COMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCT, SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR FIELD MANAGEMENT AND MOBILE INSPECTION

• US 20100082842A1
• Filed: 09/30/2009
• Published: 04/01/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Latista Technologies, Inc. (Oracle Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Latista Technologies
• Inventors: Ramsey, Christopher, Tishin, Anatoliy, Lavrov, Andrei
• Granted Patent: US 8,631,161 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/248
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/29 Geographical information databases
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06311 Scheduling, planning or task assignment for a person or group
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/063114 Status monitoring or status determination for a person or group
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06313 Resource planning in a project environment
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0637 Strategic management or analysis, e.g. setting a goal or target of an organisation; Planning actions based on goals; Analysis or evaluation of effectiveness of goals
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1095 Replication or mirroring of data, e.g. scheduling or transport for data synchronisation between network nodes

Abstract

Disclosed herein is a computer program product, system and method to provide field management and mobile inspection via an online platform web-application for use by construction and capital projects management and property management firms and their subcontractors/vendors. More particularly, in an aspect, use of an automated field management process includes a terminal-based solution (i.e., a Tablet-PC) for field-based personnel that synchronizes with a server for office personnel and dynamically generates field management documents, reports and other information. In further aspects, field management resources may be generated that are context-specific. A visual punch list may be generated using area plans and special codes to facilitate automated field management processes. Rules may be pre-established by users to expedite field management processes. Data records may be synchronized among multiple mobile terminals and at least one server.

Claims

1. A method of field management using a computer, said computer comprising a processor, memory and communications interface, said computer programmed to perform said method, said method comprising:

receiving a request for an automated field management process via said communications interface;

generating at least one field management resource via said processor and memory;

receiving data associated with said at least one field management resource via said communications interface;

analyzing said data and said at least one field management resource via said processor and memory;

reporting at least one issue via said communications interface; and

generating at least one field management report via said processor, memory and communications interface.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said automated field management process comprises at least one field management document.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein said field management document comprises at least one inspection.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said at least one field management resource comprises at least one standard information template.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said at least one field management resource is context-specific.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising synchronization of said data between a first terminal, at least one second terminal and at least one host server via said processor, memory and communications interface, said synchronization comprising:

identifying unsynchronized data on said first terminal via said processor, memory and communications interface;

updating said unsynchronized data on said at least one host server and at least one second terminal via said processor, memory and communications interface;

wherein no records are left unsynchronized due to overlapping synchronization sessions originating from other terminals.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising synchronization of said data between a first terminal and at least one host server via said processor, memory and communications interface, said synchronization comprising:

identifying unsynchronized data on said first terminal via said processor, memory and communications interface;

updating said unsynchronized data on said at least one host server via said processor, memory and communications interlace;

wherein no records are left unsynchronized due to overlapping synchronization sessions originating from other terminals.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising selection of user-established rules, wherein said rules assist in:

receiving a request for an automated field management process via said communications interface;

generating at least one field management resource via said processor and memory;

receiving data associated with said at least one field management resource via said communications interface;

analyzing said data and said at least one field management resource via said processor and memory;

reporting at least one issue via said communications interface; and

generating at least one field management report via said processor, memory and communications interface.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving a request for an automated field management process further comprises using an ID for identification of said automated field management process.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein said at least one field management resource further comprises user-established metrics and guidelines.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein generating at least one field management report further comprises notification of interested parties that said at least one field management report is available.

12. A computer program product comprising a computer usable medium having control logic stored therein for causing a computer to facilitate field management, said control logic comprising:

first computer readable program code means for causing the computer to receive a request for an automated field management process;

second computer readable program code means for causing the computer to generate at least one field management resource;

third computer readable program code means for causing the computer to receive data associated with said at least one field management resource;

fourth computer readable program code means for causing the computer to analyze said data and said at least one field management resource;

fifth computer readable program code means for causing the computer to report at least one issue; and

sixth computer readable program code means for causing the computer to generate at least one field management report.

13. The computer program product of claim 12, wherein said automated field management process comprises at least one field management document.

14. The computer program product of claim 13, wherein said at least one field management document comprises at least one inspection.

15. The computer program product of claim 12, wherein said at east one field management resource comprises at least one standard information template.

16. The computer program product of claim 12, wherein said at least one field management resource comprises context-specific information.

