Patent Publication Number: US-7210625-B2

Title: System and method for managing asset information

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates to management of asset information and more specifically, to a system and method of tagging an asset with stored asset information and retrieving the stored asset information from the data tag. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   Appliances and equipment used in a home or business such as cooking stoves, hot water heaters, heating ventilation/air conditioning (HV/AC) units, and refrigerators are assets for which information is required for repair and maintenance as well as for warranty coverage. Serial number, model number, manufactured date, and installed date are often difficult to accurately obtain years after the equipment was manufactured and installed. 
   Identification tags have been employed to assist in the identification and tracking of physical assets, and to facilitate timely repair and appropriate warranty coverage. Commonly, asset identification tags utilize printed matter for visually providing relevant information about the tagged asset. Typical information includes the type of equipment tagged, the equipment manufacturer and model number, and the date of manufacture. 
   In other cases, service or installation personnel create paper records at the time of installation. While systems utilizing paper records or printed matter tags are relatively inexpensive, they suffer from problems associated with the loss of the paper work, separation of the asset tag from the asset, failure to adequately file the paper documents, and misreading or incorrect entry of the asset information from the paper record or tag. For paper records, there is physical correlation between the paper records or copies and the asset or physical equipment. Tagged equipment is often placed in a harsh environment such as a commercial or industrial kitchen, and printed information on tags frequently is covered with dirt or grease, so that the printed tag cannot be read. In other environments, the tag material or the print on the tag is damaged or quickly aged by chemical exposure or weather conditions, so that the tag cannot be read. Moreover, considerable time and expense are required to obtain access to the tag, read and record the information, and input the information into a data recordation system. 
   The lack of pertinent, complete, and accurate asset information and data results in delays in servicing of equipment and identification of required repair parts, and inaccuracies in the appropriate warranty coverage. Inaccurate warranty information provides for increased costs to manufactures as manufacturers often calculate warranty dates on estimates. This inaccuracy also provides for increased customer dissatisfaction when a warranty date for coverage of the repair costs is at issue. 
   In recent years, electronic technologies have been applied in some cases to replace printed records or printed asset tags. These have included tags with an electronic memory or transponder to store relevant asset information. One solution has been a radio frequency identification (RFID) transponder. Such RFID tags are commercially available for providing either a “read only” output, or a “write and read” output. An identification tag with an RFID transponder is read by a radio frequency reader device, which may electronically record and process the data for inventory, tracking, and warranty purposes. The RFID transponder is placed at a position where the information in the transponder may be read by a remote reader. The cost of reading the identifying information is reduced as the line of sight between the transponder and the reader is often not required. In such systems, the stored information is recorded electronically in a format that does not require the subsequent manual entry of data into a computer. 
   However, problems associated with electronic or “smart” identification tagging systems such as the RFID tags have limited their use and effectiveness. This includes the high cost of manufacturing the tag, the limited techniques for attaching the tag to the physical asset, and the high cost of initially tagging and retagging the asset. Significant costs are generally associated with initially tagging and subsequently re-tagging the physical asset. RFID tagging systems have significant inventory costs since the entire cost of the tag including the RFID transponder is incurred when the tag is manufactured. When the desired “read only” information in the transponder changes, the manufacturing and inventory cost of the entire tag is effectively lost. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   These limitations and other disadvantages are overcome by the various embodiments of the invention which provides for improved asset data information management and asset information retrieval. 
   One aspect of the invention is an asset management system for managing asset information. The system includes a data tag for storing asset information. The data tag includes a data tag memory for storing information related to an asset and a data tag communication interface for receiving and transmitting the asset information. Also included is an access device for communicating with the data tag communication interface. The access device includes an access device communication interface and an access device memory. The access device retrieves asset information stored in the data tag memory over the access device communication interface. The system further includes an asset data display for displaying the asset information retrieved from the access tag by the access device. 
   Another aspect of the present invention is an asset management method for managing information related to assets. The method includes initializing a data tag with asset information and includes transmitting asset information to the data tag and storing the asset information in a memory of the data tag. The asset information includes service contact information. The method also includes retrieving asset information from a data tag. 
   In another aspect, the invention is an asset management system that includes means for storing asset information in a data tag wherein the asset information includes a characteristic of an asset and contact information for two or more service providers. The system also includes means for attaching the data tag to the asset. The system further includes means for retrieving the stored asset information from the data tag and means for displaying the retrieved asset information. The system includes means for generating a communication as a function of the retrieved asset information. 
   In yet another aspect, the invention is an asset management method that includes attaching a data tag with a memory to an asset. The method also includes initializing the data tag with asset information including transmitting asset information to the data tag wherein the transmitted asset information is stored in the data tag memory. 
   In still yet another aspect, the invention is an asset management system including an asset and a data tag attached to the asset. The data tag includes a data tag memory and a data tag communication interface. The system also includes asset information stored in the data tag memory, wherein the asset information includes a characteristic of the asset and service contact information for two or more service providers. 
   Further aspects of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description provided hereinafter. It should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating the preferred embodiment of the invention, are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description and the accompanying drawings. 
       FIG. 1  is a system diagram for an asset management system according to one embodiment of the invention. 
       FIG. 2  is a flow chart for a method of asset management according one implementation of the invention. 
       FIG. 3  is an illustration of an asset display device for displaying asset information according to one embodiment of the invention. 
       FIG. 4  is an asset display device displaying a list of managed assets according to one embodiment of the invention. 
       FIG. 5  is a screen display of asset part information as displayed by an asset display device according to one embodiment of the invention. 
       FIG. 6  is a second screen display of another asset part information as displayed by an asset display device according to another embodiment of the invention. 
       FIG. 7  is a block diagram of a computer system that may be used to implement one or more methods or apparatus embodying the invention. 
   

   Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views of the drawings. 
   DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
   The following description is merely exemplary in nature and is in no way intended to limit the invention, its application, or uses. 
   In  FIG. 1 , an asset management system  100  according to one embodiment of the invention includes a data tag  102  (illustrated in two instances as  102 A and  102 B), an access device  106 , and an asset data display  108 . 
   Data tag  102  is associated with a physical asset  104  where each data tag  102 A and B is associated with two assets  104 A and  104 B, respectively. Data tag  102  may be configured for mounting to asset  104  by any type of mounting arrangement or mounting system  130 . Various mounting or attachment systems  130 A and  103 B may include gluing, clipping, magnetic attachment, screwing, bolting, engaging, other attachment methods and systems. 
   Data tag  102  may also be dimensioned for attachment to one or more assets. Asset  104  may be any type of equipment, apparatus, system or article. For instance, asset  104  may be a commercial appliance, a household appliance, a kitchen appliance, a HV/AC unit, a hot water heater, an audio unit, and a video unit. In one embodiment, asset  104  may be equipment in a restaurant or commercial kitchen such as a griddle, a fryer, a refrigerator, an oven, a blast chiller, a cooking unit, and a refrigeration unit. 
   Data tag  102  includes a data tag memory  126  for storing information related to asset  104  with which data tag  102  is associated or attached. Data tag memory  126  may be a non-volatile memory or may be a volatile memory. Data tag  102  may also include a local energy source (not shown) in some embodiments. However, in a preferred embodiment, data tag memory  126  is non-volatile memory not requiring a local energy source to store asset information permanently or over an extended period of time. 
   Asset information stored in data tag memory  126  may include a name of the manufacturer, an equipment classification, a model number, a serial number, a date of manufacture, a date of installation, a software version identification for the asset data software, an asset protocol version, one or more service contacts or service providers, a term of warranty, a length of a warranty, a warranty termination date, data related to a service action, service information, an asset owner name, and an asset location. In the case of a service action, this may include the identification of one or more operating actions or events that may prompt the user to initiate a service call. For example, this may include a recycling of a system or process, a failure, an outage, and a local light or other visual, audible or other indicator. 
