GB2500035A

GB2500035A - Infrastructure management

Info

Publication number: GB2500035A
Application number: GB201204058A
Authority: GB
Inventors: James Boyle; Richard John Jeffries
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2012-03-07
Filing date: 2012-03-07
Publication date: 2013-09-11
Also published as: GB201204058D0

Abstract

The use of near field communication (NFC) tags, e.g. RFID tags, to identify assets, e.g. a boiler, compressor or brake block, in an engineering enterprise, commercial or household environment and then, using this identification, display information (such as outstanding tasks) on a mobile or handheld device, the information preferably being retrieved from a back office database.

Description

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Title

Mobile Asset Management

Background

This invention relates to the use of Near Field Communications (NFC) Tag's in asset and infrastructure maintenance, fault-finding and repair.

To understand what components are fitted, the locations, and configuration levels/serial numbers etc..- this invention uses NFC technology with a 2-way link via a mobile device to back-office systems to support information flow on work activities, processes and technical/safety instructions

In many organisations when equipment, system, machinery and assets are installed, then the tracking of the associatted components is either not recorded or when changed or upgraded then the business systems have not been accordingly updated. Further access to information relating to individual components or equipment is often reliant on the ERP back office systems being accessed either pre-or-post visit by field personnel.

Statement of invention

Information on asset is presented as multiple navigatable pages of text. When a TAG is scanned information on (but not limited to) the following is retrieved from a remote system

® Asset Management

HI Inventory Management

® Preventative Maintenance

[x] Work Orders

® Maintenance scheduling

(¥] Safety Information & Warnings

0 Reports and Dashboards

® Mobile Maintenance

00 Drawings

[x] Condition Monitoring

(¥] Pricing Information - Labour / Materials

The use of the NFC tag technology is to identify assets and/or components. The link between the NFC tag and/or chip will be by either mobile phone, handheld device or computer/pad device.

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The link will be made using TCP/IP sockets from the device to individual business systems either direct or via an intermediary system. The communication will optionally use SSL for traffic encryption.

Access will then be displayed on the handheld/phone device relating to the scanned asset/component in relation (but not limited) to the following asset number, component number, serial number, maintenance information, fault history, maintenance and faultfinding information, guides, outstanding work orders/task orders, check sheets against inspection/maintenance activities, safety checks, COSHH data sheets, calibration information, tooling required, compentency and/or certification required to perform each task/work order.

The ability to check off tasks, sign work/task orders either by physical signature onto a touch screen, body metrics or by security code/token

The ability to augment procedures on the mobile device. Use of speech recognition,

mobile phone sensors and software to perform this augmentation.

The ability to store information when changing or modifying assets and/or components with the serial number and mod/configuration status of both hardware and software programs as applicable, to enter location either within a system, an asset or within an infrastructure.

The NFC tags can be purchased and placed on the assets independently or be attached to components and systems when delivered to the asset or infrastructure by supplier of said system/component.

Asset indentification via either custom payload (NDEF or raw data) or by unique TAG ID of NFC tag.

Advantages

The use of Mobile NFC's and Radio Frequency Identification Tags (RFID's) provides a means to have remote access to the databases and business systems relating to components and/systems in the field.

The operative will have access to asset history, procedures, drawings, work orders or task orders and will be capable to use this information to guide them in their work of maintenance to ensure that all checks/inspections are conducted, to also assist with decision making and provide a guide in relation to faults and repairs.

The management will have assurance that all the assets have been attended with

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information on personnel, date/time that work was conducted and location of the equipment being capable of identification.

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Detailed description

In this description the following terms are used and meant as follows

A asset:- A fixed piece of equipment forming part of the engineering enterprise, e.g. A compressor, brake block, signal equipment, boiler, alarm controller in a specific location x component:- The nearest low level line replaceable piece of equipment performing the role of the asset. E.g. a compressor serial number 123456, a brake block serial no 12345 or a sub-component such a valve or air drier within the main component.

^ consolidated records database (CRD):- A database that consolidates information about an asset and component into a centralised records store. The information is consolidated by either injecting from the downstream system or retrieved by the CRD itself. The communication is two-way and the CRD can write back to the downstream system as asset and component information changes.

x record:- A unique entry in the CRD that identifies an asset or component.

An engineer uses the handheld device to swipe a NFC tag in the field. The TAG either from its payload or via its unique identifier allows the handset to retrieve information about the asset and component the TAG has been applied to. The handset then renders this information to the engineer allowing him/her to perform duties on the asset such as (but not limited to) the following x Work orders. A person can see existing and previous work orders on the asset. A person can update, close and raise new work orders against this asset by entering information into the handset which then updates the downstream buisness system directly or (via) the CRD. The work order can be updated with tooling used and other specifics of the job directly from the handset.

^ Verification: A person can provide evidencing and verification of tasks performed by using the technology of the handset such as drawn signatures, voice recognition and photographic evidencing. A person using the handset is uniquely identified by either NFC tag/card, login details or body metrics. Then a person's competence to perform a task is verified by the CRD or a business system and allows/disallows updates to a work order.

x Inventory management: A person can see and update all static information pertaining to the assets (such as including but not limited to serial number, configuration, re-inspection, expiry date)

x Preventative maintenance: A person can raise new work orders directly from the handset.

x Asset management: A person can replace the component that is associated to the asset in field (from the handset) by swiping the tag of the replacement component and having the handset update the association of the new components tag to the record of the asset.

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^ Maintenance scheduling: A person can see all maintenance procedures applicable to the asset from the handset. Maintenance work orders that are applicable are also fed to the handset when the components tag is swiped.

00 Reports and Dashboards - Information collated by the CRD is presentable outside the handset as reports and/or dashboards.

[x] An engineer will have access via the handheld device to all designated CRD business systems so as to provide details of such as, equipment history, previous maintenance, drawings etc..

0 Mobile Maintenance - A person can use the handset and tag to raise maintenance work orders in the field to circumvent or augment existing maintenance scheduling. (U Condition Monitoring - The handset can record current condition of a component by using the sensors and technology of the handset (such as but not limited to a camera, accelerometer)

(U Pricing Information - CRD records component replacement history and time taken to complete work orders/task. This information is used in pricing labour / materials in the enterprise.

(U Other relevant information about the asset and/or component.

If the asset is to be replaced the handset will swipe the NFC tag of the component that is replacing the existing asset and update the record in the central consolidated repository for the component with details of the new tag. All future swipes of this tag will then retrieve information about this component and asset.

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Claims

1. The use of Near Field Communication (NFC) Technology in asset and infrastructure management

2. Use of mobile devices to read NFC tags to either retrieve data stored on the mobile device or to communicate with company business systems either directly or over secured channel.

3. An ability to operate either as card/reading/writing where the NFC device is able to read or change information and or instructions stored in the NFC/RFID TAG or contactless card.

4. A system when combined with access to communication network to link the NFC device, handheld device and back office systems connected to the network,

enabling them to act as a means of connecting the world around the asset or infrastructure with the world online.

5. A user interface, such as a screen and keyboard on a mobile phone or other handheld device or computer that can be used to provide instant feedback to the user based on the actions they perform and to view and act upon data either stored in the device inclusive of calibration status of tooling used or via a communication network to back office systems.

6. To use all features of a mobile device as augmentation to the user interface. For example but not limited to speech recognition, text to speech, accelerometer.

7. To be capable of transferring peer-to-peer between two handheld devices, i.e. to capture the data on one tag and transfer it to another.

8. To provide checklists of inspections for management relating to but not limited to safety, quality, cost, delivery, and people. To record all inspections of work activities relating to regular vigilance and maintenance of assets.