Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR MONITORING AND
EVALUATING FACILITY CONDITIONS AND
FUNCTIONALITY OVER A COMMUNICATIONS NETWORK
Copyright Notice
The following patent disclosure includes material that is subject to copyright
protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction
of the
disclosure by any person as it appears in the records of the Patent and
Trademark Office,
to but otherwise reserves all rights to the copyright whatsoever.
Field Of The Invention
The present invention relates generally to facilities management, and more
specifically, to a method and system that enables a Centralized Monitoring
Agent (e.g., a
15 State Board of Education) to monitor, evaluate, and manage the conditions,
functionality,
prospective projects, capital planning, and regulatory compliance of one or
more facilities
(e.g., state schools) via a communications network (e.g., the Internet). Thus,
the invention is
particularly useful where a Centralized Monitoring Agent is responsible for
monitoring,
evaluating, and managing a plurality of geographically dispersed facilities.
Backøround Of The Invention
Facilities management refers to the management of various types of properties-
e.g., office buildings, hospitals, educational institutions, hotels, tunnels,
bridges, aquariums,
museums, shopping centers, sports facilities, cultural properties,
recreational facilities,
welfare centers, and the like-which includes monitoring, evaluating, and
maintaining the
conditions and functionality of the constituent systems and structures of a
facility-e.g.,
walkways, entrances, exits, foundations, stairs, elevators, escalators, walls,
doors, windows,
roofs, insulation, doors, floors, ceilings, plumbing systems, electrical
systems, sanitary
systems, HVAC systems, lighting systems, alarm systems, computer networks,
mechanical
3o systems, and the like. A facility manager may be responsible for: managing
the day-to-day
operations of a facility; providing "preventative maintenance" services for a
facility;
managing a facility's resources--e.g., coal, gas, oil, materials for producing
a commercial
product, cleaning materials, Internet access time, and the like; ensuring that
a facility is in
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compliance with internal, local, and federal regulations--e.g., corporate
bylaws, zoning
laws, OSHA requirements, and the like; and calculating the costs for
constructing, updating,
and replacing the constituent systems and structures of a facility. The goal
of facilities
management is to detect deficiencies in a timely manner, cure potential
problems at an early
S stage, project capital budgets so as to extend the life cycle of a facility,
and maintain
adequate resources for day-to-day operations, thereby adding value to a
property and
maintaining a safe, efficient, compliant, and productive environment.
Traditionally, facility managers relied on paper, calculators, spreadsheet
computer
programs, and mathematical formulas to manipulate Facilities Management
Information
1o (FMI) so as to track costs, generate deficiency costs, and develop capital
budgets for the
maintenance and construction of facilities. FMI may include "physical
characteristic" data
and "condition" data, including a facility's area, height, use, construction
type, efficiency,
and code compliance.
Current and accurate FMI is critical for both facilities managers and for
those
15 responsible for monitoring and evaluating facilities conditions and
functionality (FCF),
such as a Centralized Monitoring Agent (CMA). FMI is plugged into mathematical
formulas, which are generated from years of studies and statistical analysis,
to depict the
functional behavior of a facility over time. By plugging the FMI for a
particular facility into
the appropriate formula, a facilities manager, or a CMA, can accurately
maintain the
2o facility, track costs for the facility, generate deficiency costs for the
facility, evaluate the
regulatory compliance of the facility, calculate a capital budget for the
facility, and the like.
A CMA is a person or entity responsible for monitoring and evaluating the FCF
of
one or more geographically dispersed facilities. Frequently, a CMA manages
multiple
facilities for one or more organizations from one central office location. As
used herein, the
25 term "organization" includes a corporation, an association, a non-profit
organization, a
government agency, a state agency, a county agency, a military installation,
and the Like.
Examples of CMAs include government agencies, such as Boards of Education for
state
schools, Boards of Governors or Regents for Colleges and Universities, the
Government
Services Administration for federal buildings, state or federal legislatures
or executives, and
3o the like. Other examples of CMAs include corporate boards of directors,
external facilities
service providers or consultants, and the like. Often, a CMA is responsible
for ensuring that
an organization's facilities are maintained adequately and consistently in
accordance with
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the rules and regulations of a regulatory agency. To do this, the CMA must
process FMI for
each facility using spreadsheet programs and mathematical formulas (as
previously
discussed).
The main obstacle to monitoring, evaluating, and managing a facility, or a
plurality
of facilities, is the acquisition of current and accurate FMI. Acquiring valid
FMI is difficult
for CMAs since they are often responsible for multiple, geographically
dispersed facilities.
Usually, a facility manager who is assigned to or employed by an organization
submits FMI
for the organization's facilities to the CMA, or the CMA actively solicits the
information
from the organization-e.g., by mailing paper questionnaires to the
organization or
i o contracting with an independent source to inspect the organization's
facilities. Neither
method, however, provides the required combination of current, accurate, and
defensible
FMI at an economically feasible cost, especially when applied to an
organization with
significant holdings dispersed over a large geographic area (e.g., an
international
corporation). The first method, whereby a facility manager submits the FMI, is
subject to
inaccuracies due to inconsistent evaluation criteria, inconsistent estimation
methods, and
the self interest of the facility manager.
The second method of inspection, via paper questionnaires or independent
contractors, is economically infeasible in many cases. Additionally, it is
often met with
organizational resistance at the local level. The resistance results from, or
is exacerbated by,
2o the disconnect between the collection process, the data entry process
(e.g., for a spreadsheet
program), and the analysis process. For example, a local facilities manager
may be asked to
provide FMI on either paper questionnaires or in person to an inspector
without having a
clear understanding of how it is to be used in the final analysis. The
facilities manager may
also be asked to provide the same information multiple times for different
purposes. In such
situations, we have found that the facilities manager often resents the
duplication of effort
or fears that the information will subsequently be used against him (e.g., as
an admission of
a defective condition). Furthermore, even if a CMA obtains current and
accurate FMI for a
facility, the FMI must be first interpreted by the CMA and then entered into a
software
program, thereby increasing the chance for data entry errors.
3o In an effort to improve upon the monitoring, evaluation, and managing of
FCF,
computer.vendors are producing facilities management software that simulates
the behavior
of facilities over time by using software models to mimic their functionality
and behavior.
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However, the facilities management software that is currently available does
not follow
universal communications protocols such as the TCP/IP protocol or the HTTP
protocol, and
thus, all system software, including the user interface and network
connections (e.g., to the
Internet), must be configured to interact with a specific vendor's closed-
system. Since
computer platforms can vary dramatically, the installation and integration of
such closed-
systems is often an arduous process. That is, the installation and integration
of such closed-
systems often results in undesirable complexity, time delays, installation
costs, and training
costs.
Moreover, the currently available software fails to provide a solution for the
1o difficulties in obtaining current and accurate FMI for a facility. Thus,
even if a CMA is
successful in integrating a vendor's proprietary software into its computer
platform, it still
needs to rely on the previously discussed means of acquiring FMI for
facilities.
Furthermore, after acquiring FMI, the CMA must first interpret the FMI and
then enter it
into the proprietary software, thereby increasing the chance for data entry
errors.
Therefore, there is a need for a method and system that overcomes these
deficiencies, in terms of improving the acquisition of current and accurate
FMI, so as to
enable a CMA to monitor, evaluate, and manage one or more facilities from a
central
location. Furthermore, there is a need for a facilities management and
maintenance solution
that is not restricted by a software vendor's proprietary technology.
2o Citation of the above methods and systems is not intended as an admission
that any
of the foregoing is pertinent prior art. Further, all references referred to
throughout this
application are incorporated in their entirety by reference herein.
Summary Of The Invention
It is a general purpose and object of the invention to teach a method and
system for
monitoring, evaluating, and managing Facility Conditions and Functionality
(FCF) for one
or more facility objects from a centralized location, such as the office of a
Centralized
Monitoring Agent (CMA). The methods and systems described herein include
illustrative
embodiments that overcome the limitations of the prior art by employing a
communications
3o network (e.g., the Internet), and/or universal communications protocols
(e.g., TCP/IP,
HTTP, etc.), to receive or acquire current and accurate Facility Management
Information
(FMI) associated with one or more facility objects. The FMI may include data
representing
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a physical characteristic, a condition, functional adequacy, and/or a project
list associated
with the one or more facility objects.
