A subject-matter of this invention is a system for automatic managing and controlling the use of moorings for vessels, comprising automated floating buoys and the related method, or more precise: fully automated floating buoy with automatic mechanism for mooring of ships, boats and other waterborne vessels with equipment for direct operation within the system for managing and controlling the mooring, with associated active system for its anchoring to the seafloor.

According to the International Patent Classification the invention is expected to be classified under B63B 22/00, G08G 3/00 and G07B 15/00 and additionally under B63B 22/02, B63B 22/24 and B63B 22/04.

The invention attempts to solve a technical problem - to design such a system for managing and controlling the use of moorings for vessels, that would allow direct communication of a group of buoys with a communication centre, while a buoy structure would allow simple and fully automated managing of moorings and efficient control over them, including, among others, simple and controlled payment method and passing the related information to the communication centre without a human presence. The buoy structure is simple and compact, a small hollow container, designed according to its typical operating manner of the system for managing and controlling the mooring.

The presently known solutions generally comprise plastic hollow buoys, fastened by ropes or chains to a ballast, most frequently concrete. The weakness of such solutions is that chains grow rusty and ropes become overgrown with algae, so their life span is relatively short and their bearing capacity is uncertain, too.

Vessels are usually moored directly to the rope or to a fixed metal ring on the top of a buoy. Such buoys do not provide you with information about the rope bearing capacity, neither about the weight of the ballast. Mooring is usually carried out by two persons, one pulling the buoy to the deck level, the other placing the rope through the ring. It is possible that only one person performs the mooring, providing that the weather is favourable and the person experienced.
In case of such mooring, it is impossible to find out who is the owner of the buoy, and there is always a doubt whether the payment is collected by the right person. Often the government grants concessions for renting buoys, and for this reason the concession levy is the only way to collect taxes. In such case the buoy managers moor vessels on their own responsibility, without knowing the information about the buoy's bearing capacity.
Usually, only one person collects payments, his/her task being also controlling and charging for a number of buoys on the controllable area (a buoy field), for what he/she needs a suitable vessel. It is also very difficult or even impossible to book a buoy in advance.
Usually, at night or off-season there is no-one, who would control and manage the buoys and charge for the mooring, what results in loss of income.
As, according to the above stated, the managing and controlling the buoys requires the presence of at least one person, these buoys are generally placed by the inhabited coasts, whereas they are very rare at more remote places, such as islands, bays, etc.
As nautical tourism is in bloom, the above mentioned weaknesses became disruptive. Also, due to increasing frequency of storms and adverse weather conditions, anchoring outside the regulated area (sea parks) is less safe for the crew, as well as for the vessels.

The recent solution is known for its system for controlling and managing docking in a sea area, according to the document EP 1 550 086 or WO 2004/032064. According to this solution, the buoys are apt to one-way communication with a local control station, which performs reverse communication with an operative centre. The buoy is a hollow plastic container, housing electronic unit, connected to an antenna, radiocommunication device with an antenna and a solar panel, connected to a battery, all-together forming an autonomous electric power supply unit. At the bottom edge of the buoy there is a hook for a chain, by which the buoy is anchored to the seafloor. The communication between the buoy and the local control station is based on the Wi-fi communication standard. Responding and transmitting device on the buoy comprises transmitter/responder and antenna - a structure, placed on the top of the buoy, having the shape of a ring. This transponder is programmed in such a way, that it communicates with the vessel by using the user identification code, saved in the operation centre. The association between the transponder and the corresponding vessel enables, at the moment of docking, to verify the compliance with the administrative requirements, controlling the related credit, memorised in the operative centre. This means that mooring of a vessel to a free buoy is possible only if the vessel's operator, prior or after the mooring, goes to the operation centre and pays the defined credit fee. Failing to do that, a worker in the operation centre, whose presence is obligatory in the operation centre, sends a warning to the vessel's operator.
In so far as the vessel leaves the mooring prematurely, the worker in the operation centre pays back the reminder of a credit, whereas if it stays longer than planned, additional payment is required.
The housing of the buoy is comprised of diametrically opposed and joint upright cylinders, forming a unified hollow body of a deltoid or upright rhombus shape. Accordingly, this solution is a system for controlling and managing docking of vessels and their mooring to the buoy, operating so as to inform the control centre about a vessel being moored to a buoy. After that, there are two possibilities - one is that the worker from the operation centre goes to the vessel and charges the vessel's operator for the mooring, the other is that the vessel's operator goes to the operation centre and there pays for the mooring. The main weakness of this solution is that, in spite of all the devices in the system and due to one-way communication, there is still a human presence required for controlling the payment for mooring, 24 hours a day, every day. Its another weakness is that the vessel's operator can moor the vessel to the buoy without paying for the mooring, and this is another reason for the constant presence of a human. The communication between the buoys and the operation centre requires at least one or even more intermediate control centres, what makes the system complex and expensive.

