System and process to record inspection compliance data

• US 20050040224A1
• Filed: 08/11/2004
• Published: 02/24/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/11/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Zonar Systems, Inc. (Continental AG)
• Original Assignee: Zonar Compliance Systems, LLC
• Inventors: McQuade, Charles Michael, Brinton, William Jr., Manegold, Eric S., Mayer, Daniel R., Brinton, Brett A.
• Granted Patent: US 7,557,696 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 235/376
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/20 Monitoring the location of vehicles belonging to a group, e.g. fleet of vehicles, countable or determined number of vehicles

Abstract

An accessory (502) removably attached to a portable computing device (504) and handheld, portable readers (578, 141, 143, and 632) are used to generate and store data that indicate an operator was sufficiently close to each of a plurality of components during an inspection to actually inspect the components. The portable device includes a sensor that detects tokens such as radio frequency identification tags, which are affixed adjacent to the components. Messages appearing on a display and/or audible instructions from the portable reader prompt the operator to proceed to each checkpoint where the state of the component at that location is determined. The date, time and coordinates of each component'"'"'s inspection (and optionally, the component'"'"'s state) are included in the data produced by the portable reader. The data are temporarily stored in the portable reader and subsequently transferred to a remote data storage site.

Claims

1. An accessory configured to be coupled to a portable computing device, for use in providing a record that a component was visited during an inspection, comprising:

(a) a housing;

(b) a sensor for detecting when the accessory is within a predetermined maximum distance from a token disposed proximate a component to be inspected, the sensor producing a signal indicative that the accessory is within the predetermined maximum distance from a token; and

(c) an interface connection that is adapted to couple the accessory with the portable computing device, to communicate data to the portable computing device, the signal produced by the sensor being conveyed through the interface connection to the portable computing device for at least one of;

(i) storage thereon; and

(ii) transmission to another device, the signal produced by the sensor thereby providing the record that the component was visited during the inspection.

2. The accessory of claim 1, further comprising a positioning subsystem configured to determine locational coordinates of the token when the sensor produces the signal indicative that the accessory is within the predetermined maximum distance from the token.

3. The accessory of claim 1, wherein the sensor is adapted to function in at least one of the following manners:

(a) to inductively couple to a token;

(b) to optically detect a token;

(c) to detect a magnetic field;

(d) to detect a radio frequency; and

(e) to detect an electric field.

4. The accessory of claim 1, wherein the interface connection includes a port that is adapted to couple to a corresponding port on a portable computing device that comprises at least one of:

(a) a personal computing device; and

(b) a personal digital assistant.

5. The accessory of claim 1, wherein the interface connection includes a port that is adapted to couple to a corresponding port on a portable computing device that includes a transmitter.

6. The accessory of claim 1, further comprising at least one of:

(a) a speaker that provides an audible indication that the accessory is within the predetermined maximum distance from a token; and

(b) a light that provides a visual indication that the accessory is within the predetermined maximum distance from a token.

7. The accessory of claim 1, further comprising a transmitter, such that the accessory provides a wireless communications capability usable by a portable computing device to which the accessory is coupled.

8. An accessory configured to be coupled to a portable computing device, for use in providing a record that a component was visited during an inspection, comprising:

(a) a housing;

(b) a sensor for detecting when the accessory is within a predetermined maximum distance from a component to be inspected, the sensor producing a signal indicative that the accessory is within the predetermined maximum distance from a component; and

(c) an interface connection configured to enable the accessory to communicate data with a portable computing device when the accessory is coupled to a portable computing device, the signal produced by the sensor being conveyed through the interface connection to a portable computing device for at least one of storage thereon and transmission to another device, the signal produced by the sensor thereby providing the record that a component was visited during the inspection.

9. The accessory of claim 8, further comprising a positioning subsystem configured to determine locational coordinates of the component when the sensor produces the signal indicative that the accessory is within the predetermined maximum distance from the component.

