Enhanced asset management and planning system

• US 8,773,467 B2
• Filed: 06/13/2011
• Issued: 07/08/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 06/13/2011
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Deffeyes, Suzanne Carol, Katz, Neil Alan, O'Connell, Brian, Chen-Quee, Mark S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Zarka, David
• Assistant Examiner(s): PRINGLE-PARKER, JASON A
• Application Number:
  US13/158,715
• Publication Number:
  US 20120313963A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,121 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 345/633
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/147 using display panels
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders

Abstract

An embodiment of the invention provides a method for displaying information on a portable device, wherein the portable device includes an interface, a camera, and a screen. The interface identifies an object to be installed; and, the camera captures at least one image, wherein the image includes locations for installing objects. The screen displays an augmented image of locations for installing objects, wherein the augmented image identifies at least one optimal location for installing the object.

Claims

1. A method for displaying information on a portable device, said method comprising:

identifying an object to be installed;

capturing at least one image with a camera of the portable device, the image including locations for installing objects;

displaying an augmented image of multiple locations for installing objects on a screen of the portable device, the augmented image identifying a highest optimal location for installing the object and a lower optimal location for installing the object

displaying an augmented inventory image on the screen, the augmented inventory image displaying an inventory of a select area, the inventory of the select area comprising at least one of a recorded object and a recorded vacancy;

receiving input from a human user via a user interface of the portable device, the input indicating at least one identified mismatch between the augmented inventory image and the captured image, wherein the mismatch is identified when at least one of;

the augmented inventory image indicates the recorded vacancy in an occupied location,

the augmented inventory image indicates the recorded obiect in a vacant location, and

the augmented inventory image indicates the recorded obiect in a location occupied by an actual obiect different from the recorded obiect; and

updating the inventory based on the received input.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising determining the highest optimal location for installing the object and the lower optimal location for installing the object based on:

properties of the object;

placement of other objects; and

pre-defined goals.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein said displaying of the augmented image comprises:

highlighting at least one first location with a first color, the first color indicating the highest optimal location; and

highlighting at least one second location with a second color different from the first color, the second color indicating the lower optimal location.

4. The method according to claim 1, further comprising augmenting the image on the screen to identify at least one least optimal location for installing the object.

5. The method according to claim 1, further comprising obtaining properties of the object from a database.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the locations for installing objects comprise racks in a datacenter.

7. A method for maintaining an inventory with a portable device, the inventory comprising locations for installing objects, recorded objects installed in the locations, and recorded vacancies in the locations, said method comprising:

capturing at least one image of a select area with a camera of the portable device, the select area comprising at least one of the locations for installing the objects;

displaying an augmented image of the selected area on a screen of the portable device, the augmented image displaying an inventory of the select area, the inventory of the select area comprising a recorded object and a recorded vacancy;

receiving input from a human user via a user interface of the portable device, the input indicating at least one error in the displayed inventory of the select area, the error in the displayed inventory of the select area comprising an identified mismatch between the augmented inventory image and the captured image, wherein the mismatch is identified when;

the augmented image indicates the recorded vacancy in an occupied location,

the augmented image indicates the recorded object in a vacant location, and

the augmented image indicates the recorded object in a location occupied by an actual object different from the recorded object; and

updating the inventory based on the received input.

8. The method according to claim 7, further comprising displaying an augmented installation image on the screen, the augmented installation image identifying at least one optimal location for installing an object.

9. The method according to claim 8, further comprising determining the at least one optimal location for installing the object based on:

properties of the object;

placement of other objects; and

pre-defined goals.

10. The method according to claim 8, wherein said displaying of the augmented installation image comprises:

highlighting at least one first location with a first color, the first color indicating a highest optimal location; and

highlighting at least one second location with a second color different from the first color, the second color indicating a lower optimal location.

11. The method according to claim 8, further comprising augmenting the augmented installation image on the screen to identify at least one least optimal location for installing the object.

12. The method according to claim 8, wherein the locations for installing objects comprise racks in a datacenter.

13. A device for managing objects, said device comprising:

an interface for identifying an object to be installed;

a camera for capturing at least one image, the image including locations for installing objects; and

a screen for displaying an augmented image, the augmented image identifying a highest optimal location for installing the object and a lower optimal location for installing the object, wherein said screen displays an augmented inventory image, the augmented inventory image displaying an inventory of a select area, the inventory of the select area comprising a recorded object and a recorded vacancy,

wherein said interface receives input indicating at least one identified mismatch between the augmented inventory image and the captured image, wherein the mismatch is identified when at least one of;

the augmented inventory image indicates the recorded vacancy in an occupied location,

the augmented inventory image indicates the recorded object in a vacant location, and

the augmented inventory image indicates the recorded object in a location occupied by an actual object different from the recorded object, and

wherein a processor connected to said interface updates the inventory based on the received input.

14. The device according to claim 13, further comprising a processor for determining the highest optimal location for installing the object and the lower optimal location for installing the object based on:

properties of the object;

placement of other objects; and

pre-defined goals.

15. A device for maintaining an inventory, the inventory comprising locations for installing objects, recorded objects installed in the locations, and recorded vacancies in the locations, said device comprising:

a camera for capturing at least one image of a select area, the select area comprising at least one of the locations for installing the objects;

a screen for displaying an augmented image, the augmented image displaying an inventory of the select area, the inventory of the select area comprising at least one of a recorded object and a recorded vacancy;

a user interface for receiving input from a human user, the input indicating at least one error in the displayed inventory of the select area, wherein the error in the displayed inventory of the select area comprises identified mismatches between the augmented image and the captured image, wherein the mismatches are identified when;

the augmented image indicates the recorded vacancy in a first location and the captured image indicates an occupancy in the first location;

the augmented image indicates the recorded obiect in a second location and the captured image indicates a vacancy in the second location; and

the augmented image indicates the recorded obiect in a third location and the captured image indicates a different recorded object in the third location, the different recorded object being different from the recorded object; and

a processor for updating the inventory based on the received input.

16. The device according to claim 15, wherein the mismatches are identified when:

the augmented image indicates the recorded vacancy in an actual occupied location;

the augmented image indicates the recorded object in an actual vacant location; and

the augmented image indicates the recorded object in a location occupied by an actual object different from the recorded object.

17. The device according to claim 15, wherein said screen further displays an augmented installation image, the augmented installation image identifying at least one optimal location for installing an object.

18. The device according to claim 17, wherein the augmented installation image comprises:

at least one first location highlighted in a first color, the first color indicating a highest optimal location; and

at least one second location highlighted in a second color different from the first color, the second color indicating a lower optimal location.

19. The device according to claim 17, wherein said screen further displays a second augmented installation image identifying at least one least optimal location for installing the object.