Portable terminal and message notifying system using the same

• US 20030139176A1
• Filed: 08/28/2002
• Published: 07/24/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 08/28/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Nakamura, Yoichi, Inoue, Hiroyuki, Fujiwara, Hiroaki, Takeda, Yoshimasa, Okumura, Kazumasa, Yasutake, Masanori
• Granted Patent: US 7,035,774 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/420
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/04 specially adapted for terminals or networks with limited capabilities; specially adapted for terminal portability
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/125 involving control of end-device applications over a network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/34 involving the movement of software or configuration parameters network booting or remote initial program loading [RIPL] G06F9/4416
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/75 Indicating network or usage conditions on the user display
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/08 Access restriction or access information delivery, e.g. discovery data delivery signalling during connection H04W76/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/16 Discovering, processing access restriction or access information

Abstract

A portable terminal carried by an operator of a target apparatus (e.g., an electronic component mounting system or a mounting apparatus incorporated in such a system), comprises: communicating means for conducting wireless communication; first information acquiring means for acquiring first information related to the target apparatus from the target apparatus via the communicating means; second information sending means for sending second information to at least one external information terminals via the communicating means based on the first information; third information acquiring means for acquiring third information from at least one external information terminal responding to the second information via the communicating means; and information outputting means for outputting an information output based on the third information.

Claims

1. A portable terminal carried by an operator of a target apparatus, comprising:

communicating means for conducting wireless communication;

first information acquiring means for acquiring first information related to said target apparatus, from said target apparatus via said communicating means;

second information sending means for sending second information to at least one external information terminal via said communicating means based on said first information;

third information acquiring means for acquiring third information from said at least one external information terminal above mentioned responding to said second information via said communicating means; and

information outputting means for outputting information based on said third information.

2. The portable terminal of claim 1, further comprising means for storing destinations representing a plurality of candidate terminals,

characterized in that said second information sending means selects said at least one external information terminal from said plurality of candidate terminals to send.

3. The portable terminal of claim 2, characterized in that said second information sending means accepts a manipulation for selection made by an operator and selects said at least one external information terminals in accordance with said manipulation for selection to send.

4. The portable terminal of claim 1, characterized in that said third information contains a plurality of information elements, and

said information outputting means selects from said plurality of information elements to output at least one selected information element.

5. The portable terminal of claim 4, characterized in that said information outputting means accepts a manipulation for selection made by an operator and selects from said plurality of information elements in accordance with said manipulation for selection to output.

6. The portable terminal of claim 1, characterized in that said information outputting means performs said information output to said target apparatus.

7. The portable terminal of claim 6, characterized in that said information outputting means outputs to said target apparatus a program to be executed in said target apparatus.

8. The portable terminal of claim 1, characterized in that said first information contains information regarding malfunction in said target apparatus.

9. The portable terminal of claim 8, characterized in that said second information sending means determines whether a degree of occurrence of malfunction in said target apparatus satisfies a predetermined transmission condition, and when said transmission condition is satisfied, sends said second information.

10. The portable terminal of claim 1, characterized in that said target apparatus is an inspection apparatus, and said first information contains an inspection result indicative of abnormality.

11. The portable terminal of claim 10, characterized in that said second information sending means determines whether a degree of acquisition of said inspection result indicative of abnormality satisfies a predetermined transmission condition, and when said transmission condition is satisfied, sends said second information.

12. The portable terminal of claim 1, characterized in that said first information is information regarding stockout of components in said target apparatus, said second information is information for inquiring about an inventory of components, and said third information is information regarding an inventory of components.

13. The portable terminal of claim 12, characterized in that said target apparatus is an apparatus for executing production using components,

said first information contains information regarding a quantity of remaining components in said target apparatus,

said second information sending means calculates estimated time before stockout based on said first information, and when said estimated time is equal to or shorter than a predetermined period of time, notifies an operator and sends said second information.

14. The portable terminal of claim 12, characterized further by comprising means for specifying one external information terminal based on said third information, and placing an order for components to said one external information terminal via said communicating means.

15. The portable terminal of claim 1, characterized in that said first information is information indicative of production progress within said target apparatus.

16. The portable terminal of claim 15, characterized in that said second information sending means compares said first information with production plan information, and when a difference between actual production and a production plan exceeds a predetermined value, sends said second information to said at least one external information terminal.

17. The portable terminal of claim 1, characterized in that said first information contains data representing an image acquired by said target apparatus.

18. The portable terminal of claim 1, further comprising display means capable of displaying an image, characterized in that said third information contains data representing an image.

19. The portable terminal of claim 1, characterized in that said first information acquiring means acquires said first information from a plurality of target apparatuses.

20. The portable terminal of claim 1, characterized by further comprising means for converting a language of character information.

21. The portable terminal of claim 3, characterized by further comprising means for accepting, in the form of speech, a manipulation for selection made by an operator.

22. A message notifying system for detecting information created during a run of a production facility disposed for a process of producing goods, and for notifying, in the form of a message, an operator of data identified as target of notification based on said information, comprising:

an information receiver unit for receiving said information from said production facility;

an information summation unit for registering current state information representing the current state of said production facility, based on said information received by said receiver unit, and for selecting, as target data of notification, said current state information predictive of a halt of said production facility before said production facility comes into a halt;

a data sending unit for sending said target data of notification selected by said information summation unit; and

a data receipt notifying unit, carried by an operator, for receiving said target data of notification sent from said data sending unit, and for notifying said operator of said target data of notification.

23. The message notifying system of claim 22, characterized in that said target data of notification contains speech data in at least a portion of said target data of notification, and

said data receipt notifying unit automatically receives said target data of notification, and further comprises a speech data notifying unit allowing said operator to auditorily recognize said speech data directly.

24. The message notifying system of claim 22, characterized in that said production facility is a mounting facility disposed for a step of mounting electronic components on a printed circuit board.

25. The message notifying system of claim 24, characterized in that said information is production speed information regarding said mounting facility and remaining quantity information about electronic components supplied to said mounting facility for mounting, and

said information summation unit calculates, from said remaining quantity information and said production speed information, estimated time when said components to be mounted run short in said mounting facility, and selects, as said target data of notification, said information of current state where said estimated time is shorter than set time for a target of notification.

26. The message notifying system of claim 25, characterized in that said information summation unit sets a plurality of said set time and accordingly selects said target data of notification in accordance with said plurality of set time.

27. The message notifying system of claim 24, characterized in that said information is noncompliant information representing noncompliance with a production operation in and mounting quality of said mounting facility, and

said information summation unit selects, as said target data of notification, said information of current state where said noncompliant information is poorer than a set condition for a target of notification.

28. The message notifying system of claim 24, characterized in that said information is production progress information representing production progress within said mounting facility, and

said information summation unit selects, as said target data of notification, said information of current state where said production progress information is less than a set quantity for a target of notification.

29. The message notifying system of claim 24, characterized in that said information is trouble information representing a trouble-induced halt in said mounting facility, and

said information summation unit selects, as said target data of notification, said information of current state where said trouble information matches with a set content for a target of notification.

30. The message notifying system of claim 24, characterized in that said information summation unit further comprises a receipt managing unit for associating said current state information with unique values corresponding to said respective data receipt notifying units,

said information summation unit, when selecting said target data of notification from said current state information, also selects said unique value associated in said receipt managing unit, and

said data sending unit sends said target data of notification to said data receipt notifying unit corresponding to said unique value.

31. The message notifying system of claim 30, characterized in that said receipt managing unit associates said current state information with a plurality of said unique values in a group, and

said data sending unit sends said target data of notification to said plurality of data receipt notifying units corresponding to said unique values in said group.

32. A message notifying system for detecting information created during a run of a mounting facility disposed for a step of mounting electronic components on a printed circuit board, and for notifying, in the form of a message, an operator of data identified as a target of notification based on said information, comprising:

an information receiver unit for receiving said information from said mounting facility;

an information summation unit for registering current state information representing the current state of said mounting facility based on said information received by said information receiver unit, and to select said current state information predictive of a halt of said mounting facility as target data of notification before said mounting facility comes into a halt; and

a data sending unit for sending said target data of notification selected by said information summation unit.

33. A message notifying method of message notifying system for detecting information created during a run of a production facility disposed for a process of producing goods, and for notifying, in the form of a message, an operator of data identified as a target of notification based on said information, comprising:

an information receiving step of receiving said information from said production facility;

an information summation step of registering current state information representing the current state of said production facility based on said information received at said information receiving step, and of selecting, as target data of notification, said current state information predictive of a halt of said production facility before said production facility comes into a halt;

a data sending step of sending said target data of notification selected at said information summation step; and

a data receipt notifying step of receiving said target data of notification sent from said data sending step, and of notifying said operator of said target data of notification, through the portable terminal carried by an operator.

34. The message notifying method of claim 33, characterized in that said target data of notification contains speech data in at least a portion of said target data of notification, and

at said data receipt notifying step, said target data of notification are automatically received, and said data receipt notifying step further includes a speech data notifying step of allowing said operator to auditorily recognize said speech data directly.

35. The message notifying method of claim 33, characterized in that said production facility is a mounting facility disposed for a step of mounting electronic components on a printed circuit board.

36. The message notifying method of claim 35, characterized in that said information is production speed information regarding said mounting facility and remaining quantity information about electronic components supplied to said mounting facility for mounting, and

at said information summation step, estimated time when said components to be mounted run short in said mounting facility is calculated from said remaining quantity information and said production speed information, and said information of current state where said estimated time is shorter than set time for a target of notification is selected as said target data of notification.

37. The message notifying method of claim 36, characterized in that at said information summation step, a plurality of said set time are set, and said target data of notification is selected in accordance with said plurality of set time.

38. The message notifying method of claim 35, characterized in that said information is noncompliant information representing noncompliance with a manufacturing operation in and mounting quality of said mounting facility, and

at said information summation step, said information of current state where said noncompliant information is poorer than a set condition for a target of notification is selected as said target data of notification.