10. A method for providing a record that a component was visited during an inspection, comprising the steps of:

(a) attaching a removable accessory to a portable device, the removable accessory including a sensor that detects when the accessory is disposed proximate to the component, and produces a signal indicative thereof;

(b) enabling an operator to move the portable device and the accessory attached thereto to a point proximate to the component; and

(c) automatically producing a record of the signal produced by the sensor, the record providing evidence that the operator was sufficiently close to the component to make the inspection of the component.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising the step of determining locational coordinates of the component when the sensor detects that the accessory is disposed proximate to the component.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the step of automatically producing the record comprises the step of including the locational coordinates of the component in the record.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the step of determining the locational coordinates of the component record comprises at least one of the steps of:

(a) receiving the locational coordinates from a token disposed proximate to the component; and

(b) automatically producing the locational coordinates in the accessory when the sensor detects that the accessory is disposed proximate to the component.

14. The method of claim 10, further comprising the step of storing the record within the portable device.

15. The method of claim 10, further comprising the step of transmitting the record to an external device via at least one of a wireless communication and a physical connection.

16. The method of claim 10, further comprising the step of providing an indication to the operator that the sensor has produced at least one of the signal and the record.

17. A method for providing a record that a component was visited during an inspection, comprising the steps of:

(a) moving a portable device to a point proximate to the component, said portable device being moved by a operator making the inspection;

(b) automatically detecting that the portable device is proximate to the component by producing a signal indicative thereof;

(c) creating a record of the signal, the record providing evidence that the operator was sufficiently close to the component to make the inspection of the component; and

(d) transmitting the record to an external device via a wireless communication.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising the step of determining locational coordinates of the component when it is automatically detected that the portable device is proximate to the component.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the step of creating the record comprises the step of including the locational coordinates of the component in the record.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein the step of determining the locational coordinates of the component record comprises at least one of the steps of:

(a) receiving locational coordinates from a token disposed proximate to the component; and

(b) automatically producing the locational coordinates in the portable device when the sensor detects that the portable device is disposed proximate to the component.

21. The method of claim 17, further comprising the step of storing the record at the external device.

22. The method of claim 17, further comprising the step of providing an indication to the operator that the signal has been produced, the indication comprising at least one of an audible indication and a visual indication.

23. A method for providing a record that a component was visited during an inspection, comprising the steps of:

(a) sensing when a portable device used in recording data related to the inspection is disposed proximate to the component;

(b) producing a signal indicative that an operator has moved the portable device sufficiently close to the component to enable the operator to inspect the component; and

(c) automatically producing a record of the signal, said record providing evidence that the operator was sufficiently close to the component to inspect the component.

24. The method of claim 23, further comprising the step of determining locational coordinates of the component when it is automatically detected that the portable device is proximate to the component.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the step of automatically producing the record comprises the step of including the locational coordinates of the component in the record.

26. A portable device for verifying that a checkpoint was visited during an inspection by an operator carrying the portable device, comprising:

(a) a housing;

(b) a sensor for detecting when the portable device is proximate to the checkpoint during the inspection, the sensor producing a signal indicating that the housing is proximate to the checkpoint; and

(c) a transmitter that transmits the signal to a remote receiver.

27. The portable device of claim 26, further comprising a positioning subsystem configured to determine locational coordinates of the checkpoint when the sensor produces the signal indicating that the housing is proximate to the checkpoint.

28. The portable device of claim 26, further comprising at least one of:

(a) a speaker that provides an audible indication that the portable device is within a predetermined maximum distance from the checkpoint; and

(b) a light that provides a visual indication that the portable device is within a predetermined maximum distance from the checkpoint.

29. The portable device of claim 26, wherein the sensor produces the signal only when the portable device is within a predetermined maximum distance from the checkpoint.

30. The portable device of claim 26, wherein the sensor detects at least one of a magnetic field, a radio frequency, an electric field, and an optical pattern associated with the checkpoint.

31. The portable data recorder of claim 26, wherein the sensor and transmitter are controlled by a hardwire logic controller, such that no memory is required.

32. The portable device of claim 26, wherein the portable device does not include a display able to display textual data or image data to a user of the portable device.

33. The portable device of claim 26, further comprising:

(a) a controller;

(b) a speaker logically coupled to the controller;

(c) a memory logically coupled to the controller, the memory including data defining verbal prompts selected to facilitate the completion of the inspection, the controller using the data to causing the speaker to emit verbal prompts to a user to facilitate the completion of the inspection.

34. A portable data recorder for recording data during an inspection, the data at least indicating that a checkpoint was visited during the inspection by an operator carrying the portable data recorder, comprising:

(a) a housing;

(b) a memory that stores data indicating that a checkpoint was visited during the inspection;

(c) a sensor for detecting when the portable device is proximate to the checkpoint during the inspection, the sensor producing a signal indicating that the housing is proximate to the checkpoint, said data comprising at least an indication that the signal was produced; and

(d) a controller coupled to the memory and the sensor, the controller causing the data indicating that a checkpoint was visited during the inspection to be stored in the memory, in response to the signal produced by the sensor.

35. The portable data recorder of claim 34, further comprising a positioning subsystem configured to determine locational coordinates of the checkpoint when the sensor produces the signal indicating that the housing is proximate to the checkpoint.

36. The portable data recorder of claim 34, wherein the portable device further comprises a sound transducer that produces audible prompts to an operator.

37. The portable data recorder of claim 34, wherein the memory includes data defining verbal prompts selected to facilitate the completion of the inspection, further comprising a speaker logically coupled to the controller, such that the controller uses the data defining the verbal prompts to cause the speaker to emit verbal prompts to an operator to facilitate the completion of the inspection.

38. The portable data recorder of claim 37, wherein the portable device does not include a display able to display textual data or image data to a user of the portable device.

39. The portable data recorder of claim 34, wherein the controller is configured to store a time and date associated with the signal produced by the sensor, in the memory.

40. A system for providing evidence that a component was visited during an inspection, comprising:

(a) a token adapted to be disposed adjacent to a component that is to be inspected; and

(b) a portable device configured to be transported to each component to be inspected, the portable device including;

(i) a housing;

(ii) a sensor configured to detect when the portable device is within a predetermined maximum distance from the token that is disposed adjacent to the component to be inspected, the sensor producing a signal indicative that the portable device is within the predetermined maximum distance from the component; and

(iii) a controller coupled to the sensor, the controller creating a record providing evidence that the component was visited during the inspection; and

(c) a first memory in which the record is stored.

41. The system of claim 40, wherein the portable device further comprises a light source for use in illuminating a component to facilitate its inspection.

42. The system of claim 40, wherein the portable device further comprises a positioning subsystem configured to determine locational coordinates of the token when the sensor produces the signal indicative that the portable device is within the predetermined maximum distance from the component.

43. The system of claim 40, wherein the token comprises a positioning subsystem configured to determine locational coordinates of the token when the sensor interrogates the token, the token providing locational coordinates to the portable device.

44. The system of claim 40, wherein the portable device comprises at least one of:

(i) a sound transducer that provides an audible indication that the portable device is within a predetermined maximum distance from the token; and

(ii) a light source that provides a visual indication that the portable device is within the predetermined maximum distance from the token.

45. The system of claim 40, wherein the token produces a pattern of magnetic flux, and wherein the sensor detects the pattern of magnetic flux from the token, such that the signal uniquely identifies the token.

46. The system of claim 40, wherein the token is disposed in a position selected so as to ensure that in order for an operator to move the portable device to a position that is proximate to the token, the operator is disposed to become aware of a condition associated with the component.

47. The system of claim 40, wherein the token comprises an optical pattern, and wherein the sensor detects the optical pattern, such that the signal uniquely identifies the token.

