Abstract:
A data management system for obtaining data, relating to the maintenance and performance of an asset, processing the data and delivering it to an end user. A predetermined data set is collected and transmitted, and stored. The data are reconfigured into a predetermined format. An end user interface allows an end user to read the reconfigured data. Also provided is a computer apparatus for the management of data relating to the maintenance and performance of an asset, which generates a graphical user interface on a display screen. The graphical user interface consists of a data packet containing at least one data input section with at least one data field. Each section contains a text field which is capable of receiving, reading, and uniquely identifying hand written text.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
   The present invention relates to asset performance data management, in particular to the management of data relating to the performance and maintenance of an asset such as an aircraft. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
   In all industries, there is a need to carefully monitor the performance of assets. In the aircraft industry, technical data relating to an aircraft&#39;s performance and maintenance must be collected and monitored so that the aircraft can be certified safe for flight. Current aircraft performance and maintenance systems include data storage means which collect data manually from the aircraft. However, these systems are not good for collecting new data as there is a time lag between collecting the data and adding it to the database. In addition, there is a high risk of human error when the data is collected and of misinterpretation of the data. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a data management system for obtaining data, processing data and delivering data to an end user, said data relating to the maintenance and performance of an asset, the data management system comprising;
     data collection means configured to allow collection of a predetermined data set and to allow said data set to be transmitted from the data collection means;   data storage means capable of receiving data transmitted from the data collection means; data processing means capable of reconfiguring said data into a predetermined format; and   end user interface means to allow an end user to read said reconfigured data.   

   Preferably said asset is an aircraft. 
   Preferably, the data collection means comprises a portable computing device. 
   More preferably, the data collection means comprises a hand-held computing device. 
   Optionally, said data is transmitted from the data collection means using mobile communications technology. 
   For example, GSM technology may be used for this purpose or other suitable communications technology. 
   More preferably, said portable computing device contains at least one data input field and a text input field capable of reading and uniquely identifying hand written text. 
   Optionally, the text field can function as means for authenticating the input data so that the data in the data fields will not be accepted without an authenticated “signature” in the text field. 
   Preferably, said data storage means comprises a database. 
   Preferably said end user interface means comprises a first secure communications link to the data storage and data processing means such that the end user has direct access to the data storage and data processing means. 
   Preferably said end user interface means further comprises a database and web server connected to a second secure communications link such that the end user has access to the data storage and data processing means via the internet. 
   Preferably, the end user can define and send specific tasks to the data collection means over the first communication link. 
   Preferably, the end user can define and send specific tasks to the data collection means over the second communication link. 
   In accordance with a second aspect to the present invention there is provided computer apparatus for the management of data relating to the maintenance and performance of an asset, comprising means for generating a graphical user interface on a display screen, the graphical user interface consisting of a data packet containing at least one data input section, said data input section having at least one data field, wherein each section contains a text field which is capable of receiving, reading and uniquely identifying hand written text. 
   Preferably, the computer apparatus further includes means for interrogating the at least one data input field and the text field such that the computer will recognise the section as complete once all of the at least one data fields have been completed and the text field has been completed with the correct, uniquely identifiable hand written text. 
   Preferably, the computer apparatus further includes means for checking that all of the at least one data input sections in the data packet have been completed. 
   Preferably, the computer apparatus comprises means to receive additional data from a remote source corresponding to an additional maintenance task, and to create at least one additional data entry corresponding to the task. 
   Preferably, the hand written text is the signature of the user. 
   Preferably the asset is an aircraft. 
   Preferably, each data input section contains a plurality of fields capable of receiving data related to the performance and maintenance of the aircraft. In particular, sectors flown, data relating to re-fuelling, oil and hydraulic fluid, anti-ice and de-icing, scheduled maintenance, information on recorded defects, notes on maintenance to/from the crew, serious incidents and other maintenance and operational information, including specifically defined tasks. 
   In accordance with a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of managing data relating to the maintenance and performance of an asset, the method comprising the steps of: collecting the data from the asset; transmitting said data to a central location containing data; processing and data storage means where the data is reconfigured; and transferring said data to an end user interface to allow an end user to read said reconfigured data. 
   An embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       FIG. 1   a  shows the system architecture of an embodiment of the present invention and  FIG. 1   b  shows the system architecture of the embodiment of  FIG. 1   a  without a synchronisation server; 
       FIG. 2  illustrates a data transmission process for use in the embodiment of the present invention of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 3  shows an alternative data transmission process for use with the present invention; 
       FIG. 4  shows a user interface of a hand held device of the embodiment of the present invention of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 5  illustrates the process of data entry used in an embodiment of the present invention; and 
       FIG. 6  is a further illustration of the process of data entry used in an embodiment of the present invention. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   In the following embodiments, a service provider supplies data entering devices in the form of handheld computers, and also provides a data management system to various users. 