   In one preferred embodiment, data tag memory  126  is configured to receive, store, and transmit asset information compliant with asset management data format defined by the North American Association of Food Equipment Manufactures (NAFEM). Such a preferred embodiment may be used when asset  104  is a commercial or industrial kitchen component or appliance. 
   Additionally, in some embodiments, data tag  102  may include a unique asset data tag identification that may be stored in data tag memory  126  or may be stored in a hardware or a firmware. A unique asset tag identification may be a number such that a particular data tag  102  may be uniquely and separately identified from any other data tag  102 . 
   Additionally, data tag  102  includes a data tag communication interface  128 . Data tag communication interface  128  provides for the receiving and transmission of asset information to and from data tag  102 . Data tag communication interface  128  may be any type of communication interface providing a communication of data to and from data tag  102 . These may include a touch communication interface, a wireless communication interface, an optical interface, a wired communication interface, and a satellite communication interface. 
   Access device  106  is configured for communicating with data tag communication interface  128 . Access device  106  includes an access device communication interface  114  and an access device memory  110 . Access device  106  may also include a data entry  112  for receiving asset information from an external source. Access data entry  112  may be one or more data entry methods or systems including a touch screen display, a keyboard, a mouse, a pointing device, a button, a soft key, or a remote or secondary computer system. 
   Access device  106  retrieves asset information stored in data tag memory  126  from the data tag communication interface  128  via access device communication interface  114 . Additionally, access device  106  may communicate asset information to the data tag  102 . In such a case, data tag  102  stores the asset information received from access device  106  in data tag memory  126 . 
   Access device communication interface  112  may also be configured to communicate with asset data display  108  and/or an asset data information system  120 . 
   In one embodiment, access device communication interface  114  communicates with data tag  102  over a communication network, medium, or facility as indicated by one or more of the arrows in  FIG. 1 . This communication may be via any type of communication medium including a wired telecommunications network such as a public switched telephone network (PSTN), a wireless communications network, a packet data network, an internet, a private data network such as a local area network (LAN), a private voice network, a paging network, a satellite network, and a CATV network. 
   Access device  106  may be any type of access device configured to perform the functions as described herein. Access device  106  may also include other components such as a display and a processor. Access device  106  may be comprised of a pocket personal computer, a personal data assistant (PDA), custom tag reader, a mobile phone, and a personal computer. A custom tag reader may be a known or specially produced access device  106  designed to communicate asset information with the data tag communication interface  128 . For example, when the data tag communication interface  128  is a touch sensitive data tag, access device  106  may be a PDA or a customer tag reader configured with a touch sensitive access wand or interface for electronically transferring the asset information from data tag  102 . 
   Asset data display  108  may be any type of display configured for displaying the asset information retrieved from access tag  102 . Asset data display  108  may include a data display communication interface  118  for communicating with access device  106  and for receiving the asset information stored in access device memory  110 . Asset data display  108  may include an asset data display memory (not shown) for storing the received asset information. 
   In operation, access device  106  retrieves and stores a plurality of asset information from a plurality of data tags  102  related with one or more assets  104  at a particular location or locations. Access device  106  stores the retrieved asset information and transmits the asset information to asset data display  108  or asset information system  120 . Asset data display  108  stores the received asset information and displays the stored asset information upon request or demand from a user of asset data display  108  or asset information system  120 . In another embodiment, asset data display  108  may be associated with a telecommunication device  124  which may be a telephone, DSL modem, cable modem, or other telecommunication device configured for communication to one or more asset information systems  120 . 
   Asset data display  108  and access device  106  may communicate the retrieved asset information to asset data information system  120 . Asset data information system  120  may have an information system communication interface  122  for communicating asset information with one or more asset tags  102 , with one or more access devices  106 , and/or one or more asset data displays  108  as illustrated in  FIG. 1 . 
   In one preferred embodiment, data tag  102 , access device  106 , asset data display  108  and/or asset information system  120  are configured for communicating and storing asset information compliant with an asset management data format defined by the American Association of Food Equipment Manufacturers (NAFEM). 
