Abstract:
The invention relates to an asset performance management system to link asset suppliers, asset users and an asset manager. The system includes a data store to store asset related information in accounts held by respective asset suppliers and users. The system also includes an Interface maintained by the asset manager to provide and central access to the database by asset suppliers and users, for them to enter, modify and view asset related data in permitted accounts, and to enable communications between the asset suppliers and users. The system further includes a reporting function operated by the asset manager to monitor asset performance and provide asset performance assessments for assets in the accounts to the respective account holders. In a further aspect, the invention relates to a method of providing asset performance management to suppliers and users of assets.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0002]    This invention relates to asset performance management and, more particularly to a system of, and method for, asset performance management.  
           [0003]    2. Description of the Prior Art  
           [0004]    Traditionally providers of asset management systems have catered to the needs of the client, the asset user. As a result, asset management systems have consisted of software programs which have been installed and placed on the client&#39;s premises with access to records available only to the client&#39;s staff, the users. There have been a number of finance companies that have gone the next step and offered asset management to their leasing clients. In this scenario, the software is installed on the client&#39;s premises and the financier takes responsibility in updating asset information. Attempts at web enabling such a system, have merely allowed the user access to the software via the web to limited information regarding the assets.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0005]    Broadly, according to a first aspect,&#39; the invention provides an asset performance management system to link asset suppliers, asset users and an asset manager, the system comprising:  
           [0006]    a data store to store asset related information in accounts held by respective asset suppliers and users;  
           [0007]    an interface maintained by the asset manager to provide and control access to the database by asset suppliers and users, for them to enter, modify and view asset related data in permitted accounts and to enable communications between the asset suppliers and users;  
           [0008]    a reporting function operated by the asset manager to monitor asset performance and provide asset performance assessments for assets in the accounts to the respective account holders.  
           [0009]    The assessment may include a history of the assets performance, and a measure of the performance related to a benchmark for that asset. The assessments may be displayed as graphical reports. The assessments may enable the asset user to measure the effectiveness of assets deployed and to provide feedback to the asset supplier.  
           [0010]    A further feature of the invention is that all contracts pertaining to an asset, such as the Lease Contract or the Service Contract may be scanned and stored against the asset record. This allows the asset supplier and user to view the exact document which was originally signed off.  
           [0011]    The asset supplier may be a dealer of office equipment r any other commercially utilised equipment. Information subscribed by the asset suppliers may include technical specifications pertaining to the particular assets, for example office equipment.  
           [0012]    The asset user may de a client of multiple asset suppliers, who leases equipment from these asset suppliers.  
           [0013]    The data store may be a computer database or repository—The interface may be an Internet website which is in communication with the data store. An advantage of implementing the system on the Internet is that asset suppliers and users can communicate through the Interface without the need for enabling software. The system interfaces with clients&#39; and suppliers&#39; systems. A further advantage of the invention is that asset suppliers and users can view or modify remotely, 24 hours a day by simply accessing the system via a web browser.  
           [0014]    The interface may enable the asset user to log a service call to a service agent provided by the asset supplier in response to equipment failure. Furthermore the interface means may enable the asset user to check the status of previously logged calls whilst also enabling the asset supplier to inform the asset user when a logged call has been actioned or remedied.  
           [0015]    The Invention may further Include a ‘QuikFix’ facility consisting of information supplied by asset suppliers to enable asset users to quickly receive solutions in response to asset failures.  
           [0016]    Each asset may have a unique identification code stored as information in the data store. Furthermore, information stored in the data store may include the asset&#39;s geographical location. A floor plan of a users&#39; premises may additionally be linked to the data store. The location of each asset may be stored as coordinates on the associated floor plan.  
           [0017]    Monitoring of the assets&#39; performance may include the real time tracking of the asset&#39;s location. T4 facilitate tracking of an asset, an asset reader may be attached to each asset. The asset reader may transmit within the radio frequency spectrum and may transmit the unique identification code together with the coordinates of the assets location. The transmitted unique code and assets location may be detected by the asset performance management system and the assets location updated in the data store.  
