Linear assets inspection system

• US 20100064237A1
• Filed: 05/20/2009
• Published: 03/11/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/21/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Canadian National Railway Company
• Original Assignee: Canadian National Railway Company
• Inventors: Abbott, Brian, Lilley, David, Tays, Dwight
• Granted Patent: US 8,589,256 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/764
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 23/04 for monitoring the mechanical state of the route
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/2455 Query execution
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/248 Presentation of query results
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/174 Form filling; Merging
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/063114 Status monitoring or status determination for a person or group
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/018 Certifying business or products
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/06 Energy or water supply
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/30 Transportation; Communications
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/40 Business processes related to the transportation industry shipping G06Q10/083

Abstract

The invention provides a graphical user interface implemented on a computer including an information area for displaying to a user at the computer inspection status information in connection with one or more components of a linear asset infrastructure. The graphical user interface also includes a control component operable by the user at the computer to cause the graphical user interface to display additional information on the one or more components of the linear asset infrastructure.

Claims

1. ) A method for recording a condition in connection with a component of a linear asset infrastructure, the method including:

a) entering information at a computing device via a graphical user interface to identify the component or a sub-component of the component;

b) performing a search in the database on the basis of the information entered at the computing device to generate a set of possible conditions that may affect the component;

c) displaying to a user at the computer the possible conditions, whereby the graphical user interface allows the user to select a condition among the possible conditions that matches the actual condition of the component to be recorded;

d) in response to the selection creating a condition record in the database that associates the component with the selected condition.

2. ) A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the linear asset infrastructure includes a railway infrastructure.

3. ) A method as defined in claim 2, wherein the component is selected in the groups consisting of track segment, road crossing, turnout and lubricator.

4. ) A method as defined in claim 2, including:

a) performing a search in the database on the basis of information identifying the component to generate a set of sub-components of the components;

b) displaying to the user at the computer the sub-components of the set, whereby the graphical user interface allows the user to select a sub-component affected by the actual condition to be recorded;

c) in response to the selection of the sub-component mapping in the condition record the sub-component with the selected condition.

5. ) A method as defined in claim 4, including:

a) performing a search in the database on the basis of the selected condition to generate a set of possible remedial actions;

b) displaying to the user at the computer the set of remedial actions, whereby the graphical user interface allows the user to select a remedial action to mitigate the condition;

c) in response to the selection of the remedial action mapping in the condition record the sub-component with the selected condition.

6. ) A method as defined in claim 5, wherein the remedial action is selected in the group consisting of temporary remedial order and a maintenance activity.

7. ) A method as defined in claim 6, wherein the component includes a track segment, the temporary remedial order including a temporary slow order.

8. ) A method as defined in claim 5, including associating with the condition record condition status information, the condition status information being indicative of a status of the condition.

9. ) A method as defined in claim 8, including displaying the condition status information to a user via a computer.

10. ) A method as defined in claim 9, wherein the condition status information includes a plurality of states, the first state of the plurality of states indicating that the condition is outstanding, the second state of the plurality of states indicating that the condition is resolved.

11. ) A method as defined in claim 10, including associating with the condition record information indicative of a level of urgency of the condition.

12. ) A system for recording a condition in connection with a component of a linear asset infrastructure, the system including:

a) a graphical user interface implemented on a computing device allowing a user to enter information to identify the component or a sub-component of the component;

b) program code for;

i) performing a search in a database on the basis of the information entered at the computing device to generate a set of possible conditions that may affect the component;

ii) directing the graphical user interface to display to a user at the computer the possible conditions, whereby the graphical user interface allows the user to select a condition among the possible conditions that matches the actual condition of the component to be recorded;

iii) in response to the selection creating a condition record in the database that associates the component with the selected condition.

13. ) A system as defined in claim 12, wherein the linear asset infrastructure includes a railway infrastructure.