In one illustrative embodiment, the invention employs a server process to
receive
FMI for one or more geographically dispersed facility objects via the
Internet. In operation,
a subscriber at one of the facilities, such as a resident or local facilities
manager, invokes a
client process (e.g., a web browser) to request a "questionnaire" (e.g., an
HTML page/form)
from the server process. The questionnaire poses one or more questions to the
subscriber so
as to solicit current and accurate FMI for her facility object(s). The server
process then
selects one or more facility models based on the FMI from a CMA database,
submits the
1o FMI to the one or more facility models, and invokes a simulation; wherein
the facility
models include software describing the composition of the facility object(s),
such as the
installation costs, replacement costs, life cycle, functionality, behavior,
and the like. The
simulation generates an FCF report for the facility objects) which may include
a budget
description (e.g., a capital budget description), a compliance description, a
condition
description, a cost description, a construction or reconstruction cost
description, a
deficiency condition description, a facility condition index, a functionality
description, a
life-cycle cost description; a long-term plan description, a maintenance
schedule, a percent
renewed statistic, a percent used statistic, a project description, a
structure condition index,
and/or a system condition index. Accordingly, a CMA having access to the FCF
report may
2o effectively monitor, evaluate, and manage the FCF of the facility
object(s).
In another illustrative embodiment, the invention employs a server process to
receive FMI from one or more geographically dispersed facility objects via the
Internet. In
operation, a subscriber at one of the facilities invokes a client process to
request an
"iterative questionnaire" from the server process. The iterative questionnaire
poses
graduated levels of questions to the subscriber such that subsequent questions
are posed to
the subscriber based on the subscriber's response to previous questions. Thus,
the iterative
questionnaire solicits current and accurate FMI in an efficient and timely
manner. The
server process then selects one or more facility models based on the FMI from
a CMA
database, submits the FMI to the one or more facility models, and invokes a
simulation. The
3o simulation generates an FCF report which enables a CMA to monitor,
evaluate, and manage
the FCF of the facility obj ect(s).
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In yet another illustrative embodiment, the server process actively solicits
the FMI
from a remote subscriber database by periodically polling the subscriber
database at
predetermined intervals. The server process then selects one or more facility
models based
on the FMI from a CMA database, submits the FMI to the one or more facility
models, and
invokes a simulation. The simulation generates an FCF report which enables a
CMA to
monitor, evaluate, and manage the FCF of the facility object(s).
In yet another illustrative embodiment, the server process actively solicits
the FMI
and related information directly from "smart facility objects" by periodically
polling them
at predetermined intervals; wherein each smart facility object has
intelligence (e.g., a
1o microprocessor) and/or a memory embedded therein to monitor and record its
physical
condition and utilization so as to generate current and accurate FMI. The
server process
then selects one or more facility models based on the FMI from a CMA database,
submits
the FMI to the one or more facility models, and invokes a simulation. The
simulation
generates an FCF report which enables a CMA to monitor, evaluate, and manage
the FCF
of the facility object(s).
Other obj ects of the invention will, in part, be obvious, and, in part, be
shown from
the following description of the methods and systems shown herein. Further, as
those
skilled in the art will appreciate, the various features of the invention may
be implemented
in hardware, software, or a combination of the two.
Brief Description Of The Drawings
The foregoing and other objects and advantages of the invention will be
appreciated
more fully from the following further description thereof, with reference to
the
accompanying drawings wherein:
Figure 1 diagrammatically depicts one embodiment of a system according to the
invention which enables a Centralized Monitoring Agent to monitor, evaluate,
and manage
Facility Conditions and Functionality (FCF) for one or more facility objects
from a
centralized location;
3o Figure 2 diagrammatically depicts one embodiment of a software system
suitable
for operating on the system depicted in Figure 1;
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Figures 3A to 3J are "screen shots" which collectively depict an illustrative
"questionnaire" for one embodiment of the invention;
Figure 3K is a screen shot depicting an illustrative FCF report generated by
one
embodiment of the invention;
Figures 4A to 4E are screen shots which collectively depict an illustrative
questionnaire for one embodiment of the invention;
Figure 5 is a flow chart depicting one mode of operation of the invention for
one
illustrative embodiment of the invention; and
Figures 6A to 6J are screen shots which collectively depict an illustrative
glossary
1o for one'illustrative embodiment of the invention.
Description Of The Illustrated Embodiments
The methods and systems described herein provide, inter alia, a method and
system
for monitoring, evaluating, and managing Facility Conditions and Functionality
(FCF) for
15 one or more facility objects from a centralized location, such as the
office of a CMA
(defined in the background). The invention is described herein with reference
to the
accompanying drawings, in which illustrative embodiments of the invention are
shown. The
invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be
construed
as limited to the illustrative embodiments set forth herein; rather, these
illustrative
2o embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and
complete, and will
fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art.
The invention is described as operating within a client-server environment. As
is
known-to those skilled in the art, client-server environments may include
public networks
(e.g., the Internet) and private networks (e.g., an intranet). As used herein,
the term
25 "Internet" shall incorporate the term "intranet," and any references to
accessing the Internet
shall be understood to mean accessing an intranet as well. Accordingly, the
invention may
be used with all client-server communications, and is not limited to
communications
between a web server and a web client.
It is to be understood that the terminology used herein is for the purpose of
3o describing the illustrative embodiments only and is not intended to be
limiting. As used
herein, the phrase "facility object" collectively refers to an "integrated
facility" (e.g., an
entire piece of property}, a "constituent system" of a facility (e.g., an HVAC
system},
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_g_
and/or a "constituent structure" of a facility (e.g., a roof). As used herein,
the term
"Facilities Management Information" (FMI) includes, but is not limited to,
data
representative of the "physical characteristics" and "condition" of a facility
object. Physical
characteristic data may include the area, height, use, construction type, and
the like for a
S facility object . Condition data may include an age, a code compliance
indicator, an
efficiency indicator, and/or a preventative maintenance indicator for a
facility object.
FMI may also include "functional adequacy data" and "project lists" for a
facility
object. Such functional adequacy data and project lists may include
information
representative of the ability of a facility object to satisfy a predetermined
function and/or a
long-term plan. Functional adequacy data and project lists may also include
information for
a project that must be completed for a facility object so that it complies
with a particular
regulation(s). For example, suppose that a recently enacted building code
requires that the
fire alarms of each school building within a state include annunciation
devices with strobes
by the year 2003. FMI may be provided which includes project information for
satisfying
such a state requirement within the allotted time frame. Functional adequacy
data and
project lists may also include data representing a construction project (or
task) that should
(or must) be completed so that a facility object is capable of performing a
particular
function or is capable of meeting its future objectives. For example, suppose
that a state
enacts a law mandating that each elementary school have a computer lab by the
year 2003.
2o FMI may be provided which includes project information for constructing the
computer
labs.
It is to be understood that as used herein, including the appended claims, the
singular forms "a," "an," and "the" include plural referents unless the
context clearly
dictates otherwise. Further, any reference that is cited herein (e.g., an
issued patent, a book,
a magazine article, a scientific paper, etc.) is incorporated into this
application in its entirety
by reference in order to more fully describe the state of the art to which
this invention
pertains.
Figure 1 depicts an illustrative embodiment of one system (i.e., system 10)
according to the invention for monitoring, evaluating, and managing FCF for
one or more
3o facility objects from a centralized location with a system that employs
client-server
technologies and capabilities, including but not limited to, standard
communications
protocols (e.g., TCP/IP, HTTP, etc.). System 10 includes: server computer
system 14; CMA
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database 18 (which rnay be either proprietary or non-proprietary) which is
coupled to server
14; multiple local client computer systems 12A-12C; multiple remote client
computer
systems 12X-I2Z; and multiple third-party systems 18X-18Z, such as facilities
management service providers.
