Farming data collection and exchange system

Abstract

Embodiments of the present invention provide a passive relay device for farming vehicles and implements, as well as an online farming data exchange, which together enable capturing, processing and sharing farming operation data generated during combined use of the farming vehicle and farming implement at a farming business. The farming operation data includes detailed information about individual farming operations, including without limitation the type of farming operation, the location of the farming operation, the travel path for the farming operation, as well as operating parameters and operating events occurring while the farming operation is performed.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A relay device for tracking farming operations for a farming business, comprising:
 (a) a microprocessor;   (b) a bus connector for connecting the relay device to a message bus on a farming vehicle or farming implement, wherein the message bus is configured to carry messages generated by the farming vehicle or the farming implement while the farming vehicle and the farming implement are used to perform the farming operation;   (c) a global positioning system receiver that receives position and time signals from space-based satellites while the farming operation is performed;   (d) a memory storage area that stores (i) an electronic farm record for the farming business, (ii) descriptive information about a farming operation land segment associated with the farming business, and (iii) an implement profile defining, for a known farming implement, a known manufacturer code, a known device class, a known version and a known communication protocol; and   (e) an application program comprising programming instructions that, when executed by the microprocessor, will cause the microprocessor to automatically
 (i) extract content from one or more messages transmitted on the message bus and use the extracted content to determine that there is a match between the farming implement used to perform the farming operation and the known farming implement of the implement profile; 
 (ii) use the extracted content, the position and time signals and the known communication protocol defined by the implement profile for the known farming implement to determine a set of operating events and a travel path for the farming operation, 
 (iii) use the set of operating events, the travel path and the descriptive information stored in the memory storage area to determine that the farming operation occurred on the farming operation land segment, and 
 (iv) record the farming operation and the descriptive information for the farming operation land segment in the electronic farm record. 
   
     
     
         2 . The relay device of  claim 1 , wherein the programming instructions in the application program cause the microprocessor to automatically determine the match between the farming implement used to perform the farming operation and the known farming implement of the implement profile by:
 (a) detecting in the messages an address claim message sent by the farming implement, the address claim message including a manufacturer code and a device class for the farming implement;   (b) detecting in the messages an object pool version message sent by the farming implement, the object pool version message including a version for the farming implement;   (c) confirming a first match between the manufacturer code and the device class in the address claim message with the known manufacturer code and the known device class in the implement profile; and   (d) confirming a second match between the version in the object pool version message and the known version in the implement profile.   
     
     
         3 . The relay device of  claim 1 , wherein the programming instructions in the application program cause the microprocessor to automatically determine the operating events for the farming operation by:
 (a) monitoring subsequent messages transmitted over the message bus and using the known communication protocol defined by the implement profile to identify a set of operating parameters used by the farming implement while the farming implement is performing the farming operation; and   (b) using the operating events and the position and time signals to determine the set of operating events occurring while the farming implement performs the farming operation.   
     
     
         4 . The relay device of  claim 1 , wherein:
 (a) at least one operating event in the set of operating events requires that the farming implement be in a deactivated state during at least part of the farming operation; and   (b) the programming instructions in the application program are arranged to cause the microprocessor to determine the travel path for the farming operation based on said deactivated state and said position and time signals;   (c) wherein the travel path for the farming operation includes only those areas of land where the farming vehicle and farming implement traveled while the farming implement was not in the deactivated state, and does not include any areas of land where the farming vehicle and the farming implement either (i) did not travel during the farming operation, or (ii) traveled while the farming implement was in the deactivated state.   
     
     
         5 . The relay device of  claim 1 , wherein:
 (a) the implement profile for the known farming implement defines a known set of operating events for a known set of virtual terminal object IDs; and   (b) the farming vehicle and the farming implement transmit the messages over the message bus using the known set of virtual terminal object IDs.   
     
     
         6 . The relay device of  claim 1 , wherein:
 (a) the implement profile for the known farming implement defines a known set of operating parameters for a known set of virtual terminal object IDs; and   (b) the farming vehicle and the farming implement transmit the messages over the message bus using the known set of virtual terminal object IDs.   
     
