Data processing and validation
First Claim
1. A method for validating data from a remote vehicle emission sensing device, comprising the steps of:
- obtaining data from at least one remote vehicle emission sensing device including at least vehicle emission data;
validating at least a part of the data by inspection of at least some of said vehicle emission data, wherein the step of validating the data comprises one or more of;
a) checking for insufficient exhaust plume, b) checking for a calibration error, c) checking for improper optical component alignment, d) checking for inordinately low or high readings for one or more exhaust components, e) checking for large variations between different readings taken for the same exhaust plume, f) determining whether there is a second source of emissions present, g) determining whether vehicle speed criteria are met, h) determining whether vehicle acceleration criteria are met, and i) determining whether ambient or local conditions have significantly influenced the data collected;
designating that the vehicle emission data either;
i) meets predetermined quality assurance criteria;
or ii) does not meet predetermined quality assurance criteria; and
providing an indication that said data has been validated.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A data processing and validation system is used for data from remote sensing devices for vehicle emissions. The system transfers data including emissions data and vehicle images from a remote sensing unit to the data processing system. A user processes and validates the data based on vehicle images and other information gather by the remote sensing device. Data may then be converted into text form and loaded into a spreadsheet or database for viewing by a user. Vehicle images may be printed out along with emissions data for enforcement purposes. A variety of data processing forms may be generated to improve management of data processing and validation.
40 Citations
34 Claims
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1. A method for validating data from a remote vehicle emission sensing device, comprising the steps of:
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obtaining data from at least one remote vehicle emission sensing device including at least vehicle emission data;
validating at least a part of the data by inspection of at least some of said vehicle emission data, wherein the step of validating the data comprises one or more of;
a) checking for insufficient exhaust plume, b) checking for a calibration error, c) checking for improper optical component alignment, d) checking for inordinately low or high readings for one or more exhaust components, e) checking for large variations between different readings taken for the same exhaust plume, f) determining whether there is a second source of emissions present, g) determining whether vehicle speed criteria are met, h) determining whether vehicle acceleration criteria are met, and i) determining whether ambient or local conditions have significantly influenced the data collected;
designating that the vehicle emission data either;
i) meets predetermined quality assurance criteria;
orii) does not meet predetermined quality assurance criteria; and
providing an indication that said data has been validated. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 16, 17)
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14. A method for validating information from a remote vehicle emission sensing device comprising the steps of:
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sensing emissions from a vehicle at the remote sensing device to create emissions data;
obtaining an image of a license plate of a vehicle at the remote sensing device to create image data;
combining the emissions data and image data;
forwarding the combined data to a processing station;
displaying the combined data at the processing station;
validating at least part of the combined data by inspection, wherein the step of validating comprises;
a) reviewing the vehicle emission data for reliability;
b) comparing the vehicle emission data to predetermined data ranges to ensure that the vehicle emission data meets predetermined quality assurance criteria; and
c) designating that the vehicle emission data either;
i) meets predetermined quality assurance criteria;
orii) does not meet predetermined quality assurance criteria; and
forwarding the validated data to a data storage location. - View Dependent Claims (15)
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18. A system for validating data from a remote vehicle emission sensing device, the system comprising:
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a remote vehicle emission sensing device for remotely obtaining vehicle emission data from the exhaust plume of a vehicle;
means for validating at least a part of the vehicle emission data by inspection of said data, wherein validating comprises;
a) comparing the vehicle emission data to predetermined data ranges to ensure that the vehicle emission data meets predetermined quality assurance criteria; and
b) designating that the vehicle emission data either;
i) meets predetermined quality assurance criteria;
orii) does not meet predetermined quality assurance criteria; and
means for providing an indication that said data has been validated. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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32. A system for processing information from a remote vehicle emission sensing device comprising:
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means for obtaining an image of a license plate of a vehicle at the remote sensing device to create image data;
means for automatically reading the license plate to create license plate data;
means for combining the emissions data, image data, and license plate data;
means for forwarding the combined data to a processing station;
means for displaying the combined data at the processing station;
means for validating the combined data by inspection, wherein validating comprises;
a) comparing the vehicle emission data to predetermined data ranges to ensure that the vehicle emission data meets predetermined quality assurance criteria; and
b) designating that the vehicle emission data either;
i) meets predetermined quality assurance criteria;
orii) does not meet predetermined quality assurance criteria; and
means for forwarding the validated data to a data storage location. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34)
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Specification