US5539869A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Method and system for processing and presenting on-line, multimedia information in a tree structure
Assignee: Ford Global Technologies LLC
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Filing: 1992-09-28
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Granted: 1996-07-23
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Expires: 2012-09-28
Abstract
Abstract Method and system are provided for processing and presenting on-line, multimedia information such as diagnostic information for a machine tool. The system uses multimedia information tools (i.e. graphics, documentation, drawings, photographs, full motion video with audio, PLC ladder, etc.) and techniques to assist maintenance personnel. Diagnostic development and multimedia information assignment are accomplished through graphical visual programming, which requires no conventional software programming efforts. The system uses diagnostic trees having multimedia graphic icons which define the diagnostic components. In developing a visual diagnostic tree, the multimedia information can be assigned or mapped to each node of the tree by selecting an appropriate icon to represent the multimedia from an icon library. Then, an appropriate media information file or record and comments for that icon are further added to define that node assignments. The system is user friendly, uses conventional hardware and can be used on the plant floor. The system is immediately executable and is generic. The method and system can also be used for training, process planning, marketing, sales, help desk applications, other machine diagnostics, and engineering design.
Inventors
- 👤 Thomas A. Spoto
- 👤 Hiroshi Higashide
- 👤 II James S. Rankin
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 09:52
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F15/00; G06F11/00; G06F11/22; G06F11/2257; G06F16/00; G06F16/40; G06F8/00; G06F8/30; G06F8/34; G06F11/30; G06F11/32; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S715/00; Y10S715/961; Y10S715/965; Y10S715/966; Y10S715/967
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 40
Claim 1
Independent Claim
188 words
A method for processing and presenting multimedia diagnostic information as a diagnostic tree structure including branches having a plurality of nodes and node-connecting links in a computer system, the method comprising the steps of: displaying multimedia diagnostic commands representative of various types of multimedia diagnostic information; conveying multimedia diagnostic information to a user of the system; storing a multiplicity of diagnostic information records mapped into the diagnostic tree structure, the diagnostic information records including: information records denoting the text strings to be displayed; information records denoting the multimedia commands to be displayed; and information records denoting the multimedia diagnostic information to be presented; receiving an initial command; displaying a graphical representation of a plurality of nodes including a question and answer node of the diagnostic tree structure including at least one text string in response to the initial command; displaying a plurality of multimedia diagnostic commands corresponding to the question and answer node; receiving a user command related to one of the displayed multimedia diagnostic commands; and presenting a selected amount of the multimedia diagnostic information to the user of the system in response to the user command.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
188 words
A method for processing and presenting multimedia diagnostic information as a diagnostic tree structure including branches having a plurality of nodes and node-connecting links in a computer system, the method comprising the steps of: displaying multimedia diagnostic commands representative of various types of multimedia diagnostic information; conveying multimedia diagnostic information to a user of the system; storing a multiplicity of diagnostic information records mapped into the diagnostic tree structure, the diagnostic information records including: information records denoting the text strings to be displayed; information records denoting the multimedia commands to be displayed; and information records denoting the multimedia diagnostic information to be presented; receiving an initial command; displaying a graphical representation of a plurality of nodes including a question and answer node of the diagnostic tree structure including at least one text string in response to the initial command; displaying a plurality of multimedia diagnostic commands corresponding to the question and answer node; receiving a user command related to one of the displayed multimedia diagnostic commands; and presenting a selected amount of the multimedia diagnostic information to the user of the system in response to the user command.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein at least a portion of the multimedia information is stored in analog form.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein at least a portion of the multimedia information is stored in digital form.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the at least one selected node is a question and answer node.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the nodes of the tree structure include question and answer and branch jump nodes.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the nodes of the tree structure include question and answer, branch jump and solution nodes.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the multimedia information includes video images.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the multimedia information includes sound messages.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the multimedia information includes drawing images.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the multimedia information includes graphical images.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the multimedia information includes images of documents.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein a multiplicity of digitized video images is stored, each of the stored video images corresponding to one or more pieces of equipment from a predefined set of pieces of equipment.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the multimedia commands are displayed in the form of graphic icons.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the initial command is a user command.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the selected nodes of the tree structure are displayed.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the information records further include means for denoting graphical images to be displayed.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