     
         7 . The relay device of  claim 1 , wherein:
 (a) the implement profile defines a known set of operating events for a known set of task controller messages; and   (b) a task controller on the farming vehicle or the farming implement transmits the messages over the message bus using the known set of task controller messages.   
     
     
         8 . The relay device of  claim 1 , wherein:
 (a) the implement profile defines a known set of operating parameters for a known set of task controller messages; and   (b) a task controller on the farming vehicle or the farming implement transmits the messages over the message bus using the known set of task controller messages.   
     
     
         9 . The relay device of  claim 1 , wherein the descriptive information for the farming operation land segment comprises:
 (a) a latitude coordinate for the farming operation land segment; or   (b) a longitude coordinate for the farming operation land segment; or   (c) an elevation above sea-level for the farming operation land segment; or   (d) a perimeter description for the farming operation land segment; or   (e) a shape file for the farming operation land segment; or   (f) a surface area measurement for the farming operation land segment; or   (g) a length description for the perimeter of the farming operation land segment; or   (h) a surface area measurement for land enclosed by the farming operation land segment; or   (i) a global positioning coordinate for the farming operation land segment; or   (j) an ownership status for the farming operation land segment; or   (k) a boundary for the farming operation land segment; or   (l) a tract number for the farming operation land segment; or   (m) a farm number for the farming operation land segment; or   (n) a field number for the farming operation land segment; or   (o) a classification for the farming operation land segment; or   (p) an administrative county for the farming operation land segment; or   (q) a state office for the farming operation land segment; or   (r) a common land unit for the farming operation land segment; or   (s) a combination of two or more thereof.   
     
     
         10 . The relay device of  claim 1 , wherein
 (a) the memory storage area stores an operation type for the farming operation; and   (b) the programming instructions for the application program are arranged to cause the microprocessor to (1) use the operating events and the position and time signals to determine that the farming operation matches the operation type, and (2) revise the electronic farm record to include associate the operation type with the farming operation land segment.   
     
     
         11 . The relay device of  claim 10 , wherein the operation type comprises plowing, or tilling, or fertilizing, or planting, or spraying, or spreading or harvesting. 
     
     
         12 . The relay device of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 (a) a data presentation module operable with the memory storage area and the microprocessor to prepare at least a portion of the electronic farm record for presentation on a display device; and   (b) an input-output subsystem operable with the memory storage area and the microprocessor to transmit said prepared portion of the electronic farm record to the display device for presentation.   
     
     
         13 . The relay device of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 (a) a data communications channel for communication with a farming data exchange system; and   (b) an exchange interface module operable with the memory storage area and the microprocessor to transmit at least a portion of the electronic farm record to the farming data exchange system via the data communications link.   
     
     
         14 . The relay device of  claim 1 , wherein the farming operation land segment corresponds with the boundaries of a common land unit. 
     
     
         15 . The relay device of  claim 1 , wherein the farming operation land segment does not correspond with the boundaries of a common land unit. 
     
     
         16 . The relay device of  claim 1 , wherein the farming operation land segment spans the boundaries of two or more common land units. 
     
     
         17 . The relay device of  claim 1 , wherein the programming instructions in the application program are further arranged to cause the microprocessor to modify the electronic farming record to include a travel path description for the farming operation. 
     
     
         18 . The relay device of  claim 17 , wherein the travel path description comprises:
 (a) a latitude coordinate for the travel path; or   (b) a longitude coordinate for the travel path; or   (c) an elevation for the travel path; or   (d) a perimeter description for the travel path; or   (e) a shape file for the travel path; or   (f) a surface area measurement for travel path; or   (g) a length for a portion of the travel path; or   (h) a surface area measurement for land encompassed by the travel path; or   (i) a global positioning coordinate for the travel path; or   (j) an ownership status for the farming business associated with the location of the travel path; or   (k) a boundary for the travel path; or   (l) a tract number for a tract of land corresponding to the location of the travel path; or   (m) a farm number for the farming business associated with the location of the travel path; or   (n) a field number for a field corresponding to the location of the travel path; or   (o) a classification for the farming business associated with the location of the travel path; or   (p) an administrative county for land corresponding to the location of the travel path; or   (q) a state office for land corresponding to the location of the travel path; or   (r) a common land unit for land corresponding to the travel path; or   (s) a combination of two or more thereof.   
     
