Cloud computing platform for managing data

• US 9,652,347 B2
• Filed: 02/07/2013
• Issued: 05/16/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 02/07/2012
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: MTS Systems Corporation (Illinois Tool Works Inc.)
• Original Assignee: MTS Systems Corporation (Illinois Tool Works Inc.)
• Inventors: Frenz, Andrew
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Kim T
• Application Number:
  US13/762,299
• Publication Number:
  US 20130212149A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,559 Days
• Field of Search: 709201, 709217, 709221, 709224
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/2294 by remote test
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/321 Display for diagnostics, e.g. diagnostic result display, self-test user interface
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/3664 Environments for testing or debugging software
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/3668 Software testing software testing in telephone exchanges H04M3/242, testing of hardware G06F11/22
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/06 specially adapted for file transfer, e.g. file transfer protocol [FTP]

Abstract

A cloud computing platform is disclosed that utilizes a messaging platform configured to receive input message from one or more remote testing devices identifiable via one or more codes and generate a reply message to request test data or information from the one or more remote testing devices. The messaging platform is configured to interface with one or more remote or mobile computing devices to transmit the test data or information for the one or more testing devices to the one or more remote computing devices. The platform also includes a data storage platform configured to receive the test data or information from the one or more testing devices and store the test data or information to one or more data storage devices.

Claims

1. A cloud computing platform comprising

a messaging platform configured to receive an input message from one or more remote testing devices identifiable via one or more codes, the input message indicating, before any sending of test data or information, that the test data or information is available from the one or more remote testing devices, and to generate a reply message to request the test data or information from the one or more remote testing devices, and the messaging platform configured to interface with one or more remote or mobile computing devices to transmit the test data or information for the one or more remote testing devices to the one or more remote computing devices;

and

a data storage platform configured to receive the test data or information from the one or more remote testing devices and store the test data or information to one or more data storage devices.

2. The cloud computing platform of claim 1 wherein the messaging platform is configured to poll the one or more remote or mobile computing devices for data requests for the test data or information for the one or more remote testing devices associated with an input code or identification and the messaging platform generates the reply message to request the test data if the messaging platform receives one or more data requests in response to the poll.

3. The cloud computing platform of claim 2 wherein the data requests from the one or more mobile or remote computing devices requests real time test data and the messaging platform generates the reply message to transmit the real time test data.

4. The cloud computing platform of claim 3 wherein the real time test data is transmitted from the one or more remote testing devices to the data storage platform.

5. The cloud computing platform of claim 1 wherein the one or more remote testing devices includes at least one actuator device configured to impart a commanded load or displacement and one or more sensors configured to measure the commanded load or displacement and the test data or information includes the commanded and measured load or displacement.

6. The cloud computing platform of claim 1 wherein the test data or information includes a test status, running time, cycles or maintenance messages or information.

7. The cloud computing platform of claim 1 wherein the messaging platform is configured to receive an input maintenance notification from the one or more remote testing devices and to generate a notification message to the one or more remote or mobile computing devices associated with the one or more remote testing devices to broadcast the input maintenance notification.

8. The cloud computing platform of claim 1 and comprising a maintenance tool to generate maintenance message to the one or more remote testing devices and to store and track maintenance data.

9. The cloud computing platform of claim 1 and comprising a technical support tool configured to provide technical resources and information for the one or more remote testing devices and the technical support tool configured to interface with the messaging platform to transmit requested technical resources and information to the one or more remote computing devices.

10. The cloud computing platform of claim 1 and comprising a usage tool configured to interface with the messaging platform to request usage data from the one or more remote testing devices and receive and store the usage data from the one or more remote testing devices.

11. The cloud computing platform of claim 1 comprising a products and accessories support tool including a data store of products and accessories suggestions for the one or more remote testing devices and configured to interface with the messaging platform to generate and transmit the products and accessories suggestions for the one or more remote testing devices.

12. The cloud computing platform of claim 1 wherein the input message received from the one or more remote test devices is generated based upon one or more of a test device status change or pre-set time period.

13. The cloud computing platform of claim 1 wherein the input message received from the one or more remote test devices is generated in response to one or more of a test device run, play, hold, end lock or station load states.

14. A method comprising

receiving an input communication from one or more remote testing devices or facilities, the input communication indicating, before any sending of test data or information, that the test data or information is available from the one or more remote testing devices or facilities;

generating a reply message from the input communication to request transmission of the test data or information from the one or more remote testing devices;

receiving the test data or information from the one or more remote testing devices in response to the transmission request; and

storing the test data or information from the one or more remote testing devices in an electronic storage medium.

15. The method of claim 14 and comprising

polling one or more remote or mobile computing devices associated with the one or more remote testing devices in response to the input communication from the one or more remote testing devices to determine if the one or more remote computing devices is requesting the test data or information;

and

generating the transmission request if polling indicates that the one or more remote computing devices has requested the test data or information.

16. A cloud computing platform comprising

a messaging platform configured to receive an input message from one or more remote powered devices identifiable via one or more codes, the input message indicating, before any sending of test data or information, that the test data or information is available from the one or more remote powered devices, and to generate a reply message to request the test data or information from the one or more powered devices and the messaging platform configured to interface with one or more remote computing devices to transmit the test data or information for the one or more remote powered devices to the one or more remote computing devices;

and

a data storage platform configured to receive the test data or information from the one or more powered devices and store the test data or information to one or more data storage devices.

17. The cloud computing platform of claim 16 and comprising a maintenance tool to receive maintenance message from the remote powered devices and to store and track maintenance data.

18. The cloud computing platform of claim 16 and comprising a technical support tool and configured to provide technical resources and information for the one or more remote powered devices and the technical support tool configured to interface with the messaging platform to transmit requested technical resources and information to the one or more remote computing devices.

19. The cloud computing platform of claim 16 and comprising a products and accessories support tool including a data store of products and accessories suggestions for the one or more remote powered devices and configured to interface with the messaging platform to generate and transmit the product and accessory suggestions for the one or more remote powered devices.

20. The cloud computing platform of claim 16 wherein the one or more remote powered devices includes one or more of a hydraulic device or actuator.