System, apparatus and method for providing a portable customizable maintenance support computer communications system

• US 6,574,672 B1
• Filed: 09/29/1999
• Issued: 06/03/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/29/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Siemens Industry Incorporated (Siemens AG)
• Original Assignee: Siemens Dematic Postal Automation LP (Siemens AG)
• Inventors: Mitchell, Dennis B., Lewis, Dennis G., Head, James V. W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Jean, Frantz B.
• Application Number:
  US09/408,288
• Time in Patent Office: 1,343 Days
• Field of Search: 709/250, 709/200, 709/201, 709/217, 709/218, 709/100, 709/310, 709/313, 717/120, 345/700, 345/751, 345/764, 345/810, 345/839, 361/683
• US Class Current: 709/250
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/163 Wearable computers, e.g. on a belt

Abstract

An apparatus and method is disclosed for providing a user with task-specific information that includes a portable instruction system that may be worn by a user, and includes, a computer sufficiently lightweight and designed to be worn by a user to which a memory has been connected. The system includes a display device that can receive display signals from the computer for visual display to the user and an input device by which the user enters commands to the computer. An instructional program is provided that the computer accesses and stores in memory in response to a user command and displays information concerning a task to be performed by the user on the display device in response to commands from the user.

Claims

1. A computer communication system, comprising:

a computer of a size sufficiently small to be worn by a user;

a memory connected to and under control of the computer;

a display device that can receive display signals from the computer for visual display to the user;

an input device by which the user enters commands to the computer;

a wireless data transmitting and receiving station having a range, which station can transmit data to and receive data from the computer anywhere within the range;

a wireless data transmitting and receiving device connected to the computer, which device can transmit data to the station and receive data from the station, the wireless transmitting and receiving device transmitting video images relating to a task performed by the user to an assistant and receiving instructions from the assistant as the assistant views the images; and

a computer network that can send data to and receive data from the wireless station while the user is working on the task within range of the wireless station.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the computer has a weight less than two pounds.

3. The system of claim 1, further comprising a garment suitable for securing the computer on the user'"'"'s body and means for mounting the computer on the garment.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the mounting means comprises a belt.

5. The system of claim 3, wherein the garment includes a strap and means for fastening and unfastening the strap.

6. The system of claim 1, further comprising an instructional program including a program engine that contains a program logic, which program logic being loading into memory, whereby the program engine includes one or more user assistance programs that may be accessed by the user through the program engine and the program engine can access a database containing data that is specific to the task.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the instructional program comprises one or more search modules each accessible by the program engine for searching a database containing data that is specific to the task.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the instructional program includes program logic permitting the user to select an image of one or more parts of the apparatus to view on the display deice.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the instructional program includes name data identifying one or more parts of the apparatus that the user has selected to view.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the data includes instructions for assembly or disassembly of the one or more parts of the apparatus that the user has selected to view.

11. The system of claim 8, wherein the data includes instructions for repair of the parts of the apparatus that the user has selected to view.

12. The system of claim 8, wherein the data includes instructions for fault diagnosis of the parts of the apparatus that the user has selected to view.

13. The system of claim 8, wherein the display device includes means for temporarily mounting the display device in proximity to the parts the user has selected to view.

14. The system of claim 6, wherein the task comprises a manual operation undertaken during a manual repair.

15. The system of claim 6, wherein the task comprises a manual operation undertaken on an apparatus, and the data comprises images of the apparatus.

16. The system of claim 1, wherein the task comprises a manual operation undertaken on an apparatus.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the manual operation comprises repair of the apparatus.

18. The system of claim 16, wherein the manual operation comprises maintenance of the apparatus.

19. The system of claim 1, wherein the task comprises a manual operation undertaken on an apparatus to control a process.

20. The system of claim 1, wherein the task is performed at a location where the apparatus is installed for use.

21. The system of claim 1, wherein the task is performed at a location on the apparatus at which a standard desktop computer cannot be accessed by the user at the same time as the task is performed.

