U.S. patent application number 14/270196 was filed with the patent office on 2014-08-28 for systems and methods for capturing, managing, sharing, and visualising asset information of an organization.
This patent application is currently assigned to Edifice Technologies Inc.. The applicant listed for this patent is Edifice Technologies Inc.. Invention is credited to Kathryn Cartwright.
Application Number | 20140244325 14/270196 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 45594786 |
Filed Date | 2014-08-28 |
United States Patent
Application |
20140244325 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Cartwright; Kathryn |
August 28, 2014 |
SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR CAPTURING, MANAGING, SHARING, AND
VISUALISING ASSET INFORMATION OF AN ORGANIZATION
Abstract
A system for semantically modeling relationships and
dependencies between groups, enclosures, assets, and support
entities according to an industry specific manner. An exemplary
system includes a user interface device, a relational database and
a processor. The processor receives relationship information and
receives attributes with associated measurements for the groups,
enclosures, assets, and support entities for the corporation from
the user interface device. The attributes with associated
measurements are formatted according the specific industry of the
corporation. The processor generates a three dimensional (3D)
visualization of the groups, enclosures, assets, and support
entities and allows a virtual walkthrough of the 3D visualization
as presented on the display device based on user entered commands
from the user input device.
Inventors: |
Cartwright; Kathryn;
(Woodinville, WA) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Edifice Technologies Inc. |
Woodinville |
WA |
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
Edifice Technologies Inc.
Woodinville
WA
|
Family ID: |
45594786 |
Appl. No.: |
14/270196 |
Filed: |
May 5, 2014 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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13158915 |
Jun 13, 2011 |
8719066 |
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14270196 |
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61374513 |
Aug 17, 2010 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
705/7.12 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06F 16/288 20190101;
Y02P 90/80 20151101; Y02P 90/86 20151101; G06Q 10/063 20130101;
G06Q 10/0637 20130101; G06Q 10/087 20130101; G06Q 10/0631
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
705/7.12 |
International
Class: |
G06Q 10/06 20060101
G06Q010/06 |
Claims
1. A system for semantically modeling relationships and
dependencies between groups, enclosures, assets, and support
entities according to an industry specific manner, the system
comprising: a database; and a processor in data communication with
the database, the processor configured to: receive relationship and
dependency information between at least one of groups, enclosures,
assets, and support entities for an organization; receive
attributes with associated measurements for the at least one of the
groups, enclosures, assets, and support entities for the
organization, wherein the attributes with associated measurements
are formatted according the specific industry of the organization;
store the relationship and dependency information and the
attributes with associated measurements into the database; receive
a specification of filter criteria for a user defined asset search;
generate a graphical user interface that provides a three
dimensional (3D) visualization of the at least one of the groups,
enclosures, assets, and support entities, wherein at least some of
the assets are colored according to unique colors determined for
each of multiple data ranges in the filter criteria; and share
asset information comprising all of a physical asset component
data, financial data and utilization data.
2. The system of claim 1, further comprising: a plurality of data
transmission devices, each of the plurality of data transmission
devices configured to be associated with one of the groups,
enclosures, assets, and support entities for the corporation,
wherein the plurality of data transmission devices comprises data
of the associated one of the groups, enclosures, assets, and
support entities; and a plurality of data collection devices in
signal communication with the processor and the plurality of data
transmission devices, the plurality of data collection devices
configured to retrieve the data from the plurality of data
transmission devices, wherein the data transmission devices and
data collection devices comprise at least one of radio frequency
identification (RFID) tags, antenna, readers or concentrators,
wherein the processor enters the data received from the data
collection devices into the database.
3. The system of claim 2, wherein the processor is further
configured to execute a plurality of data Application Program
Interfaces (APIs), the executed APIs integrate data received from
the data collection devices into a comprehensive view of the
groups, enclosures, assets, and support entities based on the
database.
4. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor is further
configured to allow a user to create at least one of a graphical or
text based report regarding one or more of the groups, enclosures,
assets, and support entities, wherein the report includes at least
one of absolute values, ranges or comparative values of at least a
portion of the attributes, wherein the report is at least one of a
filtering, sorting, or ordering of the groups, enclosures, assets,
and support entities.
5. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor is further
configured to calculate return on investment based on the asset
data, wherein the asset data comprises at least one of cost to
replace or cost of ownership.
6. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor is further
configured to allow a user to define one or more perimeters within
which each of the assets are located and to identify the assets
within the one or more perimeters.
7. The system of claim 1, wherein the database comprises a supplier
database configured to store all assets in an individual group and
across all groups, wherein the processor is further configured to
allow a user to semantically map the received attributes from
disparate sources and the supplier database, wherein the
semantically mapped attributes provide context to the received
attributes and the attributes' relation to assets, enclosures and
groups.
8. The system of claim 1, further comprising a remote access device
that is in data communication with the processor via a public or
private data network, wherein the remote access device comprises at
least one of a mobile device, a laptop computer, a tablet computer
or a desktop computer.
9. (canceled)
10. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor is further
configured to allow a user to: modify records of the assets,
enclosures, groups, and support entities; display values of the
attributes; and edit the values of the attributes within the
relational database.
11. (canceled)
12. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor is further
configured to allow a user to uniquely identify a location of an
asset and physical orientation based on data received using at
least one of a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) system, a
Real-time Locating System (RTLS) or Global Positioning System
(GPS).
13. The system of claim 12, wherein the processor is further
configured to allow a user to uniquely identify asset identifiers
to associate, capture, monitor and timestamp, data with other data
pertaining to the asset within the system.
14. (canceled)
15. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor is further
configured to allow a user to perform at least one of a query, an
interrogation, a forecast, a what if scenario and to perform
modeling of return on investment based on any change to assets,
enclosure and groups.
16. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor is further
configured to receive attributes of assets from a supplier to the
processor.
17. (canceled)
18. The system of claim 1, wherein the 3D visualization comprises
annotation of groups with at least one of bounds, extents,
photographs and related media elements, wherein the 3D
visualization comprises at least one of a diagrammatic image or a
figurative image.
19-21. (canceled)
22. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor is further
configured to synchronize at least all the information for each
asset and show via the graphical user interface changes to status
of an asset.
23. The system of claim 22, wherein the processor is further
configured to generate a unique identifier based on a user defined
asset search, wherein when the unique identifier that is presented
on the graphical user interface, the unique identifier provides a
visual indication of the presence and location of all assets that
match the user defined asset search.
24. The system of claim 22, wherein the processor is further
configured to: allow a virtual walkthrough of the 3D visualization
as presented on a display device based on user entered commands
from a user input device; and display asset attributes based on a
user entered selection signal from the user input device during the
virtual walkthrough.
25. (canceled)
26. A non-transitory computer-readable medium including
instructions that are configured, when executed by a computer, to:
receive relationship and dependency information between at least
one of groups, enclosures, assets, and support entities for an
organization; receive attributes with associated measurements for
the at least one of the groups, enclosures, assets, and support
entities for the organization, wherein the attributes with
associated measurements are formatted according the specific
industry of the organization; store the relationship and dependency
information and the attributes with associated measurements into
the database; receive a specification of filter criteria for a user
defined asset search; generate a graphical user interface that
provides a three dimensional (3D) visualization of the at least one
of the groups, enclosures, assets, and support entities, wherein at
least some of the assets are colored according to unique colors
determined for each of multiple data ranges in the filter criteria;
and share asset information comprising all of a physical asset
component data, financial data, contractual data and utilization
data.
27. The computer-readable medium of claim 26, wherein the groups,
enclosures, assets, and support entities are located within a
datacenter, and wherein the generated graphical user interface is
configured to: facilitate a virtual walkthrough of the datacenter;
and highlight each asset that matches the user defined asset search
with a halo glow identifier that glows in a corresponding one of
the unique colors determined for each of multiple data ranges in
the filter criteria.
28. The computer-readable medium of claim 27, wherein the graphical
user interface is further configured to: allow a user to virtually
walk up to one of the highlighted assets; in response to a mouse
selection of the one highlighted asset, display detailed
information about the asset, including financial information for
the asset, purchase date, weight, and power consumption.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] Organizations and businesses of all sizes and missions, buy
a diverse array of assets. In diversity, these can extend from
computer equipment to cattle. Yet the control, movement, resources
available and management of these assets, the ongoing costs to
maintain them, their purpose and even where they are located is not
obvious to many of their owners. In addition many organizations
must comply to industry or government standards with respect to the
maintenance of such assets which adds significantly to the "need to
know" factors surrounding them. The reliance by organizations on
these often high value assets is constant and growing. Yet the
costs of securing, managing and maintaining assets are
prohibitively expensive and often are not visible to key
stakeholders. Decision making as a result occurs in a financial and
needs analysis vacuum. The challenge is exacerbated by
organizations being at breaking point in terms of budgetary,
technology, physical space constraints and a shortage of staff. Due
to a lack of transparency and visibility every asset has the
potential of being used inefficiently, lost all together or even
stolen. Today many organizations cannot find assets, tell you the
value of them or their use or be able to see changes in their
status. Yet countless hours are spent by employees trying to
achieve these through basic applications, spreadsheets and in many
cases manual processes. In today's world there are real question
marks as to what value these assets are really delivering and much
time is wasted in this pursuit. While technology has revolutionized
almost every area of business life, technological advancement has
paradoxically made it difficult to efficiently take control over
these challenges.
[0002] There are numerous point based solutions that seek to
address parts of the problem but there has not until now been a
total solution that covers assets in multiple locations that can
deliver critical information in the right form to multiple
stakeholders. Point based systems are often very expensive, do not
embrace the latest technologies and either can't integrate with
other important systems organizations have or find doing so
extremely difficult. Their mechanisms are often too cumbersome when
seeking to manage assets day to day. It is also typically very
tedious and manually intensive to maintain up-to-date information
in these solutions.
SUMMARY
[0003] The present invention provides a system for semantically
modeling relationships and dependencies between groups, enclosures,
assets, and support entities according to an industry specific
manner. An exemplary system includes a user interface device, a
relational database, and a processor in data communication with the
database and the user interface device. The processor receives
relationship and dependency information between groups, enclosures,
assets, and support entities for a corporation from the user
interface device, receives attributes with associated measurements
for the groups, enclosures, assets, and support entities for the
corporation from the user interface device. The attributes with
associated measurements are formatted according the specific
industry of the corporation. The relationship and dependency
information and the attributes are stored with associated
measurements into the relational database.
[0004] In accordance with further aspects of the invention, the
system includes a plurality of data transmission devices. Each of
the plurality of data transmission devices associated with one of
the groups, enclosures, assets, and support entities for the
corporation. The plurality of data transmission devices include
data of the associated one of the groups, enclosures, assets, and
support entities. The system also includes a plurality of data
collection devices in signal communication with the processor and
the plurality of data transmission devices. The plurality of data
collection devices retrieves the data from the plurality of data
transmission devices. The data transmission devices and data
collection devices include at least one of radio frequency
identification (RFID) tags, antenna, readers or concentrators. The
processor enters the data received from the data collection devices
into the relational database.
[0005] In accordance with other aspects of the invention, the
processor executes a plurality of data Application Program
Interfaces (APIs) that integrate data received from the data
collection devices into a comprehensive view of the groups,
enclosures, assets, and support entities based on the relational
database.
[0006] In accordance with still further aspects of the invention,
the processor allows a user to create at least one of a graphical
or text based report regarding one or more of the groups,
enclosures, assets, and support entities. The report includes at
least one of absolute values, ranges or comparative values of at
least a portion of the attributes. The report filters, sorts, or
orders the groups, enclosures, assets, and support entities.
[0007] In accordance with yet other aspects of the invention, the
processor calculates return on investment based on the asset data.
The asset data includes a cost to replace value or a cost of
ownership value.
[0008] In accordance with still another aspect of the invention,
the processor allows a user to define one or more perimeters within
which each of the assets are located and to identify the assets
within the one or more perimeters.
[0009] In accordance with still further aspects of the invention,
the database includes a supplier database that stores all assets in
an individual group and across all groups.
[0010] In accordance with yet another aspect of the invention, the
system includes a remote access device that is in data
communication with the processor via a public or private data
network. The remote access device includes a mobile device, a
laptop computer, a tablet computer or a desktop computer.
[0011] In accordance with further aspects of the invention, the
processor generates a graphical user interface that provides a
three dimensional (3D) visualization of the groups, enclosures,
assets, and support entities.
[0012] In accordance with still further aspects of the invention,
the processor allows a user to modify records of the assets,
enclosures, groups, and support entities, display values of the
attributes, and edit the values of the attributes within the
relational database.
[0013] In accordance with additional aspects of the invention, the
processor allows a user to semantically map the received attributes
from disparate sources and the supplier database. The semantically
mapped attributes provide context to the received attributes and
the attributes' relation to assets, enclosures and groups.
[0014] In accordance with yet additional aspects of the invention,
the processor allows a user to uniquely identify a location of an
asset and physical orientation based on data received using at
least one of a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) system, a
Real-time Locating System (RTLS) or Global Positioning System
(GPS).
[0015] In accordance with still additional aspects of the
invention, the processor allows a user to uniquely identify asset
identifiers to associate, capture, monitor and timestamp, data with
other data pertaining to the asset within the system.
[0016] In accordance with other additional aspects of the
invention, the processor allows a user to share asset information
comprising at least one of a physical asset component data,
financial data, contractual data and utilization data and permit
the management, display and analysis of asset information on a
single user interface.
[0017] In accordance with still other aspects of the invention, the
processor allows a user to perform at least one of a query, an
interrogation, a forecast, a what if scenario and to perform
modeling of return on investment based on any change to assets,
enclosure and groups.
[0018] In accordance with further aspects of the invention, the
processor provides trending information and analysis of the user's
industry as compared to the user's specific asset deployments.
[0019] In accordance with still further aspects of the invention,
the 3D visualization includes annotation of groups with at least
one of bounds, extents, photographs and related media elements,
wherein the 3D visualization comprises at least one of a
diagrammatic image or a figurative image. The user interface allows
a user to perform at least one of browse, find, create, update or
delete information associated with the assets, the enclosures, the
groups, and the support entities, and the relationship information.
The processor can show via the graphical user interface changes to
status of an asset. The processor generates a unique identifier
based on a user defined asset search. The unique identifier
provides a visual indication of the presence and location of all
assets that match the user defined asset search. The processor
allows a virtual walkthrough of the 3D visualization as presented
on the display device based on user entered commands from the user
input device. The processor displays asset attributes based on a
user entered selection signal from the user input device during the
virtual walkthrough.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0020] Preferred and alternative examples of the present invention
are described in detail below with reference to the following
drawings:
[0021] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a conventional computer
system, various computer peripherals, and various communication
means formed in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;
[0022] FIG. 1-1 is a topological view of the system and its
components according to the embodiment of the current
invention;
[0023] FIG. 2 is a logical, semantic view of the relationships
between group, enclosure and asset entities and examples of such
interrelations used by the system of FIG. 1 for capturing and
managing assets in disparate locations, indoors, outdoors, locally
or geographically dispersed according to an embodiment of the
invention;
[0024] FIG. 2-1 shows a typical example of FIG. 2 as it relates to
datacenters providing a logical, semantic view of the relationships
between group, enclosure and asset entities within a datacenter
environment.
[0025] FIG. 3 is a further schematic sample view of the system for
capturing and managing datacenter assets in disparate locations and
how other information from other data sources are semantically
mapped to entities according to an embodiment of the invention;
[0026] FIG. 4 is a schematic view of the underlying four tier
architecture of the system for capturing and managing assets in
disparate locations and how that information is stored, managed and
communicated according to an embodiment of the invention;
[0027] FIG. 5 shows a datacenter example of the topological
schematic view of the system for capturing and managing inventoried
and tagged assets in disparate locations and how that information
once in the database is accessed by user and allows specific
requirements to be achieved according to an embodiment of the
invention; and
[0028] FIGS. 6 through 17 show illustrative embodiments.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0029] In the following description, certain specific details are
set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of various
embodiments of the invention. However, one skilled in the art will
understand that the invention may be practiced without these
details or with various combinations of these details. In other
instances, well-known systems and methods associated with, but not
necessarily limited to, asset management and methods for operating
the same may not be shown or described in detail to avoid
unnecessarily obscuring descriptions of the embodiments of the
invention.
[0030] An embodiment of the invention is deployed on or used in
conjunction with, but is not limited to an internet based service
and a browser. There are pluralities of components for managing
critical assets, integrating all the critical information
pertaining to the asset and delivering this information in the
needed form for individual stakeholders. Stakeholders have the
ability to spatially navigate to an assets location, for example in
a building, a field, locally or across the globe, in 2 or 3
Dimensions from their desktop, even when they are hundreds or
thousands of miles from the physical asset location. These
components may include but are not limited to a desktop browser,
mobile device applications, asset information repositories and
API's; local or remote information synchronization and maintenance
of information pertaining to assets and their
interdependencies.
