Patent ID: 8564417

Claim:
A method for verifying physical access by an inspection agent to an equipment item, said method comprising the steps of: (a) providing a memory button comprising a read-write memory; (b) associating a unique identifier with the memory button and with the equipment item; (c) mounting the memory button in association with the equipment item; (d) providing portable computing means having a read-write memory and user interface whereby user-defined data and commands may be entered into said read-write memory; (e) providing a memory button probe in electronic communication with portable computing means, said memory button probe being adapted for electronic communication with said read-write memory, so as to transfer data from the portable computing means to the memory or from the memory to the portable means; (f) associating a unique inspector code with a specific inspection agent; (g) gaining physical access to the memory button, while carrying both the portable computing means and the memory button probe; (h) by means of the user interface, entering the unique inspector code into the memory of the portable computing means; and (i) actuating the memory button probe so as to record: i.1 in the memory button's read-write memory, the unique inspector code, plus the date and time; and i.2 in the memory of the portable computing means, the unique identifier associated with the memory button, plus the time and date.