What is claimed is:
1. A method for operating a monitoring and notification system in a network, comprising:
monitoring a terminal activity of at least one terminal;
generating an inactivity signal based on a profile and the terminal activity; and
transmitting at least one notification message in the network if the inactivity signal is generated.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the monitoring step comprises:
detecting whether the terminal generated a first signal; and
generating a terminal active signal if the first signal is not in response to a second signal received by the terminal.
3. The method of claim 2, wherein the terminal is connected to a plurality of communication lines, the terminal active signal being generated after the first signal is generated on one of a portion of the communication lines as specified in the profile.
4. The method of claim 2, wherein the monitoring step monitors a plurality of terminals, the terminal active signal being generated after the first signal is generated on one of a portion of the terminals as specified in the profile.
5. The method of claim 2, wherein the profile includes a time threshold, the generating step generating the inactive signal when a time after an active signal is greater than the time threshold without the detection of another active signal.
6. The method of claim 5, wherein the profile identifies at least one notification terminal, the transmitting step transmitting the notification message to the notification terminal when the inactive signal is generated.
7. The method of claim 5, wherein the profile identifies a plurality of notification terminals, the transmitting step transmitting the notification message to each of the notification terminals.
8. The method of claim 7, wherein the transmitting step transmits the notification message to each of the notification terminals until either each of the notification terminals answers or a limit is reached, the limit being included in the profile.
9. The method of claim 8, wherein the transmitting step transmits the notification message to a default notification terminal after the limit is reached.
10. The method of claim 8, wherein the limit is either a predetermined time interval or a predetermined number of times.
11. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one terminal includes at least one of a telephone station and a computer.
12. The method of claim 1, wherein the notification message is transmitted by either a monitoring and notification device or an operator.
13. A monitoring and notification system operating in a network that is coupled a plurality of terminals, comprising:
a monitoring and notification device coupled to the network, wherein the monitoring and notification device monitors a terminal activity of at least one terminal, generates an inactivity signal based on a profile and the terminal activity, and transmits at least one notification message in the network if the inactivity signal is generated.
14. The system of claim 13, wherein the monitoring and notification device detects whether the terminal generated a first signal, and generates a terminal active signal if the first signal is not in response to a second signal received by the terminal.
15. The system of claim 14, wherein the terminal is connected to a plurality of communication lines, the terminal active signal being generated after the first signal is generated on one of a portion of the communication lines as specified in the profile.
16. The system of claim 14, wherein the monitoring and notification device monitors a plurality of terminals, the terminal active signal being generated after the first signal is generated on one of a portion of the terminals as specified in the profile.
17. The system of claim 14, wherein the profile includes a time threshold, the monitoring and notification device generating the inactive signal when a time after an active signal is greater than the time threshold without the detection of another active signal.
18. The system of claim 17, wherein the profile identifies at least one notification terminal, the monitoring and notification device transmitting the notification message to the notification terminal when the inactive signal is generated.
19. The system of claim 17, wherein the profile identifies a plurality of notification terminals, the monitoring and notification device transmitting the notification message to each of the notification terminals.
20. The system of claim 19, wherein the monitoring and notification device transmits the notification message to each of the notification terminals until either each of the notification terminals answers or a limit is reached, the limit being included in the profile.
21. The system of claim 20, wherein the monitoring and notification device transmits the notification message to a default notification terminal after the limit is reached.
22. The system of claim 20, wherein the limit is either a predetermined time interval or a predetermined number of times.
23. The system of claim 13, wherein the at least one terminal includes at least one of a telephone station and a computer.
24. The system of claim 13, wherein the notification message is transmitted by either a monitoring and notification device or an operator.
25. The system of claim 13, wherein the monitoring and notification device is incorporated in the terminal being monitored.
26. The system of claim 13, wherein the network includes a wired network or a wireless network or a combination of both, and the terminals are coupled to the network through wired connections or wireless connections.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A bale shape monitor for a round baler having a bale-forming chamber defined by a series of side-by-side belts, comprising:
a movable member located within the bale-forming chamber, wherein the movable member is adapted to move in response to outward movement of the belts caused by growth of the bale within the bale-forming chamber;
first and second spaced apart rollers rotatably mounted to the movable member, wherein the movable member is configured such that the rollers are arranged to engage at least a spaced apart pair of underlying belts when the bale is uniform in diameter in the locations of the rollers, such that the first and second rollers rotate at a speed of rotation above a predetermined threshold in response to movement of the underlying belts to rotate the bale within the bale-forming chamber, and wherein the movable member is configured such that the first roller is moved out of engagement with the underlying belt when the bale is not uniform in diameter in the locations of the rollers, wherein movement of the first roller out of engagement with the underlying belt results in the first roller not rotating above the threshold speed of rotation; and
a sensor arrangement associated with the rollers, wherein the sensor arrangement is configured to sense rotation of the rollers above the threshold speed of rotation and to output a signal when the first roller is not rotating above the threshold speed of rotation due to movement of the first roller out of engagement with the underlying belt, wherein the signal indicates a reduced diameter of the bale in the vicinity of the first roller.
