Patent Number: 
Section: claims

1. A method for optimizing utilization of one or more assets, the method comprising:obtaining at an optimization processing apparatus operational data and physical condition data for one or more elements of at least one of the assets and specification data, historical maintenance data and life-cycle data for the one or more elements of the at least one of the assets;conducting with the optimization processing apparatus one or more diagnostics on the one or more elements of the at least one of the assets based on the obtained the operational data, the physical condition data, and the retrieved specification data;conducting with the optimization processing apparatus one or more prognostics on the one or more elements of the at least one of the assets based on the obtained operational data, the physical condition data, the specification data, the historical maintenance data and the life-cycle data;determining one or more optimization instructions with optimization processing apparatus for the at least one asset based on the conducted diagnostics and prognostics, wherein at least one of the conducting one or more diagnostics and the conducting one or more prognostics further comprises determining one or more maintenance needs related to at least one of the one of the one or more elements of the at least one of the assets in a near term comprising before a first designated period of time and over a long term comprising after the first designated period of time and wherein the one or more optimization instructions are further based on the determined near term and long term maintenance needs; anddisplaying with the optimization processing apparatus the determined one or more optimization instructions. 2. The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein the operational data comprises data on the performance of the one or more elements. 3. The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein the operational data comprises data on a status of one or more consumables in the at least one asset. 4. The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein the condition data comprises data on at least one of status of degradation and fault detection in the one or more elements in the at least one asset. 5. The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein the obtaining further comprises obtaining the operational data and the condition data and wherein the conducting one or more diagnostics and the conducting one or more prognostics is further based on the obtained operational and condition data. 6. The method as set forth in claim 1 further comprising recording and storing additional historical maintenance data and additional life cycle data for the one or more of the elements of the at least one of the assets with the historical maintenance data and the life-cycle data. 7. The method as set forth in claim 6 wherein the recording and storing further comprises recording and storing additional historical maintenance data and additional life cycle data for the one or more of the elements of two or more of the assets with the historical maintenance data and the life-cycle data. 8. The method as set forth in claim 1 further comprising:testing one or more elements which are substantially the same as the one or more elements of the at least one of the assets being optimized to obtain the historical maintenance data and the life-cycle data for the one or more elements of the at least one of the assets; andstoring the obtained historical maintenance data and life-cycle data for the one or more elements. 9. The method as set forth in claim 1 further comprises obtaining location related data about at least one of the assets, wherein the determining the one or more optimization instructions is further based on the obtained location related data. 10. The method as set forth in claim 9 wherein the location related data comprises at least one of a current location of the at least one of the assets, a destination of the at least one of the assets, and a proximity of the at least one of the assets to one or more service centers. 11. The method as set forth in claim 1 further comprising implementing one or more of the optimization instructions on the at least one asset. 12. The method as set forth in claim 1 further comprising obtaining data on one or more upgrades for one or more of the elements of the at least one asset, the one or more upgrades have at least one property which is different than the one or more elements had when new, wherein the determining one or more optimization instructions for the at least one asset is further based on the obtained data on the one or more upgrades. 13. The method as set forth in claim 1 further comprising obtaining cost data for replacing one or more of the elements of the at least one asset, wherein the determining the one or more optimization instructions for the at least one asset is further based on the obtained cost data. 14. The method as set forth in claim 13 further comprising obtaining data on one or more upgrades for replacing two or more of the elements of the at least one asset with a smaller number of one or more upgraded elements, wherein the determining one or more optimization instructions for the at least one asset is further based on the obtained replacement data. 15. The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein the retrieving specification data further comprises retrieving specification data for at least one of the one or more elements generated during the original manufacture of the at least one of the one or more elements. 16. The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein the obtaining the physical condition data further comprises obtaining one or more images of the one or more elements of the at least one of the assets and wherein the determining the one or more optimization instructions with the optimization processing system for the at least one asset based on the conducted diagnostics and prognostic which are further based on the obtained one or more images. 17. A non-transitory computer readable medium having stored thereon instructions for optimizing utilization of one or more assets comprising machine executable code which when executed by at least one processor, causes the processor to perform steps comprising:obtaining operational data and physical condition data for one or more elements of at least one of the assets and specification data, historical maintenance data and life-cycle data for the one or more elements of the at least one of the assets;conducting one or more diagnostics on the one or more elements of the at least one of the assets based on the obtained the operational data, the physical condition data, and the retrieved specification data;conducting one or more prognostics on the one or more elements of the at least one of the assets based on the obtained operational data, the physical condition data, the specification data, the historical maintenance data and the life-cycle data;determining one or more optimization instructions for the at least one asset based on the conducted diagnostics and prognostics, wherein at least one of the conducting one or more diagnostics and the conducting one or more prognostics further comprises determining one or more maintenance needs related to at least one of the one of the one or more elements of the at least one of the assets in a near term comprising before a first designated period of time and over a long term comprising after the first designated period of time and wherein the one or more optimization instructions are further determined based on the determined near term and long term maintenance needs; anddisplaying the determined one or more optimization instructions. 