System and method of analyzing aircraft removal data for preventative maintenance

• US 6,567,729 B2
• Filed: 03/28/2001
• Issued: 05/20/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/28/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: PT Diagnostics LLC (IPNav)
• Original Assignee: PT Holdings Ltd.
• Inventors: Betters, W. Bradley, Livingston, Randell W. Jr., Whetsell, Bob W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Beaulieu; Yonel
• Application Number:
  US09/821,842
• Publication Number:
  US 20020143443A1
• Time in Patent Office: 783 Days
• Field of Search: 701/29,30,34 340/945,963,500 434/29,30
• US Class Current: 701/29
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 23/005 Flight directors indicating arrangements specially adapted for rotary gyroscopes G01C19/32
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/04 Forecasting or optimisation specially adapted for administrative or management purposes, e.g. linear programming or "cutting stock problem" market predictions or forecasting for commercial activities G06Q30/0202
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling

Abstract

Techniques for analyzing aircraft data. An aircraft dataset is utilized from an operational source. The aircraft dataset is parsed into a data field. An acceptable range of values for the aircraft dataset within the data field is determined to define a threshold for the aircraft dataset. A dynamic trigger is automatically activated to indicate a maintenance alert when the threshold is crossed. A performance indication is derived for the operational source by determining one or more performance trends of the aircraft dataset. A notification having a status level indicative of a maintenance condition for the operational source is associated with the maintenance alert. The performance indication and the notification are combined into an electronic report that forecasts need for preventative aircraft maintenance, and the electronic report is automatically delivered to a predetermined location for retrieval by a consumer.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method of analyzing aircraft data for preventative maintenance, comprising:

utilizing an aircraft dataset from an operational source;

parsing the aircraft dataset into a data field;

determining an acceptable range of values for the aircraft dataset within the data field to define a threshold for the aircraft dataset;

automatically activating a dynamic trigger to indicate a maintenance alert when the threshold is crossed;

deriving a performance indication for the operational source by determining one or more performance trends of the aircraft dataset;

associating with the maintenance alert a notification having a status level indicative of a maintenance condition for the operational source;

combining the performance indication and the notification into an electronic report that forecasts need for preventative aircraft maintenance; and

automatically delivering the electronic report to a predetermined location for retrieval by a consumer.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising selectively notifying the consumer by an automated electronic message based on the status level of the notification, the automated electronic message communicating delivery of the electronic report for the consumer to the predetermined location.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the consumer provides a criteria including a predetermined period of time over which the aircraft dataset is to be collected by monitoring the operational source.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the threshold is determined with an external profile from an expert, the external profile having a plurality of input attributes indicative of a maintenance analysis for the aircraft dataset.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the status level includes a first level, a second level, and a third level, wherein either the first level, the second level, or the third level is selected based on a predetermined excursion of the aircraft dataset in the data field beyond the threshold, and the external profile.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the predetermined location includes a web portal.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein utilizing includes collecting the aircraft dataset.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the electronic report includes one or more proactive maintenance recommendations associated with the operational source for encouraging the consumer to consider carrying out the preventative aircraft maintenance of the operational source.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the electronic report includes a maintenance problem description and analysis for the operational source.

21. An electronic media, comprising a computer program for performing the method of claim 1.

22. A computer program, comprising computer or machine-readable program elements translatable for implementing the method of claim 1.

10. A method of providing maintenance support, comprising:

parsing a maintenance information dataset from an operational source into a data field to derive an active dataset;

setting a trigger having a first limit and a second limit for the data field;

analyzing the active dataset for selectively activating the trigger in response to an excursion of the active dataset beyond one of the first limit or the second limit within the data field;

associating with the trigger a status indication;

processing the active dataset to derive one or more trends for the data field; and

transforming the status indication and the one or more trends into a preventative maintenance report for the operational source.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising delivering the preventative maintenance report with the status indication to a user.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising alerting the user by issuing a notification concerning the delivery of the preventative maintenance report.

13. A computer-implemented method of analyzing aircraft data for preventative maintenance, comprising:

parsing a dataset indicative of maintenance-related information associated with an operational source into a data field;

setting a limit on the data field to assess the dataset;

activating a trigger in response to an excursion of the dataset beyond the limit;

associating with the trigger a status indication;

processing the dataset from the data field to derive trend information indicative of performance of the operational source; and

presenting the status indication and the trend information into an informational report.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the informational report includes a maintenance problem description and analysis.

15. The method of claim 13, further comprising delivering the informational report to a user.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising alerting the user by issuing a notification concerning the delivery of the informational report.

