Systems and methods for externally monitoring equipment use
First Claim
1. Equipment metering/monitoring method, comprising the steps of:
- a) externally interfacing metering device with monitoring unit associated with metered equipment to determine usage history, said interfacing device having memory and a display and said monitoring unit further comprising a memory;
b) retrieving usage history information from the memory associated with the monitoring unit; and
c) storing usage history in memory associated with the metering device.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Systems and methods that can externally meter and display cumulative, noncumulative, and re-settable service hours for monitored equipment as well as provide data associated with incremental amounts of equipment usage (e.g., hours, days, etc.). System external interfaces with metered equipment to determine usage. Systems and methods of use for recording the total units of cumulative, incremental and re-settable use of equipment, such as publicly available electromechanical equipment rentals (e.g., carpet cleaners, lawn maintenance equipment, electrical generators, and audio/visual equipment. Equipment-mounted meter can performs as a data recorder for tracking metered equipment usage. A monitoring unit associated with metered equipment can be battery powered and self contained. A handheld device is adaptable to communicate with, interrogate and reset functions for metered equipment.
21 Citations
16 Claims
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1. Equipment metering/monitoring method, comprising the steps of:
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a) externally interfacing metering device with monitoring unit associated with metered equipment to determine usage history, said interfacing device having memory and a display and said monitoring unit further comprising a memory;
b) retrieving usage history information from the memory associated with the monitoring unit; and
c) storing usage history in memory associated with the metering device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A system for recording equipment usage and associated with metered equipment, comprising:
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a monitoring unit; and
a recording unit, recording the total units of metered equipment use including cumulative, incremental and re-settable use of equipment. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A system for recording metered equipment usage, comprising:
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a handheld metering device adapted to communicate with monitoring units associated with metered equipment, said handheld metering device further comprising;
a recording unit, recording the total units of metered equipment use including cumulative, incremental and re-seftable use of equipment; and
a display;
wherein said handled metering device records the total units of metered equipment use including cumulative, incremental and re-settable use of equipment. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16)
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Specification