Intelligent switching method and apparatus

• US 8,514,085 B2
• Filed: 06/17/2010
• Issued: 08/20/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/17/2010
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kyndryl Incorporated
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Nelson, Mark A., Peters, Kevin H., Ruggiero, Louis R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wu, Daniel
• Assistant Examiner(s): MA, KAM WAN
• Application Number:
  US12/817,256
• Publication Number:
  US 20110309936A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,160 Days
• Field of Search: 340/573.1, 439/133, 439/0.304
• US Class Current: 340/573.1
• CPC Class Codes: F16P 3/142 using image capturing devices
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 9/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/02 Alarms for ensuring the safety of persons

Abstract

An intelligent switching method and system. The method includes retrieving by a computer processor of an intelligent switching device, detection data indicating that an individual is located within a specified proximity of an apparatus. The intelligent switching device is lockably attached to the apparatus. The computer processor receives a request from an individual for enabling the apparatus. The computer processor determines that the individual is in compliance with safety procedures associated with operating the apparatus and generates an enable signal. The enable signal enables a power signal for the apparatus. The computer processor indicates that the apparatus has been enabled and is operational.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

retrieving, by a computer processor of an intelligent switching device from a detection device comprising a video retrieval device, first detection data indicating that a first individual is located within a specified proximity of an apparatus, wherein said intelligent switching device comprises a mechanical locking device or an electromechanical locking device lockably attaching an end to end plug of said apparatus to said intelligent switching device;

receiving, by said computer processor from said first individual, a request for enabling said apparatus;

determining, by said computer processor, that said first individual is in compliance with safety procedures associated with operating 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 class 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;

generating, by said computer processor in response to said analyzing and said first determining, an enable signal;

enabling, by said enable signal generated by said computer processor, a power signal for said apparatus; and

indicating, by said computer processor, that said apparatus has been enabled and is operational.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

retrieving, by said computer processor from said detection device, second detection data indicating that said first individual is no longer located within said specified proximity of said apparatus;

generating, by said computer processor in response to said second detection data, a disable signal;

disabling, by said disable signal generated by said computer processor, said power signal for said apparatus; and

indicating, by said computer processor, that said apparatus has been disabled and is not operational.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

second determining, by said computer processor, that said first individual is in no longer in compliance with said safety procedures associated with said operating said apparatus;

generating, by said computer processor in response to said second determining, a disable signal;

disabling, by said disable signal generated by said computer processor, said power signal for said apparatus; and

indicating, by said computer processor, that said apparatus has been disabled and is not operational.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said enable signal commands said computer processor to enable an alternating current power signal for said apparatus.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said enable signal commands said computer processor to enable a direct current power signal for said apparatus.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein said direct current power signal is supplied by a power source selected from the group consisting of a direct current power supply, a fuel cell, and a battery.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said intelligent switching device comprises an internal electrical switch to perform said enabling.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein said intelligent switching device comprises a universal serial bus (USB) port for said retrieving said first detection data and said receiving said request.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein said intelligent switching device comprises a wireless transceiver for said retrieving said first detection data and said receiving said request.

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 retrieving, said receiving, said determining, said generating, said enabling, and said indicating.

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 a method upon being executed by a computer processor, said method comprising:

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 an apparatus, wherein said intelligent switching device comprises a mechanical locking device or an electromechanical locking device lockably attaching an end to end plug of said apparatus to said intelligent switching device;

receiving, by said computer processor from said first individual, a request for enabling said apparatus;

determining, by said computer processor, that said first individual is in compliance with safety procedures associated with operating 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 class 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;

generating, by said computer processor in response to said analyzing and said first determining, an enable signal;

enabling, by said enable signal generated by said computer processor, a power signal for said apparatus; and

indicating, by said computer processor, that said apparatus has been enabled and is operational.

12. An intelligent switching device comprising a computer processor coupled to a computer-readable memory unit, said memory unit comprising instructions that when enabled by the computer processor implements a method comprising:

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 an apparatus, wherein said intelligent switching device comprises a mechanical locking device or an electromechanical locking device lockably attaching an end to end plug of said apparatus to said intelligent switching device;

receiving, by said computer processor from said first individual, a request for enabling said apparatus;

determining, by said computer processor, that said first individual is in compliance with safety procedures associated with operating 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 class 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;

generating, by said computer processor in response to said analyzing and said first determining, an enable signal;

enabling, by said enable signal generated by said computer processor, a power signal for said apparatus; and

indicating, by said computer processor, that said apparatus has been enabled and is operational.

13. The intelligent switching device of claim 12, wherein said method further comprises:

retrieving, by said computer processor from said detection device, second detection data indicating that said first individual is no longer located within said specified proximity of said apparatus;

generating, by said computer processor in response to said second detection data, a disable signal;

disabling, by said disable signal generated by said computer processor, said power signal for said apparatus; and

indicating, by said computer processor, that said apparatus has been disabled and is not operational.

14. The intelligent switching device of claim 12, wherein said method further comprises:

second determining, by said computer processor, that said first individual is in no longer in compliance with said safety procedures associated with said operating said apparatus;

generating, by said computer processor in response to said second determining, a disable signal;

disabling, by said disable signal generated by said computer processor, said power signal for said apparatus; and

indicating, by said computer processor, that said apparatus has been disabled and is not operational.

15. The intelligent switching device of claim 12, wherein said determining that said first individual is in compliance with safety procedures associated with operating said apparatus comprises:

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; and

analyzing, by said computer processor, said first safety gear detection data and said first safety gear indication data, wherein said generating is in further response to results of said analyzing.

16. The intelligent switching device of claim 12, wherein said enable signal commands said computer processor to enable an alternating current power signal for said apparatus.

17. The intelligent switching device of claim 12, wherein said enable signal commands said computer processor to enable a direct current power signal for said apparatus.