     
         19 . The relay device of  claim 1 , wherein:
 (a) at least one operating event in said set of operating events indicates that a row unit on the farming implement is in a deactivated state during at least part of the farming operation; and   (b) the programming instructions for the application program are configured to cause the microprocessor to (i) determine the travel path for the farming operation based on the deactivated state and the position and time signals;   (c) wherein the travel path (i) includes those areas of land covered by the farming vehicle and farming implement while said row unit was not in the deactivated state, and (ii) does not include any other areas of land where the farming vehicle and farming implement either (A) did not travel during the performance of the farming operation, or (B) traveled while said row unit corresponding to said other areas of land was in the deactivated state.   
     
     
         20 . A farming data exchange system, comprising:
 (a) a microprocessor;   (b) a first data store for storing a user account and an electronic farming record for a farming business;   (c) a second data store for storing descriptive information about a farming operation land segment associated with the farming business;   (d) a third data store for storing an implement profile defining, for a known farming implement, a known manufacturer code, a known device class, a known version and a known communication protocol;   (e) a network interface configured to receive message data, position data and time data acquired by a remote relay device connected to a farming vehicle or farming implement while the farming vehicle or farming implement are used to perform a farming operation at the farming business; and   (f) an application program having programming instructions that, when executed by the microprocessor, will cause the microprocessor to automatically:
 (i) extract content from the message data and use the extracted content to determine that there is a match between the farming implement used to perform the farming operation and the known farming implement of the implement profile; 
 (ii) use the extracted content, the position data, the time data and the known communication protocol defined by the implement profile for the known farming implement to determine a set of operating events and a travel path for the farming operation, the travel path including only those areas of land on the farming operation land segment where the farming vehicle and farming implement traveled while performing the farming operation, and does not include any areas of land on the farming operation land segment where the farming vehicle and farming implement did not travel during the farming operation, 
 (iii) use the set of operating events, the travel path and the descriptive information stored in the database to determine that the farming operation occurred on the farming operation land segment, and 
 (iv) record the farming operation and the descriptive information for the farming operation land segment in the electronic farm record. 
   
     
     
         21 . The farming data exchange system of  claim 20 , wherein the operation tracking program determines the farming operation land segment for the farming operation by:
 (a) detecting in the message data an address claim message transmitted by the farming implement, the address claim message including a manufacturer code and a device class for the farming implement;   (b) detecting in the message data an object pool version message for the farming implement, the object pool version message including a version for the farming implement;   (c) determining that the manufacturer code and the device class in the address claim message matches the known manufacturer code and the known device class in the implement profile;   (d) determining that the version in the object pool version message matches the known version in the implement profile;   (e) parsing subsequent messages in the message data and extracting therefrom, in accordance with the known communication protocol defined by the implement profile, a set of operating parameters used by the farming implement while the farming implement is used to perform the farming operation; and   (f) determining the set of operating events for the farming operation based on the set of operating parameters, the position data and the time data.   
     
     
         22 . The farming data exchange system of  claim 21 , wherein:
 (a) the message data includes a set of virtual terminal object IDs; and   (b) the implement profile defines a set of operating parameters corresponding to the set of virtual terminal object IDs.   
     
     
         23 . The farming data exchange system of  claim 21 , wherein:
 (a) the message data includes a set of virtual terminal object IDs; and   (b) the implement profile defines a set of operating events corresponding to the set of virtual terminal object IDs.   
     
     
         24 . The farming data exchange system of  claim 21 , wherein:
 (a) the message data includes a set of task controller messages transmitted by a task controller; and   (b) the implement profile defines a set of operating parameters corresponding to the set of task controller messages.   
     