From the patent application GB 2 332 946 A (SWANSON MICHAEL) from July 7th 1999 a marine exploration system and associated marine devices are known. The submarine exploration system comprises at least one submarine assembly having at least one signal detector. A buoy is connected to the said submarine assembly by a submarine cable, the buoy has battery or solar powered wireless communication means and antenna for transmitting said detected signals. The submarine assembly is associated with remote station which receives the transmitted detected signals. The submarine assembly comprises an elongate arm to which hydrophones, geophones or both are attached; there are also acoustic transponder means for indicating the location and alignment of the assembly. An anchor may be provided to reduce the drift of the assembly. A marine vessel such as a catamaran is associated with the device, the vessel having a conveyor belt which allows the assembly to be deployed in the water and also conveyed from the surface of the water back into the vessel.

Patent application GB 2 397 471 A (STOCK PAUL RONALD) from July 21th 2004 introduced WLAN and vessel monitoring in a harbor. The on board device provides control and monitoring and anti-theft capability that is specifically designed for open or exposed moorings. As the security infrastructure is designed to work in a passive way, the control server triggers the alarm automatically. The facility is activated when tampering is implied by cutting all power to the vessel or is moved outside the range of the network access point. The device can monitor or control analogue and digital facilities on the vessel and is accessible for remote control to the owner from anywhere an Internet access can be achieved. Marina or harbour based broadband computer systems business link with improved security with remote monitoring and control. The device utilizes a wireless local area network and broadband Internet access in the marina. This can be accessed from a remote location (boat) without the need for hard wired connectivity. The solution provides the marina or harbour authority with Local Area Network connection using standard community networking wireless (WiFi) equipment to the vessel and thus provides access directly to their customers within the locality of the marina or harbour.

According to patent US 2004/236615 A1 Method and device for booking a parking space are known. A method of reserving a plurality of pay parking spaces supervised by at least one terminal of the parking meter type, including indicator means for each supervised space for indicating the state of payment defining whether or not parking is authorized, the method being characterized in that it comprises the following steps: a) a user defining a reservation request in accordance with selected parameters; b) the user receiving in return reservation data and the identity of at least one available parking space corresponding to said selected parameters; c) at the appropriate time, the user presenting said reservation data to the parking terminal associated with said parking space; and d) the terminal verifying said data and using said indicator means to indicate corresponding authorization to park.

All mentioned solutions do not address a complete system for boat mooring, while the present solution represents an upgrade of known patents so that an easier handling of buoys is enabled.

The unsolved problem is, above all, the complexity of the system for managing and controlling the moorings of vessels, which requires additional local controlling centres for communication between the buoys and the operation centre. Another problem is, that the presence of a human to collect payments is required, as well as the shape of the buoy and its manner of anchoring to the seafloor, which, on one hand, allows unauthorised, thus unpaid moorings, while on the other hand, it doesn't provide efficient control over the unpaid moorings.

According to the present invention, the problem is solved by the system of automatic managing and controlling the use of moorings for vessels, comprising automated floating buoys and the related method, which may enable direct two-way communication with the communication centre and which, due to its structure and shape, may prevent from mooring without payment, with the possibility of remote payment, without the presence of a human in the operation centre, while also the controlling and managing of buoys on one or more areas may be automated.

The invention shall be described by way of illustration:

Figure 1

flow chart of operation of the system of automatic managing and controlling the use of moorings within the area with automated floating buoys

Figure 2

anchoring of the buoy to the ballast on the seafloor

Figure 3

automated buoy in a longitudinal vertical cross section.