Server I4 may include conventional hardware components, such as: a processor;
a
memory for temporary storage of data and applications (e.g. a RAM); a
nonvolatile
memory for permanent storage of data and applications (e.g., a ROM); a system
bus which
couples the processor and memory; a mass storage device (e.g., a magnetic
storage disk, an
optical storage disk, etc.) coupled to the processor and memory; a visual
display unit such
1o as a computer monitor; user-input devices such as an Automatic Speech
Recognition and
Natural Language Understanding application, a touch screen, a keyboard, a
mouse, a
trackball, and the like, as well as wireless equivalents thereof; I/O
controllers for managing
the reception and transmission of signals for coupled peripherals, such as
printers, disk
drives, visual display units, user-input devices, and the like; and a network
connector-e.g.,
15 a modem connected to traditional phone lines, an ISDN link, a TI-line, a T3-
line, a modem
connected to cable television channels, an ethernet connection, a satellite
connection, and
the like--for connecting to a communications network (e.g., the Internet).
As used herein, the term "processor" refers to a system or device that
provides
control, performs arithmetic and logical operations, extracts computer
instructions, decodes
2o computer instructions, and/or executes computer instructions, such as a
central processing
unit, a digital signal processor, a microprocessor, a controller, an
application specific
integrated circuit, an integrated circuit, a hybrid circuit, a module, a
programmable logic
device; and the like. As used herein, the phrase "communications network"
refers to a LAN,
a MAN, a WAN, the Internet, a wireless network, and the like.
25 As depicted by Figure I, for this illustrative embodiment, server 14
connects to the
plurality of local clients 12A-12C via LAN connector 20 and connects to the
plurality of
remote clients 12X-12Z and third-party systems 18X-18Z via WAN connector 16.
For this
embodiment, WAN connector 16 includes a shared 10 megabit ethernet connection
to a
muter; preferably the router is selected for its proximity to a major Internet
node, such as
3o the MAE-EAST Internet node. Accordingly, the LAN and WAN connectors enable
server
14 to interact with, and exchange data with, the plurality of local clients
I2A-12C, the
plurality of remote clients 12X-12Z, and the plurality of third-party systems
18X-18Z,
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thereby enabling server 14 to solicit and/or receive FMI from clients 12A-12C
& 12X-12Z
and third-party systems 18X-18Z. Additionally, third-party systems 18X-18Z may
include
resources which may be made available to server 14 and clients 12A-12C & 12X-
12Z.
Server 14 may be supported by a commercially available server platform, such
as a
Sun SparcTM system running a version of the UNIX~ Operating System (OS).
Additionally,
server 14 may include server software running under the OS that is capable of
interacting
with, or exchanging data with, clients 12A-12C & 12X-12Z and third-party
systems 18X-
18Z. In this illustrative embodiment, server 14 includes HTTP web server
component 25
which listens for requests from clients 12A-12C & 12X-12Z, and in response to
such a
1o request, resolves the request by: identifying a file, module; program,
and/or script; _
dynamically generating data that may be associated with that request,
including text,
graphics, animations, multimedia, various executable applications, and the
like; and
returning the data to the requesting client. The operation of HTTP web server
component
25 of server 14 may be understood more fully from Laurie et al., Apache The
Definitive
Guide, O'Reilly Press (1997), Graham, HTML Sourcebook, Wiley Computer
Publishing
(1998), and Deitel et al., Internet and World Wide Web-How To Program,
Prentice Hall,
Inc. (2000).
For this illustrative embodiment, CMA database 18 contains multiple facility
models (discussed later) for multiple facility objects (e.g., an entire
building, a HVAC
system, a roof, a sidewalk, etc.). Additionally, CMA database 18 may also
contain
information regarding a subscriber 's (e.g., a facilities manager's) account,
such as a
password, privileges, information for one or more facility objects assigned to
the
subscriber, and the like. CMA database 18 may include any suitable database
system,
including the commercially available Microsoft Access database, and it can be
either a local
or a distributed database system. The design and development of database
systems suitable
for use with system 10 follow from principles known in the art, including
those described in
McGovern et al., A Guide To Sybase and SQL Server, Addison-Wesley (1993). CMA
database 18 may be supported by any suitable storage system, such as a series
of local 7200
RPM Seagate hard drives, a RAID system, a tape drive system, a floppy
diskette, and the
like. Although CMA database 18, as depicted by Figure 1, is separate from
server 14, it will
be understood that CMA database 18 may be integrated into server 14.
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Server 14 may also include mechanisms that extend its capabilities in
interacting
with any one of the clients 12A-12C & 12X-12Z, and in interacting with any one
of the
third-party systems 18X-18Z. For example, HTTP web server 25 may have built in
mechanisms, such as compiled modules, for enabling server 14 to generate an
HTML form,
such as a "questionnaire," for a client process. In one illustrative
embodiment, the client
process may be a browser program running on one or more of the clients 12A-12C
& 12X-
12Z and having the ability to display the questionnaire on the screen of a
visual display
coupled to one or more of the clients 12A-12C & 12X-12Z. As will be discussed
in more
detail below, a subscriber at one of the clients 12A-12C & 12X-12Z may employ
the
questionnaire to submit current and accurate FMI to the server 14 for
processing. _
Additionally, HTTP web server 25 may have access to a directory of executable
files, such
as a "cgi-bin" directory, each of which files may be employed for performing
the
operations, or parts of the operations, that implement the methods and systems
of the
invention. Therefore, it is understood that the architecture of server 14 may
vary according
to the application. The implementation and employment of compiled modules, CGI
scripts,
and other mechanisms that extend the functionality of an HTTP web server, such
as HTTP
web server 25, may be understood more fully from Graham, HTML Sourcebook,
Wiley
Computer Publishing (1998} and Deitel et al., Internet and World Wide Web-How
To
Program, Prentice Hall, Inc. (2000).
2o Clients 12A-12C & 12X-12Z may include any suitable computer system, such as
a
minicomputer system, a personal computer, a computer workstation, a handheld
computing
device, a wireless access device, or any Internet access device equipped with
a network
client that is capable of accessing a network server, such as server 14, so as
to exchange
information. To this end, clients 12A-12C & 12X-12Z may include conventional
hardware
components, including: a processor; a memory for temporary storage of data and
applications; a nonvolatile memory for permanent storage of data and
applications; a
system bus coupling the processor and memory; a mass storage device coupled to
the
processor and memory for storing data; a visual display unit for presenting
information to a
subscriber on a screen; user-input devices for enabling a subscriber to input
information for
3o an application; I/O controllers for managing the reception and transmission
of signals for
coupled peripherals; and a network connector for connecting to a
communications network.
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As is well-known, each of the clients 12A-12C & 12X-12Z may employ a computer
OS such as the IBM OS/2~ operating system, the Apple System/7~ OS, the DOS OS,
the
IJNIX~ OS, the WINDOWS~ OS, and the like. However, it will be apparent to
those
skilled in the art that clients 12A-12C & 12X-12Z need not include full-blown
computer
systems. That is, a client system such as a "dumb-terminal" (e.g., an IBM 3270
terminal),
or a client system having limited computational capability, may be utilized in
accordance
with an embodiment of the invention for accessing server 14 in a client
capacity.
For security purposes, clients 12A-12C & 12X-12Z, third-party systems 18X-18Z,
and server 14 may employ a security system, such as any of the conventional
security
1o systems that have been developed to provide a secured channel for
transmitting data over
the Internet. One such system is the Netscape secured socket layer (SSL)
security
mechanism that provides to a remote subscriber a trusted path between a
conventional web
browser program and a web server. Therefore, optionally and preferably,
clients 12A-12C
& 12X-12Z, third-party systems 18X-18Z, and server 14 may have built in 128
bit or 40 bit
SSL capability and may establish an SSL communications channel when
transmitting and
receiving data. Additionally, other security systems and mechanisms may be
employed,
such as those described in Bruce Schneir, Applied Crytpography, Addison-Wesley
(1996)
and Philip Zimmermann, Cryptography for the Internet, Scientific American, pp.
