Virtual dispensing system

• US 8,265,796 B2
• Filed: 07/14/2010
• Issued: 09/11/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fishman Corporation
• Original Assignee: Fishman Corporation
• Inventors: Beebe, W. Scott
• Primary Examiner(s): Ali, Mohammad
• Assistant Examiner(s): Booker, Kelvin
• Application Number:
  US12/835,796
• Publication Number:
  US 20110245984A1
• Time in Patent Office: 790 Days
• Field of Search: 700/283, 239/398
• US Class Current: 700/283
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/125 involving control of end-device applications over a network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/34 involving the movement of software or configuration parameters network booting or remote initial program loading [RIPL] G06F9/4416

Abstract

A network of fluid dispenser systems is disclosed where a Host/Server is a virtual controller for a number of fluid dispensers systems. The virtual controller may exchange information with local dispenser systems, that incorporate virtual controlling functions. The information may be dispensing processes, information regarding quality and reliability, problems and/or helpful information, and applications. An application may include synchronizing multiple dispensing syringe assemblies. The information may be exchanged in real time during fluid dispensing where any issues may be shared and resolved quickly even in remote locales. Information may be distributed among the disparate locations.

Claims

1. A fluid dispenser system of multiple syringe dispenser assemblies controlled via the Internet, the system comprising:

a Host/Server in communication with at least one thin client via the Internet;

each at least one thin client configured with, and in communication with, at least one tenant, wherein the at least one tenant communicates with a fluid dispensing syringe assembly; and

wherein at least a first tenant of the at least one tenant associated with the at least one thin client is disposed in electrical communication with at least a second tenant of the at least one tenant associated with the same at least one thin client;

the Host/Server comprising;

a processor, memory, a user interface, video and audio hardware, communications hardware;

an operating system, software application programs that details operational steps particular to a dispensing application;

the at least one tenant comprises a processor, memory, a user interface, I/O and communications hardware and software, wherein the Host/Server downloads an application program to the at least one tenant via the Internet wherein when downloading the application program, the Host/Server is configured to download the application to multiple tenants to synchronize the multiple tenants and the corresponding fluid syringe assemblies to accomplish a dispensing application;

wherein the at least one tenant is configured to feed back to the Host/Server information pertaining to the application performance program, and, wherein, the Host/Server comprises a virtual controller for the at least one tenant, and the at least one tenant comprises virtual tenants that drive the fluid dispensing syringe assemblies; and

wherein when receiving feedback from the at least one tenant, the Host/Server is configured to;

receive fluid dispensing status information associated with a fluid dispensing process at a first thin client of the one or more thin clients;

compare the fluid dispensing status information with a template fluid dispensing status to generate a fluid dispensing result; and

when the fluid dispensing status information falls outside of the template fluid dispensing status, forward the fluid dispensing result to at least a second thin client of the one or more thin clients via the Internet, the second thin client being distinct from the first thin client.

2. The fluid dispenser system of claim 1 wherein at least one resource needed to perform the application program is found on the Internet.

3. The fluid dispenser system of claim 1 further comprising:

a training program developed at the Host/Server or at the one of more thin clients, wherein the training program may be accessed by the one or more tenants over the network and at other sites connected to the network.

4. The fluid dispenser system of claim 1 further comprising:

tools for developing an application, wherein the tools are made available at the Host/Server and at the one or more syringe dispenser assemblies; and

applications developed by the tools.

5. The fluid dispenser system of claim 4 wherein on application is directed towards ensuring that the fluid dispenser systems operates to meet a standard.

6. The fluid dispenser system of claim 5 wherein the standard may be validated for dispensers at different locations.

7. The fluid dispenser system of claim 4 wherein one application comprises a Webinar.

8. The fluid dispenser system of claim 1, wherein the at least one tenant comprises a set of syringe assembly driving tenants and a workpiece positioning tenant, each syringe assembly driving tenant of the set of syringe assembly driving tenants configured to control fluid dispensation of a corresponding syringe of the syringe assembly and the workpiece positioning tenant configured to position a workpiece relative to each syringe of the syringe assembly.

9. The fluid dispensing system of claim 8, wherein the at least a first tenant of the at least one tenant and the at least a second tenant of the at least one tenant are configured to exchange policy information associated with fluid dispensation of the syringe assembly to synchronize operation of the at least a first tenant of the at least one tenant and the at least a second tenant of the at least one tenant.

10. The fluid dispensing system of claim 1, wherein

when comparing the fluid dispensing status information with the template fluid dispensing status to generate the fluid dispensing result, the Host/Server is configured to compare a weight of a fluid volume dispensed by the fluid dispensing syringe assembly with a template weight of the fluid volume to generate the fluid dispensing result;

and

when the weight of the fluid volume falls outside of the template weight of the fluid volume, the Host/Server is configured to forward the fluid dispensing result to the at least the second thin client of the one or more thin clients via the Internet, the second thin client being distinct from the first thin client.

11. The fluid dispensing system of claim 1, wherein

when comparing the fluid dispensing status information with the template fluid dispensing status to generate the fluid dispensing result, the Host/Server is configured to compare a visual depiction of a fluid volume dispensed by the fluid dispensing syringe assembly with a template visual depiction of the fluid volume to generate the fluid dispensing result;

and

when the visual depiction of the fluid volume falls outside of the template visual depiction of the fluid volume, the Host/Server is configured to forward the fluid dispensing result to the at least the second thin client of the one or more thin clients via the Internet, the second thin client being distinct from the first thin client.

12. A process for controlling one or more fluid dispenser systems via the Internet, the process comprising the steps of:

downloading an application program from a virtual controller to at least one tenant configured in a thin client via the Internet to synchronize the at least one tenant and corresponding fluid syringe assemblies to accomplish a dispensing application;

running the application program within the at least one tenant, wherein the at least one tenant drives the syringe dispenser assembly, and wherein the at least one tenant comprises a first tenant in communication with a second tenant configured in the same thin client, the first tenant and the second tenant synchronized to accomplish the dispensing application;

developing fluid dispensing status information associated with a fluid dispensing process of the one or more fluid dispenser systems and communicating the status to a Host/Server; and

when receiving fluid dispensing status information from the at least one tenant, the Host/Server is configured to;

receive fluid dispensing status information associated with a fluid dispensing process at a first thin client of the one or more thin clients;

compare the fluid dispensing status information with a template fluid dispensing status to generate a fluid dispensing result; and

when the fluid dispensing status information falls outside of the template fluid dispensing status, forward the fluid dispensing result to at least a second thin client of the one or more thin clients via the Internet, the second thin client being distinct from the first thin client.

13. The process of claim 12 further comprising the step of accessing at least one resource needed to perform the application program via the Internet.

14. A Host/Server device, comprising:

a processor configured with an operating system and software application programs that details operational steps particular to a dispensing application; and

a communications interface disposed in electrical communication with the processor;

the processor configured to;

synchronize multiple tenants and the corresponding fluid syringe assemblies to accomplish a dispensing application

receive, via a network connection between the communications interface and a first thin client of a first tenant and of one or more thin clients, fluid dispensing status information associated with a fluid dispensing process at the first thin client of the one or more thin clients;

compare the fluid dispensing status information with a template fluid dispensing status to generate a fluid dispensing result; and

when the fluid dispensing status information falls outside of the template fluid dispensing status, forward the fluid dispensing result to at least a second thin client of the one or more thin clients via the Internet, the second thin client being distinct from the first thin client.