[0031] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a conventional computer, various
computer peripherals, and various communication means formed
according to an embodiment of the invention. For purposes of
brevity and clarity, embodiments of the invention may be described
in the general context of computer-executable instructions, such as
program application modules, objects, applications, models, or
macros being executed by a computer, which may include but are not
limited to personal computer systems, hand-held devices,
multiprocessor systems, microprocessor-based or programmable
consumer electronics, network PCs, mini computers, mainframe
computers, and other equivalent computing and processing
sub-systems and systems. Aspects of the invention may be practiced
in distributed computing environments where tasks or modules are
performed by remote processing devices linked through a
communications network. Various program modules, data stores,
repositories, models, federators, objects, and their equivalents
may be located in both local and remote memory storage devices.
[0032] By way of example, a conventional personal computer,
referred to herein as a computer 100, includes a processing unit
102, a system memory 104, and a system bus 106 that couples various
system components including the system memory to the processing
unit. The computer 100 will at times be referred to in the singular
herein, but this is not intended to limit the application of the
invention to a single computer because, in typical embodiments,
there will be more than one computer or other device involved. The
processing unit 102 may be any logic processing unit, such as one
or more central processing units (CPUs), digital signal processors
(DSPs), application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs), etc.
Unless described otherwise, the construction and operation of the
various blocks shown in FIG. 1 are of conventional design. As a
result, such blocks need not be described in further detail herein,
as they will be understood by those skilled in the relevant
art.
[0033] The system bus 106 can employ any known bus structures or
architectures, including a memory bus with memory controller, a
peripheral bus, and a local bus. The system memory 104 includes
read-only memory ("ROM") 108 and random access memory ("RAM") 110.
A basic inputoutput system ("BIOS") 112, which can form part of the
ROM 108, contains basic routines that help transfer information
between elements within the computer 100, such as during
start-up.
[0034] The computer 100 also includes a hard disk drive 114 for
reading from and writing to a hard disk 116, and an optical disk
drive 118 and a magnetic disk drive 120 for reading from and
writing to removable optical disks 122 and magnetic disks 124,
respectively. The optical disk 122 can be a CD-ROM, while the
magnetic disk 124 can be a magnetic floppy disk or diskette. The
hard disk drive 114, optical disk drive 118, and magnetic disk
drive 120 communicate with the processing unit 102 via the bus 106.
The hard disk drive 114, optical disk drive 118, and magnetic disk
drive 120 may include interfaces or controllers (not shown) coupled
between such drives and the bus 106, as is known by those skilled
in the relevant art. The drives 114, 118, 120, and their associated
computer-readable media, provide nonvolatile storage of computer
readable instructions, data structures, program modules, and other
data for the computer 100. Although the depicted computer 100
employs hard disk 116, optical disk 122, and magnetic disk 124,
those skilled in the relevant art will appreciate that other types
of computer-readable media that can store data accessible by a
computer may be employed, such as magnetic cassettes, flash memory
cards, digital video disks ("DVD"), Bernoulli cartridges, RAMs,
ROMs, smart cards, etc.
[0035] Program modules can be stored in the system memory 104, such
as an operating system 126, one or more application programs 128,
other programs or modules 130 and program data 132. The system
memory 104 also includes a browser 134 for permitting the computer
100 to access and exchange data with sources such as web sites of
the Internet, corporate intranets, or other networks as described
below, as well as other server applications on server computers
such as those further discussed below. The browser 134 in the
depicted embodiment is markup language based, such as Hypertext
Markup Language (HTML), Extensible Markup Language (XML) or
Wireless Markup Language (WML), and operates with markup languages
that use syntactically delimited characters added to the data of a
document to represent the structure of the document. Although the
depicted embodiment shows the computer 100 as a personal computer,
in other embodiments, the computer is some other computer-related
device such as a personal data assistant (PDA), a cell phone, or
other mobile device.
[0036] The operating system 126 may be stored in the system memory
104, as shown, while application programs 128, other
programsmodules 130, program data 132, and browser 134 can be
stored on the hard disk 116 of the hard disk drive 114, the optical
disk 122 of the optical disk drive 118, andor the magnetic disk 124
of the magnetic disk drive 120. A user can enter commands and
information into the computer 100 through input devices such as a
keyboard 136 and a pointing device such as a mouse 138. Other input
devices can include a microphone, joystick, game pad, scanner, etc.
These and other input devices are connected to the processing unit
102 through an interface 140 such as a serial port interface that
couples to the bus 106, although other interfaces such as a
parallel port, a game port, a wireless interface, or a universal
serial bus ("USB") can be used. A monitor 142 or other display
device is coupled to the bus 106 via a video interface 144, such as
a video adapter. The computer 100 can include other output devices,
such as speakers, printers, etc.
[0037] The computer 100 can operate in a networked environment
using logical connections to one or more remote computers, such as
a server computer 146. The server computer 146 can be another
personal computer, a server, another type of computer, or a
collection of more than one computer communicatively linked
together and typically includes many or all the elements described
above for the computer 100. The server computer 146 is logically
connected to one or more of the computers 100 under any known
method of permitting computers to communicate, such as through a
local area network ("LAN") 148, or a wide area network ("WAN") or
the Internet 150. Such networking environments are well known in
wired and wireless enterprise-wide computer networks, intranets,
extranets, and the Internet. Other embodiments include other types
of communication networks, including telecommunications networks,
cellular networks, paging networks, and other mobile networks. The
server computer 146 may be configured to run server applications
147.
