LOCATE TICKET MANAGEMENT

• US 20150186894A1
• Filed: 12/31/2013
• Published: 07/02/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/2013
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Stake Center Locating
• Original Assignee: Stake Center Locating
• Inventors: Mosier, David B.
• Application Number:
  US14/145,359
• Publication Number:
  US 20150186894A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/016 After-sales
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/08 Construction

Abstract

In one example, a location services method for obtaining and disseminating location data concerning an underground object includes receiving a ticket requesting location services for an under object at a designated site, and sending ticket information to a remote terminal. A location services package corresponding to the ticket is received from the remote terminal and includes a sketch in the form of a graphics file that includes endpoints, but fewer than all intervening points between the endpoints, of a line corresponding to a segment of a buried utility located at the designated site. The location services package is stored in a database. Upon receipt of a customer request for information included in the location services package, the location services package is made available to the customer.

Claims

1. At a server, a location services method for obtaining and disseminating location data concerning an underground object, the method comprising:

receiving a ticket requesting location services for an under object at a designated site;

sending ticket information to a remote terminal;

receiving a location services package from the remote terminal, wherein the location services package corresponds to the ticket and includes a sketch in the form of a graphics file that includes endpoints, but fewer than all intervening points between the endpoints, of a line corresponding to a segment of a buried utility located at the designated site;

storing the location services package in a database;

receiving a customer request for information included in the location services package; and

making at least part of the location services package available to the customer.

2. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the location services package includes one or more photographs depicting physical markers corresponding to a location of the underground object.

3. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the graphics file includes no intervening points between the endpoints.

4. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the buried object is a utility line.

5. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising, prior to receipt of the location services package:

receiving a login request from the remote terminal; and

validating the login request.

6. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising, prior to sending ticket information to the remote terminal, assigning the ticket to a locator.

7. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising transmitting a positive response to an information aggregator to transmit the positive response to a party which has submitted a dig request to which the ticket corresponds, wherein the positive response confirms that locate services have been performed for the locate request.

8. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising directly communicating with a party which has submitted a dig request to which the ticket corresponds, wherein directly communicating comprises sending an automated communication to the party, and wherein the automated communication comprises any one or more of a phone call, text message, email, or fax.

9. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the location services package includes a photograph, the method further comprising determining whether the photograph is a duplicate of another photograph already stored in the database.

10. The method as recited in claim 9, further comprising determining whether the photograph is a duplicate by comparing a pixel signature of the photograph to other pixel signatures of other photographs.

11. At a remote terminal, a location services method for obtaining and disseminating location data concerning an underground object, the method comprising:

an act of receiving ticket information from a server, the ticket information including a request for physical marking of a location of the underground object;

receiving sketch data representing the underground object; and

creating a graphics file that includes endpoints, but fewer than all intervening points between the endpoints, of a line corresponding to a segment of a buried utility located at the designated site;

creating a location services package that corresponds to the ticket and includes the graphics file; and

transmitting the location services package to the server.

12. The method as recited in claim 11, wherein the graphics file includes no intervening points between the endpoints.

13. The method as recited in claim 11, further comprising generating one or more photographs depicting physical markers corresponding to a location of the underground object.

14. The method as recited in claim 11, further comprising:

creating or updating billing information associated with the location services package; and

transmitting the billing information to the server.

15. A physical storage device having stored therein computer-executable instructions which, when executed by one or more hardware processors of a computing system, obtaining and disseminating location data concerning an underground object, wherein obtaining and dissemination location data comprises:

an act of receiving ticket information from a server, the ticket information including a request for physical marking of a location of the underground object;

receiving sketch data representing the underground object; and

creating a graphics file that includes endpoints, but fewer than all intervening points between the endpoints, of a line corresponding to a segment of a buried utility located at the designated site;

creating a location services package that corresponds to the ticket and includes the graphics file; and

transmitting the location services package to the server.

16. The physical storage device as recited in claim 15, wherein the graphics file includes no intervening points between the endpoints.

17. The physical storage device as recited in claim 15, wherein obtaining and dissemination location data further comprises generating one or more photographs depicting physical markers corresponding to a location of the underground object.

18. The physical storage device as recited in claim 15, wherein obtaining and dissemination location data further comprises:

creating or updating billing information associated with the location services package; and

transmitting the billing information to the server.

19. The physical storage device as recited in claim 15, wherein:

the computer-executable instructions comprise a portion of a location services client operable to communicate with a corresponding location services application of a server; and

the physical storage device is incorporated in a remote terminal.

20. A server, comprising:

one or more hardware processors; and

a location services application comprising computer-executable instructions which, when executed by one or more of the hardware processors, obtain and disseminate location data concerning an underground objection, wherein obtaining and disseminating location data comprises;

receiving a ticket requesting location services for an under object at a designated site;

sending ticket information to a remote terminal;

receiving a location services package from the remote terminal, wherein the location services package corresponds to the ticket and includes a sketch in the form of a graphics file that includes endpoints, but fewer than all intervening points between the endpoints, of a line corresponding to a segment of a buried utility located at the designated site;

storing the location services package in a database;

receiving a customer request for information included in the location services package; and

making at least part of the location services package available to the customer.

21. The server as recited in claim 20, wherein the graphics file includes no intervening points between the endpoints.

22. The server as recited in claim 20, wherein obtaining and disseminating location data further comprises transmitting a positive response to the customer confirming that the underground object has been located and physically marked.