Computer program product, system and method for field management and mobile inspection

• US 8,631,161 B2
• Filed: 09/30/2009
• Issued: 01/14/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Latista Technologies, Inc. (Oracle Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Latista Technologies, Inc. (Oracle Corporation)
• Inventors: Lavrov, Andrei B., Tishin, Anatoliy V., Ramsey, Christopher D.
• Primary Examiner(s): RECEK, JASON D
• Application Number:
  US12/570,849
• Publication Number:
  US 20100082842A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,567 Days
• Field of Search: 709/248, 709/250
• US Class Current: 709/248
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/29 Geographical information databases
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06311 Scheduling, planning or task assignment for a person or group
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/063114 Status monitoring or status determination for a person or group
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06313 Resource planning in a project environment
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0637 Strategic management or analysis, e.g. setting a goal or target of an organisation; Planning actions based on goals; Analysis or evaluation of effectiveness of goals
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1095 Replication or mirroring of data, e.g. scheduling or transport for data synchronisation between network nodes

Abstract

Disclosed herein is a computer program product, system and method to provide field management and mobile inspection via an online platform web-application for use by construction and capital projects management and property management firms and their subcontractors/vendors. More particularly, in an aspect, use of an automated field management process includes a terminal-based solution (i.e., a Tablet-PC) for field-based personnel that synchronizes with a server for office personnel and dynamically generates field management documents, reports and other information. In further aspects, field management resources may be generated that are context-specific. A visual punch list may be generated using area plans and special codes to facilitate automated field management processes. Rules may be pre-established by users to expedite field management processes. Data records may be synchronized among multiple mobile terminals and at least one server.

Claims

1. A method of field management using a computer, said computer comprising a processor, memory and communications interface, said computer programmed to perform said method, said method comprising:

receiving a request for an automated field management process via said communications interface, wherein said automated field management process directs, via said communications interface interfacing with a plurality of terminals, a plurality of users to perform a plurality of tasks;

generating, in response to said request, at least one field management resource via said processor and memory;

receiving data associated with said at least one field management resource via said communications interface;

analyzing said data and said at least one field management resource via said processor and memory;

reporting at least one issue via said communications interface;

generating at least one field management report via said processor, memory and communications interface; and

synchronizing said data between a first terminal chosen from said plurality of terminals, a second terminal chosen from said plurality of terminals and a server, via said processor, memory and communications interface, said synchronizing comprises;

identifying the portions of said data that are unsynchronized on said first terminal by examining at least one timestamp indicative of when said data was last changed on said first terminal and at least one timestamp indicative of when said data was last changed on said server;

updating, on said server and said second terminal, said identified portions of said data that are unsynchronized; and

updating, on said server, said at least one timestamp indicative of when said data was last changed on said server;

wherein said automated field management process is a predefined workflow requiring said plurality of users to perform said plurality of tasks in a specific order.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said automated field management resource comprises at least one field management document.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein said field management document comprises at least one inspection checklist.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said at least one field management resource comprises at least one standard information template.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said at least one field management resource is context-specific.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising selection of user-established rules, wherein said rules assist in:

receiving a request for an automated field management process via said communications interface;

generating at least one field management resource via said processor and memory;

receiving data associated with said at least one field management resource via said communications interface;

analyzing said data and said at least one field management resource via said processor and memory;

reporting at least one issue via said communications interface; and

generating at least one field management report via said processor, memory and communications interface.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving a request for an automated field management process further comprises using an ID for identification of said automated field management process.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein said at least one field management resource further comprises user-established metrics and guidelines.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein generating at least one field management report further comprises notification of a plurality of interested parties utilizing one or more other terminals that said at least one field management report is available.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein said analyzing said data and said at least one field management resource comprises:

determining a congruence of said data with at least one pre-established metric describing a field management task.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein said reporting at least one issue comprises:

using information from said receiving data associated with said at least one field management resource and information from said analyzing said data and said at least one field management resource.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein said generating at least one field management report comprises:

using information from said receiving data associated with said at least one field management resource, information from said analyzing said data and said at least one field management resource, and information from said reporting at least one issue.

13. A computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer usable medium having control logic stored therein for causing a computer to facilitate field management processes, said control logic comprising:

first computer readable program code means for causing the computer to receive a request for an automated field management process, wherein said automated field management process directs, via interfacing with a plurality of terminals, a plurality of users to perform a plurality of tasks;

second computer readable program code means for causing the computer to generate, in response to said request, at least one field management resource;

third computer readable program code means for causing the computer to receive data associated with said at least one field management resource;

fourth computer readable program code means for causing the computer to analyze said data and said at least one field management resource;

fifth computer readable program code means for causing the computer to report at least one issue;

sixth computer readable program code means for causing the computer to generate at least one field management report; and

seventh computer readable program code means for causing the computer to synchronize said data between a first terminal chosen from said plurality of terminals, a second terminal chosen from said plurality of terminals and a server, wherein causing the computer to synchronize said data comprises;

identifying the portions of said data that are unsynchronized on said first terminal by examining at least one timestamp indicative of when said data was last changed on said first terminal and at least one timestamp indicative of when said data was last changed on said server; and

updating, on said server and said second terminal, said identified portions of said data that are unsynchronized; and

updating, on said server, said at least one timestamp indicative of when said data was last changed on said server;

wherein said automated field management process is a pre-defined workflow requiring said plurality of users to perform said plurality of tasks in a specific order.