[0038] When used in a LAN networking environment, the computer 100
is connected to the LAN 148 through an adapter or network interface
152 (communicatively linked to the bus 106). When used in a WAN
networking environment, the computer 100 often includes a modem 154
or other device, such as the network interface 152, for
establishing communications over the WANInternet 150. The modem 154
may be communicatively linked between the interface 140 and the
WANInternet 150. In a networked environment, program modules,
application programs, or data, or portions thereof, can be stored
in the server computer 146. In the depicted embodiment, the
computer 100 is communicatively linked to the server computer 146
through the LAN 148 or the WANInternet 150 with TCPIP middle layer
network protocols; however, other similar network protocol layers
are used in other embodiments. Those skilled in the relevant art
will readily recognize that the network connections are only some
examples of establishing communication links between computers, and
other links may be used, including wireless links.
[0039] The server computer 146 is further communicatively linked to
a legacy host data system 156 typically through the LAN 148 or the
WANInternet 150 or other networking configuration such as a direct
asynchronous connection (not shown). Other embodiments may support
the server computer 146 and the legacy host data system 156 on one
computer system by operating all server applications and legacy
host data system on the one computer system. The legacy host data
system 156 may take the form of a mainframe computer. The legacy
host data system 156 is configured to run host applications 158,
such as in system memory, and store host data 160 such as business
related data.
[0040] A 3-Dimensional (3D) Visualization component provides a
real-time 3D visualization, navigation and reporting of all assets
both physically and virtually. The 3D Visualization component
automates the monitoring, analysis and interrogation of assets to
optimize every functional aspect. The 3D Visualization component is
accessed though a powerful web graphical user interface (GUI)
dashboard.
[0041] Using the 3D Visualization component a user can select an
asset or assets that are of interest. The Asset Halo Glow
Identifier maps and highlights all assets that match the specific
asset search and allows the visual differentiation between selected
and non-selected assets. Non-exhaustive lookup examples would
include assets that are of a specific age, livestock of a
particular breed, assets that are moving versus not moving and
assets that need servicing, Once the visualization has highlighted
where those assets are the user can virtually walk up to them. Once
there, the user can click or mouse-over on the asset or series of
assets and be shown detailed attribute information about the Asset
and all its credentials based on the particular stakeholder view.
This for example could be financial information about the Asset,
when it was purchased, weight, consumption, and how much is it
costing. As another example one may want to know details about the
movement of an asset; where it has been over the past month and
where it is now. Whatever view the stakeholder wishes, based on
their role, can be satisfied by the 3D Visualization component.
[0042] A semantic database is a hub that centralizes and models all
information and brings assets into a unified intelligent
infrastructure. The database is a hosted database accessed through
a powerful web GUI dashboard that allows customers to manage,
analyze, report on and visualize assets, assets in buildings andor
outdoors and all the information pertaining to them. The database
provides the business intelligence and knowledge based on which
asset management, location management, capacity management and
planning takes place. All existing asset information, their
utilization, location, maintenance schedules and financial data is
captured by the database. Each Organization, Enclosure, and Asset,
and support entities having attributes with associated measures
specific to their industry. By way of example: [0043] a. A
non-exhaustive example for an Asset modeling a computer would be
weight, power, cooling, height, width, length [0044] b. A
non-exhaustive example for an Asset modeling livestock would be
weight, birth date, inoculations, breed and sex
[0045] The database allows customers to intuitively manage resource
usage, forecast and introduce new capacity simply and quickly.
Stakeholders from across an organization including asset owners,
facility managers, administrators and finance can access the
critical information they need from the database eliminating the
cost and expense of having multiple sources and the errors that
inevitably result.
[0046] The system integrates and semantically aligns information
directly accessed from source providers of assets capturing all key
specification data and automatically populating this information as
entities within the database for existing and newly acquired
assets. It further enables the same from any other valid source of
information that allows a complete picture of an asset and all its
attributes. Such information is downloaded and stored in the
database. In doing so, additional entities can be added to model
behaviors and relationships specific to each Industry. [0047] a. In
the IT industry for example, a Project entity can be created which
tracks such things as project budget and name, and have
relationships to the Organizations and Assets involved. [0048] b.
In the livestock industry, a Contract entity could be added, which
then has relationships to the animal involved in a given sales
contract, specifies the price per head, and has relations to the
Organizations representing the buyer and seller of the cattle.
[0049] The system allows users to undertake detailed analysis of
assets based on all the multi-dimensional information provided. It
provides comprehensive "what if" and "time machine" capabilities
that allows users to model scenarios or see the status of an asset
in a snapshot moment in time. One can further for example draw
comparisons of existing assets with alternatives, challenge methods
for asset optimization, use and deployment, and identify any costs
to replace or extend their use.
[0050] The system captures and consolidates asset data pertaining
to all customer using the system within an industry. The system
then provides back to each customer consolidated trending
information pertaining to the assets they collectively have. In
doing so the system delivers industry insights to aid the decision
making process and learnings from actual dynamics across an
industry. Then by way of a single example a customers can review
trends in swapping or replacing assets and run replacement
scenarios on existing asset with new potential alternatives.
[0051] The system allows the definition and mapping of perimeter
extents of an Enclosure through the Perimeter Interface Module. A
non-exhaustive example of perimeter types by industry include a
datacenter room, a barn, a freight container or a casino room.
Assets are the able to be located and identified within the
perimeter. The Perimeter Interface Module works with passive and
active assets. The Perimeter Interface Module has been designed to
be generic and does not require modification for different vertical
markets such as Datacenter, Retail, Security, Livestock and Gaming,
since it is independent of layered applications and databases that
manages and collects asset information for statics output.
[0052] The system allows the unique identification of an Asset.
Unique identifiers in a datacenter example would be an asset's
serial number combined with the RFID Tag number and signal
associated with that asset. The combination of these two attributes
enables the system to associate, capture, monitor and timestamp
data from other data sources that pertain to the Asset within the
system and ensures its accuracy and integrity.
