Method and system of asset identification and tracking for enterprise asset management

• US 7,474,218 B2
• Filed: 05/09/2006
• Issued: 01/06/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/16/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Verisae (Fortive Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Verisae (Fortive Corp.)
• Inventors: McConnell, Robert S., Johnson, Daniel T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Mullen; Thomas J
• Application Number:
  US11/431,147
• Publication Number:
  US 20070043538A1
• Time in Patent Office: 973 Days
• Field of Search: 340/572.1, 340/572.4, 340/573.1, 340/679, 340/825.49, 340/5.2, 340/5.61, 340/10.1, 340/10.51, 705 8- 11, 705/28
• US Class Current: 340/572.4
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/29 Geographical information databases
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/08 Auctions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/00 Finance; Insurance; Tax strategies; Processing of corporate or income taxes

Abstract

A system and method for managing enterprise assets located at geographically distributed sites utilizing wireless tag technologies. The method includes storing in a database information relating to each asset, wherein the stored information includes cost of each asset and cost of service for each asset. The method further includes tracking and storing information relating to servicing of the assets, including the cost of servicing. Information relating to the assets is then displayed to a user of the system.

Claims

1. A system for managing a plurality of assets of a plurality of distributed sites and allowing a user to access asset information, the system comprising:

(a) a central processor;

(b) a database for storing asset information for the plurality of assets of the plurality of sites, the database being in communication with the central processor, wherein the asset information comprises at least information relating to ownership, maintenance and repair of the plurality of assets;

(c) a tag reader in communication with the central processor; and

(d) an asset tag associated with each of the plurality of assets, the asset tag comprising the asset information relating to the asset to which the asset tag is associated, the tag configured to communicate with the tag reader,

wherein the central processor tracks information relevant to managing each of the plurality of assets, the information relevant to managing each of the plurality of assets comprising at least the asset information.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising a client processor in communication with the central processor through a communication link.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the client processor inputs, queries, and downloads asset information from the central processor through a web browser.

4. The system of claim 2, further comprising a second tag reader associated with the client processor, the tag reader configured to identify any user having a user tag and determining based on information contained within the user tag whether the user has authorization to use the client processor.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the central processor allows the user to access the client processor if the user has authorization to use the client processor.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the central processor automatically generates an E-mail message to a service provider in response to a service request by the user.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the tag reader is an RFID portal positioned at a site, wherein the portal is configured to communicate with an asset tag associated with any asset being moved into or out of the site.

8. The system of claim 1, further comprising an automatic alarm component associated with the tag reader, wherein the automatic alarm component is configured to be automatically triggerable by the specific information in the asset tag.

9. The system of claim 1, further comprising a tag writer configured to transmit information to the asset tag for storage.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of assets is a portable asset.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of assets is a refrigerant container.

12. The system of claim 1, further comprising a user tag associated with any technician authorized to examine any of the plurality of assets.

13. A system for collecting information relating to equipment located at a site, the system comprising:

(a) a first database including legacy data relating to at least a portion of the equipment;

(b) a server including software for importing the legacy data into a specified data structure and for exporting the specified data structure; and

(c) a tag reader for receiving the specified data structure and for guiding a user in collecting the information using at least the specified data structure, the tag reader configured to receive information from individual equipment tags, wherein the specified data structure includes a set of equipment categories and a set of attributes relating to each category.

14. A method of tracking service of an asset in a highly distributed enterprise, the method comprising:

providing at least one server computer in communication with a computer network and a database operably coupled with the server computer, the database containing asset information and service provider information;

receiving a service request at the server computer for an asset;

automatically selecting an appropriate service provider based on the asset to be serviced;

generating an electronic message requesting service to the appropriate service provider, whereby a service technician is scheduled to provide service, wherein the service technician has an identification tag associated with the service technician; and

tracking a location of the identification tag of the service technician with a tag reader.