Method and system for providing individual information about a coordinate measuring device

Abstract

Method and system for providing individual information about coordinate measuring devices. The method comprises providing a plurality of coordinate measuring devices with a digital twin database comprising individual digital twins, assigning an individual code to each coordinate measuring device, providing the assigned code on a first coordinate measuring device, pairing the first device with a mobile device, the pairing comprising capturing the individual code of the first device, sending the captured individual code together with an identifier, verifying the sent individual code and storing the identifier of the mobile device assigned to the digital twin of the first device, the method further comprising sending a request for information about the first device together with the identifier, determining the validity of the request based on the identifier, retrieving the requested information in the individual digital twin of the first device and sending the information to the mobile device, providing the information about the first device on a display of the mobile device.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a computer system and a computer-implemented method for providing information about a separate coordinate measuring device on a mobile device to a user of a coordinate measuring device. Background Technology

[0002] Coordinate measuring devices (such as stationary coordinate measuring machines (CMMs) or portable articulated arm coordinate measuring machines (AACMMs), or laser-based coordinate measuring devices including laser trackers, laser scanners, and total stations) are used extensively in quality management and quality assurance applications. Users of such coordinate measuring devices may want to know individual details about the device, such as easily determining the deadline for the next inspection or calibration, or evaluating its overall accuracy based on its built-in components. Some devices include displays to provide users with information. Other devices include interfaces for connecting external devices, through which users can be provided with information about the device. However, these interfaces often include non-standard connectors or require special devices or software for successful connection, making connection establishment potentially cumbersome and / or requiring specialized equipment.

[0003] WO 2015 / 175460 A1 discloses a method for initiating communication between a coordinate measuring device, specifically implemented as a 3D metrology instrument, and a mobile device using near-field communication (NFC).

[0004] However, coordinate measuring devices will require data storage for storing information and devices for establishing wireless data connections for exchanging data in order to provide the necessary information. Furthermore, the information stored in the device itself needs to be complete and up-to-date. Summary of the Invention

[0005] Therefore, one object of the present invention is to provide an improved method and system that allows users or owners of coordinate measuring devices to easily access information about individual coordinate measuring devices.

[0006] Another object of the present invention is to provide a method and system that allows access to complete and up-to-date information about individual coordinate measuring devices.

[0007] Another object of the present invention is to provide a method and system that allows access to information about a separate coordinate measuring device without having to open the device or interrupt the ongoing measurement operation of the device.

[0008] Another object of the present invention is to provide a method and system that allows access to individual device information of a coordinate measuring device with simple settings, particularly excluding data storage or an interface for providing device information.

[0009] A first aspect of the present invention relates to a computer-implemented method for providing information about an individual coordinate measuring device to the owner or user of the coordinate measuring device, the method comprising:

[0010] - Provide a digital twin database for multiple coordinate measuring devices in a computing environment, including individual digital twins, each of which includes information about the individual coordinate measuring device;

[0011] - Assign a separate code to each of the plurality of coordinate measuring devices;

[0012] - Provide the separate code of the first coordinate measuring device on the first coordinate measuring device; and

[0013] - Pair the first coordinate measuring device with the mobile device of the owner or user of the first coordinate measuring device, particularly wherein the mobile device is a smartphone or tablet.

[0014] The pairing includes:

[0015] - The individual code of the first coordinate measuring device is captured by the mobile device;

[0016] - Establish a remote data connection between the mobile device and the computing environment;

[0017] - The captured individual code, along with the identifier of the mobile device or the identifier of the user of the mobile device, is transmitted from the mobile device to the computing environment via the established data connection; and

[0018] - Verify the sent individual code in the computing environment, and if the verification result is positive, store the identifier of the mobile device, which is assigned to the digital twin of the first coordinate measuring device.

[0019] According to this aspect of the invention, the method further includes:

[0020] - A request for information about the first coordinate measuring device, along with the identifier of the mobile device, is sent from the mobile device to the computing environment;

[0021] - The validity of the request is determined based on the identifier;

[0022] - Retrieve the requested information from the individual digital twin of the first coordinate measuring device and send the requested information to the mobile device; and

[0023] - The information about the first coordinate measuring device is provided to the user of the mobile device on the display of the mobile device.

