METHODS, APPARATUS, AND SYSTEMS FOR ANALYZING USE OF A LOCATE DEVICE BY A TECHNICIAN TO PERFORM AN UNDERGROUND FACILITY LOCATE OPERATION

• US 20100257029A1
• Filed: 06/18/2010
• Published: 10/07/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/02/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Certusview Technologies LLC (Dycom Industries Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Certusview Technologies LLC (Dycom Industries Incorporated)
• Inventors: Nielsen, Steven, Chambers, Curtis, Farr, Jeffrey
• Application Number:
  US12/818,193
• Publication Number:
  US 20100257029A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/11
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 3/08 operating with magnetic or electric fields produced or modified by objects or geological structures or by detecting devices with electromagnetic waves G01V3/12
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 3/15 specially adapted for use during transport, e.g. by a person, vehicle or boat

Abstract

Operating information representative of manipulation of a locate receiver during performance of a locate operation by a technician is analyzed to determine a pattern of manipulation. In one example, the pattern of manipulation is compared to at least one previously-identified pattern of manipulation associated with at least one technician. In various aspects, the operating information may be representative of an acceleration, a velocity, a distance traveled by, and/or an angle of inclination of the locate receiver. In another aspect, the previously-identified pattern of manipulation may be a technician signature representing a pattern of motion unique to a technician.

Claims

1. A method of monitoring a technician'"'"'s performance of a locate operation to detect the presence or absence of an underground facility, wherein the technician uses a locate receiver, the method comprising:

A) receiving operating information representative of manipulation of the locate receiver during performance of the locate operation by the technician; and

B) analyzing, using at least one processor, the operating information to determine a pattern of manipulation.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the operating information is representative of an angle of inclination of the locate receiver.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the operating information representative of manipulation of the locate receiver is representative of motion of the locate receiver, and wherein B) comprises analyzing the operating information to determine a pattern of motion.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the operating information is representative of an acceleration of the locate receiver.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the operating information is representative of a velocity of the locate receiver.

6. The method of claim 3, wherein the operating information is representative of a distance traveled by the locate receiver.

7. The method of claim 3, wherein performance of the locate operation comprises sweeping the locate receiver over a suspected location of the underground facility, and wherein the pattern of motion determined in B) relates to sweeping of the locate receiver.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein if in B) the pattern of manipulation is determined, the method further comprises:

C) comparing the pattern of manipulation to a previously-identified pattern of manipulation associated with a technician.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the previously-identified pattern of manipulation is a technician signature representing a pattern of manipulation unique to a technician.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the technician signature represents a previously-identified pattern of manipulation unique to the technician performing the locate operation.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the technician signature represents a previously-identified pattern of manipulation unique to a technician different than the technician performing the locate operation.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein the operating information representative of manipulation of the locate receiver is representative of motion of the locate receiver, and wherein the pattern of manipulation determined in B) is a pattern of motion of the locate receiver, and wherein C) comprises comparing the pattern of motion to a previously-identified pattern of motion associated with a technician.

13. A method of monitoring technician performance of a locate operation using a locate receiver to detect the presence or absence of an underground facility, the method comprising:

A) receiving operating information representative of manipulation of the locate receiver during performance of the locate operation; and

B) comparing, using at least one processor, a pattern of manipulation of the locate receiver indicated by the operating information to at least one previously-identified pattern of manipulation associated with at least one technician.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising C) determining, using the at least one processor, the pattern of manipulation of the locate receiver indicated by the operating information.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the operating information is representative of an angle of inclination of the locate receiver.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein the operating information representative of manipulation is representative of motion of the locate receiver during performance of the locate operation, wherein the at least one previously-identified pattern of manipulation is a previously-identified pattern of motion, and wherein B) comprises comparing a pattern of motion of the locate receiver indicated by the operating information to the previously-identified pattern of motion.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the operating information is representative of an acceleration of the locate receiver.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the operating information is representative of a velocity of the locate receiver.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein the operating information is representative of a distance traveled by the locate receiver.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein the pattern of motion relates to sweeping the locate receiver over a suspected location of the underground facility.

21. The method of claim 13, wherein the previously-identified pattern of manipulation associated with the at least one technician is a signature of the at least one technician representing a previously-identified pattern of manipulation unique to the at least one technician.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the signature of the at least one technician corresponds to technician manipulation of the locate receiver when sweeping the locate receiver over a suspected location of the underground facility.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein the locate operation is performed by a first technician and wherein the at least one technician is a second technician.

24. The method of claim 13, wherein the locate operation is performed by a first technician and wherein the at least one technician is a second technician.

25. A computer readable storage medium storing processor-executable instructions which, when executed by at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to perform a method of monitoring a technician'"'"'s performance of a locate operation to detect the presence or absence of an underground facility, wherein the technician uses a locate receiver, the method comprising:

A) receiving operating information representative of manipulation of the locate receiver during performance of the locate operation by the technician; and

B) analyzing, using at least one processor, the operating information to determine a pattern of manipulation.

