Automated allocation of vehicle systems for different specified vehicle testing tasks

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9268604-B1
Application number	US-201213710906-A
Country	US
Kind code	B1
Filing date	Dec 11, 2012
Priority date	Dec 11, 2012
Publication date	Feb 23, 2016
Grant date	Feb 23, 2016

Abstract

A computer ( 205 ) has at least one database ( 210 ) which contains information such as a list of tasks to be performed when manufacturing, upgrading, or servicing an aircraft, the status of the tasks, the resource listing for each task, and the configuration of the resources. When a crew ( 110 ) receives a task, the crew requests the flight deck operator FDO ( 150 ) to capture the resources listed for the task. The FDO uses a terminal ( 220 ) to query the computer to determine whether the resource is available. If available, the FDO then captures the resources for that task and configures the resource in the manner listed for that task. If a required resource has been captured for another task and is not available then the FDO can determine whether to interrupt the other task and release the resource for the assigned task.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A computer-implemented method for allocating one or more vehicle systems among a first specified vehicle testing task and a second specified vehicle testing task and another specified vehicle testing task, the method comprising:
maintaining a database which lists information associated with the one or more vehicle systems;
receiving a request to display at least some specified information on one of the one or more vehicle systems;
retrieving the specified information regarding the vehicle system from the database;
providing a display which indicates the specified information for the vehicle system;
receiving a request for access to the vehicle system for the first specified vehicle testing task;
determining whether the vehicle system has been captured by the second specified vehicle testing task or the another vehicle system testing task;
providing a display which indicates whether the vehicle system has been captured by the second specified vehicle testing task;
upon determining that the vehicle system has not been captured by the second specified vehicle testing task, accepting a request to capture the vehicle system and marking a status of the vehicle system as captured by the first specified vehicle testing task;
upon determining that the vehicle system has been captured by the second specific vehicle testing task:
receiving a vehicle system status indicating that the second specified vehicle testing task has released the vehicle system;
upon receiving the vehicle system status, providing access to the vehicle system for the first specified vehicle testing task;
outputting an instruction to configure a state of the vehicle system for the first specified vehicle testing task; and
providing a display which indicates that the first specified vehicle testing task can capture the vehicle system; and

upon determining that the vehicle system has been captured by the another vehicle testing task:
determining whether the vehicle system is being controlled by the another specified vehicle testing task and providing a display which indicates whether the vehicle system is being controlled by the second specified vehicle testing task; and
determining any times when the vehicle system is available, providing a display which indicates at least one time when the vehicle system is available, and accepting a request to reserve the vehicle system for a specified time and marking the status of the vehicle system as reserved by the specified vehicle testing task.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 and wherein, if there is not at least one time when the vehicle system is available then providing a display which indicates that the vehicle system is not available.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 and further comprising maintaining a database which lists vehicle systems, whether the vehicle systems have been captured by the another vehicle testing task, and whether the vehicle system is currently being used by the another vehicle testing task.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 wherein the information comprises identification of tasks which have previously captured the vehicle system.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 wherein the information comprises a listing of a current configuration of the vehicle system.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 5 wherein the information further comprises a listing of previous configurations of the vehicle system.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 and further comprising:
maintaining a database of vehicle testing tasks;
maintaining a database which indicates the vehicle systems listed for a vehicle testing task;
receiving a request to assign the specified vehicle testing task;
retrieving information regarding the vehicle systems listed for the specified vehicle testing task from the database; and
providing a display which indicates the vehicle systems listed for the specified vehicle testing task.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 wherein at least one vehicle testing task is to be performed on an aircraft and at least one of the vehicle systems is associated with the aircraft.

9. A system to allocate one or more vehicle systems among a first specified vehicle testing task and a second specified vehicle testing task and another specified vehicle testing task the system comprising a server, the server comprising:
a memory device containing operating instructions and files;
a processor, communicatively coupled to the memory device and to a communications link, the processor executing the operating instructions to:
maintain a database which lists information associated with the one or more vehicle systems;
receive a request to display at least some specified information on one of the one or more vehicle systems;
retrieve the specified information regarding the vehicle system from the database;
provide a display which indicates the specified information for the vehicle system;
receive a request for access to the vehicle system for a first specified vehicle testing task;
determine whether the vehicle system has been captured by a second specified vehicle testing task or the another vehicle system testing task;
provide a display which indicates whether the vehicle system has been captured by the second specified vehicle testing task;
upon determining that the vehicle system has not been captured by the second specified vehicle testing task, accept a request to capture the vehicle system and mark a status of the vehicle system as captured by the first specified vehicle testing task;
upon determining that the vehicle system has been captured by the second specified vehicle testing task:
receive a vehicle system status indicating that the second specified vehicle testing task has released the vehicle system;
upon receiving the vehicle system status, providing access to the vehicle for the first specified vehicle testing task;
output an instruction to configure a state of the vehicle system for the first specified vehicle testing task; and
providing a display which indicates that the first specified vehicle testing task can capture the vehicle system; and

upon determining that the vehicle system has been captured by the another vehicle testing task:
determining whether the vehicle system is being controlled by the another specified vehicle testing task and providing a display which indicates whether the vehicle system is being controlled by the second specified vehicle testing task; and
determining any times when the vehicle system is available, providing a display which indicates at least one time when the vehicle system is available, and accepting a request to reserve the vehicle system for a specified time and marking the status of the vehicle system as reserved by the specified vehicle testing task.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein, if there is not at least one time when the vehicle system is available, the server is further operative to provide a display which indicates that the vehicle system is not available.

11. The system of claim 9 wherein the server is further operative to:
maintain a database which lists vehicle systems, whether the vehicle systems have been captured by another vehicle testing task, and whether the vehicle system is currently being used by another vehicle testing task.

12. The system of claim 9 wherein the server is further operative to maintain a database which lists information regarding vehicle systems, the information comprising identifications of vehicle testing tasks which have previously captured the vehicle system.

13. The system of claim 9 wherein the

Assignees

• Boeing Co

Inventors

• Herzberg Garry
• Garas Maykel

Classifications

• G06Q10/06311 Primary

  Scheduling, planning or task assignment for a person or group · CPC title

• G06F9/50 Primary

  Allocation of resources, e.g. of the central processing unit [CPU] · CPC title

• G06Q10/20

  Administration of product repair or maintenance · CPC title