110-115
(October 1998). For purposes of illustration, however, the systems described
herein,
2o including system 10, will be understood to employ a public channel, such as
an Internet
connection through an Internet service provider, to connect clients 12A-12C &
12X-12Z,
third-party systems 18X-18Z, and server 14.
Acting through one of the depicted clients 12A-12C & 12X-12Z, a subscriber at
a
facility (e.g., a resident facilities manager) may access the resources on
server 14. To this
end, each of the clients 12A-12C & 12X-12Z is equipped with or equipped to
interact with
a client process, such as a browser program, that allows it to download
computer files or
documents, such as HTML pages, XML pages, SGML pages, XHTML pages, and the
like,
from server 14. For example, a subscriber at one of the clients 12A-12C & 12X-
12Z may
employ a browser program to view the illustrative "questionnaire" depicted by
Figures 3A
3o to 3J on an attached visual display and employ user-input devices to enter
information into
the questionnaire, thereby submitting FMI to server 14 for processing
(discussed later). The
browser program may reside either in the memory of the client or in the memory
of server
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14. As is familiar to those skilled in the art, such browser programs may
include the
Netscape web browser, the Microsoft Internet Explorer web browser, the Lynx
web
browser, the Mosaic program, or any other suitable browser program.
As will be apparent to those skilled in the art, server 14 and clients 12A-12C
&
I2X-12Z may be assembled from conventional and commercially available computer
hardware. Accordingly, the invention may be implemented with readily available
and
relatively inexpensive computer equipment. The conventional computer hardware
may
become configured according to the methods and systems of the invention by the
operation
of computer software that configures the conventional computer hardware to
operate as
1o methods and systems according to the invention.
For example, Figure 2 depicts one embodiment of a software system (i.e.,
software
system 200) suitable for configuring the conventional computer hardware
depicted in
Figure 1 to operate as a system according to the invention. In particular,
Figure 2 depicts
software system 200 as including client process 2I0, HTTP listener process
220, HTTP
web server process 230, server temporal process 240, daemon 250 (e.g., a
server process, a
program, a script, etc.), authorization table 270, log file 260, verification
agent 280 (e.g., a
server process, a program, a script, etc.), and simulation process 290 (e.g.,
a server process,
a program, a script, etc.). In one illustrative embodiment, client process 210
is a browser
program that is operating on any one of the clients 12A-12C & 12X-12Z and is
capable of
2o downloading and responding to HTML processes that are served by server 14.
In particular,
the browser program is capable of forming one or more connections with HTTP
web server
process 230 and transferring HTML pages therefrom. As will be apparent to
those skilled in
the art; a separate client process may be simultaneously running on each of
the clients 12A-
12C & 12X-12Z, thereby allowing a subscriber at each client system to download
and
respond to HTML processes that are served by server 14. For the sake of
clarit~l, however,
the remaining discussion will focus on one client process (i.e., client
process 210) operating
on one of the clients 12A-12C & 12X-12Z.
Figure 2 further depicts that client process 210 forms one or more connections
with
HTTP listener process 220. HTTP web server process 230 may be any suitable
server
process including the Apache server. Suitable servers are know in the art and
are disclosed
in detail in Jamsa, Internet Programming, Jamsa Press (1995). HTTP listener
process 220
may be an executing program operating on server 14 which monitors a port, such
as the
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well-known port 80, and listens for client requests to transfer a resource,
such as an HTML
page, from server 14 to client process 210. As is well-known in the art, the
requested
resource that is transferred to the client may include images, audio,
animations, video,
audio streams, video streams, executable applications, hyperlinks, and the
Like.
In one embodiment, the system employs the TCP/IP protocol and the HTTP
protocol over the Internet. To this end, client process 210 employs the HTTP
protocol to
transmit a "page request" specifying an HTML page name, a location (e.g., an
IP address
and port number), and a method to retrieve the requested page. HTTP listener
process 220
detects the page request and passes the request to an executing HTTP web
server process,
1 o such a's server process 230. It will be apparent to one of ordinary skill
in the art that_
although Figure 2 depicts one HTTP web server process, multiple HTTP web
server
processes may be simultaneously executing on server 14. In such a scenario,
the plurality of
HTTP web server processes typically pass the document request around in a
round-robin
manner until an HTTP web server process is identified that is available and
configured to
15 service the client request.
Far this embodiment, server process 230 is available and configured to service
the
client request originating from client process 210. To this end, server
process 230 causes
server temporal process 240 to branch off. Server temporal process 240
receives the page
request and processes it to generate an HTML page to be served to the client.
For this
2o embodiment, server temporal process 240 is a CGI script (e.g., a Perl
script) configured to
generate an HTML form, which is served to client process 210. Client process
210
processes the HTML form generated by server temporal process 240 so as to
generate a
graphical image on the visual display that is attached to the client system
hosting client
process 210. For this embodiment, the graphical image is presented to a
subscriber at the
25 client system so as to represent a "questionnaire." The subscriber may
employ a user-input
devices) to enter FMI into the questionnaire and to submit the FMI to a server
process
running on server 14, which may be under the control of a CMA.
Therefore, for this embodiment, the invention provides multiple subscribers
with a
universal interface, the "questionnaire," for submitting current and accurate
FMI to a CMA
30 over the Internet and in accordance with the HTTP protocol; thereby
enabling the CMA to
monitor, evaluate, and manage multiple facility objects from a central
location without
having to rely on paper questionnaires or independent inspectors (as discussed
in the
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background). Furthermore, the adherence to standard communications protocols
removes
the need for the costly and time consuming integration of proprietary software
packages (as
discussed in the background). Additionally, the questionnaire removes data
entry errors (as
discussed in the background) because the FMI is directly submitted to the CMA
through a
communications network (e.g., the Internet), and thus, the CMA need not re-
enter the data
into the CMA's computer network.
Referring now to Figures 3A to 3J and 4A to 4E, "questionnaires" for
illustrative
embodiments of the invention will be described in detail. The depicted
questionnaires offer
solutions for the problems associated with prior art methods and systems for
acquiring FMI
to (as discussed in the background) in that they provide a subscriber, such as
a facilities
manager, with a structured format for entering FMI for a facility obj ect(s),
thereby guiding
or navigating the subscriber through the FMI data entry process. As the
following
discussion illustrates, the inventive questionnaires provide advantages over
prior art
methods and systems for acquiring FMI, including the following features: data
validation
mechanisms (e.g., embedded validation rules} for reducing the occurrence of
erroneous and
redundant FMI entries; intuitive user-interfaces for facilitating the entry of
FMI by novice-
subscribers having little, if any, familiarity with computer systems; and
communications
network connections for: expediting the acquisition of FMI, reducing data
entry errors (as
previously discussed), ensuring that a CMA has current and accurate FMI for
one or more
2o facility objects, and enabling a CMA to monitor, evaluate, and manage the
FCF of one or
more facilities from a central location.
Refernng first to Figures 3A to 3E, a series of "screen shots" are depicted
which
collectively form one embodiment of a "questionnaire," according to the
invention, for
acquiring "physical characteristic data" for a facility object(s). As
previously discussed with
reference to Figures 1 & 2, a subscriber at one of the client systems 12A-12C
& 12X-12Z
may employ browser program 210 to forward a "physical characteristic
questionnaire
request" to HTTP listener process 220, which then forwards the request to
server process
230 running on server system I4. It is to be noted that the questionnaire
request may also
include the URL associated with server 14. In one embodiment, server process
230
3o responds to the questionnaire request by causing server temporal process
240 to branch off.
Server temporal process 240 receives the questionnaire request and processes
it to generate
an HTML page which is presented to the subscriber as an "initial entry
screen." In one
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embodiment, server temporal process 240 may be implemented with a CGI script
(e.g., a
Perl script) configured to generate the initial entry screen, as well as the
other screens,
which together form one embodiment of a questionnaire according to the
invention.
