Distributed communications system for reducing equipment down-time

• US 6,246,325 B1
• Filed: 11/18/1999
• Issued: 06/12/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 11/18/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Bell Semiconductor, LLC (Hilco Inc. (d/b/a Hilco Global))
• Original Assignee: Agere Systems Guardian Corp. (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: Chittipeddi, Sailesh
• Primary Examiner(s): Wu, Daniel J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): PHAM, TOAN NGOC
• Application Number:
  US09/442,688
• Time in Patent Office: 572 Days
• Field of Search: 340/540, 340/522, 340/506, 340/524, 340/531, 340/533, 340/534, 340/539, 340/825.36, 700/241, 700/108, 399/10, 399/18, 702/33, 702/34, 702/36, 702/58, 702/59, 702/182, 702/184, 702/185
• US Class Current: 340/540
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/006 Identification G06F11/2289 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/0748 in a remote unit communicating with a single-box computer node experiencing an error/fault remote testing G06F11/2294
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/2294 by remote test
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0681 Configuration of triggering conditions
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/26 Network addressing or numbering for mobility support
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 Terminal devices

Abstract

A system and method to more efficiently exchange information between a service provider, such as a semiconductor company, and its remote equipment units. The system capable of immediately handling a number of information items, each belonging to a different remote equipment unit is disclosed. The system includes a central controller configured for interfacing with a plurality of remote equipment units via a wireless network. The central controller is configured to receive information from each remote equipment unit via a wireless network. This information includes alarm conditions and corresponding requests for repair. Each of the remote equipment units is identified by a unique code which is included in the information transmitted to the computer to identity the source (i.e., identity of the transmitting remote equipment unit). The central controller uses the code of the transmitting remote equipment unit to retrieve the corresponding data record stored in its memory. The repair person identified in the selected data record is then contacted automatically, e.g., by wireless paging. The system may be programmed with a pre-determined routine maintenance schedule for each remote equipment unit. Based on this schedule, the system automatically contacts the appropriate repair person by wireless paging and dispatches the repair person to the corresponding remote equipment unit for routine maintenance. Thus, the down-time of the remote equipment unit is reduced because the alarm condition is immediately transmitted to the central controller and the corresponding repair person is contacted automatically. There is no undesired down-time before monitoring personnel notices the alarm condition and contacts the corresponding repair person.

Claims

1. In a system comprising a central controller remotely located from a plurality of equipment units, a method for maintaining operability of the equipment units, comprising the steps of:

(a) determining at the central controller that a service condition exists for a particular equipment unit remotely located from the central controller; and

(b) automatically transmitting a service request to notify a repair person remotely located from both the central controller and the particular equipment unit about the service condition, wherein;

the repair person is selected from a plurality of repair persons based on the service condition; and

different repair persons are associated with different types of service conditions.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the service condition corresponds to an alarm condition at the particular equipment unit; and

step (a) further comprises the steps of;

(1) detecting the alarm condition at the particular equipment unit; and

(2) automatically transmitting an alarm message identifying the particular equipment unit to the central controller.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the alarm message further identifies a particular type of service condition and the repair person is selected by the central controller based on the particular type of service condition.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the central controller maintains a repair database identifying different repair persons for different particular equipment units.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the repair database further identifies different repair persons for different types of service conditions.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the service condition corresponds to a routine maintenance condition for the particular equipment unit; and

step (a) further comprises the steps of;

(1) maintaining at the central controller a maintenance schedule for each equipment unit; and

(2) determining at the central controller that the routine maintenance condition exists for the particular equipment unit based on the maintenance schedule corresponding to the particular equipment unit.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the service request comprises a paging message to a pager of the repair person.

8. A central controller for maintaining operability of a plurality of equipment units remotely located from the central controller, wherein:

the central controller determines that a service condition exists for a particular equipment unit remotely located from the central controller; and

the central controller automatically transmits a service request to notify a repair person remotely located from both the central controller and the particular equipment unit about the service condition, wherein;

the central controller selects the repair person from a plurality of repair persons based on the service condition; and

different repair persons are associated with different types of service conditions.

9. The central controller of claim 8, wherein:

the service condition corresponds to an alarm condition at the particular equipment unit; and

the central controller receives an alarm message identifying the particular equipment unit that was transmitted from the particular equipment unit in response to the alarm condition.

10. The central controller of claim 9, wherein the alarm message further identifies a particular type of service condition and the repair person is selected by the central controller based on the particular type of service condition.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the central controller maintains a repair database identifying different repair persons for different particular equipment units.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the repair database further identifies different repair persons for different types of service conditions.

13. The central controller of claim 8, wherein:

the service condition corresponds to a routine maintenance condition for the particular equipment unit;

the central controller maintains at a maintenance schedule for each equipment unit; and

the central controller determines that the routine maintenance condition exists for the particular equipment unit based on the maintenance schedule corresponding to the particular equipment unit.

14. The central controller of claim 8, wherein the service request comprises a paging message to a pager of the repair person.

15. In a system comprising a central controller remotely located from a plurality of equipment units, an alarm transmitter configured to a particular equipment unit remotely located from the central controller for maintaining operability of the particular equipment unit, wherein the alarm transmitter detects an alarm condition at the particular equipment unit and automatically transmits an alarm message identifying the particular equipment unit to the central controller, which, in turn, transmits a repair request to a repair person remotely located from both the central controller and the particular equipment unit about the alarm condition, wherein:

the central controller selects the repair person from a plurality of repair persons based on the service condition; and

different repair persons are associated with different types of service conditions.

16. The alarm transmitter of claim 15, wherein the alarm message further identifies a particular type of alarm condition, wherein the repair person is selected by the central controller based on the particular type of service condition.

17. The alarm transmitter of claim 15, wherein the alarm transmitter is based on neural networks, and the alarm messages are transmitted via neural wireless networks.