Systems and methods for capturing, managing, sharing, and visualising asset information of an organization

Abstract

A system for semantically modeling relationships and dependencies between groups, enclosures, assets, and support entities according to an industry specific manner. An exemplary system includes a user interface device, a relational database and a processor. The processor receives relationship information and receives attributes with associated measurements for the groups, enclosures, assets, and support entities for the corporation from the user interface device. The attributes with associated measurements are formatted according the specific industry of the corporation. The processor generates a three dimensional (3D) visualization of the groups, enclosures, assets, and support entities and allows a virtual walkthrough of the 3D visualization as presented on the display device based on user entered commands from the user input device.

1 . A system for semantically modeling relationships and dependencies between groups, enclosures, assets, and support entities according to an industry specific manner, the system comprising:
 a database; and   a processor in data communication with the database, the processor configured to:   receive relationship and dependency information between at least one of groups, enclosures, assets, and support entities for an organization;   receive attributes with associated measurements for the at least one of the groups, enclosures, assets, and support entities for the organization, wherein the attributes with associated measurements are formatted according the specific industry of the organization;   store the relationship and dependency information and the attributes with associated measurements into the database;   receive a specification of filter criteria for a user defined asset search;   generate a graphical user interface that provides a three dimensional (3D) visualization of the at least one of the groups, enclosures, assets, and support entities, wherein at least some of the assets are colored according to unique colors determined for each of multiple data ranges in the filter criteria; and   share asset information comprising all of a physical asset component data, financial data and utilization data.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a plurality of data transmission devices, each of the plurality of data transmission devices configured to be associated with one of the groups, enclosures, assets, and support entities for the corporation, wherein the plurality of data transmission devices comprises data of the associated one of the groups, enclosures, assets, and support entities; and   a plurality of data collection devices in signal communication with the processor and the plurality of data transmission devices, the plurality of data collection devices configured to retrieve the data from the plurality of data transmission devices,   wherein the data transmission devices and data collection devices comprise at least one of radio frequency identification (RFID) tags, antenna, readers or concentrators,   wherein the processor enters the data received from the data collection devices into the database.   
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the processor is further configured to execute a plurality of data Application Program Interfaces (APIs), the executed APIs integrate data received from the data collection devices into a comprehensive view of the groups, enclosures, assets, and support entities based on the database. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to allow a user to create at least one of a graphical or text based report regarding one or more of the groups, enclosures, assets, and support entities, wherein the report includes at least one of absolute values, ranges or comparative values of at least a portion of the attributes, wherein the report is at least one of a filtering, sorting, or ordering of the groups, enclosures, assets, and support entities. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to calculate return on investment based on the asset data, wherein the asset data comprises at least one of cost to replace or cost of ownership. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to allow a user to define one or more perimeters within which each of the assets are located and to identify the assets within the one or more perimeters. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the database comprises a supplier database configured to store all assets in an individual group and across all groups, wherein the processor is further configured to allow a user to semantically map the received attributes from disparate sources and the supplier database, wherein the semantically mapped attributes provide context to the received attributes and the attributes' relation to assets, enclosures and groups. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a remote access device that is in data communication with the processor via a public or private data network, wherein the remote access device comprises at least one of a mobile device, a laptop computer, a tablet computer or a desktop computer. 
     
     
         9 . (canceled) 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to allow a user to:
 modify records of the assets, enclosures, groups, and support entities;   display values of the attributes; and   edit the values of the attributes within the relational database.   
     
     
         11 . (canceled) 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to allow a user to uniquely identify a location of an asset and physical orientation based on data received using at least one of a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) system, a Real-time Locating System (RTLS) or Global Positioning System (GPS). 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the processor is further configured to allow a user to uniquely identify asset identifiers to associate, capture, monitor and timestamp, data with other data pertaining to the asset within the system. 
     
     
         14 . (canceled) 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to allow a user to perform at least one of a query, an interrogation, a forecast, a what if scenario and to perform modeling of return on investment based on any change to assets, enclosure and groups. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to receive attributes of assets from a supplier to the processor. 
     
     
         17 . (canceled) 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the 3D visualization comprises annotation of groups with at least one of bounds, extents, photographs and related media elements, wherein the 3D visualization comprises at least one of a diagrammatic image or a figurative image. 
     
     
         19 - 21 . (canceled) 
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to synchronize at least all the information for each asset and show via the graphical user interface changes to status of an asset. 
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 22 , wherein the processor is further configured to generate a unique identifier based on a user defined asset search, wherein when the unique identifier that is presented on the graphical user interface, the unique identifier provides a visual indication of the presence and location of all assets that match the user defined asset search. 
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 22 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
 allow a virtual walkthrough of the 3D visualization as presented on a display device based on user entered commands from a user input device; and   display asset attributes based on a user entered selection signal from the user input device during the virtual walkthrough.   
     
     
         25 . (canceled) 
     
     
         26 . A non-transitory computer-readable medium including instructions that are configured, when executed by a computer, to:
 receive relationship and dependency information between at least one of groups, enclosures, assets, and support entities for an organization;   receive attributes with associated measurements for the at least one of the groups, enclosures, assets, and support entities for the organization, wherein the attributes with associated measurements are formatted according the specific industry of the organization;   store the relationship and dependency information and the attributes with associated measurements into the database;   receive a specification of filter criteria for a user defined asset search;   generate a graphical user interface that provides a three dimensional (3D) visualization of the at least one of the groups, enclosures, assets, and support entities, wherein at least some of the assets are colored according to unique colors determined for each of multiple data ranges in the filter criteria; and   share asset information comprising all of a physical asset component data, financial data, contractual data and utilization data.   
     
     
         27 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 26 , wherein the groups, enclosures, assets, and support entities are located within a datacenter, and wherein the generated graphical user interface is configured to:
 facilitate a virtual walkthrough of the datacenter; and   highlight each asset that matches the user defined asset search with a halo glow identifier that glows in a corresponding one of the unique colors determined for each of multiple data ranges in the filter criteria.   
     
     
         28 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 27 , wherein the graphical user interface is further configured to:
 allow a user to virtually walk up to one of the highlighted assets;   in response to a mouse selection of the one highlighted asset, display detailed information about the asset, including financial information for the asset, purchase date, weight, and power consumption.