Method and system for remote error reporting on weighing equipment

• US 6,580,037 B1
• Filed: 12/11/2000
• Issued: 06/17/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 08/23/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fairbank Scales
• Original Assignee: Fairbank Scales
• Inventors: Luke, Tom
• Primary Examiner(s): GIBSON, RANDY W
• Application Number:
  US09/734,109
• Time in Patent Office: 918 Days
• Field of Search: 177/25.11, 177/25.12, 177/25.13, 177/25.14, 177/25.15, 177/25.16, 177/25.17, 177/25.18, 702/173, 705/407, 705/414, 705/415, 705/416
• US Class Current: 177/25.13
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 23/00 Auxiliary devices for weighing apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 23/3707 using a microprocessor

Abstract

A method and system are provided for remotely reporting errors on weighing equipment. The reporting system provides error and diagnostic information for one or more scales to a central service center. The system includes a scale instrument in communication with a service center. Upon receiving load sensing information from the scale, the scale instrument reports the information to the service center. This information may include weight readings, error messages and diagnostic messages.

Claims

1. A remote error reporting system on weighing equipment, the system comprising:

a load sensing apparatus;

a scale instrument operably coupled with the load sensing apparatus to receive weight load data and process the weight load data; and

a service center device in communication with the scale instrument to receive the weight load data and transmit response data to the scale instrument.

2. The device in claim 1, wherein the load sensing apparatus includes a plurality of load cells.

3. The device in claim 2, wherein the load sensing apparatus includes a plurality of sectional controllers associated with the plurality of load cells.

4. The device in claim 1, wherein the scale instrument includes a display.

5. The device in claim 1, wherein the weight load data includes data indicative of weight of the scale load.

6. The device in claim 1, wherein the weight load data includes data indicative of scale diagnostic information.

7. The device in claim 1, wherein the weight load data includes data indicative of scale error information.

8. The device in claim 1, wherein the service center device is in communication with the scale instrument utilizing a modem.

9. A method in a computer system for reporting weighing equipment performance data from one or more scales, the method comprising:

obtaining load sensing data from a scale;

transmitting the load sensing data to a service center;

processing the processed load sensing data at the service center from each of the one or more scales; and

receiving response data at each of the one or more scales.

10. The method as recited in claim 9, wherein the load sensing data includes data indicative of diagnostic information.

11. The method as recited in claim 10, wherein the diagnostic information data includes an error message, scale location and failure mode.

12. The method as recited in claim 9, wherein the processing of the load sensing data includes collecting the load sensing data into a database.

13. The method as recited in claim 12, wherein the storing of load sensing data occurs at the service center.

14. The method as recited in claim 9, wherein the processing of the load sensing data includes creating response data.

15. The method as recited in claim 9, wherein the response data is data indicative of a request from the service center seeking further load sensing data.

16. A method in a computer system for collecting weighing equipment performance data from one or more scales, the method comprising:

obtaining load sensing data from a scale;

receiving the load sensing data at a service center from each of the one or more scales;

processing the load sensing data; and

transmitting response data to each of the one or more scales.

17. The method as recited in claim 16, wherein the load sensing data includes data indicative of diagnostic information.

18. The method as recited in claim 17, wherein the diagnostic information data includes an error message, scale location and failure mode.

19. The method as recited in claim 16, wherein the processing of the load sensing data includes storing the load sensing data into a database.

20. The method as recited in claim 19, wherein the storing of load sensing data occurs at the service center.

21. The method as recited in claim 16, wherein the processing of the load sensing data includes creating response data.

22. The method as recited in claim 16, wherein the response data is data indicative of a request from the service center seeking further load sensing data.