Inspection method, system, and program product

• US 20050267707A1
• Filed: 05/24/2005
• Published: 12/01/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/27/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Electronic Machines Corp.
• Original Assignee: International Electronic Machines Corp.
• Inventors: Mian, Zahid F., Mullaney, Jeremy C., Spoor, Ryk E.
• Granted Patent: US 7,536,278 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 702/122
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling

Abstract

An improved solution for performing an inspection is provided, in which a user can use a handheld computing device to obtain and/or record the set of attributes required for the inspection. In particular, an inspection schedule can be initiated on the handheld computing device and the user can be prompted for the various attributes based on the inspection schedule. Various solutions can be incorporated for receiving the attributes on the handheld computing device, including manual entry, audible entry and/or one or more data sensing devices. Subsequently, the set of attributes can be communicated to a base station for further processing and/or more permanent storage.

Claims

1. A method of performing an inspection, the method comprising:

initiating an inspection schedule on a handheld computing device; and

performing the inspection using the handheld computing device, wherein the performing includes;

prompting a user of the handheld computing device to acquire a first set of attributes based on the inspection schedule; and

receiving the first set of attributes on the handheld computing device.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising verifying access rights of the user prior to the performing step, wherein the performing step requires success of the verifying step.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising performing at least one security action in response to failure of the verifying step.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the receiving step includes translating an attribute spoken by the user.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the receiving step includes obtaining at least a portion of the first set of attributes from a data sensing system in communication with the handheld computing device.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising mounting the data sensing system to the handheld computing device.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the receiving step further includes positioning the data sensing system prior to the obtaining step.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising communicating the first set of attributes to at least one of a central repository and a base station.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the communicating step includes encrypting the first set of attributes.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the communicating step includes compressing the first set of attributes.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the compressing step includes:

identifying a region of interest for one of the first set of attributes; and

removing data for the one of the first set of attributes that is not within the region of interest.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the handheld computing device comprises a personal digital assistant.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the performing step further includes:

receiving a query on the handheld computing device;

prompting the user to acquire a second set of attributes in response to the query; and

receiving the second set of attributes on the handheld computing device.

14. A system for performing an inspection, the system comprising:

a data sensing system; and

a handheld computing device that includes;

means for initiating an inspection schedule; and

means for receiving a set of attributes from the data sensing system based on the inspection schedule.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the handheld computing device further includes means for verifying access rights of the user.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the handheld computing device further includes means for performing at least one security action in response to a failure to verify the access rights.

17. The system of claim 14, further comprising means for mounting the data sensing system to the handheld computing device.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the means for mounting includes means for adjusting a direction of operation for the data sensing system independent of the handheld computing device.

19. The system of claim 14, further comprising a base station, wherein the handheld computing device further includes means for communicating the set of attributes to the base station.

21. The system of claim 19, wherein the means for communicating includes means for compressing the set of attributes.

22. The system of claim 19, further comprising a central repository, wherein the base station receives background data for the inspection from the central repository.

23. The system of claim 14, wherein the handheld device further includes means for evaluating the set of attributes.

24. The system of claim 14, wherein the handheld computing device comprises a personal digital assistant.

20. The system 19, wherein the means for communicating includes means for encrypting the set of attributes.

25. A personal digital assistant (PDA) comprising:

means for communicating with a data sensing system; and

means for performing an inspection that includes;

means for initiating an inspection schedule for the inspection; and

means for receiving a set of attributes based on the inspection schedule, wherein at least a portion of the set of attributes is received from the data sensing system.

26. The PDA of claim 25, further comprising means for mounting the data sensing system to the PDA.

27. The PDA of claim 25, further comprising means for verifying access rights of the user.

28. The PDA of claim 27, further comprising means for performing at least one security action in response to a failure to verify the access rights.

29. The PDA of claim 25, further comprising means for communicating the set of attributes to at least one of a base station and a central repository.

30. The PDA of claim 25, further comprising means for evaluating the set of attributes.

31. A program product stored in a computer-readable medium, which when executed, enables a user of a personal digital assistant (PDA) to perform an inspection, the program product comprising:

means for communicating with a data sensing system;

means for initiating an inspection schedule for the inspection;

means for receiving a set of attributes based on the inspection schedule, wherein at least a portion of the set of attributes is received from the data sensing system.

32. The program product of claim 31, further comprising means for verifying access rights of the user.

33. The program product of claim 32, further comprising means for performing at least one security action in response to a failure to verify the access rights.

34. The program product of claim 31, further comprising means for receiving a query.

35. The program product of claim 31, further comprising means for evaluating the set of attributes.