U.S. patent application number 12/237396 was filed with the patent office on 2009-03-26 for automated appliance diagnostics and reporting.
This patent application is currently assigned to MODU LTD.. Invention is credited to Eyal Bychkov, Hagay Katz, Ran Margalit, Hagit Perry, Uri Ron, Itay Sherman.
Application Number | 20090083000 12/237396 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 40470581 |
Filed Date | 2009-03-26 |
United States Patent
Application |
20090083000 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Sherman; Itay ; et
al. |
March 26, 2009 |
AUTOMATED APPLIANCE DIAGNOSTICS AND REPORTING
Abstract
A system for maintaining an appliance, including a storage
housed within an electrical appliance for storing identifying
information about the electrical appliance and its purchase, and a
communication card including an interface connector for connecting
the communication card to the electrical appliance, and a wireless
cellular modem for transmitting data, wherein when the
communication card is connected to the electrical appliance via the
interface connector, the communication card causes program code to
perform at least one diagnostic test on the electrical appliance
and to generate test results, to collect the identifying
information about the electrical appliance and its purchase, and to
transmit at least a portion of the collected information and the
test results to at least one remote recipient using the cellular
modem. A method is also described and claimed.
Inventors: |
Sherman; Itay; (Hod
Hasharon, IL) ; Bychkov; Eyal; (Hod Hasharon, IL)
; Ron; Uri; (Tel Aviv, IL) ; Katz; Hagay;
(Moshav Herut, IL) ; Perry; Hagit; (Herzilya,
IL) ; Margalit; Ran; (Ramat Hasharon, IL) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Soquel Group, LLC
P.O. Box 691
Soquel
CA
95073
US
|
Assignee: |
MODU LTD.
Kefar Saba
IL
|
Family ID: |
40470581 |
Appl. No.: |
12/237396 |
Filed: |
September 25, 2008 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60995575 |
Sep 26, 2007 |
|
|
|
61062171 |
Jan 23, 2008 |
|
|
|
61063668 |
Feb 5, 2008 |
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61080264 |
Jul 13, 2008 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
702/184 ;
702/188 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06Q 30/06 20130101;
H04M 15/00 20130101; Y02D 30/70 20200801 |
Class at
Publication: |
702/184 ;
702/188 |
International
Class: |
G06F 15/00 20060101
G06F015/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Feb 6, 2008 |
IL |
PCT/IL2008/000164 |
Claims
1. A system for maintaining an appliance, comprising: a storage
housed within an electrical appliance for storing identifying
information about the electrical appliance and its purchase; and a
communication card comprising: an interface connector for
connecting the communication card to the electrical appliance; and
a wireless cellular modem for transmitting data, wherein when said
communication card is connected to the electrical appliance via
said interface connector, said communication card causes program
code to perform at least one diagnostic test on the electrical
appliance and to generate test results, to collect the identifying
information about the electrical appliance and its purchase, and to
transmit at least a portion of the collected information and the
test results to at least one remote recipient using said cellular
modem.
2. The system of claim 1 wherein the program code is stored within
said electrical appliance storage.
3. The system of claim 1 wherein said communication card further
comprises a card memory for storing the program code.
4. The system of claim 1 further comprising a controller housed
within the electrical appliance for performing the at least one
diagnostic test, upon instruction from the program code.
5. The system of claim 1 wherein said communication card further
comprises a controller for performing the at least one diagnostic
test, upon instruction from the program code.
6. The system of claim 1 wherein an owner of the electrical
appliance invokes the program code to perform the at least one
diagnostic test and to transmit the test results.
7. The system of claim 1 wherein the remote recipient invokes the
program code to perform the at least one diagnostic test and to
transmit the test results, via said communication card.
8. The system of claim 1 wherein the program code is scheduled to
perform the at least one diagnostic test and to transmit the test
results at regular periodic intervals of time.
9. The system of claim 1 wherein the identifying information about
the electrical appliance and its purchase comprises a serial
number, a model number, an identifier for a point of purchase from
which the appliance was purchased, a date on which the appliance
was purchased, and a warranty for the appliance.
