LOW COST METHOD FOR CREATING PRODUCT CONDITION REPORTS FROM FIELD INSPECTIONS

• US 20120209564A1
• Filed: 02/10/2011
• Published: 08/16/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 02/10/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: John Gardner Pfanstiehl
• Original Assignee: John Gardner Pfanstiehl
• Inventors: Pfanstiehl, John Gardner
• Granted Patent: US 8,874,408 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 702/170
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/20 Administration of product repair or maintenance
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/10 Services

Abstract

A low cost method of measuring parameters of a product in the field, such as the coating thickness on an individual vehicle, sends the measurement data set to a common pocket-size device also carried by the inspector, labels the data set, and transmits the data set to a remote computer to produce a product condition report. Alternately, the data can be transmitted directly to a remote buyer. The method is a low cost, practical and efficient because the inspector in the field only requires two pocket-size wireless devices. Inspectors are freed from carrying relatively bulky or heavy computers in the field. Furthermore, the method employs devices already owned by a numerous inspectors and the method requires no proprietary or expensive equipment. The remote computer permits the efficient addition of further information to create detailed reports that are organized or compiled and transmitted to customers.

Claims

1. A method for practically, efficiently and inexpensively measuring a parameter of a product in the field to produce a product condition report containing objective documentation of the condition of that product, comprising:

a) taking measurements of a predetermined parameter of said product using a pocket-size, battery-powered measurement instrument,

b) automatically storing said measurements in a memory in said instrument in a data set of one or more of said measurements,

c) starting a product data set application program in a pocket-size, battery- powered device having a wireless receiver and an electronic circuit that wirelessly transmits data to a network,

d) transmitting said data set wirelessly from said measuring instrument to said device,

e) receiving said data set with said device,

f) transmitting said product data set from said device, and

g) receiving said labeled product data set into a remote computer or into a remote smartphone.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of:

labeling said data set with an identifying information.

3. The method of claim 1, said device further having:

a display and an interface for user input.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising the steps of:

starting a product report software program on said remote computer or said remote smartphone, and

creating a product condition report using said product report software program.

5. The method of claim 4 further comprising the step of:

inputting additional information into said remote computer or said remote smartphone when necessary using said product report software program.

6. The method of claim 4 further comprising the step of:

transmitting said product condition report from said remote computer or said remote smartphone to a printer or an interested party'"'"'s computer or an interested party'"'"'s smartphone.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of:

labeling said data set with a time stamp or GPS location.

8. A method for efficiently measuring the exterior coating thickness of a vehicle in the field to produce a vehicle condition report containing objective documentation reporting the condition of the body and paint of said vehicle, comprising:

a) taking measurements of the coating thickness of exterior body panels of a vehicle using a pocket-size, battery-powered coating thickness gauge,

b) automatically storing said measurements in an internal memory in said gauge in a coating thickness data set using an internal program in said gauge,

c) starting a vehicle data set application program in a pocket-size, battery-powered device having a wireless receiver and an electronic circuit that wirelessly transmits data to a network,

d) transmitting said coating thickness data set wirelessly from said coating thickness gauge to said device,

e) receiving said coating thickness data set from said coating thickness gauge into said device,

f) transmitting said data set from said device,

g) receiving said data set into a remote computer or a remote smartphone.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein said measurements are taken:

at predetermined locations in a predetermined sequence.

10. The method of claim 8 wherein said device further has:

a display and an interface for user input,

and further comprising the step of;

inputting vehicle information into said application running on said device.

11. The method of claim 8 further comprising the step of:

a) starting a vehicle report software program on said remote computer,

b) inputting additional information when necessary using said vehicle report software program,

c) creating a vehicle condition report, and

d) transmitting said vehicle condition report to printer or to an interested party'"'"'s remote computer or an interested party'"'"'s smartphone.

12. The method of claim 8 further comprising the step of:

taking measurements of the coating thickness in the range of 0 to 500 microns or 0 to 999 microns.

13. The method of claim 8 further comprising the step of:

taking measurements of the coating thickness on both ferrous and non-ferrous substrates.

14. The method of claim 8 further comprising the step of:

labeling said coating thickness data set or said vehicle data set with a time stamp or a vehicle identification number.

15. A method for practically, efficiently and inexpensively measuring a parameter of a product in the field to produce a product condition report containing objective documentation of the condition of that product, comprising

a) attaching a pocket size, battery powered communication device having a display, a receiver, and an electronic circuit that wirelessly transmits data to a network, and a user-input interface to a pocket-size, battery-powered measurement device,

b) starting a product data set application program in said communication device,

c) taking measurements of a parameter of a product using said measurement device,

d) automatically transmitting said measurements to said communication device,

e) receiving said measurements into said communication device to produce a data set of one or more of said measurements

f) inputting product information into said application program running on said communication device to produce a labeled product data set,

g) transmitting said labeled product data set from said communication device,

h) receiving said labeled product data set into a remote computer or a remote smartphone.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein said measuring device is a self-contained measurement instrument attaching to said communication device by means of a docking port.

17. The method of claim 15 wherein said measuring device is a transducer attaching to said communication device by means of a docking port.

18. The method of claim 15 wherein said measuring device is a transducer attaching to said communication device during manufacture whereby a single combination device is created.

19. The method of claim 15 further comprising the steps of:

a) starting a product report software program on said remote computer,

b) inputting additional information when necessary using said product report software program,

c) creating a product condition report, and

d) transmitting said product condition report to a printer, a remote smartphone, or a interested party'"'"'s computer.

20. The method of claim 15 further comprising the step of:

labeling said data set in said communication device with a time stamp or a product identification number.