Location based notification system

• US 20090094490A1
• Filed: 10/05/2007
• Published: 04/09/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/05/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Xerox Corporation (Xerox Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Xerox Corporation (Xerox Holdings Corp.)
• Inventors: Valeriano, Francisco M., Kuo, Amos Y., Matsunaga, Sabrina Pui-Wah
• Granted Patent: US 7,844,864 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 714/57
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/55 Self-diagnostics; Malfunction or lifetime display
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/121 Facilitating exception or error detection and recovery, e.g. fault, media or consumables depleted
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1234 Errors handling and recovery, e.g. reprinting G06F3/1261 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1292 Mobile client, e.g. wireless printing
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00244 with a server, e.g. an internet server fax-servers or the like for store and forward H04N1/324
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00344 with a management, maintenance, service or repair apparatus monitoring H04N1/00002
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32609 Fault detection or counter-measures, e.g. original mis-positioned, shortage of paper
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32635 of reproducing apparatus or receiver, e.g. out of paper
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32662 remotely, e.g. to the transmitter from the receiver
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32694 Storing a fault condition in memory

Abstract

A location based notification system for a shop having multiple components that are susceptible to a fault event includes an electronic data storage device and a fault event sensor apparatus associated with each susceptible component. The electronic data storage device has identification data for the associated component stored therein. Operators carry a portable device having an electronic data storage device reader and a memory. The fault event sensor apparatus generates fault event data when a fault event occurs in the associated component and transmits the fault event data to the electronic data storage device or the portable device. The data stored in the electronic data storage devices is read with an electronic data storage device reader of the portable device as the operator moves through the shop. The portable device determines whether the electronic data storage device has fault data stored therein, or if fault event data has been stored in the portable device for the component associated with the identification data read from the electronic data storage device.

Claims

1. A location based notification system for a shop having a plurality of components, at least one of the components being susceptible to a fault event, the system comprising:

an electronic data storage device associated with the component that is susceptible to a fault event, the electronic data storage device having data stored therein, the stored data including identification data for the associated component;

at least one portable device carried by an operator, the portable device including

an electronic data storage device reader, and

a memory; and

fault event sensor apparatus associated with the component that is susceptible to a fault event, the fault event sensor apparatus generating fault event data when a fault event occurs in the associated component, the fault event sensor apparatus being in communication with the electronic data storage device or the portable device.

2. The location based notification system of claim 1 further comprising an apparatus required to perform an action corresponding to the fault event, the apparatus including an electronic data storage device having identification data for the apparatus stored therein.

3. The location based notification system of claim 1 wherein the fault sensor apparatus is in communication with the electronic data storage device, and the data stored in the electronic data storage device also includes the fault event data generated by the fault event sensor.

4. The location based notification system of claim 1 wherein the fault sensor apparatus is in communication with the portable device, and the data stored in the portable device memory also includes the fault event data generated by the fault event sensor.

5. The location based notification system of claim 4 wherein the portable device memory also includes a description of the user carrying the portable device.

6. The location based notification system of claim 4 further comprising a computer in communication with the component fault event sensor and the portable device, the computer receiving the fault event data generated by the component fault event sensor and transmitting the fault event data to the portable device.

7. The location based notification system of claim 6 wherein the computer includes a wireless transmitter and the portable device includes a wireless receiver.

8. The location based notification system of claim 6 further comprising another system in communications with the computer.

9. A method of providing location based notification of a fault event occurring in a component of shop, the shop having a plurality of components, with at least one of the components being susceptible to a fault event, the method comprising:

monitoring for the occurrence of a fault event with a fault event sensor associated with the component;

generating fault event data when a fault event is detected by the fault event sensor; and

storing the fault event data in an electronic data storage device associated with the component or a portable device carried by an operator.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the fault event data is stored in the electronic data storage device associated with the component, the method further comprising:

reading the data stored in the electronic data storage device with an electronic data storage device reader of the portable device; and

determining whether the electronic data storage device reader has detected fault event data stored in the electronic data storage device, and

monitoring for the occurrence of a fault event if the electronic data storage device reader has not detected fault event data, or

determining whether the operator carrying the portable device is to be notified if the electronic data storage device reader has detected fault event data.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein determining whether the operator carrying the portable device is to be notified comprises determining whether the operator is qualified to correct the fault event.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein determining whether the operator carrying the portable device is to be notified comprises determining whether the operator carrying the portable device can perform corrective measures within a predetermined period of time.

13. The method of claim 12 further comprising notifying the operator carrying the portable device if the operator is qualified to correct the fault event and can correct the fault event within the predetermined period of time.

14. The method of claim 9 wherein storing the fault event data in the portable device comprises:

transmitting the fault event data and identification data for the component from the component to a computer;

transmitting the fault event data and component identification data from the computer to the portable device; and

storing the fault event data and component identification data in the portable device.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein each component that is susceptible to a fault event includes an electronic data storage device having identification data for the component stored therein, the method further comprising:

reading the identification data stored in the electronic data storage devices with an electronic data storage device reader of the portable device as the operator moves through the shop;

comparing the identification data read from the electronic data storage devices to the component identification data stored in the portable device; and

determining if fault event data has been stored in the portable device for the component associated with the identification data read from the electronic data storage device, and

monitoring for another electronic data storage device if no fault event data for the associated component has been stored in the portable device, or

determining whether the operator carrying the portable device is to be notified if fault event data has been stored for the associated component.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein determining whether the operator carrying the portable device is to be notified comprises determining whether the operator is qualified to correct the fault event.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein determining whether the operator carrying the portable device is to be notified comprises determining whether the operator carrying the portable device can perform corrective measures within a predetermined period of time.

18. The method of claim 17 further comprising notifying the operator carrying the portable device if the operator is qualified to correct the fault event and can correct the fault event within the predetermined period of time.

19. A method of providing location based notification of a fault event occurring in a component of shop, the shop having a plurality of components, with at least one of the components being susceptible to a fault event, each component that is susceptible to a fault event including an electronic data storage device having identification data for the component stored therein, the method comprising:

monitoring for the occurrence of a fault event with a fault event sensor associated with the component;

generating fault event data when a fault event is detected by the fault event sensor; and

storing the fault event data in the electronic data storage device, or

storing the fault event data and the identification data for the component in a portable device carried by an operator.

20. The method of claim 19 further comprising:

reading the data stored in the electronic data storage device with an electronic data storage device reader of the portable device as the operator moves through the shop; and

determining whether the electronic data storage device reader has detected fault event data stored in the electronic data storage device;

or

comparing the identification data read from the electronic data storage devices to the component identification data stored in the portable device; and

determining if fault event data has been stored in the portable device for the component associated with the identification data read from the electronic data storage device.

21. The method of claim 20 wherein if the electronic data storage device reader has detected fault event data stored in the electronic data storage device, or if it has been determined that fault event data has been stored in the portable device for the associated component, the method further comprises:

determining whether the operator is qualified to correct the fault event;

determining whether the operator can perform corrective measures within a predetermined period of time; and

notifying the operator if the operator is qualified to correct the fault event and can correct the fault event within the predetermined period of time.