MARKING APPARATUS EQUIPPED WITH TICKET PROCESSING SOFTWARE FOR FACILITATING MARKING OPERATIONS, AND ASSOCIATED METHODS
First Claim
1. A marking apparatus for performing a marking operation to mark on ground, pavement, or other surface a presence or an absence of at least one underground facility, the apparatus comprising:
- an actuator to dispense a marking material so as to form at least one locate mark on the ground, pavement or other surface to mark the presence or the absence of the at least one underground facility;
at least one user interface including at least one display device;
at least one communication interface;
a memory to store processor-executable instructions, wherein the processor-executable instructions include ticket processing software; and
a processor communicatively coupled to the memory, the at least one communication interface, the at least one user interface, and the actuator, wherein upon execution of the ticket processing software by the processor, the processor;
receives via the at least one communication interface first ticket information relating to at least one locate request ticket pertaining to the marking operation; and
controls the at least one display device so as to display second ticket information on the at least one display device, wherein the second ticket information is derived from the first ticket information.
5 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Marking apparatus and methods, in which first ticket information relating to a locate request ticket is received, and second ticket information derived from the first ticket information is displayed on a display device of the marking apparatus. A field technician may provide some input to generate an electronic record or log of technician activity during a marking operation. In one example, a checklist may be generated (e.g., based at least in part on the first ticket information) and displayed locally to the technician as a guide to perform and verify various aspects of the operation. In another example, a set of instructions or “workflow” may be generated to guide the technician through a sequence of steps to perform the marking operation. Performance via a process guide (e.g., checklist or workflow) may be interactive in that the technician may provide input, or automated/semi-automated by analyzing various information collected by the marking apparatus with respect to the ticket information and/or other available information germane to the operation.
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Citations
70 Claims
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1. A marking apparatus for performing a marking operation to mark on ground, pavement, or other surface a presence or an absence of at least one underground facility, the apparatus comprising:
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an actuator to dispense a marking material so as to form at least one locate mark on the ground, pavement or other surface to mark the presence or the absence of the at least one underground facility; at least one user interface including at least one display device; at least one communication interface; a memory to store processor-executable instructions, wherein the processor-executable instructions include ticket processing software; and a processor communicatively coupled to the memory, the at least one communication interface, the at least one user interface, and the actuator, wherein upon execution of the ticket processing software by the processor, the processor; receives via the at least one communication interface first ticket information relating to at least one locate request ticket pertaining to the marking operation; and controls the at least one display device so as to display second ticket information on the at least one display device, wherein the second ticket information is derived from the first ticket information. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 65, 66, 67)
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37. A method for facilitating a marking operation performed by a marking apparatus to mark on ground, pavement, or other surface a presence or an absence of at least one underground facility, the method comprising:
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A) receiving at the marking apparatus first ticket information relating to at least one locate request ticket pertaining to the marking operation; and B) displaying on at least one display device of the marking apparatus second ticket information derived from the first ticket information. - View Dependent Claims (38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 68, 69, 70)
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64. At least one computer readable storage medium encoded with at least one program including processor-executable instructions that, when executed by a processor, perform a method for facilitating a marking operation performed by a marking apparatus to mark on ground, pavement, or other surface a presence or an absence of at least one underground facility, the method comprising:
A) displaying on at least one display device of the marking apparatus ticket information derived from at least one locate request ticket pertaining to the marking operation.
Specification