     FIG. 1   a  shows an overview of the system architecture. 
   The data from the handheld computers  30  is transmitted via a secure communications link  40  using mobile telecommunications technology to the service provider&#39;s data exchange server and database  10 . The handheld computers  30  include means  41  for interrogating the at least one data input field and the text field. In this example, the data is also transmitted via a secure physical link  42  to a synchronisation server  18 . The synchronisation server  18  communicates via secure communications link  44  with the service provider&#39;s data exchange server and database  10  to provide means for the server  10  to co-ordinate the incoming data. 
   The service provider&#39;s data exchange server and database  10  then transmits the data via a secure internet link  46  to the user&#39;s data exchange server and database  20  (and thereafter to their internal systems  22 ) and via physical links  48 ,  50  to the service provider&#39;s user database  12  and the service provider&#39;s web server  16 . 
   The service provider&#39;s web server  16  also obtains data from a web server database  14 . This web server database  14  is linked to the user database  12 , and these two databases  12 ,  14  form a secure network  32 . 
   The web server  16  is accessible to users via the internet. 
   All connections to the service provider&#39;s data exchange server and database  10 , secure network  32 , and web server  16  are protected by firewalls to help provide data integrity and security. The user&#39;s means of accessing the internet  36  can also be protected by a firewall. In addition, the service provider&#39;s databases  10 ,  12 ,  14 , and web server  16  are connected by a firewall protected physical link  52  to the service provider&#39;s computer network. 
     FIG. 1   b  shows a similar system architecture to that shown in  FIG. 1   a  but without a synchronisation server. In this example therefore, time synchronisation is provided outwith the system architecture of the invention. 
   Two particularly preferred embodiments are envisaged for the present invention, in which the basic system architecture of  FIGS. 1   a  and  1   b  can be implemented with or without real time replication to a user&#39;s exchange server and database  20 . In the case of the second embodiment, where there is no real time replication to a user&#39;s exchange server and database  20 , the data transferred from the service provider&#39;s exchange server and database  10  via the secure internet link  46 , is transmitted directly to the user&#39;s systems  22 . In addition, it is possible for the data alone to be replicated onto the customer&#39;s site or for the data to be accessed remotely by the customer without replication on their site. 
     FIGS. 2 and 3  describe the transmission of data to and from the service provider&#39;s exchange server and database  10 , over links  40 ,  46  and  48 . The flow charts describe the decision processes and checks carried out to regulate data transmission through these links. 
   In a preferred embodiment, the data transfer process is enabled with real-time data replication to a server system  20  within a user&#39;s organisation. This is illustrated in  FIG. 2 , which shows more detail of the data exchange process between the service provider&#39;s exchange server  10  and user database  12 , and the user&#39;s exchange server database  20 . 
   As described above, the data is entered in the handheld computer  30 , signed off, and transmitted. The data is then received by the service provider, upon which it is stored in the service provider&#39;s exchange server database  10 . A check is also performed to test the validity of the data. If the data is found to be invalid, the transmission is aborted, otherwise the data is both replicated to the user&#39;s exchange server database  20 , and stored in the service provider&#39;s user database  12 . 
   Data replicated to the user&#39;s exchange server database  20  may then be copied to the user&#39;s own internal systems  22 . The success of this copying is verified, with an error message being displayed if the data is not successfully copied, before the data is then deleted from the user&#39;s exchange server database  20 . This deleted data is replicated to the service provider&#39;s exchange server database  10 , updating it to ensure that the data contained in the service provider&#39;s and the user&#39;s systems  10 ,  20  matches. 
   Data stored in the service provider&#39;s user database  12  is stored securely, upon which a signal  34  is sent back to the handheld computer  30  confirming completion of transmission. 
   In addition, the customer can send information to the handheld devices  30  via the end user interface  52 . 
   In a second embodiment, the data transfer process is enabled without real-time data replication to a server system  22  within a user&#39;s organisation. This is illustrated in  FIG. 3 . The data is entered in the handheld computer  30 , signed off, and transmitted. The data is then received by the service provider, upon which it is stored in the service provider&#39;s exchange server database  10 . A check is also performed to test the validity of the data. If the data is found to be invalid, the transmission is aborted, otherwise the data is both sent directly to the user and stored in the service provider&#39;s user database  12 . 
   Data stored in the service provider&#39;s user database  12  is stored securely, upon which a signal  34  is sent back to the handheld computer  30  confirming completion of transmission. 
