Job site problem solution systems with internet interface

• US 20030200127A1
• Filed: 04/18/2002
• Published: 10/23/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 04/18/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Varco I/P Incorporated (NOV, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Varco I/P Incorporated (NOV, Inc.)
• Inventors: McQueen, Talmadge Keith, McClung, Guy L. III
• Application Number:
  US10/125,077
• Publication Number:
  US 20030200127A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/7
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/165 Land development
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/184 Intellectual property management

Abstract

A method for producing a problem solution for an entity having a problem, the method for producing the problem solution on-site at a location at which the problem is experienced, e.g., but not limited to, on a drilling rig, the method including in at least certain aspects, the entity having the problem requesting a problem solver to address the problem, and the entity describing the problem to the problem solver, the problem solver assembling a team for solving the problem and dispatching the team on-site to the location at which the problem is experienced, the team including personnel necessary to solve the problem and to produce a presentation of a problem solution for the entity having the problem, the team gathering information related to the problem, the team on-site making a proposed solution to the problem and producing an on-site presentation of the proposed solution to the entity having the problem, the team presenting the presentation onsite to the entity having the problem, and the presentation including technical information related to the proposed solution, visual images of components of the proposed solution, and visual images of steps in an implementation of the proposed solution; and, in certain particular aspects, applying from the on-site location for protection of intellectual property related to the proposed solution.

Claims

1. A method for producing a problem solution for an entity having a problem, the method for producing the problem solution on-site at a location at which the problem is experienced, the method comprising

the entity having the problem requesting a problem solver to address the problem, and the entity describing the problem to the problem solver,

the problem solver assembling a team for solving the problem and dispatching the team on-site to the location at which the problem is experienced,

the team including personnel necessary to solve the problem and to produce a presentation of a problem solution for the entity having the problem,

the team gathering information related to the problem,

the team on-site making a proposed solution to the problem and producing an on-site presentation of the proposed solution to the entity having the problem,

the team presenting the presentation on-site to the entity having the problem, and

the presentation including technical information related to the proposed solution, visual images of components of the proposed solution, and visual images of steps in an implementation of the proposed solution.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein

the problem is an equipment problem, and

the location is a drilling rig.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the team includes members from the group consisting of engineers, scientists, designers, computer programmers, technical writers, technicians, surveyors, patent application professionals, and intellectual property professionals.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the team uses equipment from the group consisting of computers, wireless communication systems, computer programs, printers, audio-visual and audio production and playback apparatus, photographic equipment, drafting equipment and instruments, measuring devices, testing devices, and databases.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the problem is an equipment problem and the problem is from the group consisting of piping problems, pump problems, solids treatment problems, solids removal problems, equipment selection problems, equipment location problems, fluid flow problems, solids transport problems, equipment transport problems, fluids processing problems, solids processing problems, and intellectual property protection problems.

6. The method of claim 2 wherein the problem is an equipment problem at the drilling rig and the problem is from the group consisting of piping problems, pump problems, solids treatment problems, solids removal problems, equipment selection problems, equipment location problems, fluid flow problems, solids transport problems, equipment transport problems, fluids processing problems, solids processing problems, and intellectual property protection problems.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising

displaying parts of a proposed solution in a form from the group consisting of text, charts, graphs, photographs, videos, two-dimensional images, three-dimensional images, drawings, slides, and audio information.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising

applying from the on-site location for protection of intellectual property related to the proposed solution.

9. The method of claim 8 further comprising

effecting application of said protection prior to making the presentation to the entity having the problem.

10. The method of claim 8 wherein the intellectual property is from the group consisting of patents, trademarks, and copyrights.

11. The method of claim 1 further comprising

producing on-site a confidentiality agreement covering contents of the presentation for execution by the entity having the problem.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein apparatus used for the presentation is prevented from operating to present the presentation until said apparatus is inputted with information that the confidentiality agreement has been executed.

13. The method of claim 1 further comprising

producing notices for parts of the presentation providing notification of rights in intellectual property.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein said notices are from the group consisting of confidentiality notices and copyright notices.

15. The method of claim 1 further comprising

producing on-site at least one physical model related to a physical embodiment of a component of the proposed solution.

