Remote interface for a mobile storage system or other equipment

• US 20060075322A1
• Filed: 06/13/2003
• Published: 04/06/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/14/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Spacesaver Corporation (Krueger International Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Spacesaver Corporation (Krueger International Incorporated)
• Inventors: McHenry, William B, Lynt, William W.R III
• Granted Patent: US 7,769,486 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/221
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 53/02 Cabinet systems, e.g. consisting of cabinets arranged in a row with means to open or close passages between adjacent cabinets
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling

Abstract

A communication system for providing the ability to control, monitor or diagnose equipment such as a mobile storage system having a series of movable storage units. Each storage unit includes a controller or operational interface, and a communication interface is interconnected with the controller. The communication interface preferably provides access to the controller via the Internet, which enables access to the controller from virtually any location without the need for dedicated communication software. The communication system enables an owner to have access to information on the mobile storage system from any location, and also enables local service personnel and a manufacturer'"'"'s customer service personnel to access information on the system from any location to assist in troubleshooting, servicing and maintenance.

Claims

1. A mobile storage system, comprising:

a series of movable storage units in a first location, wherein each storage unit includes an operating interface for providing information as to one or more operating parameters of the movable storage unit; and

a communication system configured to interact with each operating interface, wherein the communication system is configured to provide access to the operating interfaces of the movable storage units from a second location that is remote from the first location.

2. The mobile storage system of claim 1, wherein each movable storage unit includes a controller interconnected with the operating interface, wherein the controller is configured to control operation of one or more components of the movable storage unit and to sense one or more operating parameters of the movable storage unit, and wherein the communication system interacts with the controller through the operating interface for controlling operation of the movable storage unit and sensing one or more operating parameters of the movable storage unit from the second location.

3. The mobile storage system of claim 2, wherein the communication system is configured to operate via a global computer network.

4. The mobile storage system of claim 3, wherein the communication system includes a communication gateway in the first location that is interconnected in the global computer network, and a communication interface interposed between the communication gateway and each operating interface.

5. The mobile storage system of claim 3, wherein the communication system is configured to initiate communication in the event the operating interface senses that one or more operating parameters of at least one of the movable storage units are out of conformance with predetermined characteristics of the one or more operating parameters.

6. In a mobile storage system including one more movable storage modules in a first location, wherein a controller in the first location controls operating characteristics of the movable storage modules, the improvement comprising a communication arrangement interconnected with the controller, wherein the communication arrangement is configured to enable a user to interact with the controller to control and/or sense operating characteristics of at least one of the movable storage modules from a second location remote from the first location.

7. The improvement of claim 6, wherein the mobile storage system is configured such that each movable storage module includes a controller.

8. The improvement of claim 7, wherein each movable storage module includes an operating interface interconnected with the controller for providing the controller with information as to one or more operating parameters of the movable storage module, and wherein the communication arrangement is interconnected with the operating interface so as to enable interaction with the controller from the second location through the operating interface and to enable access to information as to the one or more operating parameters of the movable storage module from the second location through the operating interface.

9. The improvement of claim 8, wherein the communication arrangement is configured to provide communication with the operating interface of each movable storage module via a global computer network.

10. The improvement of claim 9, wherein the communication arrangement includes a communication interface interconnected with each operating interface for establishing communication between the global computer network and the operating interface.

11. The improvement of claim 10, wherein the communication arrangement further includes a communication gateway interposed between the global computer network and each communication interface for controlling access to the communication interfaces from the global computer network.

12. A method of interfacing with a mobile storage system in a first location, comprising the steps of interconnecting an operating interface with the mobile storage system, wherein the operating interface includes information as to one or more operating characteristics of the mobile storage system, and establishing communication with the interface from a second location remote from the first location to provide access to the information as to the one or more operating characteristics of the mobile storage system.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the step of establishing communication with the operating interface includes sensing and/or controlling one or more operating characteristics of the mobile storage system from the second location through the operating interface.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the step of establishing communication with the operating interface is carried out through a communication interface operably interconnected with the operating interface.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the mobile storage system includes a series of movable storage members, wherein each storage member includes an operating interface and wherein a communication interface is interconnected with each operating interface, and wherein the step of establishing communication with each operating interface is carried out through the communication interface interconnected with the operating interface.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein the step of establishing communication with the operating interface is carried out using a global computer network.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the operating interface is interconnected with a communication interface, and wherein the step of establishing communication with the operating interface is carried out through a communication gateway interposed between the communication interface and the global computer network.

18. A mobile storage system, comprising:

a storage arrangement located in a first location and including one or more movable storage members, wherein the storage arrangement includes operating means for controlling and/or sensing operation of the one or more movable storage members; and

communication means interconnected with the operating means for interacting with the operating means at a second location remote from the first location, to control and/or sense operation of the one or more movable storage members from the second location.

19. The mobile storage system of claim 18, wherein the communication means includes communication interface means that is accessible from the second location and is interconnected with the operating means, for establishing communication with the operating means.

20. The mobile storage system of claim 19, wherein the communication means is configured to provide access from the second location using a global computer network.

21. The mobile storage system of claim 20, further comprising communication gateway means for restricting access to the communication interface means from the global computer network.

22. The mobile storage system of claim 19, wherein the communication interface means includes means for initiating communication in response to detection by the operating means that one or more operating characteristics of the mobile storage system are abnormal.