Microserver for managing an assembly or repair of a product

• US 7,715,943 B2
• Filed: 03/07/2008
• Issued: 05/11/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/07/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rtx Corporation
• Original Assignee: United Technologies Corporation (Rtx Corporation)
• Inventors: Loda, David C.
• Primary Examiner(s): BARNES-BULLOCK, CRYSTAL JOY
• Application Number:
  US12/075,057
• Publication Number:
  US 20090228133A1
• Time in Patent Office: 795 Days
• Field of Search: 700/95, 700/96, 700/106, 700/112, 700/113, 700/115, 700/116, 700/213, 700/225, 700/228, 700/229, 701/2, 701/29, 701/32, 705/1, 705 7- 9, 705/28, 705/29, 709/201, 709/203, 709/224, 709/249, 340/425.5, 340/500, 340/531, 340/533, 340/539.1, 340/540, 340/568.1, 340/568.5, 340/572.1, 340/572.8, 340/693.5, 340/693.9, 340/693.12, 340/901, 340/904, 340/945, 340/984, 340/988, 340/989
• US Class Current: 700/229
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling

Abstract

A method and system for managing a product during assembly or repair of the product includes use of a microserver configured to function as a local computing workstation and collect, store and process data for the product throughout the assembly or repair process. The microserver may be carried by a support structure that supports the product through the assembly or repair process. The product data and other information relevant to the assembly or repair process are stored on the microserver and may be accessed by other computing devices, both local and remote to the product. The information is updated on the microserver as it happens. Thus, users are able to track a status of the product in real-time. The microserver enables two-way communication such that the other computing devices may also send information to the microserver.

Claims

1. A method of managing a product during assembly or repair of the product, the method comprising:

supporting the product with a support structure during at least one of an assembly process and a repair process;

gathering data relevant to the product with a primary microserver carried by the support structure, wherein the primary microserver is configured to function as a local computing workstation and collect, store and process data for the product; and

providing data from the primary microserver to local and remote computing devices.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the support structure includes at least one of an engine stand, a vehicle stand, a rig, a cart, a frame and a platform.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

providing information from local and remote computing devices to the primary micro server.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein providing information to the primary microserver is performed by a second microserver located within a work cell of a factory where the product is assembled or repaired.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

transferring at least a portion of the data stored on the primary microserver to at least one of a portal and a second microserver configured to be attached to the product and used during operation of the product.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

monitoring at least one of an assembly process and a repair process for a component of the product using a component microserver carried by a support structure for the component, wherein the primary microserver and the component microserver are configured to communicate locally and remotely with each other.

7. A method of managing a product during assembly or repair of the product, the method comprising:

attaching a microserver to a support structure configured to support and transport the product during assembly or repair of the product, wherein the microserver is configured to function as a local computing workstation and a web data gateway having its own web page and corresponding Internet web address on a world wide web;

gathering data relevant to the product using the microserver;

storing data on the microserver pertaining to at least one of an assembly and a repair of the product; and

tracking status of the product locally and remotely using the microserver.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein data stored on the microserver includes at least one of assembly instructions, repair instructions, a three-dimensional model of the product, supply chain information, and part identification information.

9. The method of claim 7 wherein the product includes at least one of an engine, a land vehicle, an aircraft, a spacecraft, and a water vehicle.

10. The method of claim 7 wherein the support structure includes at least one of an engine stand, a vehicle stand, a rig, a cart, and a platform.

11. The method of claim 7 further comprising:

transferring information to and from the microserver.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein transferring information to and from the microserver is performed by at least one of a local computing device located within a local wireless network around the microserver and a remote computing device using communication means selected from a group consisting of radio frequency, optical, wired, wireless, satellite and cellular.

13. A product management system for a product comprising:

a structure configured to temporarily support and transport the product during at least one of assembly and repair of the product; and

a product microserver configured to attach to the structure and create a local world wide web around the structure, wherein the product microserver is configured to function as a local computing workstation, host a web page having an IP address, and store data about the product.

14. The product management system of claim 13 further comprising:

a second microserver configured to reside inside a work cell and communicate locally with the product microserver when the product microserver enters the work cell.

15. The product management system of claim 13 wherein the structure includes at least one of an engine stand, a vehicle stand, a rig, a cart, a frame and a platform.

16. The product management system of claim 13 wherein the product includes at least one of an engine, a land vehicle, an aircraft, a spacecraft, and a water vehicle.

17. The product management system of claim 13 further comprising:

a portal configured to contain a duplicate copy of data stored on the product microserver.

18. The product management system of claim 13 further comprising:

a component microserver configured to attach to a structure used to support and transport a component of the product during assembly of the component, wherein the product microserver is configured to communicate with the component microserver locally and remotely.

19. The product management system of claim 18 wherein the product is an aircraft and the component is an engine of the aircraft.

20. The product management system of claim 13 wherein the product microserver includes a radio frequency identification (RFID) reader that is used to track RFID tagged parts to be added to the product during assembly or repair.