     
         25 . The farming data exchange system of  claim 21 , wherein:
 (a) the message data includes a set of task controller messages transmitted by a task controller; and   (b) the implement profile defines a set of operating events corresponding to the set of task controller messages.   
     
     
         26 . The farming data exchange system of  claim 20 , wherein the application program is further configured to determine an operation type for the farming operation based on the operating events and the position and time data. 
     
     
         27 . The farming data exchange system of  claim 26 , wherein the operation type comprises plowing, tilling, fertilizing, planting, spraying, spreading or harvesting. 
     
     
         28 . The farming data exchange system of  claim 20 , wherein the farming operation land segment corresponds with the boundaries of a common land unit. 
     
     
         29 . The farming data exchange system of  claim 20 , wherein the farming operation land segment does not correspond with the boundaries of a common land unit. 
     
     
         30 . The farming data exchange system of  claim 20 , wherein the farming operation land segment spans the boundaries of two or more common land units. 
     
     
         31 . The farming data exchange system of  claim 20 , wherein said description of the farming operation land segment includes:
 (a) a latitude coordinate for the farming operation land segment; or   (b) a longitude coordinate for the farming operation land segment; or   (c) an elevation for the farming operation land segment; or   (d) the perimeter of the farming operation land segment; or   (e) a shape file for the farming operation land segment; or   (f) a surface area measurement for farming operation land segment; or   (g) a length for the perimeter for the farming operation land segment; or   (h) a surface area measurement for land enclosed by the farming operation land segment; or   (i) a global positioning coordinate for the farming operation land segment; or   (j) an ownership status for the farming operation land segment; or   (k) a boundary for the farming operation land segment; or   (l) a tract number for the farming operation land segment; or   (m) a farm number for the farming operation land segment; or   (n) a field number for the farming operation land segment; or   (o) a classification for the farming operation land segment; or   (p) an administrative county for the farming operation land segment; or   (q) a state office or for the farming operation land segment; or   (r) a common land unit for the farming operation land segment; or   (s) a combination of two or more thereof.   
     
     
         32 . The farming data exchange system of  claim 20 , wherein said application program is further configured to determine the travel path for the farming operation based on the operating events, position data and time data. 
     
     
         33 . The farming data exchange system of  claim 20 , wherein:
 (a) the farming implement has at least two modes of operation, said at least two modes of operation including an active mode and an inactive mode;   (b) said set of operating events indicate when the farming implement is operating in said active mode and when the farming implement is operating in said inactive mode; and   (c) the travel path includes only those areas of land on the farming operation land segment where the farming vehicle and farming implement traveled while the farming implement was in an active mode of operation, and does not include any areas of land on the farming operation land segment where the farming vehicle and farming implement either (i) did not travel during the farming operation, or (ii) traveled while the farming implement was operating in the inactive mode.   
     
     
         34 . The farming data exchange system of  claim 33 , wherein the one or more processors are further configured to:
 (a) generate a travel path description; and   (b) store the travel path description in the electronic farm record.   
     
     
         35 . The farming data exchange system of  claim 33 , wherein the travel path description includes at least one of:
 (a) a latitude coordinate for the travel path; or   (b) a longitude coordinate for the travel path; or   (c) an elevation for the travel path; or   (d) the perimeter of the travel path; or   (e) a shape file for the travel path; or   (f) a surface area measurement for travel path; or   (g) a length for a portion of the travel path; or   (h) a surface area measurement for land encompassed by the travel path; or   (i) a global positioning coordinate for the travel path; or   (j) an ownership status for the farming business associated with the location of the travel path; or   (k) a boundary for the travel path; or   (l) a tract number for a tract of land corresponding to the location of the travel path; or   (m) a farm number for the farming business associated with the location of the travel path; or   (n) a field number for a field corresponding to the location of the travel path; or   (o) a classification for the farming business associated with the location of the travel path; or   (p) an administrative county for land corresponding to the location of the travel path; or   (q) a state office for land corresponding to the location of the travel path; or   (r) a common land unit for land corresponding to the travel path; or   (s) a combination of two or more thereof.   
     