   A check is performed to verify successful transmission of the data to the user. If this is not confirmed, an error message is displayed. If transmission is successfully verified, the data is deleted from the service provider&#39;s exchange server database  10 . 
     FIGS. 4 and 5  describe the data entry process where the asset in question is an aircraft and the recorded data relates to technical maintenance. Data relating to the preparation of an aircraft for flight is entered directly into a handheld computer  30  while the aircraft is on the ground. This handheld computer  30  stays with the aircraft and constitutes its electronic technical log. 
   As seen in  FIG. 4 , the data to be collected, or data packet for each flight is entered into a user interface  60 . Each page  64  of the user interface represents maintenance and performance information for the aircraft. The pages  64  are labelled by tabs  70 , and organised on-screen so that all tabs  70  are visible and available for selection in a row along the top of the screen  62 , the contents of (i.e. the page represented by) the currently selected tab  72  filling the main part of the screen  62 . 
   In this example, the pages  64  relate to different types of technical information necessary to provide a maintenance and performance record. These are:
     the sector in which the aircraft is operating;   re-fuelling data;   oil and hydraulic fluid data;   anti-ice and de-icing data;   scheduled maintenance;   information on recorded defects;   notes on maintenance to/from the crew; and   other maintenance and operational information.   

   Entries made in each page  64  must be validated by entering a signature  68  of an authorised person in each page  64 . 
   The handheld computer  30  allows entries for previous flights to be accessed, and also displays a list of all outstanding carried-forward defects for the aircraft and provides a facility whereby a carried forward defect can be transferred into the entry for the current flight and resolved. 
   The system can also deal with out of phase maintenance tasks. Such tasks are routine maintenance tasks that are not undertaken at the same regular intervals as the remainder of the everyday maintenance tasks. 
   In particular, a two-way communication link can be established between the handheld devices  30  and the customer internet access means. This is used to send a prompt to the handheld devices informing them of the extra tasks that need to be carried out, so that the appropriate maintenance can be performed. These out of phase tasks appear on an extra page  64  that needs to be signed off in a similar manner to the standard pages as described above. 
   In this way, a user of the system can have flexible control of the maintenance of his fleet of aircraft from his own website, inputting specific maintenance tasks to be carried out on specific aircraft. 
     FIG. 5  shows the process of data entry. The user accesses the programme and selects the tab  72  representing the page  64  into which data is to be input. The system checks that all data entry fields  66  in a tab  70  have been filled in before allowing the tab  70  to be signed off. Following a successful signing off, the system then performs a check over all tabs  70  to see if every tab  70  has been signed off. If not, the user has to go back and complete the data entry, after which the sign-off tab  74  can be selected and signed off. This tab  74  is the last tab  70  to be filled in, and represents a general checking of completeness of the data entry, and authorisation to transmit the data. 
   Progress on these tasks is transmitted back to the data exchange server  10 . 
   Completed entries are transmitted from the handheld computer  30  to a server computer system  10 , and the handheld computer  30  is then switched off before the aircraft takes off. The wireless transfer of data is achieved by means of mobile communications technology in this example. 
     FIG. 6  shows a similar process of data entry, in which an alternative selection of tabs is provided. This further example is included to indicate the general versatility of the system, showing that the same principles can be used to manage data for any data management, in particular to data relating to the performance and maintenance of an asset. 
   The processes described are designed to ensure data integrity, security and availability. 
   Checks are put in place during the data entry process to ensure that the data is not transmitted until all information has been filled in and all pages are properly authorised; the validity of the data is checked again after transmission before being sent to the user; the data is stored on the exchange servers  10 ,  20  as well as the service provider&#39;s secure network  32  and transfer of data is firewall protected. 
   In addition to the availability on the user&#39;s own system  10 , the user can also access the data via the internet, with the information only being accessible to authorised users. The website can contain modules to manipulate the raw data collected, and use it together with data collected from previous flights to provide more in-depth analysis. In the case of aircraft maintenance, information could be made available in the following forms:
         Data from a single flight, including the authorisation signatures, can be viewed and/or printed off.   Summary information on flights for a single aircraft or an entire fleet can be viewed and/or printed.   Detailed analysis of information, for example utilisation analysis, defects analysis, or components analysis.       

   This internet connection provides immediate and secure world-wide access to the information. 
   The present invention allows:
         entry of technical log data directly at a source using a handheld computer;   wireless transfer of technical data to a server computer prior to take-off; and   immediate and secure world-wide access to information based on transferred data via the internet.       

   Whilst the embodiment of the present invention set out above relates to aircraft maintenance and performance, the present invention may be applied within different industries where data for monitoring the status assets is required. 
   Improvements and modifications can be incorporated to the above without departing from the scope of the present invention.