Technical Field

[0001 ] The present invention relates generally to a maintenance management system and method. Background

[0002] Generally, components within most systems require regular maintenance of one form or another. Such maintenance may include replacement of the component, or a sub-component, after a predefined period of operation. Other maintenance may include inspection of the component, typically also after a predefined period of operation. Yet further maintenance may merely include cleaning the component.

[0003] Other than "routine" maintenance, maintenance is also performed on an "on-demand" basis. With different components having different maintenance requirements, scheduling such

maintenance is often a very complex problem. The manner in which such scheduling is typically performed either results in too much maintenance or not enough maintenance. Also, the scheduled maintenance is typically not adapti ve to the status or frequency of use of the system.

[0004] A need exists for a maintenance management system to assist in the scheduling of maintenance.

Summary

[0005] It is an object of the present invention to substantially overcome, or at least ameliorate, one or more disadvantages of existing arrangements, or to at least provide the public with a useful choice.

[0006] Disclosed is a maintenance management system comprising:

a processing device;

a plurality of components in communication with the processing device, each component having a location associated with the component and one or more sensors for capturing usage data associated with the component; and one or more user devices in communication with the processing device,

wherein the usage data of components is communicated to the processing device and the processing device determines from the usage data whether any of the components requires maintenance, where the location of each respective component requiring maintenance is communicated to at least one of the one or more user devices from the processing device.

[0007] Other aspects of the present disclosure are also disclosed.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0008] At least one embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to the drawings and appendices, in which:

[0009] Figure 1 shows a Bathroom Maintenance Management System according to the present disclosure;

[0010] Figure 2 shows a schematic flow diagram of a method 200 of managing maintenance; and

[001 1] Figure 3 illustrates locations of component requiring maintenance being displayed within a 3 dimensional schematic of a building.

Detailed Description including Best Mode

[0012] Figure 1 shows a system 100 according to the present disclosure. In the preferred implementation the system 100 is a Bathroom Maintenance Management System. System 100 includes a server 1 10 connected to a network 120. The network 120 is typically an Ethernet Local Area Network (LAN). The server 1 10 has one or more processors (not illustrated) and data storage devices (not illustrated). The operation of the server 1 10 is controlled through software instructions stored on the data storage devices and executed by the processor(s).

[0013] The system 100 further includes a number of components 150i to 1 0 v. each having a processor (not illustrated) connected to the network 120. In the preferred implementation the components 150i to 150 _A/ are bathroom components, such as faucets, toilets, urinals, showers, etc. The components 150i to connected directly to the network 120. Alternatively, in a preferred embodiment, two or more components 150„ may be connected to a sub-network 121 , with the sub-network 121 being connected to the network 120 through a gateway 125. In a further preferred embodiment, the components 150 _t to 1 () \ may be connected directly to the gateway 125, and thereby connected to the network 120.

[0014] Each component 150„ has an identifier (ID) unique in the system 100. Each component 150„ also has a location associated thereto. In one implementation the location is captured during installation. That location may be obtained through consulting a floor plan or "maps" generally, or through the use of a handheld location determining device, such as an Indoor Positioning System (IPS) or a Global Positioning System (GPS) device. In another implementation the component 150„ includes an IPS or GPS device for determining the location associated with the component 150„.

[0015] Each component 150,, also has associated thereto one or more sensors (not illustrated) for capturing usage data. The usage data of each component 150„ is communicated to the servers 1 10 for processing in the manner described below. For example, the sensors may enable the system 100 to determine the number of times component 150„ has been used since a relevant event, such as cleaning or maintenance. For example, the sensor may be a water flow sensor in a water supply pipe of a faucet. By counting the water flow cycles, a determination can be made of the number of times the faucet, and basin associated with the faucet, have been used. Many of the components 150„ may be "automatic sensor hands free" components, in which case the component 150„ includes a movement or proximity sensor detecting a user, which in turn activates the component 150„. For example, in the case where the component 150„ is a "hands free" faucet, each hands free activation may be counted as a single use. The sensors may also include odour sensors allowing the system to determine that components 150„ associated with the odour sensors, such as toilets and urinals for example, require cleaning.

[0016] The system 100 further includes user devices 180i to 180^-, such as mobile telephones and/or tablet computers. Each user device 180^ is in communication with the server 1 10. In the preferred implementation the user device 180* has a self-contained program (generally referred to as an "App") executing within a processor of the user device 180^. The App is in communication with the server 1 10 through the Internet (not illustrated) via a suitable network connection. The App would be customized for specific maintenance persons, including actions and lists relevant to the maintenance tasks performed by that person. [0017] Having described the elements of the system 100, the operation of the system 100 is next described. Fi gure 2 shows a schematic flow diagram of a method 200 of managing

maintenance. Different maintenance events may be provided for, for example routine maintenance, repairs, and cleaning. The method is described generally with respect to maintenance, and would operate similarly for different forms of maintenan ce, be it with different thresholds as would be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art. The method 200 is affected through a program executing in the processor of the server 1 10.

[0018] The method 200 starts in step 210 where the server 1 10 receives usage data from each of the components 150„ in real time. More particularly, the received usage data is associated with the ID of the component 150„.

[0019] Step 220 follows where the server 1 10 determines from the usage data whether any of the components 150„ requires maintenance. For example, in one implementation the usage data is the time that elapsed since the last relevant maintenance event, such as repair or cleaning, for that component 150„, and the server 1 10 determines whether the usage data exceeds a predetermined threshold. In another implementation the usage data is the number of times the component 150„ has been used since the last relevant maintenance event, such as repair or cleaning, for that component 150„. It would be understood that the threshold applicable for cleaning would be much less than, for example, the threshold for routine maintenance. In yet another implementation the usage data relates to the flow rate associated with the component 150„ and the server 1 10 determines that the flow rate is outside predefined parameters, which is indicative that component 150„ is faulty and therefore requires to be repaired.

[0020] If it is determined by the server 1 10 in step 220 from the usage data that none of the components 150„ require maintenance, the method 200 returns to step 210.

[0021] If it is determined in step 220 that at least one of the components 150„ require maintenance, the method 200 continues to step 230 where the location of each respective component 150„ requiring maintenance, and a maintenance person relevant to the type of maintenance required are determined, typically through use of a look-up table. As would be understood, if cleaning is required, a cleaner would be the relevant maintenance person, whereas replacement of a seal of a ci stern as part of routine maintenance would require a plumber as the relevant maintenance person. [0022] In step 240 that follows, the requirement for maintenance is added to a list of maintenance tasks allocated for the relevant maintenance person. The requirement for maintenance includes details of the component 150„, details of the maintenance required, and the location of the component 150„. In step 250 the list of maintenance tasks allocated to the relevant maintenance person is communicated to the mobile device 180^ associated with the person, where the list is displayed on a display screen of the device 180^ through the App. Figure 3 shows an example of a display that may be presented to a maintenance person, indicating graphically those components 150„ requiring maintenance.

[0023] In the preferred implementation the server 1 10 contains a detailed geographical mapping of the building being monitored. The App and/or the server 1 10 uses that detailed geographical mapping of the building to provide on the display of the user device 180^ directions from a current location, determined using a location detennining system such as IPS or GPS, to the location of the component 150„.

[0024] In a preferred implementation the list is ordered in order to optimize the maintenance. For example, the App or server 1 10 may determine an order which minimizes travel time between locations. The travel time between the locations is determined using the above-mentioned detailed geographical mapping. The App also displays the respective locations of the components 150„ requiring maintenance on a map or floor plan. In a preferred implementation the locations are displayed within a 3 dimensional schematic of the building, such as the schematic illustrated in Figure 3. Following step 250 the method 200 return to step 210.

[0025] Once maintenance has been completed, the maintenance person is able, using the App on the mobile device 180^, to notify the server 1 10 that the maintenance has been completed. In a preferred implementation the maintenance person uses the App to disable the component 150„ during maintenance, and again enables the component 150„ after the maintenance has been completed. This action notifies the server 1 10 that maintenance has been completed and removes the requirement for maintenance from the list of maintenance tasks allocated for the relevant maintenance person, and also resets the time and count since the last maintenance event as appropriate.

[0026] The system 100 is particularly useful for managing cleaning services. The App on each cleaner's user device 180^ presents a list of cleaning tasks allocated to that cleaner. The list of cleaning tasks is ordered in order to optimize the maintenance by taking in consideration the travel time between locations. The order is determined, at least, by the location of the rel evant maintenance person and location of each cleaning task (e.g. the distance). The relevant

maintenance person is relevant due to the type of maintenance required (e.g. a cleaner, a plumber, etc.). The urgency of each cleaning task may be taken into account. The urgency may be determined on the basis of sensor data from the component 150„ and the time elapsed since the cleaning task was created. The App displays directions from a current location to the location of the next component 150„ requiring cleaning. When the cleaner arrives at the location, he/she is able to de-activate the component 150„ requiring cleaning, via the App. Once the cleaning has been completed, the cleaner is able to use the App to re-activate the component 150„. The re-activation notifies the server 1 10 that the cleaning has been completed and removes the requirement for cleaning from the list of cleaning tasks. Optionally, the maintenance person is able to de-activate all components 150„ in a particular location using the App, such as for example a bathroom. This facilitates the de-activation of all components 150„ (and/or the associated sensors) in a location during routine or non-routine maintenance of the location. Further, de-acti vation of the one or more component 150„ may start a timer counting down a pre-determined period of time. The predetermined period of time may be set to allow for cleaning of the one or more component 150„. When the timer has elapsed, the one or more component 150„ may be automatically re-activated, notifying the server 1 10 that cleaning has been completed and the requirement for cleaning is removed from the list of cleaning tasks.

[0027] The system 100 may also include user device 180^ operated by clients. The server 1 10 determines current low usage rate components 150„, and such current low usage rate components 150„ are then communicated to an App executing on the user device 180^ where those current low usage rate components 150„ are displayed on the App. This enables clients to determine, for example, which toilets have the shortest queues. The server 1 10 additionally or alternatively determines components 150„ which have had low usage since the last cleaning event and such components 150„ are then communicated to the App executing on the user device 180^ where those components 150„ are displayed on the App. In the case of toilets for example, those toilets that have had low usage since the last time they have been cleaned can be assumed to be the cleanest toilets, and this infonnation may be of use to users. [0028] In a further implementation the user device 180^ operated by clients may be used by the clients to provide input to the server 1 10 with regards to a parameter of or associated with the component 150„. For example, the client may use the App to provide feedback with regards to the cleanliness of the toilets. This feedback may be displayed on the Apps of the clients, enabling clients to locate cleaner toilets.

[0029] In a further embodiment it is possible to enter manually, via the App, maintenance that is required in step 215. Step 215 may be performed from a user device 180 _k operated by a maintenance services supervisor, or from a user device 180 _k operated by the maintenance person. The supervisor may, via the App on their user device 180 _k , select the component 150„ that requires maintenance, the selection being communicated to the server 1 10.

[0030] Step 215 is followed by step 230 wherein the server 1 10 determines the location of the maintenance requirement, and the location of a maintenance person relevant to the type of maintenance required, typically through use of a look-up table. A list of suitable maintenance persons is provided by the server 1 10 to the user device 180 _k operated by the maintenance services supervisor in an order. The order is determined by the server 1 10, at least, on the basis of the capability of the maintenance persons of performing the required maintenance and the distance of the maintenance person from the required maintenance (e.g. the location of the component).

[0031] At step 240, the supervisor subsequently selects the maintenance person to which the maintenance requirement should be communicated from the list of suitable maintenance persons. At step 250, the server 1 10 then communicates the maintenance requirement to the user device 180 _k of the selected maintenance person.

[0032] The foregoing describes only some embodiments of the present invention, and modifications and/or changes can be made thereto without departing from the scope of the invention, the embodiments being illustrative and not restrictive.