Data processing system for managing chemical product usage

• US 6,697,706 B2
• Filed: 12/19/2001
• Issued: 02/24/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/28/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Ecolab USA Incorporated (Ecolab, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Ecolab, Inc.
• Inventors: Gardner, James P. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran, Khoi H.
• Application Number:
  US10/027,116
• Publication Number:
  US 20020096537A1
• Time in Patent Office: 797 Days
• Field of Search: 700/236, 700/238, 700/239, 700/241, 700/244, 700/231, 700/232, 700/265
• US Class Current: 700/244
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/0055 Metering or indication of used products, e.g. type or quantity of detergent, rinse aid or salt; for measuring or controlling the product concentration
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/0063 using remote monitoring or controlling of the dishwasher operation, e.g. networking systems
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 39/02 Devices for adding soap or other washing agents
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 95/00 Laundry systems or arrangements of apparatus or machines; Mobile laundries D06F31/00 takes precedence
• 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

Abstract

A data processing system is used to manage and track use of chemical product in a washing machine. A detergent dispenser distributes the chemical products (e.g., detergent, rinse agent, and bleach) to the washing machine. The dispenser includes a monitor that detects dispenser data based on distribution of the chemical product by the dispenser. A database is coupled to the dispenser and stores an account identifier and an alignment identifier in association with the dispenser data of the dispenser. The database further stores corporate data in association with the dispenser data, the account identifier, and the alignment identifier. An analysis application analyzes the dispenser data in relation with the corporate data to characterize use of the chemical product in the chemical application system and provide a feedback loop. The analysis application can limit its analysis to data associated with a given account identifier or a given alignment identifier.

Claims

1. A data processing system managing use of chemical product in a chemical application system corresponding to a first customer account identified by an account identifier, the data processing system comprising:

a chemical product dispenser distributing the chemical product to the chemical application system;

a monitor module detecting dispenser data based on distribution of the chemical product by the chemical product dispenser;

a database coupled to the chemical product dispenser and storing the account identifier in association with the dispenser data of the chemical product dispenser;

the database further storing corporate data in association with the dispenser data and the account identifier; and

an analysis application analyzing the dispenser data in relation with the corporate data to characterize use of the chemical product in the chemical application system.

2. The data processing system of claim 1 wherein the corporate data includes one or more tables and further comprising:

a time period specifier associated with the one or more tables of corporate data to indicate the period of time for which the corporate data is valid.

3. The data processing system of claim 1 wherein the dispenser data includes one or more tables and further comprising:

a time period specifier associated with the one or more tables of dispenser data to indicate the period of time for which the dispenser data is valid.

4. The data processing system of claim 1 wherein the dispenser data includes detected dispenser data detected by the monitor module and dispenser system data stored in the dispenser, both types of data being communicated from the chemical product dispenser to the database.

5. The data processing system of claim 1 wherein the corporate data relates to business operations of a facility at which the chemical application system is operating.

6. The data processing system of claim 5 wherein the corporate data describes occupancy of a facility at which the chemical application system is operating.

7. The data processing system of claim 5 wherein the corporate data describes occupancy of a facility at which the chemical application system is operating.

8. The data processing system of claim 5 wherein the corporate data describes a labor cost of a facility at which the chemical application system is operating.

9. A data processing system managing use of chemical product in a chemical application system corresponding to a first customer account identified by an account identifier, the chemical application system receiving the chemical product from a chemical product dispenser, the data processing system comprising:

a database coupled to the chemical product dispenser and storing the account identifier in association with dispenser data of the chemical product dispenser, the database further storing corporate data in relation to the dispenser data associated with the first account identifier;

an analysis application analyzing the dispenser data in relation with the corporate data to characterize use of the chemical product in the chemical application system; and

a target parameter specifying a desired data characteristic for chemical product usage relating to the first customer account, wherein the analysis application identifies data that fails to satisfy the target parameters.

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

a target parameter associated with a desired dispenser data characteristic relating to the customer account, wherein the analysis application identifies dispenser data that fails to satisfy the target parameter.

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

a target parameter associated with a desired corporate data characteristic relating to the customer account, wherein the analysis application identifies corporate data that fails to satisfy the target parameter.

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

a target parameter associated with a desired product usage characteristic relating to the customer account and being derived from both corporate data and dispenser data, wherein the analysis application identifies product usage data that fails to satisfy the target parameter.

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

a target parameter generated as a function of historical detected dispenser data recorded in the database, wherein the analysis application identifies dispenser data that fails to satisfy the target parameter.

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

a target parameter derived from an average of historical corporate data recorded in the database, wherein the analysis application identifies corporate data that fails to satisfy the target parameter.

15. The data processing system of claim 9 wherein the target parameter is generated as a function of historical product usage data derived from corporate data and dispenser data recorded in the database, wherein the analysis application identifies chemical product usage data that fails to satisfy the target parameter.

17. The method of claim 9 further comprising:

recording corporate data associated with the first customer account; and

analyzing the first dispenser data in relation with the corporate data to characterize use of the chemical product in the chemical application system.

18. The method of claim 9 further comprising:

recording corporate data associated with the first customer account;

generating product usage data from a combination of the corporate data and the first dispenser data; and

analyzing the product usage data to characterize use of the chemical product in the chemical application system.

26. The data processing system of claim 9 wherein the dispenser data includes water temperature data detected by the dispenser.

