Systems and methods for delivering a close out package for work done at a telecommunications site

• US 20180255465A1
• Filed: 05/01/2018
• Published: 09/06/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 04/14/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Etak Systems, Llc
• Original Assignee: Etak Systems, Llc
• Inventors: Priest, Lee, Terry, Charlie, Godwin, Joshua
• Granted Patent: US 10,959,107 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2101/30 for imaging, photography or videography
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2101/64 for parcel delivery or retrieval
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 11/06 by comparison of two or more pictures of the same area
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0094 involving pointing a payload, e.g. camera, weapon, sensor, towards a fixed or moving target
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 18/24 Classification techniques
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 30/00 Computer-aided design [CAD]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 30/13 Architectural design, e.g. computer-aided architectural design [CAAD] related to design of buildings, bridges, landscapes, production plants or roads
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 17/05 Geographic models
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2200/08 involving all processing steps from image acquisition to 3D model generation
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2200/24 involving graphical user interfaces [GUIs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 10/16 using multiple overlapping images; Image stitching
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/17 taken from planes or by drones
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/176 Urban or other man-made structures
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/185 from a mobile camera, e.g. for remote control
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/18 Network planning tools
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/02 Arrangements for optimising operational condition
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/08 Testing, supervising or monitoring using real traffic

Abstract

Systems and methods for preparing and delivering a data package detailing work performed at a telecommunications site includes, subsequent to the work, performing data capture at the telecommunications site utilizing a plurality of an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV), a satellite, a multiple camera apparatus, and a telescoping apparatus; processing the data capture to provide a close out audit package for the telecommunications site describing the work; uploading the close out audit package through a User Interface to a server; providing the close out audit package to one or more users via the server; and performing verification of the work via the uploaded close out audit package.

Claims

1. A method for preparing and delivering a data package detailing work performed at a telecommunications site, the method comprising:

subsequent to the work, performing data capture at the telecommunications site utilizing a plurality of an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV), a satellite, a multiple camera apparatus, and a telescoping apparatus;

processing the data capture to provide a close out audit package for the telecommunications site describing the work;

uploading the close out audit package through a User Interface to a server;

providing the close out audit package to one or more users via the server; and

performing verification of the work via the uploaded close out audit package.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

processing the data capture to define a three dimensional (3D) model of the telecommunications site based on one or more objects of interest associated with the cell site components and noting the work in the 3D model; and

incorporating the 3D model in the close out audit package.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the 3D model comprises a plurality of two-dimensional (2D) photos embedded therein and viewable via clicking or selecting in the 3D model.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the close out audit package is hosted on a cloud-based server and the providing comprises one of sending an email, website log in, or a link directed to the close out package.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the data capture includes photos or video of the telecommunications site and the work performed there, including a cell tower and cell site components on the cell tower.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the data capture comprises use of the UAV.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

utilizing the close out packet for a determination of a down tilt angle of one or more antennas of the cell site components based on measuring three points comprising two defined by each antenna and one by an associated support bar using the 3D model, plumb of the cell tower and/or the one or more antennas, azimuth of the one or more antennas using a location in the 3D model, dimensions of the cell site components, equipment type and serial number of the cell site components, connections between the cell site components, a status of a lightning rod and warning light on the cell tower, and Global Positioning Satellite (GPS) coordinates.

8. A system configured to prepare and deliver a close out package detailing work performed at a telecommunications site, the system comprising:

a network interface and a processor communicatively coupled to one another; and

memory storing instructions that, when executed, cause the processor to

subsequent to the work, perform data capture at the telecommunications site utilizing a plurality of an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV), a satellite, a multiple camera apparatus, and a telescoping apparatus;

process the data capture to provide a close out audit package for the telecommunications site describing the work;

upload the close out audit package through a User Interface to a server;

provide the close out audit package to one or more users via the server; and

perform verification of the work via the uploaded close out audit package.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the memory storing instructions that, when executed, further cause the processor to:

process the data capture to define a three dimensional (3D) model of the telecommunications site based on one or more objects of interest associated with the cell site components and noting the work in the 3D model; and

incorporate the 3D model in the close out audit package.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the 3D model comprises a plurality of two-dimensional (2D) photos embedded therein and viewable via clicking or selecting in the 3D model.

11. The system of claim 8, wherein the close out audit package is hosted on a cloud-based server and the providing comprises one of sending an email, website log in, or a link directed to the close out package.

12. The system of claim 8, wherein the data capture includes photos or video of the telecommunications site and the work performed there, including a cell tower and cell site components on the cell tower.

13. The system of claim 8, wherein the data capture comprises use of the UAV.

14. The system of claim 8, wherein the memory storing instructions that, when executed, further cause the processor to:

utilizing the close out packet for a determination of a down tilt angle of one or more antennas of the cell site components based on measuring three points comprising two defined by each antenna and one by an associated support bar using the 3D model, plumb of the cell tower and/or the one or more antennas, azimuth of the one or more antennas using a location in the 3D model, dimensions of the cell site components, equipment type and serial number of the cell site components, connections between the cell site components, a status of a lightning rod and warning light on the cell tower, and Global Positioning Satellite (GPS) coordinates.