Remote service system

• US 5,933,479 A
• Filed: 10/22/1998
• Issued: 08/03/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 10/22/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Toyoda Machinery Usa Corp. (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toyoda Machinery Usa Corp. (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Michael, Howard W., Hellum, Earl M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chan, Wing F.
• Application Number:
  US09/177,425
• Time in Patent Office: 285 Days
• Field of Search: 348/14-20, 379/90.01, 379/93.01, 379/93.05-93.08, 379/93.17, 379/93.23, 379/110.01, 379/21
• US Class Current: 379/110.01
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/38 Transceivers, i.e. devices in which transmitter and receiver form a structural unit and in which at least one part is used for functions of transmitting and receiving
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/385 Transceivers carried on the body, e.g. in helmets
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2001/3866 carried on the head
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2201/50 Telephonic communication in combination with video communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/30 for subscriber's lines , for the local loop
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/308 Craftsperson test terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 9/00 Arrangements for interconnection not involving centralised switching
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/185 from a mobile camera, e.g. for remote control

Abstract

A remote service system provides reduced down time of serviced equipment, provides quicker service availability, and provides more experienced service technicians virtually on site. By using high tech video links over conventional phone lines, utilizing two-way wireless audio and visual communication in real time, technicians at a central site can see exactly what the customer'"'"'s maintenance person is seeing. This allows an untrained technician or someone unfamiliar with the device to be the eyes, ears and hands of the technician at the central site. The maintenance person can then be talked through the steps of the repair process. This enhances the capabilities of existing personnel, thus reducing labor costs, service calls, and down time.

Claims

1. A remote service system for communicating via telephone with a central service site comprising:

a service unit including a video camera, an audio speaker and a microphone adapted to be worn by a user at a remote service site, and a harness to be worn by the user supporting first local communication means coupled to the video camera, the audio speaker and the microphone for communicating audio and video via wireless signals, and a battery on the harness for powering the camera and the first local communication means; and

a base unit positioned in proximity of the service unit, relative to the central service site, the base unit including a housing supporting second local communication means for communicating audio and video via wireless signals with the service unit and a video conference interface unit coupled to the second local communication means for converting audio and video signals for transmission via a telephone line to the central service site.

2. The remote service system of claim 1 wherein the service unit comprises a user headset including the audio speaker and the microphone.

3. The remote service system of claim 2 wherein the video camera is mounted to the headset.

4. The remote service system of claim 2 wherein the headset includes noise abatement earpieces.

5. The remote service system of claim 1 wherein battery is connected to the camera and first local communication means with voltage regulators.

6. The remote service system of claim 1 wherein the first local communication means comprises a video transmitter and the second local communication means comprises a video receiver.

7. The remote service system of claim 6 wherein the base unit includes an antenna connected to the video receiver.

8. The remote service system of claim 7 wherein the base unit include three antenna connected to the video receiver.

9. The remote service system of claim 8 wherein the base unit includes a mast telescopically mounting the three antenna to the base unit housing.

10. The remote service system of claim 1 wherein the first and second local communication means comprises a wireless intercom system.

11. The remote service system of claim 1 wherein the videoconference interface unit communicates with the central service site via ISDN lines.

12. The remote service system of claim 11 wherein the videoconference interface unit communicates with the central service site via three ISDN lines.

13. The remote service system of claim 1 wherein the base unit further comprise a video monitor coupled to the videoconference interface unit.

14. The remote service system of claim 1 wherein the videoconference interface unit compresses video and audio to the telephone lines.

15. The remote service system of claim 1 wherein the base unit includes external connectors on the housing for connecting the videoconference interface unit to local audio and video devices.