17. A computer-implemented method for providing maintenance support to a user, comprising:

utilizing a maintenance information dataset associated with an aircraft operational source to derive an active dataset in response to an analysis criteria, the analysis criteria including a predetermined period of time over which the maintenance information dataset is collected by monitoring the aircraft operational source;

parsing the active dataset into a data field;

setting a trigger having a first limit and a second limit for the data field, wherein the trigger is determined responsive to an external profile having a first input, a second input, and a third input;

analyzing the active dataset for selectively flagging the data field by activating the trigger in response to a predetermined amount of excursion of the active dataset within the data field beyond one of the first limit or the second limit;

associating with the predetermined amount of excursion a status indication having a first level, a second level and a third level, wherein either the first level, the second level or the third level is selected based on the predetermined amount of excursion beyond one of the first limit and the second limit, respectively;

processing the predetermined amount of excursion of the active dataset to derive one or more specific trends for the data field;

transforming the status indication and the one or more specific trends into a preventative maintenance report;

delivering the preventative maintenance report with the status indication to the user; and

alerting the user by issuing a notification concerning the delivery of the preventative maintenance report.

18. A computerized system to analyze aircraft data for preventative maintenance, comprising:

means for utilizing an aircraft dataset from an operational source;

means for parsing the aircraft dataset into a data field;

means for determining an acceptable range of values for the aircraft dataset within the data field to define a threshold for the aircraft dataset;

means for automatically activating a dynamic trigger to indicate a maintenance alert when the threshold is crossed;

means for deriving a performance indication for the operational source by determining one or more performance trends of the aircraft dataset;

means for associating with the maintenance alert a notification having a status level indicative of a maintenance condition for the operational source;

means for combining the performance indication and the notification into an electronic report that forecasts need for preventative aircraft maintenance; and

means for automatically delivering the electronic report to a predetermined location for retrieval by a consumer.

19. A system, comprising:

a computer server for receiving an aircraft dataset from a plurality of operational sources to parse the aircraft dataset into a plurality of data fields;

a database operably coupled to the computer server for storing the aircraft dataset into the plurality of data fields;

a web portal operably coupled to the computer server and the database, the web portal being accessible to a plurality of consumers employing one or more Internet connections for accessing a maintenance-related informational report through a user interface associated with each of plurality of consumers, the user interface providing real-time access, by way of a computer network, to the maintenance-related informational report; and

a maintenance analysis engine coupled to the computer server, the database, and the web portal for processing the plurality of data fields by setting a dynamic limit on one or more data fields of the plurality of data fields, and disseminating one or more proactive recommendations through the web portal, the one or more recommendations being derived from a performance trending indication of the aircraft dataset stored in the database by dynamically flagging the one or more data fields when the dynamic limit is reached.

20. A system of analyzing aircraft data for preventative maintenance, comprising:

a computer server for receiving an aircraft dataset from a plurality of operational sources to parse the aircraft dataset into a plurality of data fields;

a database operably coupled to the computer server for storing the aircraft dataset into the plurality of data fields;

a web portal operably coupled to the computer server and the database, the web portal being accessible to a plurality of consumers employing one or more Internet connections for accessing a maintenance-related informational report through a user interface associated with each of plurality of consumers, the user interface provides real-time access, by way of a computer network, to the maintenance-related informational report; and

a maintenance analysis engine coupled to the computer server, the database, and the web portal, the maintenance analysis engine configured to;

determine an acceptable range of values for the aircraft dataset within at least one data field of the plurality of data fields to define a threshold for the aircraft dataset;

automatically activate a dynamic trigger to indicate a maintenance alert when the threshold is crossed;

derive a performance indication for at least one operational source of the plurality of operational sources by determining one or more performance trends of the aircraft dataset;

associate with the maintenance alert a notification having a status level indicative of a maintenance condition for the at least one operational source;

combine the performance indication and the notification into the maintenance-related informational report that forecasts need for preventative aircraft maintenance; and

automatically deliver the maintenance-related informational report to the web portal for retrieval by at least one consumer of the plurality of consumers.

23. A computer program comprising computer program means adapted to perform the steps of utilizing an aircraft dataset from an operational source;

parsing the aircraft dataset into a data field;

determining an acceptable range of values for the aircraft dataset within the data field to define a threshold for the aircraft dataset;

automatically activating a dynamic trigger to indicate a maintenance alert when the threshold is crossed;

deriving a performance indication for the operational source by determining one or more performance trends of the aircraft dataset;

associating with the maintenance alert a notification having a status level indicative of a maintenance condition for the operational source;

combining the performance indication and the notification into an electronic report that forecasts need for preventative aircraft maintenance; and

automatically delivering the electronic report to a predetermined location for retrieval by a consumer, when the computer program is run on a computer.

24. A computer program as claimed in claim 23, embodied on a computer-readable medium.