User interface to aid system installation

• US 20050125118A1
• Filed: 12/03/2003
• Published: 06/09/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/03/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Uber Technologies, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Telcontar
• Inventors: Chalker, Matt D., Kim, Jeffrey, Woo, Christina
• Granted Patent: US 7,221,267 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/33
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/453 Help systems

Abstract

A system and method is provided that allows an installer to obtain detailed installation instructions specific to the hardware to be installed as well as the system to which the hardware is to be installed. The instructions are provided to the installer via a user interface, the interface permitting the installer to efficiently complete the installation process. In addition to step-by-step instructions and/or visual installation aids, the system allows the installer to quickly obtain additional details relating to a specific subsystem or component.

Claims

1. A method of communicating hardware installation instructions to a hardware installer, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving a set of hardware specifications corresponding to a hardware system by a remote processing system from a wireless user interface;

obtaining a set of installation instructions from a data base coupled to said remote processing system; and

transmitting said set of installation instructions to said wireless user interface from said remote processing system.

2. A method of communicating alarm installation instructions to a user, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving a set of alarm hardware specifications corresponding to an alarm system by a remote processing system from a wireless user interface;

receiving a set of vehicle specifications corresponding to a particular vehicle to which said alarm system is to be installed by said remote processing system from said wireless user interface;

obtaining a set of installation instructions from a data base coupled to said remote processing system, said set of installation instructions particular to said set of received alarm hardware specifications and said set of received vehicle specifications; and

transmitting said set of installation instructions to said wireless user interface from said remote processing system.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising the step of receiving a set of interface capabilities by said remote processing system from said user interface, wherein said step of receiving said set of interface capabilities is performed prior to said transmitting step.

4. The method of claim 2, further comprising the step of receiving a set of interface communication preferences by said remote processing system from said user interface, wherein said step of receiving said set of interface communication preferences is performed prior to said transmitting step.

5. The method of claim 2, further comprising the steps of:

initializing said remote processing system; and

transmitting a request for said set of alarm hardware specifications and said set of vehicle specifications to said user interface from said remote processing system.

6. The method of claim 2, further comprising the step of periodically updating said set of installation instructions in said data base to reflect changes in available alarm hardware and available vehicles.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein said periodic updating step is performed automatically.

8. The method of claim 2, further comprising the steps of:

synthesizing said set of installation instructions into a set of audible instructions; and

audibly presenting said set of synthesized installation instructions via said user interface.

9. The method of claim 2, further comprising the steps of:

receiving a request from said user interface to perform a test on a specific aspect of said alarm hardware; and

initializing a test sequence designed to perform said test on said specific aspect of said alarm hardware, wherein said test sequence is initialized by said processing system.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising the steps of:

monitoring said alarm hardware; and

transmitting results of said test sequence to said wireless user interface from said remote processing system.

11. A method of communicating alarm installation instructions to a user, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving a set of alarm hardware specifications corresponding to an alarm system by a remote processing system from a wireless user interface;

receiving a set of vehicle specifications corresponding to a particular vehicle to which said alarm system is to be installed by said remote processing system from said wireless user interface;

obtaining a set of installation instructions from a data base coupled to said remote processing system, said set of installation instructions particular to said set of received alarm hardware specifications and said set of received vehicle specifications;

transmitting an initial portion of said set of installation instructions to said wireless user interface from said remote processing system;

transmitting a request for an additional portion of said set of installation instructions to said remote processing system from said wireless user interface; and

transmitting said additional portion of said set of installation instructions to said wireless user interface from said remote processing system in response to said transmitted request, wherein said steps of transmitting requests for additional portions of said set of installation instructions and transmitting additional portions in response to said transmitted requests are performed at least once.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein said step of transmitting said initial portion of said set of installation instructions is performed in response to a step of transmitting said request for said initial portion of said set of installation instructions to said remote processing system from said wireless user interface.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein said step of obtaining said set of installation instructions from said data base comprises the step of obtaining said set of installation instructions in portions, wherein said portions correspond to said portions transmitted to said wireless user interface from said remote processing system.

14. A method of communicating alarm installation instructions to a user, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving a set of alarm hardware specifications corresponding to an alarm system by a remote processing system from a wireless user interface;

receiving a set of vehicle specifications corresponding to a particular vehicle to which said alarm system is to be installed by said remote processing system from said wireless user interface;

obtaining a set of installation instructions from a data base coupled to said remote processing system, said set of installation instructions particular to said set of received alarm hardware specifications and said set of received vehicle specifications;

transmitting a request for a specific portion of said set of installation instructions to said remote processing system from said wireless user interface; and

transmitting said specific portion of said set of installation instructions to said wireless user interface from said remote processing system in response to said transmitted request.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein said specific portion corresponds to a specific aspect of said alarm system.

