System and method for storing and retrieving equipment inspection and maintenance data

Abstract

An inspection and maintenance data storage and retrieval system features uniquely identified read/write memory buttons mounted in or on an equipment unit such as an aircraft, in association with specific components of the equipment unit. Technical information useful for inspection and maintenance of the components, plus historical inspection and maintenance information, is stored in a central database computer remote from the equipment unit. A memory button probe, used in conjunction with a portable computer, enables storage on the memory buttons of information relating to inspection and maintenance carried out on the corresponding equipment components, as well as technical information related to the components. The portable computer is connected to the central database computer, preferably through a wireless Internet connection, thus enabling downloading of technical information from the central database to the portable computer at the point of inspection or maintenance. Information relating to each inspection and maintenance task may be downloaded to the central database computer via the portable computer. The central database computer may be a network server providing authorized users with access to current maintenance and operational status information for the equipment units supported by the system.

1 . A method of managing inspection or maintenance information related to a selected aircraft component, said method comprising the steps of:
 (a) performing a selected inspection or maintenance task on a selected aircraft component affixed to an aircraft and having a contact memory button affixed thereon, the contact memory button including a read-write memory chip and contact means;   (b) entering task performance information relating to the performed selected inspection or maintenance task into a portable computing device;   (c) engaging the contact means of the contact memory button with contact means of a memory button probe interfaced with the portable computing device;   (d) sending a signal corresponding to the task performance information from the portable computing device/to the contact memory button to thereby store the task performance information on the read-write memory chip; and   (e) sending a signal corresponding to the task performance information from the portable computing device to a central computer positioned at a location remote from the aircraft component and in communication with the portable computing device to thereby also store the task performance information in a database associated with the central computer.   
   
   
       2 . A method as defined in  claim 1 , wherein:
 (a) the database associated with the central computer stores technical information relating to the selected aircraft component; and   (b) the method further comprises the step of sending from the portable computing device to the central computer, a signal to instruct the central computer to send to the portable computing device technical information relating to the selected aircraft component stored in the database.   
   
   
       3 . A method as defined in  claim 2 , wherein:
 (a) the technical information sent to the portable computing device by the central computer includes maintenance history data for the selected aircraft component; and   (b) the contact memory button stores both the maintenance history data and associated technical manuals relating to the selected aircraft component.   
   
   
       4 . A method as defined in  claim 1 , wherein:
 (a) the contact memory button includes an unalterable read-only memory identifier; and   (b) the method further comprises the step of associating the unalterable read-only memory identifier with the selected aircraft component.   
   
   
       5 . A method as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the step of storing task performance information on the read-write memory chip and the step of storing task performance information in the database associated with the central computer are performed responsive to completion of the selected inspection or maintenance task on the selected aircraft component to thereby update both the contact memory button and the database with the same task performance information to provide a technician user access availability to the task performance information from both storage media to thereby enhance performance and technical information availability for the selected aircraft component. 
   
   
       6 . A method as defined in  claim 1 , further comprising the step of updating the database with maintenance history stored in the read-write memory of the contact memory button by performing the steps of:
 (a) engaging the contact means of the contact memory button with the contact means of the memory button probe to thereby retrieve maintenance history data from the read-write memory chip of the contact memory button;   (b) retrieving the maintenance history data from the contact memory button; and   (c) sending a signal corresponding to the retrieved maintenance history data from the portable computing device to the central computer to thereby update the database with the retrieved maintenance history data.   
   
   
       7 . A method as defined in  claim 1 , further comprising the steps of:
 (a) engaging the contact means of the contact memory button with the contact means of the memory button probe to thereby retrieve maintenance history data from the read-write memory chip for review by a technician user prior to performing the selected inspection or maintenance task; and   (b) retrieving maintenance history data from the contact memory button responsive to the step of engaging the contact means of the contact memory button with the contact means of the memory button probe.   
   
   
       8 . A method as defined in  claim 1 , wherein:
 (a) the method further comprises the step of associating a unique inspector code with a specific inspection agent; and   (b) the step of sending a signal corresponding to the task performance information to the contact memory button includes sending, the unique inspector code, time, and date.   
   