   While asset data display  108  and access device  106  are disclosed and illustrated as separate devices in  FIG. 1 , in one embodiment the two units may be configured as a single combined unit  119 . 
     FIG. 2  illustrates one implementation of an asset management method according to one operation of the invention. The illustrated implementation begins at operation  202  with the manufacture of asset  104 . Asset  104  is shipped in operation  204  and installed in a customer location in operation  210 . In an optional implementation, a data tag  102  is attached to asset  104  by the manufacturer or a representative or distributor. Asset information relative to asset  104  is stored in asset data tag  102  in operation  208 , which may be before or after attachment of data tag  102  to asset  104  in operation  206 . Operation  208  is performed by an operator using access device  106 . 
   After asset  104  is placed or installed at the customer location in operation  210 , asset data or information may be stored in data tag  102  as in operation  212  using access device  106 . In operation  212 , the asset information stored may be that related to the installation of asset  104  that may include, among other data items, the installed date, the installer or installing entity, and the location that asset  104  was installed. Additionally, where asset data tag  102  was not installed or stored with manufacturer data previously, as in optional operations  206  and  208 , operations  214  and  216  provide for attachment of asset tag  102  to asset  104  and for storing manufacture data. Operations  216  and  212  may also utilize access device  106  for transmitting asset information to asset tag  102  for storing. 
   While shown as a two operation data tag initialization, in other implementations one or more initializations of data tag  102  or the storing of asset data related to a single asset item are consistent with the invention. For instance, in one embodiment, each entity associated with the manufacture, delivery, installation, and service of asset  104  may add an initialization and asset data storage operation during the installation, operation, and service of asset  104 . Asset information may also be updated during the service life of asset  104  and data tag  102  to include service performed or upgrades or changes made to asset  104 . Additionally, while not illustrated in  FIG. 2 , asset information may also be stored in a memory associated with asset data display  108 . 
   Once asset tag  102  and/or asset data display  108  has received asset information, such asset information may be retrieved at a later date. The retrieval of asset data in operation  218  may include scanning or receiving asset information with access device  106  from one or more asset tags  102  associated with one or more assets  104 . Such data may be viewed with an optional display of access device  106  or may be transmitted from access device  106  to an asset display device  108 . Additionally, asset information may be transmitted in operation  222  to an asset information center or system  120 . Optionally, asset information may also be transmitted from asset tag  102  or from access device  114  directly to asset information system  120 . 
   In one embodiment, asset management method includes initializing data tag  102  with asset information. Such initializing may include transmitting the asset information to data tag  102  and storing the asset information in asset tag memory  126 . The method also includes retrieving the asset information from data tag  126 . In an optional operation, the retrieved asset information is displayed either locally, on access device  106 , on asset data display  108 , or at asset information system or center  120 . 
   The transmission of asset information from asset tag  102  to access device  106  or asset information center  120  may be a function of receiving a request or a query, or may be based on a predetermined or preprogrammed request that may be periodic, scheduled, or continuous. Additionally, in some embodiments, the transmission may be a result of one or more operational events or activities associated with the operation of asset  104 . For instance, the transmission of asset data may be a result of a failure or a lapse of operating time of asset  104 . 
   In other implementations, a method according to one implementation may include initialization of data tag  102  that includes assigning a unique asset data tag identification to asset tag  102 . This includes transmitting asset information to the data tag and storing the transmitted asset information in the data tag memory. 
   One embodiment of asset data display  108  is provided in  FIG. 3 . As shown, asset data display  108  configured with one or more display screens  116  and one or more communication links  308 . In this illustrated embodiment, display screen  116  includes three presentation portions or sections, each of which may be configured for one or more screen presentation screens or modes. A screen identification portion  302  may provide the identification of a particular asset data display screen mode that may be displayed from among a plurality of asset data display screen presentations available. In this case, an introduction identification display indicates “My Service Helper.” A second portion of screen  116  is the information display portion  304 . Information display portion  304  provides for the presentation of detailed asset data information. A third portion of screen  116  provides a user input presentation portion  306 . In user input presentation portion  306 , one or more user input options are provided, possibly by a local touch screen function or by another user input function such as a mouse, voice command, keyboard entry, or otherwise. In one embodiment, the user input presentation portion varies as a function of the particular screen being presented in display screen  116  and as indicated in screen identification portion  302 . In this example, user input portion  306  includes three items, a help input, a setup input, an equipment list mode selection input, and a phone book input. 
