초록 ▼

A tool, network and method of asset data updating is provided. The tool comprises: a portable computing device capable of wirelessly receiving a GPS location and updating of asset data including, among other things, asset condition and/or GPS location. The tool may also comprise knowledge based soft

A tool, network and method of asset data updating is provided. The tool comprises: a portable computing device capable of wirelessly receiving a GPS location and updating of asset data including, among other things, asset condition and/or GPS location. The tool may also comprise knowledge based software capable of time tracking, work order management and billing. The knowledge based software may be provided alone or in combination with the asset updating. A network capable of wirelessly communicating with the tool is discloses as is a method of using the tool.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A special use portable computing device for use by a service technician to perform a service on a computer-related asset and determine a bill for the service, said special use portable computing device comprising: a database;an interface for communicating between the portable computing device and

1. A special use portable computing device for use by a service technician to perform a service on a computer-related asset and determine a bill for the service, said special use portable computing device comprising: a database;an interface for communicating between the portable computing device and the computer-related asset;first specialized hardware to perform the service on the computer-related asset via the interface, wherein performing the service on the computer-related asset comprises repairing the computer-related asset, wherein repairing the computer-related asset improves the computer-related asset's functionality, and wherein the computer-related asset is a computer;second specialized hardware to scan a barcode on the computer-related asset, to enable retrieval of information about the asset from the database,third specialized hardware to receive an electronic signature from a customer associated with the computer-related asset;a global positioning system (GPS) device within the portable computing device, wherein the GPS device is configured to obtain a geographical location of the computer related asset from a GPS that is external to the portable computing device;fourth specialized hardware to manage asset data pertaining to the computer related asset, wherein the asset data comprises an identification of a first GPS locator which, if referenced by the GPS, provides to the GPS an incorrect identification of the geographical location of the computer related asset due to first GPS locator not being positioned on the computer related asset, and wherein a second, different GPS locator is positioned on the computer related asset;fifth specialized hardware to manage display of a graphical user interface (GUI) and to receive via the GUI a directive to change the identification of the first GPS locator in the asset data to an identification of the second GPS locator which, upon being referenced by the GPS, provides to the GPS a correct identification of the geographical location of the computer related asset;sixth specialized hardware to generate billing information for the service on the computer-related asset based in part on (a) travel time of the service technician to a location proximate to the computer-related asset, wherein the travel time is based in part on an amount of time for the GPS device to travel to the location proximate to the computer-related asset as determined from tracking the GPS device as the service technician transports the portable computing device to the location proximate to the computer-related asset, (b) work time of the service technician to perform the service on the computer-related asset via the portable computing device and the wireless interface, wherein the work time is based in part on an amount of time that the GPS device is proximate to the location of the computer-related asset as determined from tracking the GPS device as the service technician performs the service on the computer-related asset via the portable computing device, and (c) a time-based billing rate for the travel time and a different, time-based billing rate for the work time;seventh specialized hardware to track the travel time until the service technician is the location proximate to the computer-related asset and to switch thereafter to track the work time instead of the travel time;eighth specialized hardware to track a GPS location of the computer-related asset by receiving the GPS location of the computer-related asset from the GPS device on a real-time basis and the database on a recorded basis;ninth specialized hardware to troubleshoot the computer-related asset;tenth specialized hardware to conduct diagnostic tests on the computer-related asset to perform a diagnosis of the computer-related asset;eleventh specialized hardware to track the GPS device: (i) as the service technician transports the portable computing device to the location proximate to the computer-related asset and (ii) as the service technician performs the service on the computer-related asset; andtwelfth specialized hardware to provide a real-time map based on a GPS location of the portable computing device. 