DETECTION OF BURIED ASSETS USING CURRENT LOCATION AND KNOWN BUFFER ZONES

• US 20150097568A1
• Filed: 12/16/2014
• Published: 04/09/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 07/06/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: UTTO Incorporated
• Original Assignee: IPEG Corporation
• Inventors: Haddy, Alan
• Granted Patent: US 9,086,441 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 324/326
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/60 Identification of wires in a multicore cable
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/02 using a radio link
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 9/00 Arrangements in telecontrol or telemetry systems for selectively calling a substation from a main station, in which substation desired apparatus is selected for applying a control signal thereto or for obtaining measured values therefrom

Abstract

A method on a mobile computing device for locating electromagnetic signals radiating from a buried asset is disclosed. The method includes receiving buried asset data points corresponding to a buried asset, reading a predefined value, generating, based on the buried asset data points, a two dimensional area comprising a buffer zone at an above-surface location, wherein a width of the buffer zone corresponds to the predefined value, and wherein the buffer zone corresponds to the buried asset, and iteratively executing the following four steps: a) calculating an above-surface location, b) determining whether the above-surface location 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, and d) if the above-surface location is located within the two dimensional area, displaying a second graphic.

Claims

1. A method on a mobile computing device for locating electromagnetic signals radiating from a buried asset, the method comprising:

receiving, via a communications network communicatively coupled with the mobile computing device, a group of buried asset data points corresponding to a particular buried asset sought by an operator of the mobile computing device;

reading a predefined value pertaining to a width of a buffer zone;

generating, based on the group of buried asset data points, a two dimensional area comprising a buffer zone at an above-surface location, wherein a width of the buffer zone corresponds to the predefined value, and wherein the buffer zone corresponds to the particular buried asset;

iteratively executing the following four steps;

a) calculating an above-surface location of the mobile computing device using spatial processes;

b) determining whether the above-surface location of the mobile computing 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; 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 group of buried asset data points, comprising:

transmitting, via the 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 reading a predefined value further comprises:

receiving, via the communications network communicatively coupled with the mobile computing device, a predefined value.

4. The method of claim 3, 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.

5. The method of claim 4, 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.

6. The method of claim 4, 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, wherein the first graphic comprises an indicator that indicates a direction of a location of the two dimensional area.

7. The method of claim 5, 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.

8. A method on a mobile computing device for locating electromagnetic signals radiating from a buried asset, the method comprising:

receiving, via a communications network communicatively coupled with the mobile computing device, a group of buried asset data points corresponding to a particular buried asset sought by an operator of the mobile computing device;

calculating an average value of all precision data values associated with the group of buried asset data points;

generating, based on the group of buried asset data points, a three dimensional volume comprising a buffer zone at an above-surface location, wherein a radius of the buffer zone corresponds to the average value, and wherein the buffer zone corresponds to the particular buried asset;

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 three dimensional surface;

c) if the above-surface location is not located within the three dimensional surface, displaying a first graphic in a display of the mobile computing device; and

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

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising a step, before the first step of receiving a group of buried asset data points, comprising:

transmitting, via the 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.

10. The method of claim 9, 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.

11. The method of claim 8, 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 three dimensional surface.

12. The method of claim 11, 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 three dimensional surface.

13. 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 group of buried asset data points corresponding to a particular buried asset sought by an operator of the mobile computing device;

reading a predefined value pertaining to a width of a buffer zone;

generating, based on the group of buried asset data points, a two dimensional area comprising a buffer zone at an above-surface location, wherein a width of the buffer zone corresponds to the predefined value, and wherein the buffer zone corresponds to the particular buried asset; 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;

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 computer system 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 a component communicatively coupled with the computer system is disabled, and if so, enabling the electromagnetic locating function of the component.

14. The computer system of claim 13, wherein the processor is further configured for executing a step, before the first step of receiving a group of buried asset data points, comprising:

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

15. The computer system of claim 14, wherein the step of reading a predefined value further comprises:

receiving, via the communications network, a predefined value.

16. The computer system of claim 15, further comprising a processor for executing a satellite navigation function to calculate the above-surface location of the computer system.

17. The computer system of claim 16, wherein the step of determining whether an electromagnetic locating function of a component communicatively coupled with the computer system is enabled further comprises:

transmitting to the component a request for data regarding a status of the electromagnetic locating function of the component; and

receiving a data packet from the component comprising a current status of the electromagnetic locating function of the component.

18. The computer system of claim 17, wherein the step of determining whether an electromagnetic locating function of a component communicatively coupled with the computer system is disabled further comprises:

transmitting to the component a request for data regarding a status of the electromagnetic locating function of the component; and

receiving a data packet from the component comprising a current status of the electromagnetic locating function of the component.

19. The computer system of claim 18, 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.