The system for automatic managing and controlling the use of moorings for vessels, comprising automated floating buoys and the related method, according to the recorded invention, consists of the main operation-controlling centre 3, with the server 4, preferably located on shore 6, and of optional number of automated buoys 1, located within the individual sea area 7. The operation-controlling centre 3 and the server 4 are connected via the communication cable 41, and are through the internet connection 40 accessible to the potential customers 5. The above described is illustrated in Figure 1.

The operation-controlling centre 3 is wireless and fully automatic, it communicates with the automated buoys1 and, in the same manner, with the server 4, and through it with the customers 5. All the described communications are carried out in both directions, while it is important that the communication between the buoys 1 and the operation-controlling centre 3 is through the broadband data transmission, accordingly using the GSM telephony and/or SMS messages, what is enabled by the buoy 1 structure, according to the invention.

The vessel's 2 operator, arriving to the sea area 7, first selects a free buoy 1, than carries out the payment, what is a condition for mooring the vessel 2 to the selected buoy 1. Without previous payment only temporarily mooring is possible, that is in case of cash, token or card payment method.

There are two payment methods possible - payment with tokens, cash or cards directly at the buoy 1, marked by the line b, or payment by sending SMS message or by using GMS telephony system through the operation-controlling centre 3, marked by the line a in Figure 1. The price-list is available on each buoy 1. The amount to be paid depends on the estimated mooring duration, and is determined by the vessel's 2 operator. Following is more detailed description of manners and methods of payment for mooring at the buoy 1, according to the invention.

The payment by means of GSM telephony system is carried out via the selected domestic or foreign mobile network operator. For this purpose each buoy 1 has a code, for example *19*090800#, the number 19 meaning the number of the selected buoy 1, and the number 090800 meaning the number of the calling centre or the number of the mobile network operator. As the vessel's 2 operator sends a corresponding SMS message or calls the calling centre, the defined amount in the defined currency is transferred form the caller's account to the account of the owner or the manager of the sea parking area. After the money is transferred, the controlling centre 3 via the line d sends to the buoy 1 the order to lock the mooring of the vessel 2 for the defined period of time. Empirically, it takes 5 to 25 seconds to lock the mooring since receiving the order for locking.

When the payment is carried out through the line a or b, the operative-controlling centre 3 sends a signal or the order for locking to the selected buoy 1. Mechanism, mounted on or inside the buoy 1, not shown, closes the ring eye 10, where the rope is placed, and the vessel 2 is securely moored. If payment is not carried out or the operation has not been successful, the controlling centre 3 does not send any order for closing the above mentioned ring eye 10, so the vessel 2 is not moored, as the rope automatically falls of the buoy 1, or could not be placed into the ring eye10.

Buoys 1 are linked with the operation-controlling centre 3 through the GSM signal. Through the data transmission via the line c each buoy 1 regularly informs the operation-controlling centre 3 about the occupancy, about the voltage state, about the payment operations, carried out at the buoy 1, about the amount of the collected cash, tokens or cards inside the buoy 1, about eventual errors, damages, etc. In other way around, the operation-controlling centre 3 via the line d sends to the buoy 1 information about eventual reservations, about the activation code, and places the order for locking or unlocking the mooring.

Via the internet connection 40 the potential customers 5 have access to information on the status of buoys 1 on a selected sea area 7 anywhere in the world, provided by the server 4 of the sea park manager. The server 4 acquires the mentioned information from the operation-controlling centre 3, via the communication cable 41. While the operation-controlling centre 3, as described above, receives information from the buoys 1. This way the potential users may acquire information about the occupancy of the moorings or buoys 1 at the selected location and about the mooring price. By paying in advance they may also book a free buoy 1 at the selected location for the previously defined period of time.

As it is illustrated in Fig. 2, the buoy 1, according to the invention, is in the cylinder shape with a conical-shaped point 42. The buoy 1 body may also be made in other forms, as long as they are functional, for example in a cut-cone shape, with the point 42 at the bottom edge. The point 42 is equipped with blades 43.

