WO1998053612A1

WO1998053612A1 - A method and apparatus for controlling equipment and advising personnel utilizing long distance communications

Info

Publication number: WO1998053612A1
Application number: PCT/US1998/010447
Authority: WO
Inventors: Peter J. Meier; Eric Meier
Original assignee: G.A. Braun, Inc.
Priority date: 1997-05-23
Filing date: 1998-05-22
Publication date: 1998-11-26

Abstract

The present invention features a method and apparatus for providing expert assistance in the control, set-up, installation, operation, repair, maintenance and modification of equipment at remote locations from main plant headquarters or other facility. The apparatus of the invention includes a telephone system or other long distance communication link-up or network, a computer and computer terminal at each end of the link-up, a modem for each computer, a computer television/monitor on each end of the link-up for providing observations at either end, and a television camera or cameras disposed adjacent the equipment to be controlled, which cameras are in turn controlled by the computer or remote location personnel. The computer at either end directs the remote location personnel to operate the camera to observe the equipment as it operates or functions in real time in the field facility. The equipment also receives commands from either computer for controlling the tests or various functions to be performed by the equipment.

Description

A METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING

EQUIPMENT AND ADVISING PERSONNEL UTILIZING LONG DISTANCE COMMUNICATIONS

Field of the Invention:

The invention pertains to a method and apparatus for controlling and/or monitoring equipment via computer video conferencing and, more particularly, to a method and apparatus for utilizing experts at a distance to lend their support to installation, control, operations, maintenance, set-up, repair or modification of plant equipment.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the use of experts at a distance for assistance in installation, control, operations, maintenance, modification, repair or set-up of plant equipment.

Too often, when new equipment is installed at a remote facility (e.g., customer's facility), the experts in the company are enlisted to assist in bringing the new equipment on-line. These experts are often at the main headquarters of the company, or at other facilities, and are sent to the customer (remote) facility by commercial transportation, and in some cases by company jet. The experts often spend several weeks, months or even years in assisting with the plant set-up.

The use of experts at any one facility is not only often extremely expensive, but also deprives them from assisting at other facilities during their stay. The personnel are lodged at expensive hotels for extended periods at company expense, and are often paid a premium above ordinary salary for being away from home. In the past, allowing experts to remain at home base or other facility and communicating with remote facilities by ordinary telephone left a great deal to be desired. Very often, remote personnel could not adequately describe the anomalies present in set-up procedures. Also, troubleshooting often required on-site inspection, ruling out communications by telephone as a means to resolve equipment problems.

With the advent of computer video conferencing and other high speed telecommunication networks, this invention now makes it possible to maintain a staff of in-house experts permanently on call, whose function is to provide service support at any and all remote locations and facilities using manufactured products. Experts no longer need leave the main headquarters in order to provide their expertise in the installation, set-up, maintenance, modification, repair and control of new equipment anywhere in the world.

The invention utilizes computer video conferencing between the main facility or other facility and the site where equipment is installed or going on-line. The new hook-up eliminates the need to send an expert anywhere to advise, adjust, maintain or control equipment. An expert who is equipment manufacturer trained, sitting at his desk at plant headquarters or other facility, may communicate with any facility or person in the field by audio and visual contact through the computerized video conferencing system of this invention. The expert can instruct in various tests or control of equipment being installed or modified at a remote facility. Through the same video controls, the expert can direct video cameras via customer facility personnel to observe the response that the equipment may make to any commands that are made via the communication network. The response is observed on a computer monitor at headquarters or other facility. The expert can then make further suggestions via the video conferencing speaker to other personnel at the remote facility, or may continue to adjust the equipment via computer. Working with personnel at the scene, the in-house experts at headquarters or other facility can instruct and teach on-site personnel, as they lend their assistance via video terminals.

