U.S. patent application number 10/427033 was filed with the patent office on 2004-11-04 for monitoring and controlling processes at a vehicle wash facility.
Invention is credited to Howes, Ronald Bruce JR., Johansen, Scott Andrew, Sanville, Katherine.
Application Number | 20040220817 10/427033 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 33310024 |
Filed Date | 2004-11-04 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040220817 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Sanville, Katherine ; et
al. |
November 4, 2004 |
Monitoring and controlling processes at a vehicle wash facility
Abstract
Remote monitoring of vehicle washing facilities allows a
facility operator to more efficiently manage each site,
particularly when combined with environmental conditions that
influence the rate at which individual chemicals are used. Accurate
chemical exhaustion times can therefore be predicted and
communicated to the operator, and wash sequences and parameters may
be altered in accordance with such environmental parameters. For
example, information related to the composition of soil on a car
may be monitored and used to alter the chemicals used in the wash
cycle for that car. Other environmental conditions may include
without limitation weather conditions, road conditions, types of
vehicles, mechanical system status, vehicle temperature, etc.
Inventors: |
Sanville, Katherine; (White
Bear Lake, MN) ; Howes, Ronald Bruce JR.;
(Minneapolis, MN) ; Johansen, Scott Andrew;
(Minneapolis, MN) |
Correspondence
Address: |
MERCHANT & GOULD PC
P.O. BOX 2903
MINNEAPOLIS
MN
55402-0903
US
|
Family ID: |
33310024 |
Appl. No.: |
10/427033 |
Filed: |
April 29, 2003 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
700/265 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06Q 10/06 20130101;
B60S 3/00 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
705/001 |
International
Class: |
G06F 017/60 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A computer-implemented method for managing a process operating
at a vehicle wash facility, wherein a chemical is applied to one or
more vehicles being washed in the wash facility during the process,
the method comprising: monitoring an environmental parameter that
influences application of the chemical to the one or more vehicles
during the process; and automatically controlling application of
the chemical to the one or more vehicles based on the environmental
parameter.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the operation of monitoring an
environmental parameter comprises: monitoring a weather condition
in proximity to the vehicle wash facility.
3. The method of claim 1, wherein the operation of monitoring an
environmental parameter comprises: receiving information related to
a composition of soil on the one or more vehicles washed during the
process.
4. The method of claim 1, wherein the operation of monitoring an
environmental parameter comprises: monitoring a temperature of the
one or more vehicles washed during the process.
5. The method of claim 1, wherein a first chemical and a second
chemical are available as chemicals which may be applied to the one
or more vehicles during the process, the operation of automatically
controlling application of the chemical further comprising:
selecting, based on the environmental parameter, the first chemical
or the second chemical for use as the chemical applied to the one
or more vehicles during the process.
6. The method of claim 1, wherein the operation of automatically
controlling application of the chemical further comprises: changing
an amount of the chemical applied to the one or more vehicles
during the process.
7. The method of claim 1, wherein the operation of automatically
controlling application of the chemical further comprises: changing
a temperature of water applied with the chemical to the one or more
vehicles during the process.
8. The method of claim 1, wherein the operation of automatically
controlling application of the chemical further comprises: changing
a sequence in which the chemical is applied to the one or more
vehicles during the process, wherein the sequence is respective to
application of at least one other chemical to the one or more
vehicles during the process.
9. The method of claim 1, wherein the vehicle wash facility is
communicatively coupled to a remote management facility, the method
further comprising: monitoring a current quantity of the chemical
available for use at the vehicle wash facility; predicting a time
point indicating expected exhaustion of the chemical based on the
environmental parameter and the current quantity of the chemical;
and providing a notification based on the time point through the
remote management facility.
10. The method of claim 9, wherein the providing operations
comprises: identifying a recipient to receive the notification.
11. A system for managing a process operating at a vehicle wash
facility that is communicatively coupled to a remote management
facility, the process using at least one chemical, the system
comprising: a environmental detector monitoring an environmental
parameter that influences a usage rate of the at least one chemical
in the process; a chemical quantity detector monitoring a current
quantity of the at least one chemical available for use at the
vehicle wash facility in the process; a controller predicting a
time point indicating expected exhaustion of the at least one
chemical based on the environmental parameter and the current
quantity of the at least one chemical; and a communications device
providing a notification of the time point through the remote
management facility.
12. The system of claim 11, wherein the environmental detector
monitors a weather condition in proximity to the vehicle wash
facility.
13. The system of claim 11, wherein the environmental detector
receives information related to a composition of soil on a vehicle
washed in the vehicle wash facility.
14. The system of claim 11, wherein the controller changes an
amount of at least one chemical applied to a vehicle washed at the
vehicle wash facility based on the environmental parameter.
15. The system of claim 11, wherein the controller changes a
sequence respective to a plurality of chemicals in which the at
least one chemical is applied to a vehicle washed in the vehicle
wash facility, the controller changing the sequence based on the
environmental parameter.
16. A computer program product encoding a computer program for
executing on a computer system a computer process for managing
application of a chemical to one or more vehicles at a vehicle wash
facility, the computer process comprising: monitoring an
environmental parameter that influences application of the chemical
to the one or more vehicles at the vehicle wash facility; and
automatically controlling application of the chemical to the one or
more vehicles based on the environmental parameter.
17. The computer program product of claim 16, wherein the operation
of monitoring an environmental parameter comprises: monitoring a
weather condition in proximity to the vehicle wash facility.
18. The computer program product of claim 16, wherein the operation
of monitoring an environmental parameter comprises: receiving
information related to a composition of soil on the one or more
vehicles washed at the vehicle wash facility.
19. The computer program product of claim 16, wherein the operation
of monitoring an environmental parameter comprises: monitoring a
temperature of the one or more vehicles washed at the vehicle wash
facility.
20. The computer program product of claim 16, wherein a first
chemical and a second chemical are available as chemicals which may
be applied to the one or more vehicles at the vehicle wash
facility, the operation of automatically controlling application of
the chemical further comprising: selecting, based on the
environmental parameter, the first chemical or the second chemical
for use as the chemical applied to the one or more vehicles at the
vehicle wash facility.
21. The computer program product of claim 16, wherein the operation
of automatically controlling application of the chemical further
comprises: changing an amount of the chemical applied to the one or
more vehicles at the vehicle wash facility.
22. The computer program product of claim 16, wherein the operation
of automatically controlling application of the chemical further
comprises: changing a temperature of water applied with the
chemical to the one or more vehicles at the vehicle wash
facility.
23. The computer program product of claim 16, wherein the operation
of automatically controlling application of the chemical further
comprises: changing a sequence in which the chemical is applied to
the one or more vehicles at the vehicle wash facility, wherein the
sequence is respective to application of at least one other
chemical to the one or more vehicles at the vehicle wash
facility.
24. The computer program product of claim 16, wherein the vehicle
wash facility is communicatively coupled to a remote management
facility, the method further comprising: monitoring a current
quantity of the chemical available for use at the vehicle wash
facility; predicting a time point indicating expected exhaustion of
the chemical based on the environmental parameter and the current
quantity of the chemical; and providing a notification based on the
time point through the remote management facility.
25. A system for managing a process at a vehicle wash facility that
is communicatively coupled to a remote management facility, the
process using at least one chemical, the system comprising: a first
monitoring device monitoring the process and reporting process data
to a controller; a control device controlling the process in
response to commands received from the controller; the controller,
communicatively coupled to the monitoring device and the control
device, analyzing the process data received from the monitoring
device to produce controller data relating to the analysis and
sending commands based on the controller data to the control
device; a communications device, communicatively coupled to the
controller and an external communications network, transmitting the
controller data to the remote management facility over the external
communications network; and a data store, communicatively coupled
to the controller, storing the process data.
26. The system of claim 25, further comprising: a second monitoring
device monitoring a weather condition in proximity to the vehicle
wash facility and reporting the weather condition to the
controller, the weather condition being analyzed by the controller
along with the process data to produce the controller data.
27. The system of claim 25, further comprising: a second monitoring
device monitoring a composition of soil on a vehicle washed in the
vehicle wash facility and reporting the composition to the
controller, the composition being analyzed by the controller along
with the process data to produce the controller data.
