Patent ID: 7536278

Claim:
A method of performing an inspection, the method comprising: providing a data sensing system; mounting the data sensing system to a handheld computing device; initiating an inspection schedule on the handheld computing device; verifying access rights of a user of the handheld computing device; and performing the inspection using the handheld computing device in response to successfully verifying access rights of the user, wherein the performing includes: receiving background information that relates to the inspection from a central repository; prompting the user of the handheld computing device to acquire a first set of attributes based on the inspection schedule; receiving the first set of attributes on the handheld computing device from the data sensing system that is in communication with the handheld computing device; evaluating the first set of attributes in accordance with the background information on the handheld computing device; wherein the mounting step includes adjusting a direction of operation for the data sensing system independent of the handheld computing device.