United States Patent No. 4,560,833 issued to Weber et al, on December 24, 1985 for METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SIGNALING AN EXISTING TELEPHONE COMMUNICATION BETWEEN PICTURE TELEPHONE APPARATUSES, discloses that video-type communication can be achieved using ordinary telephone lines. The present invention, however, utilizes computer controls to send commands to computer-controlled equipment at the other end of the line. Also, the invention contemplates the use of computer video conferencing for controlling equipment that is located off-site. The expert or the computer at the main terminal can issue commands to control the cameras supplying the video to headquarters, thus giving the expert complete control of the off-site facility, as if he were there in person.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention features a method and apparatus for providing expert assistance in the control, set-up, installation, repair, maintenance and modification of equipment at remote locations from main plant headquarters or other facility. The apparatus of the invention comprises a computer video conferencing system including a telephone system or other long distance communication link-up or network, a computer and computer terminal at each end of the link-up, a modem for each computer, a computer video monitor on each end of the link-up for providing observations at either end, and a television camera or cameras disposed adjacent the equipment to be controlled, which cameras are in turn controlled by the computer or on-site personnel. The computer at either end or on-site personnel direct the camera to observe the equipment as it operates or functions in real time in the field facility. The equipment also receives commands from either computer for controlling the tests or various functions to be performed by the equipment. Sensors associated with the equipment relay back the results or changes in operation of the equipment due to any of the commands issued by the computers. Personnel at the off-site facility can be present to observe the expert at headquarters or other facility via the computer video monitor, and can also observe the plant equipment operation. In addition to the feedback provided by the computer terminals, remote personnel can supply the expert with their comments and observations. The expert can likewise view the remote personnel and observe their reactions. Moreover, equipment functions can be observed in response to commands via the computer or oral instructions given from experts at headquarters or other facility.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A complete understanding of the present invention may be obtained by reference to the accompanying drawing, when considered in conjunction with the subsequent detailed description, in which:

FIGURE 1 illustrates a schematic view of the control and communications system of this invention, for advising, controlling, maintaining, modifying, installing, setting up and repairing off-site and/or remote plant equipment;

FIGURE 2 depicts a schematic view of the video conferencing link utilized by the control and communications system shown in FIGURE 1; and FIGURE 3 shows a schematic wiring diagram for the video conferencing equipment illustrated in FIGURE 1.

For purposes of brevity and clarity, like elements and components will bear the same designations and numbering throughout the figures.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Generally speaking, the invention features a system and method for supplying expert control and advice of equipment at remote and off-site facilities. The system and method utilizes experts situated at other facilities, such as the main plant headquarters or other facility. These experts lend their expertise to the installation, operation, repair, modification or set-up of equipment in the field and/or at remote facilities, by means of a computer video conferencing hook-up. The equipment is controlled by computerized commands provided at either end of the communication link-up, or directly by personnel at the remote site.

Now referring to FIGURE 1, an equipment control, telecommunication network 10 is illustrated in accordance with the present invention. A factory expert, who is part of a permanent support staff, is shown (arrow 9) sitting at a desk at main plant headquarters or other facility. The expert is in video conferencing communication with a worker at a remote site as illustrated by arrow 7. Both the factory expert 9 and the party 7 at the remote location have access to computer video monitors 20 and 22, respectively, and to respective control computer keyboards 19 and 25. The respective computer video monitors 20 and 22 each have associated video conferencing cameras 35 disposed on top thereof, for providing a television image of the party facing that respective computerized television monitor. Telephone communication is provided by a telephone handset, speaker phone or microphone 21 at the expert end, and a telephone headset, speaker phone or microphone 13 associated with party 7 at the remote location. The computer video monitor 20 and the telephone handset 21 at the expert end of the communication link-up are connected by respective lines 23 and 24 to a modem built into the computer unit 24. The computer unit 24 is, in turn, connected via line 26 to a telephone communication tower 29, satellite dish (not shown), or a phone line cable communications system (not shown) . A CD-ROM 28 containing a data library is connected to keyboard 19 and computer unit 24.

