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System and method for obtaining and utilizing maintenance information

  • US 6,529,620 B2
  • Filed: 09/12/2001
  • Issued: 03/04/2003
  • Est. Priority Date: 09/11/2000
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. A method of inspecting an aircraft or an aircraft component from a remote location, the method comprising acts of:

  • loading a desired maintenance program into an inspection apparatus, the apparatus having a computer and a camera control unit coupled to the computer and adapted to receive and process images from an imager that is housed separately from the camera control unit, the apparatus being capable of capturing, together with the imager, both a streaming video digital image of the aircraft or aircraft component and a still digital image of the aircraft or aircraft component;

    instructing the same apparatus to capture, together with the imager, at least one of a) the streaming video digital image of the aircraft or an aircraft component at a first location and b) the still digital image of the aircraft or an aircraft component at a first location;

    operating the same apparatus to enter in the program remarks about the aircraft or aircraft component, the remarks including at least one of notes regarding a condition of the aircraft or aircraft component, a date the image was taken, an identification of the aircraft or the aircraft component, and an identification of a person using the apparatus;

    instructing the same apparatus to electronically transmit the at least one of streaming video digital image, still digital image and remarks to a second location remote from the first location;

    reviewing the at least one of streaming video digital image, still digital image and the remarks at the second location;

    preparing instructions based on at least one of the streaming video digital image, still digital image and remarks;

    transmitting instructions back to the first location; and

    performing maintenance on the aircraft or an aircraft component in response to the instructions.

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