Method and apparatus for capture and logging of food safety data
View Patent ↗A probe interface component for a probe that measures an environmental condition. The probe interface component may comprise a first interface configured to removably receive a probe, and a second interface configured to removably connect to an input interface of a mobile computer. The probe interface component may be configured to obtain a value from the probe based on the measurement of the environmental condition, and generate a signal representative of the value in a format compatible with the input interface of the mobile computer. The first interface, the second interface, and/or the input interface may comprise a wireless interface. The environmental condition may comprise a temperature, a humidity, a pressure, a water quality, a gas indication, a radiation level, an indication of contamination, and/or an appearance.
1. A probe interface component for a probe that measures an environmental condition, the interface component comprising:
a probe interface configured to removably receive a probe; and
a second interface configured to removably connect to an input interface of a handheld computer,
wherein:
the probe interface comprises a physical component separate from the handheld computer, and
the probe interface component is configured to:
obtain a value from the probe based on the measurement of the environmental condition, and
generate a signal representative of the value in a format compatible with the input interface of the handheld computer.
2. The probe interface component of claim 1 , wherein:
the second interface and/or the input interface comprise a wireless interface.
3. The probe interface component of claim 1 , wherein:
the input interface comprise an audio jack.
4. The probe interface component of claim 1 , wherein:
the probe interface is configured to removably couple and decouple with the probe, and
the environmental condition comprises a temperature, a humidity, a pressure, a water quality, a gas indication, a radiation level, an indication of contamination, and/or an appearance.
5. The probe interface component of claim 1 , in combination with the handheld computer, wherein:
the handheld computer is configured to record the signal.
6. The probe interface component of claim 5 , wherein:
the handheld computer is configured to record, in association with the signal, information available via one or more components of the handheld computer.
7. The probe interface component of claim 6 , wherein:
the signal and the information creates a log of monitoring.
8. The probe interface component of claim 7 , wherein:
the information comprises a time when the measurement was determined, a location where the measurement was determined, a user that caused or allowed the measurement to be determined, and/or an indication of whether the signal fits a criterion.
9. The probe interface component of claim 7 , wherein:
the information comprises video and/or audio of the measurement being determined, wherein the video and/or the audio is configured to provide:
a record of the measurement being determined; and
supplemental information about an object measured, a region measured, and/or conditions of the measurement.
10. The probe interface component of claim 6 , wherein:
the handheld computer is further configured to:
perform processing of the signal and/or the information; and
selectively generate a message and/or a report based on results of the processing.
11. The probe interface component of claim 10 , wherein:
the processing of the signal and/or the information comprises comparing the signal and/or the information to a stored monitoring protocol.
12. The probe interface component of claim 11 , wherein:
the stored monitoring protocol comprises a predefined acceptable range of the signal and/or of the information, wherein the information comprises a time of measurement, a frequency of measurement, a location of measurement, and/or a measurement method.
13. The probe interface component of claim 11 , wherein:
the message comprises an alert indicating that the signal and/or the information deviates from the stored monitoring protocol.
14. The probe interface component of claim 1 , in combination with the handheld computer, wherein:
the handheld computer is configured to:
guide a user of the handheld computer to perform an action to follow a protocol.
15. The probe interface component of claim 14 , wherein:
the handheld computer is further configured to:
compare the action and/or results of the action to the protocol; and
if the action and/or the results do not satisfy the protocol,
guide the user to perform a corrective action and/or
log that the results do not satisfy the protocol.
16. A method of operating a handheld computer to log data associated with environmental monitoring, the method comprising:
receiving, from a probe interface component comprising a separable probe interface, a signal,
wherein:
the signal is in a format compatible with an input interface of the handheld computer and is representative of a value measured with a probe,
the value is based on a measurement of an environmental condition, and
the measurement is determined by the probe and provided through the separable probe interface; and
recording the value and, in association with the value, information comprising video and/or audio of the measurement of the environmental condition taking place.
17. The method of claim 16 , wherein:
the environmental condition comprises a temperature, a humidity, a pressure, a water quality, a gas indication, a radiation level, an indication of contamination, and/or an appearance.
18. The method of claim 16 , wherein:
recording the value comprises logging measurements made with the probe.
19. The method of claim 18 , wherein:
the information is available via one or more components of the handheld computer.
20. The method of claim 19 , wherein:
the information further comprises a time when the measurement was determined, a location where the measurement was determined, a user that caused or allowed the measurement to be determined, and/or an indication of whether the signal fits a criterion.
21. The method of claim 19 , wherein:
the video and/or the audio is configured to provide:
a record of the measurement being determined and
supplemental information about an object measured, a region measured, and/or conditions of the measurement.
22. The method of claim 21 , wherein:
recording the video and/or the audio comprises:
detecting a trigger event;
identifying a start time for the recording;
determining whether the recording is proper;
if the recording is determined to be proper, continuing the recording; and
upon detecting removal of the probe, identifying a stop time for the recording and stopping the recording at the stop time.
23. The method of claim 22 , wherein:
detecting the trigger event comprises detecting an indication that the measurement will be determined.
24. The method of claim 22 , wherein:
identifying the start time for the recording comprises continuing a previously started recording.
25. The method of claim 22 , wherein:
recording the video and/or the audio further comprises:
if the recording is determined not to be proper, providing feedback to a user indicating a problem.
26. The method of claim 22 , wherein:
determining whether the recording is proper comprises:
determining whether the recording is accurate based on conditions of the recording;
determining whether the probe is recognized; and/or
determining whether a protocol is being followed.
27. The method of claim 19 , further comprising:
processing the signal and/or the information; and
selectively generating a message and/or a report based on results of the processing.
28. The method of claim 27 , wherein:
processing the signal and/or the information comprises comparing the signal and/or the information to a stored monitoring protocol.
29. The method of claim 28 , wherein:
the stored monitoring protocol comprises a predefined acceptable range of the signal and/or of the information, wherein the information further comprises a time of measurement, a frequency of measurement, a location of measurement, and/or a measurement method.
30. The method of claim 28 , wherein:
the message comprises an alert indicating that the signal and/or the information deviates from the stored monitoring protocol.
31. The method of claim 16 , further comprising:
guiding a user of the handheld computer to perform an action to follow a protocol.
32. The method of claim 31 , further comprising:
comparing the action and/or results of the action to the protocol; and
if the action and/or the results do not satisfy the protocol,
guiding the user to perform a corrective action and/or
logging that the results do not satisfy the protocol.
33. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium encoded with computer-executable instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause a handheld computer to perform a method, the method comprising:
receiving, from a probe interface component, a signal,
wherein:
the signal is in a format compatible with an input interface of the handheld computer and is representative of a value measured with a probe,
the value is based on a measurement of an environmental condition, and
the measurement is determined by the probe; and
recording the value and, in association with the value, a recording of the value being measured.