SYSTEM FOR PROVIDING ON-SITE SERVICE FOR INDUSTRIAL EQUIPMENT

• US 20150310674A1
• Filed: 04/29/2014
• Published: 10/29/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 04/29/2014
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Inventors: Humphrey, James D., Hellige, Daniel W.
• Application Number:
  US14/264,806
• Publication Number:
  US 20150310674A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/40 Working vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/80 Time limits
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2250/10 by alarm
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2260/50 by future state prediction
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2260/58 Departure time prediction
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/20 Administration of product repair or maintenance
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/12 specially adapted for proprietary or special-purpose networking environments, e.g. medical networks, sensor networks, networks in vehicles or remote metering networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/62 Establishing a time schedule for servicing the requests
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 90/60 Electric or hybrid propulsion means for production processes
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 90/80 Management or planning
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/16 Information or communication technologies improving the operation of electric vehicles

Abstract

A system for providing service to work equipment includes a network, a service apparatus configured to provide the service, and a server configured to communicate with the service apparatus via the network and receive information from the work equipment and the service apparatus via a network interface. The server includes a processing circuit configured to analyze the information and, based on the information, to determine an idle time for the work equipment, determine a service window for providing the service to the work equipment, determine a service location for providing the service, and send service instructions to the service apparatus based on the service window and the service location. The service instructions include the service window and the service location and are configured to cause the service apparatus to provide the service at the service location and according to the service window.

Claims

1. A system for servicing work equipment at a work site, the system comprising:

a network;

a service apparatus configured to provide a service to the work equipment, the service apparatus comprising a controller configured to operate the service apparatus based on service instructions received from a server;

a server configured to communicate with the service apparatus via the network and receive information from the work equipment and the service apparatus via a network interface, the server including a processing circuit configured to analyze the information and, based on the information, to;

determine an idle time for the work equipment;

determine a service window for providing the service to the work equipment, wherein the service window is included entirely within the idle time;

determine a service location for providing the service, wherein the service location is located at the work site; and

send the service instructions to the service apparatus based on the service window and the service location, wherein the service instructions include the service window and the service location and are configured to cause the service apparatus to provide the service at the service location and according to the service window.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the idle time is determined by predicting a future idle time, and wherein the future idle time is predicted based on the information and an operation schedule for the work equipment.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the idle time occurs during a work operation of the work equipment.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the processing circuit is configured to select the service to be provided from a plurality of available services, wherein the service is selected based on the information received from the work equipment and the service apparatus, and wherein the service instructions include the selected service.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the information includes a service level of the work equipment, and wherein the service to be provided is selected based on the service level of the work equipment and to minimize operational downtime of the work equipment.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the processing circuit is configured to send the service instructions to the work equipment, and wherein the service instructions are configured to cause the work equipment to arrive at the service location according to the service window.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the service apparatus is configured to disable at least a portion of the work equipment prior to providing the service.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the processing circuit is configured to select the service apparatus from a plurality of service apparatuses of the system, and wherein the service apparatus is selected based on the service to be provided and the service location.

9. A server, comprising:

a memory;

a network interface configured to receive information from work equipment and a service apparatus via a network as part of an on-site service system; and

a processor configured to analyze the information and, based on the information;

determine an idle time for the work equipment;

determine a service window for providing a service to the work equipment, wherein the service window is included entirely within the idle time;

determine an on-site service location for providing the service; and

send service instructions to the service apparatus based on the service window and the on-site service location, wherein the service instructions include the service window and the on-site service location and are configured to cause the service apparatus to provide the service at the on-site service location and according to the service window.

10. The server of claim 9, wherein the idle time is determined by predicting a future idle time, and wherein the future idle time is predicted based on the information and an operation schedule for the work equipment.

11. The server of claim 9, wherein the idle time occurs during a work operation of the work equipment.

12. The server of claim 9, wherein the processor is configured to select the service to be provided from a plurality of available services, wherein the service is selected based on the information received from the work equipment and the service apparatus, and wherein the service instructions include the selected service.

13. The server of claim 12, wherein the information includes a service level of the work equipment, and wherein the service to be provided is selected based on the service level of the work equipment and to minimize operational downtime of the work equipment.

14. The server of claim 9, wherein the network interface is configured to send the service instructions to the work equipment via the network, and wherein the service instructions are configured to cause the work equipment to arrive at the on-site service location according to the service window.

15. The server of claim 9, wherein the processor is configured to select the service apparatus from a plurality of service apparatuses, and wherein the service apparatus is selected based on the service to be provided and the on-site service location.

16. A system for providing a service to on-site work equipment, the system comprising:

a network;

a plurality of service locations; and

a service vehicle configured to provide a service to the work equipment, the service vehicle being configured to communicate with the work equipment via the network and receive information from the work equipment via a network interface, the service vehicle including a processing circuit configured to analyze the information and, based on the information, to;

determine an idle time for the work equipment;

determine a service window for providing the service to the work equipment, wherein the service window is included entirely within the idle time;

select a service location for providing the service from the plurality of service locations, wherein the selected service location is located on-site;

travel to the selected service location according to the service window; and

provide the service to the work equipment.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the idle time is determined by predicting a future idle time, and wherein the future idle time is predicted based on the information and an operation schedule for the work equipment.

18. The system of claim 16, wherein the idle time occurs during a work operation of the work equipment.

19. The system of claim 16, wherein the processing circuit is configured to select the service to be provided from a plurality of available services, wherein the service is selected based on the information received from the work equipment, including a service level of the work equipment.

20. The system of claim 16, wherein the service vehicle is configured to disable at least a portion of the work equipment prior to providing the service.