Method and apparatus for storing and retrieving data stored within an associated piece of equipment

• US 7,433,890 B2
• Filed: 09/10/2002
• Issued: 10/07/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/10/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Thermo Fisher Scientific (Mexico City) LLC (Thermo Fisher Scientific Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Thermo Fisher Scientific Incorporated
• Inventors: Elwood, Bryan M., Bair, Richard H. III, Luyckx, Ronald W., Tipton, Walter J.
• Primary Examiner(s): ALAM, SHAHID AL
• Application Number:
  US10/237,979
• Publication Number:
  US 20040049508A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,219 Days
• Field of Search: 707/205, 707/200, 707/10, 707/101, 707/102, 707/104.1, 707/202, 707/204, 707/9, 235/487, 345/835, 700/108, 709/208, 621/27, 621/32, 622/25, 622/27, 701/35, 714/37
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0723 the record carrier comprising an arrangement for non-contact communication, e.g. wireless communication circuits on transponder cards, non-contact smart cards or RFIDs
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99939 Privileged access
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99945 Object-oriented database structure processing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99948 Application of database or data structure, e.g. distributed, multimedia, or image
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99953 Recoverability

Abstract

A method and apparatus that includes a storage device for securing data about an apparatus. The data is stored in a central location and can be accessed or written based upon privileges granted by a processor.

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising:

a storage device wherein data and executable diagnostic tests related to the apparatus are stored and available for retrieval, wherein the executable diagnostic tests relate to mechanical operating conditions of the apparatus at the time the executable diagnostic test is executed, the executable diagnostic tests ascertaining mechanical operating conditions of portions of the apparatus through at least one sensor in said apparatus at the time the executable diagnostic test is executed, the data stored being accessible through a plurality of levels of security;

a processor that is linked to the storage device, and the devices of the apparatus, the processor controlling the operation of the apparatus and retrieving information of the apparatus;

a remote receiver linked to the processor wherein the remote receiver receives a request to access the storage device, wherein the request is retrieving informational data concerning the apparatus and executing a diagnostic test to determine specific operating conditions of the apparatus at the time the request is made and the executable diagnostic test is executed; and

a remote transmitter communicating with the processor,

a plurality of sensors and controlling devices communicating with the processor, the processor controlling the operation of the apparatus by maintaining the desired refrigeration levels in an ultra low temperature environment and determining the operating conditions through the sensors and controlling devices.

2. The apparatus as in claim 1, further comprising the sensor monitoring the voltage of the sensor and control and status of controlling devices on the compressor, lights, fans, pan heater and defrost heater of the apparatus, wherein the storage device is non-volatile memory.

3. The apparatus as in claim 1, wherein the data is secured to the storage device by restricting accessing to the storage device, and being without security for the manufacturer number, serial number and voltage rating, and the processor being configurable to troubleshoot sensors and relays connected to the processor and processor functions.

4. The apparatus as in claim 3, wherein the data is secured by assigning read and write privileges, with only read privileges for users and read and write only for administrators, and a selection of an analog to digital converter connected to the processor to execute a portion of a firmware that obtains voltage values for the devices in the apparatus.

5. The apparatus as in claim 1, wherein the informational data is operational parameters of the apparatus, and within a selectable processor menu, selecting any one of an analog to digital converter status, battery test, display, line voltage and remote alarm to be executed by the processor.

6. The apparatus as in claim 1, wherein the informational data is manufacturing data related to the apparatus.

7. The apparatus as in claim 1, wherein the remote receiver is an infrared detector.

8. The apparatus as in claim 1, wherein the remote transmitter is an infrared transmitter.

9. The apparatus as in claim 1, wherein the remote receiver is a BLUETOOTH™

detector.

10. The apparatus as in claim 1, wherein the remote transmitter is a BLUETOOTH™

transmitter.