   In should be understood to one skilled in the art that in another embodiment of asset data display  108 , user input presentation may be implemented in a hard key or soft key arrangement that may be separate from display screen  116  but included in or associated with asset data display  116 . It should also be understood that asset data display  108  and display screen  116  may be configured with more than or less than three display portions as the illustrated embodiment depicts three portions only for illustration purposes. 
   As illustrated in  FIG. 4 , asset data display  108  may display an equipment list in a equipment list mode. As illustrated, in equipment list mode, identification portion  302  may display a heading such as equipment list. Information display  304  may provide a complete or partial list of all managed assets associated with asset display  108 . User input portion  306  may include one or more user input selections associated with management or selection of one or more of the assets listed in the asset list. For example, a user may select to delete a particular asset if asset  104  is no longer at that location or has been replaced. The user may also select a particular asset on the list to obtain further or detailed asset data. Additionally, if there are more assets than may be listed on a single information screen  304 , the user may select another page or a previous page to scroll through the listing of assets. 
   As an example of a screen mode showing a particular asset selected by the user,  FIG. 5  illustrates the selection of the Holding Oven from the list of  FIG. 4 . In this case, an equipment identification screen presentation is provided that provides a complete list or partial list of asset information for the selected asset. As illustrated in information portion  304 , the manufacturer of the holding oven, model number, the serial number, and an in-service date may be presented on the display. In some cases, if components parts are included in asset  104 , a parts or components list may also be presented as an option. One or more screen presentations may be displayed for each particular selected asset. Additionally, one or more service contacts for asset  104  may be displayed and may include a contact phone number, an email address, or a physical address. The user input screen presentation  306  may include an option for erasing all or a portion of the information, for automatically generating an email or a telephone call to one of the service providers. Additionally, the user may select to have a listing of parts or part numbers for asset  104  displayed. 
   An example of asset data display  108  displaying information associated with a particular part is illustrated in  FIG. 6 . In this example, the user may have selected a particular part, illustrated as the controller, from the holding oven displayed in the example of  FIG. 5 . In this case, asset information relative to the controller part of the holding oven is displayed in the information display portion  306  of asset data display  108 . When available, one or more service contacts may also be presented with regard to the particular part of asset  104 . 
   The display screens and data presentations illustrated in  FIGS. 3–6  are only illustrative in nature and are not intended to be limiting. 
   In one preferred embodiment, asset  104  is an industrial or commercial kitchen component or equipment such as a griddle, a fryer, a refrigerator, an oven, a blast chiller, a cooking unit, and a refrigeration unit. In such an embodiment, asset  104  may be located in a restaurant, hotel, school, fraternity house, motel, convention hall, association hall, office building, etc. Data tag memory  126  is configured to store data compliant with data specifications as defined by the North American Association of Food Equipment Manufactures (NAFEM). However, in this embodiment, the stored and communicated data includes the identification of two or more service contacts or service organizations. The NAFEM specification provides a Contact field of 255 characters for contact information. However, in this preferred embodiment, the format provides for multiple contacts with multiple sets of contact information. In this case, the contact name is provided along with an information type which is represented by an integer. Types of information may be represented in one embodiment with integers from 0 to 99. For example, integers may be assigned such as: 1 for contact name, 2 for email address, 3 for phone number, 4 for pager number, etc. 