On the remote site end of the communication link-up, the computer video monitor 22 and the headset 13 are connected by respective lines 27 and 14 to a corresponding modem contained within the computer unit 12, as shown. The computer unit 12 is connected to a transmission tower 17, satellite dish (not shown) , or telephone system (not shown) via line 16. The respective communication towers 17 and 29 communicate information from each facility to the other via the airwaves 18.

At the remote site end of the link-up, additional video camera (s) 40 are mounted to observe a particular piece of equipment 30 which is being adjusted, monitored, controlled, repaired, modified, installed, or tested by remote site personnel 7. The additional video camera 40 is connected to the computer 12 via line 11, as shown.

In operation, the remote site personnel 7 is issued verbal commands or information via the telephone headset 13 from the expert 9 at main plant headquarters or other facility. Remote site personnel 7 can make physical changes to the equipment 30 by hand, or he may elect to control the equipment by issuing commands to the equipment 30 via the computer keyboard 25 or touch screen 22, the computer controller 31 of which is connected via line 32 to the equipment 30. Control of equipment 30 may also be communicated to computer controller 31 by the computer 24 at the expert end of the communication link-up. The expert 9 can issue computer commands via keyboard 19 or touch screen 22.

The equipment 30 can be monitored by means of a plurality of video cameras 40 and/or by internal/external sensors (not shown) . Control and test programs may be programmed into either computer 24 and 12, respectively, to bring the equipment 30 onto operating line, to provide testing and/or to modify operations.

It will be quickly realized by the trained practitioner of this art that the communications set-up 10 in accordance with the present invention is very versatile. This versatility provides numerous ways to modify, test, repair, control or install equipment and machinery at off-site locations. The inventive system and method allows the expert 9 to remain at one location (e.g. , the main headquarters) of the company. The computer video monitors 20 and 22 and the video conferencing cameras 35 provide on-site visual communication between facilities; the computers 24 and 12 provide control of the equipment 30; and the telephones or microphones 21 and 13 provide audio communication between the parties. Thus, if assistance by dialogue and intervention in maintenance, operation, repair or installation is required by local personnel, system 10 can be used to accomplish those tasks under direction of experts located some distance from the equipment, which until now has never been fully achieved.

Referring to FIGURE 2, a schematic view of the video conferencing computer monitors 20 and 22 and respective video cameras 35 are shown in greater detail. The computer video conferencing system has audio means 39 for each monitor to provide telephone hands-free sound. A typical system can be a G. A. Braun, Inc. video conferencing service center, as illustrated.

Referring to FIGURE 3 , a schematic wiring diagram is shown for the monitor 22, camera 40 and video camera 35.

The video conferencing software can comprise PictureTel Live 200™ software for a computer having a Windows 95™ operating system. The PictureTel software is supplied by the PictureTel Corporation, Andover, Massachusetts. Bogen input/line output matching transformers, Model No. WMT 1A, can be used to connect the telephone lines.

Since other modifications and changes varied to fit particular operating requirements and environments will be apparent to those skilled in the art, the invention is not considered limited to the example chosen for purposes of disclosure, and covers all changes and modifications which do not constitute departures from the true spirit and scope of this invention.

Having thus described the invention, what is desired to be protected by Letters Patent is presented by the subsequently appended claims.

What is claimed is:

Claims

1. A system for supplying expert control and/or advice for operating, testing, modifying, repairing, installing and setting up a piece of equipment located at a remote location from a main headquarters or facility housing expert personnel, comprising:

means defining a computer video conferencing link-up between a remote facility and a directing facility;

means defining a first audio and visual apparatus operatively connected to said computer video conferencing link-up for communicating instructions, data and information from said directing facility to said remote facility via said computer video conferencing link-up;

means defining a second audio and visual apparatus operatively connected to said computer video conferencing link-up for communicating instructions, data and information from said remote facility to said directing facility via said computer video conferencing link-up; and

observation means for observing or otherwise sensing the operation of a piece of equipment disposed at said remote facility, said observation means being operatively connected to said computer video conferencing link-up to convey data and information from said piece of equipment to said directing facility.