16. The method of claim 1 further comprising

producing on-site at least one part of equipment for use in the proposed solution.

17. The method of claim 1 further comprising

transmitting the proposed solution off-site to personnel of the entity having the problem using a wireless communication system.

18. The method of claim 2 wherein the information gathered by the team is from the group consisting of drawings of the rig, drawings of equipment, specifications of equipment, past problem histories, past problem solutions, log data, photographs, reports, databases, past surveys, and other proposed solutions.

19. The method of claim 1 further comprising

conducting engineering work on-site to assist in producing the proposed solution.

20. The method of claim 1 wherein the team gathers information on-site from off-site sources using a wireless communication system.

21. The method of claim 8 wherein computer apparatus is used to apply for the protection of the intellectual property, said computer apparatus for wirelessly communicating with appropriate government agencies to effect application for said protection.

22. The method of claim 21 wherein said computer apparatus is programmed with a computer program product comprising a computer storage medium having a computer program therein for preparing and transmitting applications for protection of intellectual property, said computer program performing the steps of

receiving and storing in said computer storage medium information for preparing said applications,

preparing said applications, and

transmitting at least one of said applications to at least one selected government agency for filing.

23. The method of claim 22 wherein said computer program is also for performing the steps of

receiving and storing in said computer storage medium information regarding confirmation that said at least one of said applications has been filed, and

preventing display of displayable components of said presentation until such confirmation is received.

24. The method of claim 8 wherein computer apparatus is used to apply for the protection of the intellectual property, said computer apparatus with a computer-readable medium with computer-executable instructions for performing steps comprising

receiving and storing information for preparing at least one of said applications,

preparing at least one of said applications, and

transmitting at least one of said applications to at least one selected government agency for filing.

25. The method of claim 24 wherein said computer-executable instructions are also for performing the steps of

receiving and storing in said computer storage medium information regarding confirmation that said at least one of said applications has been filed, and

preventing display of displayable components of said presentation until such confirmation is received.

26. The method of claim 11 wherein computer apparatus is used to produce the confidentiality agreement.

27. The method of claim 26 wherein said computer apparatus is programmed with a computer program product comprising a computer storage medium having a computer program therein for producing the confidentiality agreement, said computer program performing the steps of

receiving and storing in said computer storage medium information for producing said confidentiality agreement, and

preparing said confidentiality agreement.

28. The method of claim 27 wherein said computer program is also for performing the steps of

receiving and storing in said computer storage medium information regarding confirmation that said confidentiality agreement has been executed, and

preventing display of displayable components of said presentation until such confirmation is received.

29. The method of claim 11 wherein computer apparatus is used to produce the confidentiality agreement, said computer apparatus with a computer-readable medium with computer-executable instructions for performing steps comprising

receiving and storing information for producing said confidentiality agreement, and

producing said confidentiality agreement.

30. The method of claim 29 wherein said computer-executable instructions are also for performing the steps of

receiving and storing in said computer storage medium information regarding confirmation that said confidentiality agreement has been executed, and

preventing display of displayable components of said presentation until such confirmation is received.

31. The method of claim 13 wherein computer apparatus is used to produce said notices.

32. The method of claim 31 wherein said computer apparatus is programmed with a computer program product comprising a computer storage medium having a computer program therein for producing said notices, said computer program performing the steps of

receiving and storing in said computer storage medium information for producing said notices, and

producing said notices.

33. The method of claim 32 wherein said computer program is also for performing the steps of

receiving and storing in said computer storage medium information regarding confirmation that said notices have been applied to parts of the presentation, and

preventing display of displayable components of said presentation until such confirmation is received.

34. The method of claim 13 wherein computer apparatus is used to produce said notices, said computer apparatus with a computer-readable medium with computer-executable instructions for performing steps comprising

receiving and storing information for producing at least one of said notices, and

producing said notices.

transmitting at least one of said applications to at least one selected government agency.

35. The method of claim 34 wherein said computer-executable instructions are also for performing the steps of

receiving and storing in said computer storage medium information regarding confirmation that said notices have been produced, and

preventing display of displayable components of said presentation until such confirmation is received.