초록 ▼

A system for obtaining, recording, displaying, storing, transmitting and receiving maintenance and other information is provided. The system, which may include an electronic maintenance apparatus that may be in the form of a hand-held digital computer, allows a user to capture and store images, sou

A system for obtaining, recording, displaying, storing, transmitting and receiving maintenance and other information is provided. The system, which may include an electronic maintenance apparatus that may be in the form of a hand-held digital computer, allows a user to capture and store images, sound, and/or error codes and related text or voice data and other information concerning the system or object being maintained. The information can be stored locally and/or transmitted to remote locations. Retrieval of the images and other data at a later date provides an historical perspective of the object, enabling one using the maintenance apparatus to compare and contrast the condition of the object over time. Instruction on how to accomplish a job at hand, diagnostic information and/or support information may also be transmitted to and from the maintenance apparatus.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. A method of inspecting a structure or a facility or components thereof from a remote location, the method comprising acts of: loading a desired maintenance program into an inspection apparatus, the apparatus having a computer and a camera control unit coupled to the computer

What is claimed is: 1. A method of inspecting a structure or a facility or components thereof from a remote location, the method comprising acts of: loading a desired maintenance program into an inspection apparatus, the apparatus having a computer and a camera control unit coupled to the computer and adapted to receive and process images from an imager that is housed separately from the camera control unit, the apparatus being capable of capturing, together with the imager, both a streaming video digital image of the structure or facility or components thereof and a still digital image of the structure or facility or components thereof; instructing the same apparatus to capture, together with the imager, at least one of a) the streaming video digital image of the structure or facility or components thereof at a first location and b) the still digital image of the structure or facility or components thereof at a first location; operating the same apparatus to enter in the program remarks about the structure or facility or components thereof, the remarks including at least one of notes regarding a condition of the structure or facility or components thereof, a date the image was taken, an identification of the structure or facility or components thereof, and an identification of a person using the apparatus; instructing the same apparatus to electronically transmit the at least one of streaming video digital image, still digital image and remarks to a second location remote from the first location; reviewing the at least one of streaming video digital image, still digital image and the remarks at the second location; preparing instructions based on at least one of the streaming video digital image, still digital image and remarks; transmitting instructions back to the first location; and performing maintenance on the structure or facility or components thereof in response to the instructions. 2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising an act of storing, in the apparatus, at least one of an image of the initial condition of the structure or facility or components thereof, maintenance history of the structure or facility or components thereof, diagnostic information regarding the structure or facility or components thereof and instructional information regarding the structure or facility or components thereof. 3. The method according to claim 1, further comprising an act of operating the same apparatus to enter in the program audio data regarding the structure or facility or components thereof. 4. The method according to claim 3, further comprising an act of instructing the same apparatus to electronically transmit the audio data to the second location. 5. The method according to claim 1, further comprising an act of obtaining an error code regarding the structure or facility or components thereof. 6. The method according to claim 5, further comprising an act of instructing same apparatus to electronically transmit the error code to the second location. 7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the act of entering remarks in the program about the structure or facility or components thereof comprises an act of inputting in the program at least one of text and voice. 8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the act of instructing the same apparatus to transmit the image comprises an act of instructing the same apparatus to transmit the image via a wireless connection. 9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the act of instructing the same apparatus to the image comprises an act of instructing the same apparatus to transit the image via the Internet. 10. The method according to claim 1, wherein the act of instructing the apparatus to capture, together with the imager, at least one of a) a streaming video digital image of the structure or facility or components thereof at a first location or b) still digital image of the structure or facility or components thereof at a first location comprises an act of instructing the apparatus to capture, together with the imager, a still digital image of the structure or facility or components thereof at a first location. 11. The method according to claim 1, wherein the act of instructing the apparatus to capture, together with the imager at least one of a) a streaming video digital image of the structure or facility or components thereof at a first location or b) a still digital image of the structure or facility or components thereof at a first location comprises an act of instructing the apparatus to capture, together with the imager, a streaming video digital image of the structure or facility or components thereof at a first location. 12. The method according to claim 1, wherein the act of instructing the same apparatus to electronically transmit the at least one of streaming video digital image and still digital image comprises an act of instructing the same apparatus to electronically transmit the at least one of streaming video digital image and still digital image to at least one of a manufacturer of the structure, a manufacturer of the facility and a manufacturer of the components thereof. 13. The method according to claim 1, wherein the act of instructing the same apparatus to electronically transmit the at least one of streaming video digital image and still digital image comprises an act of instructing the same apparatus to electronically transmit the at least one of streaming video digital image and still image to a maintenance facility. 14. The method according to claim 1, wherein the act of transmitting instructions to the first location comprises an act of transmitting maintenance instructions to the first location. 15. The method according to claim 1, wherein the structure is one of a building, a road, a bridge and a tunnel. 16. The method according to claim 1, wherein the facility is one of a manufacturing plant and a power plant.