     
         36 . The farming data exchange system of  claim 20 , further comprising:
 (a) a display device; and   (b) the application program is further configured to display at least a portion of the electronic farming record on the display device.   
     
     
         37 . The farming data exchange system of  claim 20 , further comprising a report generating program configured to:
 (a) receive a request from a farm data customer for a custom farm data report based at least in part on the description in the electronic farm record for the user account;   (b) prepare the custom farm data report based on the description; and   (c) transmit the custom farm data report to the farm data customer via the data communications link.   
     
     
         38 . A server system for collecting and processing farming operation data for a farming business, the server system comprising:
 (a) a database configured to store a user account and an electronic farming record for the farming business, the electronic farming record including entries representing farming operations performed at the farming business and descriptions of farming operation land segments for said farming operations;   (b) an implement profile for a known farming implement on the server system, the implement profile defining a known manufacturer code, a known device class, a known version and a known communication protocol for the known farming implement;   (c) a farm traffic controller configured to receive and store in the database messages produced by a remote relay device associated with the user account, the messages comprising geo-location data, time data and electronic control unit messages generated by a farming implement while said farming implement is used at the farming business to perform a new farming operation; and   (d) a parameter extraction program that:
 (i) determines a farming operation land segment for the farming operation based on the implement profile, the geo-location data, the time data and electronic control unit messages, and 
 (ii) creates a new entry in the electronic farming record for the farming business, the new entry including an identifier for the farming operation and a description of the farming operation land segment for the farming operation. 
   
     
     
         39 . The server system of  claim 38 , further comprising a web services module, communicatively coupled to the farm data processing module, configured to format at least a portion of the description of the farming operation land segment for display on a web-enabled display device and transmit the formatted portion of the description to said web-enabled display device: 
     
     
         40 . The server system of  claim 38 , wherein the parameter extraction program automatically determines the farming operation land segment by:
 (a) detecting in the electronic control unit messages an address claim message sent by the farming implement, the address claim message including a manufacturer code and a device class for the farming implement;   (b) detecting in the electronic control unit messages an object pool version message sent by the farming implement, the object pool version message including a version for the farming implement;   (c) determining that the manufacturer code and the device class in the address claim message matches the known manufacturer code and the known device class in the implement profile;   (d) determining that the version in the object pool version message matches the known version in the implement profile;   (e) monitoring subsequent electronic control unit messages transmitted over the message bus and extracting therefrom, in accordance with the known communication protocol defined by the implement profile, a set of operating parameters used by the farming implement while the farming implement is performing the farming operation; and   (f) determining a set of operating events for the farming operation based on the set of operating parameters;   (g) determining a set of geographical locations for the farming vehicle and farming implement during performance of the farming operation based on the position and time signals received by the global positioning system receiver during the performance of the farming operation; and   (h) generating a description of the farming operation land segment by matching the set of operating events to the set of geographical locations.   
     
     
         41 . The server system of  claim 38 , wherein:
 (a) the parameter extraction program determines a travel path for the farming operation based on the implement profile, the geo-location data and the operating events, and includes a travel path description in the electronic farm record for the farming business; and   (b) said travel path for the farming operation includes only those areas of land on the farming operation land segment where the farming vehicle and farming implement traveled during the farming operation while the farming implement was activated, and does not include any areas of land on the farming operation land segment where the farming vehicle and farming implement either (i) did not travel during the farming operation, or (ii) only traveled during the farming operation while the farming implement was deactivated.   
     
     
         42 . The server system of  claim 41 , wherein the web services module is further configured to format at least a portion of the travel path description for the farming operation for display on the web-enabled display device and transmit the formatted portion of the travel path description to said web-enabled display device. 
     
     
         43 . The server system of  claim 38 , wherein the parameter extraction program is further operable to determine an operation type for the farming operation based on said geo-location data and said operating events, and include a description of the operation type in the electronic farm record for the user account. 
     
     
         44 . The server system of  claim 38 , wherein the operation type comprises plowing, tilling, fertilizing, planting, spraying, spreading or harvesting.