Systems and methods for enabling and disabling operation of manufacturing machines
First Claim
1. A computer-implemented method comprising:
- causing, at a time when a manufacturing machine is in an initial locked state, a quality control query to be presented to a user of the manufacturing machine requesting quality control information regarding the manufacturing machine including inspection information regarding the manufacturing machine;
in response to the quality control query being presented to the user of the manufacturing machine, receiving, via input from the user of the manufacturing machine, the quality control information regarding the manufacturing machine including inspection information regarding the manufacturing machine and wherein the quality control information further includes information regarding one or more manufacturing machine warranties of the manufacturing machine;
deciding, at a time when the manufacturing machine is in an initial locked state, whether to enable operation of the manufacturing machine based on the received quality control information including inspection information regarding the manufacturing machine and further including information regarding one or more manufacturing machine warranties of the manufacturing machine, wherein the manufacturing machine is in the initial locked state before, and continues to be in the initial locked state during, the receiving of the quality control information including inspection information regarding the manufacturing machine and the deciding whether to enable operation of the manufacturing machine and wherein the deciding whether to enable operation of the manufacturing machine based on the received quality control information including inspection information regarding the manufacturing machine, and further including information regarding one or more manufacturing machine warranties of the manufacturing machine, includes;
comparing the received quality control information including inspection information regarding the manufacturing machine, and further including information regarding one or more manufacturing machine warranties of the manufacturing machine, to a quality standard;
determining whether the received quality control information including inspection information regarding the manufacturing machine, and further including information regarding one or more manufacturing machine warranties of the manufacturing machine, meets the quality standard;
deciding not to enable operation of the manufacturing machine if the received quality control information including inspection information regarding the manufacturing machine, and further including information regarding one or more manufacturing machine warranties of the manufacturing machine, does not meet the quality standard; and
deciding to enable operation of the manufacturing machine if the received quality control information including inspection information regarding the manufacturing machine, and further including information regarding one or more manufacturing machine warranties of the manufacturing machine, does meet the quality standard; and
if it is determined to enable operation of the manufacturing machine based on the received quality control information including inspection information regarding the manufacturing machine, and further including information regarding one or more manufacturing machine warranties of the manufacturing machine, then, while the manufacturing machine is still in the initial locked state, generating a signal to enable operation of the manufacturing machine.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system for enabling and disabling operation of manufacturing machines provides a manufacturing machine user interface that facilitates receiving quality control information regarding the manufacturing machine from a user. For quality assurance purposes, the computer system of the manufacturing machine may decide whether to enable operation of the manufacturing machine based on the received quality control information. The computer system of the manufacturing machine may also decide to disable operation of the manufacturing machine if the quality control information provided is incomplete, out of date, or otherwise insufficient to indicate the manufacturing machine is ready for safe and effective operation. In some embodiments, one or more client systems, telecommunications devices, and/or personal digital assistant (PDA) devices on which the user interface is displayed and with which the manufacturing machine is in communication may enable operation of the manufacturing machine based on the received quality control information.