28. The system of claim 25, further comprising: a second monitoring
device monitoring an environmental parameter and reporting the
environmental condition to the controller, the controller analyzing
the environmental parameter and the process data to produce the
controller data and selecting at least one chemical for use in the
process based on the controller data.
29. The system of claim 25, further comprising: a second monitoring
device monitoring an environmental parameter and reporting the
environmental condition to the controller, the controller analyzing
the environmental parameter and the process data to produce the
controller data and changing a sequence in which at least one
chemical is used in the process based on the controller data.
30. The system of claim 25, wherein the controller identifies a
recipient for the controller data.
31. A method for managing a process at a vehicle wash facility that
is communicatively coupled to a remote management facility, the
process using at least one chemical, the method comprising:
monitoring the process to produce process data; monitoring at least
one environmental parameter; reporting the process data and the
environmental parameter to a controller; analyzing, via the
controller, the process data and the environmental parameter to
produce controller data relating to the analysis; controlling the
process in response to the controller data; transmitting the
controller data to the remote management facility; and storing, in
a data store, at least one of the process data, the environmental
parameter and the controller data.
32. The method of claim 31, wherein the operation of monitoring the
environmental parameter comprises: monitoring a weather condition
in proximity to the vehicle wash facility.
33. The method of claim 31, wherein the operation of monitoring the
environmental parameter comprises: receiving information related to
a composition of soil on a vehicle washed in the vehicle wash
facility.
34. The method of claim 31, wherein the operation of controlling
the process comprises: selecting at least one chemical for use in
the process in response to the controller data.
35. The method of claim 31, wherein the operation of controlling
the chemical process comprises: changing a sequence in which at
least one chemical is used in the process based on the controller
data.
36. The method of claim 31, wherein the operation of transmitting
the chemical process comprises: identifying a recipient of the
controller data.
37. A computer program product encoding a computer program for
executing on a computer system a computer process for managing a
process at a vehicle wash facility that is communicatively coupled
to a remote management facility, the process using at least one
chemical, the computer process comprising: monitoring the process
to produce process data; monitoring at least one environmental
parameter; reporting the process data and the environmental
parameter to a controller; analyzing, via the controller, the
process data and the environmental parameter to produce controller
data relating to the analysis; controlling the process in response
to the controller data; transmitting the controller data to the
remote management facility; and storing, in a data store, at least
one of the process data, the environmental parameter and the
controller data.
38. The computer program product of claim 37, wherein the operation
of monitoring the environmental parameter comprises: monitoring a
weather condition in proximity to the vehicle wash facility.
39. The computer program product of claim 37, wherein the operation
of monitoring the environmental parameter comprises: receiving
information related to a composition of soil on a vehicle washed in
the vehicle wash facility.
40. The computer program product of claim 37, wherein the operation
of controlling the process comprises: selecting at least one
chemical for use in the process in response to the controller
data.
41. The computer program product of claim 37, wherein the operation
of controlling the process comprises: changing a sequence in which
at least one chemical is used in the process based on the
controller data.
42. The computer program product of claim 37, wherein the operation
of transmitting the chemical process comprises: identifying a
recipient of the controller data.
43. A method for managing a process at a remote vehicle wash
facility, wherein a chemical is applied to one or more vehicles in
the remote vehicle wash facility during the process, the method
comprising: receiving process data from the remote vehicle wash
facility; receiving an environmental parameter that influences
application of the chemical to the vehicle during process;
analyzing the process data and environmental parameter; and
transmitting, based on results of the analysis, a message to a
client computer monitoring the process at the vehicle wash
facility.
44. The method of claim 43, wherein the operation of receiving an
environmental parameter comprises: receiving a weather condition in
proximity to the vehicle wash facility.
45. The method of claim 43, wherein the operation of receiving an
environmental parameter comprises: receiving information related to
a composition of soil on the one or more vehicles.
46. The method of claim 43, wherein the client computer controls
the process at the vehicle wash facility, the message being a
command specifying a task to be performed by the process.
47. The method of claim 46, wherein a first chemical and a second
chemical are available as chemicals which may be applied to the one
or more vehicles during the process, the command requesting
selection of the first chemical or the second chemical as the
chemical to be applied to the one or more vehicles during the
process.
48. The method of claim 46, wherein the command requests a change
in an amount of the chemical applied to the one or more vehicles
during the process.
49. The method of claim 46, wherein the command requests a change
in temperature of water applied with the chemical to the one or
more vehicles during the process.
50. The method of claim 46, wherein the command requests a change
in a sequence in which the chemical is applied to the one or more
vehicles during the washing process, wherein the sequence is
respective to application of at least one other chemical to the one
or more vehicles during the washing process.
51. The method of claim 46, wherein the client computer is located
at a central management facility responsible for managing
operations at the remote vehicle wash facility.
52. The method of claim 46 wherein the client computer is a
personal digital assistant.
53. The method of claim 43, wherein the environmental parameter is
received from the vehicle wash facility.
54. The method of claim 43, wherein the process data includes a
current quantity of the chemical, the analyzing operation
comprising: calculating a time point indicating expected exhaustion
of the chemical based on the environmental parameter and the
current quantity of the chemical.
55. The method of claim 54, wherein the message includes the
calculated time point indicating expected exhaustion of the
chemical.
56. The method of claim 55, wherein the client computer resides at
a remote management facility, the remote management facility
receiving the message and identifying a recipient for the message.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The invention relates generally to monitoring and
controlling remote facilities, and more particularly, to monitoring
and controlling processes at remote vehicle wash facilities.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] In recent years, it has become common for gas stations to
also provide a car wash on site. In many cases, a cashier is the
only attendant at the gas station and, in an increasing number of
cases, the gas station and associated car wash are completely
automated--there is no attendant on site. In other cases, the car
wash stands alone, without an associated gas station. In any case,
current industry practice is to manage the associated vehicle wash
facility through periodic physical inspections by specially trained
technicians, or "jobbers." Jobbers are capable of safely handling
the hazardous chemicals and of operating and repairing the
increasingly complex equipment used in the modem vehicle wash
facility. Jobbers, other technicians or attendants, and the owners
of the car washes may represent "vehicle wash operators" and may
operate wash facilities for a variety of vehicles, including cars,
trucks, boats, tractors, etc.
[0003] In operation, a vehicle wash facility applies one or more
chemicals to each vehicle that is to be washed at the facility.
Prior to being applied to a vehicle, each chemical is diluted using
water. Dilution may occur in a solution tank, from which a
point-of-use dispenser pulls the chemical(s)-water combination for
application to a vehicle. Alternatively, dilution may also occur as
the chemical(s) and water are being dispensed at substantially the
same time by a point-of-use dispenser to a vehicle. In either case,
the actual solution applied to each vehicle includes a
concentration of one or more chemicals and water. A responsibility
typically reserved for a vehicle wash operator relates to defining
the type and amount of appropriate chemicals, and thus,
concentrations thereof, that are to be applied by a vehicle wash
facility to the various vehicles utilizing the facility. Currently,
vehicle wash operators base this determination on the geographical
location of each vehicle wash facility that they service as well as
local road conditions and the current season, i.e., autumn, winter,
spring or summer. A single vehicle wash operator commonly manages
multiple vehicle wash facilities at various locations within a
certain geographical area or region. This approach allows vehicle
wash operators to profit from the economies of scale by reaping a
better return on investment respective to the number of personnel
and amount of specialized training required for the personnel.
[0004] However, problems arise in that this approach necessarily
lengthens the period in time between service visits to a specific
wash facility by a vehicle wash operator. As such, it would not be
efficient in the current approach for the vehicle wash operator to
take into account various factors that otherwise would be useful in
determining the appropriate chemicals for use by the facility. Such
factors may include, for example, a current weather pattern or
actual conditions over a given period in time, the type of vehicles
that use the vehicle wash facility and actual conditions of each
vehicle.
[0005] In addition to the problems described in the preceding
paragraph, the physical inspection method of managing more than one
vehicle wash facility is inherently inefficient with respect to
equipment maintenance and the management of chemical inventory. Not
long after a vehicle wash operator leaves a facility, the
information gathered during the physical inspection is no longer
timely. If the facility unexpectedly develops a problem, such as,
for example, failing to adhere to a regulatory specification,
running out of a chemical or having a mechanical failure, the
problem will not be detected until the next inspection or until
customers complain.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] The present invention solves these and other problems by an
automated system for monitoring and controlling the chemical and
mechanical systems and processes at a vehicle wash facility.
