System and method for providing asset management information to a customer

• US 20080086508A1
• Filed: 05/07/2007
• Published: 04/10/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/05/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Trimble Navigation Limited (Trimble Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Trimble Navigation Limited (Trimble Inc.)
• Inventors: Ballew, Paul
• Granted Patent: US 8,255,358 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 707/104.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management

Abstract

A system and method for providing asset management information to a customer is disclosed. The method receives information from a first reporting source about an asset. In addition, information from a second reporting source about an asset is also received. A database is then populated with the information from the first reporting source and the information from the second reporting source such that information from the first reporting source and information from the second reporting source can be collected from the database. An asset information report is then provided to a customer application from the database.

Claims

1. A method for providing asset management information to a customer application, said method comprising:

receiving information from a first reporting source about an asset;

receiving information from a second reporting source about said asset;

populating a database with said information from said first reporting source and said information from said second reporting source, such that said information from said first reporting source and said information from said second reporting source can be collected from said database; and

providing an asset information report from said database to a customer application.

2. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

storing said information from said first reporting source and said information from said second reporting source in such a manner that an asset information report regarding said asset can be generated.

3. The method as recited in claim 2, further comprising:

generating said asset information report comprising at least a portion of information from said first reporting source and at least a portion of information from said second reporting source.

4. The method as recited in claim 2, wherein said storing said information from said first reporting source and said information from said second reporting source in such a manner that an asset information report regarding said asset can be generated comprises:

selectively parsing information from said first reporting source and said second reporting source into said asset information report.

5. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

receiving information from n reporting sources about an asset, wherein said n is an integer number greater than or equal to three.

6. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein said receiving information from a first reporting source further comprises:

receiving asset location information.

7. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein said receiving information from a second reporting source further comprises:

receiving asset location information.

8. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein said receiving information from a first reporting source further comprises:

receiving asset operation information.

9. The method as recited in claim 8, wherein a source of said asset operation information is selected from one of the group of operation information sources consisting of:

J-bus, asset processor, diagnostic evaluator, engine microprocessor, mileage indicator, speedometer, tachometer, oil pressure indicator, wheel pressure indicator, hydraulic indicator, engine time, and ignition switched power source.

10. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein said receiving information from a said second reporting source further comprises:

receiving asset operation information.

11. The method as recited in claim 10, wherein a source of said asset operation information is selected from one of the group of operation information sources consisting of:

J-bus, asset processor, diagnostic evaluator, engine microprocessor, mileage indicator, speedometer, tachometer, oil pressure indicator, wheel pressure indicator, hydraulic indicator, engine time, and ignition switched power source.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein said first reporting source and said second reporting source are selected from one of the group of sources consisting of:

TrimTrac™

device, CrossCheck®

device, video device, mobile phone, personal digital assistant, portable computing device, radio frequency identifier, global navigation satellite system (GNSS), and human intelligence (HumInt).

13. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein said providing an asset information report from said database to a customer application comprises:

supplying said asset information report to said information report generator; and

forwarding said asset information report from said information report generator to said customer application.

14. The method as recited in claim 13, wherein said supplying said asset information report to said information report generator comprises:

supplying said asset information report in an electronic file type readable by said customer application.

15. The method as recited in claim 13, wherein said forwarding said asset information report from said information report generator to said customer application further comprises:

formatting said asset information report into an electronic file type readable by said customer application.

16. The method as recited in claim 13, wherein said forwarding said asset information report from said information report generator to said customer application comprises:

forwarding said asset information report from said information report generator to said customer application in a format specified by a custom report module.

17. The method as recited in claim 13, further comprising:

receiving an asset information query at said database from an information report generator.

18. The method as recited in claim 17, wherein said receiving an asset information query at said database from an information report generator further comprises:

receiving a customized asset information report query from a custom report module of said asset information report generator.

19. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein said customer application is selected from one of the group of customer applications consisting of:

a spreadsheet application, a word processing application, a database application, an accounting application, a project management application, a payroll application, a billing application, a rental asset management application, and an inventory application.

20. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

receiving information for a plurality of assets.

21. The method as recited in claim 20, wherein said providing an asset information report from said database to a customer application comprises:

receiving an asset information query about a grouping of said plurality of assets, wherein said grouping is selected from one of the asset groupings consisting of;

time period of operation of said asset;

location of operation of said asset;

type of said asset;

area assigned to said asset;

user assigned to said asset;

company providing said asset; and

company utilizing said asset; and

providing said asset information report to said customer application in response to said query.

