Systems and methods for non-destructive testing online stores

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10672046-B2
Application number	US-201213732281-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 31, 2012
Priority date	Dec 31, 2012
Publication date	Jun 2, 2020
Grant date	Jun 2, 2020

Abstract

A non-transitory computer readable medium may include executable instructions which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to provide for a repository of digital content, and to provide for a store configured to sell a right to use the digital content to a customer and to transmit the digital content to a non-destructive testing (NDT) device, and wherein the digital content is configured to be executed by, used by, or displayed the NDT device, or a combination thereof.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A non-destructive testing (NDT) device comprising:
a communication module including circuitry configured to perform wireless communication with an NDT ecosystem via a wireless conduit according to at least one communication protocol, the NDT ecosystem including one or more digital content stores containing inspection applications for performing non-destructive inspection of turbomachinery by the NDT device, the inspection applications transmitted to the NDT ecosystem by a computing device associated with an inspection solution provider and stored in a private store of the one or more digital content stores, wherein the NDT ecosystem further includes an automated authentication system for determining inspection application authenticity;
a pan-tilt-zoom (PTZ) camera including with at least one sensor affixed to the PTZ camera;
a memory configured to store program instructions; and
one or more processors configured to execute the stored program instructions, which when executed cause the one or more processors to:
transmit authentication data to the NDT ecosystem, the authentication data validating the NDT device as a secure recipient of the inspection application;
acquire, via the PTZ camera, object data identifying a turbomachinery for inspection;
transmit, via the communication module, the object data to the NDT ecosystem;
download, via the communication module and based on validating the NDT device as the secure recipient, an inspection application from the private store of the one or more digital content stores included in the NDT ecosystem, the inspection application customized according to the object data via an automated authentication system of the NDT ecosystem;
execute the downloaded inspection application;
configure the NDT device for inspection of the turbomachinery based on the executed inspection application; and
perform the inspection of the turbomachinery after configuring the NDT device for inspection of the turbomachinery based on the executed inspection application.

2. The NDT device of claim 1 , wherein the one or more processors receive, via the communication module, one or more licenses for a right to use the inspection application from the NDT ecosystem.

3. The NDT device of claim 2 , wherein the one or more licenses comprise a per use license, a perpetual license, a time-based license, a volume-based license, or a combination thereof.

4. The NDT device of claim 1 , wherein the one or more processors are configured to automatically receive, via the communication module, an updated inspection application from the NDT ecosystem pursuant to a subscription, and execute the updated inspection application so as to update an inspection configuration of the NDT device.

5. The NDT device of claim 1 , wherein the inspection application comprises inspection training content to train an operator of the NDT device for the inspection of the turbomachinery by the NDT device.

6. The NDT device of claim 1 , wherein the private store further comprises a non-executable inspection content comprising an NDT device manual, a regulatory document, an instructional presentation, or a combination thereof.

7. The NDT device of claim 1 , wherein the inspection application comprises a firmware.

8. The NDT device of claim 1 , wherein the at least one sensor includes a laser rangefinder, an infrared temperature sensor, a pressure sensor, a flow sensor, or a clearance sensor.

9. A system comprising:
an NDT ecosystem including
one or more digital content stores containing inspection applications for performing non-destructive inspection of turbomachinery by the NDT device, the inspection applications transmitted to the NDT ecosystem by a computing device associated with an inspection solution provider and stored in a private store of the one or more digital content stores, and
an automated authentication system for determining inspection application authenticity; and

a non-destructive testing (NDT) device including a communication module including circuitry configured to perform wireless communication with the NDT ecosystem via a wireless conduit according to at least one communication protocol, a memory configured to store program instructions, a pan-tilt-zoom (PTZ) camera including with at least one sensor affixed to the PTZ camera, and one or more processors configured to execute the stored program instructions, wherein the one or more processors are configured to:
transmit authentication data to the NDT ecosystem, the authentication data validating the NDT device as a secure recipient of the inspection application;
acquire, via the PTZ camera, object data identifying a turbomachinery for inspection;
transmit, via the communication module, the object data to the NDT ecosystem;
download, via the communication module, and based on validating the NDT device as the secure recipient, an inspection application from the private store of the one or more digital content stores included in the NDT ecosystem, the inspection application customized via the automated authentication system according to the object data;
execute the downloaded inspection application;
configure the NDT device for inspection of the turbomachinery based on the executed inspection application; and
perform the inspection of the turbomachinery after configuring the NDT device for inspection of the turbomachinery based on the executed inspection application.

10. The system of claim 9 , wherein the NDT ecosystem is configured to transmit a license to the NDT device based on the object data.

11. The system of claim 10 , wherein the NDT device comprises a digital rights management (DRM) system configured to use the license to enable the use of the inspection application.

12. The system of claim 9 , wherein the inspection application comprises firmware configured to flash the NDT device, or a combination thereof.

13. A method for operating a non-destructive testing (NDT) device comprising:
acquiring, via a PTZ camera configured in the NDT device, object data identifying a tubomachinery for inspection, the PTZ camera including at least one sensor affixed to the PTZ camera;
transmitting authentication data, via circuitry included in a communication module of the NDT device, to an NDT ecosystem including one or more digital content stores containing inspection applications for performing non-destructive inspection of turbomachinery by the NDT device, the inspection applications transmitted to the NDT ecosystem by a computing device associated with an inspection solution provider and stored in a private store of the one or more digital content stores, wherein the NDT ecosystem further includes an automated authentication system for determining inspection application authenticity;
transmitting, via the communication module, the object data to the NDT ecosystem;
downloading, via the communication module and based on validating the NDT device as a secure recipient, an inspection application from the private store of the one or more digital content stores included in the NDT ecosystem, the inspection application customized via the automated authentication system according to the object data;
executing, by one or more processors of the NDT device, the downloaded inspection application;
configuring the NDT device for inspection of the turbomachinery; and
performing the inspection of the turbomachinery after configuring the NDT device for inspection of the turbomachinery based on the executed inspection application.

14. The method of claim 13 , further comprising automatically receiving, via the communication module, an updated version of th

Assignees

• Gen Electric
• Baker Hughes A Ge Co Llc

Inventors

• Messinger Jason Howard
• Domke Michael Christopher
• Sbihli Scott Leo
• Ward Robert Carroll
• De Fromont Francois Xavier

Classifications

• H04L41/0886

  Fully automatic configuration · CPC title

• G06F11/267

  Reconfiguring circuits for testing, e.g. LSSD, partitioning · CPC title

• H04L41/0823 Primary

  characterised by the purposes of a change of settings, e.g. optimising configuration for enhancing reliability (for optimising operational conditions of wireless networks H04W24/02) · CPC title

• G06Q30/0601 Primary

  Electronic shopping [e-shopping] · CPC title

• H04N2005/4437

  Electricity · mapped topic