Systems and methods for recording and reporting data collected from a remote location
First Claim
1. A system for the recording and reporting of data comprising:
- a server located at a first location;
a client located at a second location, the client having a client-server communications interface for communication with the server; and
a portable computing device for collecting inspection data at a third location according to an inspection plan, the third location being remote from the second and first locations, wherein the portable computing device further includes;
means for receiving signals for determining the geographic position of the portable computing device;
means for determining the geographic position of the portable computing device from the signals, the geographic position of the portable computing device forming at least a portion of the inspection data collected according to the inspection plan;
a memory for storing the inspection data; and
a bidirectional communications interface for transmitting the inspection data to the client and receiving the inspection plan from the client.
8 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Systems and methods for recording and reporting data collected from a remote location are disclosed. A work order, defining infrastructure to be inspected at a remote site and including an inspection plan for collecting inspection information, is generated on a first computer system and transferred to a portable computing system. Inspection data is collected pursuant to the inspection plan on the portable computing system. A global positioning system (GPS) receiver associated with the portable computing system provides location information related to inspected infrastructure during the inspection. After collection, inspection data is transferred from the portable computing system to the first and/or to a second computing system for storage and the generation of related reports. The location information obtained during the inspection can be used to determine dimensional measurements of the infrastructure and to generate visual depictions of infrastructure components and defects.
161 Citations
24 Claims
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1. A system for the recording and reporting of data comprising:
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a server located at a first location;
a client located at a second location, the client having a client-server communications interface for communication with the server; and
a portable computing device for collecting inspection data at a third location according to an inspection plan, the third location being remote from the second and first locations, wherein the portable computing device further includes;
means for receiving signals for determining the geographic position of the portable computing device;
means for determining the geographic position of the portable computing device from the signals, the geographic position of the portable computing device forming at least a portion of the inspection data collected according to the inspection plan;
a memory for storing the inspection data; and
a bidirectional communications interface for transmitting the inspection data to the client and receiving the inspection plan from the client. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A roof inspection system comprising:
a portable computing device that can be transported between a first location and a second location, the second location being remote from the first location, the portable computing device including;
at least one auxiliary component for collecting roof inspection information at the second remote location according to an inspection plan executed by the portable computing device, the roof inspection information collected by the at least one auxiliary component including geographic positions defining a geometric shape of at least a portion of the roof and a geographic position of at least one component associated with the roof; and
a bidirectional communications interface for transferring the roof inspection information from the portable computing device to a second computing device over the bidirectional communications interface at a time when the portable computing device is located at the first location. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method for inspecting infrastructure comprising the steps of:
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collecting inspection information during an infrastructure assessment pursuant to an inspection plan executed by a portable computing device, the infrastructure assessment conducted at a first location, the step of collecting inspection information further including;
receiving at least one signal;
determining the location of the portable computing device based on the received signal;
associating the location of the portable device with an infrastructure component; and
storing the location and an identification of the associated infrastructure component in memory; and
transferring the inspection information from the portable computing device to a second computing device. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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21. A method for inspecting infrastructure comprising the steps of:
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collecting inspection information during an infrastructure assessment pursuant to an inspection plan executed by a portable computing device, the infrastructure assessment conducted at a first location, the step of collecting inspection information further including;
assessing the condition of an infrastructure component;
associating the assessment with an identification of the infrastructure component; and
storing the assessment and identification of the infrastructure in memory associated with the portable computing device; and
transferring the inspection information from the portable computing device to a second computing device. - View Dependent Claims (22)
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23. A system for inspecting infrastructure comprising:
a portable computing device having logic configured to;
record an assessment of a condition of an infrastructure component pursuant to an inspection plan;
associate the assessment with an identification of the infrastructure component; and
store the assessment and the identification of the infrastructure in a memory associated with the portable computing device; and
transfer the assessment and identification of the infrastructure from the memory associated with the portable computing device to a second computing device located at a second location. - View Dependent Claims (24)
Specification