Method and system for locating and assisting portable devices performing remote diagnostic analysis of a control network

• US 6,757,521 B1
• Filed: 06/12/2000
• Issued: 06/29/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/12/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: I/O Controls Corporation
• Original Assignee: I/O Controls Corporation
• Inventors: Ying, Jeffrey
• Primary Examiner(s): Banks-Harold, Marsha D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ly, Nghi H.
• Application Number:
  US09/592,021
• Time in Patent Office: 1,478 Days
• Field of Search: 455/456, 455/457, 455/440, 455/67.11, 455/424, 701/29, 701/32, 701/34, 701/35
• US Class Current: 455/67.11
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2223/06 Remote monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 23/0213 Modular or universal configuration of the monitoring system, e.g. monitoring system having modules that may be combined to build monitoring program; monitoring system that can be applied to legacy systems; adaptable monitoring system; using different communication protocols
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 23/0272 Presentation of monitored results, e.g. selection of status reports to be displayed; Filtering information to the user
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 17/27 for locating or positioning the transmitter

Abstract

A system for monitoring, controlling, and locating portable computerized devices performing remote diagnostic analysis of control networks. The portable, wireless equipment includes computerized display device connected to a wireless intermediary device for allowing a wireless connection to be made to a control network. The computerized diagnostic device may be embodied as a personal digital assistant (PDA) having a graphical screen display, on which may be displayed the network nodes and connections of the control network presented against a backdrop of a transit vehicle or other facility shown in three-dimensional, rotatable images. The wireless equipment may allow the operator to force individual system components to output states, and provide for real time monitoring. The portable, wireless equipment is programmed with information pertaining to the connections and locations of the components in the control network, thereby simplifying diagnosis or testing by the operator. The portable, wireless equipment may be operated within a network of wireless communication cells, whereby transmitted messages between the portable, wireless equipment and the control networks may be monitored and the position of each device determined. Graphical images of the control networks may be displayed or rotated based upon the operator'"'"'s relative position and orientation within respect to the control network.

Claims

1. A system for facilitating diagnosis and maintenance of electronic control networks, comprising:

a wireless diagnostic device, said wireless diagnostic device comprising a transmitter and receiver for communicating over a wireless communication channel with a control network via a control network wireless interface;

a plurality of wireless ground stations dispersed over an area, each of said wireless ground stations comprising a ground station receiver configured to monitor messages transmitted over said wireless communication channel between said wireless diagnostic device and the control network, said wireless ground stations are arranged so as to form a plurality of microcells; and

a processor for comparing received signal strengths at said wireless ground stations and determining a location of said wireless diagnostic device thereby;

wherein said wireless diagnostic device comprises a screen display for displaying graphical images depicting the control network;

wherein each of said wireless ground stations further comprises a ground station transmitter, whereby communication between said wireless ground stations and said wireless diagnostic device may be carried out;

wherein the location of said wireless diagnostic device is determined at least in part by determining which microcell said wireless diagnostic device is located in, based upon the received signal strengths at said wireless ground stations; and

wherein particular graphical images depicting the control network are selected for display on said wireless diagnostic device based upon the location of said wireless diagnostic device.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising a ground station interface connected to said wireless ground stations.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein said processor is located at said ground station interface.

4. The system of claim 2, further comprising a local area computer network connected to said ground station interface.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein said local area computer network comprises a memory storage device for storing transmitted messages monitored by said wireless ground stations over said wireless communication channel.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein one or more of said wireless ground stations periodically transmits location information to said wireless diagnostic device.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein selection of the particular graphical images for display is carried out at said wireless diagnostic device.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein selection of the particular graphical images for display is carried out at a remote computer network connected to said wireless ground stations, said remote computer network storing said graphical images in a database.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein selection of the particular graphical images is based in part upon an orientation of an operator of the wireless diagnostic device with respect to the control network.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein said wireless diagnostic device comprises means for inputting information relating to the operator'"'"'s orientation with respect to the control network.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein said wireless diagnostic device comprises a graphical display device connected to a wireless intermediary unit, said wireless intermediary unit containing said transmitter and receiver for communicating over said wireless communication channel with said control network.