   In this embodiment, access device  106  retrieves asset information from data tag memory  126  that includes the two or more service contacts along with their contact information. This asset information is communicated to the asset data display  108  that in turn stores this retrieved information. Asset data display  108  and, in some cases, access device  106  may be configured to display the multiple service contacts and their contact information. Additionally, in a preferred embodiment asset data display  108  is configured to utilize particular contact information of the asset information to initiate a service request or contact to a particular or selected service provider. For instance, asset data display  108  may initiate a preprogrammed email to be sent to one of the service providers, initiate a telephone call or fax by coordinating with the associated telecommunication device  124 . In this manner, the contact information stored in data tag  102  is utilized to provide for automatic contacting of one of the service providers according to the enhanced NAFEM-compliant contact information. 
   Referring to  FIG. 7 , one or more components or functions of the invention such as data tag  126 , access device  106 , and asset data display  108  may be implemented in an operating environment that may include a computer system  700  with a computer  702  that comprises at least one processing unit (CPU)  704 , a memory system  706 , an input device  708 , and an output device  710 . These elements are interconnected by at least one bus structure  712 . 
   CPU  704  may be of familiar design that includes an arithmetic logical unit (ALU)  714  for performing computations, a collection of registers  716  for temporary storage of data and instructions, and a control unit  718  for controlling operation of system  700 . Any of a variety of processors, including at least those from Digital Equipment, Sun, MIPS, Motorola, NEC, Intel, Cyrix, AMD, HP, and Nexgen, are equally preferred for CPU  704 . The illustrated embodiment of the invention may operate on an operating system designed to be portable to any of these processing platforms. 
   Memory system  706  may generally include a main memory  720  in the form of a medium such as random access memory (RAM) and read only memory (ROM) semiconductor devices, and a secondary storage  722  in the form of long term storage mediums such as floppy disks, hard disks, tape, CD-ROM, flash memory, etc. and other devices that store data using electrical, magnetic, optical or other recording media. Main memory  720  also can include video display memory for displaying images through a display device. Those skilled in the art will recognize that memory system  706  can comprise a variety of alternative components having a variety of storage capacities. 
   Input device  708  and output devices  710  may also be familiar. Input device  708  can comprise a keyboard, a mouse, an optical wand or reader, a physical transducer (e.g. a microphone), etc. Output device  710  can comprise a display, a printer, a transducer (e.g. a speaker), etc. Some devices, such as a network adapter or a modem, can be used as input and/or output devices. 
   As is familiar to those skilled in the art, computer system  700  further may include an operating system and at least one application program. The operating system is the set of software which controls the computer system&#39;s operation and the allocation of resources. The application program is the set of software that performs a task desired by the user, using computer resources made available through the operating system. Both may be resident in memory system  706 . 
   In accordance with the practices of persons skilled in the art of computer programming, the present invention is described below with reference to symbolic representations of operations that are performed by the computer system  700 . Such operations are sometimes referred to as being computer-executed. It will be appreciated that the operations which are symbolically represented include the manipulation by CPU  704  of electrical signals representing data bits and the maintenance of data bits at memory locations in memory system  706 , as well as other processing of signals. The memory locations where data bits are maintained are physical locations that have particular electrical, magnetic, or optical properties corresponding to the data bits. One or more components of the invention such as data tag  126 , access device  106 , and asset data display  108  may be implemented, at least in part, in a program or programs, comprising a series of instructions stored on a computer-readable medium. The computer-readable medium can be any of the devices, or a combination of the devices, described above in connection with memory system  706 . 
   These various embodiments provide for increasing the opportunities for electronic tagging assets and appliances, and reducing the cost of electronic asset management. 
   When introducing aspects of the invention or embodiments thereof, the articles “a”, “an”, “the”, and “said” are intended to mean that there are one or more of the elements. The terms “comprising”, “including”, and “having” are intended to be inclusive and mean that there may be additional elements other than the listed elements. 
   In view of the above, it will be seen that several aspects of the invention are achieved and other advantageous results attained. As various changes could be made in the above exemplary constructions and methods without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense. 
   It is further to be understood that the steps described herein are not to be construed as necessarily requiring their performance in the particular order discussed or illustrated. It is also to be understood that additional or alternative steps may be employed.