SYSTEM AND METHODS FOR MANAGEMENT OF MOBILE FIELD ASSETS VIA WIRELESS HANDHELD DEVICES

• US 20090312052A1
• Filed: 08/25/2009
• Published: 12/17/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/18/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fleet Connect Solutions LLC (Empire IP LLC)
• Original Assignee: Riulistro Solutions NY LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Ortiz, Luis M., Barbosa, Frank A.
• Granted Patent: US 8,494,581 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/556.100
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/063114 Status monitoring or status determination for a person or group
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/063118 Staff planning in a project environment
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/08 Construction
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/40 Business processes related to the transportation industry shipping G06Q10/083
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1095 Replication or mirroring of data, e.g. scheduling or transport for data synchronisation between network nodes
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/00 Locating users or terminals or network equipment for network management purposes, e.g. mobility management

Abstract

Communication from enterprise servers to handheld devices in the field supports dispatch, data synchronization, logistics and personnel. Bi-directional data delivery from enterprise-based servers over wireless data networks is enabled using wireless capabilities resident in handheld personal computing devices. Real time communications facilitates real-time access to remote programs, assistance and/or information related to the field operations and asset (personnel and inventory) resource management. Management is facilitated for at least one of: construction industry project analysis, HVAC system analysis, project management, equipment readiness inspection, troubleshooting, inventory tracking, inventory ordering, sales (e.g., providing cost estimates to customers), customer invoicing, conducting legal investigations, field data collection, and multi-user remote function coordination.

Claims

1. A system for managing assets in the field via handheld devices operating in the field, comprising:

providing a server with data network access, a memory for storing a field data management program, a microprocessor for executing said at least one field data management program and communications with handheld devices operating remotely; and

providing at least one handheld device operating remotely and associated with said server, said at least one handheld device including a wireless communication module for providing access to the remote server by said handheld data management device, a memory including a program supporting communications between said at least one handheld device and said server, and a user interface adapted for enabling a handheld device user to interact with said at least one field data management program and said server, wherein said sever and said at least one handheld device provide instructions to the handheld device user for enabling the handheld device user to;

identify a field location, manage data of the field location, and communicate with a remote server about field data while at the field location.

2. The system for managing assets in the field via handheld devices operating in the field of claim 1, further comprising a positioning module in said at least one handheld device for providing said server with handheld device location identification and to support said at least one handheld device with navigable instructions to enable the handheld device user to find said field location.

3. The system for managing assets in the field via handheld devices operating in the field of claim 1, wherein said at least one field data management program stored within said at least one handheld device includes instructions for the handheld device user to collect and use data related to at least one of:

construction industry project analysis, HVAC system analysis, project management, equipment readiness inspection, equipment troubleshooting, remote inventory tracking, inventory ordering, carrying out a sale, providing cost estimates to customers, customer invoicing, conducting legal investigations in the field, field data collection, and multi-user remote function coordination.

4. The system for managing assets in the field via handheld devices operating in the field of claim 1, further comprising an inventory program accessible from at least one of the server or the handheld device, said inventory program enabling the handheld device user to access inventory data from said server and ensure that the proper inventory is provided to the handheld data management device user when undertaking a field operation.

5. The system for managing assets in the field via handheld devices operating in the field of claim 2, further comprising an inventory program accessible from at least one of the server or the handheld device, said inventory program enabling the handheld device user to access inventory data from said server and ensure that the proper inventory is provided to the handheld data management device user when undertaking a field operation.

6. The system for managing assets in the field via handheld devices operating in the field of claim 3, further comprising an inventory program accessible from at least one of the server or the handheld device, said inventory program enabling the handheld device user to access inventory data from said server and ensure that the proper inventory is provided to the handheld data management device user when undertaking a field operation.

7. A system for managing assets in the field via handheld devices operating in the field, comprising:

a server having data network access and including a memory for storing a field data management program, a microprocessor for executing said at least one field data management program and communications with handheld devices operating remotely, wherein said server manages operations by handheld wireless device users operating remotely; and

at least one wireless handheld device communicating with said server over a wireless data communications network said at least one wireless handheld device associated in communications with said server and including;

a memory for storing programs including at least one field data management program and related data, wherein programs stored in said memory enable a wireless handheld device user to;

find a field location, collect data at the field location, wirelessly access remote resources while at the field location, provide data to a remote resource, and retrieve data related to the operation from said remote resource;