At the upper front surface the buoy 1 has a mechanism 45 for payment in cash, with tokens or cards, with alphanumeric keyboard 44 for code entering and led diodes 14 and 15. The mechanism 45 may be mounted on any other location, for example on the sidewall of the housing 23, providing that it is mounted above the water surface. The above described is not necessary if the buoy 1 operates through the GSM network. Code entering is obligatory if the buoy 1, which has been previously booked by the customer 5 via the internet connection 40 and the server 4, is activated and if the operating process and payment are not carried out via the GSM network. The mechanism 45 is forming a cap, watertight closing the opening 48, over which it is mounted, as illustrated in Fig. 3. On the outer surface of the cylindrical part of the buoy 1 displays 11 and 12 are mounted. Display 11 is meant for displaying the security diagram for the buoy 1, based on the ratio between the vessel-weight information and the wind velocity information. This way the vessel's 2 operator learns about the bearing capacity of the weight 8 and to that end of the buoy 1; considering the wind force. At the same time the display 11 displays buoy 1 handling instructions and, in case of need, also any other instructions. The display 11 has also an informative role, as it is equipped with the handling instructions, including the manners and methods of payment for mooring. The display 12 indicates the mooring duration and/or time remaining before the pre-paid mooring expires. It is counting down the remaining time. On or inside the buoy 1, beneath its upper edge and through the opening 37, a flexible ring eye 10 with the operating mechanism is mounted for mooring the vessel 2, not shown. The ring eye 10 is linearly moving through the opening 37 from inside of the buoy 1 housing 23 out, and backwards inside the buoy 1. This is possible due to the previously mentioned mechanism. As illustrated in Fig. 3, the ring eye 10 is in the shape of a ring with a groove 35. If the buoy 1 is free, the ring eye 10 is inside the buoy 1 housing 23, or in the other embodiment of the invention, the ring 10 is closed. After the mooring is being paid, the operation-controlling centre 3 submits the information to the selected buoy 1 and places the order for unlocking. The ring eye 10 moves out, or the ring opens. The vessel's 2 operator inserts the rope into the loop ring eye 10 or through the groove 35 in the ring 10. After some time the mechanism pulls the ring eye 10 inside the buoy 1 housing 23, or closes the ring 10. The buoy 1 is locked and the vessel 2 is securely moored. When the mooring period expires and if it is not prolonged, the mechanism pushes the ring eye 10 with the rope out or opens the ring and the rope falls from the ring 10, the vessel 2 is released, and the mooring completed. In the first embodiment of the invention the ring eye 10 is movable, as the mechanism may be driven into the buoy 1 or out from it. In the other embodiment of the invention, the ring 10 is fixed to the outer sidewall of the buoy 1 housing 23. In this case, the ring 10 could be a one-piece or two-piece ring, which may be possible to open or close. An appropriate mechanism closes the ring after the vessel's·2 rope is inserted, and it opens again when the pre-paid mooring period expires. The ring eye 10 remains opened as long as the mooring isn't paid, so the mooring of the vessel 2 to the buoy 1 is not possible. However, in case of payment with tokens, cash or cards, the ring eye 10 is closed upon the vessel's 2 arrival. When the ring eye 10 is closed, the buoy 1 becomes a mooring. First the vessel 2 may be moored, and then the payment carried out. If the customer 5 does not pay for the mooring within the defined period, for instance in 10 minutes, the ring eye 10 opens and the rope falls out. After a definite period of time the ring eye 10 closes, and the buoy 1 is ready for mooring the next vessel 2.

According to the invention, the eye 10 is in a form of a ring or a flexible ring with the possibility of opening and closing, or a ring with a groove 35. In other embodiments of the invention, the eye 10 is mounted on the outer sidewall of the housing 23, it is movable, thus possible to open and close.
Regardless the aspect of the invention, the ring eye 10, mounted inside or on the buoy 1, may be of any type or size, as long as the suitable mechanism is used.

The buoy 1 is attached to the weight 8 on the seafloor through the intermediate voltage sensor 9, by the cable rope 13. On the buoy 1, at the fixation point, there is the end 22 of the point 42, of thickness, tailored to the rope diameter, thus enabling the rope to slide towards the upper edge and out from the buoy 1 in case of forbidden or unpaid mooring of the vessel 2. A cable 13 is an electric cable 39, in a jacket of plaited wire rope 38, in other words, inside the wire rope 38, there is an electric cable 39, transmitting tensile-strength signal from the sensor 9 to the buoy 1. The plaited rope 38 protects the electric cable 39 and at the same time provides the buoy 1 with an appropriate tensile strength, required to assure the secure mooring.
The tensile-strength sensor 9 is in the form of a torque or a tensile switch, which, in case of unpaid mooring, transmits to the buoy 1 the information about the forbidden mooring and activates the alarm 19 signal.