10. The system of claim 1 wherein the identifying information about
the electrical appliance and its purchase comprises contact
information for the at least one remote recipient.
11. The system of claim 10 wherein the contact information for the
at least one remote recipient is at least one call number for the
at least one remote recipient.
12. The system of claim 1 wherein information about the at least
one remote recipient is obtained from manually entered data.
13. The system of claim 1 wherein the at least one remote recipient
is at least one of a seller of the electrical appliance, a
manufacturer of the electrical appliance, and a service provider
for the electrical appliance.
14. A method for maintaining an appliance, comprising: connecting a
communication card to an electrical appliance, wherein identifying
information about the electrical appliance and its purchase is
stored within a memory in the electrical appliance; causing at
least one diagnostic test to be performed on the electrical
appliance; automatically collecting the identifying information
about the electrical appliance and its purchase from the memory in
the electrical appliance; opening a connection with at least one
remote recipient, by the communication card; and transmitting at
least a portion of the collected information and the results of the
at least one diagnostic test to the at least one recipient, by the
communication card.
15. The method of claim 14 wherein the at least one diagnostic test
is performed by the communication card.
16. The method of claim 14 wherein the at least one diagnostic test
is performed by the electrical appliance.
17. The method of claim 14 wherein said causing and said
transmitting are initiated by an owner of the electrical
appliance.
18. The method of claim 14 wherein said causing and said
transmitting are initiated by the remote recipient via the
communication card.
19. The method of claim 14 wherein said causing and said
transmitting are scheduled to occur at regular periodic intervals
of time.
20. The method of claim 14 wherein the identifying information
about the electrical appliance and its purchase comprises a serial
number, a model number, an identifier for a store from which the
appliance was purchased, a date on which the appliance was
purchased, and a warranty for the appliance.
21. The method of claim 14 wherein the identifying information
about the electrical appliance and its purchase comprises contact
information for the at least one remote recipient.
22. The method of claim 21 wherein the contact information for the
at least one remote recipient is at least one call number for the
at least one remote recipient.
23. The method of claim 14 wherein information about the at least
one remote recipient is obtained from manually entered data.
24. The method of claim 14 wherein the at least one remote
recipient is at least one of a seller of the electrical appliance,
a manufacturer of the electrical appliance, and a service provider
for the electrical appliance.
25. A system for maintaining an appliance, comprising: a storage
housed within an electrical appliance for storing identifying
information about the electrical appliance; and a communication
card comprising: an interface connector for connecting the
communication card to the electrical appliance; and a wireless
cellular modem for transmitting data, wherein when said
communication card is connected to the electrical appliance via
said interface connector, said communication card causes program
code to perform at least one diagnostic test on the electrical
appliance and to generate test results, to collect the identifying
information about the electrical appliance, and to open a TCP
connection to a server computer to transmit at least a portion of
the collected information and the test results to the server
computer using said cellular modem.
26. A method for maintaining an appliance, comprising: connecting a
communication card to an electrical appliance, wherein identifying
information about the electrical appliance is stored within a
memory in the electrical appliance; causing at least one diagnostic
test to be performed on the electrical appliance; automatically
collecting the identifying information about the electrical
appliance from the memory in the electrical appliance; opening a
TCP connection with a server computer, by the communication card;
and transmitting at least a portion of the collected information
and the results of the at least one diagnostic test to the server
computer, by the communication card.
27. The method of claim 26 wherein said transmitting at least a
portion of the collected information and the results of the at
least one diagnostic test comprises sending the collected
information within an HTTP request.
28. The method of claim 26 wherein the server computer includes a
database of remote recipients corresponding to respective
electrical appliance identifying information, the method further
comprising automatically transmitting, by the server computer, the
at least a portion of the collected information and the results of
the at least one diagnostic test to at least one remote recipient
corresponding to the identifying information collected by said
automatically collecting.
29. The method of claim 26 further comprising enabling at least one
remote recipient to access the at least a portion of the collected
information and the results of the at least one diagnostic test on
a web site in communication with the server computer.