2. The bale shape monitor of claim 1, wherein the movable member comprises a laterally rigid frame which extends across the bale-forming chamber.
3. The bale shape monitor of claim 2, wherein the laterally rigid frame is configured to contact one of the belts located between the spaced apart pair of belts.
4. The bale shape monitor of claim 3, wherein the laterally rigid frame carries a series of bale starting members which direct crop material during formation of the bale.
5. The bale shape monitor of claim 1, further comprising a steering indicator interconnected with the sensor arrangement for providing a sensory output to an operator of the round baler indicating the area of the bale having a reduced diameter.
6. A method of detecting a differential in bale diameter in a round bale as the round bale is formed in the bale-forming chamber of a round baler, comprising the steps of:
positioning a pair of rotatable members on a frame located within the bale-forming chamber, wherein the rotatable members are laterally spaced apart from each other and wherein the rotatable members are arranged to engage the bale to rotate in response to rotation of the bale within the bale-forming chamber, and to move radially outwardly along with the bale in response to growth of the bale within the bale-forming chamber, and wherein the frame is configured such that a differential in bale diameter in the locations of the rotatable members results in one of the rotatable members moving out of engagement with the bale;
forming a bale within the bale-forming chamber;
sensing rotation of the rotatable members during formation of the bale within the bale-forming chamber; and
outputting a signal in response to sensing rotation of the rotatable members when one of the rotatable members rotates at a speed of rotation above a predetermined threshold due to engagement with the bale, and the other of the rotatable members moves out of engagement with the bale and does not rotate above the threshold speed of rotation, wherein the rotation of only one of the rotatable members above the threshold speed of rotation indicates a differential in bale diameter during growth of the bale within the bale-forming chamber in the vicinity of the rotatable members.
7. The method of claim 6, wherein the step of sensing rotation of the rotatable members during formation of the bale is carried out by interconnecting a rotation sensing arrangement between the frame and each rotatable member.
8. The method of claim 6, wherein the frame is configured to contact the bale at a location between the pair of rotatable members.
9. The method of claim 6, wherein the step of outputting a signal is carried out by outputting a sensory signal which provides an indicator to the operator of the round baler as to the side of the bale having a lesser diameter.
10. In a round baler having a bale-forming chamber and a movable member which moves radially outwardly along with the bale during formation of the bale within the bale-forming chamber, the improvement comprising first and second spaced apart rotatable members mounted to the movable member, wherein the first and second rotatable members engage the bale and rotate at a speed of rotation above a threshold speed of rotation when the bale diameter is substantially uniform, and wherein the first rotatable member is moved out of engagement with the bale by movement of the movable member when the diameter of the bale is less in the vicinity of the first rotatable member than in the vicinity of the second rotatable member, such that the first rotatable member does not rotate above the threshold speed of rotation and the second rotatable member rotates above the threshold speed of rotation, and a sensor arrangement associated with the first and second rotatable members for detecting rotation of the rotatable members, wherein the sensor arrangement is configured to detect when the speed of rotation of the first rotatable member is below the threshold speed of rotation and the speed of rotation of the second rotatable member is above the threshold speed of rotation, to indicate a reduced diameter of the bale in the vicinity of the first rotatable member.
11. The improvement of claim 10, wherein the sensor arrangement comprises a switch mechanism interposed between the movable member and each rotatable member for detecting rotation of the rotatable members relative to the movable member.
12. The improvement of claim 10, wherein the sensor arrangement is operable to detect a differential in the frequency of rotation between the rotatable members.
13. The improvement of claim 12, wherein the movable member contacts the bale at a location between the rotatable members.
14. The improvement of claim 13, wherein the baler includes a series of belts, and wherein the rotatable members are arranged to contact the belts which engage an outer surface defined by the bale during formation of the bale within the bale-forming chamber.
15. The improvement of claim 10, further comprising an indicator interconnected with the sensor arrangement for providing an indication as to a differential in bale diameter in the vicinity of the rotatable members.
16. The improvement of claim 15, wherein the indicator comprises a sensory output arrangement for outputting a signal to an operator of the round baler indicating a lesser diameter of the bale in the vicinity of the first rotatable member.
17. A bale shape monitor for a round baler having a bale-forming chamber, comprising:
a movable member located within the bale-forming chamber, wherein the movable member is adapted to move in response to growth of the bale within the bale-forming chamber;
a pair of spaced apart rollers rotatably mounted to the movable member, wherein the rollers are arranged to rotate in response to rotation of the bale within the bale-forming chamber;
a sensor arrangement associated with the rollers, wherein the sensor arrangement is configured to sense rotation of the rollers and to output a signal in response to a sensed differential in the speed of rotation of the rollers, wherein the signal indicates a differential in the diameter of the bale in the vicinity of the rollers; and
wherein the sensor arrangement includes a magnet received within a passage defined by each roller, wherein the magnet rotates with the roller to sense rotation of the roller.