14. The computer program product of claim 13, wherein said automated field management resource comprises at least one field management document.

15. The computer program product of claim 14, wherein said at least one field management document comprises at least one inspection checklist.

16. The computer program product of claim 13, wherein said at least one field management resource comprises at least one standard information template.

17. The computer program product of claim 13, wherein said at least one field management resource comprises context-specific information.

18. The computer program product of claim 13, further comprising:

eighth computer readable program code means for causing the computer to select user-established rules that assist said control logic in causing a computer to facilitate field management, said control logic comprising;

first computer readable program code means for causing the computer to receive a request for an automated field management process;

second computer readable program code means for causing the computer to generate at least one field management resource;

third computer readable program code means for causing the computer to receive data associated with said at least one field management resource;

fourth computer readable program code means for causing the computer to analyze said data and said at least one field management resource;

fifth computer readable program code means for causing the computer to report at least one issue; and

sixth computer readable program code means for causing the computer to generate at least one field management report.

19. The computer program product of claim 13, wherein receiving a request for an automated field management process further comprises using an ID for identification of said automated field management process.

20. The computer program product of claim 13, wherein said at least one field management resource further comprises user-established metrics and guidelines.

21. The computer program product of claim 13, wherein generating said at least one field management report further comprises control logic stored therein for causing said computer to notify a plurality of interested parties utilizing one or more other terminals that said at least one field management report is available.

22. The computer program product of claim 13, wherein said fourth computer readable program code means for causing the computer to analyze said data and said at least one field management resource, comprises:

ninth computer readable program code means for causing the computer to determine a congruence of said data with at least one pre-established metric describing a field management task.

23. The computer program product of claim 13, wherein said fifth computer readable program code means for causing the computer to report at least one issue, comprises:

tenth computer readable program code means for causing the computer to use information from said third computer readable program code means for causing the computer to receive data associated with said at least one field management resource and information from said fourth computer readable program code means for causing the computer to analyze said data and said at least one field management resource.

24. The computer program product of claim 13, wherein said sixth computer readable program code means for causing the computer to generate at least one field management report, comprises:

eleventh computer readable program code means for causing the computer to use information from said third computer readable program code means for causing the computer to receive data associated with said at least one field management resource, information from said fourth computer readable program code means for causing the computer to analyze said data and said at least one field management resource, and information from said fifth computer readable program code means for causing the computer to report at least one issue.

25. A system for facilitating automated field management processes, said system comprising:

at least one server, said at least one server comprising;

a memory device;

a communications interface, disposed in network communication with a plurality of terminals; and

a processor disposed in communication with the memory device, wherein the processor is programmed to perform;

receiving a request for an automated field management process via said communications interface, wherein said automated field management process directs, via said communications interface interfacing with said plurality of terminals, a plurality of users to perform a plurality of tasks;

generating, in response to said request, at least one field management resource via said processor and memory device;

receiving data associated with said at least one field management resource via said communications interface;

analyzing said data and said at least one field management resource via said processor and memory device;

reporting at least one issue via said communications interface;

generating at least one field management report via said processor, memory and communications interface; and

synchronizing said data between a first terminal chosen from said plurality of terminals, a second terminal chosen from said plurality of terminals and said server, said synchronizing comprises;

identifying the portions of said data that are unsynchronized on said first terminal by examining at least one timestamp indicative of when said data was last changed on said first terminal and at least one timestamp indicative of when said data was last changed on said server;

updating, on said server and said second terminal, said identified portions of said data that are unsynchronized; and

updating, on said server, said at least one timestamp indicative of when said data was last changed on said server;

wherein said automated field management process is a pre-defined specific order.

26. The system of claim 25, wherein an automated field management resource comprises at least one field management document.

27. The system of claim 26, wherein said at least one field management document comprises at least one inspection checklist.

28. The system of claim 25, wherein said at least one field management resource comprises at least one standard information template.

29. The system of claim 25, wherein said at least one field management resource comprises context-specific information.

30. The system of claim 25, further comprising said processor programmed to select user-established rules, wherein said rules assist in programming said processor to perform:

receiving a request for an automated field management process via said communications interface;

generating at least one field management resource via said processor and memory;

receiving data associated with said at least one field management resource via said communications interface;

analyzing said data and said at least one field management resource via said processor and memory;

reporting at least one issue via said communications interface; and

generating at least one field management report via said processor, memory and communications interface.

31. The system of claim 25, wherein receiving a request for said automated field management process further comprises using an ID for identification of said automated field management process.

32. The system of claim 25, wherein said at least one field management resource further comprises user-established metrics and guidelines.

33. The system of claim 25, wherein generating at least one field management report further comprises said processor operable to notify a plurality of interested parties utilizing one or more other terminals that a report is available.

34. The system of claim 25, wherein said analyzing said data and said at least one field management resource comprises:

determining a congruence of said data with at least one pre-established metric describing a field management task.

35. The system of claim 25, wherein said reporting at least one issue comprises:

using information from said receiving data associated with said at least one field management resource and information from said analyzing said data and said at least one field management resource.

36. The system of claim 25, wherein said generating at least one field management report comprises:

using information from said receiving data associated with said at least one field management resource, information from said analyzing said data and said at least one field management resource, and information from said reporting at least one issue.