Maintenance Scheduling Database for Multi-Vendor Equipment Service

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Solution Overview

Problem

The complexity of monitoring systems and the variety of manufacturers lead to logistical challenges in scheduling and performing maintenance, requiring technicians to acquire knowledge of multiple systems, and existing systems lack efficient maintenance management solutions.

Innovation Solution

A maintenance management system with a server-based first database and remote device database, scheduling unit, task unit, and historical information storage, enabling centralized maintenance scheduling, issue resolution, vendor selection, and equipment monitoring.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If monitoring systems incorporate more electronics and complex sensors to improve monitoring capability, then monitoring precision is improved, but maintenance complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemonitoring precisionVSAvoidmaintenance complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a maintenance management system as an intermediary between the complex monitoring equipment and technicians. This system includes a database storing manufacturer information, contact details, and maintenance histories, along with a interface that guides technicians through maintenance procedures. The intermediary manages the complexity by organizing information and providing structured workflows, allowing technicians to maintain complex equipment without needing to master all underlying technical details.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If technicians are tasked with obtaining knowledge of a large number of systems to handle variety of monitors and manufacturers, then maintenance capability is improved, but training time and complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemaintenance capabilityVSAvoidtraining time

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The maintenance management system enables technicians to serve themselves by providing on-demand access to maintenance information, procedures, and manufacturer contacts through the user interface. Rather than requiring extensive pre-training, technicians can access relevant knowledge when needed, reducing the time and resources required for training while maintaining the ability to handle diverse equipment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Reliability

If scheduling and confirming maintenance is performed manually to ensure proper maintenance, then maintenance reliability is improved, but logistical coordination time increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemaintenance reliabilityVSAvoidlogistical coordination time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements feedback mechanisms where the database stores and tracks maintenance schedules, completion status, and historical data. The interface provides confirmation workflows that ensure proper maintenance is performed while automatically tracking and updating records. This automated feedback loop maintains reliability by ensuring maintenance is properly executed while reducing the time required for manual coordination and tracking.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentUS12524743B2Maintenance management software and methods of performing the same

Publication Date: 2026.01.13 SCANNAPIECO STEVEN

AI summary

A maintenance management system including a first database operating on a server a second database operating on a remote device in communication with the second database, a scheduling unit for scheduling maintenance, a task unit for listing tasks to perform for maintenance on at least one piece of equipment, where the scheduling and tasks are stored in the first database and the second database.