System and method of remote maintenance management, corresponding management assembly and corresponding software product

• US 20020147804A1
• Filed: 03/12/2002
• Published: 10/10/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 03/12/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Thomson Licensing SA (Vantiva SA)
• Original Assignee: Thomson Licensing SA (Vantiva SA)
• Inventors: Cosmao, Michel, Chevance, Christophe
• Application Number:
  US10/096,049
• Publication Number:
  US 20020147804A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/223
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2805 Home Audio Video Interoperability [HAVI] networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2814 Exchanging control software or macros for controlling appliance services in a home automation network arrangements for maintenance or administration involving configuration of the network and network elements H04L41/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/00 Arrangements for maintenance, administration or management of data switching networks, e.g. of packet switching networks

Abstract

System and method of remote maintenance management, corresponding management assembly and corresponding software product

The present invention relates to a system 1 and a method of remote maintenance management via a communication network 2, of appliances Aj_k, A′j_k.

The system comprises modules for registering 11 and 21, modules for recording 12 and 22 information in databases BD_U, BD_C and BD_R, modules for managing 13 and 23 these bases, and modules for communicating 14 and 24 results of operating tests on the appliances via the network, respectively for users Uj, U′j and maintenance service providers Ci and Ri. The communication module 24 also communicates information contained in the user database BD_U to the providers Ci and Ri. The results of the tests make it possible to compile diagnostics regarding the state of operation of the appliances.

Application to a remote maintenance portal.

Claims

1. System for remote maintenance management via a communication network, comprising:

a user module for registering, via the network, users of appliances for the maintenance of said appliances,

a user module for communication via said network to the management system, of results of operating tests on said appliances, said results making it possible to compile diagnostics regarding the state of operation of said appliances,

and a provider module for communication via said network to providers of maintenance services, of information regarding said users and said results of the operating tests on said appliances,

characterized in that said management system comprises;

a user module for recording information regarding said users and said appliances in at least one user database,

a user module for managing the user database,

a provider module for registering via the network, providers of maintenance services of said appliances,

a provider module for recording information regarding said providers of maintenance services in at least one provider database,

and a provider module for managing the provider database,

and in that the provider module for communication is designed in particular to communicate via said network to the providers of maintenance services, information contained in the user database.

2. Maintenance management system according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a module for triggering via said network by the providers of maintenance services self-tests in the appliances of said users and for communicating the results of said tests by the user and provider communication modules.

3. Maintenance management system according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a telemaintenance operations control module intended to allow said providers to perform said operations on said appliances via said network, after having compiled diagnostics as a function of the results of the tests.

4. Maintenance management system according to claim 1, characterized in that said maintenance comprises repairs of the defective appliances.

5. Maintenance management system according to claim 1, characterized in that said maintenance comprises updates of software for operating said appliances.

6. Maintenance management system according to claim 1, characterized in that said maintenance comprises updates of resources of said appliances.

7. Maintenance management system according to claim 1, characterized in that the user modules are designed to associate with at least some of said users respectively assemblies of said appliances, each of said assemblies forming a home network.

8. Maintenance management system according to claim 7, characterized in that the communication modules are designed to communicate the results of the tests pertaining on the one hand to the internal operation of said appliances and on the other hand to the operation of interconnections between the appliances of each of the home networks.

9. Maintenance management system according to claim 1, characterized in that the communication network comprises a digital network, preferably the Internet network.

10. Assembly for remote maintenance management via a communication network, comprising a system for maintenance management via said network and user interface units, the management system being designed to allow remote maintenance of appliances of said users,

characterized in that said management system complies with claim 1 and in that the management assembly also comprises maintenance services provider interface units, said management assembly being designed to allow said maintenance by means of said provider interface units.

11. Method of remote maintenance management via a communication network, in which, by means of a maintenance management system:

users of appliances are enabled to register via the network for the maintenance of said appliances,

results of operating tests on said appliances are communicated via the network to said management system,

and information regarding said users and said results of the operating tests on said appliances, are communicated via the network to providers of maintenance services,

characterized in that by means of said management system;

information regarding said users and said appliances is recorded in at least one user database and said database is managed, said management system having access to the user database,

maintenance service providers are enabled to register via the network for the maintenance of said appliances,

information regarding said providers is recorded in at least one provider database and said database is managed,

and said information contained in said user database, is communicated via the network to said providers,

said method being preferably implemented by means of a maintenance management system complying with claim 1.

12. Software product comprising functionalities of management of maintenance of appliances (Aj_k, A′

j_k) via a communication network,

characterized in that said functionalities are designed to embody the modules of a management system complying with claim 1.