PORTABLE INTERFACE DEVICE FOR CONTROLLING A MACHINE

• US 20140028441A1
• Filed: 07/30/2012
• Published: 01/30/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 07/30/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Indigo BV (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Asaf Amran
• Inventors: Amran, Asaf
• Granted Patent: US 9,000,885 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/5.67
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/409 characterised by using manual data input [MDI] or by using control panel, e.g. controlling functions with the panel; characterised by control panel details or by setting parameters G05B19/408, G05B19/4093 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/36159 Detachable or portable programming unit, display, pc, pda
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/36371 Barcode reader

Abstract

Portable interface devices for controlling machines at control locations. One example device is arranged, in response to a positive verification that it is at a control location, to enable a user to control the machine by means of the device. Another example device is arranged to display information comprising control-location-specific information, based on which of at least two control locations was identified. Another example device is arranged to enable machine control for a limited period of time after a positive detection that it is located at a control location. Another example device includes a barcode reader. The device enables a user to control the machine in response to a positive verification that the barcode read is associated with the at least one control location.

Claims

1. A portable interface device for controlling a machine at at least one control location,

wherein the portable interface device is arranged to verify that it is located at the at least one control location,

wherein the portable interface device is arranged, in response to a positive verification, to enable a user to control the machine by means of the portable interface device, thereby providing a facility for the user to control the machine by means of the portable interface device, and

wherein the portable interface device is arranged, in response to a negative verification, to disable the facility for the user to control the machine, but to enable information about the machine to be displayed.

2. A portable interface device for controlling a machine at either of at least two control locations,

wherein the portable interface device is arranged to identify at which of the at least two control locations it is located, and

wherein the portable interface device is arranged to display information comprising control-location-specific information, based on which of the at least two control locations was identified.

3. A portable interface device according to claim 2,

wherein the portable interface device is arranged to verify that it is located at either of the at least two control locations,

wherein the portable interface device is arranged, in response to a positive verification, to enable a user to control the machine by means of the portable interface device, thereby providing a facility for the user to control the machine by means of the portable interface device, and

wherein the portable interface device is arranged, in response to a negative verification, to disable the facility for the user to control the machine, but to enable information about the machine to be displayed.

4. A portable interface device for controlling a machine at at least one control location,

wherein the portable interface device is arranged to detect whether it is located at the at least one control location, and

wherein the portable interface device is arranged to enable the machine to be controlled by means of the portable interface device for a limited period of time after a positive detection.

5. A portable interface device according to claim 4, wherein the portable interface device is arranged to control the machine at either of at least two control locations,

wherein the portable interface device is arranged to identify at which of the at least two control locations it is located, and

wherein the limited period of time depends on which of the at least two control locations was identified.

6. A portable interface device according to claim 4,

wherein the portable interface device is arranged to control the machine at either of at least two control locations,

wherein the portable interface device is arranged to identify at which of the at least two control locations it is located, and

wherein the portable interface device is arranged to display information comprising control-location-specific information, based on which of the at least two control locations was identified.

7. A portable interface device according to claim 4,

wherein the portable interface device is arranged to further verify that it is located at the at least one control location,

wherein the portable interface device is arranged, in response to a positive verification, to enable a user to control the machine by means of the portable interface device, and

wherein the portable interface device is arranged, in response to a negative verification, to disable the facility for the user to control the machine, but to enable information about the machine to be displayed.

8. A portable interface device according to claim 4,

wherein the portable interface device is arranged to further verify that it is located at the at least one control location, wherein the portable interface device is arranged, in response to a positive verification, to enable a user to control the machine by means of the portable interface device, and wherein the portable interface device is arranged, in response to a negative verification, to disable the facility for the user to control the machine, but to enable information about the machine to be displayed, and

wherein the portable interface device is arranged to control the machine at either of at least two control locations, wherein the portable interface device is arranged to identify at which of the at least two control locations it is located, and wherein the portable interface device is arranged to display information comprising control-location-specific information, based on which of the at least two control locations was identified.

9. A portable interface device for controlling a machine at at least one control location equipped with an identification barcode,

wherein the portable interface device comprises a barcode reader,

wherein the portable interface device is arranged to verify that a barcode read is associated with the at least one control location, and

wherein the portable interface device is arranged to enable a user to control the machine by means of the portable interface device, in response to a positive verification.

10. A portable interface device according to claim 9 for controlling a machine at one of at least two control locations equipped with identification barcodes unique for the control locations, wherein different control locations are associated with a set of control operations comprising control-location-specific control operations,

wherein the portable interface device is arranged to identify a specific one of the at least two control locations by means of the unique identification barcode, and

wherein the portable interface device is arranged to enable the set of control operations with the control operations that are specific for the identified control location.

11. A portable interface device according to claim 9,

wherein the portable interface device is arranged to further verify that it is located at the at least one control location,

wherein the portable interface device is arranged, in response to a positive verification, to enable a user to control the machine by means of the portable interface device, and

wherein the portable interface device is arranged, in response to a negative verification, to disable the facility for the user to control the machine, but to enable information about the machine to be displayed.

12. A portable interface device according to claim 9,

wherein the portable interface device is arranged to control the machine at either of at least two control locations,

wherein the portable interface device is arranged to identify at which of the at least two control locations it is located, and

wherein the portable interface device is arranged to display information comprising control-location-specific information, based on which of the at least two control locations was identified.

13. A portable interface device according to claim 9,

wherein the portable interface device is arranged to detect whether it is located at the at least one control location, and

wherein the portable interface device is arranged to enable the machine to be controlled by means of the portable interface device for a limited period of time after a positive detection.

14. A portable interface device according to claim 9,

wherein the portable interface device is arranged to further verify that it is located at the at least one control location, wherein the portable interface device is arranged, in response to a positive verification, to enable a user to control the machine by means of the portable interface device, and wherein the portable interface device is arranged, in response to a negative verification, to disable the facility for the user to control the machine, but to enable information about the machine to be displayed, and

wherein the portable interface device is arranged to control the machine at either of at least two control locations, wherein the portable interface device is arranged to identify at which of the at least two control locations it is located, and wherein the portable interface device is arranged to display information comprising control-location-specific information, based on which of the at least two control locations was identified.

15. A portable interface device according to claim 9,

wherein the portable interface device is arranged to control the machine at either of at least two control locations, wherein the portable interface device is arranged to identify at which of the at least two control locations it is located, and wherein the portable interface device is arranged to display information comprising control-location-specific information, based on which of the at least two control locations was identified, and

wherein the portable interface device is arranged to detect whether it is located at the at least one control location, and wherein the portable interface device is arranged to enable the machine to be controlled by means of the portable interface device for a limited period of time after a positive detection.

16. A portable interface device according to claim 9,

wherein the portable interface device is arranged to detect whether it is located at the at least one control location, and wherein the portable interface device is arranged to enable the machine to be controlled by means of the portable interface device for a limited period of time after a positive detection, and

wherein the portable interface device is arranged to further verify that it is located at the at least one control location, wherein the portable interface device is arranged, in response to a positive verification, to enable a user to control the machine by means of the portable interface device, and wherein the portable interface device is arranged, in response to a negative verification, to disable the facility for the user to control the machine, but to enable information about the machine to be displayed.

17. A portable interface device according to claim 9,

wherein the portable interface device is arranged to control the machine at either of at least two control locations, wherein the portable interface device is arranged to identify at which of the at least two control locations it is located, and wherein the portable interface device is arranged to display information comprising control-location-specific information, based on which of the at least two control locations was identified, and

wherein the portable interface device is arranged to verify that it is located at either of the at least two control locations, wherein the portable interface device is arranged, in response to a positive verification, to enable a user to control the machine by means of the portable interface device, and wherein the portable interface device is arranged, in response to a negative verification, to disable the facility for the user to control the machine, but to enable information about the machine to be displayed, and

wherein the portable interface device is arranged to detect whether it is located at the at least one control location, and wherein the portable interface device is arranged to enable the machine to be controlled by means of the portable interface device for a limited period of time after a positive detection.