Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02307153 2000-04-28
LIGHT FIXTURE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to lighting. In particular, the invention
relates
to a light fixture management system which facilitates the tracking,
maintenance and
repair of light fixtures in a building, complex or group of structures.
Background of the Invention
Industrial and commercial buildings and multi-site complexes may have
tens of thousands of light fixtures of many different types, which require
periodic
maintenance and repair. Similarly, the maintenance and repair of light
fixtures in a
group of structures spread over a wide geographic area, for example a retail
chain
operation which may include hundreds of satellite stores in different
territories, may
be the responsibility of a single central office.
Presently the maintenance and repair of light fixtures in these types of
situations is carried out on an ad hoc basis. A tenant or other occupant of
the structure
identifies a fixture in need of repair within a suite, or an employee of the
building
manager, for example a security guard, identifies a light fixture in need of
repair in a
suite or common area. The property manager is notified and issues a work
order,
which is delivered to the maintenance department and given to repair personnel
to
undertake the repair.
No particular consideration is given to carrying out light fixture
maintenance or repairs in an orderly fashion, tracking the maintenance
histories of
light fixtures to identify latent problems or defects, or difficulties that
repair personnel
may encounter in effecting a repair such as problems identifying the circuit
supplying
power to a particular light fixture so that it can be deactivated to effect a
repair. At
best this results in an inefficient use of labour, and potentially parts
inventory
shortages. In other cases the property manager may end up paying the cost of
repairing
fixtures or components that are still under warranty, or may pay undue costs
to
maintain a defective fixture because the defect is not apparent without an
overview of
the repair history of the fixture.
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The repair and maintenance of light fixtures in large commercial structures
and complexes is thus presently a substantially random process. This leads to
a
number of disadvantages, including an inefficient use of repair personnel,
haphazard
replacement parts inventory management, inability to identify problematic
fixtures
and components, and attendant unnecessary costs associated with all of these.
In a
building or complex with thousands of light fixtures, these extra costs can be
substantial.
Inventory control systems which utilize scanners such as bar code readers
to record and track inventory are known in the prior art. For example, U.S.
patent No.
5,664,113 issued September 2, 1997 to Worger et al describes a working asset
management system and method for tracking a working asset; Canadian patent No.
1,261.470 issued September 26, 1989 to Markman describes a system and method
for
the control of dry cleaning articles; and Canadian patent No. 2,027,639 issued
July 4,
1995 to Inui et al teaches a parts supply inventory management system. U.S.
patent
No. 5,803,906 issued September 8, 1998 to Pratt et al, teaches a method and
system
for tracking animal health histories and related information. In this system,
animals
such as cattle are tagged with a code related to records containing defining
characteristics and a health history of each particular animal. A bar code
scanner is
used to scan the tag, which communicates the identity of the animal to a
computer, to
facilitate the retrieval of information regarding the health history of the
animal.
However, all these systems involve mobile inventory. Optical scanners are
used to identify items in the inventory, which can be matched with records
for=
tracking purposes. But the inventory itself is movable, and the orderly
management of
the inventory is dependent upon this mobility.
Light fixtures present a peculiar problem, because they are immovable.
Thus, an orderly management of light fixtures must take into account their
fixed
locations. Further, the wide variety of fixtures which may be maintained in
any
particular structure or complex raises parts inventory control problems, both
in terms
of stocking an adequate supply of parts and in terms of ensuring that the
specific parts
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and components required for specific light fixtures in need of maintenance or
repair
are on hand. Additionally, efficient management of the light fixtures requires
that the
arrangement of electrical circuits controlling the various light fixtures be
taken into
account.
Summary of the Invention
The present invention provides a light fixture management system which
tracks the location, history and operating characteristics of light fixtures
in large
industrial and commercial structures and multi-site complexes, including
retail malls
and shopping centers, or in a group of structures spread over a wide
geographic area
such as a retail chain operation. In the preferred embodiment every light
fixture within
and on the structures and the surrounding premises is assigned indicia, for
example a
bar code, which is stored in a database in association with details regarding
the date of
installation, fixture type, bulb type, ballust type, warranty expiry date,
prior repair
history, electrical circuit and any other pertinent information.
According to the invention an observer charged with identifying light
fixtures in need of repair, which may for example be a building electrician or
caretaker, or a security guard or night watchman who normally makes rounds
through
the structure or complex for security purposes, carries a portable scanner,
preferably
with a keypad allowing additional information to be entered manually. When a
light
fixture in need of repair is observed, the observer scans the bar code
associated with
the light fixture, which may be adhered to an inconspicuous spot on or near
the fixture
or otherwise somehow physically associated with the fixture.
In the preferred embodiment the observer also enters into the bar code
scanner any observable information regarding the repair problem, to the extent
that the
problem can be identified. At the end of the observer's rounds, the scanned
information is downloaded into a computer, for example a personal computer
(PC).
The computer may be programmed to establish a repair route for fixtures
identified as
being in need of repair, based on the locations of the light fixtures and
types of
problems identified by the observer. The repair route can form part of a
maintenance
report which may also indicate what type bulb or other component is required
for the
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specific light fixture requiring maintenance or repair, whether the fixture is
still under
warranty, whether the fixture has a history of problems, and any other desired
information.
The invention accordingly considerably simplifies the task of tracking light
fixtures in a structure or group of structures and their surrounding premises,
and
substantially increases the efficiency and effectiveness of repair personnel.
By
allowing maintenance personnel to generate a repair route which minimizes
travel
time, a much greater number of repairs can be effected using the system of the
invention as opposed to the conventional, ad hoc repair scheduling presently
used in
and around such structures and complexes.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention the master database contains a
maintenance repair history of each light fixture, which helps to identify
problematic
fixtures, and identifies the location of the circuit breaker which controls
power to the
fixture, to enable repair personnel to quickly locate and deactivate the
circuit if
necessary for a particular type of repair. The latter advantage can be
particularly useful
in the case of emergency lighting, which is often wired to a circuit breaker
on a
different floor in a multi-unit structure.
With this inventory and repair information stored in the master database,
reports can be generated periodically in any desired format , for tracking
expenses,
tenant billing, repair effectiveness and efficiency, component quality and so
on.
These and other advantages will be apparent from the description which
follows.
The present invention thus provides a light fixture management system,
comprising a plurality of labels each containing unique indicia, a portable
reader for
reading the indicia on the labels, a microprocessor appliance comprising a
database,
for receiving information collected by the reader and associating the unique
indicia
with corresponding information in the database, wherein when the plurality of
labels
are each associated with one of a plurality of light fixtures, the
microprocessor
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appliance can. generate a report with information specific to light fixtures
associated
with the labels read by the reader.
The present invention further provides a method of managing a plurality of
light fixtures, each light fixture being associated with one of plurality of
labels, each
label containing unique indicia, comprising the steps of: a. reading the
indicia on the
labels associated with light fixtures observed to be in need of repair or
maintenance
and storing information corresponding to the indicia, b. conveying the stored
information corresponding to the indicia to a microprocessor appliance
comprising a
database, and c. generating a report with information specific to light
fixtures
associated with the labels read by the reader.
A further aspect of the method includes the step of downloading
information from the database to a master database at another geographic
location
Brief Description of the Drawings
In drawings which illustrate by way of example only a preferred
embodiment of the invention.,
Figure 1 is a perspective view of a light fixture being scanned by a portable
optical character reader,
Figure 1 a is an eni[arged perspective view of the label in Figure 1, and
Figure 2 is a schematic representation of information being downloaded
from the optical character reader to a computer,
Figure 3 is an example of an embodiment of a lighting activity report
generated according to the invention.
Detailed Description of the Irivention
Figure 1 illustrates the information collection component of the system of
the invention using the example of an existing light fixture 10 in a
commercial
building, which may be any type of light fixture 10. A label 12 containing
unique
indicia, in the example shown a conventional bar code 14, is associated with
the light
fixture 10 by being fixed on or in the vicinity of the light fixture 10. In
the
embodiment shown the label 12 is affixed to the frame of the light fixture 10,
however
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it will be appreciated that the precise location of the label 12 relative to
the light
fixture 10 is a matter of selection and convenience.
Preferably the label 12 is accessible to an observer without disassembling
the light fixture 10, although the invention also contemplates an embodiment
in which
the label 12 is concealed within the light fixture 10. The label 12 shown is a
conventional self-adhesive label, preferably of the foil-laminate type for
durability,
however the label 12 may be made of any suitable material and adhered to or
near the
light fixture 10 in any suitable fashion, or the indicia may be printed
directly onto the
light fixture 10, for example in a new installation, in which case the indicia
itself
forms the label.
A plurality of light fixtures 10 in and around the building or complex and
its surrounding premises are labelled as described above. A portable reader is
provided for reading the indicia 14 on the labels 12, in the preferred
embodiment a
conventional bar code scanner 20 which optically scans the bar code 14 and
stores the
scanned information in memory. In other embodiments the reader may comprise
any
other suitable device, for example a magnetic scanner, capable of reading a
magnetic
bar code, strip or other indicia unique to the light fixture 10.
In the preferred embodiment the bar code scanner 20 comprises a display
22 and a key pad 24, allowing the observer to enter alphanumeric information
into the
scanner 20 relating to the current scanned light fixture 10. For example, the
observer
may enter "BULB OUT" to indicate a burned out light tube, or short
alphanumeric
codes may be assigned to various repair tasks to minimize the amount of data
manually entered into the reader 20. In alternative embodiments the bar code
scanner
20 may by a so-called "pen scanner" with no key pad, in which case the
scanning
operation merely identifies light fixtures 10 in need of repair. This
information is
stored in memory in the scanner 20.
Figure 2 illustrates the processing component of the system of the
invention. A microprocessor appliance such as a personal computer (PC) 30
comprises a database for receiving information collected by the scanner 20.