[0024] According to some embodiments of the method, the computing environment includes one or more server computers or cloud computing environments from the manufacturer of the first coordinate measuring device, and the pairing includes:

[0025] - Sending owner information related to the owner of the first coordinate measuring device or user information related to the user of the first coordinate measuring device from the mobile device to the computing environment; and

[0026] - The owner or user information is stored in the digital twin database, and the owner or user information is assigned to the individual digital twin of the first coordinate measuring device.

[0027] According to some embodiments of the method, the information about the individual coordinate measuring device in the digital twin database includes information about individual components of the individual coordinate measuring device, and the information provided about the first coordinate measuring device includes information about individual components of the first coordinate measuring device, wherein the information about the individual components includes at least the batch number, manufacturer, and / or manufacturing date for each individual component.

[0028] According to some embodiments, the method further includes: providing an application software program and installing the application software program on the mobile device. The application software program has program code for the following:

[0029] - Capture the individual code of the first coordinate measuring device;

[0030] - Establish the data connection between the mobile device and the digital twin database;

[0031] - Send the captured individual codes to the digital twin database; and

[0032] - Present the information about the first coordinate measuring device in a graphical user interface.

[0033] According to some embodiments of the method, the individual code is provided as a visual code, such as a QR code, on the surface of the first coordinate measuring device, and the individual code is captured by the camera or other optical sensor of the mobile device.

[0034] According to some embodiments of the method, the individual code is provided as an NFC (Near Field Communication) tag, and the individual code is captured by near field communication using the NFC module of the mobile device.

[0035] According to some embodiments of the method, sending the request includes: the mobile device capturing the individual code of the first coordinate measuring device and sending the captured individual code together with the request.

[0036] According to some embodiments of the method, the data connection between the first coordinate measuring device and the database is established using a mobile phone network and the user identity module of the mobile device (e.g., using a SIM card or embedded SIM).

[0037] According to some embodiments of the method, information about the individual coordinate measuring device of each individual digital twin is continuously updated, and retrieving the requested information in the individual digital twin of the first coordinate measuring device includes retrieving the most recently updated information of the first coordinate measuring device.

[0038] According to some embodiments of the method, the first coordinate measuring device is a laser-based metrology device, such as a laser tracker, laser scanner, or total station. According to other embodiments of the method, the first coordinate measuring device is a coordinate measuring machine (CMM), such as a portable articulated arm CMM (AACCM) or a fixed CMM. According to other embodiments of the method, the first coordinate measuring device is a structured light scanner or a photogrammetric system.

[0039] A second aspect of the invention relates to a computer system for providing information about an individual coordinate measuring device to its owner or user. The system includes one or more server computers, wherein the one or more server computers include memory for storing a digital twin database, the digital twin database including individual digital twins for multiple coordinate measuring devices, each individual digital twin including information about the respective individual coordinate measuring device, wherein the computer system is configured to:

[0040] - Receive a separate code for the first coordinate measuring device from the mobile device via a remote data connection, along with the identifier of the mobile device or the identifier of the user of the mobile device;

[0041] - Verify the sent individual code, and if the verification result is positive, store the identifier of the mobile device in the digital twin database, the identifier being assigned to the digital twin of the first coordinate measuring device;

[0042] - Receive a request for information about the first coordinate measuring device from the mobile device via the remote data connection, along with the identifier of the mobile device.

[0043] - Determine the validity of the request based on the identifier; and

[0044] - The requested information is provided from the separate digital twin of the first coordinate measuring device to the mobile device via the remote data connection.

[0045] According to some embodiments of the computer system, an application software program (“app”) is stored in memory, and the memory is configured to provide the app to the mobile device via the remote data connection. The app includes program code that, when executed on the mobile device, provides at least pairing and requesting functions. The pairing function includes the mobile device capturing the individual code of the first coordinate measuring device and sending the captured individual code along with the identifier via the remote data connection. The requesting function includes sending a request for information along with the identifier of the mobile device via the remote data connection, receiving the requested information via the remote data connection, and providing the information about the first coordinate measuring device in a graphical user interface (GUI) on the display of the mobile device.

[0046] In one embodiment, the mobile device is a smartphone or tablet, the app may be installed in the memory of the mobile device, the individual code is provided as a visual code on the surface of the first coordinate measuring device, for example, in the form of a QR code, and the pairing function includes capturing the individual code via the camera or other optical sensor of the mobile device.

[0047] According to some implementations, the computer system is configured to:

[0048] - Receive owner or user information (related to the owner or user of the first coordinate measuring device) from the mobile device via the remote data connection, along with, for example, the separate code and identifier of the first coordinate measuring device; and

[0049] - Owner or user information is stored in the digital twin database, and the owner or user information is assigned to the individual digital twin of the first coordinate measuring device.