2. The system in accordance with claim 1, wherein said computer video conferencing link-up comprises a telephone system for providing communication between directing facility and a remote facility.

3. The system in accordance with claim 1, wherein said telecommunications link-up comprises satellite dishes providing communication between directing facility and a remote facility.

4. The system in accordance with claim 1, further comprising first and second computer terminals, said first computer terminal disposed at directing facility and said second computer terminal disposed at said remote facility, said first and second computer terminals each being operatively connected to said computer video conferencing link-up and said piece of equipment, and wherein said piece of equipment can be controlled either by said first or by said second computer terminal .

5. The system in accordance with claim 4, further comprising first and second computer units, said first computer video conferencing unit connected between said first computer terminal and said computer video conferencing link-up and said second computer video conferencing unit connected between said second computer terminal and said computer video conferencing link-up.

6. The system in accordance with claim 5, wherein said first and second computer video conferencing units each comprises a modem.

7. The system in accordance with claim 1, wherein said observation means includes at least one video camera.

8. The system in accordance with claim 7, wherein said observation means further includes at least one equipment sensor.

9. The system in accordance with claim 1, wherein said observation means includes at least one equipment sensor.

10. A system for supplying expert control and/or direction for advising, operating, testing, modifying, repairing, installing and setting up equipment located at a remote location from a directing facility housing expert personnel, comprising:

means defining a video conferencing link-up between a remote facility and a directing facility;

means defining a first audio and visual apparatus operatively connected to said link-up for communicating instructions, data and information from said directing facility to said remote facility via said video conferencing link-up;

means defining a second audio and visual apparatus operatively connected to said video conferencing link-up for communicating instructions, data and information from said remote facility to said directing facility via said video conferencing link-up;

observation means for observing or otherwise sensing the operation of equipment disposed at said remote facility, said observation means being operatively connected to said video conferencing link-up to convey data and information from said equipment to said directing facility; and

a pair of first and second computer terminals, said first computer terminal disposed at directing facility and said second computer terminal disposed at said remote facility, said first and second computer terminals each operatively connected to said video conferencing link-up and said equipment, and wherein said equipment can be controlled either by said first or by said second computer terminal.

11. The system in accordance with claim 10, wherein said video conferencing link-up comprises a telephone communication system providing communication between directing facility and a remote facility.

12. The system in accordance with claim 10, wherein said video conferencing link-up comprises satellite dishes providing communication between directing facility and a remote facility.

13. The system in accordance with claim 10, further comprising first and second computer, said first computer connected between said first computer terminal and said video conferencing link-up and said second computer connected between said second computer terminal and said video conferencing link-up.

14. The system in accordance with claim 13, wherein said first and second computers each comprises a modem.

15. The system in accordance with claim 10, wherein said observation means includes at least one video camera.

16. The system in accordance with claim 15, wherein said observation means further includes at least one equipment sensor.

17. The system in accordance with claim 10, wherein said observation means includes at least one equipment sensor.

18. A method of providing equipment control between two facilities via an audio and visual transmission, comprising the steps of:

a) operating a piece of equipment at a remote facility;

b) observing said piece of equipment as it operates ;

c) transmitting data and information by audio and visual transmission from said remote facility to another facility including said observation of said piece of equipment; and

d) in response to the transmission of data and information from said remote facility, sending information and data to said remote facility from said another facility to control or otherwise operate said piece of equipment.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein said transmission of data and information in accordance with step (d) includes the sending of computer generated data and information from said another facility to said remote facility.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein said transmission of data and information in accordance with step (d) includes the sending of computer generated data and information generated by a computer test program.