The
database preferably provides fields for many different types of information
relating to
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the light fixtures 10, including but not limited to date of installation,
fixture type, bulb
type, ballust type, warranty expiry date, prior repair dates, electrical
repair room in
which the controlling circuit breaker is located, electrical panel and
electrical circuit,
and so on. In the database the information relating to each particular light
fixture 10 is
contained in a record referenced by the unique bar code 14 on the label 12
associated
with the respective light fixture 10.
With this information the computer 30 can generate a report 32 setting out
information specific to light fixtures 10 associated with the labels 12 read
by the
scanner 20. Reports 32 may be custom tailored to the requirements of the
property
manager or other user, setting out only such information as is required for
the purpose
of the report. For example, an expense report 32 may be generated for common
areas
with warranty information and repair history, whereas a tenant expense report
might
also include information regarding the location of the fixture 10. The amount
and
types of information which can be included in a report 32 is limited only by
the types
of information stored in the database, and the frequency with which such
reports are
generated is in the discretion of the user.
In the preferred embodiment the computer 30 is programmed to establish a
repair task route for fixtures 10 identified by the observer as being in need
of repair,
which is set out in a maintenance report 32 in the nature of a work order.
This repair
task route is based on the locations of the light fixtures 10 corresponding to
the bar
codes scanned by the scanner 20 during an observation run. For example, Figure
3
illustrates a representative Lighting Activity Report in which the previously
downloaded fixtures 10 in need of repair are sorted by group, each group
corresponding to a specific location in the structure or surrounding premises.
The types of problems identified by the observer which have been
manually entered into the scanner 20 can be identified in the maintenance
report 32,
along with specific information regarding the type of bulb or other component
required to effect the repair. This allows repair personnel to ensure that the
specific
components required for the light fixtures 10 identified in the maintenance
report 32
are on hand when needed.
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Even where a problem has not been identified for a scanned fixture 10, the
`fixture type' information in the database can serve as a reference for the
type of
component which might be required to repair that particular fixture 10. This
saves
time by ensuring that repair personnel are properly equipped to maintain and
repair all
scanned fixtures 10, and avoids wasted time returning to a store room to
retrieve
inventory and the stocking of unnecessary components.
The repair task route can alternatively be generated manually based on a
list of the fixtures 10 identified in the scan operation. Whether manually- or
computer-
generated, the most efficient route for repairing the plurality of light
fixtures 10
identified in the scan operation can be created from the information stored in
the
database. Moreover, any special requirements for particular fixtures 10 may be
appended to the information for each light fixture 10 in the database. For
example, an
extension ladder which might be required to reach an otherwise inaccessible
fixture
10, can be brought along by repair personnel based on an appropriate
annotation in the
maintenance report 32.
In operation, an observer charged with identifying light fixtures 10 in need
of repair, for example a security guard or night watchman, carries the
portable scanner
on his or her normal rounds. When a light fixture 10 in need of repair is
observed,
the observer scans the bar code 14 associated with the observed light fixture
10. In the
20 preferred embodiment, using the key pad 24 the observer enters into the bar
code
scanner 20 any observable information regarding the repair required.
When this information collection operation is complete, the scanner
information is downloaded into the computer 30, which adds the scanned
information
to the database record for each respective scanned light fixture 10 by
associating the
scanned bar codes 14 with the bar code information stored in the database.
The computer 32 may then generate a maintenance report with an
optimized repair task route, setting out the supplies that will be required,
any special
or unusual circumstances relating to specific fixtures 10, and the location of
the circuit
breaker which controls power to each fixture 10. The latter information allows
repair
personnel to quickly locate and deactivate the correct circuit if necessary
for a
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particular type of repair, which can be particularly useful in the case of
emergency
lighting or other secondary light fixtures which may be fed by a circuit
controlled by a
circuit breaker on a different floor or in a different part of the structure
or premises.
With the inventory and repair information stored in the database on an
ongoing basis, reports 32 can be generated with any desired frequency and in
any
desired format, for tracking expenses, billing, repair effectiveness and
efficiency,
fixture and component quality, and for any other purpose.
The system and method of the invention can be applied over a wide
geographic area, for example in a retail application in which an enterprise
maintains a
head office and a number of satellite stores, which may for example be
warehouse-
type outlets that have significant lighting requirements. Frequently such
retail
operations contract lighting maintenance to a lighting service company, which
services light fixtures 10 on an "on-call" basis or a stipulated timetable
periodic
inspection basis, or some combination of the two. The lighting service company
similarly repairs and maintains lighting fixtures 10 in an ad hoc fashion,
using floor
layouts and reflected ceiling plans for the various outlets.
According to the invention, lighting information scanned at the individual
retail outlets may be downloaded by the retail outlets to a host server at the
head office
(or other designated location), since this communication link typically
already exists
in modern retail businesses, and the information can thus be maintained in a
master
database. Thus, lighting information for an entire chain of outlets can be
accessed
from the central server on a real-time basis, facilitating both maintenance
and analysis
of lighting fixtures 10 as described above and substantially reducing the
number of
maintenance calls required from the lighting service company.
A preferred embodiment of the invention having been thus described by
way of example, variations and modifications will be apparent to those skilled
in the
art. The invention includes all such variations and modifications as fall
within the
scope of the appended claims.
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