Claims
- 1. A method of maintaining a database of configurations of mechanical equipment, the method comprising:
establishing a functional configuration database to store functional information about an end item and internal components of the end item; establishing a logical configuration database that corresponds to the functional configuration database; establishing a physical configuration database to store physical information about the end item; establishing an operational configuration database to store operational information about the end item; and maintaining the database of configurations of mechanical equipment in accordance with the functional configuration database, the logical configuration database, the physical configuration database and the operational configuration database.
- 2. The method of claim 1 wherein the physical configuration database comprises separate databases for each of a plurality of end items.
- 3. The method of claim 1 wherein data of the physical configuration database includes at least one of a serial number of the end item, a part number of configurable components, processes, manufacturers, and a logical configuration descriptor for the end item part number or configurable component and providers.
- 4. The method of claim 1 wherein the operational configuration database comprises operating profiles including at least one of system and component operating profiles.
- 5. The method of claim 1 further comprising:
establishing operating profiles for the end item; and storing the operating profiles in the operation configuration database.
- 6. The method of claim 5 further including establishing interrelationships between a plurality of profiles.
- 7. The method of claim 1 further comprising establishing at least one additional database selected from the group consisting of configuration management, predictive maintenance, configuration modification planning and scheduling, component acquisition, and maintenance execution.
- 8. A method of maintaining a configuration of mechanical equipment, the method comprising:
establishing a desired configuration of the mechanical equipment based on a design objective of the mechanical equipment, where in the design objective includes at least one of safety, reliability, and performance; establishing and evaluating an actual configuration of the mechanical equipment; determining if the actual configuration complies with the desired configuration; and planning an upgrade requirement for upgrading the actual configuration to the desired configuration if the actual configuration is noncompliant, establishing a logical configuration database; establishing a physical configuration database to store physical information about the end item, the physical information corresponding to the logical configuration database; establishing an operational configuration database to store operational information about the end item; wherein establishing the actual configuration and the desired configuration comprises integrating the logical configuration database, physical configuration database and the operational configuration database to analyze and create an upgrade requirements database containing information about the end item and components of the end item; and maintaining the actual configuration and the desired configuration of mechanical equipment in accordance with the logical configuration database, the physical configuration database, the operational configuration database, and the upgrade requirements database.
- 9. The method of claim 8 wherein the physical configuration database comprises separate databases for each of a plurality of end items.
- 10. The method of claim 8 wherein data of the physical configuration database includes at least one of a serial number of the end item, a part number of configurable components, processes, manufacturers, and a logical configuration descriptor for the end item part number or configurable component and providers.
- 11. The method of claim 8 wherein the operational configuration database comprises operating profiles including at least one of system and component operating profiles.
- 12. The method of claim 8 further comprising:
establishing operating profiles for the end item; and storing the operating profiles in the operation configuration database.
- 13. The method of claim 12 further including establishing interrelationships between a plurality of profiles.
- 14. The method of claim 8 further comprising establishing at least one additional database selected from the group consisting of configuration management, predictive maintenance, configuration modification planning and scheduling component acquisition, and maintenance execution.
- 15. A system for maintaining a database of configurations of mechanical equipment, the system comprising:
establishing a logical configuration database that corresponds to the functional configuration database; a physical configuration database to store physical information about the end item; an operational configuration database to store operational information about the end item; and wherein the database of configurations of mechanical equipment includes the logical configuration database, the physical configuration database and the operational configuration database.
- 16. The system of claim 15 wherein the physical configuration database comprises separate databases for each of a plurality of end items.
- 17. The system of claim 15 wherein data of the physical configuration database includes at least one of a serial number of the end item, a part number of configurable components, processes, manufacturers, and a logical configuration descriptor for the end item part number or configurable component and providers.
- 18. The system of claim 15 wherein the operational configuration database comprises operating profiles including at least one of system and component operating profiles.
- 19. The system of claim 15 further comprising at least one operating profile for the end item, wherein the operating profile is stored in the operation configuration database.
- 20. The system of claim 19 wherein a plurality of profiles comprise interrelations.
- 21. The system of claim 15 further comprising at least one additional database selected from the group consisting of configuration management, predictive maintenance, configuration modification planning and scheduling, component acquisition, and maintenance execution.
REFERENCE TO EARLIER FILED APPLICATION
[0001] The present application claims the benefit of U.S. application Ser. No. 09/690,793 filed Oct. 17, 2000, entitled “CONFIGURING MECHANICAL EQUIPMENT,” which is incorporated by reference herein.
Continuations (1)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
09690793 |
Oct 2000 |
US |
Child |
09946160 |
Sep 2001 |
US |