Refernng now to Figure 3A, one embodiment of initial entry screen 3000 is
depicted. While viewing initial entry screen 3000, the subscriber may continue
the FMI
data entry process by activating "Enter Site" button 3001 (e.g., by clicking
on it with a
mouse). Then, the subscriber is presented with "subscriber-verification
screen" 3100, as
depicted by Figure 3B. Subscriber-verification screen 3100 requests a "user
name" and
"password" from the subscriber. The user name and password are entered by the
subscriber
1o into user name field 3101 and password field 3102, respectively. The
subscriber then
activates "OK" button 3103 so as to forward the entered user name and password
to server
temporal process 240. Then, server temporal process 240 verifies the validity
of the user
name and password and, if they are valid, presents the subscriber with screen
3200 of
Figure 3C.
As depicted by Figure 3C, the subscriber is presented with hierarchical
information
representative of a plurality of "regions," wherein each region includes one
or more
building facility objects. It must be noted that this hierarchy is not fixed
and may take on
different forms based on the practices of a particular CMA. Screen 3200
includes "list
headings" 3201 and "list records" 3202, wherein the list headings 3201
identify the names
of the fields for each object, and wherein the list records 3202 identify the
values for each
field for each record. In operation, the subscriber selects the region for her
building facility
objects) by clicking on the appropriate record 3202, thereby forwarding the
selected region
to server temporal process 240. Server temporal process 240 then presents the
subscriber
with screen 3300 of Figure 3D.
As depicted by Figure 3D, screen 3300 is similar in format to screen 3200,
except
that the next level of hierarchy is presented based on the selection
previously made by the
subscriber on screen 3200. In this case, building facility objects within the
previously
selected region (i.e., Great Plains RVC) are listed in list 3303. It must be
noted that this
"stepped navigation" throughout the hierarchy may be accomplished for any
number of
3o levels following the same process, and that the location within the
hierarchy may be
identified by referring to heading 3301. Next, the subscriber employs a user-
input device to
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select a building facility object from list 3303, thereby presenting the
subscriber with the
lowest level of the hierarchy, as depicted by Figure 3E.
Referring now to Figure 3E, a "physical characteristic questionnaire" 3400 is
depicted for the building facility object that the subscriber selected while
navigating
through the previous screens depicted by Figures 3A to 3D. Here, the building
facility
object is representative of the "Barksdale AFB" facility, which was previously
selected by
the subscriber from list 3303. As depicted by Figure 3E, physical
characteristic
questionnaire 3400 presents the subscriber with text input fields, pull down
menus, check
boxes, and buttons for entering the physical characteristic data for the
selected building
1o facility object. In this embodiment, the available fields for entering
physical characteristic
data include: Building Name 3402, Address 3403, Building Number 3404, Stories
3405,
Site Gross Area 3406, Building Gross Area 3407, Date Built 3408, Date Last
Renovated
3409, VTF Category Code 3410, Facility Type 3411, Building Use 3412,
Replacement
Value 3413, Site CCI 3414, Building CCI 3415.
i 5 The Building Name 3402, Address 3403, Building Number 3404, Stories 3405,
Site
Gross Area 3406, Building Gross Area 3407, Date Built 3408, Date Last
Renovated 3409,
and Replacement Value 3413 entry fields will be familiar to those skilled in
the art. The
fields VTF Category Code 3410, Facility Type 341 l, Building Use 3412, Site
CCI 3414,
and Building CCI 3415 are fields which have been added to this embodiment for
this
2o particular CMA. The selections in these fields are used in the algorithms
of this
embodiment to select the appropriate facility models) so as to generate an FCF
report for
the building facility object. Also provided are additional fields 3416-3419
which represent
data desired by this particular CMA.
In an alternative embodiment, a "Glossary Of Terms" button, such as button
3502 of
25 Figure 3F, may be included in the physical characteristic questionnaire
3400. In the event
that a subscriber is unfamiliar with a particular term, she may click on
Glossary Of Terms
button 3502 to prompt temporal process 240 to display a glossary on the
subscriber's visual
display. Figures 6A-6J illustrate glossary 6000, which is an illustrative
embodiment of such
a glossary. It is to be noted that the disclosed glossary feature provides
advantages over the
3o prior art in that a novice-subscriber having little, if any, facilities
management experience,
may employ the glossary to complete the questionnaires of the invention. The
disclosed
glossary feature also offers advantages over the prior art for experienced
subscribers in that
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a subscriber may employ it to ensure that she and an associated CMA are
attaching the
same meaning to a particular term, thereby improving upon the accuracy of the
FMI data
entry process.
As depicted by Figure 3E, some of the entry fields require an input. For
example,
for this embodiment, the subscriber must employ browser program 210 and user-
input
devices to enter data into the Building Number 3404, Stories 3405, Building
Gross Area
3407, Date Built 3408, VTF Category Code 3410, Facility Type 3411, Building
Use 3412,
Replacement Value 3413, Site CCI 3414, and Building CCI 3415 entry fields or
else server
temporal process 240 will not accept any information from the browser program.
Rather,
server'temporal process 240 will display an error message, preferably with
instructions, on
the subscriber's visual display so as to direct the subscriber to enter the
required
information. It is to be noted that this is one of the previously discussed
data validation
mechanisms, which may be implemented by embedding validation rules into the
HTML
code of physical characteristic questionnaire 3400 (e.g., by employing
JavaScript logic).
z5 For this example, the subscriber is also presented with data from an
alternate data
source, which in this case is Lotus Notes database 3421. In one embodiment,
the alternate
database is coupled to clients 12A-12C & I2X-I2Z or to systems 18X-18Z. The
subscriber
may reference the information in the alternate database when inputting the
data into the data
fields to improve the accuracy of the data entry process; or the subscriber
may forward
2o information from the alternate database directly into the data fields to
improve the accuracy
of the data entry process. It will be noted that this is yet another feature
of the invention
which offers an advantage over the prior art methods and systems for acquiring
FMI.
After all of the physical characteristic data is properly entered, the
subscriber
activates the "Save" button 3424, causing the FMI to be transmitted to server
temporal
25 process 240. In the event that the subscriber desires to return to the last
saved state, the
subscriber may activate "Reset" button 3423. For example, the subscriber may
want to
return to the last saved state to correct or update a previous data entry.
Referring now to Figures 3F to 3J, a series of screen shots are depicted which
collectively form one embodiment of a questionnaire, according to the
invention, for
30 acquiring "condition data" for a facility object(s), such as the building
facility object
representative of the Barksdale AFB facility. The subscriber proceeds to the
"condition
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questionnaire" by activating "Questionnaire" button 3422 of Figure 3E. The
subscriber is
then presented with screen 3500, as depicted by Figures 3F through 3J.
Screen 3500 presents to the subscriber questions related to "Site
Improvements"
3501 so as to solicit the required FMI in a user friendly, narrative format.
By default, the
subscriber is presented with the first question in the series, as depicted by
Figure 3F. For
this embodiment, each question may have one or more subquestions, and the
subscriber
may answer the questions and subquestions in any order. Further, the
subscriber may
navigate through the questions by activating the "Previous" button 3519 and
the "Next"
button 3518, or by selecting the appropriate question number displayed in
"question index"
l0 3503. The title of each question number may be viewed by use of a "mouse
hold-over"
device 3504, which may be embedded in or implemented by the HTML code. The
question
index 3503 also indicates the status of the question (e.g., incomplete vs.
complete) by use of
differentiating colors.
As an illustration of the inventive process, the following description is
provided for
one question associated with the condition of the Barksdale AFB facility. The
remaining
questions for this building, as well as for the other buildings depicted by
Figure 3D, would
follow the same or a substantially similar process to completion. The
illustrative example
chosen, "Question 13," is associated with the "Roof Covering" of the Barksdale
AFB
facility. The alternative views shown in Figures 3G-3J represent the result of
dragging the
scroll bar 3515 (e.g., with a mouse) to view the continuous flow of the
questions related to
Site Improvements 3501.
As illustrated by Figures 3F to 3J, each question represented by question
index 3503
begins with a "declarative statement," such as statement 3510. Declarative
statement 3510
specifies the particular facility object to be assessed, which in this case is
the "Roof
Covering" for the Barksdale AFB facility, and the purpose of the assessment.
