US6098050A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
System and method for recording, maintaining and viewing configuration and placement of equipment in field sites
Assignee: Verizon Business Global LLC
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Filing: 1997-03-25
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Granted: 2000-08-01
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Expires: 2017-03-25
Abstract
Abstract A system and method for recording, maintaining and viewing placement and configuration of equipment within remote field sites. Specifically, a means is provided for defining equipment, in terms of components, such as modules shelves and racks. Once components are defined, they are configured by specifying interrelationships between components. Once racks are configured, they are placed within a particular location in a particular remote site. A site hierarchy is created prior to creating placing racks in remote sites. An example of a site hierarchy is a site, structure, floor, zone, planning unit and row. Graphical tools are used to assist the user in configuring components, defining hierarchy levels and placing racks. Data related to components, configured equipment, site hierarchies and placement of equipment are stored in a central database. In addition, architectural floor-plan drawings can be used as an underlay for composite graphical representations of floors in sites. Preferably, a CADD program or the like is used for this purpose. Typically, the times for the placement and removal of equipment is specified so that site planners can view the configuration of remote sites on a time dependent basis. Additionally, a means is provided for inputting and for retrieving power data from the database to calculate the adequacy of available power supplies for remote site loads. Also provided is a means for generating a wide variety of reports from the individual tables in the database that are used to record information and relationships between the components, site hierarchies, configurations, placements and power requirements.
Inventors
- 👤 Terry Knoblock
- 👤 Gregory G. Carlson
- 👤 Paul Michael Golobay
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 13:23
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04Q; H04Q1/00; H04Q1/02; G; G06; G06Q; G06Q10/00; G06Q10/08; G06Q10/087; G06Q10/0872; G06Q10/08724; H04M; H04M3/00; H04M3/22; H04M3/2254; H04Q1/03; H04Q1/09
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 40
Claim 1
Independent Claim
37 words
A method for recording, maintaining and viewing data representing configuration, installation and placement of equipment in a field site, said method comprising the steps of: creating a product catalog; creating a configuration library; and creating a footprint.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
37 words
A method for recording, maintaining and viewing data representing configuration, installation and placement of equipment in a field site, said method comprising the steps of: creating a product catalog; creating a configuration library; and creating a footprint.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said step of creating a product catalog comprises the steps of: defining components by specifying values for pre-defined attributes associated with said components; storing said components in said product catalog.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method of claim 2, wherein said step of creating a configuration library comprises the steps of: defining configured equipment by selecting said components from said product catalog; specifying interrelationships between said components; and storing said configured equipment in said configuration library.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
41 words
The method of claim 3, wherein said step of creating a footprint comprises the steps of: placing said configured equipment in the field site by specifying a footprint location for said configured equipment; and storing said footprint in a placement library.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said step of creating a product catalog comprises the steps of: creating a module; creating a shelf; and creating a rail.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 5, wherein said step of creating a configuration library comprises the steps of: creating a configured shelf; and creating a configured rack.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
66 words
The method of claim 6, wherein said step of creating a configured shelf comprises the steps of: selecting a said shelf from said product catalog; selecting a said module from said product catalog; defining a relationship between said shelf and module from said selecting steps by specifying a location for said module relative to said shelf; and specifying values for attributes associated with said configured shelf.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of claim 7, further comprising the step of repeating said step of selecting a said module and said step of defining a relationship, if another said module is to be added to said configured shelf.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method of claim 7, wherein said step of defining a relationship between said shelf and module comprises the step of: specifying a location for said module relative to said shelf by manipulating a graphical representation of said module and said shelf.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
69 words
The method of claim 6, wherein said step of creating a configured rack comprises the steps of: selecting a said rail from said product catalog; selecting a said configured shelf from said configuration library; and defining a relationship between said rail and configured shelf from said selecting steps by specifying a location for configured shelf relative to said rail; and specifying values for attributes associated with said configured rack.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method of claim 10, further comprising the step of repeating said step of selecting a said configured shelf and said step of defining a relationship, if another said configured shelf is to be added to said rail.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
44 words
The method of claim 9, wherein said step of defining a relationship between said rail and configured shelf comprises the step of: specifying a location for said configured shelf relative to said rail by manipulating a graphical representation of said shelf and said rail.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of: viewing a time dependent graphical representation of said configured equipment in the field site.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of: selecting a report from a list of pre-defined reports related to configured equipment in field sites.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of: viewing a report relating to battery power reserves for the field site, based on data from said footprint and said configuration library.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
76 words
