SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR INSTALLING A DEVICE

• US 20100292827A1
• Filed: 07/29/2010
• Published: 11/18/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/09/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: General Electric Company
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Wiley, Sandra Fieldstad, Sievenpiper, Crispian Lee
• Granted Patent: US 8,103,372 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/110
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49764 with testing or indicating
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/4978 Assisting assembly or disassembly
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/53004 with means to regulate operation by use of templet, tape, card or other replaceable information supply
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/53039 with control means energized in response to activator stimulated by condition sensor
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/53061 Responsive to work or work-related machine element

Abstract

A technique is provided for installing a device in which a part of the device and the location of the part are automatically determined. An installer is notified of the part and its location for installation. Routines implementing some or all of the technique may be provided on a computer-readable medium. A method is also provided for locating a part to be installed using a project manager application. An installer retrieves the part from the location and installs the part. In one embodiment, the present techniques are implemented using an installation system including a processor-based system and a locator system. The processor-based system is configured to indicate a location of a part to be installed while the locator system is configured to provide the location to the processor-based system.

Claims

1. A non-transitory computer-readable medium, comprising:

a routine for automatically determining a part of a device to be installed;

a routine for automatically determining a location of the part; and

a routine for notifying an installer of the part and the location.

2. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 1, comprising a routine for updating a remote monitoring site based on the successful or unsuccessful installation of the part.

3. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 2, comprising a routine for receiving the determination of a replacement part from the remote monitoring site.

4. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 3, comprising a routine for receiving instructions from the remote monitoring site.

5. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 1, comprising a routine for verifying the successful or unsuccessful installation of the part.

6. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein the routine for determining the location of the part queries a locator system configured to track at least the part.

7. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 1, comprising a routine for determining an additional part of the device to be installed.

8. A non-transitory computer-readable medium, comprising:

a routine for receiving the location of a part from a locator system;

a routine for indicating a location of a part of a device to be installed in the device and a routine for providing instructions for the installation of the part; and

a routine for verifying the installation of the part.

9. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 8, comprising a routine for notifying a remote site of the successful or unsuccessful installation of the part.

10. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 8, wherein the routine for receiving the location comprises a routine for receiving the location over at least one of a wireless connection, a modem connection, a satellite link, or a network connection.

11. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 8, wherein the routine for receiving the location comprises a routine for receiving the location via at least one of a wire, a radio signal, an infrared signal, an optical signal, or a microwave signal.

12. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 8, wherein the locator system comprises at least one of a radio frequency identification (RFID) tracking system, an ultrasonic tracking system, or a global positioning system (GPS) tracking system.

13. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 8, comprising a routine for notifying a remote site if the part is functional or nonfunctional.

14. A non-transitory computer-readable medium, comprising:

a routine for locating a first part to be installed in the device using a first location provided by a project manager application;

a routine for providing instructions for retrieving and installing the first part, wherein the instructions are provided by the project manager application;

a routine for locating a second part to be installed in the device using a second location provided by the project manager application; and

a routine for providing instructions for retrieving and installing the second part, wherein the instructions are provided by the project manager application.

15. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 14, comprising a routine for indicating the installation of the first part to the project manager application.

16. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 14, comprising a diagnostic routine for verifying the installation.

17. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 14, comprising a routine for providing a failure indication to the project manager application if the first part is nonfunctional.

18. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 17, comprising a routing for receiving troubleshooting guidance and/or additional instructions from the project manager application if the first part is nonfunctional.

19. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 14, comprising a routine updating a remote site of the successful or unsuccessful installation of the part.

20. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 14, wherein the instructions comprise textual, video, and/or audio instructions.