Apparatus and method for tracking and managing physical assets

• US 7,062,446 B1
• Filed: 11/16/1999
• Issued: 06/13/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/16/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Dana Automotive Systems Group, LLC (Dana, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Dana Corporation (Dana, Inc.)
• Inventors: Parent, Brent C., Suhy, Andrew E. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): REAGAN, JAMES A
• Application Number:
  US09/441,289
• Time in Patent Office: 2,401 Days
• Field of Search: 705/7, 705/8, 705/9, 705/10, 705/22, 705/23, 705/28, 705/29
• US Class Current: 705/1.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/20 Administration of product repair or maintenance
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/012 Providing warranty services
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 90/80 Management or planning

Abstract

A computer based system automatically gathers, analyzes, and delivers information relating to the procurement and utilization of a plurality of such assets, such as a fleet of industrial equipment, so as to maximize productivity and to reduce operating costs and administrative burdens. Each of the assets is preferably provided with a data acquisition device for sensing and storing one or more operating characteristics associated therewith. That information can be transmitted through space to a receiver connected to a local controller for storing such information and for transmitting such information over the internet to a remote analysis system. The remote analysis system automatically updates individual records associated with each of the assets with the information received from the internet. In response to such information, the remote analysis system automatically analyzes the newly provided information and generates reports regarding scheduled maintenance, warranty coverage, and other management information. These reports can be transmitted back over the internet to an administrative controller for review by one or more persons responsible for managerial review. Additionally or alternatively, the remote analysis system can automatically post such reports on a website and, thus, be made available to one or more of such persons upon request.

Claims

1. A method for automatically gathering and analyzing data without human intervention relating to an asset comprising the steps of:

(a) generating a maintenance invoice from an analysis controller when service is performed on the asset, wherein the maintenance invoice includes an indication of the amount of usage of the asset, wherein said indication of the amount of usage is captured by a data acquisition device, and wherein a receiver receives the indication of the amount of usage from the data acquisition device through a transmitter;

(b) transmitting the maintenance invoice on a communications network from the analysis controller to an administrative controller;

(c) comparing on the analysis controller, the indication of the amount of usage of the asset with a predetermined standard that is representative of the warranty period; and

(d) generating a warranty report from said administrative controller without said human intervention if the amount of usage is less than the predetermined standard.

24. The method defined in claim 1, wherein the entity performing service on the asset is not the owner.

25. The method defined in claim 1, wherein the entity performing service on the asset is not the operator of the asset.

26. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein the maintenance invoice is generated for a second entity on behalf of a first entity.

27. The method defined in claim 1, wherein the warranty report is generated for a second entity on behalf of a first entity.

28. The method defined in claim 1, further comprising the step of determining when service should be performed on the asset based on the amount of usage of the asset.

29. The method defined in claim 1, wherein service must be performed on an asset before the amount of usage of the asset is compared to the predetermined standard.

2. A system for gathering and analyzing data relative to an asset comprising;

a data acquisition device for sensing at least one operating characteristic of the asset and for generating acquired data that is representative thereof;

a transmitter attached to the asset for transmitting said acquired data from said data acquisition device;

a receiver for receiving said acquired data transmitted from said transmitter;

a local controller associated with said receiver that is in at least periodic communication with said transmitter;

an analysis controller located at a second location remote from said local controller that is responsive to said acquired data from a plurality of local controllers for generating an analysis of said acquired data from said plurality of said local controllers, said analysis controller being configured for automatically determining without human intervention whether maintenance of the asset has been provided;

a communications network connected between each of said local controllers and said analysis controller and permitting transmission of said acquired data from said local controller to said analysis controller;

wherein said analysis controller provides for generating a maintenance invoice when service is performed on the asset;

wherein said communications network provides for transmitting the maintenance invoice to an administrative controller; and

wherein said analysis controller provides for comparing said acquired data with a predetermined standard.

3. The system defined in claim 2, wherein said transmitter includes a wireless communications system for transmitting said acquired data from said data acquisition device through space to said receiver.

4. The system defined in claim 2, further including an administrative controller separate from said analysis controller, wherein said analysis controller transmits said analysis of said data to said administrative controller.

5. The system defined in claim 4, wherein there are a plurality of administrative controllers.

6. The system defined in claim 4, wherein said analysis controller is configured to generate management reports relating to the procurement and utilization of the asset.

7. The system defined in claim 6, wherein said analysis controller is configured to post said reports to a website maintained on the internet.

8. The system defined in claim 2, wherein there is a warranty associated with the asset and there are a plurality of responsible parties associated with said system, said analysis controller configured to use at least a portion of said acquired data in automatically determining which of said responsible parties has responsibility in whole or in part for maintenance performed on the asset based on said warranty.

9. The system defined in claim 8, wherein a first responsible party comprises at least one of a manufacturer and a supplier of the asset and a second responsible party comprises at least one of an owner or user of the asset.

10. The system defined in claim 8, wherein said analysis controller includes a record of the asset, said record including said responsible parties and the nature of said responsibility, the nature of said responsibility including a factor based on said at least one operating characteristic of the asset.

11. The system defined in claim 10, wherein said factor comprises at least one of an amount of asset usage and date of service.

12. A system for gathering and analyzing data relative to an asset comprising:

a data acquisition device for sensing at least one operating characteristic of the asset and for generating acquired data that is representative thereof;

a transmitter attached to the asset for transmitting said acquired data from said data acquisition device;

a receiver for receiving said acquired data transmitted from said transmitter;

a local controller associated with said receiver that is in at least periodic communication with said transmitter;

an analysis controller located at a second location remote from said local controller that is responsive to said acquired data from a plurality of local controllers for generating an analysis of said acquired data from said plurality of said local controllers, said analysis controller being configured for automatically determining without human intervention whether maintenance of the asset has been provided;

a communications network connected between each of said local controllers and said analysis controller and permitting transmission of said acquired data from said local controller to said analysis controller;

wherein there are a plurality of responsible parties associated with said system, a first responsible party comprising at least one of a manufacturer and a supplier of the asset and a second responsible party comprising at least one of an owner or user of the asset, said analysis controller configured to use at least a portion of said acquired data in automatically determining which of said responsible parties has responsibility in whole or in part for maintenance performed on the asset;

said analysis controller including a record of the asset, said record including said responsible parties and the nature of said responsibility, the nature of said responsibility including a factor based on said at least one operating characteristic of the asset;

wherein said analysis controller provides for generating a maintenance invoice when service is performed on the asset;

wherein said communications network provides for transmitting the maintenance invoice to an administrative controller; and

wherein said analysis controller provides for comparing said acquired data with a predetermined standard.

13. The system defined in claim 12, wherein there is a warranty associated with the asset, and the nature of said responsibility is based on said warranty.

14. The system defined in claim 12, wherein said at least one operating characteristic of the asset comprises an amount of asset usage, said amount of asset usage being used to automatically determine which of said responsible parties has said responsibility.

15. The system defined in claim 12, wherein said at least one operating characteristic of the asset comprises a date of service, said date of service being used to automatically determine which of said responsible parties has said responsibility.

16. The system defined in claim 12, further including an administrative controller separate from said analysis controller, wherein said analysis controller transmits said analysis of said data to said administrative controller.

17. The system defined in claim 16, wherein there are a plurality of administrative controllers, said analysis controller configured to generate management reports relating to the procurement and utilization of the asset.

18. The system defined in claim 17, wherein said analysis controller is configured to post said reports to a website maintained on the internet.

19. A system for gathering and analyzing data relating to an asset comprising:

a local controller located at a first location for acquiring data that is representative of at least one operating characteristic of the asset;

an analysis controller that is responsive to said acquired data from a plurality of local controllers for generating an analysis of said acquired data, said analysis controller being configured to determine whether maintenance of the asset has been provided;

a communications network connected between said local controller and said analysis controller and permitting transmission of said acquired data from said local controller to said analysis controller;

wherein there are a plurality of responsible parties associated with said system, said analysis controller configured to use at least a portion of said acquired data in automatically determining which of said responsible parties has responsibility in whole or in part for maintenance performed on the asset;

said analysis controller including a record of the asset, said record including said responsible parties and the nature of said responsibility, the nature of said responsibility including a factor based on said at least one operating characteristic of the asset;

wherein said analysis controller provides for generating a maintenance invoice when service is performed on the asset;

wherein said communications network provides for transmitting the maintenance invoice to an administrative controller; and

wherein said analysis controller provides for comparing said acquired data with a predetermined standard.

20. The system defined in claim 19, wherein there is a warranty associated with the asset, and the nature of said responsibility is based on said warranty.

21. The system defined in claim 20, wherein said at least one operating characteristic of the asset comprises at least one of an amount of asset usage and a date of service.

22. The system as defined in claim 21, said record including past acquired data, said current acquired data automatically compared with said past acquired data without human intervention using predetermined criteria to determine whether maintenance of the asset is required.

23. The system as defined in claim 22, wherein said predetermined criteria includes at least one of a period of time or asset usage.