Multiple inspector voice inspection

Abstract

Systems, methods, and devices of a voice-directed inspection system that supports multiple inspectors in the inspection of business assets are described. Inspection plans for large and complex business assets can involve several steps. It is advantageous to split large inspection plans into non-overlapping sections to allow multiple inspectors to perform concurrent inspections. Such sectionalizing is also useful in training new inspectors.

1 .- 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A system, comprising:
 a first device comprising:
 a first communication interface; 
 a first control system communicatively coupled to the first communication interface and comprising at least one first hardware processor and a first memory storing program codes operable to:
 send a first request for a first assignment for an asset to a third device; 
 receive a first section of an inspection plan for the asset from the third device, wherein the first section of the inspection plan identifies first remaining inspection items for the asset; 
 provide first audible commands for completing the first remaining inspection items; 
 receive first audible updates on the completion of the first remaining inspection items; and 
 send the first audible updates on the completion of the first remaining inspection items to the third device; and 
 
   a second device comprising:
 a second communication interface; 
 a second control system communicatively coupled to the second communication interface and comprising at least one second hardware processor and a second memory storing program codes operable to:
 send a second request for a second assignment for the asset to a third device; 
 receive a second section of the inspection plan for the asset from the third device, wherein the second section of the inspection plan identifies second remaining inspection items for the asset; 
 provide second audible commands for completing the second remaining inspection items; 
 receive second audible updates on the completion of the second remaining inspection items; and 
 send the second updates on the completion of the second remaining inspection items to the third device; and 
 
   a third device comprising:
 a third communication interface; 
 a third control system communicatively coupled to the third communication interface and comprising at least one third hardware processor and a third memory storing program codes operable to:
 receive the inspection plan for the asset from the fourth device; 
 receive the first request for the first assignment for the asset from the first device; 
 receive the second request for the second assignment for the asset from the second device; 
 determine if there are multiple unfinished sections of the inspection plan for the asset; 
 if there are multiple unfinished sections of the inspection plan for the asset, send the first section of the inspection plan for the asset to the first device and send the second section of the inspection plan for the asset to the second device; 
 receive the first updates on the completion of the first remaining inspection items from the first device and receive the second updates on the completion of the second remaining inspection items from the second device; and 
 send the first and second updates to the fourth device; and 
 
   a fourth device comprising:
 a fourth communication interface; 
 a fourth control system communicatively coupled to the fourth communication interface and comprising at least one fourth hardware processor and a fourth memory storing program codes operable to:
 send the inspection plan for the asset to the third device; and 
 receive the first and second updates from the third device. 
 
   
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the first device comprises a first headset and a first portable computer device and the second device comprises a second headset and a second portable computer device. 
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the third device comprises a site computer. 
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the fourth device comprises a host computer. 
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the request for an assignment comprises a request for any unfinished section of the inspection plan for the asset. 
     
     
         26 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the request for an assignment comprises a request for a specific unfinished section of the inspection plan for the asset. 
     
     
         27 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein in determining if there are multiple unfinished sections of the inspection plan for the asset, the third device is further operable to:
 identify unfinished sections of the inspection plan; and   determine if the unfinished sections of the plan do not interfere with one another.   
     
     
         28 . The system of  claim 27 , wherein in determining if the unfinished sections of the plan do not interfere with one another, the third device is further operable to:
 determine that the unfinished sections of the plan pertain to physically distinct parts of the asset.   
     
     
         29 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the third device is further operable to:
 associate more than one identifier to the inspection plan for the asset.   
     
     
         30 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the first updates on the completion of the first remaining inspection items are sent to the third device by the first device as each of the first remaining inspection items is completed and wherein the second updates on the completion items are sent device as each items is completed. 
     
     
         31 . A method comprising:
 receiving an inspection plan for an asset from a host computer;   receiving a first request for a first assignment for the asset from a first inspection assistance device;   receiving a second request for a second assignment for the asset from a second inspection assistance device;   determining if there are multiple unfinished sections of the inspection plan for the asset;   sending the first section of the inspection plan for the asset to the first inspection assistance device and sending the second section of the inspection plan for the asset to the second inspection assistance device;   receive first updates on the completion of the first section of the inspection plan from the first inspection assistance device and receive second updates on the completion of the second section of the inspection plan from the second inspection assistance device; and   sending the first and second updates to the host computer.   
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the first request for the first assignment comprises a request for any unfinished section of the inspection plan for the asset. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the second request for the second assignment comprises a request for any unfinished section of the inspection plan for the asset. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the first request for the first assignment comprises a request for a specific unfinished section of the inspection plan for the asset. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the second request for the second assignment comprises a request for a specific unfinished section of the inspection plan for the asset. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein in determining if there are multiple unfinished sections of the inspection plan for the asset, the method further comprises:
 identifying unfinished sections of the inspection plan; and   determining if the unfinished sections of the plan do not interfere with one another.   
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 36 , wherein in determining if the unfinished sections of the plan do not interfere with one another, the method further comprises:
 determining that the unfinished sections of the plan pertain to physically distinct parts of the asset.   
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 31 , further comprising:
 associating more than one identifier to the inspection plan for the asset.   
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the first updates on the completion of the first section of the inspection plan are received from the first inspection assistance device as each step of the first section of the inspection plan is completed and wherein the second updates on the completion of the second section of the inspection plan are received from the second inspection assistance device as each step of the second section of the inspection plan is completed. 
     
     
         40 . A non-transient computer-readable medium containing program instructions for causing a computer to perform a method comprising:
 receiving an inspection plan for an asset from a host computer;   receiving a first request for a first assignment for the asset from a first inspection assistance device;   receiving a second request for a second assignment for the asset from a second inspection assistance device;   determining if there are multiple unfinished sections of the inspection plan for the asset;   if there are multiple unfinished sections of the inspection plan for the asset, sending the first section of the inspection plan for the asset to the first inspection assistance device and sending the second section of the inspection plan for the asset to the second inspection assistance device;   receiving first updates on the completion of the first section of the inspection plan from the first inspection assistance device and receive second updates on the completion of the second section of the inspection plan from the second inspection assistance device; and   sending the first and second updates to the host computer.