Wireless Devices as Guard Tour Checkpoint Data Collection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing guard tour systems rely on proprietary hardware for data collection and communication, which limits flexibility and requires offline data analysis after the tour, making it desirable to use commonly available wireless devices for checkpoint data collection and communication.
Innovation Solution
The system employs cellular telephones with data acquisition attachments for various media types, enabling real-time or near-time data transfer and analysis, using existing cellular communication systems or Wi-Fi networks, and incorporating GPS for location tracking.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If proprietary hardware devices are used for data collection and transmission, then data can be collected and transmitted, but device complexity increases and flexibility is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by enabling cellular telephones to perform multiple functions: data collection through various media types (barcode, RFID, magnetic stripe), data storage in memory, and data transmission via wireless networks. This replaces the need for separate proprietary devices for each function, thereby reducing overall system complexity while increasing flexibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses an intermediary approach by introducing a software application that mediates between the cellular telephone's existing capabilities and the guard tour system requirements. This software layer enables the phone to interface with different media types and communication protocols without requiring hardware modifications to the phone itself.
2Productivity
If proprietary devices are used for data collection, then data can be collected, but data analysis and reporting are delayed until after the tour is finished
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements continuous data transmission during the guard tour through the cellular telephone's wireless communication capabilities. Data collected at checkpoints and incidents is transmitted in real-time or near real-time to remote locations, eliminating the traditional batch processing approach where data is only analyzed after the tour completes. This ensures continuous data availability for immediate analysis and reporting.
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables feedback by allowing real-time monitoring and analysis of guard tour data from remote locations. Supervisors can receive immediate notifications and data updates during the tour, enabling timely responses to incidents or deviations from the tour protocol without waiting for post-tour data processing.
3Ease of manufacture
If proprietary data collection devices are used, then specific media types can be read, but hardware costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies copying by using the cellular telephone's existing memory and processing capabilities as substitutes for dedicated proprietary hardware. Instead of requiring specialized devices for each media type, the system uses the phone's universal interfaces and software to replicate the data collection functions, thereby reducing hardware costs while maintaining reliability through the phone's robust build and existing communication protocols.
Data Source
AI summary
A system that utilizes wireless devices as guard tour checkpoint data collection and checkpoint data communication devices is disclosed. The wireless devices have the capability of reading various types of checkpoints and communicating the collected checkpoint data with a computer via a cellular telephone communication system and either a land-based telephone network or the Internet or a cellular data communication device. Alternatively, a Wi-Fi network or the Wi-Fi network and the Internet can be used to communicate collected checkpoint data with the computer. The computer stores and processes the data according to guard tour expected performance parameters, such as rules, schedules, and exceptions, and then generates the necessary commands to produce exception notifications and reports at various types of peripheral equipment.