REALTIME INSPECTION MANAGEMENT

• US 20140207417A1
• Filed: 01/22/2013
• Published: 07/24/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 01/22/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Baker Hughes, a GE Company, LLC (Baker Hughes Company)
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Messinger, Jason Howard, Ward, Robert Carroll, Domke, Michael Christopher, Soorianarayanan, Sekhar, Sbihli, Scott Leo, Lambdin, Thomas Eldred
• Granted Patent: US 10,546,253 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 702/187
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06311 Scheduling, planning or task assignment for a person or group
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/20 Administration of product repair or maintenance

Abstract

An inspection management system is provided. The inspection management system includes an inspection data provider that receives inspection data relating to an inspector, one or more devices used to complete an inspection, one or more assets associated with an inspection, an inspection plan, etc. A display of the inspection management system presents one or more graphical user interfaces based upon the inspection data. The graphical user interfaces may facilitate inspection planning, execution, preparation, and/or real-time inspection monitoring.

Claims

1. An inspection management system, comprising:

an inspection data provider, configured to provide inspection data comprising data related to an inspector, one or more devices used to complete an inspection, one or more assets associated with an inspection, or any combination thereof;

a display, configured to present one or more graphical user interfaces;

a processor, configured to;

obtain the inspection data from the inspection data provider;

present an inspection management graphical user interface via the display, based upon the inspection data.

2. The inspection management system of claim 1, wherein the inspection management graphical user interface comprises a map and one or more icons, the icons being placed on the map based upon the inspection data.

3. The inspection management system of claim 2, wherein the map comprises a world location map with zoom capabilities.

4. The inspection management system of claim 2, wherein the map comprises a facility diagram comprising icons where one or more assets are located within a facility location represented by a location in the facility diagram.

5. The inspection management system of claim 2, wherein characteristics of the one or more icons vary to denote characteristics of the inspection data, the inspector, the one or more devices used to complete the inspection, the one or more assets associated with the inspection, or any combination thereof.

6. The inspection management system of claim 1, wherein the inspection management graphical user interface comprises an item selector, configured to enable a user to select a specific item;

and wherein the processor is configured to obtain the inspection data associated with the specific item for presentation in the inspection management graphical user interface;

wherein the specific item comprises an inspector, operator, asset, location, time interval, geography, or any combination thereof.

7. The inspection management system of claim 1, wherein the inspection data provider is configured to receive inspection status from the one or more devices used to complete the inspection.

8. The inspection management system of claim 1, wherein the inspection management graphical user interface comprises:

a scheduled inspection section providing information regarding scheduled inspections associated with an inspector, one or more devices used to complete inspections, or both;

one or more maps, overlays, or both detailing a path between a current location and a location of a next planned inspection;

or

both.

9. The inspection management system of claim 6, wherein the inspection management graphical user interface comprises a watchlist section associated with the specific item, and wherein the watchlist is configured to present activities assigned to the specific item.

10. The inspection management system of claim 6, wherein the inspection management graphical user interface comprises:

a training section configured to present training modules, training applications, or both associated with the specific item;

an activity section configured to present inspection-related activities that are occurring in the inspection environment.

11. A tangible, non-transitory, machine-readable medium, comprising machine-readable instructions to:

obtain inspection data from an inspection data provider, the inspection data comprising data related to an inspector, one or more devices used to complete an inspection, one or more assets associated with an inspection, or any combination thereof; and

present an inspection management graphical user interface via a local, remote, or local and remote display, based upon the inspection data.

12. The machine-readable medium of claim 11, comprising machine-readable instructions to:

present one or more icons in the inspection management graphical user interface;

detect a hover over one or more of the icons; and

present a menu at the one or more icons where the hover was detected, wherein the menu comprises;

details of the inspection data represented by the one or more icons;

a collaboration option that is configured to initiate a remote collaboration session between a first operator operating accessing the inspection management graphical user interface and a second operator using a remote device when selected;

or

both.

13. The machine-readable medium of claim 11, comprising machine-readable instructions to initiate the remote collaboration session by:

initiating collaboration communications with the remote device; and

presenting a collaboration graphical user interface, wherein the collaboration graphical user interface is configured to simulate a display output of the remote device.

14. The machine-readable medium of claim 13, wherein presenting the collaboration graphical user interface, comprises:

presenting a video conferencing window, configured to present a representation of the second operator involved in the remote collaboration session;

presenting a self-view window, configured to present a self-representation of the first operator in the collaboration graphical user interface;

or

both.

15. The machine-readable medium of claim 13, wherein presenting the collaboration graphical user interface, comprises:

presenting a historical data section, configured to provide historical data relating to a topic of the remote collaboration session;

presenting a current inspection data section, configured to provide current data relating to the topic;

or

both.

16. The machine-readable medium of claim 13, wherein presenting the collaboration graphical user interface, comprises:

presenting a device control section, configured to provide remote control of an inspection device to the first operator;

or

presenting a notes section configured to share text, images, audio, video, or any combination thereof between the first and second operators;

or

both.

17. A method, comprising:

obtaining, via communications circuitry, inspection data from an inspection data provider, the inspection data comprising data related to an inspector, one or more devices used to complete an inspection, one or more assets associated with an inspection, or any combination thereof; and

presenting, via processor instructions directed to a local, remote, or local and remote electronic display, an inspection management graphical user interface, based upon the inspection data.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein presenting the inspection data comprises inspection scheduling data for the inspector, the one or more devices used, the one or more assets, or any combination thereof.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein presenting the inspection management graphical user interface comprises:

presenting a planned outage section, configured to provide notice of any planned outages and planned outage durations based at least in part upon the inspection scheduling data.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein presenting the inspection management graphical user interface comprises:

presenting a planned tasks section, configured to provide notice of any tasks that are planned within an inspection environment, based at least in part upon the inspection scheduling data;

presenting a planned equipment usage section, configured to provide notification of a planned usage of particular inspection equipment, based at least in part upon the inspection scheduling data;

presenting a planned inspector or other operator usage section, configured to provide notification of a planned availability of an inspector or other operator, based at least in part upon the inspection scheduling data;

or

any combination thereof.