[0053] Through the use of advanced, low cost local Radio Frequency
Identification (RFID), Real-time Locating Systems (RTLS) or Global
Positioning System (GPS) tags and sensors, the present invention
provides a real-time synchronized view between the system and the
"real time location of assets geospatially". Tags and sensors send
information to "in-theater" readers, scanners and concentrators,
that integrate to the Datacollector and sent via the network
whether intranet or internet to the system. The system then
monitors asset provisioning, movement and use thereby reducing and
in some cases eliminating the need for human intervention in
physical "in-theater" monitoring. It provides the ultimate in asset
security and theft deterrence identifying an asset's status,
immediately flagging all movements to key stakeholders.
[0054] A comprehensive asset and event management Application
Program Interface (API) preferably includes a set of API's to
support integration of information from disparate sources
pertaining to each individual asset or group of assets. These API's
support specifying products and the on-boarding of new assets,
events and updates, detailed analysis whether historic, current or
futuristic and establishing relationships between people and the
assets in question andor sharing information with colleagues or
important 3rd parties. The ability to share information with other
users stakeholders delivers to each broad access to important data
that would otherwise be unavailable or require users to manually
intervene with disparate sources applications to access the data.
The system provides the automation and delivery of an information
sharing paradigm through API's into unified Graphical User
Interface. API's also provide the ability to obtain aggregate,
statistical and individual reporting data, including, but not
limited to the type, number, cost, location and usability
information about assets.
[0055] Using RFID, RTLS or GPS readers, scanners and concentrators,
an audit component identifies moves, additions or changes to an
asset. Audit sensors and reader devices, integrated to the
Datacollector and sent via the network whether an intranet or the
internet to the system which receives downloaded information
concerning the assets at a particular locations. The audit
component then verifies that all of the assets have an active tag.
If not, data entry is performed on new assets. The audit component
then performs a tag scan and if an asset is missing, the audit
component verifies and records the missing asset; if an asset is
new (new, known tag), the audit component performs data entry.
[0056] The present invention has the ability to analyze and make
decisions based on the integration of facts concerning every aspect
of an asset and use of tools provided to support and validate such
decisions.
[0057] All assets have logistical implications, cost to run or
maintain, cost to replace, and benefits implications of
replacement. In particular it is important to know and plan what
alternatives exist and the timing options for replacement. An
embodiment of the system provides capabilities for assessing and
planning these types of scenarios and provides the mechanisms to
properly account for them.
[0058] Information about assets is made available through the
system infrastructure, optionally using a GUI. This information may
be available to users via standard reports or the "user defined"
report building capability for the purposes of managing the
effectiveness of assets including their cost to maintain,
usability, security, viability end of life and replacement
strategy. The system further provides a user defined alert
capability that lets key users know when certain important events
take place.
[0059] The systems provides the Smart Algorithms module that allows
users to seamlessly automate the analysis, data mining, calculation
and visualization of return on investment by comparing re-fresh
scenarios between current Assets information including but not
limited to cost to replace, cost of ownership, consumption, space
allocation and performance with future alternatives.
[0060] FIG. 1-1 provides a topological map of the systems and its
current components. It shows the inter-relationships between the
components and embodiments of the invention.
[0061] FIG. 2 describes an embodiment of the invention in the
underlying Omnibus technology architecture namely, a system capable
of defining arbitrarily nestable and classifiable entities, which
represent purely semantic relationships. There are three primary
entity types:
[0062] 1. Groups: Logical groupings of other groupsenclosures i.e.
Division, Company, etc such as "Organization" e.g. a company, a
farm, a freight liner or a casino
[0063] 2. Enclosures: A Group with `extent`, and other attributes.
A system capable of defining arbitrarily nestable and classifiable
Enclosures, which include both a semantic label, and an extent, a
position, and a physical orientation in space relative to its
parent or some global coordinate system. Represent organizational
units that have a physical presence of some kind. These can be
classified arbitrarily, "Server Room", "Datacenter", "Container".
They can be associated with users, projects or contracts. They can
have other Enclosures or Assets as children. By way of example
Enclosures: [0064] Can be used to model a Datacenter, with an
Enclosure root node labeled as "Building", and given a extent
modeling the building volume, and its position in latitude and
longitude. This has sub-enclosures such as "Floor" and "Room", each
with its own size, and position relative to the parent using the
Perimeter Mapping Module. [0065] Can be used to model any
enclosures within any organization. In the case of a farm,
enclosure examples include Field with sub-enclosure Barn with sub
enclosure Stall using the Perimeter Mapping Module. [0066] Can then
be associated with any applicable Group that own(s) them.
[0067] 3. Assets: Physical items with physical presence, physical
traits and measurable attributes (Weight, Temperature, Size, Age,
Value) and can be classified arbitrarily, such as "Computer
Server", "Horse", "Painting". All Assets can contain sub-asset
classes.
[0068] FIG. 2-1 describes an embodiment of the invention as it
specifically relates to datacenters within the underlying Omnibus
technology architecture where the system capable of defining
arbitrarily nestable and classifiable entities such as locations,
buildings, floors and machine rooms.
[0069] Furthermore, for each area of applicability, Application
Specific Entities can be added with their own attributes, which are
then associated with an enclosure that contains them. [0070]
Computer equipment as Asset entities can be associated with the
Enclosure modeling a datacenter room Enclosure on a particular
floor Enclosure. [0071] Horses as entities can be associated with
the stall enclosure they are in and the higher level barn
Enclosure.
[0072] FIG. 3 illustrates an embodiment of the invention that
allows other objects, groups and their separate trees to be further
added to model other special purpose objects, semantic groupings
and their interrelationships to existing objects to model and
manage the inter-relationships between Groups. These may be for
example in a datacenter scenario: [0073] A "Contract" object that
can be used to denote the support relationship between a separate
Organization providing maintenance services. [0074] Groups and
AssetsEnclosures encapsulating a cross-department or multi-company
project. [0075] A "Source" that is the originating organization of
the asset facilitating the capture of specific information
pertaining to an Asset.
