Simultaneous operations coordination and planning system

Abstract

A networked system shares operational information (tasks, positions, times, etc.) between dissimilar operators performing dissimilar operations in a same marine field. The shared information include associations (linkages and conflicts) that allows each operator to optimize its operations and complete tasks in a more efficient manner. As part of this system, a planning tool having a graphical user interface can be used to visualize plans at an operator (and nearby operators). Changes made to plans by one operator are shared with other operators via the system and illustrated in the interface at the other operators, thereby allowing the other operators to make their own respective operational changes in response.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of coordinating a plurality of dissimilar marine operators performing dissimilar marine operations in a same marine field, the method comprising:
 determining, in real-time with decision-making processing based on operational information corresponding to the dissimilar marine operations, a prospective resolution to an association between at least two of the dissimilar marine operations performed by at least two dissimilar marine operators of the plurality of dissimilar marine operators;   generating spatial and temporal representations of the at least two dissimilar marine operations for real-time visual display;   obtaining a selection of the prospective resolution by sharing the spatial and temporal representations and the prospective resolution with the at least two dissimilar marine operators; and   coordinating the at least two dissimilar marine operations between the at least two dissimilar marine operators in response to the obtained selection.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein determining the prospective resolution to the association comprises determining a linkage as the association between compatible ones of the at least two dissimilar marine operations for the at least two dissimilar marine operators. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein obtaining the selection comprises obtaining, from at least one of the at least two dissimilar marine operators, the selection of at least one solution to the linkage; and wherein coordinating the at least two dissimilar marine operations in response to the obtained selection comprises:
 resolving the linkage based on the at least one solution; and   sharing information of the resolved linkage with the at least two dissimilar marine operators.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein determining the linkage comprises determining that the operational information for the at least two dissimilar marine operations occurs in a compatible fashion. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein determining that the operational information occurs in the compatible fashion comprises determining that the operational information coincides in at least one of space, time, or sequence without violating an exclusionary rule in the decision-making processing. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein determining the prospective resolution to the at least one resolution comprises determining a linking resolution as the prospective resolution linking the compatible ones of the at least two dissimilar marine operations by considering consequences to other of the dissimilar marine operations downstream of the linking resolution. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein determining the linking resolution comprises determining the downstream consequences to other of the dissimilar marine operations for each of a plurality linking resolutions. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein determining the prospective resolution to the association comprises determining a conflict as the association between incompatible ones of the at least two dissimilar marine operations for the at least two dissimilar marine operators. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein obtaining the selection comprises:
 obtaining, from at least one of the at least two dissimilar marine operators, the selection of at least one solution to the conflict; and wherein coordinating the at least two dissimilar marine operations in response to the obtained selection comprises:   resolving at the conflict based on the at least one solution; and   sharing information of the resolved linkage with the at least two dissimilar marine operators.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein determining the conflict comprises determining that the operational information occurs in an incompatible fashion. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein determining that the operational information occurs in the incompatible fashion comprises determining that at least one of task information, position information, or time information of the operational information violates at least one rule in the decision-making processing. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein determining the prospective resolution comprises determining a conflict resolution as the prospective resolution reconciling conflict between the incompatible ones of the at least two dissimilar marine operations by considering consequences to other of the dissimilar marine operations downstream of the conflict resolution. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein determining the conflict resolution comprises determining the downstream consequences for each of a plurality conflict resolutions. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein obtaining the operational information comprises at least one of:
 relationally aggregating together at least one of task information, position information, or time information of the dissimilar marine operations for the dissimilar marine operators;   arranging the operational information in at least one of spatial representations, temporal representations, relationships between the dissimilar marine operations, or relationships between the dissimilar marine operators for sharing; or   monitoring current operational conditions of the dissimilar marine operations conducted dynamically in real-time by the dissimilar marine operators in the same marine field.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein generating the spatial and temporal representations comprises generating the spatial and temporal representations for each of the dissimilar marine operations; and wherein sharing the spatial and temporal representations comprises sharing the spatial and temporal representations for each of the dissimilar marine operations to each of the dissimilar marine operators. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein sharing the spatial and temporal representations along with the at least one prospective resolution comprises sharing the spatial and temporal representations of the at least two dissimilar marine operations in past, present, and future time frames for real-time visual display in a user interface. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein sharing the spatial and temporal representations of the at least two dissimilar marine operations in past, present, and future time frames for real-time visual display in the user interface comprises allowing the user to select the visual and temporal representations for visual display at a selected point in time or within a selected time frame in the past, present, or future by providing a time slider control operable by the user in the user interface. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 monitoring an environmental condition dynamically in real-time in the same marine field; and   predicting a change in the environmental conditions based on the monitoring, wherein the acts of determining and sharing further comprise updating the determining and the sharing in real-time in response to the predicted change.   
     
     
         19 . A programmable storage device having program instructions stored thereon for causing a programmable control device to perform a method of coordinating a plurality of dissimilar marine operators performing dissimilar marine operations in a same marine field, the method comprising:
 determining, in real-time with decision-making processing based on operational information corresponding to the dissimilar marine operations, a prospective resolution to an association between at least two of the dissimilar marine operations performed by at least two dissimilar marine operators of the plurality of dissimilar marine operators;   generating spatial and temporal representations of at least the at least two dissimilar marine operations for real-time visual display;   obtaining a selection of the prospective resolution by sharing the spatial and temporal representations and the prospective resolution with the at least two dissimilar marine operators; and   coordinating the at least two dissimilar marine operations between the at least two dissimilar marine operators in response to the obtained selection.   
     
     
         20 . A system for coordinating dissimilar marine operations conducted by a plurality of dissimilar marine operators in a same marine field, the system comprising:
 network communication equipment obtaining operational information associated with the dissimilar marine operations conducted by the dissimilar marine operators in the same marine field;   memory storing the obtained operational information; and   processing equipment operatively coupled to the network communication equipment and the memory, the processing equipment being configured to:
 determine, in real-time with decision-making processing from the obtained operational information, a prospective resolution to an association between at least two of the dissimilar marine operations; 
 generate spatial and temporal representations of the at least two dissimilar marine operations for real-time visual display; 
 share the spatial and temporal representations and the prospective resolution with the at least two dissimilar marine operators to obtain a selection of the prospective resolution; and 
 coordinate the at least two dissimilar marine operations between the at least two dissimilar marine operators in response to the obtained selection.