SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR GENERATING ELECTRONIC RECORDS OF LOCATE AND MARKING OPERATIONS
First Claim
1. A method of communicating between a locate device used for locating an underground facility and a marking device used to dispense a marking material to mark a presence or absence of the underground facility, the method comprising:
- collecting locate information using the locate device, the locate device comprising a first electrical communication interface and at least one receiver antenna configured to detect a magnetic field from an underground facility, the locate information based at least in part on operation of the at least one receiver antenna;
collecting marking information using the marking device, the marking device separate and distinct from the locate device, the marking device comprising a second electrical communication interface and an actuation mechanism operable to control dispensing of a physical marking material on ground pavement or other surfaces to mark a presence or an absence of the underground facility, the marking information relating at least in part to the physical marking material or the dispensing of the physical marking material; and
communicating, via the first electrical communication interface and the second electrical communication interface, at least one of the locate information and the marking information between the locate device and the marking device.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Systems and methods for generating electronic records of locate operations and marking operations are described. Exemplary systems and methods include marking devices that generate, store and/or transmit electronic records of marking information, locate devices that generate, store and/or transmit electronic records of locate information, and locate devices and marking devices that communicate with each other (and optionally with other devices or systems) to share/exchange locate information and/or marking information. An exemplary method for analyzing and processing locate information and marking information includes a computer-implemented method for visually rendering (e.g., in a display field of a display device) various aspects of locate and marking operations.
111 Citations
25 Claims
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1. A method of communicating between a locate device used for locating an underground facility and a marking device used to dispense a marking material to mark a presence or absence of the underground facility, the method comprising:
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collecting locate information using the locate device, the locate device comprising a first electrical communication interface and at least one receiver antenna configured to detect a magnetic field from an underground facility, the locate information based at least in part on operation of the at least one receiver antenna; collecting marking information using the marking device, the marking device separate and distinct from the locate device, the marking device comprising a second electrical communication interface and an actuation mechanism operable to control dispensing of a physical marking material on ground pavement or other surfaces to mark a presence or an absence of the underground facility, the marking information relating at least in part to the physical marking material or the dispensing of the physical marking material; and communicating, via the first electrical communication interface and the second electrical communication interface, at least one of the locate information and the marking information between the locate device and the marking device. - 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)
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24. A method of communicating between a locate device used for locating an underground facility and a marking device used to dispense a marking material to mark a presence or absence of the underground facility, the method comprising:
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collecting locate information using the locate device, the locate device comprising a first wireless electrical communication interface and at least one receiver antenna configured to detect a magnetic field from an underground facility, the locate information based at least in part on operation of the at least one receiver antenna; collecting marking information using the marking device, the marking device separate and distinct from the locate device, the marking device comprising a second wireless electrical communication interface and an actuation mechanism operable to control dispensing of a physical marking material on ground pavement or other surfaces to mark a presence or an absence of the underground facility, the marking information relating at least in part to the physical marking material or the dispensing of the physical marking material; and wirelessly communicating, via the first wireless electrical communication interface and the second wireless electrical communication interface, at least one of the locate information and the marking information between the locate device and the marking device, wherein; the locate device and the marking device are configured as a communication pair in which the locate device is the only locate device with which the marking device is configured to communicate during a job and further in which the marking device is the only marking device with which the locate device is configured to communicate during the job; the locate information includes first geographic location information generated by a first location tracking system of the locate device; and the marking information includes second geographic location information generated by a second location tracking system of the marking device.
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25. A method of communicating between a locate device used for locating an underground facility and a marking device used to dispense a marking material to mark a presence or absence of the underground facility, the method comprising:
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collecting locate information using the locate device, the locate device comprising a first wireless electrical communication interface and at least one receiver antenna configured to detect a magnetic field from an underground facility, the locate information based at least in part on operation of the at least one receiver antenna; collecting marking information using the marking device, the marking device separate and distinct from the locate device, the marking device comprising a second wireless electrical communication interface and an actuation mechanism operable to control dispensing of a physical marking material on ground pavement or other surfaces to mark a presence or an absence of the underground facility, the marking information relating at least in part to the physical marking material or the dispensing of the physical marking material; wirelessly communicating, via the first wireless electrical communication interface and the second wireless electrical communication interface, at least one of the locate information and the marking information between the locate device and the marking device; and logging both the locate information and the marking information in a same memory, the memory being a memory of either the locate device or the marking device, wherein the locate information and the marking information are correlated in the same electronic record using a common key.
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Specification