POINT OF NEED ACCESS TO AN ELECTRONIC MAINTENANCE MANUAL UTILIZING CURRENT MACHINE STATUS

• US 20120072814A1
• Filed: 09/16/2010
• Published: 03/22/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/16/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Xerox Corporation (Xerox Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Xerox Corporation (Xerox Holdings Corp.)
• Inventors: Czebiniak, Nicholas W., Vorndran, Charles P., Russell, John R., Koenig, Cheryl M., Kumar, Suraj
• Granted Patent: US 8,972,804 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/201
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/26 Functional testing
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/131 Fragmentation of text files, e.g. creating reusable text-blocks; Linking to fragments, e.g. using XInclude; Namespaces

Abstract

A method and system for providing point of need diagnostic information in an electronic service manual. A rendering device can be configured to transmit machine diagnostics related reports to a computer. The diagnostics are then integrated into an electronic service manual. In this way a reference can be created which includes point of need diagnostic information related to the machine, thereby increasing the productivity of user time spent on maintenance activities associated with the machine.

Claims

1. A method for providing point of need diagnostic information in an electronic service manual, comprising:

transmitting machine diagnostics related to a machine to a computer;

integrating said machine diagnostics with an electronic service manual associated with said computer; and

creating a reference from said machine diagnostics integrated with said electronic service module resulting in said reference including point of need diagnostic information related to said machine, thereby increasing the productivity of user time spent on maintenance activities associated with said machine.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

integrating a table of faults since last service with said electronic service manual, wherein said table of faults includes a link to a repair procedure module for each of said faults.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

integrating a tag status module with said electronic service manual, wherein said tag status module is located in said electronic service manual at a point in a troubleshooting procedure where said tag status is required.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

integrating an items requiring service table with said electronic service manual.

5. The method of claim 4 further comprising:

configuring said items requiring service table to include at least one service item name, at least one parts list, at least one repair procedure module, at least one due interval for said service item, at least one current count of said service items, and at least one serial number of said service item.

6. The method of claim 5 further comprising:

configuring said service items table to indicate service items that need attention in red and to indicate service items that will require replacement soon in yellow.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

configuring said machine diagnostics to include at least one of a table of faults since last service, a tag status module associated with said machine, and a list of service Items associated with said machine.

8. A system for providing point of need diagnostic information in an electronic service manual, comprising:

a machine configured to transmit machine diagnostics related to said machine to a computer;

an electronic service manual associated with said computer wherein said electronic service manual is integrated with said machine diagnostics; and

a reference created from said machine diagnostics integrated with said electronic service module resulting in said reference including point of need diagnostic information related to said machine, thereby increasing the productivity of user time spent on maintenance activities associated with said machine.

9. The system of claim 8 further comprising:

a table of faults since last service integrated with said electronic service manual; and

a repair procedure module, wherein said table of faults includes a link to said repair procedure module for each of said faults.

10. The system of claim 8 further comprising:

a tag status module integrated with said electronic service manual, wherein said tag status module is located in said electronic service manual at a point in a troubleshooting procedure where said tag status is required.

11. The system of claim 8 further comprising:

an items requiring service table integrated with said electronic service manual.

12. The system of claim 11 wherein said items requiring service table is configured to include at least one service item name, at least one parts list, at least one repair procedure module, at least one due interval for said service item, at least one current count of said service items, and at least one serial number of said service item.

13. The system of claim 12 wherein said service items table is configured to indicate any service item that needs attention in red and to indicate any service items that will require replacement soon in yellow.

14. The system of claim 8 wherein said machine diagnostics are configured to include at least one of a table of faults since last service, a tag status module associated with said machine, and a list of service Items associated with said machine.

15. A method for providing point of need diagnostic information in an electronic service manual, comprising:

transmitting machine diagnostics related to a machine to a computer;

integrating said machine diagnostics with an electronic service manual associated with said computer;

creating a reference from said machine diagnostics integrated with said electronic service module;

integrating a table of faults since last service with said electronic service manual;

integrating a tag status module with said electronic service manual; and

integrating an items requiring service table with said electronic service manual, resulting in said reference including point of need diagnostic information related to said machine, thereby increasing the productivity of user time spent on maintenance activities associated with said machine.

16. The method of claim 15 further comprising:

integrating an appropriate repair procedure module with said electronic service manual.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein said table of faults since last service includes a link to said repair procedure module for each of said faults.

18. The method of claim 15 wherein said tag status module comprises an Electronic Tag.

19. The method of claim 15 wherein said items requiring service table comprises a table of High Frequency Service Items.

20. The method of claim 15 further comprising:

presenting said reference and said electronic service manual using a graphical user interface.