[0050] A third aspect of the invention relates to a computer program product comprising program code stored on a machine-readable medium or implemented by electromagnetic waves including segments of program code, and having computer-executable instructions for performing the method according to the second aspect, particularly when running on a computer system according to the first aspect. Attached Figure Description

[0051] The present invention will now be described in detail with reference to exemplary embodiments in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

[0052] Figure 1 The location of an exemplary set of coordinate measuring devices is shown;

[0053] Figure 2 A server computer is shown as part of an exemplary embodiment of a computer system according to the present invention;

[0054] Figure 3 An example is shown of using a mobile device to retrieve actual information about an exemplary coordinate measuring device;

[0055] Figure 4 A flowchart illustrating an exemplary embodiment of the method according to the present invention is shown; and

[0056] Figure 5 A flowchart illustrating a process of pairing a coordinate measuring device with a moving device as part of an exemplary embodiment of a method according to the invention is shown. Detailed Implementation

[0057] Figure 1An exemplary set of different coordinate measuring devices 11, 12, and 13 appearing at location 15 is shown. For example, location 15 could be at a production facility or a similar location where these devices are used, for example, to monitor the production process or measure the produced workpieces for quality assurance. Alternatively, location 15 could be a warehouse in a rental shop where devices 11, 12, and 13 are leased to end customers. The set of coordinate measuring devices shown includes three laser trackers 11, a portable articulated CMM 12, and a fixed CMM 13. However, this set of coordinate measuring devices could also include other types of coordinate measuring devices, such as reality capture devices, laser scanners, or total stations, as well as unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) or unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs) that include coordinate measuring devices.

[0058] Different individual codes are assigned to each of devices 11, 12, and 13, and the codes are provided at the devices such that they can be read by an external mobile device (not shown here), and devices 11, 12, and 13 are clearly identifiable based on the assigned codes. For example, as shown here, the codes can be provided as visual code elements 25 on the surface of the device (e.g., a cover), allowing the codes to be captured using the camera or other visual sensors of the mobile device. The visual code element 25 can be, for example, a barcode or a QR code. Alternatively or additionally, the codes can be provided as alphanumeric data, making them readable by a human user.

[0059] The code can also be provided in an invisible way, such as via Near Field Communication (NFC), where each device includes an NFC tag that can be read by an NFC reader of a mobile device. The location of the NFC tag can be marked to facilitate code capture using a mobile device.

[0060] Figure 2 An exemplary server computer 1 is shown as part of a computing environment, for example, as part of an exemplary embodiment of a computer system according to the present invention. The described server computer 1 includes a processor 16, a communication unit 18, and a memory 21 that are operatively interconnected.

[0061] The memory 21 has stored a digital twin database 20. The digital twin database 20 includes individual digital twins for multiple individual coordinate measuring devices. Each individual digital twin includes individual information about the respective individual coordinate measuring device. The memory 21 may also store application software programs (“apps”) 36 that can be downloaded, installed, and executed on a mobile device.

[0062] The communication unit 18 is configured to establish a remote data connection via the Internet, for example, using a mobile device on which app 36 is installed.

[0063] According to the exemplary implementation shown herein, server computer 1 (either alone or in combination with other server computers in the computer system) is configured as follows:

[0064] - Receive a separate code of the coordinate measuring device along with the identifier of the mobile device that sent the code and / or the identifier of the user of the mobile device via the communication unit 18 and via a remote data connection;

[0065] - Verify the sent individual code based on the data stored in database 20;

[0066] - Identifiers are stored in database 20, and these identifiers are assigned to digital twins of coordinate measuring devices that have been assigned individual codes;

[0067] -Receive a request for information about the coordinate measuring device, along with the identifier of the mobile device that sent the request, via the communication unit 18 and through a remote data connection;

[0068] - The validity of the request is determined based on the identifier sent along with the request and the identifier stored in database 20; and

[0069] - The requested information is provided via communication unit 18 and through a remote data connection in individual digital twins of each coordinate measuring device.

[0070] Figure 3 An exemplary coordinate measuring device 10 and information about the coordinate measuring device retrieved in a digital twin database 20 using an exemplary embodiment of the method according to the invention are shown.