           [0018]    An advantage of such s facility is that it alleviates the need for users to manually update the data store each time an assets is moved. A further advantage is that the facility is capable of tracking the physical location and movement of assets throughout an organisation. Furthermore, when the floor plan of a users premises where assets are located is associated with the date store, a user Is able to search the floor plan and view the various assets located on that floor. As the data exists in real time, the floor plan image will also indicate movement between points an a, floor.  
           [0019]    The asset reader may define parameters outlining at which coordinates on the floor plan an asset is authorised to be located. The asset may further include an alarm which may be automatically activated should the asset be removed from the within an authorised location. The alarm may be in the form of an email, sms message, or the like. The system may therefore be used as an asset security system.  
           [0020]    Broadly, according to a second aspect the invention provides asset performance management to suppliers and users of assets, comprising the steps of:  
           [0021]    storing asset related information in accounts held toy respective asset suppliers and users; storing asset related information in accounts held toy respective asset suppliers and users;  
           [0022]    maintaining an interface to provide and control access to the database by asset suppliers and users, for them to enter, modify and view asset related data in permitted accounts, and to enable communications between the asset suppliers and users;  
           [0023]    monitoring the performance of assets in the accounts and providing asset performance assessments for assets in the accounts to the respective account holders. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0024]    Examples of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 1 is a flow chart of the asset performance management system;  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 2 is a homepage of a website of an asset manager providing a service in accordance with the invention;  
         [0027]    [0027]FIG. 3 is a window that is displayed on activating a button from the homepage;  
         [0028]    [0028]FIG. 4 is a window that is displayed can activating a button from FIG. 3:  
         [0029]    [0029]FIG. 5 is a window that is displayed on activating a button from FIG. 4;  
         [0030]    [0030]FIG. 6 is a window that is displayed on activating a button from FIG. 5;  
         [0031]    [0031]FIG. 7 is a window that Is displayed on activating a button from FIG. 6;  
         [0032]    [0032]FIG. 8 is a window that is displayed on activating a button from FIG. 7;  
         [0033]    [0033]FIG. 9 is a window that is displayed on activating a button from FIG. 8;  
         [0034]    [0034]FIG. 10 is a window that is displayed on activating a button from the homepage;  
         [0035]    [0035]FIG. 11 Is a window that is displayed on activating a button from FIG. 10;  
         [0036]    [0036]FIG. 12 is a window that is displayed on activating a button from FIG. 1;  
         [0037]    [0037]FIG. 13 is a window that is displayed on activating a button from FIG. 11 or FIG. 12;  
         [0038]    [0038]FIG. 14 is a window that is displayed on activating a button from FIG. 4 or FIG. 10;  
         [0039]    [0039]FIG. 15 is a window that Is displayed on activating a button from FIG. 14;  
         [0040]    [0040]FIG. 16 is a window that is displayed on activating a button from FIG. 15;  
         [0041]    [0041]FIG. 17 is a window that is displayed on activating a button from FIG. 16;  
         [0042]    [0042]FIG. 18 is a window that is displayed on activating a button from the homepage;  
         [0043]    [0043]FIG. 19 is a window that is displayed on activating a button from FIG. 18;  
         [0044]    [0044]FIG. 20 is a window that is displayed on activating a button from FIG. 19;  
         [0045]    [0045]FIG. 21 is a window that is displayed ors activating a button from the homepage;  
         [0046]    [0046]FIG. 22 is a window that is displayed on activating a button from FIG. 21; and  
         [0047]    [0047]FIG. 23 is a window that is displayed on activating a button from FIG. 2. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0048]    [0048]FIG. 1 shows an asset performance management system  1  with a data store In the form of an updateable database  2 , an interface to the database  2  In the form of website  3 , the website  3  accessible via a computer  4 . The database  2  stores information in accounts  5  held by asset suppliers and asset users who in this example are office equipment dealers  6  and their clients  7  who procure office equipment respectively. An asset manager  6  allows for the creation of accounts  5 . and maintains the website  3  through which the office equipment dealers  6  and their clients  7  access their accounts  5 . Individual pieces of office equipment  9  have radio frequency asset readers  9   a  attached. The asset reader  9   a  transmits within: the radio frequency spectrum a unique identification code together with the coordinates of the assets location. The transmitted unique code and assets location are detected by the asset performance management system and stored in the database  2 .  