243 words
A system for processing and presenting multimedia diagnostic information as a diagnostic tree structure including branches having a plurality of nodes and node-connecting links in a computer system having tree display means for displaying a graphical representation of nodes of the tree structure, the system comprising: command display means for displaying multimedia diagnostic commands representative of various types of multimedia diagnostic information; multimedia output means for providing multimedia diagnostic information to a user of the system; a knowledge base for storing a multiplicity of diagnostic information records mapped into the diagnostic tree structure, the diagnostic information records including: information records denoting the text strings to be displayed on the tree display means; information records denoting the multimedia commands to be displayed on the command display means; and information records denoting the multimedia information to be presented by said multimedia output means; means for receiving an initial command, the tree display means displaying a plurality of nodes including a question and answer node of the tree structure including at least one text string in response to the initial command, and the command display means displaying a plurality of multimedia diagnostic commands corresponding to the question and answer node on the command display means; and means for receiving a user command related to one of the displayed multimedia diagnostic commands, the multimedia output means presenting a selected amount of the multimedia diagnostic information to the user of the system in response to the user command.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
243 words
A system for processing and presenting multimedia diagnostic information as a diagnostic tree structure including branches having a plurality of nodes and node-connecting links in a computer system having tree display means for displaying a graphical representation of nodes of the tree structure, the system comprising: command display means for displaying multimedia diagnostic commands representative of various types of multimedia diagnostic information; multimedia output means for providing multimedia diagnostic information to a user of the system; a knowledge base for storing a multiplicity of diagnostic information records mapped into the diagnostic tree structure, the diagnostic information records including: information records denoting the text strings to be displayed on the tree display means; information records denoting the multimedia commands to be displayed on the command display means; and information records denoting the multimedia information to be presented by said multimedia output means; means for receiving an initial command, the tree display means displaying a plurality of nodes including a question and answer node of the tree structure including at least one text string in response to the initial command, and the command display means displaying a plurality of multimedia diagnostic commands corresponding to the question and answer node on the command display means; and means for receiving a user command related to one of the displayed multimedia diagnostic commands, the multimedia output means presenting a selected amount of the multimedia diagnostic information to the user of the system in response to the user command.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
24 words
The system as claimed in claim 17 wherein the knowledge base references at least a portion of the multimedia information stored in analog form.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
23 words
The system as claimed in claim 17 wherein the knowledge base stores at least a portion of the multimedia information in digital form.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
16 words
The system as claimed in claim 17 wherein the computer system is an expert computer system.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
20 words
The system as claimed in claim 17 wherein the at least one selected node is a question and answer node.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
22 words
The system as claimed in claim 17 wherein the nodes of the tree structure include question and answer and branch jump nodes.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
23 words
The system as claimed in claim 17 wherein the nodes of the tree structure include question and answer, branch jump and solution nodes.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
20 words
The system as claimed in claim 17 wherein the multimedia output means includes video display means for displaying video images.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
20 words
The system as claimed in claim 17 wherein the multimedia output means includes sound generating means for generating sound messages.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
20 words
The system as claimed in claim 17 wherein the multimedia output means includes drawing display means for displaying drawing images.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
20 words
The system as claimed in claim 17 wherein the multimedia output means includes graphics display means for displaying graphical images.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
21 words
The system as claimed in claim 17 wherein the multimedia output means includes document display means for displaying images of documents.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
40 words
The system as claimed in claim 17 wherein the knowledge base stores a multiplicity of digitized video images, each of the stored video images corresponding to one or more pieces of equipment from a predefined set of pieces of equipment.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
24 words
The system as claimed in claim 17 wherein the multimedia commands are displayed on the command display means in the form of graphic icons.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
15 words
The system as claimed in claim 17 wherein the initial command is a user command.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
29 words
The system as claimed in claim 17 wherein the tree display means, the command display means and the multimedia output means define a video display of the computer system.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
25 words
The system as claimed in claim 17 wherein the tree display means includes branch display means for displaying the selected nodes of the tree structure.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
27 words
The system as claimed in claim 17 wherein the information records further include means for denoting graphical images that can be displayed on the tree display means.