In this
example, declarative statement 3510 is associated with subquestions 3512,
3520, 3521,
3522, and 3523.
Beginning with subquestion 3512, the subscriber is asked to identify the type
of roof
covering used in the Barksdale AFB facility. For this example, the subscriber
activates
3o check box 3513, indicating an asphalt covering type. The subscriber may
enter the amount
of the asphalt covering type by entering a value, in square feet, in "Amount"
3514 entry
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field. Next, subquestion 3520 asks the subscriber for the year that the
current roof covering
was installed, which the subscriber may enter into entry field 3524.
As illustrated by Figure 3H, the subscriber is then asked to answer
subquestion
3521, which is implemented with radio buttons in a multiple choice format. It
is to be noted
that this is yet another embodiment of a data validation mechanism according
to the
invention. That is, the subscriber has to answer this question, and in doing
so, she may only
select one answer, thereby removing the possibility of erroneous and redundant
data entries.
Now referring to Figures 3I and 3J, an iterative aspect of the questionnaire
is
depicted, wherein a subsequent subquestion is presented to the subscriber
based on the
1o subscriber's answer to a previous subquestion. This rnay be referred to as
an "iterative
questionnaire" or "graduated questionnaire." Figure 3J depicts the state of
the questionnaire
if the subscriber selects the first choice for subquestion 3521. Since the
first choice
indicates that the roof needs no repairs, no additional information is
required, and thus,
Figure 3J depicts subquestion 3522 as being inaccessible. Figure 3I depicts
the state of the
questionnaire if the subscriber selects the second, third, or fourth choice
for subquestion
3521. Since selecting the second, third, or fourth choice indicates that roof
maintenance is
required, additional information is also required, and thus, Figure 3I depicts
subquestion
3521 as now being accessible, thereby enabling the subscriber to enter the
appropriate
additional information. As depicted by Figure 3I, such additional information
includes the
2o amount of roofing in need of repair. It is to be noted that this embodiment
illustrates yet
another advantage over the prior art in that the subscriber is guided through
the FMI data
entry process in an iterative and efficient manner, thereby removing the need
for the
subscriber to answer irrelevant questions.
After a subquestion has been answered correctly, the subscriber activates Save
button 3517 to transmit the FMI to server temporal process 240, which forwards
the FMI to
simulation process 290. Then, simulation process 290 analyzes the FMI, selects
the
appropriate facility model from CMA database 1$ based on the FMI, submits the
FMI to
the appropriate facility model, invokes a simulation of the facility model,
and generates an
FCF report therefrom. The FCF report may include calculated "costs" for
repairing a
3o facility object, such as the roof of the Barksdale AFB facility. The
subscriber may then
activate Exit button 3516 to return to input screen 3400.
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From input screen 3400, the subscriber or the CMA may view the FCF report by
activating Building Data Summary Report hyperlink 3420. The subscriber or the
CMA is
then presented with FCF Report 3600 as depicted by Figure 3K. FCF Report 3600
displays
the name of the facility 3601 and lists its associated FCF data, which may
include a cost to
repair or replace facility objects therein or thereon. It is to be noted that
Figure 3K depicts
only one example of an FCF report for one illustrative embodiment of the
invention. The
depicted FCF report provides the CMA with information to analyze the needs of
the
Barksdale AFB facility, thereby enabling the CMA to monitor, evaluate, and
manage the
FCF of the facility from a remote location.
to ~ Referring now to Figures 4A to 4E, a series of screen shots are depicted
which
collectively form one embodiment of a questionnaire, according to the
invention, for
acquiring "condition data" for a facility object(s). A subscriber at one of
the client systems
12A-12C & 12X-12Z may employ browser program 210 to forward a "condition
questionnaire request" to server process 230 running on server system 14. It
is to be noted
that the questionnaire request may also include the URL associated with server
system 14.
In one embodiment, server process 230 responds to the questionnaire request by
forwarding
it to server temporal process 240. Server temporal process 240 receives the
questionnaire
request and processes it to generate an HTML page which is presented to the
subscriber as a
"subscriber-verification screen" on a visual display coupled to the
subscriber's client
2o system. In one embodiment, server temporal process 240 may be implemented
with a CGI
script (e.g., a Perl script) configured to generate the subscriber-
verification screen, as well
as the other screens, which together form one embodiment of a questionnaire
according to
the invention.
Refernng now to Figure 4A, one embodiment of the subscriber-verification
screen
is depicted. As depicted by Figure 4A, subscriber-verification screen 4000
requests a "user
name" and "password" from the subscriber. The user name and password are
entered by the
subscriber (e.g., with user-input devices) in user name field 4001 and
password field 4002,
respectively. The subscriber then activates the "Enter Site" button 4003
(e.g., by clicking on
it with a mouse) so as to forward the entered user name and password to server
process 230,
3o which then forwards this information to server temporal process 240. Server
temporal
process 240 verifies the validity of the user name and password and, if they
are valid,
presents the subscriber with screen 4100 as depicted by Figure 4B.
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Screen 4100 represents the main navigational feature for one aspect of the
invention
according to one illustrative embodiment of the invention. By activating the
icons presented
at the center of screen 4100, the subscriber is directed to questionnaires for
soliciting the
relevant FMI for the subscriber's facility object(s). By activating the
appropriate icons, the
subscriber may also access tools for manipulating FMI, simulating the behavior
and
fiznctionality of facility objects}, and generating FCF reports, including FCF
reports for
long-term plans and improvements. Such a long-term plan may include a capital
budget
projection for updating each public school in a particular state so that each
classroom
includes an Internet connection. Furthermore, such a long-term plan may be a
mandatory
to requirement that is imposed on the state's school systems, perhaps by a
government. agency.
To this end, the invention provides an accurate method and system for
acquiring current
and accurate FMI so that such a long-term projection may be generated in a
precise and
effective manner, thereby satisfying the scrutiny of even the most demanding
agencies and
investors.
As depicted by Figure 4B, the five icons linked to questionnaires are:
Enrollment
Projections 4101, School Models 4102, Funded Projects 4103, Facility Condition
Assessment 4104, and District Inventory 4108. For this embodiment, Enrollment
Projections icon 4101 is linked to a questionnaire that solicits enrollment
projections. For
this embodiment, School Models icon 4102 is linked to a tool for creating
facility models,
wherein the facility models represent target school configurations. For this
embodiment,
Funded Projects icon 4103 is linked to a questionnaire that solicits
information about
projects that are currently funded or in progress. For this embodiment,
Facility Condition
Assessment icon 4104 is linked to a questionnaire, similar to the condition
questionnaire
depicted by Figures 3F to 3J, for collecting condition information. For this
embodiment,
District Inventory icon 4108 is linked to a questionnaire designed to collect
the current
"functional capabilities" of a facility objects) and compare them to school
facility models.
For the purpose of illustration, the subscriber proceeds to the District
Inventory
questionnaire by activating District Inventory icon 4108. The subscriber is
then presented
with screen 4200, as depicted by Figure 4C. For this embodiment, screen 4200
presents
hierarchical information to the subscriber representative of a plurality of
"regions,"
wherein: -each region includes one or more counties; each county includes one
or more
districts; each district includes one or more school systems; and each school
system
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includes one or more building facility objects. This hierarchy is represented
by tabs 4201
along the top of screen 4200. The subscriber follows the same "stepped
navigation" through
the hierarchy as previously discussed with regards to Figures 3A to 3E. It
must be noted
that this hierarchy is not fixed and may take on different forms based on the
practices of a
particular CMA, or the requirements of a particular agency.
