Abstract: During an inspection discrete checkpoints provide data to a portable reader, enabling a record to be generated identifying each checkpoint visited during an inspection. At least one checkpoint associated with the inspection will convey ancillary data to the portable device, either in lieu of, or in addition to, a checkpoint ID uniquely identifying a location or component inspected. The ID is not ancillary data, because the only function of the ID is to verify that an inspector was present at a particular location or component. In contrast, ancillary data are data that have an additional utility. For example, a sensor may be disposed in proximity of the component or location to be inspected. Data collected by such a sensor represents ancillary data, because such data does more than uniquely identify a particular location or component that was visited during an inspection.

Abstract: A vehicle with a positional tracking unit traverses a specific route while collecting actual route data that includes position data indicative of the actual route followed. The actual route data (including the position data) is stored as optimal route data for that specific route. Once the optimal route is defined and stored, future positional data (i.e., actual route data) collected during subsequent vehicle traversal of that specific route can be compared to the optimal route data. Whenever subsequently collected actual route data represents an improvement, as determined by one or more predefined criteria, the actual route data replaces the previously obtained optimal route data. Exception reports can be automatically generated by comparing the optimal route data to subsequently collected actual route data to determine when a deviation has occurred.

Abstract: Data collected in connection with operation of a vehicle can be used to automatically determine upon which one of a plurality of predefined routes a vehicle has been operating. In one exemplary embodiment, an operator inputs identification data into a data set that also includes other types of data. The route identification data uniquely identifies the specific one of the plurality of predefined routes, enabling the route the vehicle was operating on during that time period corresponding to the data set to be determined. In a second exemplary embodiment, rather than requiring the operator to provide the route identification data, geographical position data collected during operation of a vehicle are compared with geographical position data corresponding to each one of the plurality of predefined routes until a match is found, thereby identifying the route the vehicle was operating on during collection of the geographical position data.

Abstract: A method and apparatus to provide evidence that a person who is intended to make a required inspection was actually physically present at a predefined location associated with the inspection, so that the inspection could have been done, and if not, to provide an indication of the failure to perform the inspection. This invention is particularly well suited to determine if required pre/post-trip inspections of vehicles have been performed. Detecting a triggering condition, such as powering on (or off) equipment, indicates the beginning of a period of time during which the inspection is to be performed. The monitoring system waits for a predetermined event to occur, which indicates the period of time has expired and determines if data corresponding to the inspection have been received. If not, it is concluded that the inspection has not been performed.

Abstract: During an inspection discrete checkpoints provide data to a portable reader, enabling a record to be generated identifying each checkpoint visited during an inspection. At least one checkpoint associated with the inspection will convey ancillary data to the portable device, either in lieu of, or in addition to, a checkpoint ID uniquely identifying a location or component inspected. The ID is not ancillary data, because the only function of the ID is to verify that an inspector was present at a particular location or component. In contrast, ancillary data are data that have an additional utility. For example, a sensor may be disposed in proximity of the component or location to be inspected. Data collected by such a sensor represents ancillary data, because such data does more than uniquely identify a particular location or component that was visited during an inspection.

Abstract: A handheld, portable device (20) is used to store data that indicates 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) 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.