Method for monitoring and assembling equipment
First Claim
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.
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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.
51 Citations
36 Claims
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1. A method for monitoring shipments of a plurality of components and enabling assembly of the plurality of components, the method comprising:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method for monitoring shipments of a plurality of smart components and enabling assembly of the plurality of smart components, the method comprising:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method for monitoring a shipping module in transit, comprising:
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attaching a GPS device to a thread protector configured to protect a threaded portion of a component disposed in the shipping module; encoding an identifier for the component into the GPS device at a first location; encoding assembly instructions for the component into the GPS device to form a smart GPS device; attaching the smart GPS device to the component to form a smart component; forming a plurality of smart components; tracking the shipping module with a tracking processor as the shipping module is transported from the first location to a second location; retrieving the identifier for the component from the GPS device with an assembly processor at the second location; and assembling the plurality of smart components at the second location using the assembly instructions retrieved from each smart component of the plurality of smart components. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. A method for monitoring a shipping module having a component disposed therein, comprising:
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attaching a GPS device to a thread protector configured to protect a threaded portion of a component disposed in the shipping module; encoding an identifier for the component into the GPS device at a first location; encoding assembly instructions for the component into the GPS device to form a smart GPS device; attaching the smart GPS device to the component to form a smart component; forming a plurality of smart components; tracking the shipping module with a tracking processor as the shipping module is transported along a route from the first location to a second location; retrieving the identifier for the component from the GPS device at the second location; comparing the component disposed within the shipping module at the second location against the retrieved identifier for the component to verify that the component reached the second location; and assembling the plurality of smart components at the second location using the assembly instructions retrieved from each smart component of the plurality of smart components. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30)
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31. A method for monitoring a shipping module having one or more components disposed therein, comprising:
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attaching a GPS device to the shipping module; encoding assembly instructions for the one or more components into the GPS device at a first location to form a smart GPS device; attaching the smart GPS device to the component to form a smart component; forming a plurality of smart components; tracking the shipping module with a tracking processor as the shipping module is transported from the first location to a second location, the tracking processor configured to receive a location signal from the GPS device; retrieving the assembly instructions from the GPS device with an assembly processor at the second location; and assembling the one or more components at the second location using the assembly instructions retrieved from each smart component of the plurality of smart components. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34, 35, 36)
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Specification