Method for monitoring and assembling equipment

• US RE44,793 E1
• Filed: 05/09/2011
• Issued: 03/04/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 10/22/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: PPI Technology Services LP (Cardno Limited)
• Original Assignee: PPI Technology Services LP (Cardno Limited)
• Inventors: Whiteley, Thomas G., McGrath, James, Sullivan, Ben R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Goyea, Olusegun
• Application Number:
  US13/103,587
• Time in Patent Office: 1,030 Days
• Field of Search: 705/22, 705/28, 700/115, 700/215, 700/225, 700/229, 340/572.1, 340/572.4, 235/383, 235/385, 701/213
• US Class Current: 705/28
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders

Abstract

A method for monitoring shipments of a plurality of components and enabling assembly of the plurality of components. The method can include the steps of encoding a unique identifier and specification information on each component into a data storage of a GPS device; encoding assembly instructions for each component; attaching the GPS device to the component; actuating each GPS device to provide a longitude and latitude signal to a network; tracking the location of each component; shipping the components while tracking the location of the components until the components reach a designated location; and retrieving from each component assembly instructions, specification information, and inspection information. The method can include assembling the components using the assembly instructions at the designated location, and forming a record of each route used by each component.

Claims

1. A method for monitoring shipments of a plurality of components and enabling assembly of the plurality of components, the method comprising:

a. encoding an identifier and specification information on one of the plurality of components into a data storage of a global positioning system (GPS) device, forming an encoded GPS device;

wherein the GPS device further has a GPS processor and a GPS transmitter/receiver;

b. encoding assembly instructions for the component into the data storage of the GPS device, forming a smart GPS device;

c. attaching the smart GPS device to the component, forming a smart component;

d. repeating steps (a) through (c) for each component of the plurality of components, forming a plurality of smart components;

e. actuating the GPS transmitter/receiver for each of the plurality of smart components, wherein each GPS transmitter/receiver provides a location signal to a network;

f. using a tracking processor in communication with a tracking data storage to track locations of each smart component, wherein the tracking processor is in communication with the network;

g. shipping the plurality of smart components while simultaneously tracking each location of each of the plurality of smart components using the tracking processor until each smart component reaches a designated location;

h. retrieving from each smart component the assembly instructions and the specification information using an assembly processor in communication with an assembly data storage; and

i. assembling the plurality of smart components at the designated location, using the assembly instructions retrieved from each of the smart components.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the assembly instructions comprise instructions for assembling the smart component with a member of the group consisting of:

(i) another smart component;

(ii) another component;

or

(iii) combinations thereof.

3. The method of claim 1, further including the step of forming a record of each route used by each of the plurality of smart components using the tracking processor.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the specification information for each smart component includes:

dimensional specifications for the smart component;

material composition of the smart component;

inspection test results for the smart component;

a source of origin or manufacture of the smart component;

at least one trip route of the smart component;

or combinations thereof.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the GPS device is attached to the component by embedding the GPS device into the component.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the GPS device is disposed within a self-adhesive card and further wherein the GPS device is attached to the component by adhering the self-adhesive card to the component.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the GPS device is embedded within a thread protector and further wherein the GPS device is attached to the component by attaching the thread protector to a thread connector of the component.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the GPS device provides location signals continuously.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the GPS device provides location signals at predetermined time intervals.

10. The method of claim 1, further including the step of providing an alarm when one of the smart components is not on a predetermined route or at the designated location.

11. The method of claim 1, further including the step of inspecting the components at the designated location and transmitting the results of the inspection to the tracking processor.

12. A method for monitoring shipments of a plurality of smart components and enabling assembly of the plurality of smart components, the method comprising:

a. encoding component information including an identifier, assembly instructions, and specification information;

on one of the plurality of smart components into a data storage of a GPS device, forming a smart GPS device;

wherein the smart GPS device further has a GPS processor and a GPS transmitter/receiver;

further wherein the smart GPS device is attached to the smart component;

b. repeating step (a) for each smart component of the plurality of smart components;

c. actuating the GPS transmitter/receiver for each of the plurality of smart components, wherein each GPS transmitter/receiver provides a location signal to a network;

d. using a tracking processor in communication with a tracking data storage to track locations of each smart component, wherein the tracking processor is in communication with the network and receives the location signals from the network;

e. shipping the plurality of smart components while simultaneously tracking the locations of each of the plurality of smart components using the tracking processor, until the smart components reach a designated location;

f. retrieving from each smart component the component information using an assembly processor in communication with an assembly data storage; and

g. assembling the plurality of smart components at the designated location, using the assembly instructions retrieved from each smart component.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the assembly instructions comprise instructions for assembling the smart component with a member of the group consisting of:

(i) another smart component;

(ii) another component;

or

(iii) combinations thereof.

14. The method of claim 12, further including the step of forming a record of each route used by each of the plurality of smart components using the tracking processor and storing the record in the tracking data storage.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein the specification information for each smart component includes:

dimensional specifications for the smart component;

material composition of the smart component;

inspection test results for the smart component;

a source of origin or manufacture of the smart component;

at least one trip route of the smart component;

or combinations thereof.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein the GPS device provides location signals continuously.

17. The method of claim 12, wherein the GPS device provides location signals at predetermined time intervals.

18. The method of claim 12, further including the step of providing an alarm when one of the smart components is not on a predetermined route, at the designated location, or combinations thereof.

19. The method of claim 12, wherein the smart GPS device is attached to the smart component by embedding the smart GPS device into the smart component.