Method and apparatus for storing and retrieving data stored within a piece of equipment

• US 20040049508A1
• Filed: 09/10/2002
• Published: 03/11/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/10/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Thermo Fisher Scientific Asheville LLC (Thermo Fisher Scientific Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Thermo Fisher Scientific Asheville LLC (Thermo Fisher Scientific Incorporated)
• Inventors: Elwood, Bryan M., Bair, Richard H. III, Luyckx, Ronald W., Tipton, Walter J.
• Granted Patent: US 7,433,890 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 707/9
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0723 the record carrier comprising an arrangement for non-contact communication, e.g. wireless communication circuits on transponder cards, non-contact smart cards or RFIDs
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99939 Privileged access
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99945 Object-oriented database structure processing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99948 Application of database or data structure, e.g. distributed, multimedia, or image
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99953 Recoverability

Abstract

A method and apparatus that includes a storage device for securing data about an apparatus. The data is stored in a central location and can be accessed or written based upon privileges granted by a processor.

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising:

a storage device wherein data related to the apparatus is stored and available for retrieval;

a processor that is linked to the storage device;

a remote receiver linked to the processor wherein the remote receiver receives a request to access the storage device; and

a remote transmitter linked to the processor.

2. The apparatus as in claim 1, wherein the storage device is non-volatile memory.

3. The apparatus as in claim 1, wherein the data is secured to the storage device.

4. The apparatus as in claim 3, wherein the data is secured by assigning read and write privileges.

5. The apparatus as in claim 1, wherein the data is informational data concerning the mechanical apparatus.

6. The apparatus as in claim 5, wherein the informational data is at least comprised of the serial number.

7. The apparatus as in claim 1, wherein the remote receiver is an infrared detector.

8. The apparatus as in claim 1, wherein the remote transmitter is an infrared transmitter.

9. The apparatus as in claim 1, wherein the remote receiver is a BLUETOOTH™

detector.

10. The apparatus as in claim 1, wherein the remote transmitter is a BLUETOOTH™

transmitter.

11. A method for remotely accessing and retrieving data from an apparatus, comprising:

processing a signal received for access to the data;

determining the level of access based upon the signal;

if access is granted, retrieving the data from a storage device that is linked to the apparatus;

remotely transmitting the data; and

if access is not allowed, remotely transmitting a deny signal.

12. The method as in claim 11, further comprising processing a store signal to store data on the storage device from requestor.

13. The method as in claim 12, further comprising determining whether the requestor has privileges to store data on the storage device.

14. The method as in claim 13, further comprising storing the data on the storage device linked to the apparatus, if the requester has privileges to write data to the storage device.

15. The method as in claim 14, further comprising securing the data stored on the storage device.

16. The method as in claim 14, wherein the data is secured by granting read and write privileges to the storage device.

17. The method as in claim 11, further comprising linking the storage device to a remote location.

18. The method as in claim 17, further comprising accessing the data from the remote location.

19. The method as in claim 18, further comprising storing the data at the remote location.

21. The apparatus as in claim 11, further comprising means for securing the data stored on the means for storing.

22. The apparatus as in claim 21, wherein the data is secured by a means for granting read and write privileges to the means for storing data.

20. An apparatus for remotely accessing and retrieving data from a mechanical apparatus, comprising:

means for storing data that is related to the apparatus;

means for retrieving the data from the means for storing upon the reception of a remote retrieve signal; and

means for remotely transmitting the data.

23. The apparatus as in claim 20, further comprising means for storing data upon the reception of a remote storage signal.

24. The apparatus as in claim 20, further comprising means for linking the means for storing to a remote location.

25. The apparatus as in claim 24, further comprising means for accessing the data from the remote location.

26. The apparatus as in claim 25, further comprising remote means storing the data at the remote location.

27. An apparatus for remotely accessing and retrieving data on a mechanical device comprising:

a storage device to store data related to the mechanical apparatus; and

a remote access to retrieve the data.

28. An apparatus as in claim 27, wherein the remote access receives data to store on the storage device.