39. The message notifying method of claim 35, characterized in that said information is production progress information representing production progress within said mounting facility, and

at said information summation step, said information of current state where said production progress information is less than a set quantity for a target of notification is selected as said target data of notification.

40. The message notifying method of claim 35, characterized in that said information is trouble information representing a trouble-induced halt in said mounting facility, and

at said information summation step, said information of current state where said trouble information matches with a set content for a target of notification is selected as said target data of notification.

41. The message notifying method of claim 35, characterized in that said information summation step further comprises a receipt managing step of associating said current state information with unique values corresponding to said respective data receipt notifying steps,

at said information summation step, when said target data of notification from said current state information is selected, said unique value associated in said receipt managing step is also selected, and

at said data sending step, said target data of notification are fed to said data receipt notifying step corresponding to said unique value.

42. The message notifying method of claim 41, characterized in that at said receipt managing step, said current state information is associated with a plurality of said unique values in a group, and

at said data sending step, said target data of notification are fed to said plurality of data receipt notifying steps corresponding to said unique values in said group.

43. A message notifying method for detecting information created during a run of a mounting facility disposed for a step of mounting electronic components on a printed circuit board, and for notifying, in the form of a message, an operator of data identified as a target of notification based on said information, comprising:

an information receiving step of receiving said information from said mounting facility;

an information summation step of registering current state information representing the current state of said mounting facility based on said information received at said information receiving step, and of selecting, as target data of notification, said current state information predictive of a halt of said mounting facility before said mounting facility comes into a halt; and

a data sending step of sending said target data of notification selected at said information summation step.

44. A message notifying program, executed by a computer and for detecting information created during a run of a production facility disposed for a process of producing goods, and for notifying, in the form of a message, an operator of data identified as a target of notification based on said information, comprising:

an information receiving step of receiving said information from said production facility;

an information summation step of registering current state information representing the current state of said production facility based on said information received at said information receiving step, and of selecting said current state information predictive of a halt of said production facility as target data of notification before said production facility comes into a halt;

a data sending step of sending said target data of notification selected at said information summation step; and

a data receipt notifying step of receiving said target data of notification sent at said data sending step, and of notifying said operator of said target data of notification, through the portable terminal carried by an operator.

45. The message notifying program of claim 44, characterized in that said target data of notification contains speech data in at least a portion of said target data of notification, and

at said data receipt notifying step, said target data of notification are automatically received, and said data receipt notifying step further includes a speech data notifying step of allowing said operator to auditorily recognize said speech data directly.

46. The message notifying program of claim 44, characterized in that said production facility is a mounting facility disposed for a step of mounting electronic components on a printed circuit.

47. The message notifying program of claim 46, characterized in that said information is production speed information regarding said production facility and remaining quantity information about electronic components supplied to said production facility for mounting, and

at said information summation step, estimated time when said components to be mounted run short in said mounting facility is calculated from said remaining quantity information and said production speed information, and said information of current state where said estimated time is shorter than set time for a target of notification is selected as said target data of notification.

48. The message notifying program of claim 47, characterized in that at said information summation step, a plurality of said set time are set, and said target data of notification is selected in accordance with said plurality of set time.

49. The message notifying program of claim 46, characterized in that said information is noncompliant information representing noncompliance with a manufacturing operation in and mounting quality of said mounting facility, and

at said information summation step, said information of current state where said noncompliant information is poorer than a set condition for a target of notification is selected as said target data of notification.

50. The message notifying program of claim 46, characterized in that said information is production progress information representing production progress within said mounting facility, and

at said information summation step, said information of current state where said production progress information is less than a set quantity for a target of notification is selected as said target data of notification.

51. The message notifying program of claim 46, characterized in that said information is trouble information representing a trouble-induced halt in said mounting facility, and

at said information summation step, said information of current state where said trouble information matches with a set content for a target of notification is selected as said target data of notification.

52. The message notifying program of claim 46, characterized in that said information summation step further comprises a receipt managing step of associating said current state information with unique values corresponding to said respective data receipt notifying steps,

at said information summation step, when said target data of notification is selected from said current state information, said unique value associated in said receipt managing step is also selected, and

at said data sending step, said target data of notification are fed to said data receipt notifying step corresponding to said unique value.

53. The message notifying program of claim 52, characterized in that at said receipt managing step, said current state information is associated with a plurality of said unique values in a group, and

at said data sending step, said target data of notification are fed to said plurality of data receipt notifying steps corresponding to said unique values in said group.

54. A message notifying program, executed by a computer, and for detecting information created during a run of a mounting facility disposed for a step of mounting electronic components on a printed circuit, and for notifying, in the form of a message, an operator of data identified as a target of notification based on said information, comprising:

an information receiving step of receiving said information from said mounting facility;

an information summation step of registering current state information representing the current state of said mounting facility based on said information received at said information receiving step, and of selecting, as target data of notification, said current state information predictive of a halt of said mounting before said mounting facility comes into a halt; and

a data sending step of sending said target data of notification selected by said information summation unit.