LOCATING EQUIPMENT DOCKING STATION COMMUNICATIVELY COUPLED TO OR EQUIPPED WITH A MOBILE/PORTABLE DEVICE
First Claim
1. An apparatus, comprising:
- a docking station to dock locating equipment for locating and/or marking a presence or an absence of an underground facility, the docking station comprising a mobile device interface to facilitate mechanical, electrical and/or communicative coupling of a mobile or portable computing device to the docking station.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A docking station to dock locating equipment (e.g., marking devices, locate devices, combined locate and marking devices) may be communicatively coupled to and/or equipped with a mobile/portable device (e.g., a mobile phone, personal digital assistant or other portable computing device) that provides processing, electronic storage, electronic display, user interface, communication facilities and/or other functionality (e.g., GPS-enabled functionality) for the docking station. A mobile/portable device may be mechanically and/or electrically coupled to the docking station. The mobile/portable device may provide redundant, shared and/or backup functionality for the docking station to enhance robustness. In one example, the mobile/portable device itself serves as a docking station for the locating equipment.
-
Citations
32 Claims
-
1. An apparatus, comprising:
a docking station to dock locating equipment for locating and/or marking a presence or an absence of an underground facility, the docking station comprising a mobile device interface to facilitate mechanical, electrical and/or communicative coupling of a mobile or portable computing device to the docking station. - 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. A method for docking locating equipment of the type used to locate and/or mark a presence or an absence of an underground facility, the method comprising:
-
mechanically, electronically and/or communicatively coupling the locating equipment to a docking station; and performing one or more operations of the docking station using a mobile or computing device communicatively coupled to the docking station.
-
-
30. A docking station for docking a marking device of the type used to mark a presence or an absence of an underground facility, the docking station comprising:
a mobile computing device including an electronic interface configured to transfer information to and from the marking device, the mobile computing device programmed to perform at least one operation involving communication with the marking device and functioning as a docking station for the marking device.
-
31. A method for operating a marking device of the type used to mark a presence or an absence of an underground facility, the method comprising:
-
electronically coupling a mobile computing device to the marking device; and transferring information to and between the marking device and the mobile computing device, wherein the mobile computing device functions as a docking station for the marking device.
-
-
32. A system, comprising:
-
a marking device configured to mark a presence or an absence of an underground facility; and a mobile computing device communicatively coupled to the marking device, wherein the mobile computing device functions as a docking station for the marking device.
-
Specification