Examining defects

1. A method of analysing a glass defect in a glass window, the method comprising forming a digital image of the defect on a portable device and performing analysis of the digital image of the defect using software contained in the device, or in an associated processor by virtue of a downloaded app, wherein:

the device comprises a smartphone and the digital image is formed using a built-in camera of the smartphone; and

the analysis of the digital image comprises a determination of features of the defect that include size, shape and depth of the defect, and a determination of reparability of the defect that includes an assessment of proximity of the defect to an edge of the glass window and, when the glass window is a windscreen of a vehicle, an assessment of location of the defect in the windscreen in relation to a line of vision of a driver of the vehicle.

2. A method according to claim 1 , further comprising forming the digital image in conjunction with a near field communication equipped digital camera.

3. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the smartphone comprises a data processing facility, by virtue of the app, and the data processing facility carries out the analysis.

4. A method according to claim 1 , further comprising transferring the digital image from the smartphone to an external processor that carries out the analysis, and the external processor records the digital image and copies results of the analysis to the smartphone.

5. A method according to claim 1 , further comprising forming and analysis of a second digital image of the defect on the portable device to indicate whether the defect is changing.

6. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the glass window is the windscreen and the analysis assesses the defect against one or more of the following criteria:

does the defect not fit entirely within a circle of 28 mm diameter;

is an edge of the circle less than 30 mm from the edge of the glass window;

does the defect fit entirely within a second circle of diameter 10 mm and in the line of vision of the driver of the vehicle.

7. A method according to claim 6 , further comprising performing with the app image processing and assessment against the criteria and, on the determination that the defect is repairable, or that the glass window should be replaced, communicating the determination with details of the vehicle and location and insurer of the vehicle to a repair/replace service to initiate a call-out.

8. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the determination of features of the defect comprises assessing the size of the defect from a touch screen image on the smartphone by tracing the digital image with a finger or a tracer stylus.

9. A method of analysing a glass defect in a glass window, the method comprising:

forming a digital image of the defect with a built-in camera of a smartphone;

displaying the digital image on a touch screen of the smartphone; and

performing analysis of the digital image displayed on the touch screen using software contained in the device or in an associated processor by virtue of a downloaded app, wherein the analysis of the digital image comprises:

a determination of features of the defect that include size, shape and depth of the defect, the size of the defect being determined by determining a diameter of a smallest circle that can be placed around the defect on the touchscreen to completely contain the defect; and

a determination of reparability of the defect that includes an assessment of proximity of the defect to an edge of the glass window; and

if the glass window is a windscreen of a vehicle, the determination of reparability of the defect further includes an assessment of location of the defect in the windscreen in relation to a line of vision of a driver of the vehicle.