Claim 37
Independent Claim
146 words
A method for creating a diagnostic tree structure for processing and presenting multimedia diagnostic information, said tree structure including branches having a plurality of nodes and node-connecting links in a computer system, the method comprising the steps of: displaying multimedia diagnostic commands representative of various types of the multimedia diagnostic information; providing the multimedia diagnostic information to the system; inputing the multimedia diagnostic information to the computer system; storing the multimedia diagnostic information; storing a multiplicity of diagnostic information records mapped into the diagnostic tree structure having a plurality of nodes including a question and answer node, the diagnostic information records including: information records denoting text strings to be graphically displayed; information records denoting multimedia commands to be displayed; and information records denoting the multimedia diagnostic information to be presented; and assigning the stored multimedia diagnostic information to one or more of the diagnostic information records.
Claim 38
Independent Claim
146 words
A method for creating a diagnostic tree structure for processing and presenting multimedia diagnostic information, said tree structure including branches having a plurality of nodes and node-connecting links in a computer system, the method comprising the steps of: displaying multimedia diagnostic commands representative of various types of the multimedia diagnostic information; providing the multimedia diagnostic information to the system; inputing the multimedia diagnostic information to the computer system; storing the multimedia diagnostic information; storing a multiplicity of diagnostic information records mapped into the diagnostic tree structure having a plurality of nodes including a question and answer node, the diagnostic information records including: information records denoting text strings to be graphically displayed; information records denoting multimedia commands to be displayed; and information records denoting the multimedia diagnostic information to be presented; and assigning the stored multimedia diagnostic information to one or more of the diagnostic information records.
Claim 39
Independent Claim
206 words
A system for creating a diagnostic tree structure for processing and presenting multimedia diagnostic information, said tree structure including branches having a plurality of nodes and node-connecting links in a computer system having tree display means for displaying a graphical representation of nodes of the tree structure, the system comprising: a computer system, the computer system including: command display means for displaying multimedia diagnostic commands representative of various types of the multimedia diagnostic information; multimedia output means for providing the multimedia diagnostic information to a user of the system; multimedia input means for providing the multimedia diagnostic information to the system; multimedia storage means for storing the multimedia diagnostic information in the form of a knowledge base, the knowledge base storing a multiplicity of diagnostic information records mapped into the diagnostic tree structure having a plurality of nodes including a question and answer node, the diagnostic information records including: information records denoting text strings to be graphically displayed on the tree display means; information records denoting multimedia commands to be displayed on the command display means; and information records denoting the multimedia information to be presented by said multimedia output means; and means for assigning said stored multimedia diagnostic information to at least one information record.
Claim 40
Independent Claim
206 words
A system for creating a diagnostic tree structure for processing and presenting multimedia diagnostic information, said tree structure including branches having a plurality of nodes and node-connecting links in a computer system having tree display means for displaying a graphical representation of nodes of the tree structure, the system comprising: a computer system, the computer system including: command display means for displaying multimedia diagnostic commands representative of various types of the multimedia diagnostic information; multimedia output means for providing the multimedia diagnostic information to a user of the system; multimedia input means for providing the multimedia diagnostic information to the system; multimedia storage means for storing the multimedia diagnostic information in the form of a knowledge base, the knowledge base storing a multiplicity of diagnostic information records mapped into the diagnostic tree structure having a plurality of nodes including a question and answer node, the diagnostic information records including: information records denoting text strings to be graphically displayed on the tree display means; information records denoting multimedia commands to be displayed on the command display means; and information records denoting the multimedia information to be presented by said multimedia output means; and means for assigning said stored multimedia diagnostic information to at least one information record.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1999-07-23 | 2000-01-22 | 2000-07-23 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2003-07-23 | 2004-01-22 | 2004-07-23 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2007-07-23 | 2008-01-22 | 2008-07-23 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |