Offline Mobile Scheduling System for Homebuilding
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current project management systems for homebuilding are inefficient due to reliance on centralized applications requiring continuous internet access, leading to high bandwidth usage and risks of conflicting updates, and fail to provide real-time synchronization and monitoring capabilities, especially in locations with intermittent or no internet access.
Innovation Solution
A wireless, real-time scheduling system that includes an ERP system, a web server, and mobile devices capable of independent operation, enabling real-time tracking and synchronization of production schedules and tasks, with sequential synchronization to reduce bandwidth requirements and allow for immediate updates.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If centralized web-based applications are used for project management, then real-time monitoring and coordination capabilities are improved, but continuous internet connection is required which is not available in many construction locations
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides functionality between a centralized web-based application for real-time monitoring and a standalone mobile application for field operations. The mobile app segments the data synchronization function, allowing it to operate independently when offline and sync when connectivity is available, thus resolving the contradiction between real-time monitoring needs and field accessibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The mobile application serves as an intermediary between the field operations and the centralized web-based system. It buffers data locally when internet access is unavailable and transmits it when connected, mediating between the requirement for continuous real-time monitoring and the reality of intermittent connectivity in construction locations.
2Device complexity
If one-time data dump synchronization is used between mobile devices and ERP system, then system complexity is reduced, but substantial bandwidth is required and conflicting updates may occur
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements periodic incremental synchronization instead of one-time data dump synchronization. Data is synchronized in periodic intervals with only changed data transmitted, reducing bandwidth consumption while maintaining synchronization accuracy and avoiding conflicting updates through timestamp-based change detection.
3Ease of manufacture
If one-time data dump synchronization is used, then implementation simplicity is improved, but risk of conflicting updates increases
Solution Approach 1:
The synchronization mechanism incorporates feedback through timestamp tracking and change detection. The system monitors which data has changed since the last synchronization, provides feedback on synchronization status, and only transmits updated records, thereby eliminating conflicting updates while maintaining implementation simplicity.
4Measurement precision
If centralized applications require continuous internet connection for operation, then real-time data accuracy is improved, but management overhead and costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The mobile application performs preliminary data buffering and local processing before synchronization. Data is captured and stored locally with timestamps, and the system preliminarily processes changes before transmission, ensuring data accuracy is maintained while reducing the need for continuous internet connection and associated management overhead.
Data Source
AI summary
The invention consists of a method of real-time tracking of production schedules and timetables for one or more homebuilding developments, comprising: a) assigning one or more mobile devices to one or more users associated with projects and lots, the mobile devices providing access to project and lot information, including: lots for completion for each project, tasks for completion for each lot, assignment of suppliers and material to specific tasks, projected and actual times for completion of tasks, contact information for suppliers and invoicing information for payment of purchase orders upon task completion; and each mobile device capable of operating independently without a continuous connection to a central system; b) tracking performance of production tasks for each project via real-time monitoring by the users; c) reporting task performance data to a central ERP system and comparing real-time performance of the production tasks to scheduled timetables for the production tasks; d) enabling modification and updating of scheduled timetables for production tasks based on performance data for the production tasks and additional real-time input from the individuals; e) coordinating compensation for production activities with the performance data, including enabling payment for completed tasks from the mobile devices via purchase orders; f) synchronizing, on a sequential basis, updates to scheduled timetables and other information between the mobile devices and the ERP system.