Systems and methods for remotely controlling a machine

A method for remotely controlling at least one machine, the method comprising the steps of:

• providing at least one computer having a modem communications software computer program operatively programmed thereon;
• operatively connecting at least a first modem to the computer;
• providing at least one machine having at least one control board operatively connected thereto, the machine being located remote from the computer, the at least one machine being a compressor and the at least one computer can access a shutdown log for a single machine or any one of a plurality of machines in a network of machines, display the shutdown history of the machine, save the shutdown history to a file, or print the shutdown history at the remote location;
• operatively connecting at least a second modem to the control board;
• and
• operatively connecting the at least first and the at least second modems such that data is transferred between the at least one control board and the at least one computer in both directions.

A system for remotely controlling at least one machine, the system comprising:

• at least one computer having a modem communications software computer program operatively programmed therein;
• at least a first modem operatively connected to the computer;
• a plurality of machines, each machine having a control board operatively connected thereto, the computer being located at a site remote from the machines and each control board including means, operatively connected to the network means, for communicating with each of the other machine control boards, each control board being a peer of the other control boards so that each control board is a master control board;
• network means for operatively connecting the control boards of the plurality of machines together;
• at least a second modem operatively connected to at least one control board for communication with the at least first modem;
• and
• communications means, operatively connecting the at least first and the at least second modems, for transferring data in both directions between the at least one control board and the at least one computer.