US 2008/0313559 A1 · FUNCTIONALITY FOR HANDHELD FIELD MAINTENANCE TOOLS

Abstract

Improved functionality of handheld field maintenance tools is provided. A user may interact with the handheld field maintenance tool using a software application that communicates with the tool and with a manufacturer server. Tool information, including a unique tool identifier, is uploaded from the tool and associated with at least some user information. The user is able to view additional and/or updated functionality information relative to one or more tools with which the user is associated and obtain additional functionality electronically. The user also is provided with the ability to provide a tool name that is stored and displayed on the tool.

Claims27

Dependent claims

A method of expanding functionality of a handheld field maintenance tool, the method comprising:

coupling the tool for communication;
uploading tool information from the tool through the communication coupling;
comparing the tool information to currently available functionality information stored in a database;
and
displaying available additional functionality to a user based upon the comparison.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application

12/138,720Filed 13 Jun 2008

Priority

13 Jun 2007

Published

18 Dec 2008

Term ends

Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification9 codes

G05B 19/409
Numerical control [NC], i.e. automatically operating machines, in particular machine tools, e.g. in a manufacturing environment, so as to…
G05B 19/042
Program control other than numerical control, i.e. in sequence controllers or logic controllers: using digital processors
G05B 2219/23298
Pc programming: remote load of program, through internet
G05B 2219/25428
Pc structure of the system: field device

Functionality for handheld field maintenance tools

Life of this patent

Functionality for handheld field maintenance tools

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims27