Measuring method and measuring service system using communication means

• US 6,873,940 B1
• Filed: 03/07/2000
• Issued: 03/29/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/07/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Kamatani Cloud LLC (General Patent Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LaserDynamics Inc.
• Inventors: Kamatani, Yasuo
• Primary Examiner(s): CHARIOUI, MOHAMED
• Application Number:
  US09/979,623
• Time in Patent Office: 1,848 Days
• Field of Search: 702/57, 702/62, 702 64- 68, 702/71, 702/80, 702/104, 702118-123, 702/126, 702/182, 702/183, 702/185, 702/188, 702/189, 701/1, 701/2, 701 33- 36, 345/771, 709217-219
• US Class Current: 702/189
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 15/00 Arrangements characterised by the use of multiplexing for the transmission of a plurality of signals over a common path
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 9/00 Arrangements in telecontrol or telemetry systems for selectively calling a substation from a main station, in which substation desired apparatus is selected for applying a control signal thereto or for obtaining measured values therefrom

Abstract

According to the present invention, detection signals detected from a measured medium (medium to be measured) are modulated by interface means into specific detection signs, and transmitted to a communication line by means of a transmitter on the client side. The detection signals transmitted are received at a receiver on the server side, demodulated by interface means through measurement-signal receiving means, and analyzed by desired one of measuring instruments. The detection signals of the measurement results from the measuring instrument are modulated through an interface circuit and measurement-result sending circuit, and transmitted to the communication line by means of the transmitter on the server side. The data signals of the measurement results are received at the receiver on the client side, and demodulated by the measurement-result receiving means, so that the measurement results can be obtained on measurement-results display means.

Claims

1. A measuring service system comprising a server apparatus and a client apparatus connected to each other through an interactive communication line, such that the client apparatus sends measurement data, input thereto from a measured medium, to the server apparatus through the interactive communication line, while the server apparatus executes measurement processing on the basis of the measurement data to send data on the measurement processing results to the client apparatus through the interactive communication line, wherein

said client apparatus comprises client-side modulation means for modulating the measurement data into signals suitable for transmission, and client-side demodulation means for demodulating the data on the measurement processing results into signals suitable for processing on said client apparatus, and

said server apparatus comprises at least one measurement means capable of executing measurement processing on the basis of the measurement data, means for detecting whether the measurement data are capable of being measured by any measurement means in the said server apparatus, and notifying whether the measurement processing is available and server-side modulation means for modulating the data on the measurement processing results into signals suitable for transmission.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the measurement data from said measured medium are data obtained by operating physical and chemical equipment.

3. The system according to claim 2, wherein the physical and chemical equipment is experimental equipment for testing an optical apparatus.

4. The system according to claim 3, wherein the measurement means provided in said server apparatus are oscilloscopes and/or spectrum analyzers.

5. The system according to claim 1, wherein the measurement data from said measured medium are data indicative of the state of a piece of equipment that is part of an automobile.

6. The system according to claim 5, wherein the measurement means provided in said server apparatus are testers each of which corresponds to each type of vehicle.

7. The system according to claim 1, wherein said client apparatus further comprises means for adding to the measurement data coded information for specifying measurement means for executing measurement processing in said server apparatus.

8. The system according to claim 7, wherein a plurality of measurement means are provided,

such that any one of said measurement means is selected on the basis of the coded information added to the measurement data.

9. The system according to claim 1, wherein said interactive communication line comprises the Internet network, a switched line or a private line.

10. The system according to claim 1, wherein said interactive communication line comprises a wireless communication channel.

11. The system according to claim 1, further comprising detecting unit for fetching the measurement data from the measured medium to input the same to said client apparatus.

12. The system according to claim 1, wherein the measurement data from said measured medium are data indicative of the state of a piece of equipment mounted in an automobile.

13. The system according to claim 1, wherein the measurement data from said measured medium are medical diagnostic data.

14. The system according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of measurement means are provided so that any one of the measurement means will be selected according to the measurement data.

15. The system according to claim 1, wherein said client apparatus further comprises display means connected to said client-side demodulation means,

such that the data on the measurement processing result are displayed on said display means.

16. The system according to claim 1, wherein said client apparatus further comprises audio output means connected to said client-side demodulation means, such that the audio output means will audibly output the data on the measurement processing results.

17. A measurement method for connecting a server apparatus and a client apparatus through an interactive communication line, such that the client apparatus sends measurement data, input thereto from a measured medium, to the server apparatus through the interactive communication line, while the server apparatus executes measurement processing on the basis of the measurement data to send data on the measurement processing results to the client apparatus through the interactive communication line, wherein

said client apparatus modulates the measurement data into signals suitable for transmission, and demodulates the data on the measurement processing results into signals suitable for processing on said client apparatus, and

said server apparatus detects whether the measurement data is capable of being processed at the server apparatus, notifies whether a measurement data processing service is available, executes measurement processing on the basis of the measurement data, and modulates the data on the measurement processing results into signals suitable for transmission.

18. The method according to claim 17, wherein the measurement data from said measured medium are data obtained by operating physical and chemical equipment.

19. The method according to claim 18, wherein the physical and chemical equipment is experimental equipment for testing an optical apparatus.

20. The method according to claim 19, wherein the data on the measurement processing results are obtained using an oscilloscope and/or spectrum analyzer.

21. The method according to claim 17, wherein the measurement data from said measured medium are data indicative of the state of a piece of equipment that is part of an automobile.

22. The method according to claim 21, wherein the data on the measurement processing results are obtained using a tester corresponding to each type of automobile.

23. The method according to claim 17, wherein said client apparatus further comprises means for adding to the measurement data coded information for specifying measurement means for executing measurement processing in said server apparatus.

24. The method according to claim 23, wherein a plurality of measurement means are provided,

such that any one of the measurement means will be selected on the basis of coded information added to the measurement data.

25. The method according to claim 17, wherein the interactive communication line comprises the Internet network, a switched line or a private line.

26. The method according to claim 17, wherein the interactive communication line comprises a wireless communication channel.

27. The method according to claim 17, wherein the measurement data from said measured medium are data indicative of the state of a piece of equipment mounted in an automobile.

28. The method according to claim 17, wherein the measurement data from said measured medium are medical diagnostic data.

29. The method according to claim 17, wherein a plurality of measurement means are provided so that any one of the measurement means will be selected according to the measurement data.

30. The method according to claim 17, wherein said client apparatus displays the data on the measurement processing results.

31. The method according to claim 17, wherein said client apparatus audibly outputs the data on the measurement processing results.

33. The method according to claim 18, wherein the measurement services are billed online through the Web site.

34. The method according to claim 18, wherein a desired one of the measuring instruments is selected on the Web site before transmission of the measurement data is accepted.

35. The method according to claim 18, wherein an operating state of each of the measuring instruments is confirmed on the Web site.

36. The method according to claim 18, wherein said server computer further comprises storage means for storing past measurement data and measurement results for each user so that the past data can be summarized or tallied up according to the user'"'"'s needs.

37. The method according to claim 18, wherein said server computer further comprises storage means for temporarily storing measurement data when a desired measuring instrument is in operation, so that after measurements are made by the measuring instrument, measurement results will be e-mailed to the said client computer.

32. A measurement service method for connecting a server computer and a client computer through a Web site on the Internet, such that the client computer sends measurement data, input thereto from a measured medium, to the server computer through the Internet network, while the server computer executes measurement processing on at least one of measurement instruments connected to the server computer on the basis of the measurement data to send data on the measurement processing results to the client computer through the Internet network, wherein applications for measurement services are accepted on the Web site and wherein said server computer has the functions of detecting whether the measurement data are capable of being measured by any measuring instrument in the said server computer, and notifying whether the measurement service is available.

38. A client apparatus in a measurement service system, which is connected to a server apparatus through an interactive communication line, said server apparatus comprising a measuring instrument and a detector for indicating if received data is capable of being measured by said measuring instrument, wherein said client apparatus sends measurement data, input thereto from a measured medium, to the server apparatus through the interactive communication line, and receives data from the server apparatus through the interactive communication line as a result of measurement processing executed on the server apparatus on the basis of the measurement data, said client apparatus comprising:

modulation means for modulating the measurement data into signals suitable for transmission; and

demodulation means for demodulating the data on the measurement processing results into signals suitable for processing on said client apparatus.

39. A server apparatus in a measurement service system, which is connected to a client apparatus through an interactive communication line, such that it receives measurement data, input from a measured medium to the client apparatus, through the interactive communication line, executes measurement processing on the basis of the measurement data, and transmits data on the measurement processing results to the client apparatus through the communication line, said server apparatus comprising:

at least one measurement means that enables execution of measurement processing on the basis of the measurement data;

a means for detecting whether the measurement data is capable of being measured by any measurement means in the server apparatus and notifying whether the measurement processing for the measurement data is available; and

modulation means for modulating the data on the measurement processing results into signals suitable for transmission.

40. A measurement method, which is furnished with a client apparatus connected to a server apparatus through an interactive communication line, such that the client apparatus sends measurement data, input thereto from a measured medium, to the server apparatus through the interactive communication line, and receives data from the server apparatus through the interactive communication line as a result of measurement processing executed on the server apparatus on the basis of the measurement data, wherein

the server apparatus detects whether the measurement data is capable of being measured by any measuring instrument in the said server apparatus and notifies the client apparatus whether a measurement processing service is available for the measurement data,

the measurement data are modulated into signals suitable for transmission, and

the data on the measurement processing results are demodulated into signals suitable for processing on said client apparatus.

41. A measurement method for connecting a client apparatus through an interactive communication line, comprising receiving measurement data from the client apparatus input thereto from a measured medium through the interactive communication line, detecting if the measurement data can be processed, notifying the client apparatus if the measurement data cannot be processed, otherwise executing measurement processing on the basis of the measurement data, and sending data on the measurement processing results to the client apparatus through the interactive communication line, wherein

measurement processing is performed on the basis of the measurement data, and the data on the measurement processing results are modulated into signals suitable for transmission.