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Citations
26 Claims
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1. A computer-implemented method comprising:
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causing, at a time when a manufacturing machine is in an initial locked state, a quality control query to be presented to a user of the manufacturing machine requesting quality control information regarding the manufacturing machine including inspection information regarding the manufacturing machine; in response to the quality control query being presented to the user of the manufacturing machine, receiving, via input from the user of the manufacturing machine, the quality control information regarding the manufacturing machine including inspection information regarding the manufacturing machine and wherein the quality control information further includes information regarding one or more manufacturing machine warranties of the manufacturing machine; deciding, at a time when the manufacturing machine is in an initial locked state, whether to enable operation of the manufacturing machine based on the received quality control information including inspection information regarding the manufacturing machine and further including information regarding one or more manufacturing machine warranties of the manufacturing machine, wherein the manufacturing machine is in the initial locked state before, and continues to be in the initial locked state during, the receiving of the quality control information including inspection information regarding the manufacturing machine and the deciding whether to enable operation of the manufacturing machine and wherein the deciding whether to enable operation of the manufacturing machine based on the received quality control information including inspection information regarding the manufacturing machine, and further including information regarding one or more manufacturing machine warranties of the manufacturing machine, includes; comparing the received quality control information including inspection information regarding the manufacturing machine, and further including information regarding one or more manufacturing machine warranties of the manufacturing machine, to a quality standard; determining whether the received quality control information including inspection information regarding the manufacturing machine, and further including information regarding one or more manufacturing machine warranties of the manufacturing machine, meets the quality standard; deciding not to enable operation of the manufacturing machine if the received quality control information including inspection information regarding the manufacturing machine, and further including information regarding one or more manufacturing machine warranties of the manufacturing machine, does not meet the quality standard; and deciding to enable operation of the manufacturing machine if the received quality control information including inspection information regarding the manufacturing machine, and further including information regarding one or more manufacturing machine warranties of the manufacturing machine, does meet the quality standard; and if it is determined to enable operation of the manufacturing machine based on the received quality control information including inspection information regarding the manufacturing machine, and further including information regarding one or more manufacturing machine warranties of the manufacturing machine, then, while the manufacturing machine is still in the initial locked state, generating a signal to enable operation of the manufacturing machine. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A manufacturing machine comprising:
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at least one processor; at least one mechanical manufacturing element communicatively coupled to the at least one processor; and a memory coupled to the at least one processor, wherein the at least one processor is configured to; receive quality control information regarding the manufacturing machine; receive information indicative of a quality standard specific to the manufacturing machine; compare the quality control information to the quality standard specific to the manufacturing machine; determine, at a time when the manufacturing machine is in an initial locked state, whether the quality control information meets the quality standard specific to the manufacturing machine, wherein the manufacturing machine is in the initial locked state before, and continues to be in the initial locked state during, the receiving of the quality control information, the receiving information indicative of a quality standard, the comparing the quality control information to the quality standard and the determining whether the quality control information meets the quality standard; and while the manufacturing machine is still in the initial locked state, enable operation of the manufacturing machine if the quality control information meets the quality standard specific to the manufacturing machine, wherein the quality control information includes information regarding one or more manufacturing machine warranties of the manufacturing machine. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having computer executable instructions thereon, that when executed by a computer processor, cause the following method to be performed:
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receiving quality control information regarding a plurality of manufacturing machines, wherein the quality control information includes information regarding whether particular upgrades had been performed on the plurality of manufacturing machines; receiving information indicative of quality standards specific to each of the plurality of manufacturing machines; receiving a request from a manufacturing machine of the plurality of manufacturing machines for quality control information regarding the manufacturing machine; in response to receiving the request for quality control information regarding the manufacturing machine, providing the requested quality control information regarding the manufacturing machine to the manufacturing machine; receiving a request from the manufacturing machine for information indicative of a quality standard specific to the manufacturing machine at a time when the manufacturing machine is in an initial locked state; and in response to receiving the request for information indicative of the quality standard specific to the manufacturing machine, providing the requested information indicative of the quality standard specific to the manufacturing machine, wherein the manufacturing machine is in the initial locked state before, and continues to be in the initial locked state during, the receiving of the quality control information, the receiving information indicative of quality standards, the receiving the request from the manufacturing machine for quality control information, the providing the requested quality control information, the receiving the request from the manufacturing machine for information indicative of the quality standard specific to the manufacturing machine and the providing the requested information indicative of the quality standard. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. A manufacturing machine comprising:
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at least one processor; at least one mechanical manufacturing element communicatively coupled to the at least one processor; and a memory coupled to the at least one processor, wherein the at least one processor is configured to; receive quality control information regarding the manufacturing machine; receive information indicative of a quality standard specific to the manufacturing machine; compare the quality control information to the quality standard specific to the manufacturing machine; determine, at a time when the manufacturing machine is in an initial locked state, whether the quality control information meets the quality standard specific to the manufacturing machine, wherein the manufacturing machine is in the initial locked state before, and continues to be in the initial locked state during, the receiving of the quality control information, the receiving information indicative of a quality standard, the comparing the quality control information to the quality standard and the determining whether the quality control information meets the quality standard; and while the manufacturing machine is still in the initial locked state, enable operation of the manufacturing machine if the quality control information meets the quality standard specific to the manufacturing machine, wherein the quality control information includes information regarding whether particular upgrades had been performed on the manufacturing machine.
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Specification