In this embodiment, the building facility objects are further divided into
room
facility objects, and it is at this level that FMI pertaining to "functional
adequacy" and/or
"project lists" is entered by the subscriber. Once the subscriber navigates
through the
hierarchy and reaches the room Level, she is presented with screen 4300, as
depicted by
io Figure 4D. Screen 4300 contains entry fields for soliciting "functional
FMI" from the
subscriber. The entry fields included in this embodiment are: Room Name 4301;
Space
Type 4302; Max Students 4303; Status 4304; and Room Size, which is identified
as Actual
Square Feet per Room 4305 and Actual Roams 4306 (i.e., number of rooms). As
depicted
by Figure 4D,the subscriber enters the Grades Housed 4307 data by selecting
the check box
beneath the appropriate grade for her room facility object(s).
The Analysis section 4308 compares the actual data entered into the fields
noted
above with facility models stored in CMA database 18 or with facility models
developed
elsewhere. The Students Housed section 4309 displays the number of actual
students
housed in each age group for reference. These numbers are drawn from an
alternate data
source (e.g., databases coupled to systems 18X-18Z of Figure 1) which in this
case is an
enrollment database. Once all the data has been entered for the room facility
object(s), the
subscriber activates the Save Room button 4310, thereby forwarding the data to
server
temporal process 240 of Figure 2.
In order to house the function for which it is used, a space must contain
certain
educational elements. The required elements change depending on the function
for which
the space is intended. As depicted by Figure 4E, screen 4400 is an input
screen in which to
identify the actual presence of these elements and compare the quantity of
actual elements
with facility models stored in CMA database 18, or with facility models
developed
elsewhere. The data entry fields of screen 4400 are: Educational Element Type
4401 and
3o Actual Number of Units 4402. The values entered into each of these fields
are then
compared_to the facility models in Analysis section 4403. Once all the data
has been
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entered for an educational element, the subscriber activates Save Element
button 4404,
thereby forwarding the data to temporal server process 240.
Once the data has been entered correctly into each of the functional areas
depicted
by Figure 4B, the subscriber, or the CMA, may generate FCF reports as
previously
discussed with regards to Figures 3A to 3K. It is to be noted that the
subscriber may employ
this embodiment of the invention to manipulate the FMI so as to create
customized, long-
term plans for review by the CMA, the subscriber, or a third party, such as a
government
agency. The development tools associated with the long-term plans are not
within the scope
of this invention, and thus, they will not be described in detail.
1 o Therefore, the questionnaires of the invention may be configured to
provide .one or
more subscribers with a nearly "fool-proof' and intuitive interface which
substantially
reduces the errors that result from prior art methods of acquiring FMI. As
illustrated by
Figures 3A to 3J and 4A to 4E, the illustrative questionnaires may include
text input fields,
arrays of check boxes, pull-down menus, radio buttons, and the like, wherein
each text
input field, check box, pull-down menu, and radio button is associated with
FMI. The text
input fields, check boxes, pull-down menus, and radio buttons are configured
so that a
subscriber may select appropriate FMI using user-input devices so as to
specify the FMI for
her facility object(s). For example, when a subscriber checks a box, it is set
to an activated
state such that client process 210 of Figure 2 may transform the checked box
into a message
2o that provides server temporal process 240 with the appropriate FMI. As will
be familiar to
those skilled in the art, additional embodiments may include interactive
icons, hyperlinks,
pop-up menus, and other input mechanisms that will improve upon the intuitive
nature of
the questionnaire and substantially reduce the possibility of data entry
errors.
After a subscriber has entered all of the FMI for her facility objects) into
the
2S appropriate questionnaire-e.g., by inputting data into the input fields,
activating check
boxes, activating selections on pull-down menus, activating selections on pop-
up windows,
etc.--she may forwaxd the FMI to server temporal process 240 running on server
14 of
Figure I-e.g., by activating Save Element button 4404 of Figure 4E. Referring
back to
Figure 2, upon receiving the FMI, the HTTP listener process 220 identifies an
available
3o HTTP web server process, such as server process 230. The available server
process 230 will
branch off server temporal process 240 and forward the FMI to server temporal
process
240. Server temporal process 240 will then forward the FMI to simulation
process 290,
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which analyzes the received FMI, and based on the FMI, selects one or more
facility
models (from CMA database 18 of Figure 1) having a criteria that substantially
matches the
data fields or combination of data fields the make up the FMI. For example,
based on a
subscriber's answer to subquestion 3512 (of Figure 3G), simulation process 290
selects the
model that most closely resembles the combination of "roof covering" and
"amount," as
specified by the subscriber.
After selecting the appropriate facility rnodel(s), simulation process 290
submits the
FMI to the facility model(s), or embeds the FMI into the facility model(s), so
as to
commence a simulation mimicking the functional behavior of the facility
objects) in real
1o time; and/or comparing the conditions, physical characteristics, and/or
functionality of the
facility objects) with predetermined standards for like facility object(s). In
one
embodiment, the facility models) has the cost, lifetime, and percentage of
system replaced
(at the end of the lifetime) stored therein. Using this information and the
information
solicited via the questionnaire, simulation process 290 may then generate a
project plan,
which may include a project cost.
In one embodiment, the project cost is calculated as a function of the unit
cost and
the percentage of the system in need of repair. Further, the project cost is
modified by the
percentage entered into subquestion 3522 (of Figure 3I). In one embodiment,
the end result
is a proj ect list having the following information: the work to be performed;
the timing of
the project (e.g., start and finish times); the cost of the project; and the
effect on the lifetime
of the system upon completion of the project. With this information entered
for each
system, the simulation process 290 may then generate an FCF report with year
by year
projections of projects and costs to be incurred for any subset of the
facility object(s). The
CMA may then use this information in the budget development and approval
process.
Therefore, simulation process 290 generates an FCF report that an authorized
CMA may
employ for monitoring, evaluating, and managing facility object(s).
In one embodiment, simulation process 290 generates the FCF report in an
electronic format that can be readily converted to various data formats. Thus,
the FCF
report may be readily processed by various peripheral devices (e.g., a
printer, a visual
3o display, etc.) and applications (e.g., a spreadsheet program, an e-mail
application, etc.),
thereby removing the possibility of data entry errors. Therefore, a CMA having
access to
the server 14 of Figure 1 may view the FCF report on a visual display, receive
the FCF
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report as an e-mail communication, or download the FCF report to a spreadsheet
program
for further processing.
The content of such an FCF report may include the following information for a
facility object{s): a budget description-e.g., a capital budget description,
etc.; a
compliance description; a condition description; a cost description-e.g., a
life-cycle cost
description, a construction cost description, a re-construction cost
description, etc.; a
deficiency condition description; a facility condition index; a functionality
description; a
long-term plan description; a maintenance schedule; a percent renewed
statistic; a percent
used statistic; a project description; and/or a system condition index.
Further, the FCF
to report may present the information at multiple levels. Specific data about
each facility
object may be presented, or the information may be totaled and only the totals
presented as
a summary report.
As previously discussed, simulation process 290 of Figure 2 analyzes received
FMI,
and based on the FMI, selects one or more appropriate facility models) from
CMA
database 18 of Figure 1. Specifically, in one embodiment, simulation process
290 evaluates
multiple fields in sequence when determining the model, such as the facility
use,
construction type, gross area, and number of floors. Then, simulation process
290 selects
the facility model most closely matching the combination of fields. For
example, suppose
that a subscriber at a k-12 educational facility forwards an elementary
education facility
2o with a 2B Protected construction type classification of 35,325 square feet
on two stories
FMI for a facility objects) (associated with the educational facility) to
simulation process
290. Upon receiving the FMI, simulation process 290 determines, by comparing
the FMI
with the data stored with the facility model, that the FMI is appropriate for
a k-5 Low Rise
Brick/Steel School facility model(s). As such, simulation process 290 submits
the FMI to
the k-5 Low Rise Brick/Steel School facility model(s), prompting a simulation
of the
educational facility.
Returning back to Figure 2, in another embodiment, it is depicted that server
temporal process 240 creates and maintains an authorization table 270 in which
server
temporal process 240 stores identification information corresponding to a
particular
3o subscriber and/or organization. Such identification information may include
a username,
password,_privileges, name, location, order information, shipping information,
billing
information, and the like for a particular subscriber and/or organization. In
one
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embodiment, a subscriber at a client system has to enter an authentic username
and
password in order to gain authorization to access server system 14 and the
resources
thereon. As is familiar to those skilled in the art, a so-called "cookie" file
may be employed
to streamline the authorization process.