Automated monitoring and controlling of processes and systems at a
vehicle wash facility provides the facility the ability to maximize
cleaning processes for vehicles that utilize the facility,
particularly when combined with environmental conditions that
influence the rate at which individual chemicals are used. For
example, the composition of soil on a car may be monitored and used
to alter the chemicals used in the wash cycle for that car. Other
environmental conditions may include, without limitation, weather
conditions, types of vehicles, mechanical system status, vehicle
temperature, etc. Moreover, accurate chemical exhaustion times can
therefore be predicted and communicated to the facility operator,
and wash sequences and parameters may be altered in accordance with
such environmental parameters.
[0007] An embodiment of the present invention is a
computer-implemented method for managing a process operating at a
vehicle wash facility. The method includes monitoring an
environmental parameter that influences application of a chemical
being applied to one or more vehicles being washed in the wash
facility during the process. Application of the chemical to the one
or more vehicles is automatically controlled based on the monitored
environmental parameter. Examples of environmental parameters are
composition of soil on one or more vehicles washed during the
process, weather conditions in proximity to the vehicle wash
facility and the temperature of one or more vehicles washed during
the process. Based on at least one environmental parameter, the
method may select a first chemical instead of a second chemical for
application to the one or more vehicles or alter the amount and/or
temperature of water applied with the selected chemical to provide
a more optimal wash for the vehicle(s). The method may further
include steps of monitoring a current quantity of the chemical
available for use at the vehicle wash facility and predicting a
time point indicating expected exhaustion of the chemical. Said
prediction is based on the monitored current quantity and the
monitored environmental parameter. A notification based on
predicted time point may be provided to a remote management
facility over a communications network, thereby enabling the
chemical to be replenished in an efficient manner.
[0008] An embodiment of the present invention is a method of
managing a process operating at a vehicle wash facility that is
communicatively coupled to a remote management facility, the
process using at least one chemical. The method includes the steps
of monitoring an environmental parameter that influences a usage
rate chemical in the process; monitoring a current quantity of the
chemical available for use at the vehicle wash facility in the
process; predicting a time point indicating expected exhaustion of
the chemical based on the environmental parameter and the current
quantity of the chemical; and providing a notification of the time
point through the remote management facility.
[0009] Another embodiment of the present invention is a system for
managing a process operating at a vehicle wash facility that is
communicatively coupled to a remote management facility, the
process using at least one chemical. The system includes an
environmental detector monitoring an environmental parameter that
influences a usage rate of the chemical in the process; a chemical
quantity detector monitoring a current quantity of the chemical
available for use at the vehicle wash facility in the process; a
controller predicting a time point indicating expected exhaustion
of the chemical based on the environmental parameter and the
current quantity of the chemical; and a communications device
providing a notification of the time point through the remote
management facility.
[0010] In implementations of the present invention, articles of
manufacture are provided as computer program products. One
embodiment of a computer program product provides a computer
program storage medium, or alternatively, a non-volatile solid
state memory device, readable by a computer system and encoding a
computer program that manages a chemical process at a vehicle wash
facility that is communicatively coupled to a remote management
facility. Another embodiment of a computer program product may be
provided in a computer data signal embodied in a carrier wave by a
computing system and encoding the computer program that manages a
chemical process at a vehicle wash facility that is communicatively
coupled to a remote management facility. The computer process
includes monitoring an environmental parameter that influences
application of a chemical being applied to one or more vehicles
being washed in the wash facility during the process. The computer
process further includes automatically controlling application of
the chemical to the one or more vehicles based on the monitored
environmental parameter. In an embodiment, the environmental
parameter influences a usage rate of the chemical in the process.
In this embodiment, the computer process includes monitoring a
current quantity of the chemical available for use at the vehicle
wash facility in the process; predicting a time point indicating
expected exhaustion of the chemical based on the environmental
parameter and the current quantity of the chemical; and providing a
notification of the time point through the remote management
facility.
[0011] Another embodiment is a system for managing a chemical
process at a vehicle wash facility that is communicatively coupled
to a remote management facility. The system includes a monitoring
device monitoring the chemical process and reporting process data
to a controller; a control device controlling the chemical process
in response to commands received from the controller; the
controller, communicatively coupled to the monitoring device and
the control device, analyzing the process data received from the
monitoring device and sending commands based on the process data to
the control device; a communications device, communicatively
coupled to the controller and an external communications network,
transmitting controller data relating to the analysis to the remote
management facility; and a data store, communicatively coupled to
the controller, storing the process data.
[0012] Another embodiment is a method for managing a chemical
process at a vehicle wash facility that is communicatively coupled
to a remote management facility. The method includes monitoring the
chemical process to produce process data; monitoring at least one
environmental parameter; reporting the process data and the
environmental parameter to a controller; analyzing, via the
controller, the process data and the environmental parameter to
produce controller data relating to the analysis; controlling the
chemical process in response to controller data from the
controller; transmitting the controller data to the remote
management facility; and storing, in a data store, at least one of
the process data, the environmental parameter or the controller
data.
[0013] Another embodiment is a computer program product, such as a
computer program storage medium readable by a computer system or a
computer data signal embodied in a carrier wave, encoding a
computer program for executing on a computer system a computer
process for managing a chemical process at a vehicle wash facility
that is communicatively coupled to a remote management facility.
The computer process includes monitoring the chemical process to
produce process data; monitoring at least one environmental
parameter; reporting the process data and the environmental
parameter to a controller; analyzing, via the controller, the
process data and the environmental parameter to produce controller
data relating to the analysis; controlling the chemical process in
response to controller data from the controller; transmitting the
controller data to the remote management facility; and storing, in
a data store, at least one of the process data, the environmental
parameter or the controller data.
[0014] Another embodiment is a method for managing a chemical
process at a remote vehicle wash facility. The method includes
receiving process data from the remote vehicle wash facility;
receiving an environmental parameter that influences a usage rate
of at least one chemical in the chemical process; analyzing the
process data and environmental parameter; and transmitting, based
on results of the analysis, a notification to a client
computer.
[0015] Another embodiment is a computer program product, such as a
computer program storage medium readable by a computer system or a
computer data signal embodied in a carrier wave, encoding a
computer program for executing on a computer system a computer
process for managing a chemical process at a remote vehicle wash
facility. The computer process includes receiving process data from
the remote vehicle wash facility; receiving an environmental
parameter that influences a usage rate of at least one chemical in
the chemical process; analyzing the process data and the
environmental parameter; and transmitting, based on results of the
analysis, a notification to a client computer.
[0016] Another embodiment is a system for managing a chemical
process at a remote vehicle wash facility. The system includes a
communication device, communicatively coupled to the remote vehicle
wash facility and a server, receiving process data from the vehicle
wash facility, receiving an environmental parameter, and sending
the process data and environmental parameter to the server; the
server, communicatively coupled to a client computer, analyzing the
process data and environmental parameter; and the server, based on
the results of the analysis, transmitting a notification to a
client computer.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0017] FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary communications network
showing remote vehicle wash facilities connected by a
communications network to a central management facility in an
embodiment of the present invention.
[0018] FIG. 2 illustrates an exemplary topology of chemical
processes, monitoring devices, control devices, processing devices
and communication devices relative to a vehicle wash facility in an
embodiment of the present invention.
[0019] FIG. 3 illustrates a generalized embodiment of the present
invention utilized by a central management facility to monitor and
control chemical processes at one of a plurality of remote chemical
process facilities.
[0020] FIG. 4 illustrates operations for monitoring operations at a
vehicle wash facility in an embodiment of the invention.
[0021] FIG. 5 illustrates operations for performance function
aspects in an embodiment of the invention.
[0022] FIG. 6 depicts a block diagram of a suitable computing
environment in which an embodiment of the present invention may be
implemented.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0023] In the following description of the exemplary embodiment,
reference is made to the accompanying drawings that form a part
hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration specific
embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. It is to be
understood that other embodiments may be utilized as structural
changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present
invention.
[0024] FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary environment of remote
vehicle wash facilities 102 connected by a communications network
104 to a central management facility 106 in an embodiment of the
invention. The monitoring and control systems at each of the
vehicle wash facilities 102 collect "process data," the definition
of which is used here to broadly include any type of data used or
generated by any and all processes performed at the vehicle wash
facility 102. The monitoring and control systems at each of the
vehicle wash facilities 102 use process data and instructions input
by operators to control the operation of the processes (e.g.,
selections of chemicals used in the wash or alteration of wash
sequences) performed at the vehicle wash facilities. In an
embodiment, the monitoring and control system at each facility 102
also utilize one or more environmental parameters to control
operations of processes performed at the facilities 102.
[0025] Exemplary process data may include data generated at the
remote vehicle wash facility 102, including without limitation raw
chemical characteristic data (e.g., chemical levels, temperatures,
and usage rates) generated by monitoring devices, analytical
results derived from the raw chemical characteristic data at the
remote vehicle wash facility 102, and alarm indicators relating to
chemical characteristic data. Exemplary environmental parameters
include without limitation ambient temperature, local road
construction information, weather reports, soil sample data, an
anticipated schedule for chemical deliveries, regulatory
restrictions governing various aspects of chemical and wash water
disposal, etc. Some or all of the process data and other
environmental parameters may be made available or transmitted by
the communications network 104 to offsite facilities, such as the
central management facility 106. The communications network 104
further allows the transmission of control commands and other
environmental parameters to the remote wash facilities 102. As
shown in the embodiment, process data and environmental parameters
may also be transmitted or made available directly to an equipment
manufacturer 110 and the chemical supplier 112. Furthermore, data
may also be transmitted via a wireless communication link 124 to a
service vehicle 120.
[0026] FIG. 1 also shows the vehicle wash facilities 102 grouped
into two regions 122 and 124. It should be understood that a
vehicle wash operator may group vehicle wash facilities 102 into
any number of regions as necessary or convenient for efficient
management. For example, vehicle wash facilities 102 that are
geographically proximate to each other (e.g. on one side of town)
may be grouped into one region 122 while other facilities on the
other side of town may be grouped into another region 124.
Alternatively, facilities may be grouped by category (e.g.,
coin-operated, stand-alone, gas station, brand-name, wash system
type, contract type, etc.).
[0027] It should be understood that the communications network 104
may utilize any number of communication technologies depending on
functions required by the embodiment. Examples of specific
technologies used in communications networks 104 contemplated
include without limitation terrestrial, cellular, satellite,
short-wave, and microwave connections to the Internet, directly
between facilities using modems or other interface devices, or
through other communications networks, such as local area networks
or wide area networks. Any combination of these or other
communications networks may be utilized and remain within the scope
of the invention.
[0028] Similarly, the communications network 104 is also shown as
connected to a mobile service vehicle 120 via a wireless
communication link 126. The service vehicle 120 may also be
directly connected to the communications network 104 as shown in
FIG. 1. Alternatively, the service vehicle 120 may be connected to
the communications network 104 through a dedicated connection to
some facility, such as the central management facility 106, rather
than receiving process data and environmental parameters directly
from the network 104, without departing from the scope of the
invention.
[0029] The equipment manufacturer 110 may receive process data,
environmental parameters or notifications (e.g., an order command)
directly or indirectly from vehicle wash facilities 102 or from the
central management facility 106. This connection allows the
equipment manufacturer 110 to schedule maintenance and repair
activities based on the process data received from the distributed
system. For example, if wash pressure is detected as decreasing
over time, the equipment manufacturer 110 may schedule a repair
technician to visit the corresponding wash facility to repair or
replace a pump or to patch leaks in the plumbing system.
[0030] Likewise, the chemical supplier 112 can receive the similar
data and be alerted to any conditions at the vehicle wash
facilities 102 that may require action on the chemical supplier's
part. For example, based on an aggregated determination of chemical
levels of a given type in a region, the chemical supplier 112 may
predict an increased or decreased need for a given chemical in the
region, and thereby adjust its production schedule for that
chemical accordingly.
[0031] In an embodiment, information is provided to the individuals
at the equipment manufacturer 110, the chemical supplier 112, the
central management facility 106 and the service vehicle 120 on a
web browser implemented on a computer system local to the equipment
manufacturer 110, the chemical supplier 112, the central management
facility 106 and the service vehicle 120, respectively. In this
embodiment, the network 104 may be an Intranet or the Internet.
[0032] FIG. 2 illustrates an exemplary topology of chemical
processes, monitoring devices, control devices, processing devices,
and communication devices at a remote vehicle wash facility 202 in
an embodiment of the present invention. Similar to the embodiment
shown in FIG. 1, FIG. 2 illustrates the general environment 200
including three remote vehicle wash facilities 202, 204, 206,
connected via a communications network 208 to a central management
facility 210. A communication line with a service vehicle 250 is
also shown. A detailed view of the topology of an exemplary
monitoring and control system in accordance with the present
invention is shown within the remote vehicle wash facility 202.
Note that data communication connections are indicated by a solid
line to distinguish them from process piping, which are indicated
by dashed lines.
[0033] At any remote vehicle wash facility 202, 204, 206 to which
the present invention may be applied, there is at least one
chemical process. Specific examples of chemical processes used at
vehicle wash facilities may include, without limitation, detergent
storage and dispensing (whether the detergent is liquid or solid),
wax storage and dispensing, water application, effluent disposal,
and drying. As such, a chemical process includes any and/or all
operations performed by a vehicle wash facility 202, 204, 206
during one or more wash cycles for one or more vehicles. For the
purposes of this application, the exemplary "chemical processes"
may also include operation of equipment necessary to deliver,
maintain, measure, control and alter a chemical, including
mechanical applicators, scrubbers, displays, fans, storage vessels
or drums, mixers, valves, level sensors, pumps, heaters, coolers,
and the like. In the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the
processes are represented as a series of chemical storage tanks
212, illustrated by the two storage tanks 212 connected by an
ellipsis, although it should be understood that the invention
applies equally to any type of chemical or fluid process that is
subject to electronic monitoring and control.
[0034] Associated with one more of the chemical processes is at
least one monitoring device, depicted in the exemplary embodiment
as level sensors 216 reporting the level of chemical remaining in
the storage tank 212. Such electronic level sensors 216 may include
without limitation capacitance probes, infrared beams, and pressure
sensors. An exemplary capacitance probe type level sensor 216 is
illustrated, which is capable of detecting the remaining amount of
liquid chemical in the storage tank and (periodically or
continuously, depending on the type of sensor used) communicating
that process data to the controller 218. It should be understood
that the illustrated placement of the sensors 216 are merely
exemplary and are not intended to limit the physical configuration
of any monitoring devices in the system.
[0035] In addition to monitoring devices, the remote facilities
also may be equipped with one or more process control devices. In
an embodiment of the present invention, a control device may be a
control valve 220 through which the storage tank 212 is connected
to the wash system 222. For example, the control valve 220 controls
the amount of chemical from the tank 212 that is used during a wash
cycle. Control valves 220 can take many different forms depending
on the chemical and use including metering pumps and motorized
valves for liquid applications, and volumetric and gravimetric
feeders for solid chemical dispensing. In the illustrated
embodiment, each control valve 220 is connected to the controller
218 to receive control commands therefrom and communicate data
regarding the performance of the valve to the controller 218, if
necessary.
[0036] Alternatively, control devices may also control other
systems, such as heaters, pumps, motors, lights, coin-operated
machines (e.g., towel vending machines, coin-operated wash control
systems), keypad wash consoles, etc. For example, a vehicle wash
operator may remotely set a keypad wash console to offer
complimentary upgrades at a specified time of day. It should be
understood that the illustrated placement of the control valves 220
are merely exemplary and are not intended to limit the physical
configuration of any control devices in the system.
[0037] The controller 218 receives process data and environmental
parameters from monitoring devices at the remote vehicle wash
facility 202 and issues commands to control processes at the
facility 202 . It should be noted that the term `controller` is
used here in the broadest sense and may consist of a
general-purpose computer executing software and a combination of
hardware, firmware and software. Furthermore, the term "controller"
may denote a central or distributed processing system. The
controller 218 is shown in greater detail in FIG. 6 in accordance
with an embodiment of the present invention.
[0038] As illustrated, the controller 218 is connected to a data
store 224 in the embodiment shown, which allows the controller 218
to access and store process data and environmental parameters as
necessary. The controller 218, depending on the embodiment, may
operate in several different ways. For example, the controller 218
may not be required to process any raw data but rather to simply
transmit the raw data to the central management facility 210 over
the communications network 208. In other embodiments, the
controller 218 may analyze the raw data and transmit the analytical
results derived from the raw data to the central management
facility 210 including notifications like alarm indicators (such as
"low chemical alarm" or "malfunction alarm") or condition
indicators (such as "all systems functioning properly" or
"currently using chemical X"). In an embodiment, the data store 224
also stores data received from the central management facility 210
over the communications network 208. The data received from the
central management facility 210 includes, among other types of
data, environmental parameters for a geographic region or area
associated with each vehicle wash facility 202, 204, 206.
[0039] The controller 218 may continuously or periodically transmit
and receive data to/from the central management facility 210, as
appropriate. Furthermore, the controller 218 may transmit data and
notifications to one or more recipients, such as jobbers and
chemical suppliers, in addition to the central management facility
210. Indeed, in accordance with one embodiment, the controller 218
serves as a thin client that transmits and receives data to the
central facility 210 during regularly scheduled time intervals. For
example, the controller 218 may transmit collected data to the
central facility 210 hourly, daily, weekly, or even after each
individual wash cycle for a vehicle. Optionally, the controller 218
may be designed to transmit specific data in response to a query
from an operator, in response to a query issued by the central
facility 210, or in response to some preset condition, such as the
chemical level falling below a specified level.
[0040] The controller 218 uses process data and environmental
parameters to control operation of the various processes at the
facility 202. For example, the controller 218 may automatically, or
in response to a command, switch between storage tanks 212 to
change the types of detergent used in the wash system 222 depending
on data received from the level sensors 216. Illustrating this, the
controller 218 may switch from applying a first detergent stored in
a first storage tank 212 to a second detergent stored in a second
storage tank 212 in response to an environmental parameter sensed
by a level sensor 216.
[0041] In an embodiment, the controller 218 controls operation of
various processes at the facility 202 based on various
environmental parameters either sensed at the facility 202 or
received from the central management facility 210 and stored in the
data store 224. For example, the controller 218 may increase the
wash time for a particularly dirty vehicle or change the type of
detergents and waxes used based on the type of soil located on a
vehicle. The controller 218 may also control the temperature of
water applied with chemicals used during processes at the wash
facility based on the amount of soil found on a vehicle. Another
example of such control relates to increasing or decreasing levels
of alkalinity, surfactancy, acidity and salinity in a chemical or
rinse agent applied to vehicles, or increasing/decreasing drying
time. Any one of these factors may be modified based on received or
sensed environmental parameters, such as, without limitation, type
and amount of soil detected on a vehicle, current or average
outside temperature, current weather conditions and current time of
year (summer, fall, winter or spring). Automatic control of the
processes by the controller 218 may also be adjusted in response to
external data provided periodically by the operator (e.g., weather
conditions that may effect soil composition, etc.) or may be
designed into the controller 218 by the manufacturer or
installer.
[0042] The controller 218 is coupled to a communication device 226
in the exemplary embodiment. The purpose of the communication
device 226 is to interface between the controller 218 and the
communications network 208 and support the transfer of data
therebetween. In the exemplary embodiment shown, the communication
device 226 is a modem connected to a terrestrial telephone line,
although, as discussed above, any means for communicatively
coupling the controller 218 to the communications network 208 is
contemplated.
[0043] For the purposes of further illustration, several additional
monitoring devices for collecting process data and/or environmental
parameters have been shown in the exemplary embodiment. More
specifically, an effluent monitoring device 228 and a vehicle soil
monitoring device 230 are illustrated. The effluent monitoring
device 228 monitors the amount and/or composition of chemicals and
soil in the effluent coming from the vehicle wash system 222 before
the effluent is discharged to the public sewer. The effluent
monitoring device 228 can collect data related to the amount and
type of soil present on the vehicles using the vehicle wash 202 and
the amount and type of excess detergent or wax present in the
effluent.
[0044] Data, which may be considered process data or environmental
parameters, collected by the effluent monitoring device 228 is
provided to the controller 218 for analysis and/or uploading to the
central management facility 210. In one embodiment, the data
collected by the effluent monitoring device 228 is analyzed against
various regulatory restrictions governing the disposal of chemicals
in the particular city, county, Parrish, state, province, country
or township where the facility 202 is located. Such restrictions
may be specified in an ordinance, statute, referendum, ballot
measure or any other type of legal or public document governing or
proposed for governing disposal of chemicals within a specified
geographical area. Based on analysis of the data against the
various regulatory restrictions, the controller 218 may either
control processes of the facility 202 to ensure that the facility
complies with the restrictions and/or issue a notification to the
central management facility 210 that one or more regulatory
restrictions are not being complied with.
[0045] Data collected by the effluent monitoring device 228 may
also be stored for later use in the data store 224 or transmitted
to the central management facility 210 or both. If transmitted to
the central management facility 210, the central management
facility 210 may actually utilize data collected by the effluent
monitoring device 228 to manage processes at the wash facility 202
through the controller 218. In this sense, the central management
facility 210 issues commands to the controller 218 related to
control over one or more processes at the wash facility 202, such
as, without limitation, modifying one or more wash processes to
comply with a regulatory restriction.
[0046] The vehicle soil monitoring device 230 collects data related
to the composition and amount of soil that may be located on a
vehicle. Based on information received by the vehicle soil
monitoring device 230, the vehicle soil monitoring device 230 may
be used to determine such things as the appropriate detergent, wax,
wash pressures, and wash times for each vehicle using the wash
facility 202. In one embodiment, a customer can wipe a soil sample
from a location on the vehicle and deposit the sample in the
vehicle soil monitoring device 230, which determines the
composition of the soil. With this information, the controller 218
can select the appropriate detergent and other wash characteristics
to best clean the vehicle. In another embodiment, the vehicle soil
monitoring device 230 includes an input means for users to enter
information related to the composition of the soil believed to be
located on the exterior of the vehicle. In this embodiment, this
input means may receive such information local to the vehicle soil
monitoring device 230, or alternatively, over a remote connection
to the central management facility 210. As such, jobbers or vehicle
wash attendants may issue instructions related to soil composition
over a remote network connection. Data received by the soil
monitoring device 230 is communicated to the controller 218, which
analyzes the data and adjusts various wash processes based on said
analysis. For example, a particularly oily sample may result in
automatic selection of a cleaning agent having a relatively high
surfactant concentration.
[0047] Data collected by the vehicle soil monitoring device 230 may
also be stored for later use in the data store 224 or transmitted
to the central management facility 210 or both. If transmitted to
the central management facility 210, the central management
facility 210 may actually utilize data collected by the soil
monitoring device 230 to manage processes at the wash facility 202
through the controller 218. In this sense, the central management
facility 210 issues commands to the controller 218 related to
control over one or more processes at the wash facility 202, such
as, without limitation selecting the appropriate detergent and
other wash characteristics to best clean the vehicle.
[0048] FIG. 3 illustrates a generalized embodiment of the present
invention utilized by a central management facility 302 to monitor
and control processes 304 at one of a plurality of remote chemical
process facilities 306, which may include one or more chemical
process monitoring devices 308 that are communicatively coupled to
a controller 310. An electronic monitoring device 308 may take many
forms depending upon the type of process it is designed to monitor,
the data it reports, and the function complexity required by the
user. Examples of simple monitoring devices include thermistors,
pre-calibrated temperature-sensitive resistors, and pressure
sensors. More complex monitoring devices may include one or more
data sensing devices, a controller, data storage, and a dedicated
power source.
[0049] Also, a chemical process facility 306 may include chemical
process control devices 312. Examples of such devices 312 include
process equipment such as heaters, pumps, control valves, sprayers,
scrubbers and the like. Through the control devices 312, an
operator can control the operation of the processes at the remote
chemical process facility 306, thereby allowing the operator to
change process settings in response to changing conditions at the
facility. The control devices are communicatively coupled to the
controller 310 from which they receive commands from the operator
or commands generated by the controller 310 itself. Many control
devices 312 may also perform monitoring functions. Furthermore,
although the control devices 312 and monitoring devices 308 have
heretofore been discussed separately, such devices may be combined
into a single device within the scope of the invention.
