System of machine maintenance

• US 7,386,363 B2
• Filed: 10/05/2001
• Issued: 06/10/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/05/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: PPI Technologies Incorporated (PPI Technologies Global LLC)
• Original Assignee: PPI Technologies Incorporated (PPI Technologies Global LLC)
• Inventors: Murray, Stuart C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Rudy; Andrew Joseph
• Application Number:
  US09/971,406
• Publication Number:
  US 20020042761A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,440 Days
• Field of Search: 705/26, 705/27, 705/28, 700108-110, 700/169, 700/175, 700/180, 702182-185
• US Class Current: 700/175
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/20 Administration of product repair or maintenance
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0627 using item specifications
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0635 Processing of requisition or of purchase orders

Abstract

A system for remote maintenance for a machine. The system includes a database having information for a plurality of machines. A customer accesses the database in order to receive an illustration of at least one of said plurality of machines. Thereafter, the customer identifies a portion of the machine illustration and is provided with ordering data for that portion of the machine (e.g., a machine component, sub-component or part). Using this ordering data the customer can order parts of its machine. Additionally, using an imaging device, such as a digital camera, the customer can transmit images of the machine to an off-site expert and receive real-time information related to the assembly, installation, repair or maintenance of the machine.

Claims

1. A method for remote maintenance for a machine, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a user interfaceable device having a database and being operable to be remotely accessed, to receive an image of a machine at a remote location and to transmit information concerning the machine, the database including information about a plurality of machines, the information about the plurality of machines including an illustration of each machine;

receiving at the user interfaceable device a command to display an illustration for one machine of the plurality of machines;

transmitting the illustration of the one machine of the plurality of machines to a location remote from the user interfaceable device;

receiving at the user interfaceable device a command to display a selected portion of the illustration of the one machine of the plurality of machines, the selected portion representing a component of the one machine; and

transmitting ordering data for the selected portion of the illustration to a location remote from the user interfaceable device.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of receiving at the user interfaceable device an order for the component of the one machine represented by the selected portion.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising the step of providing an accounting system.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising the step of transferring the order for the component to the accounting system.

5. The method of claim 2, further comprising the step of generating documentation for the order.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the documentation is in an electronic format.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the documentation is in a printed format.

8. The method of claim 2, further comprising the step of transmitting a confirmation of the order.

9. The method of claim 2, further comprising the step of transmitting an inventory verification request.

10. The method of claim 2, further comprising the step of transmitting the order for the component to a component vendor.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the ordering data comprises technical information.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the technical information is selected from a group consisting of:

component descriptions, component dimensions, component functions, component tolerances and component documentation.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the ordering data comprises sales information.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the sales information is selected from a group consisting of:

part numbers, descriptions, per unit cost and discount unit cost.

15. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of transmitting ordering data for a sub-portion of the selected portion, the sub-portion representing a sub-component of the component.

16. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of providing at a remote location with the machine an imaging device operable to capture and transmit an image of the machine.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the imaging device comprises a digital camera.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the digital camera comprises a digital video camera.

19. The method of claim 16, further comprising the step of transmitting information from the user interface regarding the machine at the remote location.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the information is selected from the group consisting of:

assembly information for the machine, installation information for the machine, maintenance information for the machine and repair information for the machine.

21. A method for remote maintenance for a machine comprising the steps of:

providing at a first location a user interfaceable device having a database and being operable to be remotely accessed, the database including information about a plurality of customer machines, the information about the plurality of customer machines including an illustration of each customer machine;

providing at a second location a customer machine;

providing at the second location an imaging device electronically operable to capture and transmit an image of the customer machine at the second location;

providing at a third location a second user interface operable to receive an image of the customer machine at the second location and transmit information;

receiving at the second user interface an image of the customer machine at the second location;

transmitting from the second user interface to the first user interface information concerning the customer machine at the second location.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the imaging device comprises a digital camera.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the digital camera comprises a digital video camera.

24. The method of claim 21, wherein the first location and the third location are the same location.