Blades 43 at the point 42 of the buoy 1 serve for damaging and cutting the rope in case of forbidden or unpaid mooring, in case the vessel's 2 operator would only slip the rope over the buoy 1 with the purpose to avoid the payment. The blades 43 may be of different types. At least one blade 43, or at least one place between the two blades 43, has a zinc anode 50 (the Galvanic cell), with the purpose of protecting the part of the buoy 1, sunk into the water, against corrosion.

The buoy 1, according to the invention, may be of any suitable size, however, there exist some useful empirical data, which may or may not be considered in practice. According to this data, the optimal length of the buoy 1 is about 250 cm, approximately half of it being above the water surface, meaning that its upper edge reaches the level of the deck of the vessel 2. This makes the buoy 1 managing very simple. Also, according to this data, the optimal radius of the buoy 1 is about 30 cm. The outer sidewall of the buoy 1 is preferably smooth; its hollow housing is made of stainless steel or any other suitable material. The buoy 1 may be any of any type, made of any metal and/or non-metal material, as long as it suits its purpose.

As illustrated in Fig. 3, the buoy 1 is made of the hollow housing 23 with a point 42 at the bottom edge. The housing 23 is a watertight container of cylindrical shape, with its integral elements mounted on it and inside it.

Inside the housing 23, there is a central computer 18, through the cable 26 connected to a power supply charger 17 and through it to at least one solar panel 16, while the power supply charger 17 being connected to the positive pole of the battery 21 through the cable 25, while through the cable 24 to at least one solar panel 16, further, it is through the cable 30 connected to the communication module 20, which is further through the cable 31 connected to the negative pole of the battery 21 and through the cable 32 to the outer antenna 36, further, it is through the cable 29 connected to the ring eye 10 or its mechanism for mooring, and through the cable 28 to at least two displays 11 and 12, further, through the cable 49 to the printer 47 for printing payment receipts, and through the cable 27 to the alarm 19, further, through the cables 33 and 34 directly to the battery 21. The digital countdown is integrated into the display 12, but it could be mounted somewhere else on the housing 23 of the buoy 1.

Inside the housing 23, there is also a tokens and coins collector 46, which is filled through the slot 48 on the front side of the housing 23 and is watertight covered by a mechanism 45 for paying for the mooring directly at the buoy 1. Next to the mechanism 45, there are mounted the alphanumerical keyboard 44 for entering the code and the controlling or signalling light-emitting led diodes 14 and 15, one red and the other green. When the green diode 14 lights up, it means that the buoy 1 is free, and that the mooring is possible upon the prior payment. When the red diode lights up, it means that the mooring is not possible, as the buoy 1 is either occupied, booked or damaged.

Solar panels 16 are solar photo cells for the production of electric energy, necessary for operation of the integral elements of the buoy 1, inside or outside of the housing 23. The solar panels 16 provide electric energy to the power supply charger 17, which charges the battery 21 and via the battery all the elements inside the buoy 1 housing 23. The battery, at the same time, stores electric energy for the time, when its production by solar panels 16 is not possible. The charging of the buoy's 1 integral elements may also be performed in any other was, suitable to the function, this having no impact on the object of the invention.

Methods and manners of payment for the mooring at the buoy 1, according to the invention, have already been mentioned above, following is more detailed description. When paying by means of GSM telephony, the vessel 2 approaches the buoy 1, with the green diode 14 lighting up, indicating that the buoy 1 is available for mooring. The vessel's 2 operator, being at the same time the customer 5, reads the telephone number on the buoy 1, enters it into the device and presses the call key or sends an SMS message. The operation-controlling centre 3 detects the number of the GSM user and charges his/her account for the defined sum - the price for mooring on the buoy 1 for a definite period of time. After that, the operation-controlling centre 3 sends a signal to the buoy 1 for locking up. The mechanism, not shown, places the ring eye 10 to the position, enabling the vessel's 2 operator, the customer 5, to insert the rope. The vessel 2 is securely moored to the selected buoy 1, the red diode 15 lights up. The customer 5 or the vessel's 2 operator may see the exact time of the pre-paid mooring duration, indicated on the display 12. Before the expiration of this period, the alarm 19 with a sound signal warns the customer 5, that the time is running out and that the ring eye 10 shall open and release the rope and the vessel 2. If the customer 5 does not prolong the mooring, the vessel 2 is released and it may sail off, while the buoy 1 is free again and ready for another vessel to moor, what is indicated by the green diode 14 lighting up.

When paying by means of GSM telephony, in case the buoy 1 is booked in advance via the internet connection 40, the customer 5 via internet selects the buoy 1 on the individual sea area 7, defines the time of arrival and estimated time of departure and pays for the mooring according to the price-list. Then the customer 5 receives a special number for her/his GSM device from the competent operation-controlling centre 3 via the server 4. When the customer 5 approaches the booked buoy 1 at the announced time with his/her vessel 2, she/he may notice the red led diode light 15. The vessel's 2 operator or the customer 5 enters a special number, received upon booking via the internet, into her/his GSM device and presses the call key. The operation-controlling centre 3 detects the number of the customer 5, who previously booked the buoy 1, and sends to the buoy 1 the order for opening the ring eye 10. The mechanism opens the ring eye 10 and enables the customer 5 to moor the vessel 2 to the buoy 1. The vessel 2 is now securely moored to the buoy 1. On the buoy 1, the red diode 15 lights up. On the display 12, the customer 5 or the vessel's 2 operator may see the indicated duration of the pre-paid mooring. Before the expiration of this period, the alarm 19 with a sound signal warns the customer 5, that the time is running out and that the ring eye 10 shall open and release the rope and the vessel 2. If the customer 5 does not prolong the mooring, the vessel 2 is released and it may sail off, while the buoy 1 is free again and ready for another vessel to moor, what is indicated by the green diode 14 lighting up.

In case, when the mooring is to be paid with a bank or magnet card, token or cash, the vessel 2 approaches the buoy 1 with the green light 14, meaning that the buoy 1 is available. The vessel's 2 operator or the customer 5 moors the vessel 2 to the buoy 1 by placing the rope into the closed ring eye 10. The not shown sensor on the buoy 1 detects the rope of the vessel 2 and on the display 12 a due amount is displayed. The customer 5 pays the amount by inserting a bank or magnetic card or by inserting a token or cash into the mechanism 45 through the slot 48 to the collecting vessel 46. The buoy 1 detects the payment and on the display 12 the duration of the mooring or time till the expiry of the mooring is indicated. If the communication system allows, the buoy 1 informs the operation-controlling centre 3 about the payment. As already said, the system moves the ring eye 10 into the closed position and the vessel's operator may insert the rope. This is done by either pulling the ring 10 inside the housing 23 or by closing the ring eye 10. During the mooring the red diode 15 is on. On the display 12, the customer 5 or the vessel's 2 operator may see the indicated duration of the pre-paid mooring. Before the expiration of this period, the alarm 19 with a sound signal warns the customer 5, that the time is running out and that the ring eye 10 shall open and release the rope and the vessel 2. If the customer 5 does not prolong the mooring, the vessel 2 is released and it may sail off, while the buoy 1 is free again and ready for another vessel to moor, what is indicated by the green diode 14 lighting up.
In some aspects of the invention, with the buoy 1, which enables also the payment with cash of one or more selected currencies, the process is similar to that of payment with tokens. Tokens and coins are collected in the collecting vessel 46 and may be removed manually or by a special device.

In case of all the previously mentioned and described methods and manners of payments for mooring on the buoy 1 via GSM devices, the ring eye 10 remains opened or unlocked if the payment is not completed, or if the mooring period has expired and the mooring of a vessel 2 to the buoy 1 is not possible. With all other payment methods the ring eye 10 opens if the mooring to the buoy 1 has not been paid. If the buoy enables payment with money, a printer 47 is placed inside the buoy 1. In other cases, the printer 47 is not necessary. In case of payment via GSM device, printing of a receipt is not necessary, as the amount paid is indicated on the monthly bill of the customer 5 or the subscriber on GSM telephony devices.

The buoy 1 is attached to the weight 8 in a manner that enables its maintenance and servicing at the end point 22 or at the tensile strength sensor 9.