16. The method of claim 14, further comprising the steps of:

transmitting a request to said remote processing system from said wireless user interface for additional installation information relating to said specific portion of said set of installation instructions;

obtaining said additional installation information from said data base; and

transmitting said additional installation information to said wireless user interface from said remote processing system.

17. A system for retrieving installation data, the system comprising:

a processing system, said processing system comprising;

a data base coupled to said processing system, said data base containing installation data corresponding to a plurality of different hardware systems;

means for receiving requests for installation data corresponding to one of said plurality of different hardware systems;

means for obtaining the requested installation data corresponding to said one of said plurality of different hardware systems from said data base;

means for transmitting the requested installation data corresponding to said one of said plurality of different hardware systems;

a bidirectional, wireless communication link in communication with said processing system;

at least one user interface in wireless communication with said processing system via said bidirectional, wireless communication link, said at least one user interface comprising;

means for transmitting requests to said processing system for said installation data corresponding to said one of said plurality of different hardware, systems;

means for receiving said installation data corresponding to said one of said plurality of different hardware systems from said processing system; and

means for presenting said installation data corresponding to said one of said plurality of different hardware systems.

18. A system for retrieving alarm installation data, the system comprising:

a processing system, said processing system comprising;

a data base coupled to said processing system, said data base containing alarm installation data corresponding to a plurality of different alarm systems;

means for receiving requests for alarm installation data corresponding to one of said plurality of different alarm systems;

means for obtaining the requested alarm installation data corresponding to said one of said plurality of different alarm systems from said data base;

means for transmitting the requested alarm installation data corresponding to said one of said plurality of different alarm systems;

a bi-directional, wireless communication link in communication with said processing system;

at least one user interface in wireless communication with said processing system via said bidirectional, wireless communication link, said at least one user interface comprising;

means for transmitting requests to said processing system for said alarm installation data corresponding to said one of said plurality of different alarm systems;

means for receiving said alarm installation data corresponding to said one of said plurality of different alarm systems from said processing system;

means for presenting said alarm installation data corresponding to said one of said plurality of different alarm systems.

19. The system for retrieving alarm installation data of claim 18, wherein said data base contains vehicle data corresponding to a plurality of different vehicle systems, wherein said processing system further comprises means for receiving input data from said at least one user interface, said input data corresponding to an identification of one of said plurality of different vehicle systems, wherein said requested alarm installation data is specific to said one of said plurality of different vehicle systems.

20. The system for retrieving alarm installation data of claim 18, wherein said bi-directional, wireless communication link is a telephone system.

21. The system for retrieving alarm installation data of claim 18, wherein said data base is internal to said processing system.

22. The system for retrieving alarm installation data of claim 18, wherein said data base is coupled to said processing system by a bi-directional data link.

23. The system for retrieving alarm installation data of claim 18, wherein said data base further comprises a plurality of independent data storage systems and a communication network coupling said plurality of independent data storage systems.

24. The system for retrieving alarm installation data of claim 23, wherein said communication network further comprises a telephone system.

25. The system for retrieving alarm installation data of claim 23, wherein said communication network further comprises a cellular telephone network.

26. The system for retrieving alarm installation data of claim 23, wherein said communication network further comprises an Internet link.

27. The system for retrieving alarm installation data of claim 18, wherein said means for presenting said alarm installation data further comprises at least one microphone and at least one speaker.

28. The system for retrieving alarm installation data of claim 18, further comprising:

a two-way earpiece in wireless communication with said at least one user interface, wherein said two-way earpiece comprises at least one microphone and at least one speaker; and

a short range wireless communication network providing a wireless communication link between said two-way earpiece and said at least one user interface.

29. The system for retrieving alarm installation data of claim 28, wherein said short range wireless communication network utilizes a Bluetooth enabled technology.

30. The system for retrieving alarm installation data of claim 28, wherein said short range wireless communication network utilizes an IEEE802.11 enabled technology.

31. The system for retrieving alarm installation data of claim 18, wherein said processing system further comprises a speech recognition system and a voice synthesis system.

32. The system for retrieving alarm installation data of claim 18, wherein said at least one user interface further comprises a speech recognition system and a voice synthesis system.

33. The system for retrieving alarm installation data of claim 18, wherein said at least one user interface is integrated into a cellular telephone.

34. The system for retrieving alarm installation data of claim 18, wherein said at least one user interface is integrated into a personal digital assistant.