[0071] Figure 1 The owner or user of one of the coordinate measuring devices 11, 12, 13 shown in the diagram may want to know specific details about a particular device. In the example shown, the user wants to receive information about the first coordinate measuring device 10 (i.e., the described laser tracker). Although some devices include an interface through which information about the device can be provided to the user, the information stored in the device itself may be incomplete or outdated. Furthermore, some devices do not have any interface or non-standard connectors, or require special devices or software for successful connection. Therefore, this information is stored in a digital twin database 20, which can be accessed via a remote data connection via the Internet. The digital twin database 20 is stored in a computing environment, such as... Figure 2 The data is stored on the server computer shown or via cloud computing.

[0072] In some implementations, the user needs a smartphone, tablet, or similar mobile device 30 with an application software program (“app”) already installed, which allows retrieval of the information 22 in the digital twin database 20. Installing the app may require a registration process to register the mobile device 30 and / or its user within the system. Identifiers are assigned to the mobile device 30 and / or its user.

[0073] App 36 can be installed in the memory of a mobile device. App 36 includes program code that, when executed on the mobile device, provides multiple functions for retrieving information from the digital twin database 20, such as functions for performing certain steps of the method according to the invention. These functions may include at least pairing and requesting functions. The pairing function includes the mobile device capturing a separate code for the first coordinate measuring device and sending the captured separate code, along with an identifier of the mobile device or its user, to a server computer via a remote data connection. The capture of the separate code may include using an optical sensor, such as the camera of the mobile device. The requesting function includes sending a request for information, along with an identifier, to the server computer 1 via a remote data connection, receiving the requested information via a remote data connection, and providing information about the first coordinate measuring device in a GUI on the display of the mobile device.

[0074] To access information 22, the user activates the app's pairing function. Upon activation, the mobile device's camera captures image 33 to detect visual code element 25, specifically implemented as a barcode. The representation 35 of the currently captured image 33 can be displayed in real-time on the mobile device 30's display 32 to assist the user in capturing the image 33 of code element 25. The code, along with its assigned identifier, is sent to a computing environment via a remote data connection. There, the code is verified, and if the verification is positive, the mobile device 30's identifier is assigned to the digital twin of the coordinate measuring device 10. This pairing of the mobile device 30 and the coordinate measuring device 10 thus allows the user of the mobile device 30 to access information 22 of the individual device stored in database 20.

[0075] Figure 4 A flowchart illustrating an exemplary embodiment of a computer-implemented method 100 according to the present invention is shown.

[0076] like Figure 2 As shown, the method begins by providing a digital twin database of 110 in a computing environment (e.g., on a server computer). The computing environment may include one or more server computers or a cloud computing environment. For example, the computing environment and / or the digital twin database may be provided by a manufacturer of coordinate measuring equipment.

[0077] The database includes individual digital twins for each individual coordinate measuring device in the multiple devices. Each individual digital twin includes information about the individual coordinate measuring device, such as information about the individual components within each independent coordinate measuring device (e.g., batch number, manufacturer, and / or manufacturing date for each individual component). Additionally, the data stored in each individual twin may include supplementary information such as information about the registered owner or user, past usage, predicted maintenance needs, and the device's activation or activatable features.

[0078] In the next step, each of the coordinate measuring devices (whose digital twins are stored in a digital twin database) is assigned one of 120 distinct individual codes, which explicitly identify each individual coordinate measuring device. For example, the individual code may be or include the device's serial number or a similar existing identifier. The individual code may also be a unique code assigned to link the real-world device to its digital twin.

[0079] The assigned individual code 130 is then provided on the coordinate measuring device, preferably in a manner that allows for easy capture using a mobile device. The individual code may be provided as a visible code element, such as a QR code or barcode, on the surface of the coordinate measuring device's cover, making it easily captureable by a camera or other optical sensor (e.g., a barcode scanner). Alternatively or additionally, the individual code 130 may be provided on the device in an invisible manner, such as via Near Field Communication (NFC), wherein each device includes an NFC tag readable by an NFC reader. The location of the NFC tag may be marked to facilitate code capture using a mobile device. Alternatively or additionally, the individual code 130 may be provided as plain text, making it readable by a human user and automatically detected in a camera image using text recognition.

[0080] The next step is pairing function 140, in which the mobile device is paired with a coordinate measuring device, or more precisely, with a digital twin of that coordinate measuring device, by sending individual codes to a computing environment that provides a digital twin database. This pairing function 140... Figure 5 The details are described in further detail.

[0081] After the mobile device and the coordinate measuring device are successfully paired, the user of the mobile device can request information about the coordinate measuring device. For example, the user can select a device from a list of paired devices displayed on the mobile device's display via a graphical user interface (GUI). Alternatively, the user can use the mobile device to capture the code of the device of interest. This request, along with the mobile device's identifier or the user's personal identifier, is sent to the digital twin database. Optionally, pairing 140 and the request to the user 150 can be performed as a single operation.

[0082] Determining the validity of the request described in 160 within a computing environment. This may include confirming that the requesting user has the right to receive information, such as being a registered user. For example, if the mobile device identifier or the user's personal identifier has been stored along with individual digital twins as part of the pairing function 140, the validity check includes at least comparing the sent identifier with the stored identifier.

[0083] If the request is valid, the requested information is sent and retrieved by the mobile device 170. This may include storing the information in the mobile device's non-volatile memory. The information is then displayed 180 to the user, for example, in a GUI on the mobile device's display. Preferably, the information is displayed 180 in real time after the user requests 150 the information, i.e., without substantial delay (based on the speed of the data connection available at the mobile device's location; for example, less than ten seconds).

[0084] Figure 5 A flowchart illustrating the steps of a pairing function 140, which exemplifies an exemplary embodiment of a computer-implemented method 100 according to the present invention, is shown.

[0085] Pairing begins with the mobile device capturing a unique code from the coordinate measuring device. If the unique code is provided as a visual code (e.g., a QR code or barcode) on the surface of the coordinate measuring device, the user aligns the mobile device's camera or another optical sensor camera (e.g., a barcode reader) with the visual code, causing the unique code to be captured by the camera or other optical sensor. If the unique code is provided as an NFC tag, the user moves the mobile device's NFC module near the NFC tag, causing the unique code to be captured via near-field communication.

[0086] Next, for example, using Figure 2 The server computer establishes a remote data connection 143 with the computing environment providing the digital twin database. Through the established remote data connection, 145 the unique code of the device of interest, as well as the identifier of the mobile device, app, or user, is sent.

[0087] The individual code sent at 147 is verified at the database, that is, at least it is verified that a digital twin with the same code exists in the digital twin database. After successful verification, the sent identifier is stored at 149 in the digital twin database and assigned to a digital twin with the same code as that assigned to the coordinate measuring device.

[0088] Confirmation can be displayed in the GUI of the mobile device. Alternatively, information from the digital twin can also be provided to the mobile device and presented to the user.

[0089] While the invention has been illustrated above with reference to some preferred embodiments, it must be understood that various modifications and combinations of different features of the embodiments are possible. All such modifications are within the scope of the appended claims. In particular, the system may be configured to perform some or all of the described method steps, and the method may utilize some or all of the described system components.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for providing information about an individual coordinate measuring device to an owner or user of the coordinate measuring device, the method comprising: - In a computing environment, a digital twin database is provided for multiple coordinate measuring devices, including individual digital twins, each individual digital twin including information about the respective individual coordinate measuring device; - Assign a separate code to each of the plurality of coordinate measuring devices; - Provide the separate code of the first coordinate measuring device on the first coordinate measuring device; as well as - Pair the first coordinate measuring device with the mobile device of the owner or user of the first coordinate measuring device. The pairing includes: - The individual code of the first coordinate measuring device is captured by the mobile device; - Establish a remote data connection between the mobile device and the computing environment; - The captured individual code, along with the identifier of the mobile device or the identifier of the user of the mobile device, is transmitted from the mobile device to the computing environment via the established data connection; and - At the computing environment, the transmitted individual code is verified, and if the verification result is positive, the identifier of the mobile device is stored, the identifier being assigned to the individual digital twin of the first coordinate measuring device. The method further includes: - A request for information about the first coordinate measuring device, along with the identifier of the mobile device, is sent from the mobile device to the computing environment; - The validity of the request is determined based on the identifier; - Retrieve the requested information from the separate digital twin of the first coordinate measuring device and send the requested information to the mobile device; and - The information about the first coordinate measuring device is provided to the user of the mobile device on the display of the mobile device.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein, The mobile device is a smartphone or tablet.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein, The computing environment includes one or more server computers or cloud computing environments from the manufacturer of the first coordinate measuring device, wherein the pairing includes: - Sending owner or user information related to the owner or user of the first coordinate measuring device from the mobile device to the computing environment; and - The owner or user information is stored in the digital twin database, and the owner or user information is assigned to the individual digital twin of the first coordinate measuring device.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein - The information about the individual coordinate measuring devices in the digital twin database includes information about the individual components of each of the individual coordinate measuring devices; and - The information provided regarding the first coordinate measuring device includes information about the individual components of the first coordinate measuring device; in, For each individual component, the information about that individual component includes at least one of the following: - Batch number; - Manufacturer; and - Manufacturing date.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the method comprises providing an application software program on the mobile device and installing the application software program on the mobile device, the application software program having program code for: - Capture the individual code of the first coordinate measuring device; - Establish the data connection between the mobile device and the digital twin database; - Send the captured individual codes to the digital twin database; as well as - Present the information about the first coordinate measuring device in a graphical user interface.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein, The individual code is provided as a visible code on the surface of the first coordinate measuring device, and the individual code is captured by the optical sensor of the mobile device.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein, The visual code is a QR code, and the QR code is captured by the camera of the mobile device.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein, The individual code is provided as an NFC tag, and the individual code is captured by near-field communication using the NFC module of the mobile device.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein, Sending the request includes: the mobile device capturing the individual code of the first coordinate measuring device, and sending the captured individual code together with the request.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein, The data connection between the first coordinate measuring device and the database is established using a mobile phone network and the user identity module of the mobile device.