48. The system of claim 40, further comprising a plurality of additional tokens, each additional token being disposed adjacent to another component to be inspected.

49. The system of claim 40, wherein the token is disposed adjacent to a rear of an interior passenger space in a vehicle, so that a user must move through the interior passenger space to position the portable device proximate to the token, and is thereby positioned while moving through the interior, to observe any person or object remaining in the interior of the vehicle.

50. The system of claim 40, wherein:

(a) the first memory is included within the portable device, and the first memory is logically coupled to the controller; and

(b) a plurality of machine instructions are stored in the first memory, and the controller is implemented using a processor that executes the machine instructions.

51. The system of claim 50, wherein:

(a) the portable device further comprises a sound transducer that provides an audible prompt to a user, the sound transducer being controllably coupled to the controller;

(b) data defining the audible prompt are stored in the first memory; and

(c) the controller causes the sound transducer to use the data in the first memory to generate the audible prompt to facilitate the inspection of the component.

52. The system of claim 51, wherein the audible prompt defined by the data verbally instructs the user to inspect a specific component.

53. The system of claim 52, wherein the portable device further comprises a user interface, and the audible prompt defined by the data instructs the user to input a condition of the component being inspected with the user interface.

54. The system of claim 51, wherein the controller includes a time and date of the inspection in the record stored in the first memory.

55. The system of claim 40, wherein:

(a) the first memory is part of a remote device; and

(b) the portable device further comprises a transmitter coupled to the controller, the controller being configured to utilize the transmitter to transmit the record to the remote device for storage in the first memory.

56. The system of claim 55, wherein the record is transmitted to the remote device, generally without being stored within the portable device.

57. A portable data recorder for recording data during a safety inspection, said data at least indicating whether a checkpoint was visited during the safety inspection by an operator carrying the portable data recorder, comprising:

(a) a housing;

(b) a display mounted on the housing;

(c) an operator interface mounted on the housing to enable input and selection of options provided on the display;

(d) a memory in which machine instructions and data are stored;

(e) a sensor for detecting when the portable device is proximate each of a plurality of checkpoints during the safety inspection, said sensor producing a signal indicating that the housing is proximate to the checkpoint;

(f) a positioning subsystem configured to determine locational coordinates of the checkpoint when the sensor produces the signal indicating that the housing is proximate to the checkpoint; and

(g) a controller coupled to the display, the memory, the operator interface, the sensor, and the positioning subsystem, said controller executing the machine instructions and causing the memory to store data indicative of each checkpoint visited during the safety inspection, such data including the locational coordinates of the checkpoint, in response to the signal produced by the sensor.

58. A method for providing a record that a component was visited during a safety inspection, comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a portable device for use in recording data related to the safety inspection, said portable device including a sensor that detects when the portable device is disposed proximate to the component, producing a sensor signal indicative thereof;

(b) enabling an operator to move the portable device proximate to the component;

(c) automatically determining locational coordinates of the component when the sensor detects when the portable device is disposed proximate to the component; and

(d) automatically producing a record of the sensor signal produced by the sensor that is stored within the portable device, said record providing evidence that the operator was sufficiently close to the component to make a safety inspection of the component.

59. The method of claim 58, wherein the step of automatically determining the locational coordinates of the component comprises the step of performing a triangulation using signals received from at least three different transmitters, where the location of each such transmitter is known, when the sensor detects that the portable device is disposed proximate to the component.

60. The method of claim 58, wherein the step of automatically determining the locational coordinates of the component comprises the step of utilizing a global positioning satellite receiver integrated into the portable device.

61. The method of claim 58, wherein the step of automatically determining the locational coordinates of the component comprises the step of utilizing a global positioning satellite receiver integrated into a token disposed adjacent to the component, the token sending a longitude coordinate and a latitude coordinate to the sensor when the sensor detects the token.

62. The method of claim 58, wherein the step of automatically producing the record comprises the step of including the locational coordinates of the component in the record.