Patent ID: 7031941
Filing Date: 2006-04-18
Classification: G06Q,Y10S

Abstract:
1. A method of electronically providing information about configurations of mechanical equipment for an end item, the method comprising: providing a data processor; determining at least one function of an end item; establishing, by the data processor, a functional configuration database, the functional configuration database storing a set of functional information about a desired configuration of the end item, the set of functional information comprising the at least one function of the end item; grouping the end item into a specified family of end items; establishing a logical configuration database, the logical configuration database storing a set of logical information about the desired configuration of the end item, the set of logical information comprising the grouping of the end item within the specified family of end items; recording at least one identifier that identifies the end item; establishing a physical configuration database, the physical configuration database storing a set of physical information about an actual configuration of the end item, wherein the set of physical information comprises the at least one identifier that identifies the end item; measuring conditions in which the end item operates; establishing an operational configuration database, the operational configuration database storing a set of operational information about the actual configuration of the end item, wherein the set of operational information comprises the measured conditions in which the end item operates; accessing a set of desired configuration data representative of the desired configuration of the mechanical equipment of the end item, wherein accessing the desired configuration of data comprises: providing, with the data processor, a set of first information about the desired configuration by obtaining the set of functional information comprising the at least one function of the end item from the functional configuration database and the set of operational information comprising the measured conditions in which the end item operates from the logical configuration database for the end item; accessing a set of actual configuration data representative of the actual configuration of the mechanical equipment of the end item, wherein accessing the set of actual configuration data comprises; providing, with the data processor, a set of second information about the actual configuration by obtaining the set of physical information comprising the at least one identifier that identifies the end item from the physical configuration database and the set of operational information comprising the measured conditions in which the end item operates from the operational configuration database for the actual end item; and comparing the set of first information with the set of second information to provide maintenance planning and scheduling information to a user.