A computer program product, comprising a computer useable medium having computer program logic stored therein, said computer program logic for enabling a computer to record, maintain and view data representing configuration, installation and placement of equipment in a field site; wherein said computer program logic comprises: means for enabling the computer to create a product catalog; means for enabling the computer to create a configuration library; and means for enabling the computer to create a footprint.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
76 words
A computer program product, comprising a computer useable medium having computer program logic stored therein, said computer program logic for enabling a computer to record, maintain and view data representing configuration, installation and placement of equipment in a field site; wherein said computer program logic comprises: means for enabling the computer to create a product catalog; means for enabling the computer to create a configuration library; and means for enabling the computer to create a footprint.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
52 words
The computer program product of claim 16, wherein said means for enabling the computer to create a product catalog comprises: means for enabling the computer to define components by accepting specified values for pre-defined attributes associated with said components; means for enabling the computer to store said components in said product catalog.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
65 words
The computer program product of claim 17, wherein said means for enabling the computer to create a configuration library comprises: means for enabling the computer to define configured equipment by accepting selected said components from said product catalog; means for enabling the computer to accept specified interrelationships between said components; and means for enabling the computer to store said configured equipment in said configuration library.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
57 words
The computer program product of claim 18, wherein said means for enabling the computer to create a footprint comprises: means for enabling the computer to place said configured equipment in the field site by accepting a specified footprint location for said configured equipment; and means for enabling the computer to store said footprint in a placement library.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
48 words
The computer program product of claim 16, wherein said means for enabling the computer to create a product catalog comprises: means for enabling the computer to create a module; means for enabling the computer to create a shelf; and means for enabling the computer to create a rail.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
41 words
The computer program product of claim 20 wherein said means for enabling the computer to create a configuration library comprises: means for enabling the computer to create a configured shelf; and means for enabling the computer to create a configured rack.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
98 words
The computer program product of claim 21, wherein said means for enabling the computer to create a configured shelf comprises: means for enabling the computer to accept a selection of a said shelf from said product catalog; means for enabling the computer to accept a selection of a said module from said product catalog; means for enabling the computer to define a relationship between said shelf and said module by accepting a specified location for said module relative to said shelf; and means for enabling the computer to accept specified values for attributes associated with said configured shelf.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
54 words
The computer program product of claim 22, wherein said means for enabling the computer to define a relationship between said shelf and said module comprises: means for enabling the computer to accept a specified a location for said module relative to said shelf by presenting a graphical representation of said module and said shelf.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
103 words
The computer program product of claim 21, wherein said means for enabling a computer to create a configured rack comprises: means for enabling the computer to accept a selection of a said rail from said product catalog; means for enabling the computer to accept a selection of a said configured shelf from said configuration library; means for enabling the computer to accept a definition of a relationship between said rail and configured shelf by accepting a specified location for said configured shelf relative to said rail; and means for enabling the computer to accept specified values for attributes associated with said configured rack.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
56 words
The computer program product of claim 24, wherein said means for enabling the computer to define a relationship between said rail and configured shelf comprises: means for enabling the computer to accept a specified a location for said configured shelf relative to said rail by presenting a graphical representation of said configured shelf and said rail.
Claim 28
Independent Claim
79 words
A system for recording, maintaining and viewing data related to the configuration and placement of equipment in a field site, said system comprising: definition means for defining components; first storage means for storing said components; configuration means for defining configured equipment; second storage means for storing said configured equipment; placement means for generating a footprint by placing said configured equipment in a particular location within the field site; and third storage means for storing data related to said footprint.
Claim 29
Independent Claim
79 words
A system for recording, maintaining and viewing data related to the configuration and placement of equipment in a field site, said system comprising: definition means for defining components; first storage means for storing said components; configuration means for defining configured equipment; second storage means for storing said configured equipment; placement means for generating a footprint by placing said configured equipment in a particular location within the field site; and third storage means for storing data related to said footprint.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
60 words
The system of claim 26, further comprising: viewing means for viewing data related to said configured equipment and said footprint; reporting means for generating reports based on said data related to said footprint; and automated means for calculating battery power reserves for the field site, based on said configured equipment placed in said field site according to said placement means.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
38 words
The system of claim 26, wherein said configuration means comprises: product catalog means for defining said components; selection means for selecting said components from said product catalog means; and interrelationship means for specifying interrelationships between selected said components.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
22 words
The system of claim 26, wherein placement means includes: site hierarchy means for specifying a site hierarchy for defining said particular location.
