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EP-3718089-B1 - APPARATUS, DEVICE AND COMPUTER IMPLEMENTED METHOD FOR PROVIDING MARINE VESSEL DATA OF MARINE VESSEL WITH PLURALITY OF SENSOR DEVICES

EP3718089B1EP 3718089 B1EP3718089 B1EP 3718089B1EP-3718089-B1

Inventors

  • ISOJÄRVI, Juha-Antti

Dates

Publication Date
20260506
Application Date
20180213

Claims (19)

  1. A computer implemented method for providing marine vessel data of a marine vessel (121) with a plurality of sensor devices (260, 290), the method comprising: receiving a first sensor data item (731) comprising first sensor data (S1) of a first sensor device (290) of the plurality of sensor devices (260, 290), the first sensor data (S1) being associated with a first local timestamp (ts1) generated based on a local clock (710), and the first sensor data item (731) comprises the first local timestamp (ts1); receiving a second sensor data item (734) comprising second sensor data (S4) of a second sensor device (260) of the plurality of sensor devices (260, 290), the second sensor data (S4) being associated with a second local timestamp (ts4) generated based on the local clock (710) and with a first universal timestamp (UTC4) generated based on a universal clock (720), and the second sensor data item (734) comprises the second local timestamp (ts4) and the first universal timestamp (UTC4); determining time correction value (840) based on the second sensor data item's (734) second local timestamp (ts4) and the first universal timestamp (UTC4); and generating time information (811) for the first sensor data (S1) of the first sensor device (290) using the first local timestamp (ts1) and the time correction value (840).
  2. The method of claim 1, wherein the second sensor device (260) is configured to be integrated to the marine vessel's (121) information system (200), and the first sensor device (290) is configured not to be integrated to the marine vessel's (121) information system (200).
  3. The method of claim 2, wherein the first sensor device (290) is configured to be integrated to a stand-alone local computer system (201) within the marine vessel (121).
  4. The method of any of claims 1 to 3, further comprising: receiving a third sensor data item (730) prior to receiving the first sensor data item (731), the third sensor data item (730) comprising third sensor data (S0) of a third sensor device of the plurality of sensor devices, the third sensor data (S0) being associated with a third local timestamp (ts0) generated based on the local clock and a second universal timestamp (UTC0) generated based on the universal clock, and the third sensor data item (730) comprises the third local timestamp (ts0), and wherein the second universal timestamp (UTC0) is chronologically before the first universal timestamp (UTC4); determining second time correction value (841) based on the third sensor data item's (s0) third local timestamp (ts0) and the second universal timestamp (UTC0); and generating time information for the first sensor data of the first sensor device using the first local timestamp (ts1) and the first and the second time correction values (840, 841).
  5. The method of claim 4, further comprising: generating the time information for the first sensor data of the first sensor device using the first local timestamp (ts1) and the first and the second time correction values (840, 841) by linear interpolation of the first and the second time correction values (840, 841).
  6. The method of any of claims 1 to 5, further comprising: receiving a local clock data item (c1) triggered by a local clock synchronization event, wherein the local clock data item (c1) comprises the time correction value (840) used for the local clock synchronization and at least one of the following: a local timestamp (tsx) and a universal timestamp (UTCx) indicating the time of the synchronization event, and wherein local clock information of the local clock (710) is determined based on a local computer device (291) of the marine vessel (121).
  7. The method of any of claims 1 to 6, wherein universal clock information of the universal clock is determined based on a vessel receiver device, comprising at least one of the Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver and a communication interface of the marine vessel, wherein the universal clock information comprises at least one of the following: a Global Positioning System (GPS) time and a Coordinated Universal Time (UTC).
  8. The method of any of claims 1 to 7, further comprising: maintaining the local clock information generated by the local clock at a local computer device at the marine vessel with the plurality of sensor devices for providing local timestamps; and maintaining the universal clock information generated by the universal clock as trusted clock information for providing universal timestamps.
  9. The method of any of claims 1 to 8, wherein the sensor data item further comprises a sensor device identifier for identifying the sensor device generating the sensor data within the sensor data item.
  10. The method of any of claims 1 to 9, further comprising: generating a synchronization message for a local computer device in response to determining the time correction value (840), wherein the synchronization message comprises the time correction value; and transmitting the synchronization message for the local computer device for synchronizing the local clock of the local computer device based on the time correction value.
  11. The method of any of claims 1 to 10, wherein the sensor data relates to performance data of the marine vessel measured by at least one sensor device.
  12. The method of claim 11, wherein the at least one sensor device for measuring marine vessel performance data comprises an acceleration sensor operable to measure vibrations and configured to determine speed of rotation of a propeller of the marine vessel (121) based on the measured vibrations.
  13. The method of any of claims 1 to 12, further comprising: generating marine vessel data based on the received sensor data of the first and the second sensor device and using the generated time information for the sensor data of the first sensor device.
  14. The method of claim 13, further comprising: determining performance optimization, navigation, or maneuvering information based on the generated marine vessel data; and transmitting the determined information for the marine vessel.
  15. The method of any of claims 1 to 14, for providing marine vessel data of a plurality of marine vessels each with a plurality of sensor devices, the method further comprising: receiving first sensor data item (731) from each of the plurality of the marine vessels, each first sensor data item (731) comprising first sensor data of a first sensor device of the plurality of sensor devices, the first sensor data being associated with a first local timestamp (ts1) generated based on the local clock, and the first sensor data item (731) comprises the first local timestamp (ts1); receiving second sensor data item (734) from each of the plurality of the marine vessels, each second sensor data item (734) comprising second sensor data of a second sensor device of the plurality of sensor devices, associated with a second local timestamp (ts4) generated based on the local clock and a first universal timestamp (UTC4) generated based on the universal clock, and the second sensor data item (734) comprises the second local timestamp (ts4) and the first universal timestamp (UTC4); determining time correction value (DELTA) for each first sensor data item (s1) based on respective second sensor data item's (734) second local timestamp (ts4) and the first universal timestamp (UTC4); and generating time information for the first sensor data of the first sensor device using the respective first local timestamp (ts1) and the respective time correction value (DELTA).
  16. The method of claim 15, further comprising: generating marine vessel fleet data based on the received sensor data of the plurality of marine vessels and using the generated time information for the sensor data for a plurality of marine vessels of the marine vessel fleet.
  17. The method of claim 16, further comprising: determining fleet performance optimization, navigation, or maneuvering information based on the generated marine vessel fleet data; and transmitting the determined information for the plurality of marine vessels.
  18. A server apparatus (130) for providing marine vessel data of a marine vessel with a plurality of sensor devices, comprising: a communication interface; at least one processor; and at least one memory including computer program code; the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to: receive a first sensor data item (731) comprising first sensor data (S1) of a first sensor device (290) of the plurality of sensor devices (260, 290), the first sensor data (S1) being associated with a first local timestamp (ts1) generated based on a local clock (710), and the first sensor data item (731) comprises the first local timestamp (ts1); receive a second sensor data item (734) comprising second sensor data (S4) of a second sensor device (260) of the plurality of sensor devices (260, 290), the second sensor data (S4) being associated with a second local timestamp (ts4) generated based on the local clock (710) and a first universal timestamp (UTC4) generated based on a universal clock (720), and the second sensor data item (734) comprises the second local timestamp (ts4) and the first universal timestamp (UTC4); determine time correction value (840) based on the second sensor data item's (734) second local timestamp (ts4) and the first universal timestamp (UTC4); and generate time information (811) for the first sensor data (S1) of the first sensor device (290) using the first local timestamp (ts1) and the time correction value (840).
  19. A sensor apparatus (120) comprising: a plurality of sensor devices; a communication interface; at least one processor; and at least one memory including computer program code; the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to: transmit a first sensor data item (731) comprising first sensor data of a first sensor device of the plurality of sensor devices, the first sensor data (S1) being associated with a first local timestamp (ts1) generated based on a local clock, and the first sensor data item (731) comprises the first local timestamp (ts1); transmit a second sensor data item (734) comprising second sensor data of a second sensor device of the plurality of sensor devices, the second sensor data (S4) being associated with a second local timestamp (ts4) generated based on the local clock and a first universal timestamp (UTC4) generated based on a universal clock, and the second sensor data item (734) comprises the second local timestamp (ts4) and the first universal timestamp (UTC4).

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD The present application generally relates to an apparatus, a device, a method and software code for providing marine vessel data of a marine vessel with a plurality of sensor devices generating sensor data. The present application further relates to a method, an apparatus and software code for generating time information for sensor data. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF RELATED DEVELOPMENTS This section illustrates useful background information without admission of any technique described herein representative of the state of the art. Modern vehicles, such as marine vessels, comprise huge data systems for data collection, data processing and transceiving with remote systems for various purposes. Possible purposes for data collection and processing include vessel operating optimization and/or remote control for autonomous vessel navigation. For example, fuel efficiency is an important factor when operating marine vessels. Only a slight reduction in fuel consumption, for example 1-2%, may produce a significant monetary reduction in operating costs of a marine vessel. Thus, there is a constant challenge to operate the marine vessel with as low costs as possible in terms of fuel efficiency and with as real-time as possible. There are several parameters that influence the total fuel efficiency of a marine vessel, for example, speed through water (STW), speed over ground (SOG), draught, trim, propeller efficiency, wind direction and velocity, and significant wave height and direction. Some of these parameters are such that they can be somehow measured by the marine vessel itself and that the marine vessel's information systems have this information available. However, some parameters may require a separate sensor or sensors to be installed to be able to record the parameter values without connection to the marine vessel information system at all. For example, to measure RPM (Revolutions Per Minute) of a propeller, it may be necessary to install a sensor to the propeller shaft or the main engine if the marine vessel cannot provide the RPM information otherwise. For security reasons, some sensors may also be arranged as independent sensors not connected to marine vessel information system at all. Marine transportation vessels, such as container ships and tankers, consume large amounts of fuel. Recently, trends of digitalization and performance optimisation have led to the vessels using complex systems that produce large quantities of data related to the vessels' efficiency. However, by far the most critical measurements for evaluating vessel performance are those pertaining to vessel speed and energy consumption. Energy consumption roughly grows as the third power of speed, so it is extremely important to measure the speed accurately. The speed over ground (SOG) may be accurately evaluated using known space-based navigation systems like the Global Positioning System (GPS), but this is not equal to speed through water (STW) in the presence of ocean or tidal currents. For example, the efficiency of the vessel, and hence for example the attained STW at a certain propeller revolution per minute (RPM), may depend on the hull and propeller condition, which can deteriorate due to biological fouling, paint degradation and other factors, or may improve due to a dry docking or cleaning of the hull. To achieve a nearly real-time hull and propeller performance tracking, an accurate speed through water (STW) is required to distinguish the slowly evolving fouling signal from the noisy background. Also, assessing the on-board efficiency of any navigational operation, the key is to know how much the vessel has gained or lost in speed if the RPM or power is kept constant. One of the most common sensor type to measure speed through water (STW) for a vessel is the Doppler Log that transmits ultrasound pulses from the vessel, and measures the backscatter echo. The frequency shift (Doppler shift) may be utilized to calculate the speed of the vessel through water. However, this technique of measuring speed through water (STW) fails to provide an accurate reading in water with a lesser amount of impurity because the technique calculates the speed through water (STW) based on the backscatter echo from bubbles, biological material, and turbidity in water. When examining Doppler Log data, two separate issues stand out. First, due to the aforementioned difficulties, the noise level in the speed measurement is often high, and the speed logs can sometimes behave in a very erratic manner. Secondly, the speed logs experience calibration issues, which means that the long-term average difference between speed over ground (SOG) and the measured speed through water (STW) clearly differs from zero. Moreover, the calibration error can change over time, either due to crew recalibrating the speed through water (STW) Log device or due to calibration depending on circumstances, such as sea water temperature. Alternatively, STW can be approximated usin