Virtual Inspection Workflow With Offline Artifact Capture
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing virtual inspection systems fail to transition seamlessly from live to self-guided inspections when network connectivity is lost, requiring a continuous network connection for image upload and lacking mechanisms to manage artifact collection during network failure.
Innovation Solution
A computer-implemented system and method that enables a live virtual inspection to transform into a self-guided inspection by establishing a data connection, downloading a guidesheet, enabling local storage of artifacts during connection loss, and allowing upload upon reconnection, using a data processor and network to manage artifact collection and upload.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a continuous network connection is required for virtual inspection, then real-time communication between inspector and field agent is improved, but the system fails when network connectivity is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The system downloads the guidesheet document and inspects it for required artifacts before the inspection begins. This preliminary action ensures that all necessary information is available locally on the field agent device, enabling the inspection to proceed even when network connectivity is lost.
Solution Approach 2:
The field agent device autonomously stores artifacts locally and manages the inspection process without requiring continuous network connection. The device serves itself by maintaining local storage capabilities and automatically syncing when connectivity is restored, eliminating the need for constant inspector intervention.
2Loss of information
If artifacts are uploaded in real-time during inspection, then data synchronization is improved, but artifact collection cannot continue during network failure
Solution Approach 1:
The system prepares by downloading the complete guidesheet with all required artifact information before the inspection starts. This ensures that the field agent has full knowledge of what artifacts to collect and how to store them locally, preventing data loss during network failures.
Solution Approach 2:
Local storage on the field agent device acts as an intermediary between artifact collection and upload to the server. Artifacts are first stored locally in the inspection database, then synced to the server when network connectivity is restored, ensuring no data is lost during network failures.
3Ease of operation
If the system requires inspector platform connection for all inspection activities, then centralized control is improved, but field agents cannot perform inspections independently during network loss
Solution Approach 1:
The inspection system is segmented into independent components: the field agent device can perform artifact collection and local storage independently, while the inspector platform handles centralized management and data aggregation. This segmentation allows parallel operation during network connectivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The guidesheet with complete inspection instructions and artifact requirements is downloaded in advance to the field agent device. This preliminary action enables field agents to perform inspections independently without real-time inspector platform connection, maintaining productivity during network loss.
4Loss of information
If the system uses traditional upload mechanisms during network failure, then data transmission is improved, but MMS-based upload is insufficient for comprehensive artifact management
Solution Approach 1:
A local inspection database on the field agent device serves as an intermediary storage layer. Artifacts are collected and stored locally in structured format, then uploaded in batches when network connectivity is restored, eliminating the need for complex real-time upload mechanisms during network failure.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary local storage of all artifacts in a structured database before attempting any upload. This preliminary action simplifies the upload mechanism by organizing data in advance, making batch synchronization efficient and reliable when connectivity is restored.
Data Source
AI summary
A computer-implemented system that enables a live virtual inspection to transform into a self-guided inspection includes: an inspector platform and at least one field agent platform, the system configured to: establish a data connection between the inspector platform and the at least one field agent platform; receive a download of a guidesheet document at the at least one field agent platform, the guidesheet including information indicative of an inspection type and identification of required artifacts for the inspection type; enable upload of artifacts from the at least one field agent platform to the inspector platform via the data network; detect a loss of the data connection; enable the at least one field agent platform to continue collection of artifacts for local storage during the loss of the data connection; and enable the at least one field agent platform to upload artifacts from local storage after the data connection is restored.