System and process to validate inspection data
First Claim
1. A method for providing a record that an inspection point was visited during an inspection, comprising the steps of:
- (a) moving a portable device to a point proximate to the inspection point, wherein the portable device is moved by an operator making the inspection, the portable device including a sensor for determining when the portable device is proximate to the inspection point;
(b) automatically detecting that the portable device is proximate to the inspection point and producing a signal indicative that the operator has moved the portable device sufficiently close to the inspection point to enable the operator to perform the inspection thereof; and
(c) immediately transmitting an indication that the operator was sufficiently close to the inspection point to make the inspection, to an external device via a wireless communication, such that the indication need not be stored in the portable device, the indication providing evidence that the operator was sufficiently close to the inspection point to perform the inspection.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Techniques are disclosed for validating that an operator has moved a portable device sufficiently close to an inspection point to enable the operator to perform an inspection. A first exemplary technique employs a first portable device that includes a sensor for detecting the inspection point, a speaker, and stored audible prompts to facilitate the inspection, but no display on which visual prompts for facilitating the inspection can be provided. An alternative second exemplary technique employs a second portable device having a sensor for detecting the inspection point, and a wireless transmitter. This second portable device generates and immediately transmits a signal to a remote receiver indicating that the operator has moved the portable device sufficiently close to the inspection point to enable the operator to perform the inspection. Accordingly, the second portable device need not include a memory for storing the signal.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. A method for providing a record that an inspection point was visited during an inspection, comprising the steps of:
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(a) moving a portable device to a point proximate to the inspection point, wherein the portable device is moved by an operator making the inspection, the portable device including a sensor for determining when the portable device is proximate to the inspection point; (b) automatically detecting that the portable device is proximate to the inspection point and producing a signal indicative that the operator has moved the portable device sufficiently close to the inspection point to enable the operator to perform the inspection thereof; and (c) immediately transmitting an indication that the operator was sufficiently close to the inspection point to make the inspection, to an external device via a wireless communication, such that the indication need not be stored in the portable device, the indication providing evidence that the operator was sufficiently close to the inspection point to perform the inspection. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A portable device for verifying that an inspection point was visited during an inspection by an operator carrying the portable device, comprising:
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(a) a housing; (b) a sensor for detecting when the portable device is proximate to the inspection point during the inspection, the sensor producing a signal indicative that the operator has moved the portable device sufficiently close to the inspection point to enable the operator to perform the inspection; (c) a transmitter that transmits an indication that the operator was sufficiently close to the inspection point to make the inspection, to a remote receiver, the indication providing evidence that the operator was sufficiently close to the inspection point to perform the inspection; and (d) a controller coupled to the transmitter and the sensor, the controller causing the indication to be immediately transmitted to the remote receiver, in response to the signal produced by the sensor, such that the indication need not be stored in the portable device. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 22)
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11. A method for providing a record that an inspection point was visited during an inspection, comprising the steps of:
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(a) providing a portable device including a speaker and a stored audible prompt for facilitating the inspection, the portable device also including a sensor for determining when the portable device is proximate to the inspection point; (b) moving a portable device to a point proximate to the inspection point, said portable device being moved by an operator making the inspection; (c) automatically detecting that the portable device is proximate to the inspection point and producing a signal indicative that the operator has moved the portable device sufficiently close to the inspection point to enable the operator to perform the inspection; (d) using the speaker to output the audible prompt to the operator to facilitate the inspection, without also providing a visual prompt for facilitating the inspection; and (e) automatically performing at least one additional step selected from a group of additional steps consisting of; (i) storing the signal in the portable device; (ii) immediately transmitting the signal to a remote device; (iii) producing a record based on the signal, and storing the record in the portable device; and (iv) producing a record based on the signal, and immediately transmitting the record to a remote device. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A portable device for verifying that an inspection point was visited during an inspection by an operator carrying the portable device, comprising:
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(a) a housing; (b) a sensor for detecting when the portable device is proximate to the inspection point during the inspection, the sensor producing a signal indicative that an operator has moved the portable device sufficiently close to the inspection point to enable the operator to perform the inspection; (c) a memory storing an audible prompt for facilitating the inspection; (d) a speaker for outputting the audible prompt to an operator; (e) a controller coupled to the memory, the speaker, and the sensor, the controller implementing the function of outputting the audible prompt stored in the memory using the speaker to facilitate the inspection, the controller further implementing at least one additional function selected from a group of additional functions consisting of; (i) storing the signal in the portable device; (ii) immediately transmitting the signal to a remote device; (iii) producing a record based on the signal, and storing the record in the portable device; and (iv) producing a record based on the signal, and immediately transmitting the record to a remote device; and (f) wherein the portable device does not include a display that can be used to provide a visual prompt to facilitate the inspection. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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21. A method for providing a record that an inspection point was visited during an inspection, comprising the steps of:
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(a) moving a portable device to a point proximate to the inspection point, wherein the portable device is moved by an operator making the inspection, the portable device including a sensor for determining when the portable device is proximate to the inspection point by determining that a geographical location of the portable device is proximate to a known geographical location of the inspection point; (b) automatically detecting that the portable device is proximate to the inspection point based on the geographical location of the portable device and the inspection point, and producing a signal indicative that the operator has moved the portable device sufficiently close to the inspection point to enable the operator to perform the inspection thereof; and (c) immediately transmitting an indication that the operator was sufficiently close to the inspection point to make the inspection to an external device via a wireless communication, such that the indication need not be stored in the portable device, the indication providing evidence that the operator was sufficiently close to the inspection point to perform the inspection.
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Specification