System and method for managing a fleet of remote assets

• US 7,783,507 B2
• Filed: 12/13/2000
• Issued: 08/24/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/23/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Corporation
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Cuddihy, Paul Edward, Mangino, Kimberley M., Fera, Gregory John, Pierro, Michael James, Schick, Louis A, Schneider, William Roy, Schlabach, James E., Bliley, Richard Gerald, Hampson, Gregory James, Meneses, Luis Ivan Gomez
• Primary Examiner(s): Mooneyham; Janice A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Fisher; Michael J
• Application Number:
  US09/736,495
• Publication Number:
  US 20020065698A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,541 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 705/7.11
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 2205/04 Satellite based navigation systems, e.g. global positioning system [GPS]
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 27/57 for vehicles or trains, e.g. trackside supervision of train conditions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/063 Operations research, analysis or management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0637 Strategic management or analysis, e.g. setting a goal or target of an organisation; Planning actions based on goals; Analysis or evaluation of effectiveness of goals
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/083 Shipping
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0833 Tracking
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/006 Indicating maintenance
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/008 communicating information to a remotely located station transmission systems for measured values G08C
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/0841 Registering performance data recording measured values G01D; information storage G11B

Abstract

Method and system for managing a plurality of remote assets, such as a fleet mobile assets is provided. The method allows for collecting data regarding each of a plurality of remote assets. The collected data is used to develop historical information regarding actual usage of each remote asset. The information is distributed via a global information network.

Claims

1. A computerized method for managing a plurality of mobile assets using information indicative of actual usage of each asset, the method comprising:

collecting data regarding each of a plurality of mobile assets;

providing a set of rules comprising relationships for processing the collected data to determine a plurality of operational modes for each asset, each of said operational modes being associated with a distinct level of wear in an asset;

processing the data relative to the set of rules to develop historical information regarding actual usage of each mobile asset, the information for said actual usage being arranged so as to list a plurality of operational modes accumulated for the asset over a selectable period of time; and

distributing the information via a global information network.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said historical information regarding actual usage of the asset is enhanced with environmental data collected during the actual usage of the asset, with said environmental data comprising at least one environmental parameter contributing to the level of wear of said asset.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising determining a service recommendation for each respective mobile asset based on the actual usage of said respective mobile asset.

4. The method of claim 3 further comprising communicating said service recommendation to an operator of the mobile asset.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein said service recommendation includes suggesting a service center able to perform said service recommendation.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the suggested service center is based on the position of the mobile asset relative to said service center.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the suggested service center is further based on whether said service center is part of a chain of preferred service centers.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of distributing information further comprises:

linking a data center to the global information network;

linking a service center for the mobile assets to the global information network; and

posting a recommendation for a service activity for one of the plurality of mobile assets on a web site accessible via the global information network.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

collecting data regarding cargo being transported by the respective mobile assets;

using the data regarding cargo to develop information regarding the cargo;

and distributing the information regarding cargo via the global information network.

10. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

collecting data regarding respective service functions provided through a respective one of the remote assets;

using the data regarding the respective service functions to develop information regarding said functions; and

distributing the information regarding said service functions via the global information network.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

developing a web site including a respective web page including information regarding the service functions performed for each one of a respective plurality of customers; and

providing access to the respective web pages via the global information network to the respective plurality of customers.

24. The method of claim 1 wherein the mobile assets are railroad locomotives.

12. A computerized method for managing a plurality of mobile assets using information indicative of actual usage of each asset, the method comprising:

collecting data regarding each of a plurality of mobile assets;

providing a set of rules comprising relationships for processing the collected data to determine a plurality of operational modes for each asset, each of said operational modes being associated with a distinct level of wear in an asset;

processing the data relative to the set of rules to develop historical information regarding actual usage of each mobile asset, the information for said actual usage being arranged so as to list a plurality of operational modes accumulated for the asset over a period of time;

using the historical information to develop a failure prediction for at least one of the plurality of remote assets; and

distributing the information via a global information network.

25. The method of claim 12 wherein the mobile assets are railroad locomotives.

13. A computerized method for managing a plurality of mobile assets using information indicative of actual usage of each asset, the method comprising:

collecting data regarding each mobile asset of a plurality of mobile assets that together constitute a mobile asset system;

providing a set of rules comprising relationships for processing the collected data to determine a plurality of operational modes for each asset, each of said operational modes being associated with a distinct level of wear in an asset;

processing the data relative to the set of rules to develop historical information regarding actual usage of each said mobile asset, wherein said historical information is classified based on a plurality of operational modes accumulated for the asset over a selectable period of time;

using the historical information to generate recommended operational settings for each asset so as to increase the performance and operating life of the mobile asset system; and

distributing the operational settings via a global information network.

26. The method of claim 13 wherein the mobile assets are railroad locomotives.

14. A system for managing a fleet of mobile assets using information indicative of actual usage of each asset, the system comprising:

a data gathering element configured to collect data regarding each of a plurality of mobile assets;

a memory device for storing a set of rules comprising relationships for processing the collected data to determine a plurality of operational modes for each asset, each of said operational modes being associated with a distinct level of wear in an asset;

a processor configured to process the collected data relative to the set of rules to develop historical information regarding actual usage of each mobile asset, the information for said actual usage being arranged so as to list a plurality of operational modes accumulated for the asset over a selectable period of time; and

a data link in communication with a global information network for distributing information related to the plurality of mobile assets.

27. The system of claim 14 wherein the mobile assets are railroad locomotives.

15. A system for managing vehicles using information indicative of actual usage of each asset, the system comprising:

a plurality of sensors carried on a vehicle for generating data indicative of the operation of the vehicle;

a memory device carried on said vehicle for storing a set of rules comprising relationships for processing the generated data to determine a plurality of operational modes for each asset, each of said operational modes being associated with a distinct level of wear in an asset;

a processor carried on the vehicle for processing said generated data relative to the set of rules to develop information indicative of the operation of the vehicle for its useful life; and

a transmitter for transmitting said information to a global information network for communication to interested parties.

28. The system of claim 15 wherein the vehicles are railroad locomotives.

16. A system for managing vehicles using information indicative of actual usage of each asset, the system comprising:

a plurality of sensors carried on a vehicle for generating data indicative of the operation of the vehicle;

a transmitter for transmitting data from the vehicle to a data center;

a receiver at the data center for receiving data transmitted from the vehicle;

a memory device at the data center for storing a set of rules comprising relationships for processing data received at the data center to determine a plurality of operational modes for each asset, each of said operational modes being associated with a distinct level of wear in an asset;

a processor at the data center for processing the received data relative to the set of rules to develop information indicative of the operation of the vehicle over the useful life of the vehicle; and

a data link at the data center for transferring data indicative of the operation of the vehicle to a global information network for communication to interested parties.

29. The system of claim 16 wherein the vehicles are railroad locomotives.

17. A system for managing a vehicle within a fleet of vehicles using information indicative of actual usage of each asset, the system comprising:

a plurality of sensors carried on a vehicle for generating data indicative of the operation of the vehicle;

a memory device for gathering and recording operational data for the life of said vehicle;

a data link in communication with the memory and with a global information network for transferring information relating to the operation of said vehicle to the network;

a first processor configured to process the operational data relative to a set of rules comprising relationships for processing the operational data to determine a plurality of operational modes for said vehicle, wherein each of said operational modes is associated with a distinct level of wear in a vehicle in order to develop individual historical information regarding actual usage of each vehicle, the information for said actual usage being arranged so as to list the plurality of operational modes of the vehicle; and

a second processor accessing a data base of fleet historical information data relating to the operation of other vehicles in the fleet corresponding to said vehicle and evaluating the individual historical information for said vehicle in light of said fleet historical information from said other vehicles in the fleet.

30. The system of claim 17 wherein the vehicles are railroad locomotives.

18. A computerized method for managing a plurality of mobile assets, the method comprising:

collecting data regarding each of a plurality of mobile assets;

processing the data to develop historical information regarding actual usage of each mobile asset, said actual usage being arranged in a plurality of operational modes of the asset, each of said operational modes being indicative of a respective state of health of said asset;

establishing a cost/benefit evaluation of the mobile asset for a proposed future plan of use in light of the state of health of the mobile asset; and

distributing the information via a global information network.

19. The method of claim 18 further comprising determining a service recommendation for each respective mobile asset based on the actual usage of said respective mobile asset.

20. The method of claim 18 wherein said economic value of each respective mobile asset is further based on whether any service recommendations for the asset have been complied with.

21. The method of claim 19 further comprising predicting faults likely to occur based on whether any service recommendations for the asset have been disregarded.

31. The system of claim 18 wherein the vehicles are railroad locomotives.

22. A computerized method for managing a plurality of mobile assets, the method comprising:

collecting data regarding each of a plurality of mobile assets having warranties covering the operation of the mobile assets;

processing the data to develop historical information regarding actual usage of each mobile asset, said actual usage being arranged in a plurality of operational modes of the asset;

determining the remaining warranty coverage of each respective mobile asset based on the actual usage of the asset; and

distributing the information via a global information network.

23. The method of claim 22 wherein said warranty coverage determining step comprises adjusting said coverage based on whether any service recommendations for the asset have been complied with.

32. The method of claim 22 wherein the mobile assets are railroad locomotives.