DETECTION OF BURIED ASSETS USING CURRENT LOCATION AND KNOWN BUFFER ZONES

• US 20150070138A1
• Filed: 10/21/2014
• Published: 03/12/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 07/06/2012
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: IPEG Corporation
• Original Assignee: IPEG Corporation
• Inventors: Haddy, Alan
• Application Number:
  US14/519,910
• Publication Number:
  US 20150070138A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/8.1
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 3/12 operating with electromagnetic waves operating with millimetre waves G01V8/005
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 3/15 specially adapted for use during transport, e.g. by a person, vehicle or boat

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, displaying a first graphic in a display of the mobile computing device; d) if the above-surface location is located within the area, displaying a second graphic in the display.

Claims

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, displaying a first graphic in a display of the mobile computing device; and

d) if the above-surface location is located within the two dimensional area, displaying a second graphic in the display.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising a step, before the first step of receiving a first data structure, comprising:

transmitting, via a communications network communicatively coupled with the mobile computing device, a unique identifier for the particular buried asset sought by the operator of the mobile computing device.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the step of calculating an above-surface location of the mobile device further comprises:

executing a satellite navigation function on the mobile computing device to calculate the above-surface location of the mobile computing device.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the step of displaying a first graphic in a display of the mobile computing device further comprises:

displaying a first graphic in a display of the mobile computing device and playing a first sound in a sound emitter of the mobile computing device, wherein the first graphic and the first sound indicate that the above-surface location is not located within the two dimensional area.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the step of displaying a second graphic in the display further comprises:

displaying a second graphic in the display and playing a second sound in the sound emitter, wherein the second graphic and the second sound indicate that the above-surface location is located within the two dimensional area.

6. 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:

accessing in a connected database a first data structure that represents a two dimensional area or a three dimensional volume 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 or the three dimensional volume represented by the first data structure;

c) if the above-surface location is not located within the two dimensional area or the three dimensional volume, transmitting to the mobile computing device, via the communications network, a command for playing a first sound in a sound emitter of the mobile computing device; and

d) if the above-surface location is located within the two dimensional area or the three dimensional volume, transmitting to the mobile computing device, via the communications network, a command for playing a second sound in the sound emitter.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising a step, before the first step of accessing a first data structure, comprising:

receiving from the mobile computing device, via the communications network, a unique identifier for the particular buried asset sought by the operator of the mobile computing device.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein playing a first sound in a sound emitter of the mobile computing device further comprises:

displaying a first graphic in a display of the mobile computing device and playing a first sound in a sound emitter of the mobile computing device, wherein the first graphic and the first sound indicate that the above-surface location is not located within the two dimensional area or the three dimensional volume.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein playing a second sound in the sound emitter further comprises:

displaying a second graphic in the display and playing a second sound in the sound emitter, wherein the second graphic and the second sound indicate that the above-surface location is located within the two dimensional area or the three dimensional volume.

10. 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:

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, and the network connection device, 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, displaying a first graphic in a display of the computer system and playing a first sound in a sound emitter of the computer system; and

d) if the above-surface location is located within the two dimensional area, displaying a second graphic in the display, playing a second sound in the sound emitter, and initiating a vibration in a vibration device of the computer system.

11. The computer system of claim 10, wherein the processor is further configured for executing a step, before the first step of receiving a first data structure, comprising:

transmitting, via the communications network, a unique identifier for the particular buried asset sought by the operator of the computer system.

12. The computer system of claim 11, further comprising a processor for executing a satellite navigation function to calculate the above-surface location of the computer system.

13. The computer system of claim 12, wherein the step of displaying a first graphic in a display of the computer system and playing a first sound in a sound emitter of the computer system further comprises:

displaying a first graphic in a display of the computer system and playing a first sound in a sound emitter of the computer system, wherein the first graphic and the first sound indicate that the above-surface location is not located within the two dimensional area.

14. The computer system of claim 13, wherein the step of displaying a second graphic in the display and playing a second sound in the sound emitter further comprises:

displaying a second graphic in the display and playing a second sound in the sound emitter, wherein the second graphic and the second sound indicate that the above-surface location is located within the two dimensional area.

15. The computer system of claim 19, further comprising a step, after the step of determining whether the above-surface location of the computer system is located within the two dimensional area, comprising:

determining that a predefined period of time has passed.