18. The medium as set forth in claim 17 wherein the operational data comprises data on the performance of the one or more elements. 19. The medium as set forth in claim 17 wherein the operational data comprises data on a status of one or more consumables in the at least one asset. 20. The medium as set forth in claim 17 wherein the condition data comprises data on at least one of status of degradation and fault detection in the one or more elements in the at least one asset. 21. The medium as set forth in claim 17 wherein the obtaining further comprises obtaining the operational data and the condition data and wherein the conducting one or more diagnostics and the conducting one or more prognostics is further based on the obtained operational and condition data. 22. The medium as set forth in claim 17 further comprising recording and storing additional historical maintenance data and additional life cycle data for the one or more of the elements of the at least one of the assets with the historical maintenance data and the life-cycle data. 23. The medium as set forth in claim 22 wherein the recording and storing further comprises recording and storing additional historical maintenance data and additional life cycle data for the one or more of the elements of two or more of the assets with the historical maintenance data and the life-cycle data. 24. The medium as set forth in claim 17 further comprising:testing one or more elements which are substantially the same as the one or more elements of the at least one of the assets being optimized to obtain the historical maintenance data and the life-cycle data for the one or more elements of the at least one of the assets; andstoring the obtained historical maintenance data and life-cycle data for the one or more elements. 25. The medium as set forth in claim 17 further comprises obtaining location related data about at least one of the assets, wherein the determining the one or more optimization instructions is further based on the obtained location related data. 26. The medium as set forth in claim 25 wherein the location related data comprises at least one of a current location of the at least one of the assets, a destination of the at least one of the assets, and a proximity of the at least one of the assets to one or more service centers. 27. The medium as set forth in claim 17 further comprising implementing one or more of the optimization instructions on the at least one asset. 28. The medium as set forth in claim 17 further comprising obtaining data on one or more upgrades for one or more of the elements of the at least one asset, the one or more upgrades have at least one property which is different than the one or more elements had when new, wherein the determining one or more optimization instructions for the at least one asset is further based on the obtained data on the one or more upgrades. 29. The medium as set forth in claim 17 further comprising obtaining cost data for replacing one or more of the elements of the at least one asset, wherein the determining the one or more optimization instructions for the at least one asset is further based on the obtained cost data. 30. The medium as set forth in claim 29 further comprising obtaining data on one or more upgrades for replacing two or more of the elements of the at least one asset with a smaller number of one or more upgraded elements, wherein the determining one or more optimization instructions for the at least one asset is further based on the obtained replacement data. 31. The medium as set forth in claim 17 wherein the retrieving specification data further comprises retrieving specification data for at least one of the one or more elements generated during the original manufacture of the at least one of the one or more elements. 32. The medium as set forth in claim 17 wherein the obtaining the physical condition data further comprises obtaining one or more images of the one or more elements of the at least one of the assets and wherein the determining the one or more optimization instructions for the at least one asset based on the conducted diagnostics and prognostics which are further based on the obtained one or more images. 33. A system for optimizing utilization of one or more assets, the system comprising:one or more data acquisition systems that obtain at least one of operational data and physical condition data for one or more elements of at least one of the assets and specification data, historical maintenance data, and life-cycle data for the one or more elements of the at least one of the assets;at least one diagnostic processing system that conducts one or more diagnostics on the one or more elements of the at least one of the assets based on the obtained the operational data, the physical condition data, and the specification data on the one or more elements;at least one prognostic processing system that conducts one or more prognostics on the one or more elements of the at least one of the assets based on the obtained operational data, the physical condition data, the specification data, the historical maintenance data, and the life-cycle data;an optimization processing system that determines one or more optimization instructions for the at least one asset based on the conducted diagnostics and prognostics from the at least one diagnostic processing system and the at least one prognostic processing system, wherein at least one of the diagnostic processing system and the prognostic processing system determines one or more maintenance needs related to at least one of the one of the one or more elements of the at least one of the assets in a near term comprising before a first designated period of time and over a long term comprising after the first designated period of time and wherein the optimization processing system determines the one or more optimization instructions further based on the determined near term and long term maintenance needs; anda display system that displays the determined one or more optimization instructions. 34. The system as set forth in claim 33 wherein the one or more sensor systems obtain the operational data which comprises data on the performance of the one or more elements. 35. The system as set forth in claim 33 wherein the one or more sensor systems obtain the operational data which comprises data on a status of one or more consumables in the at least one asset. 36. The system as set forth in claim 33 wherein the one or more sensor systems obtain the condition data which comprises data on at least one of status of degradation and fault detection in the one or more elements in the at least one asset. 37. The system as set forth in claim 33 wherein the one or more sensor systems obtain the operational data and the condition data and wherein the at least one diagnostic processing system conducts the one or more diagnostics and the at least one prognostic processing system conducts one or more prognostics further based on the obtained operational and condition data. 38. The system as set forth in claim 33 wherein the optimization processing system records and stores additional historical maintenance data and additional life cycle data for the one or more of the elements of the at least one of the assets in the one or more databases with the historical maintenance data and the life cycle data. 39. The system as set forth in claim 38 wherein the optimization processing system records and stores additional historical maintenance data and additional life cycle data for the one or more of the elements of two or more of the assets in the one or more databases with the historical maintenance data and the life cycle data. 40. The system as set forth in claim 33 further comprising at least one testing system that test one or more elements which are substantially the same as the one or more elements of the at least one of the assets being optimized to obtain the historical maintenance data and the life-cycle data for the one or more elements of the at least one of the assets, wherein the obtained historical maintenance and the life-cycle data for the one or more elements of the at least one of the assets are stored in the one or more databases. 41. The system as set forth in claim 33 further comprises a monitoring system that obtains location related data about at least one of the assets, wherein the optimization processing system determines the one or more optimization instructions further based on the obtained location related data. 42. The system as set forth in claim 41 wherein the location related data comprises at least one of a current location of the at least one of the assets, a destination of the at least one of the assets, and a proximity of the at least one of the assets to one or more service centers. 43. The system as set forth in claim 33 wherein the optimization processing system initiates an implementation of one or more of the optimization instructions on the at least one asset. 44. The system as set forth in claim 33 wherein the optimization processing system determines the one or more optimization instructions for the at least one asset further based on obtained data on one or more upgrades for one or more of the elements of the at least one asset, the one or more upgrades have at least one property which is different than the one or more elements had when new. 45. The system as set forth in claim 33 wherein the optimization processing system determines the one or more optimization instructions for the at least one asset further based on obtained cost data for replacing one or more of the elements of the at least one asset. 46. The system as set forth in claim 45 wherein the optimization processing system determines the one or more optimization instructions for the at least one asset further based on obtained data on one or more upgrades for replacing two or more of the elements of the at least one asset with a smaller number of one or more upgraded elements. 47. The system as set forth in claim 33 wherein the one or more databases that store specification data further comprises storing specification data for at least one of the one or more elements generated during the original manufacture of the at least one of the one or more elements. 48. The system as set forth in claim 33 wherein the one or more data acquisition systems obtain one or more images of the one or more elements of the at least one of the assets and the optimization processing system that determines the one or more optimization instructions for the at least one asset based on the conducted diagnostics and prognostics which are further based on the obtained one or more images. 49. A method for optimizing utilization of one or more assets, the method comprising:obtaining at an optimization processing apparatus operational data and physical condition data for one or more elements of at least one of the assets and specification data, historical maintenance data and life-cycle data for the one or more elements of the at least one of the assets;conducting with the optimization processing apparatus one or more diagnostics on the one or more elements of the at least one of the assets based on the obtained the operational data, the physical condition data, and the retrieved specification data;conducting with the optimization processing apparatus one or more prognostics on the one or more elements of the at least one of the assets based on the obtained operational data, the physical condition data, the specification data, the historical maintenance data and the life-cycle data;obtaining at the optimization processing apparatus cost data for replacing one or more of the elements of the at least one asset, wherein the obtaining cost data further comprises obtaining a maintenance budget for the at least one of the assets, wherein at least one of the conducting one or more diagnostics and the conducting one or more prognostics determines a risk of failure of at least one of the one or more elements of the at least one of the assets;determining one or more optimization instructions with the optimization processing apparatus for the at least one asset based on the conducted diagnostics and prognostics, the obtained cost data, the obtained maintenance budget and the determined risk of failure;displaying with the optimization processing apparatus the determined one or more optimization instructions. 50. A non-transitory computer readable medium having stored thereon instructions for optimizing utilization of one or more assets comprising machine executable code which when executed by at least one processor, causes the processor to perform steps comprising:obtaining operational data and physical condition data for one or more elements of at least one of the assets and specification data, historical maintenance data and life-cycle data for the one or more elements of the at least one of the assets;conducting one or more diagnostics on the one or more elements of the at least one of the assets based on the obtained the operational data, the physical condition data, and the retrieved specification data;conducting one or more prognostics on the one or more elements of the at least one of the assets based on the obtained operational data, the physical condition data, the specification data, the historical maintenance data and the life-cycle data;obtaining cost data for replacing one or more of the elements of the at least one asset, wherein the obtaining cost data further comprises obtaining a maintenance budget for the at least one of the assets, wherein at least one of the conducting one or more diagnostics and the conducting one or more prognostics determines a risk of failure of at least one of the one or more elements of the at least one of the assets;determining one or more optimization instructions for the at least one asset based on the conducted diagnostics and prognostics, the obtained cost data, the obtained maintenance budget and the determined risk of failure; anddisplaying the determined one or more optimization instructions. 51. A system for optimizing utilization of one or more assets, the system comprising:one or more data acquisition systems that obtain at least one of operational data and physical condition data for one or more elements of at least one of the assets and specification data, historical maintenance data, and life-cycle data for the one or more elements of the at least one of the assets;at least one diagnostic processing system that conducts one or more diagnostics on the one or more elements of the at least one of the assets based on the obtained the operational data, the physical condition data, and the specification data on the one or more elements;at least one prognostic processing system that conducts one or more prognostics on the one or more elements of the at least one of the assets based on the obtained operational data, the physical condition data, the specification data, the historical maintenance data, and the life-cycle data;an optimization processing system that determines one or more optimization instructions for the at least one asset based on the conducted diagnostics and prognostics from the at least one diagnostic processing system and the at least one prognostic processing system, wherein the optimization processing system determines the one or more optimization instructions for the at least one asset further based on an obtained maintenance budget for the at least one assets and a risk of failure of at least one of the one of the one or more elements of the at least one of the assets determined by at least one of the prognostic processing system and the diagnostic processing system; anda display system that displays the determined one or more optimization instructions. 52. A method for optimizing utilization of one or more assets, the method comprising:obtaining at an optimization processing apparatus at least one of operational data and condition data for one or more elements of at least one of the assets, data on one or more upgrades for replacing two or more of the elements of the at least one asset with a smaller number of one or more upgraded elements, and at least one of specification data, historical maintenance data and life-cycle data for the one or more elements of the at least one of the assets;conducting with the optimization processing apparatus one or more diagnostics on the one or more elements of the at least one of the assets based on the obtained at least one of the operational data and the condition data;conducting with the optimization processing apparatus one or more prognostics on the one or more elements of the at least one of the assets based on the obtained at least one of the operational data and the condition data and the obtained at least one of the specification data, the historical maintenance data and the life-cycle data;determining with the optimization processing apparatus one or more optimization instructions for the at least one asset based on the conducted diagnostics and prognostics and the obtained replacement data; anddisplaying with the optimization processing apparatus the determined one or more optimization instructions. 53. A non-transitory computer readable medium having stored thereon instructions for optimizing utilization of one or more assets comprising machine executable code which when executed by at least one processor, causes the processor to perform steps comprising:obtaining at least one of operational data and condition data for one or more elements of at least one of the assets, data on one or more upgrades for replacing two or more of the elements of the at least one asset with a smaller number of one or more upgraded elements, and at least one of specification data, historical maintenance data and life-cycle data for the one or more elements of the at least one of the assets;conducting one or more diagnostics on the one or more elements of the at least one of the assets based on the obtained at least one of the operational data and the condition data;conducting one or more prognostics on the one or more elements of the at least one of the assets based on the obtained at least one of the operational data and the condition data and the obtained at least one of the specification data, the historical maintenance data and the life-cycle data;determining one or more optimization instructions for the at least one asset based on the conducted diagnostics and prognostics and the obtained replacement data; anddisplaying the determined one or more optimization instructions. 54. A system for optimizing utilization of one or more assets, the system comprising:one or more data acquisition systems that obtain at least one of operational data and condition data for one or more elements of at least one of the assets, data on one or more upgrades for replacing two or more of the elements of the at least one asset with a smaller number of one or more upgraded elements, and at least one of specification data, historical maintenance data and life-cycle data for the one or more elements of the at least one of the assets;at least one diagnostic processing system that conducts one or more diagnostics on the one or more elements of the at least one of the assets based on the obtained at least one of the operational data and the condition data;at least one prognostic processing system that conducts one or more prognostics on the one or more elements of the at least one of the assets based on obtained at least one of the operational data and the condition data and the obtained at least one of the specification data, the historical maintenance data and the life-cycle data;an optimization processing system that determines one or more optimization instructions for the at least one asset based on the conducted diagnostics and prognostics from the at least one diagnostic processing system and the at least one prognostic processing system and the obtained replacement data; anda display system that displays the determined one or more optimization instructions.