Method and system for integrating spatial analysis and data mining analysis to ascertain warranty issues associated with transportation products

• US 6,493,723 B1
• Filed: 09/22/1999
• Issued: 12/10/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 09/22/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Busche, Frederick D.
• Primary Examiner(s): AMSBURY, WAYNE P
• Application Number:
  US09/401,109
• Time in Patent Office: 1,175 Days
• Field of Search: 707/104.1
• US Class Current: 707/776
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/944 Business related
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99945 Object-oriented database structure processing

Abstract

A method and system for ascertaining warranty issues associated with transportation products is provided. Transportation products are manufactured at a factory, and as the products are made, historical information concerning significant events related to the manufacturing process may be stored. As the transportation product is delivered to a retail outlet, other significant event information may be stored. Locations are determined within a region for warranty claims related to the servicing of selected transportation products. Product history information for the selected transportation products may be retrieved from one or more databases. Data mining algorithms may be employed to generate input data for forming a set of spatial relationships. The locations of products within the region are then associated with the product history information to form a set of spatial relationships. Product history information may include such information as purchaser address information, information related to manufacture of the selected transportation products, information related to transportation of the selected transportation products from a manufacturing site to a retail outlet, etc.

Claims

1. A method for determining data relationships of data associated with warranty claims for servicing of transportation products, the method comprising the computer-implemented steps of:

determining locations within a region for warranty claims on servicing of selected transportation products;

retrieving product history information for the selected transportation products; and

associating the locations of products within the region with the product history information to form a set of spatial relationships.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

employing data mining algorithms to generate input data for formulation of a set of spatial relationships using a geographic information system (GIS).

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

employing spatial analysis algorithms to form the set of spatial relationships.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the product history information includes purchaser address information.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the product history information includes information related to manufacture of the selected transportation products.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the product history information includes information related to transportation of the selected transportation products from a manufacturing site to a retail outlet.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the product history information includes geographic information related to a region in which the selected transportation products are used by purchasers of the selected transportation products.

8. A data processing system for determining data relationships of data associated with warranty claims for servicing of transportation products, the data processing system comprising:

determining means for determining locations within a region for warranty claims on servicing of selected transportation products;

retrieving means for retrieving product history information for the selected transportation products; and

associating means for associating the locations of products within the region with the product history information to form a set of spatial relationships.

9. The data processing system of claim 8 further comprising:

first employing means for employing data mining algorithms to generate input data for forming the set of spatial relationships.

10. The data processing system of claim 8 further comprising:

second employing means for employing spatial analysis algorithms to form the set of spatial relationships.

11. The data processing system of claim 8 wherein the product history information includes purchaser address information.

12. The data processing system of claim 8 wherein the product history information includes information related to manufacture of the selected transportation products.

13. The data processing system of claim 8 wherein the product history information includes information related to transportation of the selected transportation products from a manufacturing site to a retail outlet.

14. The data processing system of claim 8 wherein the product history information includes geographic information related to a region in which the selected transportation products are used by purchasers of the selected transportation products.

15. A computer program product on a computer readable medium for use in a data processing system for determining data relationships of data associated with warranty claims for servicing of transportation products, the computer program product comprising:

instructions for determining locations within a region for warranty claims on servicing of selected transportation products;

instructions for retrieving product history information for the selected transportation products; and

instructions for associating the locations of products within the region with the product history information to form a set of spatial relationships.

16. The computer program product of claim 15 further comprising:

instructions for employing data mining algorithms to generate input data for forming the set of spatial relationships.

17. The computer program product of claim 15 further comprising:

instructions for employing spatial analysis algorithms to form the set of spatial relationships.

18. The computer program product of claim 15 wherein the product history information includes purchaser address information.

19. The computer program product of claim 15 wherein the product history information includes information related to manufacture of the selected transportation products.

20. The computer program product of claim 15 wherein the product history information includes information related to transportation of the selected transportation products from a manufacturing site to a retail outlet.

21. The computer program product of claim 15 wherein the product history information includes geographic information related to a region in which the selected transportation products are used by purchasers of the selected transportation products.