   
       9 . A method as defined in  claim 8 , wherein:
 (a) the step of sending a signal corresponding to the task performance information to the central computer includes sending the unique inspector code, time, and date; and   (b) the aircraft has no onboard means of retrieving information stored in the contact memory button.   
   
   
       10 . A method of managing inspection or maintenance information related to a selected aircraft component, said method comprising the steps of:
 (a) entering into a portable computing device, task performance information relating to a selected inspection or maintenance task performed on a selected aircraft component affixed to an aircraft and having a contact memory button affixed thereon;   (b) engaging contact means of the contact memory button with contact means of a memory button probe associated with the portable computing device;   (c) sending from the portable computing device to the contact memory button, a signal corresponding to the task performance information responsive to the step of engaging the contact means of the contact memory button with the contact means of the memory button probe to thereby store the task performance information on the contact memory button; and   (d) sending from the portable computing device to a central computer positioned at a location remote from the aircraft component and in communication with the portable computing device, a signal corresponding to the task performance information to thereby also store the task performance information in a database associated with the central computer.   
   
   
       11 . A method as defined in  claim 10 , wherein:
 (a) the database associated with the central computer stores technical information relating to the selected aircraft component;   (b) the portable computing device and the central computer are in bidirectional communication over a wireless link; and   (c) the method further comprises the step of sending from the portable computing device to the central computer, a signal to instruct the central computer to send to the portable computing device technical information relating to the selected aircraft component stored in the database.   
   
   
       12 . A method as defined in  claim 11 , wherein:
 (a) the technical information sent to the portable computing device by the central computer includes maintenance history data for the selected aircraft component; and   (b) the contact memory button stores both the maintenance history data and associated technical manuals relating to the selected aircraft component.   
   
   
       13 . A method as defined in  claim 10 , wherein the step of storing task performance information on the contact memory button and the step of storing task performance information in the database associated with the central computer are performed responsive to completion of the selected inspection or maintenance task on the selected aircraft component to thereby update both the contact memory button and the database with the same task performance information to provide a technician user access availability to the task performance information from both storage media to thereby enhance performance and technical information availability for the selected aircraft component. 
   
   
       14 . A method as defined in  claim 10 , further comprising the step of updating the database with maintenance history stored on the contact memory button, by performing the steps of:
 (a) retrieving maintenance history data from the contact memory button responsive to a technician user engaging the contact means of the contact memory button with the contact means of the memory button probe; and   (b) sending a signal corresponding to the retrieved maintenance history data from the portable computing device to the central computer to thereby update the database with the retrieved maintenance history data.   
   
   
       15 . A method as defined in  claim 10 , further comprising the step of retrieving maintenance history data from the contact memory button for review by a technician user prior to the technician user performing the selected inspection or maintenance task responsive to a technician user engaging the contact means of the contact memory button with the contact means of the memory button probe. 
   
   
       16 . A method as defined in  claim 10 , wherein:
 (a) a technician user is assigned a unique inspector code; and   (b) the step of sending a signal corresponding to the task performance information to the contact memory button includes sending the unique inspector code, time, and date.   
   
   
       17 . A method as defined in  claim 17 , wherein:
 (a) the step of sending a signal corresponding to the task performance information to the central computer includes sending the unique inspector code, time, and date;   (b) the aircraft has no onboard means of retrieving information stored in the contact memory button; and   (c) the contact memory button includes an unalterable read-only memory identifier associated with the selected aircraft component.   
   
   
       18 . Software contained on a portable computing device for managing inspection or maintenance information related to a selected aircraft component, said software being adapted to cause the portable computing device to perform the operations of:
 (a) receiving task performance information relating to a selected inspection or maintenance task performed on a selected aircraft component affixed to an aircraft responsive to user entry thereof, the aircraft component having a contact memory button affixed thereon, the contact memory button including contact means for receiving the task performance information;   (b) sending from the portable computing device to the contact memory button a signal corresponding to the task performance information responsive to user engagement of the contact means of the contact memory button with contact means of a memory button probe associated with the portable computing device to thereby store the task performance information on the contact memory button; and   (c) sending from the portable computing device to a central computer positioned at a location remote from the aircraft component and in communication with the portable computing device, a signal corresponding to the task performance information to thereby also store the task performance information in a database associated with the central computer.   
   
