Abstract: A method for sharing digital content includes determining whether a first computing device is physically located within a defined geographical area, if the first computing device is physically located within the defined geographical area, providing access of shareable digital content to the first computing device, instantiating a tethering object associated with the shareable digital content, the tethering object including at least a first endpoint at the first computing device and a second endpoint at a second computing device remote from the first computing device, and providing access of at least a portion of the shareable digital content, via the tethering object, to the second endpoint at the second computing device remote from the first computing device. Other example methods and computer systems for implementing content sharing methods are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method of controlling a marine drive on a marine vessel includes receiving a trim position instruction to adjust a trim position of the marine drive, receiving a steering position of the marine drive, determining an allowable steering angle range based on the trim position instruction and/or the adjusted trim position of the marine drive, and controlling a trim actuator to adjust the trim position of the marine drive based on the trim position instruction, the steering position, and the allowable steering angle range such that the steering position of the marine drive remains within the allowable steering angle range for the adjusted trim position.

Abstract: A method of controlling a plurality of marine drives on a marine vessel includes detecting that at least one of the plurality of marine drives and that at least one of the plurality of marine drives is not running, and then determining, based on the trim position of each of the at least one non-running marine drives, that at least one non-running marine drive is trimmed down. If so, an output limit restriction is effectuated for each of the at least one running marine drive and an alert is generated to advise an operator of the output limit restriction.

Abstract: A marine propulsion system for a marine vessel has a first marine propulsion device coupled to the marine vessel and a second marine propulsion device coupled to the marine vessel. The first marine propulsion device has a first engine controlled by a first electronic control module. The second marine propulsion device has a second engine controlled by a second electronic control module. In response to the first marine propulsion device being keyed ON, the second electronic control module of the second marine propulsion device is turned ON.

Abstract: A marine propulsion system for a marine vessel has an outboard motor including a cowl covering an internal combustion engine that powers the outboard motor and an accelerometer mounted to the outboard motor. A control module is communicatively connected to the accelerometer. The control module receives information regarding an acceleration of the outboard motor from the accelerometer. The control module uses the information regarding the acceleration of the outboard motor to do at least one of the following: determine an angle of the outboard motor with respect to gravity; determine an amount of oil in an oil sump of the outboard motor; and determine if a reading of the amount of oil in the oil sump is accurate.

Abstract: A method for controlling a valve to disengage a gear in a transmission. The method includes reducing, after receiving a request to disengage the gear, a current supplied to the valve from a starting to a first current. The method further includes counting a first elapsed time since the valve was reduced to the first current, comparing the first elapsed time to a first wait time, and increasing the current supplied to the valve to a second current once the first elapsed time exceeds the first wait time. The method further includes counting a second elapsed time since the valve was increased to the second current, comparing the second elapsed time to a second wait time, and reducing the current supplied to the valve to a third current once the second elapsed exceeds the second wait time. The valve is closed when the current is the third current.

Abstract: A method for shifting a marine propulsion device transmission between first and second gears transmitting torque from a powerhead with a redline RPM. The transmission has a transition time for completing a shift. The method includes measuring an RPM of the powerhead, comparing the RPM to a first threshold, and starting a timer when the RPM exceeds the first threshold. The method includes measuring the RPM of the powerhead after the first threshold is exceeded, comparing the RPM to a second threshold, stopping the timer when the RPM exceeds the second threshold, determining an elapsed time between starting and stopping the timer, and determining a shift RPM based on the determined elapsed time, the redline RPM, and the transition time of the transmission. The method includes controlling the transmission to shift when the RPM measured for the powerhead reaches the shift RPM such that shifting completes before the redline RPM.

Abstract: A method for shifting a multi-speed transmission for transmitting rotation between an input shaft and an output shaft for a marine vessel. The method includes providing a multi-speed transmission having first and second gears engaged by actuating first and second clutches, and providing first and second pressure sensors that measure first and second pressures within the first and second clutches, respectively. The method further includes performing a first shift from the first gear to the second gear by de-actuating the first clutch a first delay after the second clutch is actuated, then measuring the first and second pressures and determining a first shift pressure at which the first and second pressures are substantially equal while performing the first shift. The method further includes comparing the first shift pressure to a first pressure threshold range and adjusting the first delay when the first shift pressure is outside the first pressure threshold range.

Abstract: A method for shifting a multi-speed transmission of a marine propulsion device between a first gear and a second gear each configured to transmit torque from a powerhead to a transmission output shaft. The method includes determining an actual power level requested for operating the marine propulsion device and measuring a transmission output shaft speed in which the transmission output shaft is rotating. The method further includes comparing the actual power level to a shift threshold, the shift threshold corresponding to expected power levels for operating the marine propulsion device as a function of the transmission output shaft speed of the transmission output shaft. The method further includes controlling the multi-speed transmission to shift when the actual power is outside the shift threshold.

Abstract: A method for downshifting a multi-speed transmission of a marine propulsion device to a first gear from a second gear. The method includes providing a shift schedule that indicates a shift recommendation for when to downshift from the second gear to the first gear. The method further includes configuring the transmission to downshift when the shift schedule indicates the shift recommendation, determining a requested speed of the marine propulsion device, measuring an actual speed of the marine propulsion device, calculating an error between the requested speed and the actual speed, comparing the error to an error threshold, and determining when the error exceeds the error threshold longer than a duration threshold. The method further includes controlling the transmission to downshift, despite the shift schedule indicating a non-shift recommendation, when the duration threshold is exceeded so as to reduce the error between the requested speed and the actual speed.

Abstract: A method for shifting multi-speed transmissions of marine propulsion devices each having a power head and a shift schedule for shifting between first and second gears to transmit torque from the powerhead. The method includes configuring the transmissions of leader and follower marine propulsion devices to shift when shift schedules of the leader and of the follower indicate shift recommendations, respectively. The method further includes receiving a request to shift the transmission of the leader when the shift schedule of the leader indicates the shift recommendation. The method further includes determining whether conditions are met for the follower to follow the leader in shifting. The method further includes automatically requesting, when conditions are determined to be met for the follower to follow the leader, to shift the transmission of the follower so as to be coordinated with shifting the transmission of the leader.

Abstract: A method for synchronizing shifting of transmissions across marine propulsion devices. The method includes receiving a signal to shift the transmissions and identifying a predetermined shifting time for each of the transmissions, where the predetermined shifting time represents an elapsed time between starting the shifting and completing the shifting. The method further includes comparing the predetermined shifting times to determine a longest shifting time, calculating for each of the transmissions an offset time that is a difference between the corresponding predetermined shifting time and the longest shifting time, and sending a signal to start the shifting of each of the transmissions after waiting the offset time for that transmission such that the transmissions all complete the shifting at the same time.

Abstract: A marine propulsion system for a marine vessel includes a first marine propulsion device rotatable with respect to the marine vessel about at least one of a first steering axis and a first tilt-trim axis and a second marine propulsion device rotatable with respect to the marine vessel about at least one of a second steering axis and a second tilt-trim axis. A first control module controls operation of the first marine propulsion device, and a second control module controls operation of the second marine propulsion device. In response to one of the first and second marine propulsion devices being commanded to rotate about at least one of its respective first or second steering axis and its respective first or second tilt-trim axis, the respective first or second control module of the other of the first and second marine propulsion devices is turned ON.

Abstract: A method of controlling at least one marine drive on a marine vessel includes determining that a trim position sensor has failed for a first marine drive, determining an allowable steering angle range for the first marine drive based on a first assumed trim position, and determining a steering position adjustment based on the allowable steering angle range. A steering actuator is controlled to automatically adjust the steering position of the marine drive based on the steering position adjustment. A trim position adjustment is determined based on a second assumed trim position for the marine drive and a trim actuator is controlled to adjust the trim position of the first marine drive based on the trim position adjustment.

Abstract: A method of controlling a marine drive on a marine vessel includes receiving a trim position instruction to adjust a trim position of the marine drive, receiving a steering position of the marine drive, determining an allowable steering angle range based on the trim position instruction and/or the adjusted trim position of the marine drive, and controlling a trim actuator to adjust the trim position of the marine drive based on the trim position instruction, the steering position, and the allowable steering angle range such that the steering position of the marine drive remains within the allowable steering angle range for the adjusted trim position.

Abstract: A method of controlling a marine drive on a marine vessel includes receiving a trim position instruction to adjust a trim position of the marine drive and determining an allowable steering angle range based on the trim positon instruction or adjusted trim positon of the marine drive. A trim actuator is controlled to adjust the trim position of the marine drive based on the trim position instruction and a steering actuator is controlled to automatically adjust steering positon of the marine drive to remain within the allowable steering range.

Abstract: A method of controlling a marine drive on a marine vessel includes receiving a trim position instruction to adjust a trim position of the marine drive and determining an allowable steering angle range based on the trim positon instruction or adjusted trim positon of the marine drive. A trim actuator is controlled to adjust the trim position of the marine drive based on the trim position instruction and a steering actuator is controlled to automatically adjust steering positon of the marine drive to remain within the allowable steering range.

Abstract: A method for controlling a marine internal combustion engine is carried out by a control module and includes: operating the engine according to a initial set of mapped parameter values configured to achieve a first fuel-air equivalence ratio in a combustion chamber of the engine; measuring current values of engine operating conditions; and comparing the engine operating conditions to predetermined lean-burn mode enablement criteria. In response to the engine operating conditions meeting the lean-burn enablement criteria, the method includes: (a) automatically retrieving a subsequent set of mapped parameter values configured to achieve a second, lesser fuel-air equivalence ratio and transitioning from operating the engine according to the initial set of mapped parameter values to operating the engine according to the subsequent set of mapped parameter values; or (b) presenting an operator-selectable option to undertake such a transition, and in response to selection of the option, commencing the transition.

Abstract: A system for determining an oil amount in a marine drive includes an oil level sensor that senses an oil level in the sump and temperature sensor sensing an engine temperature. A control module for the system is configured to determine that the engine temperature is greater than a temperature threshold, and that an engine speed exceeds a speed threshold for at least a predetermined time period or that a throttle position exceeds a throttle position threshold. If both such conditions are met, and a threshold drop in engine speed to an idle threshold is detected or a threshold change in throttle position to an idle position is detected, then an oil level in the sump is sampled with an oil level sensor. An oil amount is then determined based on the sampled oil level in the sump.