AR-Guided IT Asset Servicing With Live State Overlays
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Solution Overview
Problem
Human errors during the servicing of IT assets, such as hardware components in data centers, lead to significant disruptions, downtime, and security breaches, which are costly and negatively impact customer satisfaction.
Innovation Solution
Utilizing augmented reality (AR) technology to assist technicians by providing real-time guidance and instructions through AR devices, such as AR goggles or smartphones, which capture live video feeds, track objects of interest, and overlay additional video layers with service instructions, system state information, and monitor system changes to ensure correct servicing procedures are followed.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional servicing methods are used without AR assistance, then device complexity and operational difficulty remain manageable, but human errors occur more frequently leading to disruptions and security breaches
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces AR hardware as an intermediary device between the technician and the IT asset. The AR device captures video feeds, tracks objects of interest, and overlays service instructions and system state information to mediate the servicing process, thereby improving reliability without requiring the technician to directly manage complex information streams
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual inspection and paper-based procedures with automated computer vision and image processing systems. The AR system automatically tracks hardware components, identifies their states, and provides guided instructions, substituting mechanical manual processes with automated digital systems to reduce human error
2Productivity
If manual servicing procedures are used, then device complexity is lower, but servicing time increases due to lack of real-time guidance and information
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary actions by pre-configuring service instructions, system state monitoring parameters, and troubleshooting procedures in the AR system before the servicing begins. This allows the technician to access all necessary information and guidance immediately upon initiating the service, eliminating time-consuming on-site information retrieval
Solution Approach 2:
The AR system provides continuous real-time guidance throughout the servicing process. The video feed continuously captures the hardware component, object tracking continuously monitors the component position and state, and service instructions continuously update based on system state changes, ensuring uninterrupted useful action without pauses for information search
3Reliability
If real-time monitoring and AR guidance are implemented, then servicing accuracy improves, but the system requires more sophisticated hardware and software components
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a multi-functional AR device that combines video capture, object tracking, system state monitoring, and visual guidance display in a single integrated system. This universal device performs multiple functions simultaneously, improving servicing correctness without proportionally increasing system complexity through component integration
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus comprises a processing device configured to capture, via at least one camera of augmented reality hardware, a live video feed of an information technology asset. The processing device is also configured to track, in the live video feed, at least one object of interest comprising a hardware component of the information technology asset that is to be serviced. The processing device is further configured to monitor system state information characterizing operation of the information technology asset. The processing device is further configured to generate one or more additional video layers based on the tracked object of interest and the obtained system state information. The processing device is further configured to generate a layered video feed comprising the additional video layers overlayed on the live video feed of the information technology asset, and to provide, to at least one display of the augmented reality hardware, the layered video feed.