Method for monitoring bituminous material

Abstract

A method by computer useful for monitoring the environmental characteristics of bituminous material that is used in an industrial process. Disclosed is a particularly useful method for the processing of asphalt when a transport takes the bituminous material under its control. The method being capable of communicating environmental information related to the material as observed by the transport and the users involved in the industrial process.

Claims

1. A method by computer for monitoring the movement of bituminous material that is used in an industrial plant process operated by many disparate users, the method comprising: programming the computer with data in a manner so as to fully inform the computer as to all steps needed to complete the industrial plant process; connecting a transport to the computer by placing the transport substantially near the computer in a manner so as to allow authentication and two way communication; delivering from the computer to the transport at least one first datum that relates to a first quantity of bituminous material to be transported; requesting that the transport take control of the first quantity of bituminous material to be transported; awaiting a first confirmation from the transport that the first quantity of bituminous material to be transported is under the transport's control; delivering to the transport at least one second datum that relates to a locality where the first quantity of bituminous material to be transported is to be processed; awaiting a second confirmation from the transport that the first quantity of bituminous material to be transported has been placed at the locality; electronically storing the at least one first datum, the at least one second datum, and a third data set that corresponds to the first confirmation and the second confirmation.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of awaiting a first confirmation further comprises: the computer monitoring a plurality of environmental indicators that relate to the state of the first quantity of bituminous material to be transported; alerting the disparate users upon the occurrence of any of the plurality of environmental indicators substantially causing the industrial plant process to become at risk of non-completion; capturing a response from the disparate users related to the alerting.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein based upon the response from the disparate users, removing the first quantity of bituminous material to be transported from the transport's control.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of electronically storing further comprises: electronically processing the data electronically stored; presenting detailed information that corresponds to the processed data to the disparate users in a manner so as to allow the users to determine whether an oral communication with another user or with the transport should be initiated.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of electronically storing further comprises: electronically processing the data electronically stored; presenting detailed information that corresponds to the processed data to the transport in a manner so as to allow the transport to determine whether an oral communication with another user should be initiated.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising processing asphalt according to the industrial plant process the asphalt being useful for application on roadways.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of delivering from the computer to the transport at least one first datum further comprises: obtaining a substantial portion of the at least one first datum from a 3rd party software system that is incorporated into the industrial plant process.

8. A method by computer for monitoring the movement of asphalt that is used in an asphalt plant process operated by many disparate users, the method comprising: programming the computer with data in a manner so as to fully inform the computer as to all steps needed to complete the asphalt plant process; connecting a union member truck driver operating a dump truck to the computer by placing the union member truck driver and dump truck substantially near the computer in a manner so as to allow authentication and two way communication; delivering from the computer to the union member truck driver and dump truck at least one first datum that relates to a first quantity of asphalt to be transported; requesting that the union member truck driver and dump truck take control of the first quantity of asphalt to be transported; awaiting a first confirmation from the union member truck driver and dump truck that the first quantity of asphalt to be transported is under the union member truck driver and dump truck's control; delivering to the union member truck driver and dump truck at least one second datum that relates to a locality where the first quantity of asphalt to be transported is to be processed; awaiting a second confirmation from the union member truck driver and dump truck that the first quantity of asphalt to be transported has been placed at the locality; electronically storing the at least one first datum, the at least one second datum, and a third data set that corresponds to the first confirmation and the second confirmation; via the computer, monitoring a plurality of environmental indicators that relate to the state of the first quantity of asphalt to be transported; alerting the disparate users upon the occurrence of any of the plurality of environmental indicators substantially causing the industrial plant process to become at risk of non-completion; capturing a response from the disparate users related to the alerting; based upon the response from the disparate users, removing the first quantity of asphalt to be transported from the union member truck driver and dump truck's control; electronically processing the data electronically stored; presenting detailed information that corresponds to the processed data to the disparate users in a manner so as to allow the users to determine whether an oral communication with another user or with the union member truck driver and dump truck should be initiated; presenting detailed information that corresponds to the processed data to the union member truck driver and dump truck in a manner so as to allow the union member truck driver and dump truck to determine whether an oral communication with another user should be initiated; obtaining a substantial portion of the at least one first datum from a software system selected from the group consisting of JWS, Astec, and Viewpoint.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the union member truck driver is a Teamster.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

[0034] These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with regard to the following description, appended claims, and accompanying drawings where:

[0035] FIG. 1 provides a block diagram of one embodiment of the present invention.

[0036] FIG. 2. depicts a flow chart of another embodiment of the present invention.

[0037] FIG. 3 provides a block diagram of another embodiment of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION

Overview.

[0038] As shown in FIG. 1, a block diagram of one embodiment of the invention comprises a transport 1, such as a dump truck being driven by a union truck driver to name one example of a transport. The transport 1 is of a nature described 5 by many attributes 2. Such attributes, sometimes herein referred to as environmental characteristics, describe not only the physical attributes of the transport itself but also environmental characteristics of a bituminous material that is under the control of the transport. As the transport 1 works as directed to do so by the industrial plant process, there are a multitude of physical attributes 2 that describe the nature of the transport 1 at any given moment in time. These attributes 2 are communicated to 4 one or many data processing machines or computers 3. The attributes 2 can also be communicated to 4; a company's other business resources, such as the users involved in the industrial process, those involved in asphalt processing for instance.

[0039] Attributes 2 common to an asphalt processing process are the type of material, its weight, the union driver operating the dump truck, identifying information for the dump truck, the electronic connection attributes of the transport, the temperature, location, and the like to name a few examples of attributes, or environmental characteristics, common to the process.

[0040] As shown in FIG. 2, a block diagram of another embodiment of the invention comprises making a link of entities 200. It is envisioned that the best mode is to link a dump truck, a dump truck driver, knowledge of an industrial company's policies and procedures, and a data processing system. The dump truck driver will communicate 201 observed characteristics related to these linked 200 entities to a computer system. It is envisioned that the best mode for doing this communication 201 is via a human controllable electronic device, a computer with a touchscreen to name one example. A driver will interact with the linked 200 entities throughout a day making decisions as to whether the communications are completed or not 202. When there is no longer a need to communicate the information communicated 201 can be analyzed electronically 203 by a data processing system.

[0041] This embodiment of the inventive method uses a computer to monitor the movement of bituminous material that is used in an asphalt plant process and is operated by many disparate users. The computer is programmed with information on all steps needed to complete the asphalt plant process. Then the link 200, or connection, couples a transport, the union driver and dump truck, to the computer by placing the transport substantially near the computer in a manner so as to allow authentication and two way communication 201. Once there is no longer a need for such communications the user and the computer will analyze 203 the data corresponding to the communications.

[0042] As shown in FIG. 3, a block diagram of another embodiment of the present invention comprises a method by computer for monitoring the movement of bituminous material that is used in an industrial plant process 300 operated by many disparate users 307. The users 300 will program 305 the computer with data in a manner so as to fully inform the computer as to all steps needed to complete the industrial plant process 300.

[0043] A connection 308 is made between a transport, a union truck driver operating a dump truck for example, to the computer by placing the transport substantially near the computer in a manner so as to allow authentication and two way communication. There is a first delivery 309 from the computer to the transport of at least one first datum that relates to a first quantity of bituminous material to be transported. Then the computer or users can request that the transport take control of a first quantity of asphalt to be transported and await 310 a first confirmation from the transport that the first quantity of asphalt to be transported is under the transport's control.

[0044] Then there is a second delivery 311 of data to the transport of at least one second datum that relates to a locality where the first quantity of asphalt to be transported is to be processed. The users or compute await 312 a second confirmation from the transport that the first quantity of asphalt to be transported has been placed at the locality.

[0045] The computer will electronically store 313 the data communicated and make the data available for processing by the asphalt processing.

[0046] Although the present invention has been described in considerable detail with the reference to certain preferred versions thereof, other versions are possible. For example, the transport can be a self driving vehicle without a human driver, too the method can be performed in any sequence of the steps disclosed. Therefore, the spirit and scope of the appended claims should not be limited to the description of the preferred versions contained herein.

[0047] Any element in a claim that does not explicitly state means for performing a specified function, or step for performing a specific function, is not to be interpreted as a means or step clause as specified in 35 U.S.C. 112, 6. In particular, the use of step of in the claims herein is not intended to invoke the provisions of 35 U.S.C. 112, 6.