26. The computer readable storage medium of claim 25, wherein the operating information is representative of an angle of inclination of the locate receiver.

27. The computer readable storage medium of claim 25, wherein the operating information representative of manipulation of the locate receiver is representative of motion of the locate receiver, and wherein B) comprises analyzing the operating information to determine a pattern of motion.

28. The computer readable storage medium of claim 27, wherein the operating information is representative of an acceleration of the locate receiver.

29. The computer readable storage medium of claim 27, wherein the operating information is representative of a velocity of the locate receiver.

30. The computer readable storage medium of claim 27, wherein the operating information is representative of a distance traveled by the locate receiver.

31. The computer readable storage medium of claim 27, wherein performance of the locate operation comprises sweeping the locate receiver over a suspected location of the underground facility, and wherein the pattern of motion determined in B) relates to sweeping of the locate receiver.

32. The computer readable storage medium of claim 25, wherein if in B) the pattern of manipulation is determined, the method further comprises:

C) comparing the pattern of manipulation to a previously-identified pattern of manipulation associated with a technician.

33. The computer readable storage medium of claim 32, wherein the previously-identified pattern of manipulation is a technician signature representing a pattern of manipulation unique to a technician.

34. The computer readable storage medium of claim 33, wherein the technician signature represents a previously-identified pattern of manipulation unique to the technician performing the locate operation.

35. The computer readable storage medium of claim 33, wherein the technician signature represents a previously-identified pattern of manipulation unique to a technician different than the technician performing the locate operation.

36. The computer readable storage medium of claim 32, wherein the operating information representative of manipulation of the locate receiver is representative of motion of the locate receiver, and wherein the pattern of manipulation determined in B) is a pattern of motion of the locate receiver, and wherein C) comprises comparing the pattern of motion to a previously-identified pattern of motion associated with a technician.

37. A computer readable storage medium storing processor-executable instructions which, when executed by at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to perform a method of monitoring technician performance of a locate operation using a locate receiver to detect the presence or absence of an underground facility, the method comprising:

A) receiving operating information representative of manipulation of the locate receiver during performance of the locate operation; and

B) comparing, using at least one processor, a pattern of manipulation of the locate receiver indicated by the operating information to at least one previously-identified pattern of manipulation associated with at least one technician.

38. The computer readable storage medium of claim 37, wherein the method further comprises C) determining the pattern of manipulation of the locate receiver indicated by the operating information.

39. The computer readable storage medium of claim 37, wherein the operating information is representative of an angle of inclination of the locate receiver.

40. The computer readable storage medium of claim 37, wherein the operating information representative of manipulation is representative of motion of the locate receiver during performance of the locate operation, wherein the at least one previously-identified pattern of manipulation is a previously-identified pattern of motion, and wherein B) comprises comparing a pattern of motion of the locate receiver indicated by the operating information to the previously-identified pattern of motion.

41. The computer readable storage medium of claim 40, wherein the operating information is representative of an acceleration of the locate receiver.

42. The computer readable storage medium of claim 40, wherein the operating information is representative of a velocity of the locate receiver.

43. The computer readable storage medium of claim 40, wherein the operating information is representative of a distance traveled by the locate receiver.

44. The computer readable storage medium of claim 40, wherein the pattern of motion indicated by the operating information relates to sweeping the locate receiver over a suspected location of the underground facility.

45. The computer readable storage medium of claim 37, wherein the previously-identified pattern of manipulation associated with the at least one technician is a signature of the at least one technician representing a previously-identified pattern of manipulation unique to the at least one technician.

46. The computer readable storage medium of claim 45, wherein the signature of the at least one technician corresponds to technician manipulation of the locate receiver when sweeping the locate receiver over a suspected location of the underground facility.

47. The computer readable storage medium of claim 46, wherein the locate operation is performed by a first technician and wherein the at least one technician is a second technician.

48. The computer readable storage medium of claim 37, wherein the locate operation is performed by a first technician and wherein the at least one technician is a second technician.

49. At least one computer-readable storage medium storing an electronic record, the electronic record comprising:

at least one data set representing a pattern of manipulation associated with a locate operation technician'"'"'s operation of locate receivers for performing locate operations.

50. The at least one computer readable storage medium of claim 49, wherein the data set represents a signature of the locate operation technician, the signature representing a pattern of locate receiver manipulation unique to the locate operation technician.

51. The at least one computer readable storage medium of claim 50, wherein the pattern of locate receiver manipulation is a pattern of locate receiver motion.

52. The at least one computer readable storage medium of claim 51, wherein the pattern of locate receiver motion relates to acceleration of a locate receiver.

