SERVICE OPERATION DATA PROCESSING USING CHECKLIST FUNCTIONALITY IN ASSOCIATION WITH INSPECTED ITEMS

• US 20100241481A1
• Filed: 03/11/2010
• Published: 09/23/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/19/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: RPM Industries LLC
• Original Assignee: RPM Industries LLC
• Inventors: Apostolides, John K.
• Granted Patent: US 9,141,935 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/8
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06395 Quality analysis or management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/20 Administration of product repair or maintenance
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/012 Providing warranty services
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising

Abstract

In one embodiment, a system is provided for performing at least one service operation in association with at least one inspected item. The system includes a service data device configured for displaying at least one data screen including at least one checklist configured for operative use in connection with performance of the service operation on the inspected item, the data device being portable and being configured for processing at least one communication; a service administrator having at least one data storage medium configured for storing at least one of the checklists displayed on the data device, the service administrator further having at least one server for enabling at least one communication between the service administrator and the data device; at least a portion of at least one of the checklists being customizable by at least the service administrator; and, at least a portion of at least one of the checklists being electronically interactive in association with performance of the service operation on the inspected item.

Claims

1. A system for performing at least one service operation in association with at least one inspected item, said system comprising:

a service data device configured for electronically displaying at least one data screen including at least one checklist configured for operative use in connection with performance of said service operation on said inspected item, said data device being portable and being configured for processing at least one communication;

a service administrator computer system having at least one data storage medium configured for storing at least one of said checklists displayed on said data device, said service administrator further having at least one server for enabling at least one communication between said service administrator computer system and said data device;

at least a portion of at least one of said checklists being customizable by at least said service administrator computer system;

at least a portion of at least one of said checklists being electronically interactive in association with performance of said service operation on said inspected item;

said data device being configured to generate a label and at least one of a summary report or a service report, wherein said label includes at least one electronically readable bar code portion including data associated with at least one said service operation performed on said inspected item; and

,

wherein at least one of said checklists includes at least one checklist item having a link to a supplemental data screen including supplemental information associated with performing said service operation.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising said data service device being configured to receive a checklist selection through the supplemental data screen

3. The system of claim 1, further comprising said data service device being configured to receive notes associated with a service operation through the supplemental data screen

4. The system of claim 1, further comprising said data device being configured for storing at least a portion of at least one report prior to said communication between said data device and said service administrator.

5. The system of claim 1, further comprising said data device being configured for displaying at least a portion of at least one report prior to said communication between said data device and said service administrator.

6. The system of claim 1, further comprising said data device being configured for editing at least a portion of at least one report prior to said communication between said data device and said service administrator.

7. The system of claim 1 further including said data device being configured for printing at least one of a label, said summary report, or said service report on at least one printing device.

8. The system of claim 1, further comprising a distributor operatively associated with said service administrator.

9. The system of claim 8, further comprising at least one service cost system operatively associated with said distributor.

10. The system of claim 9, further comprising said data device being configured for communication of at least said summary report to said service cost system of said distributor.

11. The system of claim 1, further comprising a customer operatively associated with said service administrator.

12. The system of claim 1, further comprising at least one data screen of said data device being configured for receiving one or more pre-populated fields of data.

13. The system of claim 1, further comprising said data device being configured for receiving a key identifier in association with said service operation performed on said inspected item.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein said key identifier includes at least one machine serial number.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein said inspected item further comprises at least one bar code.

16. The system of claim 1, further comprising said data device being configured to receive one or more types of input data, wherein said types of said input data include at least one type of input data selected from the group consisting of text entered by a keyboard operatively associated with said data device, text entered by use of a pen-based computer system, verbal communications recorded by one or more microphones of said data device, verbal communications received by said data device, verbal communications received by said data device and transcribed into text format, digital image data, and digital photographic data.

17. The system of claim 16, further comprising said data device being configured for associating said input data with at least one service report.

18. The system of claim 1, further comprising said data device being configured to display data for one or more repetitive service operations.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein at least one of said repetitive service operations includes a warranty service operation.

20. The system of claim 1, wherein said inspected item includes a machine and further comprising said data device being configured for performing at least one load bank test.

21. The system of claim 1, further comprising said data device being configured for assisting with performance of one or more fluid operations.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein said fluid operation includes at least one fluid change service operation.

23. The system of claim 21, wherein said fluid operation includes at least one fluid sampling service operation.

24. The system of claim 1, further comprising said data device being configured for generating said label in association with at least one fluid operation performed on said inspected item.

25. The system of claim 24, wherein said label includes at least one bar code representing at least a portion of data collected in association with at least one of said fluid operations.

26. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one of said data screens of said data device includes a work order data screen.

27. The system of claim 1, further comprising said service administrator being configured to access data associated with a service interval of a prior service operation performed for said inspected item.

28. The system of claim 1, further comprising said service administrator being configured to increment a service interval for said inspected item based on said service operation performed for said inspected item.

29. The system of claim 1, further comprising said data device being configured to override a service interval determined by said service administrator for said service operation for said inspected item.

30. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one of said checklist items is configured on a “

less than or equal to”

basis with respect to a service interval associated with said checklist item.

31. The system of claim 1, further comprising said data device being configured for generating a summary of any checklist items including a recommend repair designation.

32. The system of claim 1, further comprising said data device being configured for generating a percentage complete status field based on means for comparing a number of currently uncompleted said checklist items to a total number of said checklist items.

33. The system of claim 1, further comprising said data device being configured for collecting time or date information on a per checklist item basis.

34. The system of claim 1, further comprising said data device being configured for recording a sequence of operation for completion of said checklist items.

35. The system of claim 1, further comprising said data device being configured for collecting time or date information associated with completion of said checklist items.

36. The system of claim 1, further comprising said service administrator being configured for selecting one or more samples required for at least one fluid operation performed for said inspected item and being further configured for displaying said required samples on said data device.

37. The system of claim 1, further comprising said service administrator being configured for calculating an interval difference between at least two positive fluid change indications for fluid operations performed on said inspected item.

38. The system of claim 1, wherein said inspected item includes at least one machine and further comprising said data device being configured for at least one of adding at least one new machine and updating a profile of a machine.

39. The system of claim 1, further comprising said data device being configured for storing at least one of time data, hourly rate data, mileage data or mileage charge data in association with performance of said service operation.