a microprocessor for executing programs including said at least one field data management program, wherein execution of said program includes execution of programming instructions enabling the wireless handheld device user to;

find a field location, collect data at the field location, wirelessly access remote resources while in the field location, provide data to a remote resource, and retrieve data related to the operation from said remote resource;

a positioning and navigational means for determining handheld data management device location and providing navigable directions to the wireless handheld device user via said handheld data management device;

a user interface adapted for enabling the wireless handheld device user to interact with the handheld device, said programming instructions and said at least one field data management program;

a display for enabling the wireless handheld device user to view field related data, mapped directions to field locations and third party information retrieved from the Internet; and

a wireless communication module for providing access to the remote resources for access to data and support from remote personnel, and to enable a user of the handheld device to obtain data including field operation instructions, real-time operational guidance and access to third party information in support of a field operation from the Internet using said handheld data management device.

9. The system for managing assets in the field via handheld devices operating in the field of claim 7, wherein said at least one field data management program includes instructions for the handheld data management device user to collect and retrieve data related to at least one of:

construction industry project analysis, HVAC system analysis, project management, equipment readiness inspection, equipment troubleshooting, remote inventory tracking, inventory ordering, carrying out a sale, providing cost estimates to customers, customer invoicing, conducting legal investigations in the field, field data collection, and multi-user remote function coordination.

10. The system for managing assets in the field via handheld devices operating in the field of claim 9, further comprising an inventory program accessible from at least one of the server or the handheld device, said inventory program enabling the handheld device user to access inventory data from said server and ensure that the proper inventory is provided to the handheld data management device user when undertaking a field operation.

8. The system for managing assets in the field via handheld devices operating in the field of claim 8, further comprising an inventory program accessible from at least one of the server or the handheld device, said inventory program enabling the handheld device user to access inventory data from said server and ensure that the proper inventory is provided to the handheld data management device user when undertaking a field operation.

11. A method for managing assets in the field via handheld devices operating in the field, comprising the steps of:

providing two-way communication between a server and handheld data management devices to facilitate real-time access to programs and data from said server in support of field operations undertaken by a handheld data management device user and to provide field data from the handheld data management devices today server;

enabling handheld data management device users to manage data collected from said server and at a field location;

enabling the handheld data management device users to communicate and transfer data to and from a remote server; and

tracking handheld device location information and enabling the server to provide the handheld data management device user updated field operation assignments and locations.

12. The method for managing assets in the field via handheld devices operating in the field of claim 11, further comprising the step of enabling the handheld data management device user to start an inventory program from a handheld data management device, said program used to ensure that the proper inventory will be provided to the handheld data management device user prior to the user undertaking a daily field service schedule.

13. The method for managing assets in the field via handheld devices operating in the field of claim 11, further comprising the step of enabling the handheld data management device user to identify service schedule requirements.

14. The method for managing assets in the field via handheld devices operating in the field of claim 12, further comprising the step of enabling the user to synchronize a service schedule with inventory data stored in said server.

15. The method for managing assets in the field via handheld devices operating in the field of claim 11, further comprising the step where said handheld management device is adapted to conduct in cooperation with the server an assessment of service schedule requirements and available inventory, providing the user with inventory availability status through the handheld data management device that is based on inventory needs identified in said service schedule.

16. The method for managing assets in the field via handheld devices operating in the field of claim 11, further comprising the step of enabling the user to access instructions from at least one field data management program to assist the user in finding a field operation location.

17. The method for managing assets in the field via handheld devices operating in the field of claim 11, further comprising the step of enabling the user to access instructions from at least one field data management program to assist the user in collecting industry-specific data at the field operation location.

18. The method for managing assets in the field via handheld devices operating in the field of claim 11, further comprising the step wherein inventory needed and available for said service schedule are reserved through said program and said server from an inventory supplier, and wherein needed inventory is available to the user for scheduled service calls.

19. The method for managing assets in the field via handheld devices operating in the field of claim 11, wherein said at least one field data management program includes instructions enabling the user to troubleshoot a field problem and collect data related to the field problem, the method further comprising the steps of:

starting an assessment program associated with a field problem;

providing information related to the field problem as requested by the field data management program;

enabling analysis of said specific information by the user and said handheld data management device; and

rendering post-analysis instructions from said handheld data management device for use in resolving the field problem.

20. The method for managing assets in the field via handheld devices operating in the field of claim 11, the method further comprising the steps of:

providing data to a remote resource for analysis; and

retrieving enhanced data from said remote resource for use in conducting the field assessment.