         [0049]    Window  10  of FIG. 2 shows the main console of the web enabled asset management system. An equipment dealer or a client of theirs, having logged on to the web-site of the asset manager is connected to the main console  10 . The main console is where the equipment dealers and their clients, or people authorised by the dealers and clients, can navigate to different parts of the system. The user, who may be an equipment dealer or a client can “Modify an Asset” by clicking button  12 , generate a report by clinking the “Reporting” button  15  or lodge an “Asset Inquiry” by clicking button  11 . Furthermore a client may wish to “Log a Service Call”  13  in relation to a particular piece of equipment which the client is currently leasing. An equipment dealer may wish to “Check Service Calls”  14  previously logged by a client of theirs.  
         [0050]    A client may need to determine where within their promises a particular piece of equipment is housed—The client can do so by clicking the “locate” button  17 . Alternatively, a client may want to “search the floor plan &#39;! 8  of their premises in order to audit the different types of equipment present on that floor. Such options are available for equipment equipped with radio frequency asset readers.  
         [0051]    By clicking on “Asset Inquiry”  11 , the user is connected to window  20 , FIG. 3. A serial number or asset identification number (Id#) associated with a particular asset can be entered into field  21 _if the asset identification number is not known, button  22  is activated which opens a subsidiary window  23 , and allows for the asset to be searched according to different headings. A client for example may search according to a supplier name and/or that supplier&#39;s location; alternatively they may want to list all the assets available. An equipment dealer may search, for example, according to the assets that are currently being repaired, the equipment model arid/or the location of the  10  equipment.  
         [0052]    Window  30  of FIG. 4 shows the result of searching according to “All Assets”. A spreadsheet  31  lists Information in columns according to “Category” 32, “Make” 33, “Model” 34, “Asset ID#” 35, “State” 36, “Location” 37, “Cost Centre” 38, “Supplier” 39 and “Service Provider” 40. For example, line  41  i 5  indicates that an Epson Stylus Colour 600 Printer with an Asset ID# of AL00000397 is currently leased to the occupier at 227 Elizabeth Street in the State of NSW. The supplier and service provider for the printer is Danka and all cost centre inquiries are to be directed to the help desk. By clicking on the hyperlink field  42  the user can view a full description of the asset.  
         [0053]    Window  50  of FIG. 5 provides a full description of an Infotec 4220MF Photocopier currently leased to Global Resources Pty Ltd of Sydney South, 100 NSW Australia. This information is contained in box  51  in the top portion of window  50 . Further information may indicate the “Room”  52  and “Building”  53  which the equipment is housed to make the process of locating and remedying  25  the problem more efficient. Additionally, the “Status”  54  and “Current State”  55  of the photocopier may be furnished. Further Information is included in the lower portion of window  50  and Includes the photocopiers ‘Tag Number”  56 , “Serial Number”  57 , “Licence Number”  58 , the date with which the order for the photocopier was placed  59  and the date when the photocopier was installed  60 , the date with which it is due to be returned  61  or disposed of  62 , the clients “Insurance Company”  63 , “Insurance Policy” number  64  and “Expiry Date”  65 , the asset “Suppliers la#”  66  and the “Service Agents IDW”  67 , the asset “Suppliers Name”  68  and the “Service Agents” Name  59 . Furthermore, “Notes” may be added  70  and an “Audit Trail” established  71 . If the equipment is off  35  hire, there may be information entered into its availability  72 .  
         [0054]    Clicking the “General” button  75  provides identification information, dates pertaining to the asset, notarising the supplier and the service agent. Clicking the “Components” button  76  provides a list of additional components attached to the asset, The “Contracts” button  77  lists all contracts pertaining to the asset  5  with any available corresponding document. The “Topology” button  78  lists all Items attached to this asset in the network: Upstream, Downstream and peer to peer. The “Related Items” button  79  lists all Help desk calls related td the asset. “Financial” information is detailed under button  80 . Additional or miscellaneous items such as the recording of meter readings model specifications and images are located by clicking on the “Additional Details” button  81 .  