17. The computer program product of claim 12, further comprising:

seventh computer readable program code means for causing the computer to synchronize said data between a first terminal, at least one second terminal and at least one host server, wherein causing the computer to synchronize said data comprises;

identifying unsynchronized data on said first terminal via said processor, memory and communications interface;

updating said unsynchronized data on said at least one host server and at least one second terminal via said processor, memory and communications interlace;

wherein no records are left unsynchronized due to overlapping synchronization sessions originating from other terminals.

18. The computer program product of claim 12, further comprising:

seventh computer readable program code means for causing the computer to synchronize said data between a first terminal and at least one host server, wherein causing the computer to synchronize said data comprises;

identifying unsynchronized data on said first terminal via said processor, memory and communications interface;

updating said unsynchronized data on said at least one host server via said processor, memory and communications interface;

wherein no records are left unsynchronized due to overlapping synchronization sessions originating from other terminals.

19. The computer program product of claim 12, further comprising:

eighth computer readable program code means for causing the computer to select user-established rules that assist said control logic in causing a computer to facilitate field management, said control logic comprising;

first computer readable program code means for causing the computer to receive a request for an automated field management process;

second computer readable program code means for causing the computer to generate at least one field management resource;

third computer readable program code means for causing the computer to receive data associated with said at least one field management resource;

fourth computer readable program code means for causing the computer to analyze said data and said at least one field management resource;

fifth computer readable program code means for causing the computer to report at least one issue; and

sixth computer readable program code means for causing the computer to generate at least one field management report.

20. The computer program product of claim 12, wherein receiving a request for an automated field management process further comprises using an ID for identification of said automated field management process.

21. The computer program product of claim 12, wherein said at least one field management resource further comprises user-established metrics and guidelines.

22. The computer program product of claim 12, wherein generating said at least one field management report further comprises control logic stored therein for causing said computer to notify interested parties that said at least one field management report is available.

23. A system for automated field management, said system comprising:

at least one server, said at least one server comprising;

a memory device;

a communications interface, disposed in network communication with at least one terminal; and

a processor disposed in communication with the memory device, wherein the processor is programmed to perform;

receiving a request for an automated field management process via said communications interface;

generating at least one field management resource via said processor and memory;

receiving data associated with said at least one field management resource via said communications interface;

analyzing said data and said at least one field management resource via said processor and memory;

reporting at least one issue via said communications interface; and

generating at least one field management report via said processor, memory and communications interface.

24. The system of claim 23, wherein an automated field management process comprises at least one field management document.

25. The system of claim 24, wherein said at least one field management document comprises at least one inspection.

26. The system of claim 23, wherein said at least one field management resource comprises at least one standard information template.

27. The system of claim 23, wherein said at least one field management resource comprises context-specific information.

28. The system of claim 23, further comprising said processor programmed to perform synchronization of said data between a first terminal, at least one second terminal and at least one host server, wherein said synchronization comprises:

identifying unsynchronized data on said first terminal via said processor, memory and communications interface; and

updating said unsynchronized data on said at least one host server and at least one second terminal via said processor, memory and communications interface,

wherein no records are left unsynchronized due to overlapping synchronization sessions originating from other terminals.

29. The system of claim 23, further comprising said processor programmed to perform synchronization of said data between a first terminal and at least one host server, wherein said synchronization comprises:

identifying unsynchronized data on said first terminal via said processor, memory and communications interface; and

updating said unsynchronized data on said at east one host server via said processor, memory and communications interface,

wherein no records are left unsynchronized due to overlapping synchronization sessions originating from other terminals.

30. The system of claim 23, further comprising said processor programmed to select user-established rules, wherein said rules assist in programming said processor to perform:

receiving a request for an automated field management process via said communications interface;

generating at least one field management resource via said processor and memory;

receiving data associated with said at least one field management resource via said communications interface;

analyzing said data and said at least one field management resource via said processor and memory;

reporting at least one issue via said communications interface; and

generating at least one field management report via said processor, memory and communications interface.

31. The system of claim 23, wherein receiving a request for said automated field management process further comprises using an ID for identification of said automated field management process.

32. The system of claim 23, wherein said at least one field management resource further comprises user-established metrics and guidelines.

33. The system of claim 23, wherein generating at least one field management report further comprises said processor operable to notify interested parties that a report is available.