Systems and methods providing for remote system design

• US 20070027564A1
• Filed: 07/27/2005
• Published: 02/01/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 07/27/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Pool Power LLC
• Original Assignee: Pool Power LLC
• Inventors: Walters, Eric
• Granted Patent: US 7,283,884 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/97
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling

Abstract

A two-way communication and data transfer system allows a field technician and a designer to work together to create a retrofit design for a flow system, make a cost estimate for the retrofit, and gather an approval from a customer all in a single visit to the customer site. The field technician can utilize a remote unit including a digital camera, data entry device, and communication device, which allows the technician to transfer images and dimension information about the existing system to a base unit. A designer can take this information from the base unit and generate a virtual design for a new system, allowing a virtual view and cost estimate to be generated for display to the customer. The technician and the designer can communicate during the process to improve the accuracy of the design and estimate.

Claims

1. A system providing for remote system design, comprising:

a remote unit including a first data transfer device operable to allow an operator to transmit image and dimension information about a first location for a system to be installed, the remote unit further including a remote voice communicator and a display device; and

a base unit located at a second location and operable to receive the image and dimension information from the remote unit through a second data transfer device, the base unit including a base voice communicator allowing an operator of the base unit to communicate with a user of the remote voice communicator regarding the image and dimension information, the base unit further operable to transmit to the remote unit a system design generated using the image and dimension information, the system design capable of being displayed via the display device of the remote unit.

2. A system according to claim 1, wherein:

the remote unit further includes an image capture device operable to capture the image information about the first location.

3. A system according to claim 1, wherein:

the first location includes at least one object to be removed.

4. A system according to claim 1, wherein:

the base unit is further operable to transmit to the remote unit any cost information generated using the image and dimension information.

5. A system according to claim 4, wherein:

the remote unit further includes a printing device for printing at least one of the cost information and the system design.

6. A system according to claim 1, wherein:

the remote unit includes a data entry device allowing input of the dimension information.

7. A system according to claim 1, wherein:

the remote unit further includes a payment device allowing for payment of installation of the system design at the first location.

8. A system according to claim 1, wherein:

the base unit further includes a graphical device for generating an electronic view of the system design.

9. A system according to claim 1, wherein:

the base voice communicator further allows the operator of the base unit to request additional information from the user of the remote voice communicator regarding the first location.

10. A system according to claim 1, wherein:

the remote voice communicator and the first data transfer device are contained within a single component.

11. A system according to claim 1, wherein:

the remote voice communicator is not connected to other components of the remote unit.

12. A remote unit for use in remote system design, comprising:

an image capture device operable to capture an image of a location for a system to be designed;

a data entry device operable to allow entry of various dimensions for the location;

a data transfer device operable to provide for transmission of the image and various dimensions to a remote location, and receipt of system design information from the remote location; and

a communications device operable to provide communication between an operator of the remote unit and a user at the remote location regarding the image and various dimensions for use in generating the system design information.

13. A remote unit according to claim 12, further comprising:

a printing device in communication with the data transfer device and operable to print the system design information.

14. A remote unit according to claim 12, further comprising:

a payment device allowing for payment of installation of the system design at the first location.

15. A remote unit according to claim 12, further comprising:

a display device operable to display the system design information.

16. A base unit for use in remote system design, comprising:

a data transfer device operable to provide for receipt from a remote unit of image and dimension information for a system to be designed;

a communications device operable to provide communication between an operator of the remote unit and a user of the base unit regarding the image and dimension information;

a design kit operable to allow the user to design the system using the image and dimension information; and

a graphics manipulation device operable to allow the user to create a virtual view of the system, the data transfer device further operable to transmit the virtual view of the system to the remote unit.

17. A base unit according to claim 16, further comprising:

a data entry device allowing the user to enter cost information for the system, the data transfer device being further operable to transmit the cost information to the remote unit.

18. A base unit according to claim 17, wherein:

the design kit is a physical design kit including physical parts capable of being assembled to create a design for the system.

19. A base unit according to claim 17, wherein:

the design kit is a virtual design kit including computer-generated parts capable of being assembled in a virtual design studio to create a design for the system.

20. A method of remote system design, comprising the steps of:

gathering image and dimension information about a first location for which a system is to be designed using a remote unit;

transmitting the image and dimension information to a base unit at a second location;

establishing a verbal communication link between an operator of the remote unit and a user of the base unit in order to discuss the image and dimension information;

designing the system at the second location using the image and dimension information;

creating a virtual view of the system; and

transmitting the virtual view to the remote unit to be displayed to a potential customer for the system.

21. A method according to claim 20, further comprising:

determining cost information for the system and transmitting the cost information to the remote unit.

22. A method according to claim 21, further comprising:

printing for the potential customer at least one of the cost information and virtual view.

23. A method according to claim 20, wherein:

establishing the verbal communication link allows the user of the base unit to request additional information about the first location from the operator of the remote unit for use in designing the system.

24. A method of remote system design, comprising the steps of:

gathering image and dimension information about a first location for which a system is to be designed using a remote unit;

transmitting the image and dimension information to a base unit at a second location;

communicating with a user of the base unit regarding the first location to provide any additional information about the first location;

receiving back from the base unit a virtual view for the system, as designed at the second location based upon the image and dimension information; and

displaying the virtual view and to a potential customer for the system.

25. A method according to claim 24, further comprising:

receiving cost information for the system and relaying the cost information to the potential customer.

26. A method of remote system design, comprising the steps of:

receiving image and dimension information from a remote unit for a system to be installed at a remote location;

communicating with an operator of the remote unit in order to discuss the image and dimension information;

designing a system using the image and dimension;

creating a virtual view of the system; and

transmitting the virtual view to the remote unit to be displayed to a potential customer.

27. A method according to claim 26, further comprising:

determining cost information for the system and transmitting the cost information to the remote unit.

28. A computer program product embodied in a computer readable medium, comprising:

a code segment including instructions for receiving image and dimension information about a first location for which a system is to be designed;

a code segment including instructions for transmitting the image and dimension information to a base unit at a second location;

a code segment including instructions for transmitting any additional information about the first location requested during communication with a user of the base unit;

a code segment including instructions for receiving back from the base unit a virtual view for the system, as designed at the second location based upon the image, dimension, and additional information; and

a code segment including instructions for displaying the virtual view.