Attachment detection method and system

• US 8,456,308 B2
• Filed: 06/15/2010
• Issued: 06/04/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/15/2010
• 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): Wu, Daniel
• Assistant Examiner(s): LITTLEJOHN JR, MANCIL H
• Application Number:
  US12/815,736
• Publication Number:
  US 20110304464A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,085 Days
• Field of Search: 340/573.1, 340/3.1, 340/5.2, 340/5.21, 340/5.3, 340/5.24, 340/5.31, 340/524, 340/538, 340/500, 340/540, 340/686.1, 340/679, 340/680, 340/686.5, 340/686.6
• US Class Current: 340/573.1
• CPC Class Codes: F16P 3/142 using image capturing devices
• CPC Class Codes: F16P 3/147 using electro-magnetic technology, e.g. tags or radar
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/023 Power management, e.g. system sleep and wake up provisions
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0275 Electronic Article Surveillance [EAS] tag technology used for parent or child unit, e.g. same transmission technology, magnetic tag, RF tag, RFID
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/18 Status alarms G08B21/02 takes precedence

Abstract

An attachment detection method and system. The method includes receiving, by a computer processor of a computing system, attachment data describing different devices associated with and attachable to an electro/mechanical apparatus. The computer processor retrieves first data describing a first attachment device currently attached to the electro/mechanical apparatus and analyzes the attachment data with respect to the first data. In response to the analysis, the computer processor determines specified protective gear required for operation of the electro/mechanical apparatus and the first attachment device. The computer processor generates indication data specifying required usage of the specified protective gear and presents the indication data to a user.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving, by a computer processor of a computing system, attachment data describing different devices associated with and attachable to an electro/mechanical apparatus;

retrieving, by said computer processor from a detection device, first data describing a first attachment device currently attached to said electro/mechanical apparatus, wherein said first data describes a type and usage for said first attachment;

analyzing, by said computer processor, said attachment data with respect to said first data;

determining, by said computer processor in response to results of said analyzing, a first match between said attachment data and said first data;

determining, by said computer processor in response to said first match, first specified protective gear required for operation of said electro/mechanical apparatus and said first attachment device currently attached to said electro/mechanical apparatus;

generating, by said computer processor, first indication data specifying required usage of said first specified protective gear;

presenting, by said computer processor to a user of said electro/mechanical apparatus, said first indication data;

retrieving, by said computer processor from said detection device, first detection data indicating that said user is located within a specified proximity of said electro/mechanical apparatus;

retrieving, by said computer processor from said detection device, first safety gear detection data indicating that said user is correctly wearing said 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 electro/mechanical apparatus with said first attachment device currently attached, wherein said first unique marking further indicates a specified class of said first specified protective gear and a specified protection level within said specified class;

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

enabling, by said computer processor in response to results of said analyzing said first detection data, said first safety gear detection data, and said first safety gear indication data, said electro/mechanical apparatus.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

retrieving, by said computer processor from said detection device, detection data indicating that said first attachment device has been removed from said electro/mechanical apparatus;

retrieving, by said computer processor from said detection device, second data describing a second attachment device currently attached to said electro/mechanical apparatus, wherein said second data describes a type and usage for said second attachment, and wherein said second attachment device differs from said first attachment device;

first analyzing, by said computer processor, said attachment data with respect to said second data;

determining, by said computer processor in response to results of said first analyzing, a second match between said attachment data and said second data;

determining, by said computer processor in response to said second match, second specified protective gear required for operation of said electro/mechanical apparatus and said second attachment device currently attached to said electro/mechanical apparatus, wherein said second specified protective gear differs from said first specified protective gear;

generating, by said computer processor, second indication data specifying required usage of said second specified protective gear; and

presenting, by said computer processor to said user of said electro/mechanical apparatus, said second indication data.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

retrieving, by said computer processor from said detection device, detection data indicating that a second attachment device has been attached to said electro/mechanical apparatus, wherein said second attachment device is in addition to said first attachment device;

