Method and process for managing a yard

• US 20040193466A1
• Filed: 03/27/2003
• Published: 09/30/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/27/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: SAP SE
• Original Assignee: SAP SE
• Inventors: Kull, Irena, Heitner, Ami
• Application Number:
  US10/401,275
• Publication Number:
  US 20040193466A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/28
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders

Abstract

Methods and apparatus, including computer program products, for managing a yard are described. Information associated to an object located in the yard is collected. An activity to perform on the object based on the collected information is scheduled. Execution of the scheduled activity performed on the object is monitored. Information based on the monitored execution of the scheduled activity is provided to a user.

Claims

1. A method for managing a yard, the method comprises:

collecting information associated to an object located in the yard;

scheduling an activity to perform on the object based on the collected information;

monitoring execution of the scheduled activity performed on the object; and

providing a user information based on the monitored execution of the scheduled activity.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the information associated to the object includes the location of the object in the yard.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the location includes a yard bin in the yard.

4. The method of claim 2 wherein the location includes a warehouse door.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the activity includes the object entering the yard.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the activity includes the object exiting the yard.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the activity includes moving the object in the yard.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the activity includes unloading the object.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein monitoring execution of the scheduled activity includes tracing movements of the object in the yard.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein monitoring execution of the scheduled activity includes locating a position of the object in the yard.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein the providing the user information based on the monitored execution of the scheduled activity includes displaying information representing a movement of the object in the yard.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein the providing the user information based on the monitored execution of the scheduled activity includes displaying information representing the location of the object in the yard.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein the providing the user information based on the monitored execution of the scheduled activity includes transmitting the information on the Internet.

14. The method of claim 1 wherein the providing the user information based on the monitored execution of the scheduled activity includes producing a message.

15. The method of claim 1 wherein the object includes a shipping container.

16. The method of claim 1 wherein the object includes a truck.

17. The method of claim 1 wherein the user includes yard personnel.

18. The method of claim 1 wherein the user includes a carrier of the object.

19. A process for managing a yard, the system comprising:

a collection process for collecting information associated to an object located inside the yard;

a scheduling process for scheduling an activity to perform on the object based on the collected information;

a monitoring process for monitoring execution of the scheduled activity performed on the object; and

a reporting process for providing a user information based on the monitored execution of the scheduled activity.

20. The process of claim 19 wherein the information associated to the object includes the location of the object in the yard.

21. The process of claim 20 wherein the location includes a yard bin in the yard.

22. The process of claim 20 wherein the location includes a warehouse door.

23. The process of claim 19 wherein the activity includes the object entering the yard.

24. The process of claim 19 wherein the activity includes the object exiting the yard.

25. The process of claim 19 wherein the activity includes moving the object in the yard.

26. The process of claim 19 wherein the activity includes unloading the object.

27. The process of claim 19 wherein the monitoring process includes a tracing process for tracing movements of the object in the yard.

28. The process of claim 19 wherein monitoring execution of the scheduled activity includes locating a position of the object in the yard.

29. The process of claim 19 wherein the reporting process includes displaying information representing a movement of the object in the yard.

30. The process of claim 19 wherein the reporting process includes displaying information representing the location of the object in the yard.

31. The process of claim 19 wherein the reporting process includes transmitting the information on the Internet.

32. The process of claim 19 wherein the reporting process includes producing a message.

33. The process of claim 19 wherein the object includes a shipping container.

34. The process of claim 19 wherein the object includes a truck.

35. The process of claim 19 wherein the user includes yard personnel.

36. The process of claim 19 wherein the user includes a carrier of the object.

37. A computer program product, tangibly embodied in an information carrier, for storing instructions for managing a yard, the computer program product being operable to cause data processing apparatus to:

collect information associated to an object located in the yard;

schedule an activity to perform on the object based on the collected information;

monitor execution of the scheduled activity performed on the object; and

provide a user information based on the monitored execution of the scheduled activity.

38. The computer program product of claim 37 wherein the information associated to the object includes the location of the object in the yard.

39. The computer program product of claim 38 wherein the location includes a yard bin in the yard.

40. The computer program product of claim 38 wherein the location includes a warehouse door.

41. The computer program product of claim 37 wherein the activity includes the object entering the yard.

42. The computer program product of claim 37 wherein the activity includes the object exiting the yard.

43. The computer program product of claim 37 wherein the activity includes moving the object in the yard.

44. The computer program product of claim 37 wherein the activity includes unloading the object.

45. The computer program product of claim 37 wherein to monitor execution of the scheduled activity includes tracing movements of the object in the yard.

46. The computer program product of claim 37 wherein to monitor execution of the scheduled activity includes locating a position of the object in the yard.

47. The computer program product of claim 37 wherein to provide the user information based on the monitored execution of the scheduled activity includes displaying information representing a movement of the object in the yard.

48. The computer program product of claim 37 wherein to provide the user information based on the monitored execution of the scheduled activity includes displaying information representing the location of the object in the yard.

49. The computer program product of claim 37 wherein to provide the user information based on the monitored execution of the scheduled activity includes transmitting the information on the Internet.

50. The computer program product of claim 37 wherein to provide the user information based on the monitored execution of the scheduled activity includes producing a message.

51. The computer program product of claim 37 wherein the object includes a shipping container.

52. The computer program product of claim 37 wherein the object includes a truck.

53. The computer program product of claim 37 wherein the user includes yard personnel.

54. The computer program product of claim 37 wherein the user includes a carrier of the object.