   
       19 . Software as defined in  claim 18 , wherein:
 (a) the database associated with the central computer stores technical information relating to the selected aircraft component;   (b) the portable computing device and the central computer are in bidirectional communication over a wireless link; and   (c) the operations further include sending from the portable computing device to the central computer, a signal to instruct the central computer to send to the portable computing device technical information relating to the selected aircraft component stored in the database.   
   
   
       20 . Software as defined in  claim 19 , wherein:
 (a) the technical information sent to the portable computing device by the central computer includes maintenance history data for the selected aircraft component; and   (b) the contact memory button stores both the maintenance history data and associated technical manuals relating to the selected aircraft component.   
   
   
       21 . Software as defined in  claim 18 , wherein the step of storing task performance information on the contact memory button and the step of storing task performance information in the database associated with the central computer are performed responsive to completion of the selected inspection or maintenance task on the selected aircraft component to thereby update both the contact memory button and the database with the same task performance information to provide a technician user access availability to the task performance information from both storage media to thereby enhance performance and technical information availability for the selected aircraft component. 
   
   
       22 . Software as defined in  claim 18 , wherein the operations further include updating the database with maintenance history stored on the contact memory button, and wherein the operations of updating the database includes performing the operations of:
 (a) retrieving maintenance history data from the contact memory button responsive to a user engaging the contact means of the contact memory button with the contact means of the memory button probe; and   (b) sending a signal corresponding to the retrieved maintenance history data from the portable computing device to the central computer to thereby update the database with the retrieved maintenance history data.   
   
   
       23 . Software as defined in  claim 18 , wherein the operations further include retrieving maintenance history data from the contact memory button for review by a technician user prior to the technician user performing the selected inspection or maintenance task, responsive to the technician user engaging the contact means of the contact memory button with the contact means of the memory button probe. 
   
   
       24 . Software as defined in  claim 18 , wherein:
 (a) a user is assigned a unique inspector code; and   (b) the operation of sending a signal corresponding to the task performance information to the contact memory button includes sending the unique inspector code, time, and date.   
   
   
       25 . Software as defined in  claim 24 , wherein:
 (a) the aircraft has no onboard means of retrieving information stored in the contact memory button;   (b) the contact memory button includes an unalterable read-only memory identifier associated with the selected aircraft component;   (c) the contact memory button includes inspection data and technical manuals associated with the selected aircraft component; and   (d) the operation of sending a signal corresponding to the task performance information to the central computer includes sending the unique inspector code, time, and date.   
   
   
       26 . A method of managing inspection or maintenance information related to a selected aircraft component, said method comprising the steps of:
 (a) performing a selected inspection or maintenance task on a selected aircraft component affixed to an aircraft and having a contact memory button affixed thereon, the contact memory button including a read-write memory chip and contact means;   (b) entering task performance information relating to the performed selected inspection or maintenance task into a portable computing device;   (c) engaging the contact means of the contact memory button with contact means of a memory button probe interfaced with the portable computing device;   (d) sending a signal corresponding to the task performance information from the portable computing device to the contact memory button to thereby store the task performance information on the read-write memory chip; and   (e) sending a signal corresponding to the task performance information from the portable computing device to a central computer positioned at a location remote from the aircraft component and in communication with the portable computing device to thereby also store the task performance information in a database associated with the central computer;   
     wherein:
 (f) the contact memory button includes an unalterable read-only memory identifier; 
 (g) the method further comprises the step of associating the unalterable read-only memory identifier with the selected aircraft component; 
 (h) the method further comprises the step of associating a unique inspector code with a specific inspection agent; and 
 (i) the step of sending a signal corresponding to the task performance information to the contact memory button includes sending the unique inspector code, time, and date.