MULTIMEDIA COMMUNICATION AND SUPPORT SYSTEM THAT CAN BE USED WORLDWIDE FOR ASSEMBLY, INSPECTION, MAINTENANCE, AND REPAIR ASSIGNMENTS IN TECHNICAL FACILITIES, AND METHOD

• US 20120191625A1
• Filed: 06/22/2010
• Published: 07/26/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 07/06/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Siemens AG
• Original Assignee: Siemens AG
• Inventors: Arndt, Frank, Brummel, Hans-Gerd, Heblinski, Volker, Paschmann, Willi, Santelmann, Holger, Schmidt, Olaf, Weber, Dietmar, Reimann, Christian
• Application Number:
  US13/379,384
• Publication Number:
  US 20120191625A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/345
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/33284 Remote diagnostic
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling

Abstract

An apparatus for providing a fitter with multimedia support during assembly work in or on a technical facility is provided. Existing remote-controlled systems for supporting technicians on-site do not offer sufficient support possibilities. By means of the apparatus, which includes a competence center having different transmitters and receivers, and a computer on-site, which has a multimedia system for examination, the support is improved and considerably faster.

Claims

1-18. -18. (canceled)

19. An apparatus for providing a fitter with multimedia support during assembly work in or on a technical facility, the apparatus comprising:

a stationary competence center somewhere in the world in which competence center at least one employee works;

a global connection between the competence center and a main transmitter/receiver close to or in the technical facility;

a first local connection between the main transmitter/receiver and a local transmitter/receiver, which is arranged closer to the technical facility on which maintenance is to be carried out;

a second local connection between the local transmitter/receiver and a portable computer;

a multimedia system; and

an examination system,

wherein the multimedia system and the examination system may be carried and used by the fitter in the technical facility.

20. The apparatus as claimed in claim 19, wherein the global connection is effected via satellite, Internet or telephone connections.

21. The apparatus as claimed in claim 19, wherein the first local connection between the main transmitter/receiver and the local transmitter/receiver is effected by means of a wireless connection.

22. The apparatus as claimed in claim 19, wherein the main transmitter/receiver is directly connected to the computer.

23. The apparatus as claimed in claim 19, wherein the second local connection between the local transmitter/receiver and the computer or between the main transmitter/receiver and the computer is effected by means of a cable.

24. The apparatus as claimed in claim 19, wherein a barrier is present between the main transmitter/receiver or the local transmitter/receiver and the computer.

25. The apparatus as claimed in claim 19, wherein the multimedia system used by the fitter on site is connected to the computer.

26. The apparatus as claimed in claim 19, wherein which multimedia system includes an element selected from the group consisting of a microphone and headphones, a head-up display with a camera, and a combination of both.

27. The apparatus as claimed in claim 19, wherein the examination system includes an element selected from the group consisting of a still camera, a boroscope, a video camera, an infrared camera, a light source, and a combination thereof.

28. The apparatus as claimed in claim 19, wherein the main transmitter/receiver is mobile.

29. The apparatus as claimed in claim 19, wherein the apparatus includes only one main transmitter/receiver on site.

30. The apparatus as claimed in claim 19, wherein the apparatus includes only one local transmitter/receiver on site.

31. The apparatus as claimed in claim 27, wherein there is a direct connection from the competence center to the examination system.

32. The apparatus as claimed in claim 31, wherein the examination system includes the still camera or the video camera with the result that videos or photographs are directly tracked in the competence center.

33. The apparatus as claimed in claim 26, wherein there is a direct connection from the competence center to the multimedia system.

34. The apparatus as claimed in claim 33, wherein the direct connection is to headphones and the microphone and/or to the head-up display and/or to the camera with the result that the view and actions of the fitter are directly tracked in the competence center.

35. A method for assembling a facility, comprising:

communicating between a fitter in a region of the facility and experts in a remote competence center using an apparatus comprising;

a stationary competence center somewhere in the world in which competence center at least one employee works;

a global connection between the at competence center and a main transmitter/receiver close to or in the technical facility;

a first local connection between the main transmitter/receiver and a local transmitter/receiver, which is arranged closer to the technical facility on which maintenance is to be carried out;

a second local connection between the local transmitter/receiver and a portable computer;

a multimedia system; and

an examination system,

wherein the multimedia system and the examination system may be carried and used by the fitter in the technical facility.

36. The method as claimed in claim 35,

wherein the fitter takes photographs of the facility, and

wherein the photographs are stored in the computer and/or are sent to the competence center.

37. The method as claimed in claim 35, wherein each photograph of the facility is electronically marked by the fitter and is then sent to the competence center.

38. The method as claimed in claim 35, wherein the employees send technical documents to the fitter to the computer or for inspection depending on the requirement.