System for providing remote access to diagnostic information over a wide area network

• US 20020181405A1
• Filed: 06/06/2002
• Published: 12/05/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 04/10/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: I/O Controls Corporation
• Original Assignee: I/O Controls Corporation
• Inventors: Ying, Jeffrey
• Granted Patent: US 7,734,287 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/245
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 17/27 for locating or positioning the transmitter
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/50 Testing arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/083 using passwords cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication using a predetermined code H04L9/3226
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/04 specially adapted for terminals or networks with limited capabilities; specially adapted for terminal portability
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/00 Supervisory, monitoring or testing arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/00 Network topologies
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/02 Hierarchically pre-organised networks, e.g. paging networks, cellular networks, WLAN [Wireless Local Area Network] or WLL [Wireless Local Loop]

Abstract

A system for facilitating diagnosis and maintenance of one or more control networks located on a mobile conveyance comprises one or more wireless ground stations configured to communicate over a wireless communication channel with a control network via a wireless interface. A local area computer network receives and responds to messages to or from the control network via the wireless ground stations. The local area computer network comprises one or more user terminals, a server computer, a database comprising diagnostic information relating to said control network, and, optionally, a replacement parts database and/or job auction database. The local area network further includes a wide area network interface, which allow either additional diagnostic information relating to the control network to be retrieved, or parts to be manually or automatically ordered from remote vendor sites. The system may also include wireless handheld, portable equipment capable of communicated with the local area network and/or wide area network, for allowing service personnel to perform diagnostic analysis, maintenance, and testing of the control network(s).

Claims

1. A system for facilitating diagnosis and maintenance of one or more control networks, comprising:

a control network located on a mobile conveyance;

a wireless interface connected to said control network;

a wireless ground station configured to communicate over a wireless communication channel with said control network via said wireless interface;

a local area computer network in communication with said wireless ground station, said local area computer network comprising

a server computer;

a database comprising diagnostic information relating to said control network; and

a wide area network interface, whereby additional diagnostic information relating to said control network is obtainable from one or more remote computers.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising at least one user terminal connected to said wireless ground station, said user terminal comprising a graphical display whereby information relating to said transmitted messages is displayed.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein said user terminal comprises a user interface and wherein said wireless ground station comprises a ground station transmitter.

5. The system of claim 1, further comprising a portable wireless diagnostic unit configured to communicate over said wireless communication channel with said control network via said wireless interface or with said local area computer network via said ground station.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein diagnostic information relating to said control network is retrieved from said database in response to a request received from said portable wireless diagnostic unit.

4. The system of claim 4, whereby instructions regarding diagnostic or test procedures are transmitted by said ground station transmitter over said wireless communication channel in response to commands entered via said user interface.

7. The system of claim 7, wherein said information relating to said control network comprises graphical information relating to said control network, said graphical information being displayed on a screen display at said wireless diagnostic device.