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

ES 2 374 263 T3

DESCRIPTION

System and process to guarantee the effectiveness of stipulated safety and maintenance inspections.

Field of the invention

[0001] The present invention generally provides proof that a person was physically in a designated position next to a component of a machine or apparatus, and more specifically, it provides an electronic record that indicates when the person was physically ready to do so. carry out a safety inspection and to indicate a safety-related component operating status.

Background of the invention

[0002] In a recent television network news program it was reported that nearly 40 percent of large trailer trucks were so dangerous that they would pull off the road if inspected. Although not all accidents involving commercial trucks and trailers are caused by defective equipment that could be identified in a safety inspection, it is possible to achieve a significant reduction in accidents by taking steps to ensure that the major components of this equipment are inspected.

[0003] In response to public concern about the increase in traffic of large vehicles on the roads of our country and the higher frequency of accidents reported in which commercial vehicles are involved, Congress approved the Law to improve the safety of the motor transport of 1999 (PL 106-159). Pursuant to this Act, the Federal Motor Transportation Security Administration (FMCSA) was created within the US Department of Transportation (DoT). Part of the mission of this new body is to develop a long-term strategy to improve the safety of the commercial vehicle, the operator and the transport company ”. Properly addressing these issues is expected to reduce the incidence of accidents by transport companies.

[0004] In support of its mission, the FMCSA convened a series of meetings and planning sessions with representatives from other federal agencies, states, and the transportation industry. Through that process, the FMCSA developed a policy entitled: 2010 Strategy - Saving Lives Through Safety, Innovation, and Performance. The main objective of this policy is to improve transport safety through the implementation of 31 strategic initiatives, ranging from an improvement in road construction to a better evaluation of drivers and equipment to detect possible equipment safety problems. before they lead to accidents.

[0005] The intention of the FMCSA is to improve transportation safety management practices through better inspection, repair and maintenance of vehicles. As recognized in the 2010 Strategy, [I] f these these functions are not performed correctly, the deficiencies of the driver and the vehicle can increase the risk of an accident ”. Among the nine independent strategies contemplated by the FMCSA to achieve this important goal is the “introduction of new technologies to improve safety efficacy. By listing your top priorities, the 2010 Strategy further pulls your 31 initiatives down to 13 high priority strategies. Significantly, four of these higher priority strategies can be directly promoted with appropriate technology that provides an electronic record of vehicle safety inspections and that tends to encourage such inspections. In particular, it will be important to promote and encourage: (a) vehicle inspections with a focus on technological improvements, (b) improved safety management practices, (c) a greater emphasis on the transfer and deployment of technology to obtain equipment for safe operation, and (d) improved safety data collection and analysis.

[0006] To avoid accidents caused by equipment defects, federal law now requires professional drivers to perform a visual inspection of specific components of a truck (ie tractor and trailer), such as the brake system, the system fuel, warning lights, tires, etc., for pre-trip and post-trip inspections of these basic but critical items. An example of a vehicle inspection report is illustrated in Figure 7 that lists the components and systems that must be inspected by a driver to meet DOT regulations. However, under the current system, the driver only has to fill out a paper record and keep it on his record for 90 days. Many experts report that less than half of drivers perform the check; Instead, many drivers simply fill out the report while sitting in the cab of the truck or in a cafeteria. The report is meaningless unless the listed components and systems have actually been inspected. For example, a driver who does not actually examine the components of his vehicle will not realize that there is a brake fluid leak from a hydraulic brake master cylinder. As a result, the truck's brakes can fail, which can cause a serious accident.

ES 2 374 263 T3

[0007] A signed inspection report does not provide any guarantee that a driver actually inspected the components included in the report. However, the technology could provide a way to at least ensure that a driver (or other person conducting a safety inspection) was physically present in the immediate vicinity of each component requiring inspection, even if the driver is not expressly obligated. to inspect all components. If it is actually required to go to a component, such as a truck tire, then most people will be more willing to at least look at the status of the components, particularly if the task of indicating the status of the component in the case if there is a problem, it is done in a relatively simple and efficient way.

