Methods, systems, computer products and website for power maintenance and restoration

• US 20080172242A1
• Filed: 01/16/2007
• Published: 07/17/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/16/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Hyatt, Kenneth Jake
• Granted Patent: US 7,509,188 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 10/50 Systems or methods supporting the power network operation or management, involving a certain degree of interaction with the load-side end user applications
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 715/961 Operator interface with visual structure or function dictated by intended use

Abstract

Methods, systems, computer products and a website for electrical power maintenance and restoration. Exemplary embodiments include an electrical power maintenance and restoration system, including a server having an interface for communicating over a computer network, a database having a region of memory having data related to an inventory of electrical power equipment, a website coupled to the database for accessing the inventory of electrical power equipment in response to an event and a webpage for displaying location-specific data of the inventory of electrical power equipment.

Claims

1. An electrical power maintenance and restoration system, comprising:

a server having an interface for communicating over a computer network;

a database having a region of memory having data related to an inventory of electrical power equipment;

a website coupled to the database for accessing the inventory of electrical power equipment in response to an event; and

a webpage configured to display location-specific data of the inventory of electrical power equipment,

wherein the webpage includes a first set of links to at least one of documents and forms for at least one of power routines, work-type references, company practices, power operations, maintenance plans, engine logs, engine start battery, engine room activity, portable engine connection, central office reserve time, power troubles, bulk site locations, bulk site rectifier inventory and bulk site controllers,

wherein the webpage further includes a second set of links that hyperlink to at least one of a vendor information webpage and to a vendor'"'"'s external website, and

wherein the webpage coordinates navigation between the first set of links and the second sets of links to identify vendors who provide at least one of products and services related to the event.

2. The system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the interface comprises a graphical user interface including a display and a selection device.

3. The system as claimed in claim 2 further comprising navigational tools coupled to the graphical user interface for hyperlinking from the location webpage to a webpage of equipment specifications.

4. The system as claimed in claim 3 further comprising navigational tools coupled to the graphical user interface for hyperlinking from the location webpage to a webpage of location layout.

5. The system as claimed in claim 4 further comprising navigational tools coupled to the graphical user interface for hyperlinking from the location webpage to a webpage of contact information.

6. The system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the event is at least one of a need for maintenance of the power equipment and a power outage involving the power equipment.

7. The system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the database further comprises a section of memory having data related to vendors.

8. The system as claimed in claim 7 wherein the database further comprises a region of memory having data related to location specifications.

9. The system as claimed in claim 2 wherein the server includes a process having instructions to:

retrieve a set of menu entries for a menu on the display, each of the menu entries representing an electrical power characteristic;

displaying the set of menu entries on the display;

receiving a menu entry election signal indicative of the selection device pointing at a selected menu entry from the set of menu entries; and

in response to the signal, performing a search of an electrical power database for data related to the electrical power characteristic.

10. A method of operating a website that is used for electrical power maintenance and restoration, the method comprising:

identifying a region having electrical power equipment in need of at least one of electrical power maintenance, and electrical power restoration;

accessing a website having a plurality of webpages, a subset of the plurality of webpages corresponding to the region;

navigating through the plurality of webpages to retrieve a desired electrical power maintenance and restoration characteristic related to the region,

wherein the webpage includes a first set of links to at least one of documents and forms for at least one of power routines, work-type references, company practices, power operations, maintenance plans, engine logs, engine start battery, engine room activity, portable engine connection, central office reserve time, power troubles, bulk site locations, bulk site rectifier inventory and bulk site controllers,

wherein the webpage further includes a second set of links that hyperlink to at least one of a vendor information webpage and to a vendor'"'"'s external website, and

wherein the webpage coordinates navigation between the first set of links and the second sets of links to identify vendors who provide at least one of products and services related to the event.

11. The method as claimed in claim 10 further comprising making a determination that the electrical power equipment requires at least one of maintenance and restoration.

12. The method as claimed in claim 11 further comprising accessing a subset of the plurality of webpages related to the electrical power equipment.

13. The method as claimed in claim 11 further comprising accessing a subset of the plurality of webpages for contact information related to the electrical power equipment.

14. The method as claimed in claim 13 wherein the contact information includes at least one of:

managers, engineers, technicians and vendors.

15. The method as claimed in claim 11 further comprising accessing a subset of the plurality of webpages for forms related to the electrical power equipment.

16. The method as claimed in claim 11 further comprising accessing a subset of the plurality of webpages for documentation related to the electrical power equipment.

17. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for causing a computer to perform a method for operating a website that is used for electrical power maintenance and restoration, the method comprising:

generating a home webpage for a website;

generating webpages having a regional hierarchy;

generating webpages related to regions having electrical power equipment;

generating webpages related to the electrical power equipment; and

generating webpages related to contact information of persons who can provide services for at least one of maintenance and restoration of the electrical power equipment,

wherein the webpages are navigable among each other through linking

wherein one of the webpages includes a first set of links to at least one of documents and forms for at least one of power routines, work-type references, company practices, power operations, maintenance plans, engine logs, engine start battery, engine room activity, portable engine connection, central office reserve time, power troubles, bulk site locations, bulk site rectifier inventory and bulk site controllers,

wherein the webpage further includes a second set of links that hyperlink to at least one of a vendor information webpage and to a vendor'"'"'s external website, and

wherein the webpage coordinates navigation between the first set of links and the second sets of links to identify vendors who provide at least one of products and services related to the event.

18. The computer-readable medium as claimed in claim 17 wherein the method further comprises providing access to an electrical power maintenance and restoration database.

19. The computer-readable medium as claimed in claim 18, wherein the method further comprises retrieving data from the electrical power maintenance and restoration database in response to a request for information related to at least one of the regions and the electrical power equipment.

20. The computer-readable medium as claimed in claim 17 wherein the method further comprises providing access to electrical power equipment forms and documents.