         [0055]    When clicking Button  81 , the user is connected to Window  90 , FIG. 6. Users can dick on the “View Image” button  81  to view the graphical representation  92  of the asset Model. By clicking on the “View API” button  93 , the asset users can view the asset performance indiostor  94  for that month for the particular asset they are querying. The API consists of a weighted average of asset performance indicators such as asset down-time and response times. The API is graphically available to show the overall API of various assets and assist in decisions regarding scrapping or upgrading or retaining of equipment.  
         [0056]    Clicking the “Related Items” button  79  of FIG. 5, opens window  100  of FIG. 7. Within window  100  meter readings are listed  102  for items that require meter readings, such as photocopiers and printers. For example, line  104  informs the user that the meter was read on 18/02/01 at 207:00:00, the meter recorded 1 234 and its status was valid. Additionally, activating button  105  connects to window  50  of FIG. 5. Also contained within window  100  are fields  106  and  107  for information entry associated with “Custodian Name” and “Physical U sera&#39; respectively.  
         [0057]    Window  110  of FIG. 8 displays the “Industry Benchmarks” for the Danka Professional Photocopier. The benchmarks for this type of equipment include the “Mean Copy Volume between Services”  111 , the “Downtime in Operable Hours” (as a %)  112 , the “Operable Hours per Month”  113 , and the “Mean Copies per Month”  114 . This information is later used in the reporting section to visually measure asset performance against the industry benchmarks.  
         [0058]    Window  120  of FIG. 9 provides the full asset specifications for the equipment that includes information such as “Height”, “Length”, “Weight”, “Category Name”, “Make” and “Model”.  
         [0059]    From the main console window  10  of FIG. 2 users can activate button  12  to modify an asset. Window  130  of FIG. 10 displays a spreadsheet of all assets leased by a particular client. The user, if wanting to change the details of the Infotech 4220MF Photocopier activates button  131 . The user is presented with a subsequent window  140  of FIG. 11 and is provided with a series of options. The user may “Add Costs”  141 , “Add Readings”  142 , “Change the Asset location”  143 , “Change the Asset Cost Centre”  144 , “Change the Asset Custodian”  145  or “Change the Insurance Details”  146  of the asset. To add costs, the user activates button  141  which subsequently opens window  150  of FIG. 12. To select a cost type, for example “service maintenance” or “toner cartridge replacement”, the user activates button  151 , which opens up a subsidiary window  152 , The user can then select an appropriate cast type, which is automatically entered into field  153 . The user may then input further details into the “Description” field  154  and any “Associated Costs” into field  155 . Clicking button  156  saves all data entered.  
         [0060]    To “Add Readings” the equipment dealer activates button  142  from  20  window  150 , FIG. 12 or window  14 (x. FIG. 11, Activating button  142  opens window  160  of FIG. 13. The equipment dealer enters the meter reading into field  151  and the date of the reading into field  1162 . Clicking button  153  saves the data. A similar convention in order to change and add details exists for all the other categories  141 - 146  in the “Modify Asset” section.  
         [0061]    Alternately, from window  30  of FIG. 4 or window  130  of FIG. 10, the user can log a service call after having selected the asset to which the service call relates. The call is logged by activating button  13 , which opens window  170  of FIG. 14. The user is required to classify the problem by its type. For known models, preloaded error codes are displayed by activating button  171 . If the error code is present it is selected and automatically appears in the field “Problem Type”  172 . Alternately, data may be directly entered into field  172 . Additional “Details” may be entered into field  173 . If the “QuikFix” button  174  is displayed then this means that a ready solution is available. All known service faults for an equipment model are pre-loaded into the system, along with known solutions. This provides instant resolution therefore minimizing the need for a service call to be lagged. The user will click this button which opens window  98 D of FIG. 15. in the “QuikFix” section, a resolution of the problem  181  and a step by step guide  182  is provided. The user has the choice to state whether the problem was solved using the QuikFix method by activating button  183  or to “Continue Logging the Gall” by activating button  154 . If the user chooses to continue to log the call lay clicking on button  184 , window  190  of FIG. 16 opens so that the user can add additional details regarding the problem into fold box  192  and then proceed to click on the “Log Service Call Button”  194 . Once the call has been logged, a message appears window  210  of FIG. 17. The message notifies the user of the Help Desk Reference Number  204  for to future correspondence and the Service Agent  202  with which the call has been logged. The service agent Is notified by either e-mail, fax or tele-messaging and can act on the call, as well as provide resolution through the Help Desk.  
