Method and apparatus for enhanced service quality through remote diagnostics

• US 6,175,934 B1
• Filed: 12/15/1997
• Issued: 01/16/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 12/15/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: GE Global Sourcing LLC (Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Corporation)
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Ross, John Anderson Fergus, Abdel-Malek, Aiman Albert, Hershey, John Erik, Puckette, Charles McDonald
• Primary Examiner(s): Beausoliel, Jr., Robert W.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Crockett, Robert G.
• Application Number:
  US08/990,913
• Time in Patent Office: 1,128 Days
• Field of Search: 714/47, 714/46, 714/26, 714/31, 714/45, 714/25, 714/27, 700/177
• US Class Current: 714/25
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/2294 by remote test
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/18576 Satellite systems for providing narrowband data service to fixed or mobile stations, e.g. using a minisatellite, a microsatellite for selecting H04W

Abstract

The present invention provides for satellite-based remote monitoring of equipment under test to perform predictive assessment from a central diagnostic site which houses a central diagnostic station. The satellite-based remote diagnostic system monitors several machines at various geographically remote locations. Information gathered enables the user to assess the health of the equipment under test. The user may also utilize the present invention to conduct specialized tests on the equipment under test to aid in predictive maintenance.

Claims

1. A remote diagnostic system for conducting predictive type maintenance assessment on at least one remotely located apparatus under test, said remote diagnostic system comprising:

a central diagnostic station; and

at least one remote diagnostic unit coupled to said at least one apparatus under test, wherein said at least one remote diagnostic unit communicates exclusively via satellite with said central diagnostic station to provide diagnostic data from said at least one remotely located apparatus under test for predictive maintenance analysis and reports about said remotely located apparatus under test.

2. The remote diagnostic system as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

a communication service coupled to said central diagnostic station and coupled to said at least one remote diagnostic unit, said communication service providing communication via satellite between said central diagnostic station and said at least one remote diagnostic unit.

3. The remote diagnostic system as recited in claim 2, wherein said communication service is selected from the group consisting of a “

geo-synchronous”

based satellite communication system, a “

little LEO”

based satellite communications system, and a two-way pager based communications system.

4. The remote diagnostic system as recited in claim 1 further comprising:

a diagnostic interface coupled to said central diagnostic station and coupled to said at least one remote diagnostic unit, wherein said diagnostic interface controls diagnostic commands and diagnostic data communicated between said central diagnostic station and said at least one remote diagnostic unit, and wherein said diagnostic interface controls components electrically coupled to said diagnostic interface.

5. The remote diagnostic system as recited in claim 4, wherein said diagnostic interface further comprises:

a data frame handler, wherein said data frame handler controls the protocol and frame function of diagnostic data in said diagnostic interface;

a programmable clock coupled to said data frame handler, wherein said programmable clock provides timing sequences to control said remote diagnostic interface;

a cryptographic module coupled to said data frame handler for encrypting data messages generated within said remote diagnostic unit;

a counter coupled to said data frame handler and coupled to said cryptographic module for tagging data messages generated within said diagnostic interface; and

a modem coupled to said data frame handler for formatting data flowing to said data frame handler.

6. The remote diagnostic system as recited in claim 5, wherein said diagnostic interface further comprises a diagnostic command link coupled to said data frame handler.

7. The remote diagnostic system as recited in claim 5, wherein said diagnostic interface further comprises a diagnostic data link coupled to said data frame handler.

8. The remote diagnostic system as recited in claim 4, wherein said diagnostic interface comprises a central diagnostic interface coupled to said central diagnostic station and a remote diagnostic interface coupled to said remote diagnostic unit, said remote diagnostic interface having a remote diagnostic command link and having a remote diagnostic data link.

9. The remote diagnostic system as recited in claim 8, wherein said central diagnostic station further comprises:

a central radio frequency front-end coupled to said central diagnostic interface, wherein said central radio frequency front-end is adapted to transmit and receive diagnostic information; and

at least one peripheral device coupled to said central diagnostic interface, wherein said at least one peripheral device stores information and communicates diagnostic information to the user.

10. The remote diagnostic system as recited in claim 9, wherein said at least one peripheral device further comprise:

a user interface coupled to said central diagnostic interface, wherein said user interface enables a user to assess diagnostic information generated by said remote diagnostic system and enables the user to input information into said remote diagnostic system;

a display coupled to said central diagnostic interface for displaying diagnostic information generated by said remote diagnostic system;

a printer coupled to said central diagnostic interface for printing diagnostic information; and

a storage device coupled to said central diagnostic interface for providing storage of diagnostic information.

11. The remote diagnostic system as recited in claim 8, wherein said at least one remote diagnostic unit comprises:

a remote radio frequency front-end coupled to said remote diagnostic interface, wherein said remote radio frequency front-end transmits and receives diagnostic information;

a diagnostic command module coupled to said remote diagnostic command link wherein said diagnostic command module monitors said at least one remotely located apparatus under test to generate diagnostic data for the predictive maintenance analysis; and

a diagnostic data module coupled to said remote diagnostic data link wherein said diagnostic data module monitors said at least one remotely located apparatus under test to measure said diagnostic data.

12. The remote diagnostic system as recited in claim 11, wherein said diagnostic command module generates at least one command signal to drive at least one control parameter in said at least one remotely located apparatus under test to an active state in correspondence with said at least one command signal.

13. The remote diagnostic system as recited in claim 12, wherein said diagnostic data module generates at least one monitor signal corresponding to the measured response of said at least one remotely located apparatus under test.

14. The remote diagnostic system as recited in claim 13, wherein said central diagnostic station utilizes an expert-based tool to facilitate the predictive maintenance analysis of said at least one remotely located apparatus under test.

15. A method of conducting predictive type maintenance assessment on at least one remotely located apparatus under test in a remote diagnostic system communicating exclusively via satellite, comprising the steps of:

(a) transmitting via satellite a diagnostic interrogation message from a central diagnostic station to at least one remote diagnostic unit coupled to said at least one remotely located apparatus under test;

(b) performing a requested action in response to said diagnostic interrogation message; and

(c) transmitting via satellite a diagnostic answer message to said central diagnostic station from said at least one remote diagnostic unit said diagnostic answer message providing diagnostic information to said central diagnostic station for performing predictive maintenance analysis and reports about said remotely located apparatus under test.

16. The method of conducting predictive maintenance assessment as recited in claim 15, wherein the step of transmitting a diagnostic interrogation message further comprises the step of encrypting said diagnostic interrogation message before being transmitted via satellite to said at least one remote diagnostic unit.

19. The method of conducting predictive maintenance assessment as recited in claim 15, wherein the step of transmitting a diagnostic interrogation message further comprises the step of decoding said diagnostic interrogation message after said diagnostic answer message is received by said respective at least one remote diagnostic unit.

20. The method of conducting predictive maintenance assessment as recited in claim 15, further comprising the step of transmitting a command signal to said at least one remote diagnostic unit to initiate a diagnostic mode of operation in said at least one remotely located apparatus under test.

21. The method of conducting predictive maintenance assessment as recited in claim 20, further comprising the step of receiving diagnostic information from said at least one remote diagnostic unit based on measurement of diagnostic data within said at least one remotely located apparatus under test during normal operation.

22. The method of conducting predictive maintenance assessment as recited in claim 20, further comprising the step of transmitting via satellite a command signal to at least one remote diagnostic unit to halt said diagnostic mode of operation in said at least one remotely located apparatus under test.

23. The method of conducting predictive maintenance assessment as recited in claim 21, further comprising the step of analyzing said diagnostic data utilizing an expert-based diagnostic tool to determine a predictive maintenance action for said at least one remotely located apparatus under test.

24. The method of conducting predictive maintenance assessment as recited in claim 21, further comprising the step of displaying a respective service message based on the predictive maintenance analysis of said diagnostic data collected from said at least one remotely located apparatus under test.

25. The method of conducting predictive maintenance assessment as recited in claim 21, further comprising the step of displaying a special message based on the predictive maintenance analysis of said diagnostic data collected from said at least one remotely located apparatus under test.

26. The method of conducting predictive maintenance assessment as recited in claim 21, further comprising the step of removing power from a user interface based on the predictive maintenance analysis of said diagnostic data collected from said at least one remote diagnostic unit.

17. The method of conducting predictive maintenance assessment as recited in 15, wherein the step of transmitting a diagnostic answer message further comprises the step of encrypting said diagnostic answer message before transmitting said diagnostic answer message via satellite to said central diagnostic station.

18. The method of conducting predictive maintenance assessment as recited in 15, wherein the step of transmitting a diagnostic answer message further comprises the step of decoding said diagnostic answer message after said diagnostic answer message is received by said central diagnostic station.

27. A remote diagnostic system for conducting predictive type maintenance assessment on at least one remotely located apparatus under test, said remote diagnostic system comprising:

a central diagnostic station;

at least one remote diagnostic unit coupled to said at least one remotely located apparatus under test;

a communication service coupled to said central diagnostic station and to said at least one remote diagnostic unit, said communication service providing communication exclusively via satellite between said central diagnostic station and said at least one remote diagnostic unit; and

a diagnostic interface coupled to said central diagnostic station and to said at least one remote diagnostic unit,

said central diagnostic station using said communication service to transmit information exclusively via satellite to said at least one respective remote diagnostic unit through said diagnostic interface, and

said at least one remote diagnostic unit providing diagnostic data for predictive maintenance analysis and reports about said remotely located apparatus under test to said central diagnostic station through said diagnostic interface exclusively via satellite using said communication service.

28. A method of conducting predictive type maintenance assessment on at least one remotely located apparatus under test in a remote diagnostic system communicating via satellite, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) transmitting exclusively via satellite a diagnostic interrogation message from a central diagnostic station to at least one remote diagnostic unit coupled to said at least one remotely located apparatus under test;

(b) performing a requested action in response to said diagnostic interrogation message; and

(c) transmitting exclusively via satellite a diagnostic answer message to said central diagnostic station from said at least one remote diagnostic unit, said diagnostic answer message providing diagnostic information to said central diagnostic station for performing predictive maintenance analysis and reports about said remotely located apparatus under test;

(d) analyzing said diagnostic information utilizing an expert-based diagnostic tool to determine predictive maintenance action for said at least one apparatus under test; and

(e) displaying a message based on said predictive maintenance analysis and reports of said diagnostic information collected from said at least one remotely located apparatus under test.