30. A wireless communicator, comprising: an interface configured to
enable the wireless communicator to connect to a plurality of
different electronic devices, wherein each of the plurality of
electronic devices has device information; a memory storing a
device diagnostic program, wherein the device diagnostic program
includes instructions to perform at least one diagnostic test on
the electronic device and to generate test results; a wireless
modem configured to transmit and receive data from time to time
when the wireless communicator is connected to one of the plurality
of different electronic devices and from time to time when the
wireless communicator is not connected to any of the plurality of
different electronic devices; and a controller coupled to said
interface, said memory and said wireless modem, the controller
configured to receive the device information from an electronic
device connected to the wireless communicator, to execute the
device diagnostic program, and to cause said wireless modem to
transmit at least a portion of the device information and the test
results to a recipient.
31. The wireless communicator of claim 30, wherein said memory
stores personal information about a user of the wireless
communicator and wherein said controller is also configured to
cause said wireless modem to transmit at least a portion of the
personal information to the recipient.
32. The wireless communicator of claim 30, wherein said memory
stores contact information for a plurality of recipients, wherein
each of the plurality of recipients is a manufacturer of electronic
devices.
33. An electronic device, comprising: an interface configured to
enable the electronic device to connect to one of a plurality of
wireless communicators and to enable data to be transferred between
the electronic device and a wireless communicator connected to the
electronic device; a memory storing device information and storing
a device diagnostic program, wherein the device diagnostic program
includes instructions to perform at least one diagnostic test on
the electronic device and to generate test results; and a
controller coupled to said interface and said memory, the
controller configured to execute the device diagnostic program when
a first one of the plurality of wireless communicators is connected
to said interface, and to transfer at least a portion of the device
information and the test results to a wireless communicator
connected to the electronic device, for transmission to a
recipient.
Description
PRIORITY REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims benefit of U.S. Provisional
Application No. 60/995,575, entitled AUTOMATED CONSUNER ELECTRONICS
DEVICE REPORTING, filed on Sep. 26, 2007 by inventors Itay Sherman,
Eyal Bychkov, Uri Ron, Hagay Katz and Hagit Perry. This application
also claims benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/062,171,
entitled MODULAR WIRELESS COMMUNICATOR, filed on Jan. 23, 2008 by
inventors Itay Sherman, Eyal Bychkov, Itay Cohen, Tami Demri, Hagay
Katz, Eran Miller, Hagit Perry, Uri Ron and Yaron Segalov. This
application also claims benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No.
61/063,668, entitled MODULAR WIRELESS COMMUNICATOR, filed on Feb.
5, 2008 by inventors Dov Moran, Itay Sherman, Eyal Bychkov, Itay
Cohen, Yaron Segalov, Tami Demri, Eran Miller, Uri Ron, Hagay Katz
and Hagit Perry. This application also claims benefit of U.S.
Provisional Application No. 61/080,264, entitled AUTOMATED CONSUNER
ELECTRONICS DEVICE REPORTING, filed on Jul. 13, 2008 by inventors
Itay Sherman, Eyal Bychkov, Uri Ron, Hagay Katz and Hagit
Perry.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The field of the present invention is wireless communication
applied to automated maintenance of appliances.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Consumers who buy electrical appliances generally contact
the seller or the seller's service provider when the appliance
malfunctions, to report a problem and to have the appliance
fixed.
[0004] Currently malfunction reporting is performed manually.
Specifically, to report an appliance malfunction a consumer
generally contacts the seller or service provider by phone or via
the Internet. Malfunction reports include information about the
appliance and information about the owner of the appliance.
Information about the appliance includes a serial number, a model
number, a point of purchase and a date of purchase. Information
about the owner includes name and contact details.
[0005] Consumer appliances are not generally examined periodically
on a regular maintenance schedule. When malfunctions do occur they
may be severe and costly. Reporting malfunction of an appliance is
often time consuming and cumbersome.
