ROBOT SYSTEM THAT OPERATES THROUGH A NETWORK FIREWALL

• US 20160031085A1
• Filed: 10/09/2015
• Published: 02/04/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 05/09/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Teladoc Health, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Touch Technologies Incorporated
• Inventors: Pinter, Marco
• Granted Patent: US 10,682,763 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B25J 9/1689 Teleoperation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0209 Architectural arrangements, e.g. perimeter networks or demilitarized zones
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/029 Firewall traversal, e.g. tunnelling or, creating pinholes
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/025 for remote control or remote monitoring of applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/125 involving control of end-device applications over a network

Abstract

A remote controlled robot system that includes a robot and a remote control station that communicate through a communication network. Communication with the robot is limited by a firewall coupled to the communication network. A communication server establishes communication between the robot and the remote control station so that the station can send commands to the robot through the firewall.

Claims

1. A remote controlled robot system that is coupled to a communication network by a firewall, comprising:

a remote control station that transmits a robot control command;

a mobile robot that is coupled to the communication network by the firewall;

a communication server that establishes a communication between said remote control station and said robot through the firewall.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said communication server instructs said remote control station and said robot to transmit information to each other.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein said robot periodically polls said communication server.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein said communication server allows communication between said remote control station and said robot for a designated time period.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein said remote control station and said robot communicate with UDP packets.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein said robot control command is sent to said communication server from said remote control station, and then retransmitted from said communication server to said robot.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein said robot includes a camera and a monitor that move together in at least two degrees of freedom.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein said robot includes a camera that moves in accordance with a closed loop control scheme.

9. A remote controlled robot system that is coupled to a communication network, comprising:

a remote control station that transmits a robot control command;

a robot that includes a monitor and a camera, and moves in response to said robot control command;

a communication server that establishes a communication between said remote control station and said robot for a designated time period.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein said communication server instructs said remote control station and said robot to transmit information to at least one designated port of said communication server.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein said robot periodically polls said communication server.

12. The system of claim 9, wherein said remote control station and said robot communicate with UDP packets.

13. The system of claim 9, wherein said robot control command is sent to said communication server from said remote control station, and then retransmitted from said communication server to said robot.

14. The system of claim 9, wherein said robot includes a camera and a monitor that move together in at least two degrees of freedom.

15. The system of claim 9, wherein said robot includes a camera that moves in accordance with a closed loop control scheme.

16. A method for remotely controlling a robot that has a camera and a monitor, and being coupled to a communication network by a firewall, comprising:

establishing a communication between the robot and a remote control station through the firewall;

transmitting robot control commands from the remote control station to the robot; and

,

moving the robot in accordance with the robot control command.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the robot periodically polls a communication server that establishes the communication between the robot and the remote control station.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the communication between the remote control station and the robot is limited to a designated time period.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein the robot control command is sent to a communication server from the remote control station, and then retransmitted from the communication server to the robot.

20. A method for doctor proctoring, comprising:

examining a patient through a robot and a remote control station, the robot having a camera and a monitor; and

,

transmitting proctoring message from a doctor at the remote station to the robot.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the doctor moves the robot with robot commands transmitted from the remote control station.

22. The method of claim 20, wherein the robot moves across a surface.

23. A communication server for controlling communication to a robot controlled by a remote control station through a communication network, communication between the robot and the communication network being controlled by a firewall, comprising:

a communication server with at least one processor and software that establish a communication between the remote control station and the robot.