[0008] A similar proposal is used to ensure that a night watchman visits different places in a building. To provide proof that he has made his journey, the night watchman has to use a key contained in a safe in each different place to activate a manual timing device, making a record of the moment in which the place was visited. The night watchman thus provides proof of having visited each place in order to carry out a security check at specified times. However, a night watchman cannot record a security breach with the handheld device, and a security check by a night watchman is not related to a security inspection of a component at a certain location on a truck. Furthermore, the fact that it is necessary to keep a key in a safe on a truck or other system that is being inspected is impractical, and it is not efficient to force a driver or other person who is conducting a safety inspection. to manually use a key or other physical object to demonstrate that the person physically visited the site during the security inspection round.

[0009] It would be desirable for a person conducting a safety inspection to carry a portable device that automatically detects when the person is near a component included in an inspection list and enters a record of the inspection results in a non-memory. volatile. A sensor on the portable device must respond to a mark or transponder associated with a component being inspected when the sensor is within a predetermined distance from the mark, recording the event and displaying a menu that prompts the operator to enter relative data. to a component safety state. For example, once the operator is within a suitable range to allow inspection of truck tires, the portable device should allow the person inspecting the tires to indicate: (a) that the tires appear safe, ( b) that the tires need maintenance but are still usable, or (c) that the tires are too unsafe to be used. If the component requires maintenance or is unsafe to use, the operator must be able to record a reason for that determination. Since proof that an inspection was performed prior to driving a vehicle and the conditions of the components that were inspected can have a significant influence on insurance and / or liability claims in the event of a vehicle accident, it would also be desirable allow uploading of the data from the portable device to a geographically separate central data storage facility after the inspection has been completed.

[0010] Encouraging safety inspections of other types of equipment by creating a record that provides proof that a person conducting the inspection actually visited each component to be inspected has utility in many applications other than industry of transport. The concept is also useful to confirm the good working order of machinery and components of other systems in which accidents and failures related to equipment malfunction have to be avoided. For example, this need exists in high-risk chemical and petrochemical operations, where periodic inspections of valves, pressure vessels, gauges, and other components must be carried out to avoid potentially disastrous and costly accidents in which significant loss could occur. of lives and goods.

[0011] There does not appear to exist in the prior art any mechanical or electronic device designed to verify that a person was in a specific location to carry out a security inspection at that location. US Patent No. 5,680,328 describes the use of electronic data entry equipment that simply replaces handwritten forms or checklists for data entry, but cannot provide evidence that a person actually visited. a component that was reportedly inspected. Other prior art references describe the transmission of data from a portable device to a central repository, via both wired and wireless network connections. The prior art also describes that inspection data can be used to generate safety or maintenance reports. However, the state of the art does not describe means of verifying that a security check was actually carried out, or even that a person was physically in a position to carry out a security inspection.

US 5399844-A refers to an inspection reading and indicating system that includes a laptop computer having a screen, a keyboard, a barcode reader, a memory, a processor, and a

ES 2 374 263 T3 sound generator. Each group of components is provided with a respective barcode label. When the computer system scans one of these barcode labels, it automatically prompts an inspector to enter appropriate readings for the components in that group. These readings are checked against stored expected responses and the inspector is warned of an abnormal situation. The readings that the inspection takes for each group are stored in the computer system in component files, and the groups identify readings to take by listing the independent components. This reduces the memory requirements of the computer system. The readings entered by the inspector are stored in a data module for further processing and use.

Description of the invention

[0013] The purpose of the present application is a procedure that demonstrates that a person was physically in a designated position adjacent to a component by providing an electronic record of the component's status.

This object is achieved by the content of the independent claims.

Preferred embodiments are defined in the dependent claims.

In accordance with the present invention, a method is defined for providing a record indicating that a component of a vehicle or other type of apparatus or system was visited during a safety inspection. This procedure provides a portable device for use in recording security inspection related data. The portable device includes a sensor that produces a signal indicative that an operator has positioned the portable device near a component. The signal produced by the sensor is recorded and stored in the portable device, providing proof that the operator was close enough to the component to do a safety inspection of the component.

The method further includes the step of allowing the operator to store an indication of a component status in the portable device. Preferably, the portable device provides an indication of the component that the operator inspects. After the operator has inspected the component, the operator is shown a plurality of different states of the component, allowing the operator to select the state observed during the inspection. If the component requires maintenance or is unusable, the user can select one of a plurality of different possible states to indicate an observed state of the component. A record of the status selected by the operator is stored in the portable device. The signal record, status, and any other conditions selected by the operator are transferred from the handheld device to more permanent storage at a remote location that is independent of the handheld device, either immediately after inspection or at a later time. . Preferably, each record is transmitted to the remote site using a data signal transmitted over a wired network and / or a wireless network.