[0076] In this embodiment, the PersistenceData Tier, Business
Services and Web Services tiers are implemented using the Java EE 6
platform which enables broad industry integration and
inter-operability.
[0077] FIG. 4 is a schematic view of the underlying 4 Tier Omnibus
Architecture developed as the underlying technology used for the
system according to an embodiment of the invention.
[0078] A PersistenceData Tier provides an abstraction layer with
respect to how the data is stored. It deals with storage and
retrieval of the data in a storage neutral manner. In the current
embodiment, JPA 2.0, a part of the Java EE 6 framework, is utilized
to manage storage and retrieval of data from various databases in a
vendor neutral manner.
[0079] A Business Service Tier contains the application software
and services. This tier is designed to be independent of the
persistence data tier so that applications can be built independent
of the data storage technology and vice versa. The business logic
tier handles enforcing security, validation of data, and
enforcement of constraints so as to ensure a consistent model of
the system being managed. The current embodiment uses a variety of
Java EE6 services and features to provide these features, including
Java CDI, EJB 3.1 and JAAS.
[0080] A Web Service Tier provides access to a variety of clients
potentially using a variety of technologies, such as REST, Java
RMI, and others. The current embodiment of this invention uses the
JAX-RS technology supplied by Java EE 6 to provide a REST interface
to the underlying services and data. The REST architectural style
is widely used on the World Wide Web. Its architecture
characterizes and constrains the macro-interactions of the four
components of the Web, namely origin servers, gateways, proxies and
clients, without imposing limitations on the individual
participants. In this way, it provides simplified access to its
services to a wide variety of clients. As business needs change,
the current embodiment can easily be extended to support other
service styles as well, such as JAX-WS, and Java RMI.
[0081] A Client Tier represents external and internal customers
interacting with the current embodiment of this invention through a
variety of client devices and applications. In the current
embodiment of this invention, this is done through its REST based
web services interface, but as stated above, the web service tier
can be expanded to support clients that utilize different protocol
technologies such as RMI.
[0082] FIG. 5 shows a datacenter example of the topological
schematic view of the system for capturing and managing assets in
disparate locations and how that information is translated into
specific user requirements according to an embodiment of the
invention. When "Active" RFID technology is deployed, sensor
concentrators are deployed and run onsite at a customer location.
The Sensor Concentrators capture asset information in real-time or
near real-time information from RFID readers which in turn checks
the heartbeat. The heartbeat includes a timer that fires, sending
heartbeat messages and tag observations including asset temperature
updates, reader updates showing motion when a tag moves from one
reader to another, activator updates when motion forces the
activation of a tag, usually when it moves through an activation
field at a door. The Sensor Concentrators send all captured data
through the gateway and across secure network, intranet or internet
connections to the backend database. Once in the database users can
observe what is happening at each location for each asset and
manage their needs appropriately.
[0083] Defining Services for Asset Management and a Single
Interface for Managing, Analyzing, Visualizing and Reporting
[0084] An embodiment of the invention provides a toolset for
managing, analyzing, visualizing and reporting on assets in
multiple, disparate locations in a single GUI user interface. Below
are two illustrative examples of the systems use, firstly in a
datacenter and secondly on a farm.
[0085] Datacenter Example: To populate the system (FIG. 5), the
assets are tagged with passive or active RFID tags. These tags are
matched with the serial number of the asset to provide the database
location; physical building location, room, rack and uPosition,
asset information; manufacturer, model, configuration, power rating
and other identification information. This information is gathered
automatically through sensors and readers, passes through
proprietary LightsOn API's and interfaces and then loads into the
database. A user may also add assets manually to the database. Once
the data capture has been complete the user can choose the manage,
analyze, report or visualize options depending on the specific
need. The locations can be selected and then asset information
uniquely selected allowing any stakeholder, irrespective of their
need to get the precise information they desire. This interface
focuses on displaying not just the assets themselves, but also
their key details and metrics. Once created, the "new datacenter"
may be selected by picking it off the drop down bar in the menu
window.
[0086] The Manage Capability
[0087] A Manage UI allows a user to see assets captured
electronically and create and populate existing or new locations
for assets manually. Manage then allows a user to view, analyze,
add, change or delete assets. FIG. 6 shows the initial Manage
template with a list of typical types of data being captured.
Within Manage a user can see in detail the status of assets, which
projects they are assigned to, their physical location, the
contracts they were procured under, which RFID readers are tracking
the asset and the RFID tags associated with the assets. A user can
also manage and manipulate the racks in which assets are stored.
FIG. 7-1 shows the Manage UI according to an embodiment of the
invention.
[0088] Due to the 3 dimensional nature of assets and enclosures and
their physical geospatial attributes the system captures the
location and orientation of each asset so that it can be identified
and tracked on any movement. For example, FIG. 12-1 shows the
Manage Capability for datacenter racks highlighting the orientation
attributes captured for this type of enclosure including "X" and
"Y" co-ordinates and the direction the front of the asset is
facing. As another example, FIG. 16 highlights the orientation and
geospatial data being captured in a farming scenario.
[0089] The Manage UI allows a user to filter, search and drill down
on a specific asset to see the details of each asset that match the
criteria selected. One can see information concerning the assets
composition, tagging references, environmental factors, key dates,
financial and contract information.
[0090] Specific Asset Drill Down
[0091] FIG. 7-2 illustrates a detail asset information or data
entry screen.