[0050] The controller 310, in addition to being communicatively
coupled to the monitoring devices 308 and control devices 312, is
communicatively coupled to a data store 314, which is capable of
storing process data, environmental parameters and controller data
produced by the controller 310, and a communications device 316. In
an embodiment, controller data is broadly defined herein as data
resulting from an analysis of process data and/or one or more
environmental parameters by the controller 310. Data, i.e., process
data, environmental parameters or controller data, may be
transmitted by the controller 310 through a communications device
316, which is communicatively coupled to the central measurement
facility 302 through a communications network 318. In the
embodiment, the central management facility 302 is also provided
with a communication device 320, which can receive the data
transmitted from the remote facilities 306 and pass the data on to
a server 322. The server 322 may store the data and may analyze the
data to determine if any action is required. Based on the results
of the analysis, the server may send a notification to the client
computer 324 or may send a command or notification to the vehicle
wash facility 306. For example, the server 322 may receive an alarm
indicating low chemical levels at a specified facility. In response
to the alarm, the server 322 may send a signal to a client computer
324, such as an email to the jobber or a page to the jobber's cell
phone.
[0051] Various other embodiments of the means of communicating
between the remote chemical process facilities 306 and client
computer 324 are contemplated as embodiments of the present
invention. For example, the communication device 320 and server 322
need not be physically located at the central management facility
302. In an embodiment, the server 322 may be located at some third
party "server farm" that is accessible by any client computer 324
that has access to the Internet. In another embodiment, one or more
of the remote facilities 306 may be equipped with a server 322,
wherein each facility with a server is provided with its own
internet access and can be queried by any client computer 324
connected with the communications network.
[0052] FIG. 4 illustrates a process 400 for managing operation of a
vehicle wash facility in accordance with an embodiment of the
invention. Depending on the embodiment, the management process 400
may be performed to control processes of the vehicle wash facility,
to monitor processes of the vehicle wash facility or to control and
monitor processes of the vehicle wash facility. As such, the
management process 400 includes various optional operations for
controlling and/or monitoring one or more processes performed at
the vehicle wash facility. The operations of the management process
400 are performed using an operation flow beginning with a
detection operation 402 and ending with a notification operation
410.
[0053] Flow starts in detection operation 402 wherein one or more
environmental parameters are continuously or periodically monitored
by monitoring devices at the vehicle wash facility or the central
management facility. Environmental parameters, as used here, may
include any environmental or process conditions that have an effect
on the amount or type of chemical(s) necessary to effectively wash
a vehicle. In a general sense, an environmental parameter can be
considered to be data relating to any condition that would affect
the performance of the washing processes and/or the usage rate of
the available chemicals. In contrast, process data includes
information about the characteristics, including composition,
quantity, usage rate, and type of a chemical. Process data also
includes the temperature of water applied with each chemical used
during washing processes at a vehicle wash facility.
[0054] An example of an environmental parameter is the soil load on
the vehicles using the vehicle wash facility. In one embodiment,
the soil load can be determined from analysis of the soil on the
vehicle. In this case, some monitoring device (such as a mass
spectrometer, interferometer or infrared beam) may be used to
determine the amount of soil on the surface of each vehicle as it
enters the vehicle wash facility. In one embodiment, a customer can
wipe a soil sample patch (e.g., a piece of paper or cloth) against
a surface of the vehicle to remove an amount of the soil. The soil
sample patch is analyzed to determine the composition of the soil.
Thereafter, the controller or server can determine the best
sequence or combination of detergents, rinses, and waxes for
removing the soil from the vehicle.
[0055] It should be appreciated that any type of soil analysis
device or method may be employed to determine the composition of
the soil. For example, conventional methods for analyzing soil
composition include, without limitation, analyzing soil samples in
a laboratory wherein various test chemicals are applied to the soil
sample. In this case, the laboratory may be located at the vehicle
wash facility. Alternatively, the soil composition used by the
present invention to control chemical processes at the vehicle wash
facility may be a collective sample taken from a sample of vehicles
in the area of the vehicle wash facility. As such, the laboratory
may be located remote from the vehicle wash facility, such as at a
central management facility.
[0056] Soil samples can also be taken from various locations on the
vehicle to maximize the effectiveness of the wash process for
specific parts of the vehicle. For example, excessive tar on the
wheels and running boards may suggest an increased concentration of
surfactant and alkalinity for use on the wheels and sides of the
vehicle, while excessive mud on the back of the vehicle may suggest
an increased pre-soak time. Such information is very useful for
ensuring quality control and in determining the amount of detergent
necessary to adequately wash customer vehicles.
[0057] Furthermore, by detecting trends in the soils compositions
and locations, a wash facility can predict the usage rate of such
chemicals and increase the precision with which exhaustion of
specific chemicals may be predicted. For example, a road
resurfacing project near the wash facility may increase the usage
rate of surfactant and alkalinity, thereby changing the scheduled
frequency of replenishing the chemical. Detection of excessive tar
in the soil load of multiple vehicles over a period of time can
predict this change in usage rate and allow the operator to ensure
that the chemical does not run out or the chemical vendor to
increase production.
[0058] Alternatively, other examples of environmental parameters
may include without limitation the past, current and forecasted
weather conditions near the facility, the quantity and chemistry of
soil in an effluent of the processes at the facility, the type of
detergents and other chemicals being used at the facility, the
presence of ice buildup on the vehicle, the facility's throughput
in vehicles, time per vehicle, and the current temperature of the
surfaces of the vehicles to be cleaned, which can vary
significantly from an ambient temperature determined by monitoring
the current weather conditions. It should be appreciated that these
parameters may be monitored at the vehicle wash facility or at a
remote location, such as the central management facility. If
monitored at the central management facility, these parameters, or
alternatively, commands for controlling processes at the facility
based on these parameters, are transmitted to a controller at the
facility over a communications network in accordance with an
embodiment depicted in FIG. 2. Furthermore, these parameters may be
monitored through a variety of known methods, including monitoring
weather conditions on an Internet site and querying customers
through a user interface at the wash control panel. Other means for
monitoring these parameters may be through a jobber or customer
complaint feedback surveys.
[0059] Another environmental parameter that may be monitored is a
residue sample from the vehicle after the washing completes. For
example, the customer can be offered a chance to wipe samples from
various locations on the vehicle to provide feedback to the system
on wash performance. Such feedback can be used to automatically
increase or decrease types or concentrations of chemicals used in
the washing process, to modify usage rate data, and to alter
exhaustion point predictions (because changes in chemical usage
rates may change to optimize wash performance). Customers may be
offered a discount or coupon for subsequent washes as incentives to
provide the samples.
[0060] A monitoring operation 404 monitors process data indicative
of the quantity and/or type of chemicals currently available for
use at the facility. The monitoring operation 404 also monitors
other forms of process data, such as, without limitation, the
temperature of water applied with each chemical during washing
processes. The monitoring operation 404 monitors the parameters
related to these chemicals used at the facility and generates a set
of process data. As discussed previously, monitoring the chemical
inventory can be achieved in many ways and does not necessarily
require a direct measurement of the amount of chemical remaining in
storage tanks. Any method of monitoring or otherwise tracking the
amount of chemical remaining at facility is contemplated under the
scope of this invention. The monitoring operation 404 can monitor
chemical quantities that are currently hooked up to the washing
system and/or chemical quantities of chemical reserves that are
merely stored on-site. As for the latter quantities, the operator
can use this information to monitor the quantities available in the
on-site inventory, which mean the difference between a chemical
delivery to the wash facility or merely a change of connection to a
full drum of chemical.
[0061] A storage operation 406 stores collected process data and
the environmental parameter(s) detected by the detection operation
402 and the process data monitored by the monitoring operation 404,
in a storage device at the facility, or alternatively, transmits
the monitored data to a server computer for storage. However, it
should be understood that some computations in an embodiment of the
present invention may be accomplished without storing specific
monitored data. For example, detection of a chemical level dropping
below a predetermined or dynamically computed threshold may
communicate an alarm to an operator without storing the quantity or
type of the chemical.