[0006] There is thus a need for monitoring appliances on a regular
basis and automatically sending diagnostic reports to service
provides, in order to avoid or reduce severity of malfunctions with
the appliances. There is also a need for automated methods and
systems for reporting malfunctions of electrical appliances.
SUMMARY OF THE DESCRIPTION
[0007] Aspects of the present invention concern automated
diagnostic testing and malfunction reporting for electrical
appliances. In one embodiment, the present invention employs a
communication card that includes a controller, a flash storage
memory, a battery, a wireless modem, a power amplifier, and an
interface for connecting the card to an appliance.
[0008] The communication card includes program code for diagnostic
testing of the appliance. When the communication card is connected
to the appliance, the program code runs diagnostic maintenance
tests on the appliance. The card automatically collects information
about the appliance and its owner, and transmits the collected
information along with a diagnostic report, to the seller or
service provider for the appliance. In turn, if a malfunction is
reported, the seller or service provider contacts the owner about
repairing the appliance. In this way, the seller or service
provider is able to maintain the appliance, and proactively repair
appliance malfunctions before they become severe.
[0009] In addition, the seller or service provider is able to
identify the precise problem, act upon accurate information, and
send a technician with an appropriate appliance part or instruct
the owner by phone how to fix the problem remotely. In distinction,
user explanations are often inaccurate.
[0010] In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention,
diagnostic maintenance tests may be scheduled periodically, or
initiated manually by the owner, or initiated remotely, over the
air, by the service provider via the communication card.
[0011] There is thus provided in accordance with an embodiment of
the present invention a system for maintaining an appliance,
including a storage housed within an electrical appliance for
storing identifying information about the electrical appliance and
its purchase, and a communication card including an interface
connector for connecting the communication card to the electrical
appliance, and a wireless cellular modem for transmitting data,
wherein when the communication card is connected to the electrical
appliance via the interface connector, the communication card
causes program code to perform at least one diagnostic test on the
electrical appliance and to generate test results, to collect the
identifying information about the electrical appliance and its
purchase, and to transmit at least a portion of the collected
information and the test results to at least one remote recipient
using the cellular modem.
[0012] There is additionally provided in accordance with an
embodiment of the present invention a method for maintaining an
appliance, including connecting a communication card to an
electrical appliance, wherein identifying information about the
electrical appliance and its purchase is stored within a memory in
the electrical appliance, causing at least one diagnostic test to
be performed on the electrical appliance, automatically collecting
the identifying information about the electrical appliance and its
purchase from the memory in the electrical appliance, opening a
connection with at least one remote recipient, by the communication
card, and transmitting at least a portion of the collected
information and the results of the at least one diagnostic test to
the at least one recipient, by the communication card.
[0013] There is further provided in accordance with an embodiment
of the present invention a system for maintaining an appliance,
including a storage housed within an electrical appliance for
storing identifying information about the electrical appliance, and
a communication card including an interface connector for
connecting the communication card to the electrical appliance, and
a wireless cellular modem for transmitting data, wherein when the
communication card is connected to the electrical appliance via the
interface connector, the communication card causes program code to
perform at least one diagnostic test on the electrical appliance
and to generate test results, to collect the identifying
information about the electrical appliance, and to open a TCP
connection to a server computer to transmit at least a portion of
the collected information and the test results to the server
computer using the cellular modem.
[0014] There is further provided in accordance with an embodiment
of the present invention a method for maintaining an appliance,
including connecting a communication card to an electrical
appliance, wherein identifying information about the electrical
appliance is stored within a memory in the electrical appliance,
causing at least one diagnostic test to be performed on the
electrical appliance, automatically collecting the identifying
information about the electrical appliance from the memory in the
electrical appliance, opening a TCP connection with a server
computer, by the communication card, and transmitting at least a
portion of the collected information and the results of the at
least one diagnostic test to the server computer, by the
communication card.