27. The data processing system of claim 9 wherein the target parameter includes water temperature data.

28. The data processing system of claim 9 wherein the dispenser data includes pounds per occupied room data.

29. The data processing system of claim 9 wherein the target parameter includes pounds per occupied room data.

30. The data processing system of claim 9 wherein the corporate data includes occupied room data.

31. The data processing system of claim 9 wherein the dispenser data includes procedural error data.

32. The data processing system of claim 9 wherein the target parameter includes procedural error data.

33. The data processing system of claim 9 wherein the corporate data includes procedural error data.

16. A method of managing use of chemical product in a chemical application system corresponding to a first customer account identified by an account identifier, the method comprising:

distributing the chemical product to the chemical application system via a first chemical product dispenser;

recording first dispenser data based on distribution of the chemical product by the chemical product dispenser;

recording the account identifier in association with the dispenser data of the first chemical product dispenser;

storing second dispenser data from a second chemical product dispenser corresponding to a second customer account; and

analyzing the first dispenser data of the first chemical product dispenser relative to the second dispenser data of the second chemical product dispenser to characterize the use of the chemical product in the chemical application system.

19. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for performing a computer process for managing use of chemical product in a chemical application system corresponding to a first customer account identified by an account identifier, the computer process comprising:

distributing the chemical product to the chemical application system via a first chemical product dispenser;

recording first dispenser data based on distribution of the chemical product by the chemical product dispenser;

recording the account identifier in association with the dispenser data of the first chemical product dispenser;

storing second dispenser data from a second chemical product dispenser corresponding to a second customer account; and

analyzing the first dispenser data of the first chemical product dispenser relative to the second dispenser data of the second chemical product dispenser to characterize the use of the chemical product in the chemical application system.

20. A computer data signal embodied in a carrier wave by a computing system and encoding a computer program for managing use of chemical product in a chemical application system corresponding to a first customer account identified by an account identifier, the computer process comprising:

distributing the chemical product to the chemical application system via a first chemical product dispenser;

recording first dispenser data based on distribution of the chemical product by the chemical product dispenser;

recording the account identifier in association with the dispenser data of the first chemical product dispenser;

storing second dispenser data from a second chemical product dispenser corresponding to a second customer account; and

analyzing the first dispenser data of the first chemical product dispenser relative to the second dispenser data of the second chemical product dispenser to characterize the use of the chemical product in the chemical application system.

21. A method of managing use of chemical product in a first customer account identified by an account identifier, the method comprising:

collecting dispenser data from a first chemical product dispenser;

collecting corporate data corresponding to the account identifier

collecting dispenser data from a second chemical product dispenser of a second customer account; and

analyzing the dispenser data of the first chemical product dispenser relative to the corporate data and the dispenser data of the second chemical product dispenser to characterize the use of the chemical product in the first customer account.

22. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for performing a computer process for managing use of chemical product in a first customer account identified by an account identifier, the computer process comprising:

collecting dispenser data from a first chemical product dispenser;

collecting corporate data corresponding to the account identifier

collecting dispenser data from a second chemical product dispenser of a second customer account; and

analyzing the dispenser data of the first chemical product dispenser relative to the corporate data and the dispenser data of the second chemical product dispenser to characterize the use of the chemical product in the first customer account.

23. A computer data signal embodied in a carrier wave by a computing system and encoding a computer program for performing a computer process for managing use of chemical product in a first customer account identified by an account identifier, the computer process comprising:

collecting dispenser data from a first chemical product dispenser;

collecting corporate data corresponding to the account identifier

collecting dispenser data from a second chemical product dispenser of a second customer account; and

analyzing the dispenser data of the first chemical product dispenser relative to the corporate data and the dispenser data of the second chemical product dispenser to characterize the use of the chemical product in the first customer account.

24. A data processing system managing use of chemical product in a chemical application system corresponding to a first customer account identified by an account identifier, the data processing system comprising:

a chemical product dispenser distributing the chemical product to the chemical application system;

a monitor module detecting dispenser data, the dispenser data including an amount of the chemical product dispensed by the chemical product dispenser;

a database coupled to the chemical product dispenser and storing the account identifier in association with the dispenser data of the chemical product dispenser;

the database further storing corporate data in association with the dispenser data and the account identifier; and

an analysis application analyzing the dispenser data in relation with the corporate data to characterize operation of the chemical application system.

25. A data processing system managing use of chemical product in a chemical application system corresponding to a first customer account identified by an account identifier, the chemical application system receiving the chemical product from a chemical product dispenser, the data processing system comprising:

a database coupled to the chemical product dispenser and storing the account identifier in association with dispenser data of the chemical product dispenser, the database further storing corporate data in relation to the dispenser data associated with the first account identifier, the dispenser data based on detecting distribution of chemical product;

an analysis application analyzing the dispenser data in relation with the corporate data to characterize use of the chemical product in the chemical application system; and

a target parameter associated with both the dispenser data and the corporate data, the target parameter specifying a desired data characteristic chemical product usage relating to the first customer account, wherein the analysis application identifies data that fails to satisfy the target parameter.

34. A data processing system managing use of chemical product in a chemical application system corresponding to a first customer account identified by an account identifier, the data processing system comprising:

a chemical product dispenser distributing the chemical product to the chemical application system;

a monitor module monitoring distribution of the chemical product by the chemical product dispenser into the chemical application system to detect dispenser data, wherein the dispenser data characterizes the distribution of the chemical product to the chemical application system;

a database coupled to the chemical product dispenser and storing the account identifier in association with the dispenser data of the chemical product dispenser;

the database further storing corporate data in association with the dispenser data and the account identifier; and

an analysis application analyzing the dispenser data in relation with the corporate data to characterize use of the chemical product in the chemical application system.