ELECTRONIC MANIFEST OF UNDERGROUND FACILITY LOCATE OPERATION
First Claim
1. An apparatus for facilitating generation of a searchable electronic record of a locate operation performed by a locate technician, the locate operation comprising identifying a presence or an absence of at least one underground facility within a dig area, wherein at least a portion of the dig area may be excavated or disturbed during excavation activities, the apparatus comprising:
- a communication interface;
a display device;
a memory to store processor-executable instructions; and
a processing unit coupled to the communication interface, the display device, and the memory, wherein upon execution of the processor-executable instructions by the processing unit, the processing unit;
controls the communication interface to electronically receive an image of a geographic area including the dig area;
controls the display device to display at least a portion of the received image;
combines the electronically received image with image-related information so as to generate the searchable electronic record, the image-related information comprising;
a geographic location associated with the dig area; and
a timestamp indicative of when the locate operation occurred; and
controls the communication interface and/or the memory to electronically transmit and/or electronically store the searchable electronic record of the locate operation so that performance of the location operation is verifiable.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Methods and apparatus for generating a searchable electronic record of a locate operation performed by a locate technician, in which a presence or an absence of at least one underground facility within a dig area is identified. An image of a geographic area comprising the dig area is electronically received, and combined with image-related information so as to generate the searchable electronic record. The image-related information comprises at least a geographic location associated with the dig area, and a timestamp indicative of when the locate operation occurred. The searchable electronic record of the locate operation is electronically transmitted and/or electronically stored so that performance of the location operation is verifiable.
240 Citations
26 Claims
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1. An apparatus for facilitating generation of a searchable electronic record of a locate operation performed by a locate technician, the locate operation comprising identifying a presence or an absence of at least one underground facility within a dig area, wherein at least a portion of the dig area may be excavated or disturbed during excavation activities, the apparatus comprising:
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a communication interface; a display device; a memory to store processor-executable instructions; and a processing unit coupled to the communication interface, the display device, and the memory, wherein upon execution of the processor-executable instructions by the processing unit, the processing unit; controls the communication interface to electronically receive an image of a geographic area including the dig area; controls the display device to display at least a portion of the received image; combines the electronically received image with image-related information so as to generate the searchable electronic record, the image-related information comprising; a geographic location associated with the dig area; and a timestamp indicative of when the locate operation occurred; and controls the communication interface and/or the memory to electronically transmit and/or electronically store the searchable electronic record of the locate operation so that performance of the location operation is verifiable. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method for generating a searchable electronic record of a locate operation performed by a locate technician, the locate operation comprising identifying a presence or an absence of at least one underground facility within a dig area, wherein at least a portion of the dig area may be excavated or disturbed during excavation activities, the method comprising:
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A) electronically receiving an image of a geographic area comprising the dig area; B) combining the electronically received image with image-related information so as to generate the searchable electronic record, the image-related information comprising; a geographic location associated with the dig area; and a timestamp indicative of when the locate operation occurred; and C) electronically transmitting and/or electronically storing the searchable electronic record of the locate operation so that performance of the location operation is verifiable. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. A computer-readable medium encoded with instructions that, when executed on at least one processing unit, perform a method of generating a searchable electronic record of a locate operation performed by a locate technician, the locate operation comprising identifying a presence or an absence of at least one underground facility within a dig area, wherein at least a portion of the dig area may be excavated or disturbed during excavation activities, the method comprising:
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A) electronically receiving an image of a geographic area comprising the dig area; B) combining the electronically received image with image-related information so as to generate the searchable electronic record, the image-related information comprising; a geographic location associated with the dig area; and a timestamp indicative of when the locate operation occurred; and C) electronically transmitting and/or electronically storing the searchable electronic record of the locate operation so that performance of the location operation is verifiable.
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Specification