Maintenance request systems and methods

• US 7,120,830 B2
• Filed: 02/22/2002
• Issued: 10/10/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/22/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Drake Corporation, First Data Corporation (Fiserv Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: First Data Corporation (Fiserv Incorporated)
• Inventors: Tonack, Mark
• Primary Examiner(s): Beausoliel, Robert
• Assistant Examiner(s): MASKULINSKI, MICHAEL C
• Application Number:
  US10/081,167
• Publication Number:
  US 20030163440A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,691 Days
• Field of Search: 714/27
• US Class Current: 714/27
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 23/0283 Predictive maintenance, e.g. involving the monitoring of a system and, based on the monitoring results, taking decisions on the maintenance schedule of the monitored system; Estimating remaining useful life [RUL] preventive maintenance, i.e. planning maintenance according to the available resources without monitoring the system G06Q10/06

Abstract

A method for requesting one or more machines to be maintained includes monitoring the machine or machines and detecting when a failure of at least one machine occurs. The method further includes executing a computer program on an electronic terminal associated with the failed machine. The method further includes entering data relating to the condition of the failed machine into the computer program via the electronic terminal and transmitting the data to a database server, thereby initiating a process to alter the condition of the failed machine. In one embodiment of the method, the database server compiles historical data relating to the condition of the one or more machines.

Claims

1. A system for coordinating the maintenance of various mail processing machines at different locations, comprising:

at least one mail processing machine, the maintenance of which is to be coordinated;

a controller associated with the mail processing machine, including a monitor and a data input device, wherein the controller is configured to receive data relating to the condition of the mail processing machine, and wherein the controller is further configured to transmit the data to at least a second location;

a database server and a communications connection that provides electronic access to other locations, wherein the database server is configured to receive information from the controller relating to the condition of the mail processing machine or mail processing machines, wherein the database server is configured to store the information electronically such that the information may be later analyzed, wherein the information includes historical information including computer-generated data relating to a machine failure, wherein the database server is further configured such that upon receipt of a request, the database server causes an alert to be transmitted to another location, thereby initiating a process to alter the condition of the mail processing machine; and

a remote computer configured to receive the alert, wherein the remote computer is further configured to relay the content of the alert to a maintenance technician;

a process control program programmed to halt in-progress production jobs upon detection of a failure and resume in-progress production jobs upon resolution of the failure wherein the in-progress production job includes a plurality of mail items; and

a performance measurement system configured to track mail items processed for testing while the in-progress production job is halted.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the remote computer comprises a pager.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the content of the alert is relayed to the maintenance technician via an electronic email.