In another embodiment, server temporal process 240 may also generate and
maintain a log file to store the criteria, results, date, and other historical
information for a
particular subscriber accessing server system 14. Server temporal process 240
stores this
information in log file 260 along with an entry that indicates the particular
subscriber (as
previously discussed). The next time the subscriber gains access to server 14,
she will be
able to access her historical information, thereby enabling her to view
previous results,
including the associated criteria, the associated date, and the like.
In yet another embodiment, software system 200 of Figure 2 includes daemon
process 250 for actively soliciting the FMI from a remote subscriber database
having FMI
for a facility object(s). Preferably, the subscriber database resides at a
subscriber-facility
and is configured to comply with the TCP/IP and/or HTTP protocols. Daemon
process 250
periodically polls the subscriber database at predetermined intervals, such as
once every
week or month, to acquire current and accurate FMI for the facility object(s).
Then, daemon
process 250 forwards the FMI to simulation process 290. Simulation process 290
then
selects one or more facility models based on the FMI from CMA database 18,
submits the
2o FMI to the one or more facility models, and invokes a simulation. The
simulation generates
an FCF report which enables a CMA to monitor, evaluate, and manage the FCF of
the
facility obj ect(s).
-In yet another embodiment, daemon process 250 actively solicits the FMI and
related information directly from "smart facility objects" by periodically
polling them at
predetermined intervals; wherein each smart facility abject has intelligence
(e.g., a
microprocessor) and/or a memory embedded therein to monitor and record its
physical
condition and utilization so as to generate current and accurate FMI. Daemon
process 250
then forwards the FMI to server process 290. Server process 290 then selects
one or more
facility models based on the FMI from CMA database 18, submits the FMI to the
one or
3o more facility models, and invokes a simulation. The simulation generates an
FCF report
which enables a CMA to monitor, evaluate, and manage the FCF of the smart
facility
obj ects.
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Alternatively, in another embodiment, daemon process 250 may be programmed to
forward a so-called "tickler" to the e-mail of a subscriber to the systems of
Figures 1 and 2,
so as to remind the subscriber that it is time to submit updated FMI. For this
embodiment, it
is contemplated that either the subscriber, or a CMA, have the ability to
program daemon
process 250 so as to set the time interval between ticklers.
Figure 5 is a flowchart diagram that depicts one mode of operation of one
process
described herein for one embodiment of the invention. It will be understood
that each block
of the flowchart, and combinations of blocks in the flowchart, can be
implemented with
computer program instructions. These computer program instructions may be
loaded onto a
general purpose computer, special purpose computer, or other programmable data
processing apparatus to produce a machine, such that the instructions which
execute on the
computer or other programmable data processing apparatus create means for
implementing
the functions and processes specified in the flowchart block or blocks.
Accordingly, blocks of the flowchart diagram support combinations of means for
i5 performing the specified functions and processes, combinations of steps for
performing the
specified functions and processes, and program instruction means for
performing the
specified functions and processes. It will also be understood that each block
of the
flowchart diagram, and combinations of blocks in the flowchart, may be
implemented with
special purpose hardware-based computer systems which perform the specified
functions or
2o steps, or with combinations of special purpose hardware and computer
instructions.
Now referring to Figure 5, one mode of operation of one process described
herein is
depicted for one embodiment. Specifically, Figure 5 depicts a process 500,
comprising the
steps 510 to 550, which enables a CMA, such as a State Board of Education, to
monitor,
evaluate, and manage the conditions, functionality, prospective projects, and
regulatory
25 compliance of one or more facilities, such as k-12 educational facilities,
over a
communications network, such as the Internet. For example, process 500 begins
at step 510
wherein a subscriber, such as a facilities manager residing at one of the k-12
educational
facilities, employs client process 210 of Figure 2 to request a questionnaire
(as previously
discussed) from server process 230 of Figure 2. After step 510, process 500
proceeds to
3o step 520, wherein server process 230 responds to the request by downloading
the
questionnaire to client process 210, thereby displaying the questionnaire on
the visual
display attached to the client hosting client process 210. Server process 230
may be a
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computer program executing server system 14 of Figure 1, the design and
development of
which follow from principles well known in the art.
As shown by step 530, the subscriber enters FMI for her facility objects) into
the
questionnaire using a user-input device. Then, the subscriber employs the user-
input device
to activate a submit button on the questionnaire, thereby forwarding the FMI
to server
process 230 of Figure 2. In step 540, server process 230 forwards the FMI to
server
temporal process 240, which passes the FMI on to simulation process 290.
After step 540, process 500 moves to step 550, wherein simulation process 290
selects a facility models) as a function of the FMI. Then, simulation process
290
to commences a simulation of the facility objects) using the facility
model(s). Accordingly,
an FCF report is generated which is forwarded to an e-mail address owned by
the CMA. As
previously discussed, the FCF report has sufficient information to enable the
CMA to
monitor, evaluate, and manage the FCF of the facilities from a central office.
In one embodiment, the facility models referred to herein represent a
breakdown of
an integrated facility into its component parts or facility objects, and
algorithms that
simulate the behavior of a facility object over the course of its lifetime.
The data stored for
each facility object includes the lifetime duration, the object cost, the
percent of the object
to be replaced at the end of its lifetime, and its current state. Using this
information, a
facility model can predict the costs to be incurred over a specific time
period for repair or
replacement. It is to be noted that the time period may be variable.
In the embodiments described herein, the software may be written as an object
oriented computer program, such as a C++ program, that directs the objects to
perform the
necessary operations to distinguish themselves from other objects of different
subclasses.
The development of such class structures is described in Booch, Object
Oriented Design
with Applications, the Benjamin/Cummings Publishing Co., Inc. (1991) and in
Chin et. al.,
Distributed Object-Based Programming Systems, ACM Computing Surveys (1991 ).
The embodiments described herein employ the TCP/IP protocol and the HTTP
client-server protocol over the Internet to allow a CMA to monitor, evaluate,
and manage
multiple facilities fram a central office. However, it is further contemplated
that the
invention may be used with all client-server communications, and is not
limited to specific
protocols such as the HTTP protocol. Thus, alternative embodiments of the
invention may
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include a client system having the ability to interact with and exchange data
with an FTP
server, a gopher server, or another suitable network server.
As will be apparent to those skilled in the art, the invention may be
implemented as
a computer program product, which may include a computer-readable storage
medium
having computer-readable program instructions stored thereon. The instructions
may be
used to program a computer(s), or other cornputational/electronic device(s),
to perform
according to the invention. Any suitable computer-readable storage medium may
be
utilized, including floppy diskettes, CD-ROMs, magnetic storage devices,
optical storage
disks, ROMs, RAMS, EPROMs, EEPROMs, magnetic or optical cards, or other types
of
1o media suitable for storing computer-readable program instructions.
As will be apparent to those skilled in the art, the invention may be
downloaded
from a remote system (e.g., a server) to a requesting system (e.g., a personal
computer, a
wireless access device, etc.) via a computer data signals) embodied in a
carrier wave(s), or
other propagation medium. The computer data signals) may include program code
for
I5 implementing the methods and systems disclosed herein. The computer data
signal may be
transmitted along any suitable guiding medium (e.g., copper wire, fiber
optics, etc.);
alternatively, the computer data signal may be transmitted without a guiding
medium (e.g.,
wireless communications).
As will be apparent to those skilled in the art, the invention may take the
form of an
2o entirely software embodiment, an entirely hardware embodiment, or an
embodiment
combining both software and hardware. Those skilled in the art will know or be
able to
ascertain using no more than routine experimentation, many equivalents to the
embodiments and practices described herein. It will also be understood that
the methods
and systems described herein provide advantages over the prior art including
Accordingly,
25 it will be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the
embodiments disclosed
herein, but is to be understood from the following claims, which are to be
interpreted as
broadly as allowed under the law.
What is claimed is:
