PERMISSION BASED FIELD SERVICE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM

• US 20090048853A1
• Filed: 08/13/2007
• Published: 02/19/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 08/13/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Health Hero Network Incorporated (Robert Bosch GmbH)
• Original Assignee: Health Hero Network Incorporated (Robert Bosch GmbH)
• Inventors: Hall, Jeffrey
• Application Number:
  US11/837,970
• Publication Number:
  US 20090048853A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/305
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/20 Administration of product repair or maintenance

Abstract

The embodiments of herein provide a permission based field service management system and method for field services using a permission slip. A technician allotted to perform a field service is authenticated by a client/server software system and provided with a work list. When the technician accepts a work list, a permission slip corresponding to a specific device is entered in a service key inserted by the technician into a client. Then the service key is removed and inserted into a specific device to execute a field service operation. After the completion of the field service operation, the permission slip is closed and a service log is created and stored on a service database. An auditing system accesses the service data to track and monitor the service operation.

Claims

1. A method of performing a field service operation on an electronic device, said method comprising:

authenticating an identity of a technician through a client computer system;

receiving a service key from the technician in said client computer system to receive a permission slip;

obtaining said permission slip from a server computer system, wherein said permission slip is stored on said service key by said client computer system, having communicated with said server computer system;

receiving said service key at said client computer system in order to close said permission slip upon completion of a service task.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said server computer system has a database system that stores data from said field service operation.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said permission slip is a packet of data that authenticates said service operation to be performed on said electronic device.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said service key is a device with a memory that may store said permission slip.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said service key is adapted to execute said service operation in said electronic device, once said service key is inserted into said electronic device.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein log data of said service operation is stored in said server computer system once said permission slip is closed after completion of said service operation.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein a copy of said log data of said service operation is stored on said electronic device.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein said electronic device is adapted to transfer of said log data to a remote data storage device.

9. A permission based field service client/server subsystem for permission based field service management system, comprising:

a client to receive input user authentication (UA) data and a service authorization record (SAR); and

a server operably connected to said client to receive the SAR to output a work list to a technician through said client and to output a permission slip corresponding to accepted jobs in said work list,

wherein said client receives and writes the permission slip on a service key inserted into said client, to perform field service operation on a specific field device.

10. The subsystem according to claim 9, wherein said server outputs the permission slip corresponding to each field service operation.

11. The subsystem according to claim 9, wherein said permission slip is a generic permission slip (GPS) that may be used on any field device.

12. The subsystem according to claim 9, wherein said permission slip is a specific permission slip (SPS) that may be used on a specific field device that is identified with an identification code.

13. The subsystem according to claim 12, wherein said identification code is the serial number of said specific field device.

14. The subsystem according to claim 9, wherein said service key is a portable device with a memory to store said permission slip.

15. The subsystem according to claim 9, wherein said service key written with said permission slip is insertable within said specific field device requiring a field service operation.

16. The subsystem according to claim 15, wherein said specific field device transfers a device identification code to the service key.

17. The subsystem according to claim 9, wherein said service key stores a data related to said field service operation performed on said specific field device to generate a service log entry (SLE) after completion of said field service operation.

18. The subsystem according to claim 17, wherein said field device receives and stores said SLE after completion of said field service operation.

19. The subsystem according to claim 18, wherein said service key is removable from said specific field device after completion of said field service operation and is insertable into said client to transfer a service verification record (SVR) containing said SLE to said server through said client.

20. The subsystem according to claim 19, further comprising a service database operably connected to said server to receive and store said SVR containing said SLE and service data related to said specific field device.

21. The subsystem according to claim 21, further comprising an external system operably connected to said server to generate and input external service requests.

22. The subsystem according to claim 21, wherein said external system generates service authorization requests and a work list for transfer to said server.