DETECTION OF BURIED ASSETS USING CURRENT LOCATION AND KNOWN BUFFER ZONES
First Claim
1. A method on a mobile computing device for locating electromagnetic signals radiating from a buried asset, the method comprising:
- receiving a first data structure that represents a two dimensional area comprising a buffer zone at an above-surface location, wherein the buffer zone corresponds to a particular buried asset sought by an operator of the mobile computing device;
iteratively executing the following four steps;
a) calculating an above-surface location of the mobile computing device;
b) determining whether the above-surface location of the mobile computing device is located within the two dimensional area represented by the first data structure;
c) if the above-surface location is not located within the two dimensional area, determining whether an electromagnetic locating function of a component communicatively coupled with the mobile computing device is enabled, and if so, disabling the electromagnetic locating function of the component; and
d) if the above-surface location is located within the two dimensional area, determining whether the electromagnetic locating function of the component is disabled, and if so, enabling the electromagnetic locating function of the component.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method on a mobile computing device for locating a buried asset is provided. The method includes receiving a data structure that represents a two dimensional area comprising a buffer zone at an above-surface location, wherein the buffer zone corresponds to a particular buried asset sought by an operator of the device and iteratively executing the following steps: a) calculating an above-surface location of the device; b) determining whether the above-surface location of the device is located within the two dimensional area; c) if the above-surface location is not located within the two dimensional area, determining whether a locating function of a component coupled with the mobile computing device is enabled, and if so, disabling the locating function; d) if the above-surface location is located within the area, determining whether the locating function of the component is disabled, and if so, enabling the locating function.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method on a mobile computing device for locating electromagnetic signals radiating from a buried asset, the method comprising:
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receiving a first data structure that represents a two dimensional area comprising a buffer zone at an above-surface location, wherein the buffer zone corresponds to a particular buried asset sought by an operator of the mobile computing device; iteratively executing the following four steps; a) calculating an above-surface location of the mobile computing device; b) determining whether the above-surface location of the mobile computing device is located within the two dimensional area represented by the first data structure; c) if the above-surface location is not located within the two dimensional area, determining whether an electromagnetic locating function of a component communicatively coupled with the mobile computing device is enabled, and if so, disabling the electromagnetic locating function of the component; and d) if the above-surface location is located within the two dimensional area, determining whether the electromagnetic locating function of the component is disabled, and if so, enabling the electromagnetic locating function of the component. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method on a server communicatively connected to a communications network, the server for aiding a communicatively connected mobile computing device in locating electromagnetic signals radiating from a buried asset, the method comprising:
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accessing in a connected database a first data structure that represents a two dimensional area comprising a buffer zone at an above-surface location, wherein the buffer zone corresponds to a particular buried asset sought by an operator of the mobile computing device; iteratively executing the following four steps; a) receiving from the mobile computing device, via the communications network, an above-surface location of the mobile computing device; b) determining whether the above-surface location of the mobile computing device is located within the two dimensional area represented by the first data structure; c) if the above-surface location is not located within the two dimensional area, determining whether a depth measurement function of a component communicatively coupled with the mobile computing device is enabled, and if so, transmitting to the mobile computing device, via the communications network, a command for disabling the depth measurement function of the component; and d) if the above-surface location is located within the two dimensional area, determining whether the depth measurement function of the component is disabled, and if so, transmitting to the mobile computing device, via the communications network, a command for enabling the depth measurement function of the component. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A computer system communicatively connected to a communications network, the computer system for locating electromagnetic signals radiating from a buried asset, the computer system comprising:
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a component communicatively coupled with the computer system, wherein the component comprises an electromagnetic locating function for locating buried assets; a network connection device for communicatively coupling the computer system to the communications network; a memory storage; and a processing unit coupled to the memory storage, the network connection device, and the component, when the processing unit is programmed for; receiving, via the communications network, a first data structure that represents a two dimensional area comprising a buffer zone at an above-surface location, wherein the buffer zone corresponds to a particular buried asset sought by an operator of the computer system; and iteratively executing the following four steps; a) calculating an above-surface location of the computer system; b) determining whether the above-surface location of the computer system is located within the two dimensional area represented by the first data structure; c) if the above-surface location is not located within the two dimensional area, determining whether the electromagnetic locating function of the component is enabled, and if so, disabling the electromagnetic locating function of the component; and d) if the above-surface location is located within the two dimensional area, determining whether the electromagnetic locating function of the component is disabled, and if so, enabling the electromagnetic locating function of the component. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification