Processes for project-oriented job-site management

• US 20070124000A1
• Filed: 11/30/2005
• Published: 05/31/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Inventors: Moughler, Eric, Vyas, Bhavin, Turcot, Keith
• Application Number:
  US11/289,309
• Publication Number:
  US 20070124000A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/9
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/0426 Programming the control sequence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/23297 Remote load of program with cellular, wireless, satellite connection
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/103 Workflow collaboration or project management

Abstract

Systems and methods are disclosed for project-oriented job-site management. According to one embodiment, a system is disclosed for managing a project environment including a work machine performing operations associated with a project included in the project environment. The system may include a project management system configured to store a first set of project specifications for the project in a storage device, receive operation data from the work machine reflecting the operations of the work machine, analyze the operation data to determine the status of the work machine, and generate a second set of project specifications based on the status of the work machine. The system may also include a project subscriber configured to receive the second set of project specifications from the project management system and determine an action to be taken with the work machine based on the status of the work machine. The project management system provides a command to the work machine for adjusting the operations of the work machine associated with the project based on the second set of project specifications and the determined action.

Claims

1. A system for managing a project environment including a work machine performing operations associated with a project included in the project environment, the system comprising:

a project management system configured to;

store a first set of project specifications for the project in a storage device,

receive operation data from the work machine reflecting the operations of the work machine,

analyze the operation data to determine the status of the work machine,

generate a second set of project specifications based on the status of the work machine; and

a project subscriber configured to receive the second set of project specifications from the project management system and determine an action to be taken with the work machine based on the status of the work machine,

wherein the project management system provides a command to the work machine for adjusting the operations of the work machine associated with the project based on the second set of project specifications and the determined action.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the command includes a signal to an electronic control module of the work machine that automatically adjusts the operations of the work machine.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the project management system is further configured to:

receive operation data from a second work machine performing operations associated with the project,

analyze the operation data from the second work machine to determine the status of the second work machine, and

adjust the second set of project specifications based on the status of the second work machine.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the project management system is further configured to provide a second command to adjust the operations of the work machine and the second work machine based on a status of the second work machine.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the project management system is further configured to:

compare the first set of project specifications with the second set of project specifications;

generate a project report for the project environment based on the comparison of the first set of project specification with the second set of project specifications; and

provide the project report to the project subscriber.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the project management system is further configured to adjust the second set of project specifications based on a change in a project budget for the project environment.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the project management system is further configured to adjust the second set of project specifications based on a fault indicator received from the work machine.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the project management system is further configured to schedule maintenance for the work machine based on the fault indicator received from the work machine.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein generating the second set of project specifications includes modifying a first set of project specifications in response to a request from the project subscriber.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein one or more of the first and second set of project specifications include a priority specification designated by the project subscriber.

11. The system of claim 10, further including adjusting the second set of project specifications based on the received operation data from the work machine according to the priority specification.

12. A method for project-oriented job-site management, comprising:

storing, in a storage device, a first set of project specifications;

receiving, in a project management system, operation data indicative of an operational status of a first work machine;

modifying the first set of project specifications to produce a second set of project specifications based on the operation data of the first work machine; and

distributing the second set of project specifications to one or more project subscribers associated with a project environment.

13. The method of claim 12, further including:

receiving, in the project management system, operation data indicative of an operational status of a second work machine; and

adjusting the second set of project specifications based on the operational status of the second work machine.

14. The method of claim 13, further including providing a command to each of the first and second work machines for adjusting an operation of the first and second work machines based on the second set of project specifications.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the command includes a signal to an electronic control module of the work machine that automatically adjusts the operation of each of the first and second work machines.

16. The method of claim 12, further including providing, from a remote location relative to the project environment, a command to the first work machine for adjusting an operation of the first work machine based on the second set of project specifications.

17. The method of claim 12, further including:

comparing the first set of project specifications with the second set of project specifications;

generating a project report indicative of a status of the project environment based on the comparison of the first set of project specification with the second set of project specifications; and

providing the project report to a subscriber of the project environment.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the project report includes one or more recommendations for increasing productivity of the project environment based on the operational status of the first work machine.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the project report includes one or more recommendations for reducing a cost associated with the project environment based on the operational status of the first work machine.

20. The method of claim 12, further including:

receiving, in the project management system, a fault condition from the first work machine;

adjusting a project schedule associated with the project environment in response to the fault condition; and

scheduling maintenance for the first work machine in response to the fault condition.

21. The method of claim 20, further including deploying a replacement work machine to the project environment in response to the fault condition.