control parameters (168) for the part of the multiple attributes of the state and for the part of the related information (166).

5. The system of claim 2, wherein the access control parameters (168) comprise password protection parameters.

6. The system of claim 2, wherein the access control parameters (168) comprise a length of time a selected portion of information (166) is shareable.

7. The system of claim 2, wherein the remote computing system (102) is configured to: match the identifier (162) with the state and the related information; and retrieve the attribute of the state and the part of the related information (166) according to the match and the access control parameters (168).

8. The system of any of one of claims 2 through 7, further comprising an end-user device (146) providing at least part of the settings process to the operator via an application (156) so that the operator is able to set the access control parameters (168).

9. The system of claim 2, wherein the identifier (162) comprises a unique identifier, wherein the remote computing system (102) is configured to encrypt the unique identifier, wherein the encrypted identifier serves as the identifier in the link (164), and wherein the remote computing system is configured to run a validation process to validate the link before sharing the attribute of the state and the part of the related information (166) according to the access control parameters (168).

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the remote computing system (102) is a part of a cloud computing system comprising a cloud computing network (103).

11. The system of claim 1 , wherein the farming apparatus (110) is a mobile machine or a part of a mobile machine.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the farming apparatus (110) is an agricultural storage system or a part of an agricultural storage system.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the remote computing system (102) is configured to: merge the identifier (162) with the related information or the part of the related information(166), resulting in a merged object; encrypt the merged object; and decrypt the merged object to share the state and the part of the related information.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein the part of the related information (166) comprises an identifier of the farming apparatus (110) or the aspect of the farming apparatus, all or some of specifications of the farming apparatus or the aspect of the farming apparatus, an identifier of an operator or an owner or lessee of the farming apparatus, contact information of an operator or an owner or lessee of the farming apparatus, operational preferences of the operator or an owner or lessee of the farming apparatus, the like, or a combination thereof.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein the attribute of the state (166) comprises one or more performance parameters of a mobile machine (110).

16. The system of claim 1, wherein the attribute of the state (166) comprises a location or a predicted location of a mobile machine (110).

17. The system of claim 1, wherein the attribute of the state (166) comprises a location of a storage system (110).

18. The system of claim 1, wherein the attribute of the state (166) comprises a supply status information comprising a tank level.

9. A system, comprising: a mobile machine (110); a state sensing device ( 130) of the mobile machine (110), configured to measure a state (160) of an aspect of the machine; a local computing system (120), configured to: associate the state (160) with related information associated with the machine (110); and send the state (160) and the related information over a computer network (104); a remote computing system (102), configured to: receive the state (160) and the related information; generate and associate an identifier (162) with the state (160) and the related information; and send the identifier (162) over the network (104), via a sharable link (164), such that the link and the identifier are usable to retrieve an attribute of the state and a part of the related information (166).

0. A method, comprising: a state sensing device (130) of a farming apparatus (110) measuring a state (160) of an aspect of the farming apparatus (step 302); a local computing system (120): associating the state (160) with related information associated with the farming apparatus (110) (step 304); and sending the state (160) and the related information over a computer network (104) (step 306); a remote computing system (102): receiving the state (160) and the related information (step 308); generating and associating an identifier (162) with the state (160) and the related information (step 310); and sending the identifier (162) over the network (104), via a sharable link (164), such that the link and the identifier are usable to retrieve an attribute of the state and a part of the related information (166) (step 312); and an end-user device (146): providing at least part of a settings process to an operator of the farming apparatus (110) via an application (156) so that the operator is able to set access control parameters (168) for the attribute of the state and the part of the related information (166) (step 314).

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