Method and apparatus for transmitting data from a remote location to a desired device

• US 6,864,779 B2
• Filed: 10/30/2001
• Issued: 03/08/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/30/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: E-Netpic Com Incorporated
• Original Assignee: E-Netpic Com Incorporated
• Inventors: Wade, Frederick G., Stack, Brian T., Smeds, Roger L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Horabik, Michael
• Assistant Examiner(s): BROWN, VERNAL U
• Application Number:
  US09/984,648
• Publication Number:
  US 20030001720A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,225 Days
• Field of Search: 340/3.5, 340/506, 340/517, 340/539.1, 340/539.11, 340/825.69, 340/825.72, 340/825.52, 340/825.53, 700/23, 711/204, 725/19, 725/30, 713/176, 713/180, 713/186, 713/179, 713/185, 380/246
• US Class Current: 340/3.5
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/06 specially adapted for file transfer, e.g. file transfer protocol [FTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 User profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols

Abstract

A method for transmitting data from a remote location for evaluation by an expert. A remote appliance couples a data collection device with a communications device to transmit collected data and serve as a virtual remote presence server. The remote appliance transmit collected data. The remote appliance transmits the data in accordance with subscriber information stored in a centralized device. The data can be processed or evaluated in any manner.

Claims

1. A method for transmitting collected data from a remote location to a designated device, said method on server comprising:

recording subscriber information indicating an identity of a subscriber, one or more remote appliances associated the subscriber, and characteristics of a data transport connection desired by the subscriber;

establishing communications with a remote appliance based on the characteristics of the data transport specified;

receiving captured data collected at a remote location by a remote appliance with at least one data collection device coupled thereto, wherein the remote appliance automatically identifies the data collection device by analyzing one or more output signatures of the data collection device; and

transmitting the captured data to at least one designated device based on the subscriber information previously associated with the remote appliance.

2. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the receiving captured data comprises receiving captured data a collected at a remote location by the remote appliance with at least one data collection device coupled therewith via a wireless connection.

3. A method as recited in claim 2, wherein said data collection device and said remote appliance are integrated into one device.

4. A method as recited in claim 2, wherein the data collection device and the remote appliance are separate devices.

5. A method as recited in claim 2, wherein the receiving collected data by the remote appliance comprises automatically identifying the data collection device used to collect the data by sending an appropriate interface into the remote appliance based on the one or more output signatures.

6. The method recited in claim 5, further comprising recording appliance information including an indication of the subscriber information corresponding to the remote appliance.

7. The method as recited in claim 6, further comprising recording user information including an indication of the appliance information corresponding a user authorized to use the remote appliance.

8. The method as recited in claim 6, wherein said step of recording subscriber information comprises recording a subscriber record having a unique ID corresponding to the subscriber and wherein the appliance information includes the unique ID.

9. The method as recited in claim 7, wherein said step of recording subscriber information comprises recording a subscriber record having a unique ID corresponding to the subscriber and wherein the user information includes the unique ID.

10. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising the step of processing the captured data in accordance with the subscriber information.

11. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the captured data is image data.

12. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the captured data is process parameter data.

13. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the captured data is equipment operating status information.

14. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the transmitting the captured data to at least one designated device further comprising transmitting the captured data for evaluating the captured data using expert knowledge from a location of the data collection device.

15. The method recited in claim 14, further comprising transmitting operating commands to the location in response to the captured data transmitted in said transmitting step.

16. A server based appliance for transmitting data from a remote location to a designated device, said appliance comprising:

means for reading subscriber information indicating an identity of a subscriber associated with the remote appliance and characteristics of data transport connection desired by the subscriber;

means for establishing communications with a remote appliance based on the characteristics of the data transport specified;

means for receiving the captured data collected at a remote location by a remote appliance, wherein the remote appliance automatically identifies at least one data collection device coupled thereto, by analyzing one or more output signatures of the data collection device; and

means for transmitting the captured data to at least one designated device based on the subscriber information previously associated with the remote appliance.

17. An appliance as recited in claim 16, wherein said means for receiving captured data collected at the remote location by the remote appliance includes receiving collected data by the remote appliance comprises automatically identifying the data collection device by sending an appropriate interface into the remote appliance based on the one or more output signatures.

18. The appliance as recited in claim 16, wherein the collected data is image data.

19. The appliance as recited in claim 16, wherein the collected data is process parameter data.

20. The appliance as recited in claim 16, wherein the collected data is equipment operating status information.

21. The appliance as recited in claim 20, wherein the means for transmitting the captured data to at least one designated device further comprises means for transmitting the captured data for evaluating the captured data using expert knowledge from a location of the data collection device.