Marine NMEA Data Gateway With Secure Remote Access and Caching
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing marine vessel monitoring systems are confined to onboard systems and lack remote accessibility, failing to interface with NMEA 0183 and NMEA 2000 data standards, cache data during internet outages, and provide secure remote access.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising a computing device with interfaces for NMEA 0183 and NMEA 2000 data systems, a data cache, and secure remote access features, enabling real-time data transmission and caching during internet outages, and allowing authorized users to access vessel data remotely.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If NMEA data is confined to onboard systems for safety and security, then data security is improved, but remote accessibility deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a remote server as an intermediary between the vessel's NMEA data system and authorized users. The server receives encrypted NMEA data via internet connection and makes it accessible to remote users without direct access to the vessel's onboard systems, thus maintaining security while enabling remote monitoring.
Solution Approach 2:
The system separates the NMEA data collection function (onboard), data transmission function (internet connection), and data access function (remote server). This segmentation allows each component to operate independently with appropriate security measures, enabling remote access without compromising the integrity of the onboard system.
2Productivity
If data transmission relies on continuous internet connection, then real-time monitoring is improved, but system reliability during outages deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by queuing data locally when the internet connection is available and transmitting it in batches when connection is restored. This ensures that monitoring continues during outages without complete data loss, maintaining system reliability while enabling real-time monitoring when possible.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements continuous data collection and local buffering to maintain the useful action of monitoring even when internet transmission is interrupted. The system continuously receives NMEA data, stores it locally, and automatically transmits when connection is restored, ensuring uninterrupted monitoring capability.
3Adaptability or versatility
If NMEA data interfaces are expanded to include both NMEA 0183 and NMEA 2000, then data compatibility is improved, but device complexity deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The computing device is designed with multi-functionality to support both NMEA 0183 and NMEA 2000 interfaces simultaneously. This universal design allows the system to work with various marine electronic systems regardless of which NMEA standard they use, improving compatibility without requiring separate systems for each standard.
Data Source
AI summary
Remotely monitoring and combining marine vessel position, Automatic Information System (AIS), and marine electronic device output data using NMEA 0183 and NMEA 2000 data standards via terrestrial and satellite broadband (non-VHF) connections. A computing device with communication interfaces for connecting to a vessel's NMEA 0183 and NMEA 2000 data systems and internet connection, a data cache for storing vessel data, and a software application including Secure Hash Algorithm 2 (SHA-2) encryption. The software application receives vessel data via the interfaces, transmits it in real-time, applying SHA-2 encryption, to a remote server using the internet connection, stores it in the data cache when the internet is unavailable, and transmits stored data upon reconnection. The method enables secure, real-time remote access to vessel data, including AIS data from nearby ships, facilitating vessel tracking and performance monitoring without relying on traditional methods, especially terrestrial and satellite VHF-band AIS receivers.