Asset management system

• US 20070150295A1
• Filed: 12/23/2005
• Published: 06/28/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Inventors: Dawson, Jay, Vyas, Bhavin, Skarvan, Dennis
• Application Number:
  US11/315,500
• Publication Number:
  US 20070150295A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/7
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0645 Rental transactions; Leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/00 Finance; Insurance; Tax strategies; Processing of corporate or income taxes
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/02 Banking, e.g. interest calculation or account maintenance credit or loans G06Q40/03

Abstract

An asset management system is provided. The system may include one or more data collection devices configured to monitor one or more operating conditions of a leased machine. At least one of the one or more data collection devices may be configured to directly monitor operation of at least one component of the machine to determine the harshness with which the machine is operated. The system may also include a processor configured to receive data from the one or more data collection devices. The processor may also be configured to determine a value of the machine based on the data from the one or more data collection devices. The processor may be further configured to determine fees associated with the lease in real time based on the data from the one or more data collection devices.

Claims

1. An asset management system, comprising:

one or more data collection devices configured to monitor one or more operating conditions of a leased machine;

wherein at least one of the one or more data collection devices is configured to directly monitor operation of at least one component of the machine to determine the harshness with which the machine is operated; and

a processor configured to;

receive data from the one or more data collection devices;

determine a value of the machine based on the data from the one or more data collection devices; and

determine fees associated with the lease in real time based on the data from the one or more data collection devices.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more operating conditions includes operating parameters of the machine.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more operating conditions includes at least two of the following:

operating parameters of the machine;

geographic parameters; and

atmospheric conditions.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the directly monitored operation of the at least one component of the machine includes at least one of the following operating conditions:

work implement repetitions;

work implement speed; and

work implement load.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the operation of the at least one component of the machine includes at least one of the following operating conditions:

fluid temperature;

fluid pressure; and

fluid level.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the operation of the at least one component of the machine includes at least one of the following operating conditions:

payload; and

roughness of terrain.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the system is configured to offer changes to one or more terms of a lease agreement to a lessee of the machine based on the collected data.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the system is configured to automatically make changes to one or more terms of a lease agreement to a lessee of the machine based on the collected data.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the system is configured to utilize the data from the data collection devices to develop a financing plan for financing a machine.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the financing plan is for at least one of purchasing a machine and leasing a machine.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the system is configured to make the determined value available to at least one entity other than an owner of the machine.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the at least one entity includes an entity that provides an industry source for resale values of machines.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the at least one entity includes an operator who leases the machine.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein a monetary account is linked to operation of the machine and configured to satisfy the fees associated with the lease.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the monetary account is selected from the group consisting of a debit account and a credit account.

16. A method of determining a resale price of a leased machine, comprising:

directly monitoring operation of at least one component of the machine including collecting data for one or more operating conditions of the machine;

wherein the monitored operation of the at least one component is directly indicative of a harshness with which the machine is operated;

determining a value of the machine based on the collected data; and

determining fees associated with the lease in real time based on the collected data.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the one or more operating conditions includes operating parameters of the machine.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the one or more operating conditions includes at least two of the following:

operating parameters of the machine;

geographic parameters; and

atmospheric conditions.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein the directly monitoring operation of the at least one component of the machine includes monitoring at least one of the following operating conditions:

work implement repetitions;

work implement speed; and

work implement load.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein the directly monitoring operation of the at least one component of the machine includes monitoring at least one of the following operating conditions:

fluid temperature;

fluid pressure; and

fluid level.

21. The method of claim 16, wherein the directly monitoring operation of the at least one component of the machine includes monitoring at least one of the following operating conditions:

payload; and

roughness of terrain.

22. The method of claim 16, further including offering changes to one or more terms of a lease agreement to a lessee of the machine based on the collected data.

23. The method of claim 16, further including automatically making changes to one or more terms of a lease agreement to a lessee of the machine based on the collected data.

24. The method of claim 16, further including utilizing the collected data to develop a financing plan for financing a machine.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the financing plan is for at least one of purchasing a machine and leasing a machine.

26. The method of claim 16, further including making the determined value available to at least one entity other than an owner of the machine.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein the at least one entity includes an entity that provides an industry source for resale values of machines.

28. The method of claim 26, wherein the at least one entity includes an operator who leases the machine.

29. The method of claim 16, further including linking a monetary account to operation of the machine and satisfying the fees associated with the lease using the linked monetary account.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein the monetary account is selected from the group consisting of a debit account and a credit account.

31. A machine, comprising:

a frame; and

a power source mounted to the frame;

wherein the machine is integrated with an asset management system including;

one or more data collection devices configured to monitor one or more operating conditions of a leased machine;

wherein at least one of the one or more data collection devices is configured to directly monitor operation of at least one component of the machine to determine the harshness with which the machine is operated; and

a processor configured to;

receive data from the one or more data collection devices;

determine a value of the machine based on the data from the one or more data collection devices; and

determine fees associated with the lease in real time based on the data from the one or more data collection devices.

32. The machine of claim 31, wherein the one or more operating conditions includes at least two of the following:

operating parameters of the machine;

geographic parameters; and

atmospheric conditions.

33. The machine of claim 31, wherein the system is configured to utilize the data from the data collection devices to develop a plan for financing machines.

34. The machine of claim 31, wherein the directly monitored operation of the at least one component of the machine includes at least one of the following operating conditions:

work implement repetitions;

work implement speed; and

work implement load.

35. The machine of claim 31, wherein the operation of the at least one component of the machine includes at least one of the following operating conditions:

fluid temperature;

fluid pressure; and

fluid level.

36. The machine of claim 31, wherein the operation of the at least one component of the machine includes at least one of the following operating conditions:

payload; and

roughness of terrain.

37. The machine of claim 31, wherein the system is configured to offer changes to one or more terms of a lease agreement to a lessee of the machine.

38. The machine of claim 31, wherein the system is configured to automatically make changes to one or more terms of a lease agreement to a lessee of the machine.

39. The machine of claim 31, wherein the system is configured to make the determined value available to an entity that provides an industry source for resale values of machines.

40. The machine of claim 31, wherein a monetary account is linked to operation of the machine and configured to satisfy the fees associated with the lease.

41. The machine of claim 31, wherein the processor is located in one of the following locations:

on the machine;

remote from the machine and at a work site where the machine is located; and

remote from a work site where the machine is located.