[0062] In one embodiment, the management operation 400 performs a
control operation 407. The control operation 407 controls the
processes at the vehicle wash facility based on the collected
environmental parameter(s) detected by the detection operation 402
and the process data monitored by the monitoring operation 404. As
an example of control based on process data, the control operation
407 may automatically, or in response to a command, switch between
storage tanks to change the types of detergent used in the wash
system depending on data received from the level sensors. As an
example of control based on environmental parameter(s), the control
operation 407 may increase the wash time for a particularly dirty
vehicle or change the type of detergents and waxes used based on
the type of soil on a vehicle. The control operation 407 may also
control the temperature of water used during processes at the wash
facility based on the amount of soil detected on a vehicle. Further
examples of control over processes at a vehicle wash facility are
provided in more detail with respect to FIGS. 1-3, supra.
[0063] In another embodiment, the management operation 400 performs
a computation operation 408. The computation operation 408
evaluates the collected data to predict the time in which a given
chemical supply will be exhausted at the wash facility. The
evaluation is done using a performance function that relates an
actual or predicted chemical usage rate of a chemical and one or
more quantity parameters of the chemical monitored in the
monitoring operation 404 to predict a time point when the chemical
is expected to be exhausted. The term "exhausted" is directed to
describe some substantially low quantity of the chemical at which
the operator desires to replenish the chemical (e.g., by swapping
in a full drum of the chemical, etc.).
[0064] In one embodiment, the performance function predicts that
the current rate of usage of a given chemical and the detected
quantity of the chemical will exhaust the supply of the chemical by
a given point in time. A buffer quantity or a lead time may be
built into the performance function to provide time for the
operator to schedule the appropriate chemical shipment to the wash
facility and/or schedule a visit by the operator to the wash
facility before the chemical is actually exhausted completely.
[0065] In another embodiment, the performance function projects a
change in the current usage rate of the chemical, based on the
environmental parameters, to revise a previous exhaustion time
point prediction. For example, if the performance function
initially predicts exhaustion of a chemical within two weeks, but
the environmental parameters indicate a big rain storm in the near
future, the performance function may revise the initial exhaustion
time point prediction because a higher volume of vehicle washes are
expected after the storm. Likewise, local road construction, a
detected trend in customer vehicle types, soil loads, customer
preferences (e.g., one wax brand over another, which type of wash
type--Basic, Deluxe, Super Deluxe--is selected, etc.), faulty
operation of facility equipment, and other environmental parameters
may impact the chemical usage rate and cause the performance
function to revise the exhaustion time point prediction.
[0066] Results of the performance function analysis may be used to
render conclusions related to aspects other than estimating an
exhaustion date for one or more chemical(s). For example, these
results may indicate a mechanical failure at the facility if a
chemical is being exhausted at a faster or slower rate than normal.
Furthermore, these results may be utilized to generate trends of
chemical usage over a given period in time, e.g., weekend, weekend
and holiday trends.
[0067] In one embodiment, the performance function has been
predetermined by the manufacturer of the process equipment, the
chemical supplier or manufacturer, or the operator, stored in the
data store at the facility, and is accessible to the system's
controller. In an alternate embodiment, the performance function is
not stored at the facility but is made available (such as by an
Internet connection to the process equipment manufacturer's
website) to the controller at the facility when the evaluation is
necessary. This may be achieved either by the facility transmitting
the parameters offsite for evaluation and then receiving the
results of the evaluation, or by downloading a copy of the
performance function which it then uses to evaluate the data using
the processing capabilities at the facility and subsequently
discards. One utility of these alternatives is that the performance
function may be easily revised because it is kept at only one
location.
[0068] In yet another embodiment, the management operation 400
performs a notification operation 410. The notification operation
410 determines whether the performance function result requires a
notification to be sent to the operator or to other components in
the system. For example, if a currently scheduled re-supply visit
to the wash facility does not satisfy the revised exhaustion point
prediction (e.g., not enough chemical, the wrong chemicals, not
soon enough), the operator may be notified by cell phone, by email,
by pager, or by some other means. The notification identifies the
wash facility requiring attention and the type of notification. The
notification may also identify details of the condition associated
with the wash facility, such as quantities of one or more available
chemicals at the wash facility, availability of chemicals from a
chemical supplier, status of equipment, and other information. The
notification may also include a recommendation for ordering
chemicals or scheduling the next visit to the associated wash
facility. In one embodiment, the notification may also
automatically order the chemical from the chemical vendor.
[0069] The notification operation 410 includes an algorithm for
determining when notifications should be sent and to whom they
should go. The algorithm may be a part of the performance function
or may be a separate function that uses the results of the
performance function and other information including environmental
and chemical parameters to make its determination. In addition, the
algorithm includes user-specified variables such as an escalation
process defining a hierarchy of individuals or entities that are to
be contacted for specific types of notifications, and in what
order.
[0070] The escalation process applies a set of business rules for
use in determining the order in which specified entities and/or
individuals are to receive each particular type of notification.
For example, an escalation process may specify the order for a
mechanical failure notification as follows: the vehicle wash
facility attendant, the jobber, the jobber's manager, and finally,
the owner of the vehicle wash facility. Likewise, an escalation
process may specify the order for a mechanical failure notification
as follows: the jobber, the jobber's manager, and finally, the
owner of the vehicle wash facility. Additionally, the escalation
process may indicate the form of communication that is to be used
to notify the appropriate personnel, as well as escalation for
notifying same. Referring to the second example above, the
escalation process may specify that the jobber is to be notified
about the mechanical failure by email first, then by pager, and
finally by cell phone, and all this prior to notifying the jobber's
manager. It should be appreciated that any type of escalation
process is contemplated by the present invention, and therefore,
the present invention is not limited to the examples provided
above.
[0071] FIG. 5 illustrates operations for remote control in an
embodiment of the invention. The operation flow is described in
relation to a remote location, e.g., a central management facility,
communicatively coupled with a single vehicle wash facility,
although it should be understood that the logical operations may be
implemented at a plurality of facilities.
[0072] Operation flow starts in a receiving operation 502, wherein
data created by monitoring process data and environmental
parameters at the vehicle wash facility are received at the remote
location. In addition, external data, primarily additional
environmental parameters that are monitored elsewhere, may also be
received at the remote location. A storage operation 504 stores the
received data in a storage device, i.e., data store, at the remote
location. In alternate embodiments, the storage device may be
located at either the vehicle wash facility or another remote
location communicatively coupled with the remote location.
[0073] An evaluation operation 506 evaluates the received data
using a performance function that relates environmental parameters
and process data. After the data has been evaluated using the
performance function, a decision operation 508 determines whether
any changes should be made to process settings at the vehicle wash
facility based on the performance function result and the data
received in the receiving operation 502. In the one embodiment, the
decision operation 508 compares the data or performance function
result to predetermined wash system standards or current process
equipment settings.
[0074] If the optimal settings determined by the evaluation
operation 506 differ from the current settings, then decision
operation 508 passes control to a command operation 510, which
issues the control commands necessary to change the differing
settings or implement an intended action (e.g., ordering a new
shipment of chemical) and updates the database containing the
current settings. After the proper control commands are issued,
control passes back to the receiving operation 502 and the logical
steps are repeated.
[0075] If, instead, the decision operation 508 determines that all
settings are optimal based on the received data and evaluation
results, then processing returns to the receiving operation 502 and
the logical operations are repeated. Thus, the logical operations
can constitute a repeating control process that continuously
evaluates the conditions at the facility and issues commands to the
facility to adjust the setting on the process equipment as changing
conditions warrant.
[0076] Accordingly, a control command may be communicated to the
wash facility as a command to control a process of the wash
facility. For example, the performance function may determine that
a concentration of a given chemical should be increased (e.g., to
improve cleaning performance) or decreased (e.g., to delay
exhaustion of the chemical) at the wash facility. The server may
communicate commands through the network to the control devices
(see control devices 312 in FIG. 3) to alter the dosage of the
chemical at the wash facility.
[0077] FIG. 6 depicts a computing system 600 capable of executing a
program product embodiment of the present invention. One operating
environment in which the present invention is potentially useful
encompasses the computing system 600, such as, for example, the
controller 218. In such a system, data and program files may be
input to the computing system 600, which reads the files and
executes the programs therein. Some of the elements of a computing
system 600 are shown in FIG. 6 wherein a control module,
illustrated as a processor 601, is shown having an input/output
(I/O) section 602, a microprocessor, or Central Processing Unit
(CPU) 603, and a memory section 604. The present invention is
optionally implemented in software or firmware modules loaded in
memory 604 and/or stored on a solid state, non-volatile memory
device 613, a configured CD-ROM 608 or a disk storage unit 609. As
such, the computing system 600 is used as a "special-purpose"
machine for implementing the present invention.
