Patent ID: 7162394

Claim:
A generic embedded device (GED) for various intelligent-maintenance (IM) applications, wherein said GED is used for retrieving, collecting, managing and analyzing information of equipment, said GED comprising: a data collector used solely for collecting and managing said information from said equipment, said data collector further comprising: a device driver used solely for getting said information of said equipment, wherein said device driver is dependent on said equipment; and a collection plan responsible solely for managing said information obtained by said device driver, wherein said collection plan is independent of said equipment; and a communication manager used for establishing communication channels among said data collector, a pluggable IM application module and. at least one external system, wherein said pluggable IM application module is used solely for providing said various IM applications for said equipment said communication manager comprising: a communication agent used for sending said information to said external system, and for allowing said external system to send a command; a collection interface used for linking to said collection plan so as to transmit said information to said pluggable IM application module and said external system; and an application interface responsible for linking to said pluggable IM application module, wherein said pluggable IM application module uses said application interface to get said information sent by said data collector, and said pluggable IM application module is plugged in said GED via said application interface.