retrieving, by said computer processor from said detection device, second data describing said second attachment device currently attached to said electro/mechanical apparatus, wherein said second data describes a type and usage for said second attachment;

first analyzing, by said computer processor, said attachment data with respect to said second data;

determining, by said computer processor in response to results of said first analyzing, a second match between said attachment data and said second data;

determining, by said computer processor in response to said second match, second specified protective gear required for operation of said electro/mechanical apparatus and said second attachment device currently attached to said electro/mechanical apparatus, wherein said second specified protective gear differs from said first specified protective gear;

generating, by said computer processor, second indication data specifying required usage of said second specified protective gear; and

presenting, by said computer processor to said user of said electro/mechanical apparatus, said second indication data.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein said second indication data specifies required usage of said second specified protective gear in addition to said first specified protective gear.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said detection device comprises an optical detection device.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said detection device comprises an RFID based detection device.

7. 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.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

generating, by said computer processor, a report indicating said first indication data; and

transmitting, by said computer processor to a safety regulator, said report.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

retrieving, by said computer processor from said detection device, indication data indicating that said first attachment device comprises a first unique marking correlating to a type or use of said first attachment device;

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

10. 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 receiving, said retrieving, said analyzing, said determining said first match, said determining said first specified protective gear, said generating, and said presenting.

11. A computer program product, comprising a non-transitory computer storage medium comprising a computer readable program code stored therein, said computer readable program code configured to perform the method of claim 1 upon being executed by said computer processor.

12. A computing system comprising said processor coupled to a computer-readable memory unit, said memory unit comprising a computer readable code configured to be executed by the processor to perform the method of claim 1.

19. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

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

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 user, wherein said enabling is further in response to said performing and said first determining.

13. A method comprising:

receiving, by a computer processor of a computing system, attachment data describing different devices associated with and attachable to an electro/mechanical apparatus;

retrieving, by said computer processor from a detection device, first data describing a first attachment device currently attached to said electro/mechanical apparatus, wherein said first data describes a type and usage for said first attachment;

first analyzing, by said computer processor, said attachment data with respect to said first data;

determining, by said computer processor in response to results of said analyzing, that a match does not exist between said attachment data and said first data;

second analyzing, by said computer processor, said first data with respect to override data;

determining, by said computer processor in response to results of said second analyzing, an override status associated operation of said electro/mechanical apparatus and said first attachment device currently attached to said electro/mechanical apparatus;

determining, by said computer processor in response to said override data, first specified protective gear required for operation of said electro/mechanical apparatus and said first attachment device currently attached to said electro/mechanical apparatus;

generating, by said computer processor, first indication data specifying required usage of said first specified protective gear;

presenting, by said computer processor to a user of said electro/mechanical apparatus, said override status and said first indication data;

retrieving, by said computer processor from said detection device, first detection data indicating that said user is located within a specified proximity of said electro/mechanical apparatus;

retrieving, by said computer processor from said detection device, first safety gear detection data indicating that said user is correctly wearing said 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 electro/mechanical apparatus with said first attachment device currently attached, wherein said first unique marking further indicates a specified class of said first specified protective gear and a specified protection level within said specified class;

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

enabling, by said computer processor in response to results of said analyzing said override status, said first detection data, said first safety gear detection data, and said first safety gear indication data, said electro/mechanical apparatus.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein said override status indicates that said electro/mechanical apparatus may be enabled, and wherein said enabling is further in response to said override data.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein said override status indicates that said electro/mechanical apparatus may be shut down, and wherein said method further comprises:

disabling, by said computer processor in response to said override status, said electro/mechanical apparatus.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein said detection device comprises an optical detection device.

17. The method of claim 13, wherein said detection device comprises an RFID based detection device.

18. The method of claim 13, 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 receiving, said retrieving, said analyzing, said determining said match, said determining said first specified protective gear, said generating, and said presenting.

20. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

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

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 user, wherein said enabling is further in response to said performing and said first determining.