Method for monitoring and assembling equipment

Abstract

A method for monitoring shipments of a plurality of components and enabling assembly of the plurality of components. The method can include the steps of encoding a unique identifier and specification information on each component into a data storage of a GPS device; encoding assembly instructions for each component; attaching the GPS device to the component; actuating each GPS device to provide a longitude and latitude signal to a network; tracking the location of each component; shipping the components while tracking the location of the components until the components reach a designated location; and retrieving from each component assembly instructions, specification information, and inspection information. The method can include assembling the components using the assembly instructions at the designated location, and forming a record of each route used by each component.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method for monitoring shipments of a plurality of components and enabling assembly of the plurality of components, the method comprising:
 a. encoding an identifier and specification information on one of the plurality of components into a data storage of a global positioning system (GPS) device, forming an encoded GPS device; wherein the GPS device further has a GPS processor and a GPS transmitter/receiver;   b. encoding assembly instructions for the component into the data storage of the GPS device, forming a smart GPS device;   c. attaching the smart GPS device to the component, forming a smart component;   d. repeating steps (a) through (c) for each component of the plurality of components, forming a plurality of smart components;   e. actuating the GPS transmitter/receiver for each of the plurality of smart components, wherein each GPS transmitter/receiver provides a location signal to a network;   f. using a tracking processor in communication with a tracking data storage to track locations of each smart component, wherein the tracking processor is in communication with the network;   g. shipping the plurality of smart components while simultaneously tracking each location of each of the plurality of smart components using the tracking processor until each smart component reaches a designated location;   h. retrieving from each smart component the assembly instructions and the specification information using an assembly processor in communication with an assembly data storage; and   i. assembling the plurality of smart components at the designated location, using the assembly instructions retrieved from each of the smart components.   
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the assembly instructions comprise instructions for assembling the smart component with a member of the group consisting of:
 (i) another smart component;   (ii) another component; or   (iii) combinations thereof.   
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1 , further including the step of forming a record of each route used by each of the plurality of smart components using the tracking processor. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the specification information for each smart component includes: dimensional specifications for the smart component; material composition of the smart component; inspection test results for the smart component; a source of origin or manufacture of the smart component; at least one trip route of the smart component; or combinations thereof. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the GPS device is attached to the component by embedding the GPS device into the component. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the GPS device is disposed within a self-adhesive card and further wherein the GPS device is attached to the component by adhering the self-adhesive card to the component. 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the GPS device is embedded within a thread protector and further wherein the GPS device is attached to the component by attaching the thread protector to a thread connector of the component. 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the GPS device provides location signals continuously. 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the GPS device provides location signals at predetermined time intervals. 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 1 , further including the step of providing an alarm when one of the smart components is not on a predetermined route or at the designated location. 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 1 , further including the step of inspecting the components at the designated location and transmitting the results of the inspection to the tracking processor. 
     
     
       12. A method for monitoring shipments of a plurality of smart components and enabling assembly of the plurality of smart components, the method comprising:
 a. encoding component information including an identifier, assembly instructions, and specification information; on one of the plurality of smart components into a data storage of a GPS device, forming a smart GPS device; wherein the smart GPS device further has a GPS processor and a GPS transmitter/receiver; further wherein the smart GPS device is attached to the smart component;   b. repeating step (a) for each smart component of the plurality of smart components;   c. actuating the GPS transmitter/receiver for each of the plurality of smart components, wherein each GPS transmitter/receiver provides a location signal to a network;   d. using a tracking processor in communication with a tracking data storage to track locations of each smart component, wherein the tracking processor is in communication with the network and receives the location signals from the network;   e. shipping the plurality of smart components while simultaneously tracking the locations of each of the plurality of smart components using the tracking processor, until the smart components reach a designated location;   f. retrieving from each smart component the component information using an assembly processor in communication with an assembly data storage; and   g. assembling the plurality of smart components at the designated location, using the assembly instructions retrieved from each smart component.   
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 12 , wherein the assembly instructions comprise instructions for assembling the smart component with a member of the group consisting of:
 (i) another smart component;   (ii) another component; or   (iii) combinations thereof.   
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 12 , further including the step of forming a record of each route used by each of the plurality of smart components using the tracking processor and storing the record in the tracking data storage. 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 12 , wherein the specification information for each smart component includes: dimensional specifications for the smart component; material composition of the smart component; inspection test results for the smart component; a source of origin or manufacture of the smart component; at least one trip route of the smart component; or combinations thereof. 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 12 , wherein the GPS device provides location signals continuously. 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 12 , wherein the GPS device provides location signals at predetermined time intervals. 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 12 , further including the step of providing an alarm when one of the smart components is not on a predetermined route, at the designated location, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
       19. A method for monitoring a shipping module in transit, comprising:
 attaching a GPS device to a thread protector configured to protect a threaded portion of a component disposed in the shipping module;   encoding an identifier for the component into the GPS device at a first location;   encoding assembly instructions for the component into the GPS device to form a smart GPS device;   attaching the smart GPS device to the component to form a smart component;   forming a plurality of smart components;   tracking the shipping module with a tracking processor as the shipping module is transported from the first location to a second location;   retrieving the identifier for the component from the GPS device with an assembly processor at the second location; and   assembling the plurality of smart components at the second location using the assembly instructions retrieved from each smart component of the plurality of smart components.   
     