[0015] There is yet further provided in accordance with an
embodiment of the present invention a wireless communicator,
including an interface configured to enable the wireless
communicator to connect to a plurality of different electronic
devices, wherein each of the plurality of electronic devices has
device information, a memory storing a device diagnostic program,
wherein the device diagnostic program includes instructions to
perform at least one diagnostic test on the electronic device and
to generate test results, a wireless modem configured to transmit
and receive data from time to time when the wireless communicator
is connected to one of the plurality of different electronic
devices and from time to time when the wireless communicator is not
connected to any of the plurality of different electronic devices,
and a controller coupled to the interface, the memory and the
wireless modem, the controller configured to receive the device
information from an electronic device connected to the wireless
communicator, to execute the device diagnostic program, and to
cause the wireless modem to transmit at least a portion of the
device information and the test results to a recipient.
[0016] There is moreover provided in accordance with an embodiment
of the present invention an electronic device, including an
interface configured to enable the electronic device to connect to
one of a plurality of wireless communicators and to enable data to
be transferred between the electronic device and a wireless
communicator connected to the electronic device, a memory storing
device information and storing a device diagnostic program, wherein
the device diagnostic program includes instructions to perform at
least one diagnostic test on the electronic device and to generate
test results, and a controller coupled to the interface and the
memory, the controller configured to execute the device diagnostic
program when a first one of the plurality of wireless communicators
is connected to the interface, and to transfer at least a portion
of the device information and the test results to a wireless
communicator connected to the electronic device, for transmission
to a recipient.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0017] The present invention will be more fully understood and
appreciated from the following detailed description, taken in
conjunction with the drawings in which:
[0018] FIG. 1 is a simplified illustration of a communications
network with a communication card that transmits information about
an appliance to a remote manufacturer or seller or service
provider, in accordance with an embodiment of the present
invention;
[0019] FIG. 2 is a picture of the physical communication card of
FIG. 1, in accordance with an embodiment of the present
invention;
[0020] FIG. 3 is a simplified block diagram of a system for a
communication card used for diagnostic reporting of electrical
appliances, in accordance with an embodiment of the present
invention;
[0021] FIG. 4 is a simplified flowchart of a method for reporting
diagnostics for electrical appliances using a communication card,
in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; and
[0022] FIG. 5, which is a simplified block diagram of a web-based
device diagnostic system, in accordance with an embodiment of the
present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0023] Aspects of the present invention relate to a communication
card that connects to an electrical appliance and automatically
performs various functions for the owner of the appliance.
Reference is now made to FIG. 1, which is a simplified illustration
of a communications network with a communication card 100 that
wirelessly transmits information about an appliance 200 to one or
both of a remote seller and a remote service provider 300, in
accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. Reference
is also made to FIG. 2, which is a picture of a physical
communication card 100, in accordance with an embodiment of the
present invention. When communication card 100 is connected to
appliance 200, the communication card (i) automatically runs
diagnostic tests on the appliance, and (ii) automatically prepares
diagnostic summary reports 320 for the appliance and transmits them
to a remote seller, manufacturer or service provider 300 for the
appliance.
[0024] Reference is now made to FIG. 3, which is a simplified block
diagram of a system for a communication card 100 used for
diagnostic reporting of electrical appliances, in accordance with
an embodiment of the present invention. Shown in FIG. 3 is a
communication card (CC) 100 and a host electrical appliance 200,
which connect to one another using a host interface 105 and a CC
interface 210. Host interface 105 and CC interface 210 may be a
physical interface, such as a USB interface or an SD interface, or
a Bluetooth interface or such other wireless interface.
[0025] Main components of CC 100 include a controller 110, a flash
storage memory 115, a wireless cellular modem 145, and a power
amplifier 150. CC 100 optionally includes a power subsystem 125, an
input device 130 such as a keypad, and an output display 135, an
audio subsystem 140, and an optional subscriber identification
module (SIM) 170.
[0026] In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention,
memory 115 stores information 121 about the owner of CC 100. Owner
information 121 includes sufficient information for identifying the
owner of electrical appliance 200. In an alternative embodiment of
the present invention, information 121 is stored in SIM 170. Memory
115 also stores program code 122 for reporting diagnostics for host
appliance 200, as described hereinbelow. Modem 145 sends and
receives voice and digital data using wireless communication, via
an antenna 155 or via an optional wireless LAN 165, or via both.
Power amplifier 150 is used to amplify data transmitted by modem
145. Power amplifier 150 includes an RF interface 160.
[0027] In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention,
when CC 100 includes the optional components shown in FIG. 3, then
CC 100 functions both as a standalone modular cell phone, and also
in cooperation with electrical appliance 200 as a device for
automated diagnostics and reporting as described hereinbelow. In
accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, when
CC 100 does not include the optional components shown in FIG. 3,
then CC functions only in cooperation with electrical appliance
200.
[0028] Electrical appliance 200 may be any of a wide variety of
devices. Electrical appliance 200 may be an entertainment device,
including inter alia a home entertainment center, a play station, a
multimedia player, a television, an audio system and a DVD player.
Electrical appliance 200 may be a communication device, including
inter alia a telephone, a fax machine and a cell phone. Electrical
appliance 200 may be a piece of office equipment including inter
alia an office computer, and printer and a scanner. Electrical
appliance 200 may be a home appliance including inter alia a
refrigerator, a microwave oven, a stove, a washing machine, a
drying machine, an air conditioner. Electrical appliance 200 may be
a consumer appliance including inter alia a personal computer, a
personal data assistant (PDA), an automobile, a treadmill and a
camera. Generally, electrical appliance 200 includes a user
interface 220 for activating functions of appliance 200, and a
storage memory 230 for recording information 240 about the
electrical appliance and its purchase. Such details may include
inter alia a serial number for appliance 200, a model number, a
software/firmware version, a date of purchase and an identifier for
the store where appliance 200 was purchased.
[0029] In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention,
electrical appliance 200 includes sensors 250 for use in
diagnostics. A sensor is a type of transducer which converts a
signal into a reading for the purpose of information transfer.
There are direct-indicating sensors which are human-readable, e.g.,
a mercury thermometer. Other sensors that may be embedded in an
electrical appliance are sensors that produce an output voltage or
such other electrical output which is interpreted by another
device. Most sensors are electrical or electronic, although other
types exist. Sensors used in diagnostics of appliance 200 in
accordance with the present invention include inter alia thermal
sensors, electromagnetic sensors, mechanical sensors, chemical
sensors, optical radiation sensors, ionizing radiation sensors and
acoustic sensors. CC 100 is used to send information about
electrical appliance 200 and its owner to one or more of the
seller, manufacturer and service provider 300. The information sent
by CC 100 includes diagnostic reports for appliance 200. When CC
100 is connected to appliance 200, appliance 200 serves as a host
device. For maintenance and repair of appliance 200, diagnostic
program code 122 programs CC 100 (i) to run diagnostic tests on
appliance 200; and (ii) to forward the test results to the seller,
to the manufacturer or to the service provider 300 for appliance
200, as appropriate, using modem 145. As above, CC 100 creates a
file or text message that includes the relevant diagnostic
monitoring data, shown as service report 320 in FIG. 1. An example
of such file or text message is as follows.
TABLE-US-00001 Device details Type: Audio Receiver Brand: Yamaha
Model: RX-V2700 S/N: 12345-ABCDE Problem Diagnosed Description:
Over-heating Owner Details Name: John Smith Phone: 123-456-7890
Cell: 098-765-4321 Email: John.Smith@anonymous.com
[0030] In another embodiment of the present invention, CC 100
transmits the service report via an e-mail message. In yet another
embodiment of the present invention, CC 100 transmits the service
report via an SMS or MMS message. In yet another embodiment of the
present invention, CC 100 places a voice call to the seller,
manufacturer or service provider 300 with the information indicated
in the text above, using text-to-speech conversion.
[0031] In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention,
diagnostic tests may be scheduled periodically, or initiated
manually by the owner, or initiated remotely via the CC.
