Inspection Tool

• US 20130262497A1
• Filed: 04/01/2013
• Published: 10/03/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 04/02/2012
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Inventors: Case, Chad William, Green, Gerald Lee, Johnson, Gregory T., Juchems, Mark, Kamp, Michael E., Young, Michael David, Bergstrom, Steven
• Application Number:
  US13/854,543
• Publication Number:
  US 20130262497A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 707/758
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/5838 using colour
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/174 Form filling; Merging
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/20 Administration of product repair or maintenance
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/01 Protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/025 for remote control or remote monitoring of applications

Abstract

An electronic tool is disclosed to collect form data to determine if physical adjustments are required by a physical object. The forms may be device agnostic and the data may be stored in a way that the forms may be created, reviewed and edited on virtually any device that can execute a web browser and have periodic network access.

Claims

1. A method of collecting inspection data for a physical object comprising:

executing an inspection application for the physical object via a computing device wherein the inspection application may execute if the computing device is not in communication with a network;

determining an identification for the physical object to be inspected;

selecting an inspection form from a plurality of inspection forms based on the identification of the physical object;

displaying the inspection form in the inspection application;

accepting inspection data for the physical object into the inspection form in the inspection application on the computing device;

communicating the inspection data via a network;

arranging the inspection data and the identification into a formatted inspection data wherein the formatted inspection data comprise inspection data modified into a common format;

storing the formatted inspection data in a memory remote from the computing device;

analyzing the formatted inspection data, the analysis comprising;

determining a status of the item;

sending a notification based on the status;

determining if modifications of the physical object are required; and

if the physical object requires a modification, creating notifications that the modification has been determined to be necessary.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the inspection data comprises at least one digital image.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the digital image is taken with a portable computing device.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the digital image may be annotated using the inspection application.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the inspection data comprises measured data from a digital device in communication with the portable computing device.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein if the computing device has network access, identification data may be inputted and used to obtain additional data about the physical object being inspected.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein past data about the physical object may be reviewed on a portable computing device.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein a security module ensures qualified applicants may access the inspection application.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising obtaining machine specific data and storing the data as additional inspection data.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein machine specific data comprises equipment control module information.

11. An inspection application using computer executable instructions stored in a non-volatile memory that when executed on a processor of a portable computing device cause the processor to:

receive information related to a physical object;

determine an identification for the physical object using the information;

select an inspection form from a plurality of inspection forms;

display the inspection form in the inspection application;

accept inspection data for the physical object into the inspection form in the inspection application on the portable computing device;

store the inspection data and the identification in a memory on the portable computing device;

send the inspection data to a server via a network;

receive an incoming notification from the server via the network that additional inspection is required;

determine a party required to perform the additional inspection; and

send a notification to the party.

12. The inspection application of claim 11, having further instructions that cause the processor to:

determine that a physical modification to the physical object are required; and

create notifications that the physical modification has been determined to be necessary.

13. The inspection application of claim 11, wherein to accept the inspection data comprises to accept inspection data having a rating of a condition of a component.

14. The inspection application of claim 11, having further instructions that cause the processor to:

review a digital image in an inspection report for maintenance information and identity information data on the physical object.

15. The inspection application of claim 11, having further instructions that cause the processor to:

receive measured data from an other device in communication with the inspection application.

16. The inspection application of claim 15, wherein the other device is an ultrasound device used to capture weld integrity.

17. The inspection application of claim 11, having further instructions that cause the processor to:

determine an rating of an area of concern; and

recommending a repair based on the rating.

18. The inspection application of claim 11, wherein the party determined to be required to perform the additional inspection is one of a dealer and an expert inspector.

19. A method of reviewing a digital image in an inspection report for maintenance data on a device comprising a plurality of components comprising:

reviewing the inspection report for digital images of the device;

if the digital image is attached, analyzing the digital image for identification data of the device comprising;

if a manufacturer of the device is not known, analyzing the digital image for data indicating the manufacturer;

if the manufacturer cannot be determined from the digital image;

comparing the device to known devices;

selecting a best match of known devices as the determined manufacturer of the device;

storing the determined manufacturer in a memory;

augmenting the inspection report with the determined manufacturer.

if a model of the device is not known, analyzing the digital image for data indicating the model;

if the model cannot be determined from the digital image;

comparing the device to known devices;

selecting the best match of known devices as the determined model of the device;

storing the determined model in the memory;

augmenting the inspection report with the determined model;

if a year of the device is not known, analyzing the digital image for year data;

if the year cannot be determined from the digital image;

comparing the device to known devices;

selecting the best match of known devices as the determined year of the device;

storing the determined year in a the memory;

augmenting the inspection report with the determined year;

if a serial number of the device is not known, analyzing the digital image for data indicating the serial number;

if the serial number cannot be determined from the digital image;

comparing the device to known devices;

selecting the best match of known devices as the determined serial number of the device;

storing the determined serial number in the memory; and

augmenting the inspection report with the determined serial number.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

reviewing the digital image for additional possible issues comprising;

searching for wear indications;

searching for damage indications;

storing the additional possible issues in the memory;

augmenting the inspection report with the additional possible issues;

reviewing the inspection report for possible issues;

analyzing the digital image for additional issue data related to the possible issues;

storing the additional issue data in the memory;

augmenting the inspection report with the additional issue data, and

presenting the inspection report with the augmented inspection report to an inspector and an owner.