22. A method for providing customized asset management information, said method comprising:

receiving information from a first reporting source about an asset;

receiving information from a second reporting source about said asset;

populating a database with said information from said first reporting source and said information from said second reporting source, such that said information from said first reporting source and said information from said second reporting source can be collected from said database;

receiving a first customized asset information database query from a first custom report module; and

providing an asset information report in a first format specified by said first custom report module.

23. The method as recited in claim 22, further comprising:

receiving a second customized asset information database query from a second custom report module; and

providing a second asset information report in a second format specified by said second custom report module.

24. The method as recited in claim 22, wherein said providing an asset information report in a first format specified by said first custom report module comprises:

providing said asset information report wherein said asset information is displayed in a configuration specified by said first custom report module.

25. The method as recited in claim 22, wherein said providing an asset information report in a first format specified by said first custom report module comprises:

providing said asset information report with asset information specified by said first custom report module.

26. The method as recited in claim 22, wherein said providing an asset information report in a first format specified by said first custom report module comprises:

providing said asset information report with a report title specified by said first custom report module.

27. The method as recited in claim 22, wherein said providing an asset information report in a first format specified by said first custom report module comprises:

providing said asset information report in an electronic file type usable by a customer application, wherein said customer application is selected from one of the group of customer applications consisting of;

a spreadsheet application, a word processing application, a database application, an accounting application, a project management application, a payroll application, a billing application, a rental asset management application, and an inventory application.

28. The method as recited in claim 22, wherein said first custom report module comprises a file accessed by an asset information report generator.

29. The method as recited in claim 28, wherein said first custom report module comprises a dynamic link library (DLL) file.

30. The method as recited in claim 28, wherein said first custom report module comprises instructions created with a NET compatible computer programming language.

31. An asset management system comprising:

a database configured to be populated with a first portion of information about an asset from a first reporting source and a second portion of information about said asset from a second reporting source; and

an asset information report generator configured to communicatively couple with said database for generating an asset information report from asset information data provided from said database, wherein said asset information report comprises asset information for at least one asset.

32. The asset management system of claim 31, wherein said asset information report generator comprises:

a first custom report module configured for automatically issuing a first customized asset information query to said database.

33. The asset management system of claim 32, wherein said first custom report module comprises a file accessed by an asset information report generator.

34. The asset management system of claim 32, wherein said first custom report module comprises a dynamic link library (DLL) file.

35. The asset management system of claim 32, wherein said first custom report module comprises instructions created with a NET compatible computer programming language.

36. The asset management system of claim 32, wherein said asset information report generator comprises:

a second custom report module for automatically issuing a second customized asset information query to said database.

37. The asset management system of claim 36, wherein said asset information report generator comprises:

n custom report modules for automatically issuing n customized asset information queries to said database, wherein said n is an integer number greater than or equal to three.

38. The asset management system of claim 31, wherein said asset information report generator is further configured for communicatively coupling with a customer application for supplying an asset information report from said database to said customer application.

39. The asset management system of claim 38, wherein said customer application is selected from the group of customer applications consisting of:

a spreadsheet application, a word processing application, a database application, an accounting application, a project management application, a payroll application, a billing application, a rental asset management application, and an inventory application.

40. The asset management system of claim 38, wherein said asset information report generator is configured for formatting said asset information report into an electronic file type readable by said customer application.

41. The asset management system of claim 31, wherein said asset comprises a piece of rental equipment.

42. The asset management system of claim 31, wherein said asset comprises a piece of construction equipment.

43. The asset management system of claim 31, wherein at least one of said first portion of information and said second portion of information comprises asset location information.

44. The asset management system of claim 31, wherein at least one of said first portion of information and said second portion of information comprises asset operation information.

45. The asset management system of claim 44, wherein a source of said asset operation information is selected from one of the group of operation information sources consisting of:

J-bus, asset processor, diagnostic evaluator, engine microprocessor, mileage indicator, speedometer, tachometer, oil pressure indicator, wheel pressure indicator, hydraulic indicator, engine time, and ignition switched power source.

46. The asset management system of claim 31, wherein at least one of said first source and said second source is selected from the group of sources consisting of:

TrimTrac™

device, CrossCheck®

device, video device, mobile phone, personal digital assistant, portable computing device, radio frequency identifier, global navigation satellite system (GNSS), and human intelligence (HumInt).