US 5,844,601 AGranted

Video response system and method

AssigneeHartness Technologies, LLC

InventorsBernard M. McPheely, Alan D. Collins, John G. O'Donnell

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Abstract

A system and method is disclosed for instructing personnel in the operation and servicing of machinery at a plant from a geographically remote service center employing trained personnel. The system and method includes monitoring operating machinery at the plant with a video camera and transmitting a video signal to a base unit associated with the plant having a high resolution monitor. Audio communication is also provided between plant personnel and the personnel at the service center wherein audio signals are received and transmitted through the base unit. The video and audio signals are processed together at the base unit for synchronous transmission over a telecommunication system to the remote service center. The machinery is monitored in the plant with a cordless portable video camera by moving the portable video camera to a desired area of the operating machinery which needs monitoring. Cordless headsets, worn by plant personnel attending the machinery, are utilized to provide audio communication through the base unit at the plant. The plant may be divided into a plurality of machinery zones having zone interface units hard wired to the base units. The video signal is transmitted using radio frequency (RF) transmissions to the zone interface unit, and then to the plant base unit. Switches may be used between the zone interface units and the base unit to provide reception of a strong video signal at the base units.

Claims37

Dependent claims

A method for servicing production and manufacturing machinery at a plant from a geographically remote service center employing trained service personnel comprising:

viewing said machinery in said plant with a wireless portable video camera including a radio frequency transmitter for transmitting a video signal, and moving said portable video camera to a desired area of said machinery which needs servicing for generating said video signal containing an image of said machinery;
providing a base unit at said plant;
transmitting said video signal from said portable video camera to said base unit using, at least in part, said radio frequency transmitter;
transmitting an audio only signal to said base unit using a wireless, portable audio two-way component carried by plant personnel at said machinery in said plant to generate said audio only signal;
transmitting and receiving said audio only signals using a radio frequency transmission system and a transceiver having an associated transmitting antenna and a receiving antenna hard-wired to said transceiver wherein said transceiver is operatively associated with said base unit;
processing said video and audio only signals at said base unit for transmission over a telecommunication system;
processing said video and audio only signals by converting and compressing said video and audio only signals to provide compressed digital signals for transmission of high quality synchronized video and audio signals to said remote service center;
displaying said video signal on a monitor at said remote service center;
transmitting remote audio signals from said remote center to said base unit in said plant, and processing said remote audio signals for retransmission as audio only signals to said audio two-way component carried by said plant personnel at said machinery;
audibly communicating between plant personnel at said plant and said service personnel at said remote service center using said audio signals in real time two-way audio communications;
and
providing technical assistance by said service personnel at said remote center to said plant personnel for said machinery while viewing said monitor and listening to said audio communications.

9 more elements

A video response system for communicating the operation or servicing of production and manufacturing machinery between a plant where the machinery is located and a remote center comprising:

a wireless, portable video camera for providing a video signal containing an image depicting at least a portion of said machinery in said plant and a radio frequency transmitter associated with said video camera for transmitting said video signal;
a video receiving antenna disposed in a receiving area of said machinery and portable video camera for receiving said video signal;
a two-way audio only communication system for the wireless transmission and reception of audio only signals by attending plant personnel at said machinery;
at least a first base unit located in said plant for receiving said video and audio only signals:
said audio communication system including a two-way wireless, portable audio component carried by said plant personnel, and an audio transceiver associated with said base unit, said audio transceiver including a two-way antenna system having a receiving antenna for receiving audio only signals from said audio component carried by said plant personnel and a transmitting antenna for transmitting audio only signals from said base unit to said audio component carried by said plant personnel;
said audio transceiver being operatively associated with said base unit;
and wherein said base unit comprises;
a signal processor for receiving said video and audio only signals to convert said signals into compressed digital signals for high quality synchronized transmission of said video and audio signals to said remote center;
and
an output interface for delivering said compressed video and audio digital signals in a form for delivery over a telecommunication system
a remote audio system at said remote center for receiving said audio signals and for transmitting remote audio signals to said base unit for retransmission as audio only signals to said audio component carried by said plant personnel;
so that real-time wireless video and two-way audio signals are provided for effective operation or servicing of the machinery--for retransmission from said base unit to said remote center.

9 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.