The method further includes the step of placing a core adjacent to the component. The sensor responds to the signal to detect when the handheld is close to the component. The token causes the signal produced by the sensor to identify the component, for example a specific tire on a vehicle or a specific system component on a system or other apparatus. In most applications, a plurality of tokens are provided, each token being associated with a component other than the plurality of components and being placed next to it. The token then causes the signal produced by the sensor to identify the component when the portable device is close to the component associated with the token. Also, different predetermined ranges can be identified for the plurality of components, so that a certain suitable range can be specified for each component.

[0019] Another aspect of the present invention relates to a system for providing evidence that a plurality of components were visited during a security inspection. The system includes a plurality of tokens, each one associated with a different component to be checked during the safety inspection and placed next to the component. Also included in the system is the portable device, which is adapted to be carried to each component to be inspected during the safety inspection. The portable device includes a housing, a display, an operator interface, and a memory in which instructions and machine data are stored. A sensor included in the portable device detects if the portable device is close to each of the plurality of tokens, and therefore, at a predetermined maximum distance from each of the components to which the plurality are independently associated of witnesses. The sensor produces a signal indicating that the portable device is within the predetermined maximum distance from the component. A controller is connected to the display, the memory, the operator interface, and the sensor and executes the instructions of the machine causing the memory to store data indicative of each component visited during the safety inspection in response to the signal produced by the sensor. Other functions implemented by the system in general are in accordance with the steps of the procedure described above.

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Brief description of the figures in the drawing

The above aspects and many of the advantages associated with this invention will be more readily appreciated as it will be better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of a tractor and trailer equipped with witnesses on each component to be inspected, illustrating a person using a portable device in accordance with the present invention;

[0022] Figure 2 is a top plan view of a portable device for use in conducting a safety inspection of a tractor and trailer, displaying a message instructing the operator to inspect the left rear tires of the tractor;

[0023] Figure 3 is a schematic block diagram of the functional components included in the portable device of Figure 2;

[0024] Figure 4 is a top view of the portable device of Figure 2, illustrating a menu indicating possible conditions of the tires that require maintenance;

[0025] Figure 5 is a flow chart showing the steps followed to carry out a security inspection in accordance with the present invention;

[0026] Figure 6 is a flow chart illustrating the steps employed in recording a status of a component being inspected using the portable device of Figures 2 and 4; Y

[0027] Figure 7 (prior art) is an example of a hand-filled inspection log used for tractor and trailer safety inspections, illustrating the specific components and systems that require inspection.

Description of the preferred embodiments

Utility of the present invention

[0028] The present invention is applicable in the recording of data resulting from a safety inspection of almost any type of equipment, apparatus, or system and is applicable to other types of inspections in which it is convenient to keep a record of data such as evidence that the person conducting the inspection was physically present at a control point or component requiring inspection. While the data accumulated with the present invention is not conclusive presumptive evidence that each component of a system was indeed carefully inspected, in most cases, if a person is required to visit a control point or component, the person will most likely actually inspect the component. By encouraging an inspection person to be physically close enough to a component to carry out an inspection, and by providing evidence of this in the recorded data, there is at least a justifiable presumption that the person actually performed the inspection. .

[0029] FIG. 1 illustrates a tractor-trailer 10 with which the embodiment of the present invention may be used to carry out a safety inspection. Tractor-trailer 10 is provided with a plurality of witnesses placed next to each control point or component to be inspected. Although only some of the witnesses are shown in figure 1, figure 7 lists all the components or systems that must be inspected if a driver is to comply with the DoT regulations regarding pre and post inspections of these vehicles. Along with the components and systems listed in figure 7, a witness will be placed, despite the fact that several components could be associated with it. For example, in the engine compartment a tell-tale could be used for both the radiator and the belts. As a driver moves around the tractor and trailer, evidence is recorded on a portable device that the driver or person conducting the inspection moved close enough to the components under inspection to be able to carry out actually hold control. More details of the portable device 20 are described below.

For the various tokens illustrated in FIG. 1, the relevance of the token arrangement adjacent to a corresponding component of the tractor and trailer 10 should be apparent. For example, the warning light 12 is arranged next to the tandem rear double tires 14 of the trailer. Since all tandem rear dual wheel tires on the left rear of the trailer are easily visible from one position

ES 2 374 263 T3 adjacent to witness 12 a single witness is sufficient to determine that the driver was close enough so that the four tires on the left rear of the trailer could be easily inspected. Similarly, the tandem dual wheels 18 on the left rear of the tractor are easily inspected when an observer 22 is positioned as shown in Figure 1. In this position, the observer moves a portable device 20 within a predefined maximum range of the witness 16, which is exposed above the tandem dual wheels 18. The portable device 20 detects and responds to the witness 16, recording data indicating that the driver was in a position to inspect the tandem rear dual wheels 18 of the tractor. It is contemplated that the operator can initiate recognition of a token by activating a switch or that the portable device may instead simply respond when a token is close enough to the portable device.

Other witnesses 24, 26, 30, and 32 are illustrated adjacent to other components of the tractor that are part of the safety inspection. For example, the warning light 26 is placed adjacent to a tire 28 on the right front of the tractor, while the warning lights 30 and 32 are accessible if the tractor hood is opened and they are arranged adjacent to the main hydraulic brake cylinder and the belts / engine radiator, respectively (not shown separately).

[0032] For each witness there is a predetermined maximum distance at which the portable device 20 can be maintained from the token that allows the portable device to detect the token, and therefore the component that is associated with it to produce a record as evidence that the person wearing the portable device was in a position to inspect the component. Depending on the component to be inspected and the type of core, different predetermined maximum distances can be assigned to different components. Different predetermined maximum distances could be implemented by shielding a token to vary the distance at which the portable device can detect the token.

[0033] Operator 20 is instructed to approach the next component in a series of components to be checked during safety inspection by a message 58 displayed on a screen 40 of the portable device 20, as shown in the figure 2. For example, if the operator 22 has just completed the inspection of the tandem double tires 14 on the left rear of the vehicle, the display 40 shows a message 58 indicating that the operator should check the condition of the tire - rear left of the vehicle. tractor". A sensor 46 of the portable device 20 responds to the warning light 16 when the portable device is within the predetermined maximum distance of the warning light 16, producing a signal indicating that the portable device was within the required range of the tandem dual tires 18 to allow the operator to inspect the tires. Screen 40 also displays a message 60 to operator 22 requesting that the operator indicate whether the condition of the tires was correct. If so, the operator presses a green control button 52 that corresponds to the "YES, OK" message. However, if during the visual inspection of the tires the operator determines that maintenance is required, the operator is instructed to press a yellow control button 54 on the handheld device. It is likely that certain conditions such as tread separation or a nail or other sharp object lodged in the tire could cause the person conducting the inspection to press a red control button 56, indicating a safety problem that requires the operator to consult a supervisor who will likely choose to delay the trip until the tire has been repaired and / or replaced or take other appropriate action depending on the nature of the component and the type of problem which makes the component dangerous to use. Portable device 20 also includes a cursor control 50, which is a four-position switch that allows a cursor (not shown in this figure) to be moved up or down and left or right. Cursor control 50, green, yellow, and red control buttons 52, 54, and 56, and display 40 are all disposed on a front surface of a housing 42 of portable device 20. Sensor 46 is arranged on the upper edge of housing 42, while a universal serial bus (USB) is arranged on the edge of housing 42, opposite sensor 46.

[0034] At the upper edge of the housing is also provided an antenna 44 for transmitting radio frequency (RF) transmissions from a remote data storage location 61 which is used for long-term storage of data resulting from survey inspections. security. The data produced by a safety inspection indicates each of the vehicle components (or any other system or device subject to inspection) that were visited by the operator, so that the portable device was placed within the predetermined maximum distance from the token associated with the component, and also indicates the status of the component. In the event that the component appears to need maintenance or represents a safety concern (as would be apparent if the operator pressed the yellow control button 54 or the red control button 56, respectively), the operator is instructed to select one. of a plurality of predefined states that justify the state of the component determined by the operator and that best represents its observed state.

[0035] If the component status is good such that the green control button 52 is pressed ie if the component is maintenance-free and usable or is otherwise within nominal operating parameters, it is not necessary provide an indication of the status of the component. Only must

ES 2 374 263 T3 will record the status as part of the data stored in the portable device if the operator has pressed the yellow control button 54 or the red control button 56 to indicate a component status other than OK.

[0036] Figure 4 includes another example that illustrates the selection of a condition relative to the example shown in Figure 2. As shown in Figure 4, if the operator has indicated that the condition of the tires is such that these require maintenance by pressing the yellow control button 54, the portable device 20 automatically displays various possible states that would lead an operator to indicate that state. In the example shown, message 58 instructs the operator to use the arrow button (i.e., cursor control 50) to select a possible condition from the list options that best describes the observed tire condition. . Screen 40 includes five possible states, the last of which covers a state that might not be included in the first four that appear. Using the cursor control 50, the operator can move the cursor to the displayed indication that best describes the observed tire condition and can press the red control button 56, which corresponds to an Enter menu option 70 on screen 40 for this. display. The green control button 52 can be pressed to select a "previous" screen, if the operator decides to reconsider the status of the component that he has previously selected.

[0037] Figure 3 illustrates functional components 60 that are included in portable device 20, either on or within the housing 42. A central processing unit (CPU) 62 comprises the controller for the portable device 20 and is bi-directionally connected to a memory 64 that includes both random access memory (RAM) and read-only memory (ROM). Memory 64 is used to store data in RAM and machine instructions in ROM that control the functionality of CPU 62 when executed by it. CPU 62 is also wired to receive operator input from controls 68. Together, controls 68 include green control button 52, yellow control button 54, red control button 56, and cursor control. fifty. In addition, CPU 62 provides text and graphics to screen 40 for prompts and other messages, and menu items and options from which the operator can select using cursor control 50.

[0038] After the operator 22 has visited each of the necessary checkpoints for the security inspection, the operator can optionally transmit the data that he has collected during the inspection to the remote data storage site 61 via a RF transmission via antenna 44. The data provides evidence that the operator has visited the components and indicates the status and condition of the components that were visited and inspected. On the other hand, the optional USB port 48 on the portable device 20 can be connected to a network interface 63 on an external base (not shown) that is in communication with the remote data storage 65, as shown in the figure. 2. In FIG. 3, CPU 62 is shown communicating data to transmitter 66 (or through another data link) using a wired and / or wireless data communications link. In this way, the data collected and stored in the memory 64 of the portable device 20 during the security inspection can be safely transferred to the remote data storage location and kept for as long as the data may be needed.

[0039] In some cases, it may be preferable to transmit the data to the remote server immediately after performing a security inspection to ensure that the data stored in memory 64 is not lost if an accident occurs that destroys the portable device 20. An accident Destroying proof that the safety inspection was implemented could have a negative effect on litigation related to the accident. However, since the risk of an accident is relatively remote, it is contemplated that an operator may collect the data from a series of safety inspections in memory 64 and subsequently upload the data to remote data storage 65 by connecting to the data to a database (not shown) that includes a USB port terminal and a network interface. The base could be maintained by a carrier at a cargo terminal.

Alternatively, the base can be arranged in a different location and / or connected to the remote data storage site through other types of communication links. An example of a communications system is the Omnitracs® mobile satellite communications system marketed by Qualcomm Corporation that allows drivers and carriers to keep in touch with each other on the road and allows the operator to control the location of a tractor unit. trailer during a trip. By linking the portable device 20 via USB port 48 to a data communications system, data stored in memory 64 can be easily transmitted to a remote location maintained by the shipping company for long-term storage, even while in transit. is on a journey.

The witnesses that are placed at various points on the tractor-trailer (or adjacent components of other types of systems or devices not related to a vehicle) can be of various types, depending on the type of sensor 46 that is included in the device. laptop 20. In a preferred embodiment, the token that is used is preferably a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag that is attached by means of a fixing element or an adhesive to a point on the chassis or other support (not shown) adjacent to the component associated with the token. . One type of RFID tag that is suitable for this purpose is the Worldtag® token sold by Sokymat Corporation. This tag is excited by an RF transmission from portable device 20 through antenna 44. At 7

In response to the received excitation energy, the RFID tag modifies the radio frequency energy that is received from the antenna 44 so that the component associated with the RFID tag is specifically identified, and the modified signal is detected by the sensor 46.

[0042] An alternative type of token that can also be used in this invention is an Ibutton® computer chip, which is shielded in a stainless steel casing and is easily attached to a structure or other part of the vehicle (or other type of device or system), together with the component associated with the Ibutton chip. The chip is programmed with Java® to provide a recognition signal when interrogated by a signal received from a nearby transmitter, such as antenna 44 on handheld device 20. Sensor 46 receives the signal emitted by the Ibutton chip, which determines the type of component associated with a witness. This type of token is less desirable as it is more expensive, although the instructions in the program that it executes may provide more functionality.

[0043] Still another type of token that can be used is an optical barcode in which a sequence of lines of varying width encode the light reflected by the barcode label. The encoded reflected light is received by sensor 46, which is then read by an optical detector. Bar code technology is well known in the art and is readily adapted to identify a particular type of component and location of the component on a vehicle or other system or apparatus. One drawback of using a barcode label as a witness is that the barcode can become covered with dirt or grime that has to be cleaned before the sequence of barcode lines can be properly read. If the barcode is applied to a plasticized adhesive strip, it can be easily arranged on any surface and then easily cleaned with a cloth or other suitable material.

Still another type of token that can be used in the present invention is a magnetic stripe in which a variable magnetic flux encodes the identifying data of the particular component associated with the token. Such magnetic stripes are often used on access cards that can be read by readers mounted adjacent to doors or in an elevator accessing a building. However, in the present invention, the magnetic flux reader comprises a sensor 46 in the portable device 20. The data encoded in said token can be easily read when the portable device is arranged in the vicinity of the variable magnetic flux encoded strip that understands said witness.

[0045] As yet another alternative, an active token that complies with Bluetooth® specifications may be employed for short distance data transfer between computing devices. However, it is likely that it will be required to modify the range of the signal transmitted by the token to be substantially less than that normally provided by a device compliant with the Bluetooth specification. It is important that the portable device can detect close proximity to the component only within a selected predetermined maximum range to ensure that the operator is actually positioned to perform an inspection of the component.

Logical stages implemented in the present invention

[0046] Figure 5 illustrates the logical steps implemented in connection with the present invention to carry out a safety inspection of a vehicle or any other apparatus or system. Starting from a start block 80, a step 82 provides for the manual entry of the identification of an operator (ID) in a data record, or the operator ID can be already stored in the memory of the portable device, or it can be entered automatically in response to a special operator ID tag affixed to the vehicle. A cursor control 50 is used to sequentially select digits from a displayed list to enter the operator ID of the person performing the security inspection. The Operator ID can be a four (or more) digit number or an alphanumeric code. On the other hand, on the portable device 20 a plurality of possible operators could be displayed as a list, allowing the operator to select their operator ID from the list using the cursor control 50 and one of the three control buttons.

[0047] Once the operator ID is entered, the portable device 20 prompts the operator to proceed to a first inspection point. For example, as indicated in Figure 2, message 58 instructs the operator to check the condition of the tires on the left rear of the tractor. A decision step 85 determines whether the portable device has detected the token associated with the component to be inspected. If not, the logic continues until the component is detected. Once the sensor 46 of the portable device 20 has detected the token associated with the current component to be inspected, the logic then advances to a stage 86 in which the operator is required to indicate the status of the component (and possibly its condition). . In a step 88, the operator performs the inspection, which may include visual observation of the status and condition of the component or taking other measurements that may be necessary to confirm the status and condition of the component. It is contemplated that some types of inspections may require a series of measures to examine the component to determine if it is working properly, needs maintenance or repair, or is unusable. Again, the portable device 20 can be programmed to provide appropriate prompts

ES 2 374 263 T3 to direct the operator through a series of steps that are required to carry out the inspection of said component. Consequently, in a step 90 the operator selectively enters the status of the component into the portable device 20 using the control buttons and the cursor control 50.

[0048] A decision step 92 determines whether there are more inspection points in the security inspection that is being carried out. If not, a step 94 provides for the transmission or uploading of the inspection data to storage at a remote site; This stage can be done immediately after the inspection has been completed, or at some point thereafter, perhaps after additional safety inspections have been completed. Once the data is transmitted to the remote site for long-term storage, the process is completed in a step 96.

[0049] Assuming in the safety inspection in the decision stage 92 there are more inspection points left, a stage 98 foresees that the operator proceeds to the next inspection point, which will be determined again by means of an indication that is displays the operator on the screen 40 of the portable device 20. The logic then returns back to decision step 85, which determines whether the wearable device's sensor has detected the component, indicating that the wearable is within the predefined maximum range of the token, thus ensuring that the operator is within the target range. close enough to the component to inspect it.

[0050] Other details of step 90 are illustrated in Figure 6. From a start block 100, a decision step 102 determines whether the inspection component is acceptable. If so, the operator presses the green control button 52 in a step 104. Since the component is OK, nothing else is required for that component, and the logic then proceeds to a step 106, which foresees that the operator can continue with the inspection, that is, proceed with the decision step 92 of the figure 5.

However, if the determination at decision step 102 indicates that the inspected component is not OK, a decision step 108 provides for the operator to determine whether immediate attention is required. If so, the operator presses the red control button 56 in step 110 and enters the status of the portable unit component. For example, if the operator is inspecting one of the tires and determines that the tire tread is separating, the tire should not be used, but should be replaced, the operator would use the handheld cursor control to select an option for the state "tread separating from the tire in a step 112. In most inspections, the operator should contact a supervisor for instructions regarding the safety status at a step 114. In the example just given, it is likely that the supervisor would arrange for maintenance personnel or repair will replace the tire.

[0052] In some cases, the supervisor could override the operator's decision on component status based on the reported situation. Therefore, a decision step 116 determines whether the supervisor has authorized the operator to make the trip, scheduling a subsequent repair of the component. If so, the logic proceeds to step 106, where the operator continues with the inspection as described above. If not, there is no need to inspect the rest of the vehicle at that time, as the full inspection will have to be carried out again after the unsafe condition has been corrected, for example by replacing the faulty tire. The logic is then finished, as indicated in step 118.

[0053] In the event that the operator determines that immediate attention is not necessary in the decision step 108, in a step 120, the operator presses the yellow control button 54 of the portable device 20. The operator selects and enters the state indicated on the portable device, as indicated in a step 122. In the example shown in FIG. 4, six possible states are indicated by indications on screen 40 for a tire that is still usable but requires maintenance. In this case, the operator uses the cursor control 50 to move the cursor to a selected indication thus describing the situation observed on the component, and then presses the control button 56 to enter the status, create a status record, and the condition of the component. component that is currently being inspected which will be stored in the memory of the portable device. Thereafter, the logic proceeds to step 106, in which the operator continues with the inspection.

Alternative to the portable device

[0054] While an initial preferred embodiment is likely to use a portable device 20, it is also contemplated that an accessory for a personal digital assistant (PDA), such as the Palm® PDA, may be provided that allows the PDA to be used for the same. functions that the portable device 20. The PDA accessory includes a sensor to detect when the PDA is within the predetermined maximum range from the witness associated with the component that is currently being inspected. Conventional controls on the PDA can be used to make and enter a selection. In addition, instead of using a cursor control, it is also contemplated that a touch screen may be used instead to make menu item selections and

ES 2 374 263 T3 other options displayed to the operator. In addition, the PDA would have to be programmed to carry out the functions implemented by the portable device 20, as described above.

Other applications of the present invention

Although the present invention will initially be used in connection with tractor and trailer safety inspections in the commercial transportation industry, there are many other types of non-vehicle safety inspections in which it is equally applicable. For example, in a chemical processing plant or in an oil refinery it is common for technicians to perform periodic safety inspections of valves, gauges, reactors, pressure vessels, and other types of processing equipment and system components to ensure that function properly and within nominal or acceptable limits. During an inspection, a technician can observe that a valve has a small leak, and schedule its subsequent repair or replacement. Clearly, if it is a non-hazardous substance leak and is of small volume, there would be no reason to shut down the process line where the valve is installed simply due to the valve leak. However, if the valve is used to control an extremely dangerous or toxic substance, even a small leak may be unacceptable. In this case, the technician must immediately report the situation to a supervisor who will then likely shut down the process or divert the flow of hazardous substances to a different processing line to correct the situation by immediately replacing or repairing the valve. Based on the above description explaining how a first preferred embodiment of the present invention is used in the recording of data related to safety inspections of a vehicle, it should be apparent that a portable device 20 is also easily adapted for the recording of data from other inspections. In the example just outlined, a technician will be instructed to inspect the valve, and once the portable unit is at a predetermined distance from the valve, they will be prompted to indicate the status of the valve. If the technician pressed either the yellow control button 54 or the red control button 56, the screen would display a menu of possible states that the technician could select, using the cursor control 50 and the red control button 56 to indicate the status. of the valve observed.

Although the present invention has been described in relation to the preferred form of practice and modifications thereto, those skilled in the art will understand that many other modifications can be made to the present invention within the scope of the following claims. Accordingly, it is not intended to limit the scope of the invention in any way by the foregoing description, but is instead to be fully determined by reference to the following claims.