2. A method, said method comprising: using a special use portable computing device to perform a service on a computer-related asset and determine the bill for the service, said special use portable computing device comprising: a database;an interface for communicating between the portable computing device and the computer-related asset;first specialized hardware to perform the service on the computer-related asset via the interface, wherein performing the service on the computer-related asset comprises repairing the computer-related asset, wherein repairing the computer-related asset improves the computer-related asset's functionality, and wherein the computer-related asset is a computer;second specialized hardware to scan a barcode on the computer-related asset, to enable retrieval of information about the asset from the database,third specialized hardware to receive an electronic signature from a customer associated with the computer-related asset;a global positioning system (GPS) device within the portable computing device, wherein the GPS device is configured to obtain a geographical location of the computer related asset from a GPS that is external to the portable computing device;fourth specialized hardware to manage asset data pertaining to the computer related asset, wherein the asset data comprises an identification of a first GPS locator which, if referenced by the GPS, provides to the GPS an incorrect identification of the geographical location of the computer related asset due to first GPS locator not being positioned on the computer related asset, and wherein a second, different GPS locator is positioned on the computer related asset;fifth specialized hardware to manage display of a graphical user interface (GUI) and to receive via the GUI a directive to change the identification of the first GPS locator in the asset data to an identification of the second GPS locator which, upon being referenced by the GPS, provides to the GPS a correct identification of the geographical location of the computer related asset;sixth specialized hardware to generate billing information for the service on the computer-related asset based in part on (a) travel time of the service technician to a location proximate to the computer-related asset, wherein the travel time is based in part on an amount of time for the GPS device to travel to the location proximate to the computer-related asset as determined from tracking the GPS device as the service technician transports the portable computing device to the location proximate to the computer-related asset, (b) work time of the service technician to perform the service on the computer-related asset via the portable computing device and the wireless interface, wherein the work time is based in part on an amount of time that the GPS device is proximate to the location of the computer-related asset as determined from tracking the GPS device as the service technician performs the service on the computer-related asset via the portable computing device, and (c) a time-based billing rate for the travel time and a different, time-based billing rate for the work time;seventh specialized hardware to track the travel time until the service technician is the location proximate to the computer-related asset and to switch thereafter to track the work time instead of the travel time;eighth specialized hardware to track a GPS location of the computer-related asset by receiving the GPS location of the computer-related asset from the GPS device on a real-time basis and the database on a recorded basis;ninth specialized hardware to troubleshoot the computer-related asset;tenth specialized hardware to conduct diagnostic tests on the computer-related asset to perform a diagnosis of the computer-related asset;eleventh specialized hardware to track the GPS device: (i) as the service technician transports the portable computing device to the location proximate to the computer-related asset and (ii) as the service technician performs the service on the computer-related asset; andtwelfth specialized hardware to provide a real-time map based on a GPS location of the portable computing device;said using the special use portable computing device comprising: performing, using the first specialized hardware, the service on the computer-related asset via the interface, which repairs the computer-related asset and improves computer-related asset's functionality, wherein the computer-related asset is a computer;scanning, using the second specialized hardware, the barcode on the computer-related asset to retrieve the information about the asset from the database;receiving, using the third specialized hardware, an electronic signature from the customer associated with the computer-related asset;managing, using the fourth specialized hardware, the asset data pertaining to the computer related asset;managing, using the fifth specialized hardware, display of the graphical user interface (GUI) and receiving via the GUI, using the fifth specialized hardware, the directive to change the identification of the first GPS locator in the asset data to the identification of the second GPS locator;generating, using the sixth specialized hardware, the billing information for the service on the computer-related asset based in part on the travel time of the service technician, the work time of the service technician, and the time-based billing rate for the travel time and the different, time-based billing rate for the work time;tracking, using the seventh specialized hardware, the travel time until the service technician is the location proximate to the computer-related asset and switching thereafter to track the work time instead of the travel time;tracking, using the eighth specialized hardware, the GPS location of the computer-related asset by receiving the GPS location of the computer-related asset from the GPS device on a real-time basis and the database on a recorded basis;troubleshooting, using the ninth specialized hardware, the computer-related asset; conducting, using the tenth specialized hardware, the diagnostic tests on the computer-related asset to perform the diagnosis of the computer-related asset;tracking, using the eleventh specialized hardware, the GPS device: (i) as the service technician transports the portable computing device to the location proximate to the computer-related asset and (ii) as the service technician performs the service on the computer-related asset; andproviding , using the twelfth specialized hardware, the real-time map based on the GPS location of the portable computing device.