Remote interface for a mobile storage system or other equipment

• US 7,769,486 B2
• Filed: 06/13/2003
• Issued: 08/03/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/14/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Spacesaver Corporation (Krueger International Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Spacesaver Corporation (Krueger International Incorporated)
• Inventors: McHenry, William B., Lynt, William W. R. III
• Primary Examiner(s): Crawford; Gene
• Assistant Examiner(s): Collins; Michael K
• Application Number:
  US10/516,279
• Publication Number:
  US 20060075322A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,608 Days
• Field of Search: 700231-244, 312/201, 312/202, 211/122
• US Class Current: 700/241
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 53/02 Cabinet systems, e.g. consisting of cabinets arranged in a row with means to open or close passages between adjacent cabinets
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling

Abstract

A communication system for providing the ability to control, monitor or diagnose equipment such as a mobile storage system having a series of movable storage units. Each storage unit includes a controller or operational interface, and a communication interface is interconnected with the controller. The communication interface preferably provides access to the controller via the Internet, which enables access to the controller from virtually any location without the need for dedicated communication software. The communication system enables an owner to have access to information on the mobile storage system from any location, and also enables local service personnel and a manufacturer'"'"'s customer service personnel to access information on the system from any location to assist in troubleshooting, servicing and maintenance.

Claims

1. A mobile storage system, comprising:

a series of movable storage units in a first location, wherein each storage unit includes

an operating interface coupled to the movable storage unit allowing a user to manually enter information at the movable storage unit to control the movable storage unit and for providing information at the movable storage unit as to one or more operating parameters of the movable storage unit,

a controller configured to receive the manually entered information from the operating interface and control the operation of the movable storage unit based on the manually entered information; and

a communication system configured to interact with each operating interface, wherein the communication system is configured to provide off-site access to the operating interfaces of the movable storage units from a second location that is remote from the first location, wherein the communication system is configured to enable a remote operator in the second location to ascertain, display and change operating characteristics relating to servicing oversight of the movable storage units in the first location and wherein the remote operator is able to monitor, diagnose and control the storage system from the second location so as to facilitate troubleshooting, repair and maintenance of the storage system.

2. The mobile storage system of claim 1, wherein each controller is interconnected with the operating interface, wherein the controller is configured to control operation of one or more components of the movable storage unit and to sense one or more operating parameters of the movable storage unit, and wherein the communication system interacts with the controller for providing inputs from the second location relating to operation of the movable storage unit, and for monitoring one or more operating parameters of the movable storage unit from the second location.

3. The mobile storage system of claim 2, wherein the communication system is configured to operate via a global computer network.

4. The mobile storage system of claim 3, wherein the communication system includes a communication gateway in the first location that is interconnected in the global computer network, and a communication interface interposed between the communication gateway and each operating interface for continuously monitoring the storage system for abnormalities and preventive maintenance opportunities.

5. The mobile storage system of claim 3, wherein the communication system is configured to initiate communication in the event the operating interface senses that one or more operating parameters of at least one of the movable storage units are out of conformance with predetermined characteristics of the one or more operating parameters.

6. A method of interfacing with a mobile storage system including a series of movable storage members located in a first location remote from a second location, comprising the steps of:

controlling operation of the mobile storage system at the first location using an on-site operator controller in the first location that controls operation of the movable storage system;

providing an operating interface for each storage member of the mobile storage system, wherein the operating interface is interconnected with the on-site operator controller in the first location and allows a user to manually enter information related to one or more operating characteristics of the mobile storage system at the first location of the mobile storage system; and

establishing communication with the operating interface independently of the on-site operator control from a second location remote from the first location to provide a remote operator in the second location with access to the on-site operator controller to display and change information related to the one or more operating characteristics of the mobile storage system in the first location so as to facilitate servicing, repair and maintenance of the storage system from the second location.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the step of establishing communication with the operating interface includes sensing and/or controlling one or more operating characteristics of the mobile storage system from the second location through the operating interface.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the step of establishing communication with the operating interface is carried out through a communication interface operably interconnected with the operating interface.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein a communication interface for continuously monitoring the storage system for abnormalities and preventive maintenance opportunities is interconnected with each operating interface, and wherein the step of establishing communication with each operating interface is carried out through the communication interface interconnected with the operating interface.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein the step of establishing communication with the operating interface is carried out using a global computer network.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the operating interface is interconnected with a communication interface, and wherein the step of establishing communication with the operating interface is carried out through a communication gateway interposed between the communication interface and the global computer network.