Method and apparatus for scheduling maintenance and repair
First Claim
1. A system scheduling an activity comprising:
- a computer system;
a transaction file containing records, each of said records describing an activity; and
a software module running on said computer system and configured to periodically scan said transaction file for an activity that is due to be performed or an activity that is about to be due to be performed or an activity that is over due to be performed;
wherein said software module initiates a pop-up message on a monitor associated with said activity if said activity is due, is about to be due or is over due.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus for scheduling the calibration, repair, maintenance or upgrade of one or more instruments is described. The method and apparatus includes a timer function that initiates a scan of a transaction database, looking for any transaction that is about to be due, is due or is past due, and upon finding such, initiates a pop-up message at the monitor of an operator that is associated with that transaction, so that the operator will know that they need to perform the associated activity on the associated instrument. Within the pop-up may be a link to directly access a calibration, repair, maintenance or upgrade procedure and possibly a link to a manual for the instrument.
10 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A system scheduling an activity comprising:
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a computer system;
a transaction file containing records, each of said records describing an activity; and
a software module running on said computer system and configured to periodically scan said transaction file for an activity that is due to be performed or an activity that is about to be due to be performed or an activity that is over due to be performed;
wherein said software module initiates a pop-up message on a monitor associated with said activity if said activity is due, is about to be due or is over due. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A computer-implemented method for scheduling an activity comprising:
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periodically scanning a set of transactions for an activity that is due or is about to be due or is past due; and
for each transaction that is about to be due, due or over due;
initiating a pop-up message at a monitor associated with said each transaction, said pop-up message indicating that said each transaction is about to be due, is due or is over due; and
providing a link within said pop-up message to an on-line procedure associated with said each transaction. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A means for scheduling an activity comprising:
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means for creating and maintaining a set of transactions;
means for periodically scanning said set of transactions for individual transactions that are about to be due, are due, or are over due;
means for initiating a pop-up message on a monitor associated with said individual transactions that are about to be due, are due or are over due; and
means for updating said individual transaction after an activity associated with said individual transaction has been completed. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16)
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17. A computer-implemented method for scheduling an activity comprising:
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providing a set of transactions, each individual transaction within said set of transactions including at least an instrument identifier, an operator identifier, an activity, an activity due date, an activity complete date and a link to a procedure;
periodically scanning said set of transactions for one or more active transactions that has an empty activity complete date and an activity due date that is due or is about to be due or is past due; and
for each of said active transactions;
initiating a pop-up message at a monitor associated with said operator identifier, said pop-up message indicating that said active transaction is about to be due, is due or is over due, said pop-up message also including a displayed link to said procedure. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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Specification