MATERIALS MANAGEMENT SYSTEM AND METHOD

• US 20110037764A1
• Filed: 04/21/2009
• Published: 02/17/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/21/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Trackem Ip Pty Ltd
• Original Assignee: Saleemz Holdings Pty., Ltd.
• Inventors: SALEEM, Kashif
• Granted Patent: US 8,830,239 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/419
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0027 of actual mobile position, i.e. position determined on mobile
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/00 Administration; Management

Abstract

A materials management system (10) comprises a materials database (12) for storing information relating to the nature identity and location of each item of material on a site. A mobile data processing device (14) is provided, having a data scanner (16) for scanning machine-readable identification information provided in an identification tag attached to an item of material. A GPS receiver (18) is operatively connected to the mobile data processing device (12) for obtaining the GPS coordinates of the item of material. The mobile data processing device (14) transmits the GPS coordinates and the identification information to the materials database (12) so that the location of each item of material on site can be tracked. The materials database (12) can be accessed online from anywhere in the world via satellite link (20) (or internet) using any suitable desktop personal computer (22). The materials management system has particular application to a construction site, and sites where intrinsically safe systems are required.

Claims

1. A materials management system for a site, the system comprising:

a materials database for storing information relating to the nature, identity and location of each item of material on the site;

a software module for color-coding each item on the site in a three-dimensional (3D), model of the site, the software module monitoring the database and, as a status of an item changes in the database, changing the color of the item in the 3D model to give an immediate visual indication of the current status of the item, and,

a mobile data processing device including a data scanner for scanning machine-readable information, including identification information, provided in an identification tag attached to an item of material, and a GPS receiver operatively connected to the mobile data processing device for obtaining the GPS coordinates of the item, the mobile data processing device transmitting the GPS coordinates and the identification information to the materials database whereby, in use, the status of each item of material on site can be tracked.

2. A materials management system for a site as defined in claim 1, wherein the mobile data processing device is a handheld device.

3. A materials management system for a site as defined in claim 1, wherein the mobile data processing device is a handheld personal digital assistant (PDA).

4. A materials management system for a site as defined in claim 1, wherein the mobile data processing device communicates with the materials database via mobile telephone coverage.

5. A materials management system for a site as defined in claim 1, wherein the data scanner provided in connection with the mobile data processing device is a barcode scanner.

6. A materials management system for a site as defined in claim 1, wherein the data scanner provided in connection with the mobile data processing device is an RFID tag scanner.

7. A materials management system for a site as defined in claim 1, wherein the GPS receiver is operatively connected to the mobile data processing device by means of a wireless communications link.

8. A materials management system for a site as defined in claim 1, wherein the GPS receiver is integrated and hardwired into the mobile data processing device.

9. A materials management system for a site as defined in claim 1, wherein the data scanner provided in connection with the mobile data processing device is capable of scanning additional machine-readable information provided in the identification tag attached to an item of material, such additional machine-readable information relating to the ongoing maintenance of the item.

10. A materials management system for a site as defined in claim 1, wherein the system further comprises one or more sensing devices provided in connection with the item of material for sensing a condition of the item, the sensing device being electronically coupled to the identification tag, wherein information relating to the condition of the item can be stored in the identification tag for maintenance purposes.

11. A materials management system for a site as defined in claim 1, wherein the identification tag is an RFID tag.

12. A materials management system for a site as defined in claim 1, wherein the system further comprises a document control database in which identification information for any documents associated with an item recorded in the materials database is stored.

13. A materials management system for a site as defined in claim 1, wherein the system further comprises a progress control database in which the progress of each item in the materials database is controlled according to applicable “

Rules of Credit.”

14. A materials management system for a site as defined in claim 13, wherein electronic tick sheets linked to the materials database.

15. A method of managing materials on a site, the method comprising the steps of:

applying an identification tag to each item of material on the site, the tag containing machine-readable information including identification information identifying the item of material;

providing a materials database for storing information relating to the nature, identity and location of each item of material on the site;

scanning an identification tag attached to an item of material on the site to read the machine-readable information;

obtaining current GPS coordinates of the item having the attached identification tag;

transmitting the current GPS coordinates and the identification information to the materials database;

updating the status of the item having the attached identification tag in the database based on the current GPS coordinates and the identification information;

providing a 3D model of the site; and

,

changing the color of a display image of the item having the attached identification tag shown in the 3D model based on the current status of the item according to the update information in the materials database whereby, in use, the status of each item of material on site can be tracked.

16. A method of managing materials on a site as defined in claim 15, wherein the method comprises the further steps of:

storing additional machine-readable information in the identification tag, including information relating to the ongoing maintenance of the item in the identification tag;

transmitting the additional information to the materials database; and

,

updating a maintenance log for the item in the database whereby, in use, the ongoing maintenance of each item of material on site can be tracked.

17. A method of managing materials on a site as defined in claim 16, wherein the additional information stored in the identification tag also includes information relating to the progress of the item in the various stages of construction.

18. A method of managing materials on a site as defined in claim 17, wherein the information relating to the progress of the item is transmitted to and recorded in a progress control database, in which the progress of each item in the materials database is controlled according to applicable “

Rules of Credit”

19. A method of updating a materials database for a materials management system, the method comprising the steps of:

retrieving a material item record stored in the materials database upon receiving identification information scanned from an identification tag attached

to an item of material;

generating and displaying an update screen for the material item record wherein, in use, an operator can input update information for the material item record, including the current GPS coordinates of the item of material;

updating the material item record in the materials database with the update information;

providing a 3D model of a site where the item of material is to be installed; and

,

changing the color of the item shown in the 3D model based on the current status of the item according to the update information in the updated material item record of the materials database.

20. A method of updating a materials database as defined in claim 19, wherein the method of updating a materials database further comprises, in the case where a material item entry cannot be retrieved from the materials database based on the scanned identification information, the steps of:

generating and displaying a search screen wherein, is use, an operator can specify a Mark No for the material item;

searching the materials database for all items having the specified Mark No;

displaying the search list for all items with the specified Mark No wherein, in use, an operator can select an item from the search list; and

,

retrieving a material item record stored in the materials database corresponding to the item selected by the operator.

21. A method of updating a materials database as defined in claim 20, wherein the method of updating a materials database further comprises, in the case where no items having the specified Mark No can be retrieved from the materials database or where none of the items with the specified Mark No corresponds to the material item, the steps of:

generating and displaying a screen that enables the operator to create a new record in the materials database for the specified Mark No or material item; and

,

storing the new record in the materials database.

22. A method of updating a materials database as defined in claim 19, further comprising the steps of:

providing an associated progress control database;

creating suitable “

Rules of Credit”

for controlling the progress of an item of material in the progress control database;

assigning a “

Rule of Credit”

to each item in the materials database; and

progressing each item in the progress control database according to the applicable “

Rule of Credit.”

23. A materials management system for a construction site, the system comprising:

a materials database for storing information relating to the nature, identity and location of each item of material on the construction site;

a software module for color-coding each item on the site in a 3D model of the construction site, the software module monitoring the database and, as a status of an item changes in the database, changing the color of the item in the 3D model to give an immediate visual indication of the current status of the item; and

,

a mobile data processing device having a data scanner for scanning machine-readable information, including identification information, provided in an identification tag attached to an item of material, and a GPS receiver operatively connected to the mobile data processing device for obtaining the GPS coordinates of the item, the mobile data processing device transmitting the GPS coordinates and the identification information to the materials database whereby, in use, the status of each item of material on the construction site can be tracked.

24. (canceled)

25. (canceled)

26. (canceled)