     
       20. The method of claim 19, wherein the identifier is at least one of a number, a word, and a code that uniquely identifies the component. 
     
     
       21. The method of claim 19, further comprising matching the component disposed within the shipping module at the second location with the identifier to confirm that the component is accounted for. 
     
     
       22. The method of claim 19, further comprising producing a record of a route travelled by the GPS device and the shipping module from the first location to the second location. 
     
     
       23. The method of claim 22, wherein the record identifies a location of the GPS device at particular points in time. 
     
     
       24. The method of claim 19, wherein the assembly processor is a processor in a computer. 
     
     
       25. The method of claim 19, wherein the component is well equipment. 
     
     
       26. A method for monitoring a shipping module having a component disposed therein, comprising:
 attaching a GPS device to a thread protector configured to protect a threaded portion of a component disposed in the shipping module;   encoding an identifier for the component into the GPS device at a first location;   encoding assembly instructions for the component into the GPS device to form a smart GPS device;   attaching the smart GPS device to the component to form a smart component;   forming a plurality of smart components;   tracking the shipping module with a tracking processor as the shipping module is transported along a route from the first location to a second location;   retrieving the identifier for the component from the GPS device at the second location;   comparing the component disposed within the shipping module at the second location against the retrieved identifier for the component to verify that the component reached the second location; and   assembling the plurality of smart components at the second location using the assembly instructions retrieved from each smart component of the plurality of smart components.   
     
     
       27. The method of claim 26, further comprising producing a record of the route with the tracking processor, the record identifying a location of the GPS device at particular points in time. 
     
     
       28. The method of claim 27, wherein the record identifies a longitude signal and a latitude signal corresponding to the location of the GPS device at predetermined intervals of time. 
     
     
       29. The method of claim 26, further comprising receiving a location of the GPS device with the tracking processor in real-time. 
     
     
       30. The method of claim 26, further comprising receiving a signal from the GPS device with the tracking processor when the shipping module arrives at the second location. 
     
     
       31. A method for monitoring a shipping module having one or more components disposed therein, comprising:
 attaching a GPS device to the shipping module;   encoding assembly instructions for the one or more components into the GPS device at a first location to form a smart GPS device;   attaching the smart GPS device to the component to form a smart component;   forming a plurality of smart components;   tracking the shipping module with a tracking processor as the shipping module is transported from the first location to a second location, the tracking processor configured to receive a location signal from the GPS device;   retrieving the assembly instructions from the GPS device with an assembly processor at the second location; and   assembling the one or more components at the second location using the assembly instructions retrieved from each smart component of the plurality of smart components.   
     
     
       32. The method of claim 31, wherein the assembly instructions are instructions for assembling at least one of the one or more components at the second location. 
     
     
       33. The method of claim 31, wherein the assembly instructions are instructions for assembling a first one of the one or more components with a second one of the one or more components. 
     
     
       34. The method of claim 31, further comprising:
 encoding an identifier that uniquely identifies the shipping module into the GPS device at the first location; and   retrieving the identifier from the GPS device with the assembly processor at the second location.   
     
     
       35. The method of claim 34, further comprising:
 encoding specification information for the one or more components into the GPS device at the first location; and   retrieving the specification information from the GPS device with the assembly processor at the second location.   
     
     
       36. The method of claim 31, further comprising:
 encoding an identifier that uniquely identifies the one or more components disposed within the shipping module at the first location; and   retrieving the identifier from the GPS device with the assembly processor at the second location.