Systems and methods for verification of a verifiable device

• US 7,640,130 B2
• Filed: 10/24/2007
• Issued: 12/29/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/25/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Mettler-Toledo LLC (Mettler-Toledo International Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Mettler-Toledo Incorporated (Mettler-Toledo International Inc.)
• Inventors: Metzler, Philip Mark, Churan, John Scott
• Primary Examiner(s): Cosimano; Edward R
• Application Number:
  US11/923,196
• Publication Number:
  US 20080103716A1
• Time in Patent Office: 797 Days
• Field of Search: 73/10.1, 73/10.8, 73/11.3, 73/11.5, 73/11.6, 73/12.7, 73/12.8, 73/13.6, 73/17.3, 73/17.4, 73/17.9, 73/18.1, 738/658, 738/659, 177/1, 177/25.11, 177/25.12, 177/25.13, 177/25.14, 177/25.15, 177/25.17, 177/25.18, 177/50, 235/29.A, 235/29.R, 235/30.A, 235/30.R, 235/33, 235/95.R, 235/96, 235/98, 340/500, 340/540, 340/679, 340/870.01, 340/870.07, 340/870.16, 380/2, 702/1, 702/85, 702/94, 702/95, 702/96, 702/97, 702/100, 702/101, 702/102, 702/104, 702/105, 702/127, 702/182, 702/187, 702/188, 705/1, 705/400, 705/401, 705/402, 705/403, 705/404, 705/405, 705/406, 705/407, 705/408, 705/409, 705/410, 705/411, 705/412, 705/413, 705/414, 705/415, 705/416, 705/417, 705/418, 705/500, 709/217, 709/218, 709/219
• US Class Current: 702/101
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 21/26 Counterweights; Poise-weights; Sets of weights; Holders for the reception of weights
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 23/017 Securing calibration against fraud
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 23/3735 using a digital network
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 23/3742 using a mobile telephone network

Abstract

Systems and methods for effectuating verification and certification of verifiable devices. Preferably, but not necessarily, such certification occurs or is communicated remotely. A verifiable device may be directly or indirectly connected to an appropriate regulatory agency through a communication mechanism. One or more tests may be performed on the verifiable device to verify that the device is functioning properly. The test results are directly or indirectly transmitted to the regulatory agency. If the tests were passed then the verifiable device may be approved for use. When self-certification or remote certification is provided for, the need for in-person verification and certification procedures by agency personnel may be eliminated.

Claims

1. A system for certifying a legal for trade device, comprising:

a device for providing electronic instructions to the legal for trade device for running one or more tests to verify proper operation;

a communication mechanism selectively connected to said legal for trade device for electronically transmitting results of said tests to a certifying authority to certify said legal for trade device; and

a certification mechanism for receiving an electronic certification signal from the certifying authority certifying said legal for trade device.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said legal for trade device is a weighing apparatus.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein said communication mechanism is selected from the group consisting of mail, fax, telephone, email, LAN, WAN, WLAN and Internet.

4. The system of claim 1, further comprising a display device associated with said legal for trade device.

5. The system of claim 1, further comprising a database associated with an owner or operator of said legal for trade device, said database operative to store information relating to said legal for trade device.

6. The system of claim 1, further comprising a manufacturer or third party in the transmission path between said legal for trade device and said regulatory agency.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein said communication mechanism also enables said legal for trade device to communicate with a manufacturer or third party.

8. The system of claim 7, further comprising a database associated with one or both of said regulatory agency and said manufacturer or third party, said database operative to store information relating to a legal for trade device from which said regulatory agency and/or said manufacturer or third party has received a communication.

9. A method for certifying a legal for trade device, comprising the steps of:

providing electronic instructions to the legal for trade device to run one or more tests operative to verify the proper operation thereof;

transmitting electronically the results of the one or more tests from the legal for trade device to a certifying authority to certify said legal for trade device; and

receiving electronically a certification signal from the certifying authority for said legal for trade device.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising using said communication mechanism to enable communications between said legal for trade device and a manufacturer or third party.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein certification of said legal for trade device occurs upon successful completion of said tests and transmission of said results thereof directly or indirectly to said regulatory agency.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein certification of said legal for trade device occurs upon receipt at said legal for trade device of a verification signal transmitted by said regulatory agency in response to receipt by said regulatory agency of successful test results from said legal for trade device.

13. The method of claim 9, further comprising providing a database at said regulatory agency for storing information relating to said legal for trade device.

14. A method for certifying a legal for trade device, comprising the steps of:

providing electronic instructions to the legal for trade device adapted to run one or more tests operative to verify the proper operation thereof;

running said tests;

transmitting electronically the results of said tests to a certifying authority to certify said legal for trade device via a communication mechanism associated with said legal for trade; and

receiving electronically at said legal for trade device via said communication mechanism, a signal from the certifying authority in response to receipt of said test results, said signal operative to certify said legal for trade device for use; and

storing information relating to said legal for trade device in a database.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein said legal for trade device interacts with a user of said legal for trade device while running said tests.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein said legal for trade device runs said tests autonomously.

17. The method of claim 14, further comprising transmitting the results of said tests to a manufacturer or third party.

18. A method for certifying a legal for trade device, comprising the steps of:

providing the legal for trade device with means for electronically instructing the legal for trade device to run one or more self-verification tests operative to verify the proper operation thereof and of performing a self-certification operation upon the successful completion of said tests;

causing said legal for trade device to run said tests;

upon the successful completion of said tests, directly or indirectly electronically transmitting the results thereof to a certifying authority to certify said legal for trade device via a communication mechanism associated with said legal for trade device;

storing electronically information relating to said legal for trade device in a database; and

performing said self-certification operation to certify said legal for trade device for use.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein said legal for trade device interacts with a user of said legal for trade device while running said tests.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein said legal for trade device runs said tests autonomously.

21. The method of claim 18, further comprising transmitting the results of said tests to a manufacturer or third party.