Method for Inspecting a Physical Asset

• US 20120023435A1
• Filed: 01/25/2011
• Published: 01/26/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 07/23/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Jkads LLC
• Original Assignee: Jkads LLC
• Inventors: Kneppers, Adolph Johannes, Corkhill, Alan Malcolm
• Granted Patent: US 9,064,290 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/780
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/048 Interaction techniques based on graphical user interfaces [GUI]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0484 for the control of specific functions or operations, e.g. selecting or manipulating an object, an image or a displayed text element, setting a parameter value or selecting a range
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/16 Real estate
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 90/00 Systems or methods specially adapted for administrative, commercial, financial, managerial or supervisory purposes, not involving significant data processing

Abstract

A method of inspecting a physical asset using a mobile computing device is disclosed. Data regarding the asset and its condition is collected on the mobile device by a user, and may include photographs, audio or video recordings, text or other types of data. The data is automatically annotated with the current time and the geo-location of the device. The data is transmitted to a server and saved in a manner such that it may not be modified. This allows for auditing, as well as tracking of the asset over time by comparing data entered at one time with data entered at another time. Reports may be automatically generated from the saved data when desired. Pre-defined fields for data entry may be presented for ease of use. In some embodiments, the asset being inspected is a building, house or apartment.

Claims

1. A method of inspecting an asset, comprising:

providing on a mobile computing device a graphical user interface indicating a plurality of pre-defined elements of the asset to be inspected and a plurality of types of data that may be entered, and for entering data in predefined fields in formats appropriate to each element and type of data;

receiving via the graphical user interface a selection of one or more of the plurality of pre-defined elements of the asset to be inspected;

receiving via the graphical user interface one or more of the plurality of types of data for each selected element;

automatically annotating the received data with the current time and the geo-location of the mobile computing device;

transmitting the received selection and annotated data to a server;

storing the received selection and annotated data on the server in a manner in which they may not be modified, thereby creating an audit trail of the received selection and annotated data.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the graphical user interface further indicates a plurality of pre-defined types of assets, and the method further comprises receiving via the graphical user interface a selection of one of the plurality of pre-defined types of assets to be inspected.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein automatically annotating the received data further comprises determining the geo-location of the mobile computing device with a GPS application in the mobile computing device.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein automatically annotating the received data further comprises receiving the geo-location of the mobile computing device from a cellular network.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising automatically generating a report on the condition of the asset based upon the received selection and annotated data stored on the server.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the report comprises a printed document.

7. The method of claim 5 wherein the report comprises a web page viewable in a browser window.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein one of the plurality of types of data that may be entered comprises text.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein one of the plurality of types of data that may be entered comprises an image.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein one of the plurality of types of data that may be entered comprises a photograph.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein one of the plurality of types of data that may be entered comprises audio.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein one of the plurality of types of data that may be entered comprises video.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein the asset is a building or a unit within a building and the pre-defined elements are spaces within the unit or building.

14. The method of claim 1 wherein the mobile computing device is a smart phone.

15. The method of claim 1 wherein the data stored on the server constitutes first data regarding the asset, the method further comprising:

collecting additional data regarding the asset at a later date and time by;

receiving via the graphical user interface an additional selection of one or more of the plurality of pre-defined elements of the asset to be inspected;

receiving via the graphical user interface additional data of one or more of the plurality of types of data for each selected element;

automatically annotating the received additional data with the current time and the geo-location of the mobile computing device;

transmitting the received selection and stored additional data to a server; and

storing the transmitted additional data on the server in a manner in which the data may not be modified.

16. The method of claim 15 further comprising generating a report showing any change between the first data and the additional data that indicates a change in condition of the asset between the time the first data is received and the time the additional data is received.