Data processing: measuring – calibrating – or testing – Measurement system – Remote supervisory monitoring
Reexamination Certificate
1998-11-30
2001-05-15
Hoff, Marc S. (Department: 2857)
Data processing: measuring, calibrating, or testing
Measurement system
Remote supervisory monitoring
C705S002000, C705S028000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06233536
ABSTRACT:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
This case is related to co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/201,378 “Remote Assistant” by Lawrence P. Zale, assigned to the present assignee.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention related to identifying electronic boards/software routines configurations over time at a plurality of remote sites.
2. Discussion of Prior Art
Many large, industrial machines such as steam turbines, generators, locomotives, ships, oil refineries, iron mills, stamping mills, factory tools are either impossible or impractical to bring into a shop for in-house measurements. These remote sites are now connected to a base by a remote link. Measurements and other data may be transmitted via the remote link between the remote site and the base.
This remote link may be hardwired, such as an dedicated phone line, Internet connection, or may be by a radio link. The remote link is typically used to perform remote diagnostics of the equipment.
Typically the remote link is used to identify a current configuration, and inventory of the types of boards in a device to provide accurate service advice. Each machine may use many different types of boards and software, and certain types may not be compatible.
Patents, Copyrights and Trademarks may cover certain electronic boards and software routines (‘protected property’). These may be licensed (by a Licensor) to a customer (Licensee) for a specified period of time, area of use, or conditions of use. Conditions of use may be contrary to a warranty and is important for the licensee to know. It is very difficult to discern if the protected inventions are being implemented according to their prescribed use. If is very difficult to try to discern their use since many are typically, on-site devices, and inaccessible. It may also be embarrassing to check up on customers, who are actually using the products according to the license.
Currently, there is the need for a system that automatically determines unauthorized boards and routines residing in a machine at a remote site, and also aids in determining the life cycle of boards and routines.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A remote inventory system monitors electronic boards/software routines in a machine situated at a remote site. The boards/routines are marked with a unique serial number that is machine-readable. A monitor program operates at the remote site to collect the serial numbers and other corresponding information and send this information to a base site.
The base is connected to the remote site through a remote link.
A processor located in the base runs a base program which looks up the serial numbers in a database and indicates remote sites which are using protected property that they are not authorized to use. The base program also may create a report of length of use of each board/routine and performance history of a specified board/routine over time. By entering information of the date, location and vendor a board/routine is sold to, allows the base to create a report of vendor activity.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide a remote means of determining presence of protected property in a remote machine.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a means of remotely determining the performance history of boards/routines implemented over a period of time.
It is another object of the present invention to track the location of the boards/routines over a period of time.
Is another object of the present invention to identify boards/routines having a larger than acceptable number of errors in a predetermined time period.
REFERENCES:
patent: H1743 (1998-08-01), Graves et al.
patent: 4920488 (1990-04-01), Filley
patent: 5434775 (1995-07-01), Sims et al.
patent: 5499196 (1996-03-01), Pacheco
Sanborn Stephen Duane
Zale Lawrence Paul
General Electric Company
Hoff Marc S.
Raymond Edward
Snyder Marvin
Stoner Douglas E.
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