Online Tracking of Life-Limited Parts

• US 20090222427A1
• Filed: 02/29/2008
• Published: 09/03/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 02/29/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: Chu, Richard Yao-Tsung, Malkowicz, Warren Charles, Agus, Mariani
• Granted Patent: US 8,209,300 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/2477 Temporal data queries

Abstract

This application describes tools for online tracking of life-limited parts. These tools may support methods that include receiving queries, and searching databases in response to the queries. These methods may integrate results of the searches into reports that provide comprehensive histories of life-limited parts for installation within vehicles, and may report these integrated results. To build these databases, other methods may receive information relating to the life-limited parts from a variety of sources, load the information into suitable databases, and integrate this information as provided by the various sources. Other methods may also evaluate whether the parts have any permitted life remaining. These tools may also provide databases that store serial numbers associated with the parts, store physical locations of the parts at various times, indicate who owned the parts at different times, and include remaining life records that indicate any permitted life remaining for the parts.

Claims

1. A computer-based method comprising:

receiving at least one query;

searching at least one database for any content responsive to the query;

integrating results of the database search into a report that provides a comprehensive history of at least one life-limited part for installation within a vehicle; and

reporting the integrated results of the database search.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein integrating results of the database search includes creating a chronological representation of a plurality of events occurring within the lifetime of the part.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving at least one query includes receiving a query that references the part, or receiving a query that references the vehicle.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising checking for uniqueness of at least one identifier associated with the part.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein checking for uniqueness of at least one identifier includes checking for uniqueness of a part number or serial number associated with the part.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising identifying at least one duplicate or missing identifier associated with the part.

7. The method of claim 5, further comprising re-part marking the part in response to identifying the duplicate or missing identifier associated with the part.

8. A computer-based method comprising:

receiving, from a first source, a first instance of information relating to at least one life-limited part for installation within a vehicle;

receiving, from at least a second source, at least a second instance of information relating to the life-limited part;

loading the first and second information for the life-limited part into a database;

integrating the first and second information within the database; and

evaluating whether the life-limited part has any permitted life remaining.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein evaluating includes evaluating whether the part has exceeded a maximum permitted life expressed in terms of time.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein evaluating includes evaluating whether the part has exceeded a maximum permitted life expressed in terms of duty cycles.

11. The method of claim 8, further comprising designating the part for scrap based on the evaluation.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein receiving the first instance of information includes receiving information from a vendor associated with the part.

13. The method of claim 8, wherein receiving the first instance of information includes receiving information from a manufacturer that installs the part into the vehicle.

14. The method of claim 8, wherein receiving the first instance of information includes receiving information from an owner associated with the part, or a repair service provider that operates on the part.

15. At least one computer-readable storage medium containing a database for tracking information relating to a plurality of life-limited parts, the database comprising:

for at least one of the life-limited parts, a serial number record for indicating at least one serial number associated with the part;

at least one location history record for indicating at least one physical location where the part was located at at least one time;

at least one owner history record for indicating at least one owner associated with the part; and

at least one remaining life record for indicating whether the life limited part has any permitted life remaining.

16. The storage medium of claim 15, wherein the location history record is for indicating a plurality of different locations where the part was located at different respective times.

17. The storage medium of claim 15, further comprising at least one vehicle history record for indicating at least one vehicle in which the part is installed at at least one time.

18. The storage medium of claim 15, further comprising at least one service record for indicating at least one service performed on a part, and for indicating when the part was serviced.

19. The storage medium of claim 15, further comprising at least one cycle history for indicating a number of periodic operations involving the part.

20. The storage medium of claim 15, further comprising at least one assembly history record for identifying at least one further part with which the part is combined into an assembly.

21. The storage medium of claim 15, further comprising at least one incident history record for indicating at least one abnormal operational incident involving a part.

22. The storage medium of claim 15, further comprising at least a further serial number record for indicating at least a further serial number associated with the part, wherein the further serial number record and the serial number record are linked to provide tracing therebetween.

23. The storage medium of claim 15, wherein the remaining life record includes an in-service date and a maximum permitted life parameter for associating with the part.

24. The storage medium of claim 15, wherein the remaining life record includes a field indicating whether to scrap the part.