Remote witness testing system

Abstract

A master testing control system includes at least one remote computer with one or more communications lines for communicating over a communications network and a plurality of remote sensors, a two way real-time digital video system, a two-way real-time digital audio system. A set of instructions is on each remote computer for sending and receiving data over one or more data lines and for remote display. A set of instructions is on each remote computer for displaying data. At least one local computer is located geographically distant from the remote computer and able to monitor and control the display, storage, and transmission of data acquired by the remote computer. The remote computer collects data from the plurality of sensors and transmits this data to the local computer, under the control of the local computer, for permanent recording.

1 . A virtual witness master product testing control system, comprising:
 a remote computer;   a plurality of remote sensors coupled to the remote computer;   wherein the remote computer is configured to acquire test data from the plurality of sensors;   a local computer located geographically distant from the remote computer and configured to monitor and control display, storage, and transmission of the test data acquired by the remote computer;   one or more communications lines configured to carry communications between the local computer and the remote computer over a communications network;   a two way real-time digital video system;   a two-way real-time digital audio system;   wherein the remote computer is configured to transmit the test data to the local computer, under the control of the local computer;   wherein the remote computer is configured to prevent permanently recording the test data by the remote computer during acquisition and transmission of the test data; and   wherein the local computer is configured to permanently record the test data.   
     
     
         2 . The system as in  claim 1  where the communications network is the Internet. 
     
     
         3 . The system as in  claim 1  where the transmission of the test data is encrypted. 
     
     
         4 . The system as in  claim 1  where the two-way digital video and audio systems include at least one digital camera and digital audio recorder co-located with the plurality of remote sensors and able to view placement of said plurality of remote sensors. 
     
     
         5 . The system as in  claim 1  wherein said local computer collects and stores audiovisual data from said two way real-time digital video system and said two way real-time digital audio system as part of the permanent recording of test data. 
     
     
         6 . A method for conducting remote witness product testing, comprising the steps of:
 assembling at a remote test site,
 a subject device to be tested, 
 a plurality of remote sensors, 
 a remote computer coupled to the plurality of remote sensors; 
   assembling a local computer at a local site;   connecting one or more communications lines between the local computer and the remote computer over a communications network;   assembling a two-way real-time digital audio-visual system between the remote test site and the local site;   conducting tests on the subject device;   communicating test data from the plurality of remote sensors to the remote computer;   transmitting the test data from the remote computer to the local computer, wherein display, storage, and transmission of test data by the remote computer is controlled by the local computer while the tests are conducted;   preventing the remote computer from permanently recording the test data while the tests are conducted; and   recording permanently the test data on the local computer.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the communications network is the Internet. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the transmission of test data is encrypted. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the two-way real-time digital audio-visual system includes at least one digital camera and digital audio recorder co-located with the plurality of remote sensors and able to view the position of said plurality of remote sensors. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 6  further comprising verifying the test data, by a party designated to observe the testing, wherein the party designated to observe the testing electronically authenticates the test data recorded by the local computer. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the tests conducted on the subject device comply with standards required for certification of the subject device by a regulatory authority. 
     
     
         12 . A method for thermal testing comprising:
 enclosing, in a thermal test booth, a thermal appliance;   sensing, by a test module including one or more thermalcouple sensors coupled to the thermal appliance, the thermal test booth, or a combination thereof, one or more test parameters;   monitoring, by a remote witness module coupled to the test module and located remotely from the test module, the one or more test parameters; and   verifying, by the remote witness module, the one or more test parameters.   
     
     
         13 . The method for thermal testing of  claim 12  further comprising:
 certifying, by the remote witness module, the one or more test parameters. 
 
     
     
         14 . The method for thermal testing of  claim 12  further comprising:
 monitoring, with an audiovisual communication module coupled to the test module and the remote witness module, audiovisual information related to the one or more test parameters; and 
 communicating, by the audiovisual communication module, the audiovisual information to the remote witness module. 
 
     
     
         15 . The method for thermal testing of  claim 14  further comprising:
 displaying, by a display module coupled to the remote witness module, the one or more test parameters, the audiovisual information, or a combination thereof. 
 
     
     
         16 . The method for thermal testing of  claim 15  further comprising:
 recording, by a recording module coupled to the remote witness module, the one or more test parameters, the audiovisual information, or a combination thereof. 
 
     
     
         17 . The method for thermal testing of  claim 16  further comprising:
 recording, by the recording module, compliance of the one or more test parameters with one or more test standards.