[0032] Reference is now made to FIG. 4, which is a simplified
flowchart of a method for reporting diagnostics for electrical
appliances using a communication card, in accordance with an
embodiment of the present invention. At step 410 a consumer inserts
a communication card into an electronic appliance, which serves as
a host device for the CC. At step 420 the CC monitors the appliance
by running diagnostic testing program code that is stored in memory
of the CC. At step 430 a determination is made whether a problem
has been detected. If not, the method returns to step 420 to
continue monitoring the appliance while the CC is connected
thereto. Such monitoring may be continuous monitoring or scheduled
periodic monitoring.
[0033] Referring back to step 430, if a problem is detected, then
at step 440 the CC controller collects host appliance information
that is stored in a host memory. Such information includes inter
alia an appliance serial number and a model number. The CC
controller also identifies a malfunction type corresponding to the
detected problem. At step 450 the CC controller collects owner data
that is stored in memory of the CC or in the SIM of the CC. At step
460 the CC controller collects contact information for the seller,
manufacturer or service provider of the host appliance. At step 470
the CC contacts the seller or service provider and transmits an
alert notification regarding the malfunction. Finally, at step 480
the seller, manufacturer or service provider contacts the owner of
the appliance regarding the malfunction.
[0034] In another embodiment of the present invention, instead of
or in addition to generating reports, CC 100 sends diagnostic
information it collects to a server computer. In this regard,
reference is now made to FIG. 5, which is a simplified block
diagram of a web-based device diagnostic system, in accordance with
an embodiment of the present invention.
[0035] A server computer 500 includes a database with serial
numbers, or such other identifiers of electrical appliances 200,
and information about their corresponding manufacturers, sellers or
service providers 300. When CC 100 generates diagnostic reports,
triggered by malfunctions or by routine maintenance schedules, CC
100 opens a TCP connection and generates an HTTP request to
computer server 500, the request including inter alia the serial
number of appliance 200, contact information, such as a telephone
number, for the owner, and a malfunction descriptor. An example of
such an HTTP call is:
TABLE-US-00002
http://www.myserver.com/action.aspx?action=diagnostic&serial=
89723464&phone=+155512122&error=overheating.
[0036] Server information for computer server 500, including inter
alia a server URL, which may be a server IP address, a server
domain name, or such other locator, is generally stored in CC
100.
[0037] Also shown in FIG. 5 is an application programming interface
(API). After receiving the HTTP request with the serial number of
appliance 200, server computer 500 locates the relevant information
about manufacturer, seller or service provider 300 for the serial
number, and transmits a diagnostic report for appliance 200 to
manufacturer, seller and service provider 300, via the API. The
diagnostic report may be transmitted ad-hoc, in the case of a
malfunction, or routinely. In this way, manufacturer, sellers and
service providers 300 receive diagnostic reports for the appliances
200 that they are responsible for. This embodiment is described as
"push" mode, since server computer 500 pushes the diagnostic
reports to manufacturers, sellers and service providers 300.
[0038] In accordance with a "pull" mode embodiment of the present
invention, manufacturer, seller or service provider 300 uses the
API to access server computer 500 and extract diagnostic reports
for the appliances 200 that they are responsible for from a website
510. In this embodiment, manufacturers, sellers or service
providers 300 pull their diagnostic reports from website 510.
[0039] Use of server computer 500 is of particular advantage when
manufacturer, seller or service provider 300 changes its contact
information. The change is recorded once in server computer 500,
and does not need to be changed in appliances 200.
[0040] Additionally, server computer 500 may vary the format of
messages sent to manufacturer, seller or service provider 300, so
that diagnostic reports are transmitted via SMS, MMS, phone call,
e-mail, HTTP request, or such other transmission format.
[0041] In the foregoing specification, the invention has been
described with reference to specific exemplary embodiments thereof.
It will, however, be evident that various modifications and changes
may be made to the specific exemplary embodiments without departing
from the broader spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in
the appended claims. Accordingly, the specification and drawings
are to be regarded in an illustrative rather than a restrictive
sense.
* * * * *
References