System and process to ensure performance of mandated safety and maintenance inspections

• US 6,804,626 B2
• Filed: 08/15/2002
• Issued: 10/12/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/11/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Zonar Systems, Inc. (Continental AG)
• Original Assignee: Zonar Systems, Inc. (Continental AG)
• Inventors: McQuade, Charles Michael, Manegold, Eric S., Mayer, Daniel R.
• Primary Examiner(s): NGHIEM, MICHAEL P
• Application Number:
  US10/219,892
• Publication Number:
  US 20030061005A1
• Time in Patent Office: 789 Days
• Field of Search: 702/83, 702/84, 702/94, 702/97, 702/127, 702/158, 702/182-185
• US Class Current: 702/182
• 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

A handheld, portable device (20, 140, or 140′) is used to store data that indicate an operator was sufficiently close to each of a plurality of components during a safety inspection to actually inspect the components. The portable device includes a sensor (46) that detects tokens (12, 16, 24), such as radio frequency identification tags, which are affixed adjacent to the components. Messages (58) appearing on a display (40, 152) of the portable device prompt the operator to proceed to each checkpoint, determine a state of the component disposed there, and if the component is not operating properly, indicate a plurality of predefined conditions from which the operator can choose to identify the observed condition of the component. The state and condition of each component entered during the safety inspection are stored as data that are subsequently transferred to a remote data storage site over a wire or wireless link.

Claims

1. 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 the component, producing a signal indicative thereof;

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

(c) automatically producing a record of the 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.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of enabling the operator to store an indication of a condition of the component determined by inspecting the component, said indication being stored in the portable device.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of providing an indication to the operator of the component that the operator is to inspect.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

(a) displaying to the operator a plurality of different possible conditions of the component;

(b) enabling the operator to select one of the plurality of different possible conditions, to indicate a condition of the component determined by the operator; and

(c) storing in the portable device a record of said one of the plurality of different possible conditions selected by the operator.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising the step of transferring the record of the signal and the record of said one of the plurality of different possible conditions from the portable device to a storage that is separate from the portable device.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the step of transferring comprises the step of transmitting each record using a data signal, over at least one of a wire network and a wireless network.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of affixing a token adjacent to the component, said sensor responding to the token to detect when the portable device is proximate the component.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the token causes the signal produced by the sensor to identify the component.

9. The method of claim 7, further comprising the step of affixing a plurality of tokens adjacent to a corresponding plurality of other components that are to be visited during the safety inspection, each of the plurality of tokens being associated with and affixed adjacent to a different one of the plurality of other components and causing the signal produced by the sensor when the portable device is proximate the other component associated with the token to identify said other component.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising the step of recording the signal produced by the sensor in response to the plurality of tokens associated with the plurality of other components as the portable device is brought within a predetermined range for each of the plurality of other components.

11. The method of claim 9, further comprising the step of specifying a predetermined range for each of the plurality of other components, thus enabling different predetermined ranges to be specified for each of the plurality of other components.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of enabling the operator to select one of a plurality of different states of the component that is being inspected.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the plurality of states include at least two of:

(a) a first state in which the component is safe to operate;

(b) a second state in which the component requires servicing, but is still usable; and

(c) a third state in which the component is not safe to use.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein if either the second or third states are identified by the operator making the safety inspection, further comprising the step of displaying a plurality of possible conditions of the component to enable the operator to select one of the conditions to indicate why the operator selected either the second state or the third state, as applicable.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising the steps of automatically storing the state and the condition selected by the operator within the portable device.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein in order to move the portable device proximate the component, a disposition of the component is selected that encourages the operator to move so as to visually perceive a condition, further comprising the steps:

(a) prompting the operator to enter an indication of the condition, after the operator has moved so as to visually perceive the condition; and

(b) enabling the operator to store an indication of the condition in the portable device.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the component is disposed adjacent to a rear of a passenger vehicle interior, the condition comprising a determination of whether the passenger vehicle interior is empty of passengers, which the operator visually perceives while moving toward the component.

18. A system for providing evidence that a plurality of components were visited during a safety inspection, comprising:

(a) a plurality of tokens, each token being associated with a different component that is to be visited during the safety inspection and affixed adjacent to said component; and

(b) a portable device adapted to be transported to each component to be visited and inspected during the safety inspection, said portable device including;

(i) a housing;

(ii) a display;

(iii) an operator interface;

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

(v) a sensor for detecting when the portable device is proximate each of the plurality of tokens, and thus within a predetermined maximum distance from each of the components with which said plurality of tokens are separately associated, said sensor producing a signal indicative that the portable device is within the predetermined maximum distance from the components; and

(vi) a controller coupled to the display, the memory, the operator interface, and the sensor, said controller executing the machine instructions and causing the memory to store data indicative of each component visited during the safety inspection, in response to the signal produced by the sensor.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the machine instructions executed by the controller cause the controller to respond to the signal from the sensor by displaying a prompt on the display that requests entry of a state of a component that is currently proximate to the portable device.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein said state indicates whether the component is okay, or requires service, or is unusable.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein if the component requires service or is unusable, the machine instructions executed by the controller further cause the controller to display a plurality of possible conditions of the component and to enable at least one of the conditions to be selected, said memory retaining data corresponding to the state and the condition selected.

22. The system of claim 18, wherein the portable device further comprises a transmitter that is used to transmit the data to a remote site for storage.

23. The system of claim 18, further comprising a network interface that couples the portable device to at least one of a wire and wireless network, to convey the data to a remote site for storage.

24. The system of claim 18, further comprising a radio frequency transmitter disposed in the portable device, wherein the plurality of tokens each comprises a radio frequency transponder that is excited by radio frequency energy emitted by the radio frequency transmitter, producing an altered radio frequency signal that is detected by the sensor.

25. The system of claim 18, wherein the plurality of tokens each produce a pattern of magnetic flux, and wherein the sensor detects the pattern of magnetic flux from a token to produce a signal indicative of a specific type of component associated with the token.

26. The system of claim 18, wherein the plurality of tokens each correspond to an optical pattern, and wherein said sensor detects the optical pattern of a token to produce a signal indicative of a specific type of component associated with the token.

27. The system of claim 18, wherein each of the plurality of tokens has a selected predetermined range at which the sensor detects the token, so that different predetermined ranges can be provided for different tokens in the plurality of tokens, providing a desired predetermined range for each different type of component with which a token is used.

28. The system of claim 18, wherein the portable device further comprises a light source for use in illuminating a component to facilitate its inspection.

29. The system of claim 18, wherein the portable device further comprises a digital camera that produces digital image data corresponding to an image of a component, for storage in the memory, said image providing evidence of a condition of the component when inspected.

30. The system of claim 29, wherein the digital camera comprises:

(a) an optical system that directs and focuses light received from a region; and

(b) an imaging detector, disposed to receive the light directed and focused by the optical system, and in response thereto, producing the digital image data.

31. The system of claim 30, wherein the digital image data are also coupled to the display, producing an image visible on the display that enables the operator to direct the digital camera to frame a desired image prior to storing the digital image data for the desired image in memory.

32. The system of claim 18, wherein a token is disposed in a position selected so as to ensure that in order for an operator to move the portable device proximate the token, the operator will become aware of a condition associated with the token.

33. The system of claim 32, wherein said token is disposed adjacent to a rear of an interior passenger space in a vehicle, so that the operator must move through the interior passenger space to position the portable device proximate said token, said condition being a determination by the operator of whether the interior passenger space is empty of passengers.

34. The system of claim 33, wherein the machine instructions further cause the controller to enable the operator to input an indication of the condition before concluding the safety inspection.

35. The system of claim 18, further comprising a docking station that electrically couples with the portable device to receive data stored in the memory of the portable device, said docking station having an interface that is adapted to convey the data over a network to a remote storage.

36. The system of claim 35, further comprising a computing device that is electrically coupled to the docking station to receive the data conveyed from the portable device, said computing device including a storage in which the data are at least temporarily stored, and a network link for conveying the data to a remote site.

37. The system of claim 36, wherein the docking station includes data interface that is adapted to couple to a data port on the computing device.

38. 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 the checkpoint; and

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

39. The portable data recorder of claim 38, wherein each of the checkpoints corresponds to a specific portion of apparatus that is being inspected during the safety inspection, said data indicating the specific portion of the apparatus.

40. The portable data recorder of claim 39, wherein the controller prompts for input of a state of the specific portion of the apparatus currently being inspected, the state that is input with the operator interface being included in the data stored within the memory.

41. The portable data recorder of claim 40, wherein the operator interface is adapted to input one of a plurality of different states, including a state in which one of the following is indicated:

(a) the specific portion of the apparatus is operating within acceptable limits and is usable;

(b) the specific portion of the apparatus is in need of servicing; and

(c) the specific portion of the apparatus is unusable because of a safety concern.

42. The portable data recorder of claim 41, wherein, if the specific portion of the apparatus is not operating within acceptable limits and is not usable, the controller is programmed to prompt for input of a current condition of the specific portion of the apparatus.

43. The portable data recorder of claim 41, wherein the operator interface includes at least one control for indicating the state of the specific portion of the apparatus currently being inspected.

44. The portable data recorder of claim 38, wherein once within a predefined range from each checkpoint, the sensor detects one of a magnetic field, an electrical field, an optical pattern, and a radio frequency signal that is associated with the checkpoint, to produce the signal indicating that the portable data recorder is proximate the checkpoint.

45. The portable data recorder of claim 38, further comprising a radio frequency transmitter that is used to transfer the data to a remote storage.

46. The portable data recorder of claim 38, further comprising a light source that is usable for illuminating a checkpoint to facilitate the operator visually inspecting the checkpoint during the safety inspection.

47. The portable data recorder of claim 38, further comprising a digital camera usable to produce and retain image data corresponding to an image of a checkpoint within the memory.

48. The portable data recorder of claim 47, wherein the digital camera includes an optical lens, and a pixilated light sensor, said optical lens directing and focusing light onto the pixilated light sensor, causing the pixilated light sensor to produce an output signal corresponding to said light that is incident on the pixilated light sensor, said output signal being captured and stored in a digital format in the memory for subsequent retrieval and display.

49. The portable data recorder of claim 48, wherein the output signal is coupled to the display, to produce an image that enables the digital camera to be aimed as desired, before the output signal is captured and stored in the memory.

50. The portable data recorder of claim 47, wherein the machine instructions stored in the memory cause the controller to prompt an operator to selectively digitally record an image of a checkpoint with the digital camera.

51. The portable data recorder of claim 50, wherein the data stored in the memory and data corresponding to the digital image comprise evidence of a safety status of a checkpoint for apparatus being inspected.