System and method to enhance the utility of vehicle inspection records by including route identification data in each vehicle inspection record
A handheld, portable device is used to facilitate inspection of vehicles, by generating an electronic vehicle inspection record that can be used by fleet operators to provide evidence of complying with required vehicle inspections. When the vehicle inspection record is generated, route identification data is added to the inspection record. The route identification data defines which of a plurality of predefined routes the vehicle has serviced, or will service, during a time period proximate the inspection of the vehicle. Fleet operators can thus use archived inspection records as evidence of compliance with inspection requirements, and to document what route a vehicle serviced at a particular time.
1. A method of inspecting a vehicle having a first optical code disposed proximate a first inspection location having a first set of one or more vehicle components and a second optical code disposed proximate a second inspection location having a second set of one or more vehicle components, including:
(a) providing a mobile computing device including an optical detector, a display, a user input device, a cellular network transceiver and a non-transitory memory media having a program adapted to recognize the first and second optical codes perceived by the optical detector and respond to these recognitions of the optical codes by displaying information on the display;
(b) using the optical detector to perceive the first optical code, and reading the information shown, as a consequence of the recognition of the first optical code, on the display, wherein the information shown in consequence of the recognition of the first optical code is a query regarding the status of the first set of one or more vehicle components of the first inspection location;
(c) entering information regarding the status of the first set of one or more vehicle components into the user input device, in response to the information shown on the display;
(d) using the optical detector to perceive the second optical code, and reading the information shown, as a consequence of the recognition of the second optical code, on the display, wherein the information shown in consequence of the recognition of the second optical code is a query regarding the status of the second set of one or more vehicle components of the second inspection location; and
(e) entering information regarding the status of the second set of one or more vehicle components into the user input device, in response to the information shown on the display.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the mobile computing device is a smart phone.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the mobile computing device includes a touch screen, which serves as both the display and the user input device.
4. Non-transitory memory media, in a mobile computing device that includes an optical detector, a display, a user input device, and a cellular network transceiver, the non-transitory memory media having stored thereon computer-executable instructions that, when executed by a processor, are adapted to:
(a) recognize a first optical code perceived by the optical detector and respond by showing on the display a first information set regarding a first set of one or more vehicle components of a first vehicle inspection location;
(b) record information regarding the first set of one or more vehicle components entered into the user input device, after the showing of the first information set on the display;
(c) recognize a second optical code perceived by the optical detector and respond by showing on the display a second information set regarding a second set of one or more vehicle components of a second vehicle inspection location;
(d) record information regarding the second set of one or more vehicle components entered into the user input device, after the showing of the second information set on the display; and
(e) in response to an input at said user input device, use the cellular transceiver to send the information recorded, that was entered in the user input device, to a destination.
5. The non-transitory memory media of claim 4 , wherein the mobile computing device is a smart phone.
6. The method of claim 1 , further including using the user input device to indicate that the inspection is complete, thereby causing the mobile computing device to use the cellular transceiver to send the inspection results over the cell network.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first and second optical codes are bar codes.
8. A mobile computing device including an optical detector, a display, a user input device, a cellular network transceiver and a non-transitory memory media having a program adapted to:
(a) recognize a first optical code perceived by the optical detector and respond by showing on the display a first information set regarding a first set of one or more vehicle components of a first Vehicle inspection location;
(b) record information regarding the first set of one or more vehicle components entered into the user input device, after the showing of the first information set on the display;
(c) recognize a second optical code perceived by the optical detector and respond by showing on the display a second information set regarding a second set of one or more vehicle components;
(d) record information regarding the second set of the one or more vehicle components entered into the user input device, after the showing of the second information set on the display; and
(e) in response to an input at said user input device, use the cellular transceiver to send the information recorded, that was entered in the user input device, to a destination.
9. The mobile computing device of claim 8 , wherein the mobile computing device is a smart phone.
10. The mobile computing device of claim 8 , wherein the mobile computing device includes a touch screen, which serves as both the display and the user input device.
11. The non-transitory memory media of claim 4 , wherein the mobile computing device includes a touch screen, which serves as both the display and the user input device.
12. The non-transitory memory media of claim 4 , wherein the first and second optical codes are bar codes.
13. The mobile computing device of claim 8 , wherein the first and second optical codes are bar codes.