12. A method for facilitating diagnosis and maintenance of electronic control networks, said method comprising the steps of:

communicating over a wireless communication channel between a wireless diagnostic device and a control network via a control network wireless interface;

monitoring, at a plurality of wireless ground stations, messages transmitted over said wireless communication channel between said wireless diagnostic device and the control network over said wireless communication channel, said wireless ground stations are arranged in a plurality of microcells;

comparing received signal strengths at said wireless ground stations, and determining a location of said wireless diagnostic device thereby, said determining step comprising the step of determining which microcell said wireless diagnostic device is located in, based upon the received signal strengths at said wireless ground stations;

periodically transmitting location information from said wireless ground stations to said wireless diagnostic device; and

selecting particular graphical images depicting the control network for display on said wireless diagnostic device based upon the location of said wireless diagnostic device.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein said step of comparing received signal strengths at said wireless ground stations is performed by a processor at a ground station interface connected to said wireless receiving stations.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising the step of storing transmitted messages monitored by said wireless ground stations over said wireless communication channel on a memory storage device connected to said ground station interface.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein selection of the particular graphical images for display is carried out at said wireless diagnostic device.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein selection of the particular graphical images for display is carried out at a remote computer network connected to said wireless ground stations, said remote computer network storing said graphical images in a database.

17. The method of claim 12, wherein selection of the particular graphical images is based in part upon an orientation of an operator of the wireless diagnostic device with respect to the control network.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising the step of inputting information relating to the operator'"'"'s orientation with respect to the control network into said wireless diagnostic device.

19. A system for facilitating diagnosis and maintenance of electronic control networks, comprising:

a plurality of wireless diagnostic devices, each of said wireless diagnostic devices comprising a transmitter and receiver for communicating with one or more control networks over a plurality of wireless communication channels; and

a plurality of wireless ground stations dispersed over an area, each of said wireless ground stations comprising a ground station receiver configured to monitor messages transmitted over said wireless communication channels between said wireless diagnostic devices and the one or more control networks; and

a processor for comparing received signal, strengths at said wireless ground stations and determining a location of each of said wireless diagnostic devices thereby;

wherein each of said wireless diagnostic devices comprises a screen display for displaying graphical images depicting the one or more control networks; and

wherein particular graphical images for display are selected in part based upon the location of the wireless diagnostic device.

20. A system for facilitating diagnosis and maintenance of electronic control networks, comprising:

a wireless diagnostic device, said wireless diagnostic device comprising a transmitter and receiver for communicating wirelessly with a control network via a control network wireless interface, and further comprising a screen display;

a plurality of wireless ground stations dispersed over an area for monitoring messages transmitted between said wireless diagnostic device and the control network, said ground stations receiving information by which a determination of a location of said wireless diagnostic device is made;

wherein graphical images depicting the control network are displayed on said wireless diagnostic device based upon the location of said wireless diagnostic device.

21. The system of claim 20, further comprising a ground station interface connected to said wireless ground stations, and a processor located at said ground station interface and configured to determine the location of said wireless diagnostic device.

22. The system of claim 20, further comprising a local area computer network connected to said ground station interface, said local area computer network comprises a memory storage device for storing transmitted messages monitored by said wireless ground stations.

23. The system of claim 20, wherein one or more of said wireless ground stations periodically transmits location information to said wireless diagnostic device.

24. The system of claim 20, wherein selection of the particular graphical images for display is carried out at said wireless diagnostic device.

25. The system of claim 20, wherein selection of the particular graphical images for display is carried out at a remote computer network connected to said wireless ground stations, said remote computer network storing said graphical images in a database.

26. The system of claim 20, wherein selection of the particular graphical images is based in part upon an orientation of an operator of the wireless diagnostic device with respect to the control network.

27. The system of claim 26, wherein said wireless diagnostic device comprises means for inputting information relating to the operator'"'"'s orientation with respect to the control network.