53. The at least one computer readable storage medium of claim 51, wherein the pattern of locate receiver motion relates to velocity of a locate receiver.

54. The at least one computer readable storage medium of claim 51, wherein the pattern of locate receiver motion relates to distance traveled by a locate receiver.

55. The at least one computer readable storage medium of claim 51, wherein the pattern of locate receiver motion relates to sweeping the locate receiver over a suspected location of the underground facility.

56. The at least one computer readable storage medium of claim 50, wherein the pattern of locate receiver manipulation relates to angle of inclination of a locate receiver.

57. An apparatus for monitoring a technician'"'"'s performance of a locate operation to detect the presence or absence of an underground facility, wherein the technician uses a locate receiver, the apparatus comprising:

a memory storing processor-executable instructions; and

at least one processor coupled to the memory to receive the processor-executable instructions,

wherein, upon execution of the processor executable instructions, the at least one processor;

A) receives operating information representative of manipulation of the locate receiver during performance of the locate operation by the technician; and

B) analyzes the operating information to determine a pattern of manipulation.

58. The apparatus of claim 57, wherein the operating information is representative of an angle of inclination of the locate receiver.

59. The apparatus of claim 57, wherein the operating information representative of manipulation of the locate receiver is representative of motion of the locate receiver, and wherein B) comprises analyzing the operating information to determine a pattern of motion.

60. The apparatus of claim 59, wherein the operating information is representative of an acceleration of the locate receiver.

61. The apparatus of claim 59, wherein the operating information is representative of a velocity of the locate receiver.

62. The apparatus of claim 59, wherein the operating information is representative of a distance traveled by the locate receiver.

63. The apparatus of claim 59, wherein performance of the locate operation comprises sweeping the locate receiver over a suspected location of the underground facility, and wherein the pattern of motion determined in B) relates to sweeping of the locate receiver.

64. The apparatus of claim 57, wherein the processor, upon execution of the processor-executable instructions, C) compares the pattern of manipulation determined in B) to a previously-identified pattern of manipulation associated with a technician.

65. The apparatus of claim 64, wherein the previously-identified pattern of manipulation is a technician signature representing a pattern of manipulation unique to a technician.

66. The apparatus of claim 65, wherein the technician signature represents a previously-identified pattern of manipulation unique to the technician performing the locate operation.

67. The apparatus of claim 65, wherein the technician signature represents a previously-identified pattern of manipulation unique to a technician different than the technician performing the locate operation.

68. The apparatus of claim 64, wherein the operating information representative of manipulation of the locate receiver is representative of motion of the locate receiver, and wherein the pattern of manipulation determined in B) is a pattern of motion of the locate receiver, and wherein C) comprises comparing the pattern of motion to a previously-identified pattern of motion associated with a technician.

69. An apparatus for monitoring a technician'"'"'s performance of a locate operation to detect the presence or absence of an underground facility, wherein the technician uses a locate receiver, the apparatus comprising:

a memory storing processor-executable instructions; and

at least one processor coupled to the memory to receive the processor-executable instructions,

wherein, upon execution of the processor executable instructions, the at least one processor;

A) receives operating information representative of manipulation of the locate receiver during performance of the locate operation; and

B) compares a pattern of manipulation of the locate receiver indicated by the operating information to at least one previously-identified pattern of manipulation associated with at least one technician.

70. The apparatus of claim 69, wherein the operating information is representative of an angle of inclination of the locate receiver.

71. The apparatus of claim 69, wherein the operating information representative of manipulation is representative of motion of the locate receiver during performance of the locate operation, wherein the at least one previously-identified pattern of manipulation is a previously-identified pattern of motion, and wherein B) comprises comparing a pattern of motion of the locate receiver indicated by the operating information to the previously-identified pattern of motion.

72. The apparatus of claim 71, wherein the operating information is representative of an acceleration of the locate receiver.

73. The apparatus of claim 71, wherein the operating information is representative of a velocity of the locate receiver.

74. The apparatus of claim 71, wherein the operating information is representative of a distance traveled by the locate receiver.

75. The apparatus of claim 69, wherein upon execution of the processor executable instructions, the at least one processor further C) determines the pattern of manipulation of the locate receiver indicated by the operating information.

76. The apparatus of claim 69, wherein the previously-identified pattern of manipulation associated with the at least one technician is a signature of the at least one technician representing a previously-identified pattern of manipulation unique to the at least one technician.

77. The apparatus of claim 76, wherein the signature of the at least one technician corresponds to technician manipulation of the locate receiver when sweeping the locate receiver over a suspected location of the underground facility.

78. The apparatus of claim 76, wherein the locate operation is performed by a first technician and wherein the at least one technician is a second technician.

79. The apparatus of claim 69, wherein the locate operation is performed by a first technician and wherein the at least one technician is a second technician.