Data processing: generic control systems or specific application – Specific application – apparatus or process – Product assembly or manufacturing
Reexamination Certificate
2001-04-04
2001-10-30
Nerbun, Peter (Department: 3765)
Data processing: generic control systems or specific application
Specific application, apparatus or process
Product assembly or manufacturing
C112S102500, C112S470040, C112S475190
Reexamination Certificate
active
06311097
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a fault diagnosis system based on a communication network. More particularly, the present invention relates to a fault diagnosis system and method for diagnosing a fault of an embroidery machine.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART
Generally, an embroidery system comprises an embroidery operation program for automatically embroidering an embroidery design. The embroidery system includes a storage, an input unit, a controller, an embroidery machine, and a fault detector. The storage stores a embroidery design data. The input unit inputs an embroidery design selection signal, and an embroidery operation start/stop signal from the operator. The controller controls the embroidery machine in response to an operator's request. The embroidery machine embroiders the selected embroidery design. The fault detector detects the fault of the embroidery machine if the embroidery operation is stopped by the fault of the embroidery machine.
Where the operator inputs the selected embroidery design and the embroidery operation start signal, the controller controls the embroidery operation program stored in the storage to embroider the selected embroidery design. If the embroidery operation is stopped by the fault of the embroidery machine, the controller controls the display unit for displaying a fault message of the embroidery machine. The operator should repair the embroidery machine after checking the fault message. However, where the operator can not repair the embroidery machine, the operator makes a phone call to a manager of service center in order to request a repair service.
In case of request of on-site repair by the operator, the manager shall correctly understand the fault of the embroidery machine so as to bring a correct embroidery part for repair. However the operator may not know which embroidery-part is broken. Even though the operator notices the correct fault embroidery-part, the operator may not know the embroidery-part name. If so, the operator may not explain the embroidery fault-related information to the manager in detail and that the manager may misunderstand the fault of the embroidery machine.
In this situation, if the manager may bring a wrong embroidery part for on-site repair, the manager returns to the service center to bring correct embroidery part. Furthermore, in case that the operator recognizes the fault of the embroidery machine, an unnecessary on-site repair may occur.
As above, there is a problem that the manager incorrectly diagnoses the fault of the embroidery machine in case that the operator incorrectly explains the fault-related information to the manager. Accordingly, there is strongly needed a fault diagnosis system for efficiently diagnosing the fault of the embroidery machine.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a fault diagnosis system and method for efficiently diagnosing a fault of an embroidery machine by employing a server computer system through a communication network in case that an embroidery operation is stopped by the fault of the embroidery machine.
In accordance with a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a fault diagnosis system for diagnosing a fault of an embroidery machine, comprising: a communication network; an embroidery system coupled to the communication network for indicating that an embroidery operation is stopped by the fault of the embroidery machine, displaying a web-browser drive guide message, displaying a fault diagnosis-dedicated web-page received from the communication network in response to a web-browser drive signal inputted by an operator, and transmitting fault-related information, inputted into the fault diagnosis-dedicated web-page by the operator, to the communication network; and a server computer system coupled to the communication network for providing the fault diagnosis-dedicated web-page to the communication network, diagnosing the fault of the embroidery machine by employing the fault-related information inputted into the fault diagnosis-dedicated web-page in order to generate fault diagnosis information, and transmitting the fault diagnosis information to the embroidery system through the communication network.
In accordance with a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for diagnosing the fault of the embroidery machine, comprising the steps of: (a) detecting that an embroidery operation is stopped by the fault of the embroidery machine and displaying a web-browser drive guide message; (b) displaying a fault diagnosis-dedicated web-page in response to a web-browser drive signal inputted by an operator; (c) transmitting fault-related information, inputted into the fault diagnosis-dedicated web-page by the operator, from an embroidery system to a server computer system; and (d) transmitting the fault diagnosis-dedicated web-page from a server computer system to the embroidery system, diagnosing the fault of the embroidery machine by employing the fault-related information inputted into the fault diagnosis-dedicated web-page in order to generate fault diagnosis information, and transmitting the fault diagnosis information to the embroidery system.
In accordance with a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a computer-readable medium storing program instructions, the program instructions disposed on a computer to perform a method for diagnosing the fault of the embroidery machine, comprising the steps of: (a) indicating that an embroidery operation is stopped by the fault of the embroidery machine and displaying a web-browser drive guide message; (b) displaying a fault diagnosis-dedicated web-page in response to a web-browser drive signal inputted by an operator; (c) transmitting fault-related information, inputted into the fault diagnosis-dedicated web-page by the operator, from an embroidery system to a server computer system; and (d) transmitting the fault diagnosis-dedicated web-page from a server computer system to the embroidery system, diagnosing the fault of the embroidery machine by employing the fault-related information inputted into the fault diagnosis-dedicated web-page in order to generate fault diagnosis information, and transmitting the fault diagnosis information to the embroidery system.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4480561 (1984-11-01), Makabe et al.
patent: 5359949 (1994-11-01), Asano
patent: 6123037 (2000-09-01), Shimizu
patent: 6216618 (2001-04-01), Goldberg et al.
Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld L.L.P.
Nerbun Peter
Sunstar Precision Co. Ltd.
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