[0092] The Report Capability
[0093] FIG. 8 shows the Report user interface according to an
embodiment of the invention. A Report UI allows a user to select
from any of the dimensions, properties or measures needed for any
enquiry. The selectable properties and measures available appear in
the user defined query and report builder section of the UI and
user can apply conditional filters to these attributes as needed.
User can further determine the layout of the report choosing which
columns of information it will contain. Any multiple of these can
be selected by a user.
[0094] Building Queries Using the GUI Report Builder
[0095] The Report UI allows the build out of uniquely required
views of information by creating a user defined query that allows
the selection of multiple properties to which can be applied
selected filters, operators and values to further hone and qualify.
These criteria can be added to build a "nested query" capability.
This allows any authorized user, irrespective of their need to get
the precise information they need. FIG. 9 shows a nested query
example and the use of selectable drop down options that are
available for each property, filter or operator specific to a
single asset property or multiple data requirements to gain a
specific user defined view. A user can select any of these
attributes to report on by mousing over the property, clicking on
it and picking the specific one needed. This process can be
repeated with other properties and the user can decide where to
position information by grabbing columns in the reported results at
the bottom of the screen. Through this process a user builds custom
reports, precisely containing the information they need and in the
order and format they require.
[0096] Printing Reports and Exporting Queries
[0097] The Report UI allows a user, once the required view of
information is reached, to save the query, print normally, create
pivot tables, print as an Adobe .pdf format or download the
specific information to Microsoft Excel. FIG. 10 shows Export Icons
within Report.
[0098] GUI Tools to Select a Locate Criteria
[0099] A Visualize UI provides a three dimensional visualization of
each location. One can select the location from those available in
a drop down box and then use mouse controls tools to zoom in or out
and pan tilt tools. FIG. 11 shows location selection and navigation
tools in the Visualize UI.
[0100] Users can filter their selection based on any information
including asset type, manufacturer, age, owner, project etc. FIG.
12 shows Drop down filtering criteria.
[0101] In order to orientate and geospatially align assets within
their enclosures, the system captures and employs physical location
information. FIG. 12-1 is an illustrative example of the
orientation and geospatial data captured for a rack enclosure
within a datacenter including "X" "Y" co-ordinates and the
direction in which the rack is facing. This data is used to
virtually map the data center within the Visualize UI.
[0102] The Visualize UI provides a consistent drop-down capability
to allow users to select the criteria for the assets they are
looking for. FIG. 12-2 shows the HaloGlow effect based on the
selection of a single filter attribute. Within this simple
datacenter example, all racks containing assets with that filter
criteria are highlighted with a HaloGlow. Those that have no
matching assets are not highlighted enabling the differentiation
between the two.
[0103] Once assets have been highlighted with HaloGlow, users can
navigate through the datacenter to a specific asset using the 3D
Walkthrough capability. FIGS. 12-3 shows an example of Walkthrough
zooming in to a specific asset and then accessing its more detailed
attributes by a simple mouse over.
[0104] Three Dimensional Visualization
[0105] Once the filter criteria have been selected, the Visualize
UI highlights where the assets that match those criteria are
precisely located. By moving the cursor over each asset a "pop-up"
box appears to give basic information on the asset in question. The
filter criteria is automatically provided unique colors to enhance
the user experience and see the varying conditions ranges of that
filter. FIG. 13 shows assets conforming to selection criteria.
[0106] Having established the filtering criteria and being able to
see the results for a whole datacenter, a user can then zoom in on
any specific rack location or asset as they see fit or navigate
around the datacenter as if one was literally walking the aisle to
see what assets conform to the query. FIG. 14 shows the specific
information concerning one specific asset by positioning the cursor
over the asset in question.
[0107] Integration between Manage, Report and Visualize
[0108] Due to the full integration of all the embodiments of this
solution a user can now click on a specific asset and see all its
specific information. FIG. 15 shows by clicking on the asset the
system provides complete details and every attribute pertaining to
the asset including physical attributes, financial information, age
and ownership in a single fully integrated view.
[0109] Farm Example (FIG. 16) To populate the system in this
example follows the exact same logic as that show in the datacenter
example as does the use of the Manage Capability, Asset Filtering,
Report Capability, User Defined Nested Report Builder, Printing
Reports, Exporting Queries and GUI Tools. It further gives examples
of the system Perimeter modeling capability that in this case would
be used to map the extents of farms, fields, stable and stalls and
the orientation and geospatial data captured.
[0110] From a visualize standpoint one can view the farm
geospatially from the air selecting field or building locations.
The zoom capability in this example allows closer scrutiny of
certain building and the selection of one that is of interest. Once
done the floor layout of the building is superimposed.
[0111] On entering the building the system allows comprehensive
visualization in both 2D, 3D or both depending on which alternative
best suits the application. In this example the image shows horses
in stalls within the building.
[0112] As with the datacenter example one can monitor and manage
information pertaining to the assets, in this case horses. Having
established the filtering criteria and being able to see the
results for a whole stable, a user can then zoom in on any specific
stall or asset as they see fit or navigate around the stable as if
one was literally walking the floor to see what assets conform to
the query, in this case the horses' age.
[0113] Furthermore all the Report capabilities demonstrated in the
earlier example would equally apply in this instance. As a result
the system allows the selection from any of the dimensions or
measures needed for any enquiry. A list of all the selectable
dimensions and measures available appear in scrollable areas on the
left hand side of the user interface. Any multiple of these can be
selected by a user.
[0114] Finally due to the full integration of all the embodiments
of this solution a user can now click on a specific horse and see
all its specific information see FIG. 17.
[0115] While the preferred embodiment of the invention has been
illustrated and described, as noted above, many changes can be made
without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.
Accordingly, the scope of the invention is not limited by the
disclosure of the preferred embodiment. Instead, the invention
should be determined entirely by reference to the claims that
follow.
* * * * *