Fleet maintenance method

• US 6,813,526 B1
• Filed: 10/22/2002
• Issued: 11/02/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 08/13/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sensor-Tech Innovations LLC (Empire IP LLC)
• Original Assignee: Golf Car Systems Inc
• Inventors: Dodd, William A. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): PATEL, RAMESH B
• Application Number:
  US10/065,467
• Time in Patent Office: 742 Days
• Field of Search: 700/65, 700/66, 700/73, 701/22, 701/23, 701/24, 701/117, 701/123, 701/213, 702/63, 702/187, 290/406
• US Class Current: 700/65
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/0423 Input/output
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/31121 Fielddevice, field controller, interface connected to fieldbus
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/34038 Web, http, ftp, internet, intranet server

Abstract

Provided is a method for optimizing golf car usage and deployment including the steps of recording golf car usage record based on axle revolutions, associating a golf car identification with the usage record, communicating the usage record and associated identification to a data store, calculating total usage data for each golf car identification and transmitting total usage data to a display device.

Claims

1. A method for optimizing golf car usage comprising the steps of:

recording golf car usage record based on axle revolution;

associating a golf car identification with the usage record;

communicating the usage record and associated identification to a data store;

calculating total usage data for each golf car identification; and

reporting total usage data;

calculating golf car rental income data for a predetermined time frame;

calculating golf car usage data for the predetermined time frame; and

comparing rental income data with usage data whereby discrepancies between actual use and rental records may be resolved.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising the steps of:

providing a software conduit for exporting golf car rental income data to the data store from an accounting application.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising the steps of providing a software conduit for importing golf car usage data from the data store to an accounting application.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of calculating a usage-income efficiency value based on the step of comparing rental income data with usage data.

5. The method of claim 4 further comprising the steps of identifying at least one or more employees responsible for collecting golf car rental income and grouping the usage-income efficiency value with the at least one or more employees.

6. The method of claim 4 further comprising the step of measuring the usage-income efficiency value of a first golf course operation against a second golf course operation to determine the relative profitability of each course in view of golf car usage.

7. A method for optimizing golf car usage comprising the steps of:

recording golf car usage record based on axle revolutions;

associating a golf car identification with the usage record;

communicating the usage record and associated identification to a data store;

calculating total usage data for each golf car identification; and

reporting total usage data;

prioritizing the deployment of golf cars based on total usage data; and

communicating a priority order by a visual indicator.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the visual indicator comprises at least one light emitting diode.

9. The method of claim 7 wherein the visual indicator comprises a liquid crystal display.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the liquid crystal display indicates deployment priority numerically.

11. The method of claim 9 wherein the liquid crystal display indicates deployment priority alphabetically.

12. The method of claim 9 wherein the liquid crystal display also indicates a battery capacity level.

13. The method of claim 9 wherein the liquid crystal display also indicates golf car position by global positioning satellite.

14. A method for optimizing golf car usage comprising the steps of:

recording golf car usage record based on axle revolutions;

associating a golf car identification with the usage record;

communicating the usage record and associated identification to a data store;

calculating total usage data for each golf car identification;

reporting total usage data

grouping total usage data into operational units;

calculating a benchmark value across a plurality of operational units; and

comparing usage data of au individual operational unit against the benchmark value to quantify the relative success of the individual operational unit.

15. The method of claim 14 further comprising the step of modifying marketing programs responsive to the comparison.

16. The method of claim 14 further comprising the step of modifying personnel scheduling responsive to the comparison.

17. The method of claim 14 further comprising the step of modifying maintenance programs responsive to the comparison.

18. The method of claim 14 further comprising the steps of concealing the identity of the other operational units from the individual operation unit under comparison to encourage participation of a plurality of operational units without concern that competitive data might be disseminated.

19. A method for optimizing golf car usage comprising the steps of:

recording golf car usage record based on axle revolutions;

associating a golf car identification with the usage record;

communicating the usage record and associated identification to a data store;

calculating total usage data for each golf car identification;

reporting total usage data;

collecting golf car battery level data concurrently with usage data;

correlating battery level data and usage data; and

evaluating battery performance based on usage data.

20. The method of claim 19 further comprising the step of associating product warranty data with battery performance to verify product warranty claims.

21. The method of claim 19 further comprising the step of scheduling preemptive maintenance responsive to poor battery performance.

22. The method of claim 19 further comprising the step of transmitting battery performance to original battery manufacturers.

23. The method of claim 19 further comprising the steps of:

scheduling maintenance procedures based on usage data.

24. The method of claim 23 further comprising the step of optimizing staffing schedules coincident with the scheduled maintenance procedures.

25. The method of claim 23 further comprising the step of optimizing the scheduled maintenance procedures coincident with low equipment demand periods.

26. The method of claim 19 further comprising the step of confirming golf car inventory based on the golf car identification.

27. The method of claim 26 further comprising the steps of established a predetermined inventory value and reporting a deviation of the value in the confirmation step.

28. The method of claim 26 further comprising the step of reporting the confirmation to an original equipment manufacturer having a security interest in the golf cars.

29. The method of claim 26 further comprising the step of reporting the confirmation to an insurer having a security interest in the golf cars.

30. The method of claim 26 further comprising the step of reporting the confirmation to a lender having a security interest in the golf cars.