         [0062]    From the Main Console window  10  of FIG. 2, or from within numerous other windows, a user can click on the “Check Service Calls” section by activating button  14 . Window  210  of FIG. 18 opens. If the client knows the “Help Desk Reference Number” they will enter this number into field  202 . If they cannot recall it, they can search for service calls by clicking button  204 , which pulls up a subsidiary window  205 . They can search for calls by fields such as: “All Open Calls”, “All Resolved or Closed calls”, By the “Asset ID#”, by the “Requestor”, or by the “Date Submitted”. If the user chooses, “All Open Calls” a summary window  220  of FIG. 19 appears. The user selects the help desk query that they need to look at by clicking button  222 , and the user is linked to window  230  of FIG. 20. The “Status”  232  of the call can be viewed and an equipment dealer can close a problem by entering data into the  25  “Closure Code”  234 .  
         [0063]    Window  240  of FIG. 21 is accessible from licking the “Reporting” button  15  from the Main console. Information viewable in FIG. 8 is incorporated into a reporting function which is maintained, by the account manager who, generates reports which are available to the user. A variety of reports including “Asset Register”  241 , “Asset Performance”  242  and “Asset Cost”  243  are available for each asset. Upon choosing the type of report, user can select a variable and period over which to produce the report. For example, the user can choose If they would like to report on a particular “State”  244  or “Location”  24 , 5 , a particular “Cost Centre”  246 , “Category”  24 ?, “Make”  248 , “Model”  249 , or “Service Agent”  250 . Additionally, the user can click the “Sort Order” button  251  so as to sort the dates by any one of these variables.  
         [0064]    The “Date From” , 252  and “Date To”  253  buttons provide the period with which to produce the report. The user then activates the “Produce Report” button  254  an example of which is shown in FIG. 22. Other reports include “Asset Downtime Reports”, “Help Desk Query Reports”, “Service Response Time Reports”, “Service Level Agreement Monitoring”, “Reporting against Industry Benchmarks” and “Product Specific Reports”.  
         [0065]    Window  250  of FIG. 23 is accessible from clicking the “Locate Asset” button  17  from the Main console window (FIG. 2)_The user, wanting to locate the Infotec 422UMF Photocopier with serial number 39tJSD&gt;fYNM, clicks button  17 . The user Is then prompted to enter known information pertaining to the asset such as its serial number or model—Once the asset has been identified, FIG. 23 opens which shows the floor plan of the premises of Global Resources Pty Ltd. The asset  252 , which the user wants to locate, is identified as being in the bottom corner of the eastern wing. The user can obtain full details of the asset  252  by double clicking on the icon, Doubling clicking will take the user back to a window format as shown in FIG. 5.  
         [0066]    Alternatively, FIG. 23 may be opened by clicking the ‘Search by Floor Plan’ button  18  from the main console. The user having clicked button  18  is presented with a scroll down subsidiary window. The user may click the &#39;show all assets&#39; field in relation to a particular location. Each item that is currently leased within the selected location will be shown. Similarly, double clicking on any of the assets shown will take the user to a window format as shown in FIG. 5. Such a facility is advantageous far asset auditing and asset security.  
         [0067]    A further embodiment of the invention include Wireless Application Protocol (WAP) enabling the website so those users can have direct access via a WAP enabled mobile phone.  
         [0068]    The system is not restricted to office equipment dealers and their clients. An asset supplier who providers a service to a client may lease, hire or contract equipment or labor to meet the needs of industries including telecommunications, financial, medical, entertainment and hospitality. The clients may be large multinational or international business facilities and institutions that require leasing of industry specific equipment for multiple premises over periods of several years. Alternatively the clients may be small local based companies who only require the asset suppliers services for shorter time periods over weeks or possibly months.  
         [0069]    It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that numerous variations and/or modifications may be made to the invention as shown in the specific embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as broadly described. The present embodiments are, therefore, to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive.