System and process to record inspection compliance data

1. An accessory configured to be coupled to a portable computing device, for use in providing a record that a component was visited during an inspection, comprising:

(a) a housing;

(b) a sensor for detecting when the accessory is within a predetermined maximum distance from a component to be inspected, the sensor producing a signal indicative that the accessory is within the predetermined maximum distance from a component;

(c) an interface connection configured to enable the accessory to communicate data with a portable computing device when the accessory is coupled to a portable computing device, the signal produced by the sensor being conveyed through the interface connection to a portable computing device for at least one of storage thereon and transmission to another device, the signal produced by the sensor thereby providing the record that a component was visited during the inspection; and

(d) a light source for use in illuminating a component to facilitate its inspection.

2. The accessory of claim 1 , further comprising a positioning subsystem configured to determine locational coordinates of the component when the sensor produces the signal indicative that the accessory is within the predetermined maximum distance from the component.

3. A method for providing a record that a component was visited during a safety inspection of a vehicle, comprising the steps of:

(a) attaching a removable accessory to a portable computing device, the removable accessory including a sensor that detects when the accessory is disposed proximate to the component and producing a signal indicative that the accessory is disposed proximate to the component;

(b) enabling an operator to move the portable computing device and the accessory attached thereto to a point proximate to the component during the safety inspection of the vehicle; and

(c) automatically producing a record of the signal produced by the sensor, the record providing evidence that the operator was sufficiently close to the component to inspect the component.

4. The method of claim 3 , further comprising the step of determining locational coordinates of the component when the sensor detects that the accessory is disposed proximate to the component.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the step of automatically producing the record comprises the step of including the locational coordinates of the component in the record.

6. The method of claim 4 , wherein the step of determining the locational coordinates of the component record comprises the step of receiving the locational coordinates from a token disposed proximate to the component.

7. A method for providing a record that a component was visited during an inspection, comprising the steps of:

(a) sensing when a portable device used in recording data related to the inspection is disposed proximate to the component;

(b) producing a signal indicative that an operator has moved the portable device sufficiently close to the component to enable the operator to inspect the component;

(c) automatically prompting the operator of the portable device to store an indication of a condition of the component determined by inspecting the component, said indication being stored in the portable device, after sensing that the portable device is disposed proximate to the component; and

(d) automatically producing a record of the signal and any indication stored by the operator, said record providing evidence that the operator was sufficiently close to the component to inspect the component.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the step of automatically prompting the operator to store an indication of the condition of the component comprises the step of using a display on the portable device to prompt the operator to store the indication.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the step of using the display on the portable device to prompt the operator to store the indication comprises the step of displaying a plurality of different conditions to the operator, such that the operator can select an appropriate condition.

10. The method of claim 7 , wherein the step of automatically prompting the operator to store the indication of the component comprises the step of verbally prompting the operator to store the indication of the condition of the component.

11. A method for providing a record that a component was visited during a safety inspection of a vehicle, comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a portable device for use in recording data related to the safety inspection, said portable device including a sensor that detects when the portable device is disposed proximate to the component, producing a sensor signal indicative thereof;

(b) enabling an operator to move the portable device proximate to the component; and

(c) automatically producing a record of the sensor signal produced by the sensor that is stored within the portable device, said record providing evidence that the operator was sufficiently close to the component to make a safety inspection of the component.

12. The method of claim 11 , further comprising the step of automatically determining locational coordinates of the component when the sensor detects that the portable device is disposed proximate to the component.

13. A system for providing evidence that a passenger compartment of a vehicle was inspected, comprising:

(a) a token disposed adjacent to a rear of the passenger compartment of the vehicle, so that a user must move through the passenger compartment of the vehicle to reach the token, and is thereby positioned while moving through the passenger compartment of the vehicle, so as to observe any person or object within the passenger compartment of the vehicle;

(b) a portable device configured to be transported to the token, the portable device including:

(i) a housing;

(ii) a sensor configured to detect when the portable device is within a predetermined maximum distance from the token, the sensor producing a signal indicative that the portable device is within the predetermined maximum distance from the token; and

(iii) a controller coupled to the sensor, the controller creating a data record providing evidence that the token disposed adjacent to a rear of the passenger compartment of the vehicle component was visited during the inspection; and

(c) a first memory in which the data record is stored.

14. A method for providing a record that a component was visited during a vehicle safety inspection, comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a portable device used in recording data related to the vehicle safety inspection;

(b) using the portable device, automatically prompting an operator to proceed to the component, where the component is part of a vehicle to be checked during a vehicle safety inspection;

(c) sensing when a portable device used in recording data related to the vehicle safety inspection is disposed proximate to the component;

(d) producing a signal indicative that an operator has moved the portable device sufficiently close to the component to enable the operator to inspect the component; and

(e) automatically producing a record of the signal, said record providing evidence that the operator was sufficiently close to the component to inspect the component.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the vehicle safety inspection includes a plurality of components, and the step of prompting the operator to proceed to the component comprises:

(a) determining that none of the plurality of components has yet been inspected, such that the component the operator is prompted to proceed to corresponds to a first component to be inspected; and

(b) determining that another component has already been inspected, such that the component the operator is prompted to proceed to corresponds to a component that has not yet been inspected.