Automated data capture system

• US 20040153269A1
• Filed: 02/15/2002
• Published: 08/05/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 02/16/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: American Management Systems, Incorporated (CGI, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: American Management Systems, Incorporated (CGI, Inc.)
• Inventors: Kalas, Frank Joseph Jr.
• Application Number:
  US10/075,594
• Publication Number:
  US 20040153269A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 702/81
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 23/0243 model based detection method, e.g. first-principles knowledge model

Abstract

An automated data capture system including mobile terminals brought by inspectors to an inspection vicinity of an end-item. The inspectors inspect components of the end-item and enter resulting inspection data into the terminals. The entered inspection data is electronically transferred to a database system which correlates and maintains the inspection data for the end-item.

Claims

1. An automated data capture system comprising:

terminals located in an inspection vicinity of an end-item formed of different components, inspectors inspecting the components and entering resulting inspection data into the terminals; and

a database system, the entered inspection data from each of the inspectors being electronically transferred to the database system and correlated and maintained by the database system as inspection data for the end-item.

2. A system as in claim 1, wherein the terminals are mobile terminals, each inspector taking a respective mobile terminal with the inspector to a inspection vicinity of each component being inspected by the inspector so that the inspector can enter inspection data directly into the terminal as the inspector inspects the component.

3. A system as in claim 1, further comprising:

a computer-implemented information adder allowing inspectors to select a component for which inspection data will be entered, thereby allowing the inspectors to select the order in which components will be inspected.

4. A system as in claim 3, wherein, after a respective inspector selects a component for which inspection data will be entered, the information adder automatically provides an electronically selectable list of standard discrepancies for the selected component to the inspector, the inspector then electronically selecting a standard discrepancy from the list to thereby enter the standard discrepancy as inspection data indicating that the standard discrepancy was found during the inspection by the inspector of the selected component.

5. A system as in claim 1, further comprising:

a computer-implemented information modifier allowing inspectors to access previously entered inspection data maintained by the database system and modify the accessed inspection data.

6. A system as in claim 5, wherein the information modifier is operable by the inspectors from the terminals.

7. A system as in claim 5, wherein, to access previously entered inspection data, the information modifier allows inspectors to select a component for which previously entered inspection data will be modified, thereby allowing different inspectors to modify different previously entered inspection data and allowing the order in which components are selected to be determined by the inspectors.

8. A system as in claim 7, wherein inspectors are not allowed to modify previously inspected inspection data that is currently approved by an authorized approver.

9. A system as in claim 1, further comprising:

a computer-implemented information viewer allowing inspectors to electronically view previously entered inspection data maintained by the database system.

10. A system as in claim 9, wherein the information viewer is operable by the inspectors from the terminals.

11. A system as in claim 9, wherein, to view previously entered inspection data, the information viewer allows inspectors to select a component for which previously entered inspection data will be viewed, thereby allowing different inspectors to view different previously entered inspection data and allowing the order in which components are selected to be determined by the inspectors.

12. A system as in claim 1, further comprising:

a computer-implemented information deleter allowing inspectors to access previously entered inspection data maintained by the database system and delete the accessed inspection data.

13. A system as in claim 12, wherein the information deleter is operable by the inspectors from the terminals.

14. A system as in claim 12, wherein, to access previously entered inspection data, the information deleter allows inspectors to select a component for which previously entered inspection data will be deleted, thereby allowing different inspectors to delete different previously entered inspection data and allowing the order in which components are selected to be determined by the inspectors.

15. A system as in claim 12, wherein inspectors are not allowed to delete previously inspected inspection data that is currently approved by an authorized approver.

16. A system as in claim 1, further comprising:

a computer-implemented information duplicator allowing inspectors to access previously entered inspection data maintained by the database system and duplicate the accessed inspection data.

17. A system as in claim 16, wherein the information duplicator is operable by the inspectors from the terminals.

18. A system as in claim 16, wherein, to access previously entered inspection data, the information duplicator allows inspectors to select a component for which previously entered inspection data will be duplicated, thereby allowing different inspectors to duplicate different previously entered inspection data and allowing the order in which components are selected to be determined by the inspectors.

19. A system as in claim 1, further comprising:

a computer-implemented authorizer allowing an authorizer to electronically access the inspection data maintained by the database system, and electronically authorize the maintained data.

20. A system as in claim 1, further comprising:

an exporter electronically exporting the inspection data for the end-item from the database system to a work order system which automatically generates work orders from the exported data.

21. An automated data capture system comprising:

a first mobile terminal for a first inspector, the first inspector inspecting components of an end-item in an order selectable by the first inspector, inspection of a respective component by the first inspector resulting in inspection data which is directly entered into the first mobile terminal in an inspection vicinity of the component by the first inspector;

a second mobile terminal for a second inspector, the second inspector inspecting components of the end-item in an order selectable by the second inspector, inspection of a respective component by the second inspector resulting in inspection data which is directly entered into the second mobile terminal in an inspection vicinity of the component by the second inspector; and

a database system, the entered inspection data from the first and second inspectors being electronically transferred to the database system and correlated and maintained by the database system as inspection data for the end-item.

22. A system as in claim 21, further comprising:

a computer-implemented information adder allowing the first and second inspectors to select a component for which inspection data will be entered, thereby allowing the first and second inspectors to select the order in which components will be inspected.

23. A system as in claim 22, wherein, after a respective inspector of the first and second inspectors selects a component for which inspection data will be entered, the information adder automatically provides an electronically selectable list of standard discrepancies for the selected component to the respective inspector, the respective inspector then electronically selecting a standard discrepancy from the list to thereby enter the standard discrepancy as inspection data indicating that the standard discrepancy was found during the inspection by the respective inspector of the selected component.

24. A system as in claim 21, further comprising:

an exporter electronically exporting the inspection data for the end-item from the database system to a work order system generating work orders from the exported data.

25. An automated data capture system comprising:

an information adder;

a first mobile terminal for a first inspector, the first mobile terminal operable with the information adder to allow the first inspector to select a component of an end-item for which the first inspector will enter inspection data while in an inspection vicinity of the selected component, wherein, after the first inspector selects a component, the information adder automatically provides an electronically selectable list of standard discrepancies for the selected component to the first inspector via the first mobile terminal, the first inspector then electronically selecting a standard discrepancy from the list while in the inspection vicinity to thereby enter the standard discrepancy as inspection data indicating that the standard discrepancy was found during an inspection of the selected component;

a second mobile terminal for a second inspector, the second mobile terminal operable with the information adder to allow the second inspector to select a component of the end-item for which the second inspector will enter inspection data while in an inspection vicinity of the selected component, wherein, after the second inspector selects a component, the information adder automatically provides an electronically selectable list of standard discrepancies for the selected component to the second inspector via the second mobile terminal, the second inspector then electronically selecting a standard discrepancy from the list while in the inspection vicinity to thereby enter the standard discrepancy as inspection data indicating that the standard discrepancy was found during an inspection of the selected component; and

a database system, the entered inspection data from the first and second inspectors being electronically transferred to the database system and correlated and maintained by the database system as inspection data for the end-item.

26. A system as in claim 25, further comprising:

an exporter electronically exporting the inspection data for the end-item from the database system to a work order system generating work orders from the exported data.

27. A system as in claim 25, further comprising:

a computer-implemented information modifier allowing the first inspector to access, via the first mobile terminal, previously entered inspection data maintained by the database system and to modify the accessed inspection data, and allowing the second inspector to access, via the second mobile terminal, previously entered inspection data maintained by the database system and to modify the accessed inspection data.

28. A system as in claim 26, further comprising:

a computer-implemented information modifier allowing the first inspector to access, via the first mobile terminal, previously entered inspection data maintained by the database system and to modify the accessed inspection data, and allowing the second inspector to access, via the second mobile terminal, previously entered inspection data maintained by the database system and to modify the accessed inspection data.

29. A system as in claim 25, wherein reference data is cross-referenced with standard discrepancy data so that, when a respective inspector selects a standard discrepancy, the cross-referenced data is auto-populated and then displayed on the respective terminal of the inspector.

30. An automated data capture system comprising:

an information adder;

a first terminal for a first inspector, the first terminal operable with the information adder to allow the first inspector to select a component of an end-item for which the first inspector will enter inspection data while in an inspection vicinity of the selected component, wherein, after the first inspector selects a component, the information adder automatically provides an electronically selectable list of standard discrepancies for the selected component to the first inspector via the first terminal, the first inspector then electronically selecting a standard discrepancy from the list while in the inspection vicinity to thereby enter the standard discrepancy as inspection data indicating that the standard discrepancy was found during an inspection of the selected component;

a second terminal for a second inspector, the second terminal operable with the information adder to allow the second inspector to select a component of the end-item for which the second inspector will enter inspection data while in an inspection vicinity of the selected component, wherein, after the second inspector selects a component, the information adder automatically provides an electronically selectable list of standard discrepancies for the selected component to the second inspector via the second terminal, the second inspector then electronically selecting a standard discrepancy from the list while in the inspection vicinity to thereby enter the standard discrepancy as inspection data indicating that the standard discrepancy was found during an inspection of the selected component; and

a database system, the entered inspection data from the first and second inspectors being electronically transferred to the database system and correlated and maintained by the database system as inspection data for the end-item.

31. A system as in claim 30, further comprising:

an exporter electronically exporting the inspection data for the end-item from the database system to a work order system generating work orders from the exported data.

32. A system as in claim 30, further comprising:

a computer-implemented information modifier allowing the first inspector to access, via the first terminal, previously entered inspection data maintained by the database system and to modify the accessed inspection data, and allowing the second inspector to access, via the second terminal, previously entered inspection data maintained by the database system and to modify the accessed inspection data.

33. A system as in claim 31, further comprising:

a computer-implemented information modifier allowing the first inspector to access, via the first terminal, previously entered inspection data maintained by the database system and to modify the accessed inspection data, and allowing the second inspector to access, via the second terminal, previously entered inspection data maintained by the database system and to modify the accessed inspection data.

34. A system as in claim 30, wherein reference data is cross-referenced with standard discrepancy data so that, when a respective inspector selects a standard discrepancy, the cross-referenced data is auto-populated and then displayed on the respective terminal of the inspector.