22. The system of claim 1, further comprising a data retrieval device connected to and under the control of the computer, which data retrieval device accesses a data storage medium on which all or part of the instructional program is stored.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein the data storage medium on which all or part of the instructional program is stored is a hard disk.

24. The system of claim 22, wherein the data storage medium on which all or part of the instructional program is stored is a CD-ROM.

25. The system of claim 22, wherein the data storage medium on which all or part of the instructional program is stored is a DVD.

26. The system of claim 22, wherein the data storage medium on which all or part of the instructional program is stored is a ROM.

27. The system of claim 22, further comprising a data entry system connected to the computer by which the user can enter data into the computer which is then stored on the storage medium.

28. The system of claim 22, wherein the instructional program that the computer accesses and stores in memory is stored on the storage medium.

29. The system of claim 22, wherein the instructional program that the computer accesses and stores in memory is stored as ROM.

30. The system of claim 22, wherein the instructional program that the computer accesses and stores in memory is uploaded to the computer via a wireless communication.

31. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a data entry system connected to the computer by which the user can enter data into the computer; and

a data storage and retrieval device connected to and under the control of the computer on which data generated by the user is stored.

32. The system of claim 1, wherein the wireless data transmitting and receiving device transmits and receives radio frequency signals.

33. The system of claim 1, wherein the wireless data transmitting and receiving device transmits and receives an audio signal that is an analog signal via a modem.

34. The system of claim 1, wherein the wireless data transmitting and receiving device transmits and receives an analog audio signal via a cellular link.

35. The system of claim 1, wherein the wireless data transmitting and receiving device transmits and receives an analog video signal.

36. The system of claim 1, wherein the wireless data transmitting and receiving device transmits and receives a video signal via a cellular link.

37. The system of claim 1, wherein the wireless data transmitting and receiving device transmits and receives a digital audio signal.

38. The system of claim 1, wherein the wireless data transmitting and receiving device transmits and receives a digital signal via a digital telephone link.

39. The system of claim 1, wherein the wireless data transmitting and receiving device transmits and receives a digital signal via a digital modem.

40. The system of claim 1, wherein the wireless data transmitting and receiving device transmits and receives a digital video signal.

41. The system of claim 1, wherein the wireless data transmitting and receiving device transmits and receives a video signal via a digital telephone link.

42. The system of claim 1, wherein the wireless data transmitting and receiving device transmits and receives a video signal via a digital modem.

43. The system of claim 1, wherein the wireless data transmitting and receiving device transmits and receives communication between users on the same network within the same location.

44. The system of claim 1, wherein the wireless data transmitting and receiving device transmits and receives communications between a user and a customer support center at a remote location.

45. The system of claim 1, wherein the wireless data transmitting and receiving device transmits and receives data through a VBX/CODEC box.

46. The system of claim 1, wherein the wireless data transmitting and receiving device transmits and receives data through a hardwired network that connects via TCP/IP through a secure internet link to the remote location.

47. The system of claim 1, wherein the wireless data transmitting and receiving device is a cellular phone.

48. A computer communication system, comprising:

a first computer of a size sufficiently small to be worn by a user;

a memory connected to and under control of the first computer;

a display device that can receive display signals from the first computer for visual display to the user;

an input device by which the user enters commands to the first computer;

a wireless data transmitting station, which station capable of receiving and transmitting data from the station;

a wireless data transmitting and receiving device connected to the first computer, which device can transmit data, the wireless transmitting and receiving device transmitting video images relating to a task performed by the user to an assistant and receiving instructions from the assistant as the assistant views the images; and

a second computer of a size sufficiently small to be worn by a user;

a memory connected to and under control of the second computer;

a display device that can receive display signals from the second computer for visual display to the user;

an input device by which the user enters commands to the second computer; and

a wireless data transmitting and receiving device connected to the second computer, which device can transmit data to, and receive data from, the wireless transmitting station, whereby the data is generated by the user wearing the first computer.