Computer enabled method for disabling protective safety gear

• US 8,326,443 B2
• Filed: 05/24/2010
• Issued: 12/04/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/24/2010
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Nelson, Mark A., Peters, Kevin H., Ruggiero, Louis R.
• Primary Examiner(s): PATEL, RAMESH B
• Application Number:
  US12/785,649
• Publication Number:
  US 20110288659A1
• Time in Patent Office: 925 Days
• Field of Search: 700/21, 700/79, 726/21, 382/181, 382/203, 382/312
• US Class Current: 700/79
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 9/02 electric

Abstract

An apparatus control method and system. The method includes disabling by a computer processor of a computing system, an apparatus. The computer processor retrieves detection data, safety gear detection data, and safety gear indication data. The computer processor analyzes the detection data, the safety gear detection data, and the safety gear indication data and in response to results of the analysis, the computer processor enables the apparatus.

Claims

1. A method comprising the steps of:

disabling, by a computer processor of a computing system, an apparatus;

retrieving, by said computer processor from a detection device, comprising a video retrieval device, first detection data indicating that a first individual is located within a specified proximity of said apparatus;

retrieving, by said computer processor from said detection device, first safety gear detection data indicating that said first individual is correctly wearing first specified protective gear;

retrieving, by said computer processor from said detection device, first safety gear indication data indicating that said first specified protective gear comprises a first unique marking indicating a correct type of protective gear associated with said first specified protective gear and using said apparatus, wherein said first unique marking further indicates a specified classes of said first specified protective gear and a specified protection level within said specified class;

performing, by said computer processor, an optical character recognition process associated with said first unique marking, wherein results of said optical character recognition process results in decoding said first unique marking;

analyzing, by said computer processor, said first detection data, said first safety gear detection data, said first safety gear indication data, and said results of said optical character recognition process;

performing by said computer processor, a facial recognition process of said first individual;

first determining, by said computer processor in response to results generated during said performing said facial recognition process that said first specified protective gear is located within a specified unique zone on said first individual; and

enabling, by said computer processor in response to results of said analyzing, and said first determining, said apparatus.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

retrieving, by said computer processor from said detection device, second safety gear detection data indicating that said first specified protective gear has been removed from said first individual; and

disabling, by said computer processor in response to analyzing said second safety gear detection data, said apparatus.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said unique marking further indicates a correct level of protection associated with said first specified protective gear and said using said apparatus.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

retrieving, by said computer processor from said detection device, second detection data indicating that a second individual is located within said specified proximity of said apparatus; and

disabling, by said computer processor in response to analyzing said second detection data, said apparatus.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

retrieving, by said computer processor from said detection device, position data indicating that said first individual has moved to an unapproved location with respect to said apparatus; and

disabling, by said computer processor in response to analyzing said position data, said apparatus.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said analyzing said first safety gear indication data comprises:

validating, by said computer processor in response to said results generated during said facial recognition process, that said first unique marking comprises a correct marking.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining, by said computer processor based on a type of said apparatus, that said first individual is required to wear additional specified protective gear;

retrieving, by said computer processor from said detection device, second safety gear detection data indicating that said first individual is correctly wearing second specified protective gear associated with said additional specified protective gear;

retrieving, by said computer processor from said detection device, second safety gear indication data indicating that said second specified protective gear comprises a second unique marking indicating a correct type of protective gear associated with said second specified protective gear and using said apparatus; and

second analyzing, by said computer processor, said second safety gear detection data and said second safety gear indication data, wherein said enabling is in further response to result of said second analyzing.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

retrieving, by said computer processor from said detection device, second detection data indicating that a second individual is located within said specified proximity of said apparatus;

retrieving, by said computer processor from said detection device, second safety gear detection data indicating that said second individual is correctly wearing second specified protective gear comprising a same type of protective gear as said first specified protective gear;

retrieving, by said computer processor from said detection device, second safety gear indication data indicating that said second specified protective gear comprises a second unique marking indicating a correct type of protective gear associated with said second specified protective gear and using said apparatus;

second analyzing, by said computer processor, said second detection data, said second safety gear detection data, and said second safety gear indication data; and

confirming, by said computer processor in response to results of said second analyzing, said enabling of said apparatus.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

retrieving, by said computer processor from said detection device, second detection data indicating that a second individual is located within said specified proximity of said apparatus;

determining, by said computer processor based on said second detection data, a specified distance between said second individual and said apparatus;

determining, by said computer processor based on said specified distance, second specified protective gear to be worn by said second individual;

retrieving, by said computer processor from said detection device, second safety gear detection data indicating that said second individual is correctly wearing said second specified protective gear;

