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AssigneePublic Service Company of New Mexico
InventorsChristopher W. Hickman, Theodor E. Kircher III, Gathen L. Garcia
Estimating the term…
A computer based system, computer program product, and method for managing geographically distributed assets. A computer based system, computer program product, and method are provided for managing geographically distributed electric power transmission assets. Mapping, routing, and asset location information is managed and combined with real time Global Positioning System (GPS) location information to alarm field maintenance and inspection crews prior to inadvertent entry into restricted areas, such as environmentally protected or otherwise restricted lands. Detailed information is maintained on the electric power transmission assets providing management insight into past performance, as well as predictive information as to future costs and performance.
A computer implemented system for managing geographically distributed assets, comprising:
A method of managing geographically distributed assets, comprising the steps of:
A system for managing geographically distributed assets, comprising:
A computer program product, comprising:
A mobile processor for facilitating a maintenance of geographically distributed assets comprising:
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.
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From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.
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Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management: inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling,…
Of structured data, e.g. relational data: geographical information databases
Systems supporting electrical power generation, transmission or distribution: systems or methods supporting the power network operation or…
Object-oriented database structure: object-oriented database structure processing
Term end not estimated
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is directed to systems, methods, and computer program products for managing geographically distributed assets and more particularly comprehensive systems, methods, and computer program products for both centralized and remote management of geographically distributed assets such as electric power transmission equipment.
2. Discussion of the Background
A more complete appreciation of the present invention, and many of the attendant advantages thereof, will be readily obtained as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an overall system configuration for one embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing mechanisms of a network desktop workstation and a field laptop workstation shown in FIG. 1;
Referring now to the figures, wherein like reference numerals are used to identify the same or corresponding elements throughout the several views, FIG. 1 shows an overall system architecture of the present invention.
The present embodiment is discussed in the context of the managing an electric power transmission and distribution system. However, the invention may be used to manage assets of other systems, for example, any business that must manage assets that are geographically distributed such as other utilities (e.g., water or gas) where the information about the assets is of interest to both central management personnel, as well as the field technicians responsible for servicing the assets.
As shown in FIG. 1, the system includes a master database 1 that serves as a central repository for all information regarding the geographically distributed assets. The master database 1 is a commercially available database, such as ACCESS, available from Microsoft Corporation hosted on a computer readable medium. However, other commercially available databases may be used, such as ORACLE, SYBASE, or INFORMIX. In one embodiment, the master database 1 contains all current information of interest on the geographically distributed electric power transmission assets 14 (e.g., transmission lines, poles, maintenance history, etc.). Data in the master database 1 is maintained from a network desktop workstation 2. The network desktop workstation 2 is connected to the master database 1, for example by way of a local area network L1 although other communications links such as a virtual private network, wireless link or Internet-enabled link may be used as well. The desktop workstation 2 interacts with the master database 1 through a software product, one embodiment of which is described by the inventors as “TAMIS”. TAMIS is a software application that uses commercially available geographic information system (GIS) software such as ESRI's ARC/INFO and ARCVIEW GIS products. Through the TAMIS application software and the GIS software, the user is able to create, read, update, and delete the information held in the master database 1 from the network desktop workstation 2. The network desktop workstation 2, through the TAMIS application software and the GIS software, gives those users with appropriate access (e.g., password protected) full capability to maintain the information being held in the master database 1. Furthermore, the information being maintained in the master database 1 may be used for management purposes such as reporting, planning, status checking, budget preparation, etc., presented in written report form, video streaming data, graphical display information, as examples.