System and method for cloud-service asset management for portable computer test tools

• US 9,959,181 B2
• Filed: 11/13/2015
• Issued: 05/01/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 11/13/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fluke Corporation (Fortive Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Fluke Corporation (Fortive Corp.)
• Inventors: Hittel, John Paul, Wooton, Clinton J., Bezold, David E., O'Hara, Steve
• Primary Examiner(s): Manoskey, Joseph D
• Application Number:
  US14/940,531
• Publication Number:
  US 20170141966A1
• Time in Patent Office: 900 Days
• Field of Search: 714 43, 714 26
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/26 Functional testing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/14 Network analysis or design
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/10 in which an application is distributed across nodes in the network software deployment G06F8/60; multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/46

Abstract

A system for providing data communication includes a computer test tool configured to perform one or more diagnostic tests on a computer network and a cloud-based server. The cloud-based server is configured to couple to the communication network so as to exchange data with the computer test tool when the computer test tool is coupled to the communication network. The cloud-based server tracks usage of the computer test tool and, based on the tracked usage, transmits a message to the computer test tool that temporarily enables the computer test tool based on a predetermined condition.

Claims

1. A system for providing data communication, comprising:

a portable computer test tool device configured to perform one or more diagnostic tests on a communication network; and

a cloud-based server configured to couple to the communication network so as to exchange data with the portable computer test tool device when the portable computer test tool device is coupled to the communication network, the cloud-based server being separate from the portable computer test tool device, wherein the cloud-based server tracks usage of the portable computer test tool device and, based on the tracked usage, transmits a message to the portable computer test tool device that temporarily enables the portable computer test tool device based on a predetermined condition.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the portable computer test tool device includes a location sensor that senses a location of the portable computer test tool device and outputs location data, and the tracked usage includes the location data.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the cloud-based server accesses a workflow schedule that includes a time and location of operations that the portable computer test tool device is configured to perform in accordance with a workflow, and generates a schedule of usage of the portable computer test tool device based on the workflow schedule and the location data.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the portable computer test tool device records operation data indicative of operations performed by the portable computer test tool device, wherein the tracked usage includes the operation data.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the portable computer test tool device records user data indicative of one or more users that have operated the portable computer test tool device, and the tracked usage includes the user data.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein:

the portable computer test tool device includes a location sensor that senses a location of the portable computer test tool device and outputs location data, and the tracked usage includes the location data, and

the tracked usage is based on a comparison between time, the location data, the operation data, and the user data, and a schedule of authorized usage of the portable computer test tool device, the schedule of authorized usage including at least one of authorized locations, times, operations, and users that prescribe authorized usage of the portable computer test tool device.

7. The system of claim 5, wherein the cloud-based server tracks efficiency of a user that used the portable computer test tool device based on the user data and the tracked usage.

8. The system of claim 4, wherein the cloud-based server tracks value associated with the portable computer test tool device based on the tracked usage and a billing schedule that associates uses of the portable computer test tool device to a value.

9. The system of claim 4, wherein:

the portable computer test tool device includes a location sensor that senses a location of the portable computer test tool device and outputs location data, and the tracked usage includes the location data, and

the cloud-based server tracks depreciation of the portable computer test tool device based on the location data, the tracked usage, and a depreciation schedule that correlates usage of portable computer test tool devices to depreciation in value of the portable computer test tool devices.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the portable computer test tool device records diagnostic data indicating malfunction of a component, maintenance performance, or calibration performance, and the cloud-based server further tracks the diagnostic data.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the cloud-based server compares the diagnostic data to warranty data associated with the portable computer test tool device and determines if a repair of a malfunction indicated by the diagnostic data is covered by warranty.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the portable computer test tool device submits a request to the cloud-based server requesting authorization to perform a specified operation, wherein the request specifies a requested operation, time of performance, location of performance, and user, wherein the specified operation based on the request is otherwise not authorized, and the cloud-based server responds with an authorization that authorizes the portable computer test tool device to perform the specified operation as requested.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the authorization limits performance of the specified operation to at least one of a specified location area, time period, and one or more users.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein the request is submitted automatically in response to the specified operation being unauthorized by the cloud-based server.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein the portable computer test tool device exchanges information between the cloud-based server and a portable computer test tool device that is not coupled to the communication network to enable the cloud-based server to track usage of the uncoupled portable computer test tool device and, based on the tracked usage of the uncoupled portable computer test tool device, transmits a message to the uncoupled portable computer test tool device that temporarily enables the uncoupled portable computer test tool device based on a predetermined condition.

16. The system of claim 1, wherein the portable computer test tool device exchanges information between the cloud-based server and a module installed in the portable computer test tool device to enable the cloud-based server to track usage of the module and, based on the tracked usage of the module, transmits a message to the module that temporarily enables the module based on a predetermined condition.

17. A cloud-based server for providing data communication, comprising:

a memory configured to store executable instructions; and

a processor disposed in communication with said memory, wherein said processor upon execution of the instructions is configured to;

couple to a communication network so as to exchange data with a portable computer test tool device when the portable computer test tool device is coupled to the communication network, wherein the portable computer test tool device is separate from the cloud-based server and performs one or more diagnostic tests on a computer network;

track usage of the portable computer test tool device; and

based on the tracked usage, transmit a message to the portable computer test tool device that temporarily enables the portable computer test tool device based on a predetermined condition.

18. The cloud-based server of claim 17, wherein the tracked usage includes at least one of location data indicative of a sensed location of the portable computer test tool device, operation data indicative of operations performed by the portable computer test tool device, and user data indicative of one or more users that have operated the portable computer test tool device.

19. The cloud-based server of claim 18, wherein the tracked usage is based on a comparison between time, the location data, the operation data, and the user data, and a schedule of authorized usage of the portable computer test tool device, the schedule of authorized usage including at least one of authorized locations, times, operations, and users that prescribe authorized usage of the portable computer test tool device.

20. The cloud-based server of claim 18, wherein the cloud-based server accesses a workflow schedule that includes a time and location of operations that the portable computer test tool device is configured to perform in accordance with a workflow, and generates a schedule of usage of the portable computer test tool device based on the workflow schedule and the location data.