[0078] Each of the above-noted forms of data storage are broadly
included within the definition of "computer program product" used
throughout the specification and the claims. That is, generally
stated, a computer program product of the present invention may be
a solid state, non-volatile memory device or a computer storage
media readable by a computer system and encoding a computer program
of instructions for executing a computer process. In another
embodiment, the computer program product may also be a propagated
signal on a carrier readable by a computing system and encoding a
computer program of instructions for executing a computer
process.
[0079] The I/O section 602 is connected to a user input module 605,
e.g., a keyboard, a display unit 606 and one or more program
storage devices, such as, without limitation, the solid state,
non-volatile memory device 613, the disk storage unit 609, and the
disk drive unit 607. The user input module 605 is shown as a
keyboard, but may also be any other type of apparatus for inputting
commands into the processor 601. The solid state, non-volatile
memory device 613 is an embedded memory device for storing
instructions and commands in a form readable by the CPU 603. In
accordance with various embodiments, the solid state, non-volatile
memory device 613 may be Read-Only Memory (ROM), an Erasable
Programmable ROM (EPROM), Electrically-Erasable Programmable ROM
(EEPROM), a Flash Memory or a Programmable ROM, or any other form
of solid state, non-volatile memory. In accordance with one
embodiment, the disk drive unit 607 is a CD-ROM driver unit capable
of reading the CD-ROM medium 608, which typically contains programs
610 and data. Computer program products containing mechanisms to
effectuate the systems and methods in accordance with the present
invention may reside in the memory section 604, the solid state,
non-volatile memory device 613, the disk storage unit 609 or the
CD-ROM medium 608.
[0080] In accordance with an alternative embodiment, the disk drive
unit 607 may be replaced or supplemented by a floppy drive unit, a
tape drive unit, or other storage medium drive unit. A network
adapter 611 is capable of connecting the computing system 600 to a
network of remote computers via a network link 612. Examples of
such systems include SPARC systems offered by Sun Microsystems,
Inc., personal computers offered by IBM Corporation and by other
manufacturers of IBM-compatible personal computers, and other
systems running a UNIX-based or other operating system. A remote
computer may be a desktop computer, a server, a router, a network
PC (personal computer), a peer device or other common network node,
and typically includes many or all of the elements described above
relative to the computing system 600. Logical connections may
include a local area network (LAN) or a wide area network (WAN).
Such networking environments are commonplace in offices,
enterprise-wide computer networks, intranets, and the Internet.
[0081] In accordance with a program product embodiment of the
present invention, software instructions stored on the solid state,
non-volatile memory device 613, the disk storage unit 609, or the
CD-ROM 608 are executed by the CPU. In this embodiment, these
instructions may be directed toward communicating data between a
client and a server, detecting product usage data, analyzing data,
and generating reports. Data, such as products usage data,
corporate data, and supplemental data generated from product usage
data or input from other sources, may be stored in memory section
604, or on the solid state, non-volatile memory device 613, the
disk storage unit 609, the disk drive unit 607 or other storage
medium units coupled to the system 600.
[0082] In accordance with one embodiment, the computing system 600
further comprises an operating system and usually one or more
application programs. Such an embodiment is familiar to those of
ordinary skill in the art. The operating system comprises a set of
programs that control operations of the computing system 600 and
allocation of resources. The set of programs, inclusive of certain
utility programs, also provide a graphical user interface to the
user. An application program is software that runs on top of the
operating system software and uses computer resources made
available through the operating system to perform application
specific tasks desired by the user. In accordance with an
embodiment, the operating system employs a graphical user interface
wherein the display output of an application program is presented
in a rectangular area on the screen of the display device 606. The
operating system is operable to multitask, i.e., execute computing
tasks in multiple threads, and thus may be any of the following:
Microsoft Corporation's "WINDOWS 95," "WINDOWS CE," "WINDOWS 98,"
"WINDOWS 6000" or "WINDOWS NT" operating systems, IBM's OS/2 WARP,
Apple's MACINTOSH SYSTEM 8 operating system, X-windows, etc.
[0083] In accordance with the practices of persons skilled in the
art of computer programming, the present invention is described
below with reference to acts and symbolic representations of
operations that are performed by the computing system 600, i.e.,
the controller 218, unless indicated otherwise. Such acts and
operations are sometimes referred to as being computer-executed. It
will be appreciated that the acts and symbolically represented
operations include the manipulations by the CPU 603 of electrical
signals representing data bits causing a transformation or
reduction of the electrical signal representation, and the
maintenance of data bits at memory locations in the memory 604, the
solid state, non-volatile memory device 613, the configured CD-ROM
608 or the storage unit 609 to thereby reconfigure or otherwise
alter the operation of the computing system 600, as well as other
processing 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.
[0084] The logical operations of the various embodiments of the
present invention are implemented (1) as a sequence of
computer-implemented steps running on a computing system, e.g., the
controller 218, and/or (2) as interconnected machine modules within
the computing system. The implementation is a matter of choice
dependent on the performance requirements of the computing system
implementing the invention. Accordingly, the logical operations
making up the embodiments of the present invention described herein
are referred to alternatively as operations, acts, steps or
modules. It will be recognized by one skilled in the art that these
operations, structural devices, acts and modules may be implemented
in software, in firmware, in special purpose digital logic, and any
combination thereof without deviating from the spirit and scope of
the present invention as recited within the claims attached
hereto.
[0085] The above specification, examples and data provide a
complete description of the manufacture and use of the composition
of the invention. Embodiments of the present invention; however,
may be applied in areas other than laundry operations. For example,
in an agriculture applications, a herbicide dispenser may be supply
herbicide to a chemical application system, such as an irrigation
system or a herbicide sprayer on a crop duster or tractor. The
herbicide dispenser data (e.g., timing, amount, and identity of
herbicide being dispensed) may be combined with corporate data
(e.g., chemical costs, labor costs, field production results,
weather conditions, soil conditions, and type of plants) to manage
chemical usage. Furthermore, sanitation systems in the food and
beverage industries and water treatment industries are also
contemplated within the scope of the present invention.
[0086] In an embodiment of the present invention, vehicle wash
operators may access the central management facility 210 over a
network connection to control chemical processes at a plurality of
remote wash facilities 202, 204 and 206. In this embodiment,
vehicle wash operators may override the automated control features
of the present invention by issuing instructions from a remote
location. The instructions are carried over a communication
network, such as 208, to the central management facility 210, which
then forwards the instructions to the controller 218 at the
appropriate vehicle wash facility, e.g., 202, 204 and 206. These
instructions may be input using any form of input means, such as,
without limitation, a computer, a telephone--landline or cellular,
a personal digital assistant or laptop computer.
[0087] In another embodiment contemplated by the present invention,
an identification recognition system may be used for enabling users
to input an account code having pre-defined wash parameter
preferences specific to the users. The controller 218 receives
these pre-defined wash parameter preferences from the
identification recognition system and controls wash processes based
on same. In accordance with an exemplary embodiment, the
identification recognition system is a bar code reader having the
users' accounts specified on a bar code on a frequent customer
card. In other embodiment, alternatives to bar code systems may be
used to input a user's account code. Such system may include, for
example, Radio Frequency Identification systems, magnetic
identification systems, conventional keypad systems, etc.
[0088] In yet another embodiment, a monitored environmental
parameter may be a regulatory restriction governing the disposal of
chemicals in the particular city, county, Parrish, state, province,
country or township where vehicle wash facility is located.
Monitored process data may relate to the flow of chemicals and/or
rinse agents through a disposal drain discharging the chemicals
and/or rinse agents to a public drainage system. In this
embodiment, the computation operation 408 of the management process
400 illustrated in FIG. 4 analyzes the collected process data
against these regulatory restrictions. Based on analysis of the
process data against the various regulatory restrictions, the
control operation 407 may either control processes of the facility
to ensure that the facility complies with the restrictions and/or
the notification operation 410 may transmit a message to the
central management facility 210 that one or more regulatory
restrictions are not being complied with.
[0089] As many embodiments of the invention can be made without
departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, the invention
resides in the claims hereinafter appended.
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