11. The apparatus as in claim 1, wherein the apparatus is an ultra-low temperature freezer.

12. The apparatus as in claim 1, wherein the apparatus is an incubator.

13. The apparatus as in claim 1 wherein the executable diagnostic test is executed when the request is received by the remote receiver.

14. A method for remotely accessing and retrieving data from an apparatus, comprising:

processing an electrical signal received for access to a storage device, wherein the storage device is linked to the apparatus;

determining whether the electrical signal received is for a request for informational data or to executing a diagnostic test;

in response to the request for informational data, permitting access to the storage device such that the information data is retrievable;

transmitting the informational data to a remote location;

in response to the request to initiate the diagnostic test, executing the diagnostic test on the apparatus in order to determine an operating condition of the apparatus at the time the request is made, the diagnostic test being performed on mechanical parts of the apparatus to determine the operating condition at the time the request is made and the executable diagnostic test is executed, a processor controlling both the operation of the apparatus and retrieving information of the apparatus for remote access;

transmitting the results of the diagnostic test to a remote location;

remotely transmitting the data; and

controlling, by the controller, the operation of the apparatus by maintaining the desired refrigeration levels in an ultra low temperature environment of the apparatus and determining the operating conditions through the sensors and controlling devices communicating with the processor.

15. The method as in claim 14, further comprising processing a store signal to store data on the storage device from a requestor, and a plurality of remotely selectable menus for controlling the processor, analog to digital converter, a plurality of sensors, and a plurality of relays in the operation of the apparatus and obtaining the current status of the apparatus and predetermined information of the apparatus.

16. The method as in claim 15, further comprising determining whether the requestor has privileges to store data on the storage device.

17. The method as in claim 16, further comprising storing the data on the storage device linked to the apparatus, when the requestor has privileges to write data to the storage device.

18. The method as in claim 17, further comprising securing the data stored on the storage device.

19. The method as in claim 17, wherein the data is secured by granting read and write privileges to the storage device.

20. The method as in claim 14, further comprising linking the storage device to a remote location.

21. The method as in claim 20, further comprising accessing the data from the remote location through wireless communication.

22. The method as in claim 21, further comprising storing the data at the remote location.

23. The method as in claim 14, wherein the sensor monitoring the voltage of the sensor and control and status of controlling devices on the compressor, lights, fans, pan heater and defrost heater of the apparatus, wherein the diagnostic test is executed when the request is received by a remote receiver communicating with the apparatus.

24. A system for remotely accessing and retrieving data from an apparatus with a plurality of physical components, comprising:

means for processing an electrical signal received for access to a means for storing, wherein the means for storing is linked to the apparatus;

means for determining whether the signal received is for a request for informational data or to execute a diagnostic test;

in response to the request for informational data, means for permitting access to the means for storing such that the information data is retrievable;

means for transmitting the informational data to a remote location;

in response to the request to initiate the diagnostic test of the plurality of physical components of the apparatus, means for executing the diagnostic test on the apparatus in order to determine an operating condition of the system at the time the request is made and controlling an operation of the apparatus, the diagnostic test stored on a medium with restricted access as to privilege depending on the user;

means for transmitting the results of the diagnostic test to a remote location;

means for remotely transmitting the data; and

a plurality of sensor means and controlling means communicating with the processor, the processor controlling the operation of the apparatus by maintaining the desired refrigeration levels in an ultra low temperature environment and determining the operating conditions through the sensor means and controlling means.

25. The apparatus as in claim 24, further comprising means for securing the data stored on the means for storing, and the operation of the apparatus including maintaining a certain temperature of the apparatus.

26. The apparatus as in claim 25, wherein the data is secured by a means for granting read and write privileges to the means for storing data.

27. The apparatus as in claim 24, further comprising means for storing data upon the reception of a remote storage signal.

28. The apparatus as in claim 24, further comprising means for linking the means for storing to a remote location.

29. The apparatus as in claim 28, further comprising means for accessing the data from the remote location.

30. The apparatus as in claim 29, further comprising remote means storing the data at the remote location.