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein, The data connection is established via the SIM card or embedded SIM card of the mobile device.

12. The method according to claim 1, wherein Information regarding the individual coordinate measuring device for each individual digital twin is continuously updated, and Retrieving the requested information from the individual digital twin of the first coordinate measuring device includes: Retrieve the most recently updated information from the first coordinate measuring device.

13. The method according to claim 1, wherein, The first coordinate measuring device is a laser-based metrology device.

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein, The laser-based metering device is a laser tracker, a laser scanner, or a total station.

15. The method according to claim 1, wherein, The first coordinate measuring device is a coordinate measuring machine (CMM).

16. The method according to claim 15, wherein, The coordinate measuring machine (CMM) is either a portable articulated arm CMM or a fixed CMM.

17. The method according to claim 1, wherein, The first coordinate measuring device is a structured light scanner or a photogrammetry system.

18. A computer system for providing information about an individual coordinate measuring device to an owner or user of the individual coordinate measuring device, the computer system comprising one or more server computers, wherein, The one or more server computers include a memory for storing a digital twin database, the digital twin database including individual digital twins for multiple coordinate measuring devices, each individual digital twin including information about the respective individual coordinate measuring device, wherein the computer system is configured to: - Receive a separate code of the first coordinate measuring device from the mobile device via a remote data connection, along with the identifier of the mobile device or the identifier of the user of the mobile device; - Verify the sent individual code, and if the verification result is positive, store the identifier of the mobile device in the digital twin database, the identifier being assigned to the individual digital twin of the first coordinate measuring device; - Receive a request for information about the first coordinate measuring device from the mobile device via the remote data connection, along with the identifier of the mobile device; - Determine the validity of the request based on the identifier; and - The requested information is provided from the separate digital twin of the first coordinate measuring device to the mobile device via the remote data connection.

19. The computer system according to claim 18, wherein, An application software program is stored in the memory, and the memory is configured to provide the application software program to the mobile device via the remote data connection. The application software program includes program code that, when executed on the mobile device, provides at least pairing and requesting functionality. - The pairing function includes the mobile device capturing the individual code of the first coordinate measuring device and transmitting the captured individual code along with the identifier via the remote data connection; and The request function includes: sending the request for information along with the identifier of the mobile device via the remote data connection, receiving the requested information via the remote data connection, and providing the information about the first coordinate measuring device in a graphical user interface on the display of the mobile device.

20. The computer system of claim 19, wherein - The mobile device is a smartphone or tablet, and the application software program can be installed in the memory of the mobile device. - The individual code is provided as a visual code on the surface of the first coordinate measuring device, and The pairing function includes capturing the individual code using the optical sensors of the mobile device.

21. The computer system according to claim 18, wherein, The computer system is configured to: - Receive owner or user information related to the owner or user of the first coordinate measuring device from the mobile device via the remote data connection; and - The owner or user information is stored in the digital twin database, and the owner or user information is assigned to the individual digital twin of the first coordinate measuring device.

22. The computer system according to claim 21, wherein, The owner or user information, along with the individual code and identifier of the first coordinate measuring device, is received.

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