Information system for the dynamic management of bulk products

• US 20040236643A1
• Filed: 05/23/2003
• Published: 11/25/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/23/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: L'Air Liquide SA
• Original Assignee: L'Air Liquide SA
• Inventors: Dick, Marie-Caroline, Rotman, Frederic, Muratet, Christian
• Application Number:
  US10/446,277
• Publication Number:
  US 20040236643A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/28
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders

Abstract

The invention relates to a control system for at least one production unit (3) of at least one product, on the basis of consumption data of the said product by at least one unit consuming this product, comprising:

storage means (4), for storing data relating to at least the status of stocks of the said product contained in stocking means (7) of the said consumer and to the product requirements of this consumer,

means (16) of calculating consumption prediction data on the basis of the preceding stored data,

means of transmitting this data to the said production unit (3).

Claims

1. Method of adapting the production, by a unit (3) for producing at least one product, to the consumption of the said product by at least one consumer (13) of that product, comprising:

the storage, in storage means (4), of data relating to at least the status of stocks of the said product contained in stocking means (7) of the said consumer and to that consumer'"'"'s product requirements,

the calculation of consumption prediction data on the basis of the preceding stored data,

the variation of production, by the production unit (3), on the basis of the preceding consumption prediction data.

4. Method according to one of claims 1 to 3, the said storage means furthermore comprising technical characteristics data relating to manufacturing or stocking units or to production means (3) of the said product.

5. Method according to claim 4, the said technical characteristics data relating to manufacturing (3) or stocking units or to production means (3), comprising at least one item of data relating to the location of the production and/or stocking units and/or at least one characteristic of the said product.

6. Method according to one of claims 1 to 5, the said product being a gas.

7. Method according to one of claims 1 to 6, furthermore comprising a stage of packaging in transport means (5), and then a stage of transport of the said product to the said consumer or the said consuming unit (7, 13) of that product.

8. Method according to claim 7, furthermore comprising a stage of storage, in storage means (4), of data relating to at least a quantity of product actually delivered.

9. Method according to claim 7 or 8, comprising, after transport, a stage of transferring the said product into the stocking means (7).

10. Method according to one of claims 1 to 9, comprising a stage of measuring the quantity of product available in the said stocking means (7), and the transmission of measurement data to the said storage means (4).

11. Method according to claim 10, furthermore comprising a corresponding modification, following the transmission of measurement data, of stored data (4) relating to the status of the stocks.

12. Method according to one of claims 1 to 11, furthermore comprising a stage of sending, into the storage means (4), by the consumer or from the consuming unit, data relating to that consumer'"'"'s or that consuming unit'"'"'s product requirements.

13. Method according to claim 12, furthermore comprising a stage of calculating consumption prediction data, on the basis of modified data relating to product requirements.

14. Method according to one of claims 1 to 13, furthermore comprising a stage of sending, into the storage means (4), by the consumer (13) or from the consuming unit, ordering data of the said product.

15. Method according to one of claims 1 to 14, the said storage means furthermore comprising technical characteristics data on the production means (13) of the said consumer using the said product.

16. Method according to claim 15, the said technical characteristics data on the production means (13) comprising at least one item of data on the consumption rate and/or on variation of this rate and/or an item of data on safety level or quantity in the stocking means (7).

17. Method according to one of claims 1 to 16, the said storage means furthermore comprising data relating to deliveries of the said product.

2. Method for supplying a consumer (13) with at least one product consumed by the said consumer, comprising:

the storage, in storage means (4), of data relating to at least the status of stocks of the said product contained in stocking means (7) of the said consumer and to that consumer'"'"'s product requirements,

the calculation of consumption prediction data on the basis of the preceding stored data,

the generation (21) of delivery data of the said product on the basis of the calculated consumption prediction data.

3. Method for adapting a utilization, by a unit (13) consuming at least one product, comprising:

the storage, in storage means (4), of data relating to at least the status of stocks of the said product contained in stocking means (7) of the said consuming unit and to the product requirements of that consuming unit,

the variation of consumption, by the consuming unit (13), on the basis of the preceding data.

18. Control system for at least one production (3) or stocking unit of at least one product, on the basis of consumption data of the said product by at least one unit (13) consuming this product, comprising:

storage means (4), for storing data relating to at least the status of stocks of the said product contained in stocking means (7) of the said consumer and to the product requirements of this consumer,

means (16) of calculating consumption prediction data on the basis of the preceding stored data,

means of transmitting this data to the said production (3) or stocking unit.

19. Production unit of industrial products comprising:

means (3) of production of the said products,

means (2, 23, 17, 10) of communication to establish communication with a system according to claim 18.

23. Unit according to claim 19 or 22, the said communication being secure.

24. System or unit according to one of claims 18 to 23, the storage means furthermore comprising data relating to technical characteristics of at least one production unit of the said product.

25. System or unit according to one of claims 18 to 24, furthermore comprising means (9) for measuring a quantity or a volume of products contained in the said stocking means (7).

26. System according to claim 25, furthermore comprising means (18) of communication between the said measuring means (9) and the said storage means or between the said measuring means (9) and computer means (12) containing these storage means.

27. System or unit according to one of claims 18 to 26, furthermore comprising means (2, 25) for establishing a secure link (10, 17, 20, 21, 22) with communications means (8, 11, 23) of a consuming unit (5, 13) and/or with means of communication (23) of a products production unit (13) and/or with communications means (11) of a transport means (5) management unit.

20. System for controlling the provisioning of a unit (13) consuming a product, comprising:

storage means (4), for storing data relating to at least the status of stocks of the said product contained in stocking means (7) of the said consuming unit (13) and to the product requirements of this unit,

means (16) of calculating consumption prediction data on the basis of the preceding stored data.

21. System according to claim 20, furthermore comprising means (16) for calculating delivery data of the said product on the basis of the calculated consumption prediction data.

22. Industrial production unit comprising:

means (7) of stocking products, referred to as first products,

means (13) of production of second products, obtained from the said first products,

means of communication for establishing communication with a system according to claim 20 or 21.