Claim 33
Independent Claim
57 words
A method for recording, maintaining and viewing data representing configuration, installation and placement of equipment in a field site, said method comprising the steps of: creating a product catalog; creating a configuration library wherein the creation of the configuration library includes the steps of, creating a configured shelf, and creating a configured racked; and creating a footprint.
Claim 34
Independent Claim
57 words
A method for recording, maintaining and viewing data representing configuration, installation and placement of equipment in a field site, said method comprising the steps of: creating a product catalog; creating a configuration library wherein the creation of the configuration library includes the steps of, creating a configured shelf, and creating a configured racked; and creating a footprint.
Claim 35
Independent Claim
77 words
A method for recording, maintaining and viewing data representing configuration, installation and placement of equipment in the field site, said method comprising the steps of: creating a product catalog; creating a configuration library; and creating a footprint, wherein said step of creating a product catalog comprises creating a module, creating a shelf and creating a rail, and said step of creating a configuration library comprises the steps of creating a configured shelf and creating a configured rack.
Claim 36
Independent Claim
77 words
A method for recording, maintaining and viewing data representing configuration, installation and placement of equipment in the field site, said method comprising the steps of: creating a product catalog; creating a configuration library; and creating a footprint, wherein said step of creating a product catalog comprises creating a module, creating a shelf and creating a rail, and said step of creating a configuration library comprises the steps of creating a configured shelf and creating a configured rack.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
109 words
A computer program product, comprising a computer usable medium having computer program logic stored therein, said computer program logic for enabling a computer to record, maintain and view data representing configuration, installation and placement of equipment in a field site; wherein said computer program logic comprises: means for enabling the computer to create a product catalog; means for enabling the computer to create a configuration library, said means for enabling the computer to create a configuration library including, means for enabling the computer to create a configured shelf, and means for enabling the computer to create a configured rack; and means for enabling the computer to create a footprint.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
109 words
A computer program product, comprising a computer usable medium having computer program logic stored therein, said computer program logic for enabling a computer to record, maintain and view data representing configuration, installation and placement of equipment in a field site; wherein said computer program logic comprises: means for enabling the computer to create a product catalog; means for enabling the computer to create a configuration library, said means for enabling the computer to create a configuration library including, means for enabling the computer to create a configured shelf, and means for enabling the computer to create a configured rack; and means for enabling the computer to create a footprint.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
148 words
A computer program product, comprising a computer usable medium having computer program logic stored therein, said computer program logic for enabling a computer to record, maintain and view data representing configuration, installation and placement of equipment in a field site; wherein said computer program logic comprises: means for enabling the computer to create a product catalog; said means for enabling the computer to create a product catalog including, means for enabling the computer to create a module, means for enabling the computer to create a shelf, means for enabling the computer to create a rail; means for enabling the computer to create a configuration library, said means for enabling the computer to create a configuration library including, means for enabling the computer to create a configured shelf, and means for enabling the computer to create a configured rack; and means for enabling the computer to create a footprint.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
148 words
A computer program product, comprising a computer usable medium having computer program logic stored therein, said computer program logic for enabling a computer to record, maintain and view data representing configuration, installation and placement of equipment in a field site; wherein said computer program logic comprises: means for enabling the computer to create a product catalog; said means for enabling the computer to create a product catalog including, means for enabling the computer to create a module, means for enabling the computer to create a shelf, means for enabling the computer to create a rail; means for enabling the computer to create a configuration library, said means for enabling the computer to create a configuration library including, means for enabling the computer to create a configured shelf, and means for enabling the computer to create a configured rack; and means for enabling the computer to create a footprint.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US5515524A
Cited
US5630025A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2003-08-01 | 2004-01-31 | 2004-08-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2007-08-01 | 2008-01-31 | 2008-08-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2011-08-01 | 2012-01-31 | 2012-08-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |