Communications, information, maintenance diagnostic and training system

Claim 1

A data and communications system for providing interchange of data, comprising a host computer for processing data, a self-contained portable computer adapted to execute a program and for communication with said host computer, a communications link for data transfer and control between said host computer, a factory controller to control a factory environment, and a network of interface units to couple said self-contained portable computer, and wherein said network of interface units includes an infrared link for communicating with said portable computer, wherein said data and communication system further comprises a wireless network and wherein said infrared link includes at least one satellite unit coupled to the network of interface units for communicating with said self-contained portable computer, wherein the satellite unit includes a transmitter for transmitting data via infrared signals, a receiver for receiving data via additional infrared signals, an encoder/decoder to identify said satellite unit and to implement or remove the encoding protocol of the data, a controller unit for processing data relayed through the satellite unit and controlling the operation of the wireless network, and an interface circuit for interfacing the satellite unit to communicate with a communication network.

Claim 3

A method for control, diagnostics, and maintenance of factory systems comprising the steps of: generating an alarm signal when a machine/process goes out of a specific parameter range; communicating the alarm signal to a satellite system; relaying the alarm signal from the satellite system to at least one self-contained portable computing unit; displaying on the computing unit a location, on the factory floor, of the alarm signal; further displaying on the computing unit the machine process originating the alarm signal; and displaying on the computing unit information for correcting the cause of the alarm signal.

Claim 4

A method for control, diagnostics, and maintenance of factory systems comprising the steps of: generating an alarm signal when a machine/process goes out of a specific parameter range; communicating the alarm signal to a satellite system; relaying the alarm signal from the satellite system to at least one self-contained portable computing unit; displaying on the computing unit a location, on the factory floor, of the alarm signal; further displaying on the computing unit the machine process originating the alarm signal; and displaying on the computing unit information for correcting the cause of the alarm signal.