retrieving, by said computer processor from said detection device, second safety gear indication data indicating that said second specified protective gear comprises a second unique marking indicating a correct type of protective gear associated with said second specified protective gear and using said apparatus;

second analyzing, by said computer processor, said second detection data, said second safety gear detection data, and said second safety gear indication data; and

confirming, by said computer processor in response to results of said second analyzing, said enabling of said apparatus.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein said second specified protective gear comprises a same type of protective gear as said first specified protective gear.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein said second specified protective gear differs from said first specified protective gear.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

retrieving, by said computer processor, setting data indicating that a setting associated with an operation of said apparatus has been changed resulting in a modified setting;

disabling, by said computer processor in response to analyzing said setting data, said apparatus;

determining, by said computer processor based on said analyzing said setting data, second specified protective gear to be worn by said first individual;

determining, by said computer processor, that said first individual has removed said first specified protective gear;

retrieving, by said computer processor from said detection device, second safety gear detection data indicating that said second individual is correctly wearing said second specified protective gear;

retrieving, by said computer processor from said detection device, second safety gear indication data indicating that said second specified protective gear comprises a second unique marking indicating a correct type of protective gear associated with said second specified protective gear and using said apparatus at said modified setting;

second analyzing, by said computer processor, said second safety gear detection data and said second safety gear indication data; and

enabling, by said computer processor in response to results of said analyzing said setting data and said second analyzing, said apparatus.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

retrieving, by said computer processor, setting data indicating a setting associated with an operation of said apparatus; and

second analyzing, by said computer processor, said setting data, wherein said enabling is further in response to results of said second analyzing.

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining, by said computer processor based on results of said facial recognition process, an identity of said first individual; and

generating, by said computer processor, a report indicating said identity of said first individual and that said first individual has complied with safety regulations associated with said first specified protective gear and said using said apparatus.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein said enabling said apparatus comprises enabling an incoming power source for said apparatus.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein said enabling said apparatus comprises enabling an electro/mechanical device required for operation of said apparatus.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein said first specified protective gear comprises safety gear selected from the group consisting of safety eyewear, safety respiratory equipment, and safety body protective gear.

18. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

providing at least one support service for at least one of creating, integrating, hosting, maintaining, and deploying computer-readable code in said computing system, wherein the code in combination with the computing system is capable of performing;

said disabling, said retrieving said first detection data, said retrieving said first safety gear detection data, said retrieving said first safety gear indication data, said analyzing, and said enabling.

19. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

providing a computer program product, comprising a computer storage medium comprising a computer readable program code embodied therein, wherein said computer readable program code is configured to perform;

said disabling, said retrieving said first detection data, said retrieving said first safety gear detection data, said retrieving said first safety gear indication data, said analyzing and said enabling.

20. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

providing a computing system, comprising said computer processor coupled to a computer-readable memory unit, said memory unit comprising instructions that when enabled by said computer processor implement a method comprising;

said disabling, said retrieving said first detection data, said retrieving said first safety gear detection data, said retrieving said first safety gear indication data, said analyzing and said enabling.

21. A method comprising the steps of:

disabling, by a computer processor of a computing system, an apparatus such that said apparatus is in an inoperable state;

retrieving, by said computer processor from a detection device comprising a video retrieval device, first detection data indicating that a first individual is located within a specified proximity of said apparatus;

determining, by said computer processor based on images of said first individual captured by said video retrieval device, that said first individual is in an approved working position with respect to said apparatus, wherein said approved working position comprises said first individual facing a specified direction with respect to said apparatus;

performing, by said computer processors executing said video retrieval device, a facical recognition process of said first individual;

first determining, by said computer processor in response to results generated during said performing said facial recognition process, that first specified protective gear is not located within a specified unique zone on said first individual;

retrieving, by said computer processor from said detection device, first safety gear detection data indicating that said first individual is not wearing said first specified protective gear;

analyzing, by said computer processor, said first detection data and said first safety gear detection data; and

generating, by said computer processor in response to results of said analyzing, a report indicating that said apparatus will remain in said inoperable state.

22. The method of claim 21, further comprising:

performing, by said computer processor, a facial recognition process of said first individual; and

determining, by said computer processor based on results of said facial recognition process, an identity of said first individual, wherein said report indicates said identity of said first individual.

23. The method of claim 21, further comprising:

generating, by said computer processor, an alarm signal indicating that said apparatus will remain in said inoperable state; and

enabling said alarm signal.

24. The method of claim 21, wherein said report further indicates that said first individual is not wearing said first specified protective gear, and wherein said method further comprises:

retrieving, by said computer processor from said detection device, an optical image of said first individual; and

transmitting, by said computer processor to a safety representative, said report and said optical image.