Method of dynamically tracking a location of one or more selected utilities

• US 6,956,524 B2
• Filed: 09/27/2004
• Issued: 10/18/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/2003
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Prostar Geocorp, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Global Precision Solutions, Llp
• Inventors: Lylick, Peter William, Tucker, Layne Daniel
• Primary Examiner(s): Tarcza, Thomas H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Mull, F H
• Application Number:
  US10/951,288
• Publication Number:
  US 20050104775A1
• Time in Patent Office: 386 Days
• Field of Search: 342/357.13, 342/357.08, 342/357.17, 701/50, 340/539.13
• US Class Current: 342/357.31
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/205 Indicating the location of the monitored vehicles as destination, e.g. accidents, stolen, rental

Abstract

A method of dynamically tracking a location of one or more selected utilities. A first step involves providing a portable controller having a memory. A global positioning system (GPS) co-ordinate device and a display are coupled to the controller. A second step involves storing in the memory of the controller a series of GPS co-ordinates for the one or more selected utilities within an assigned service area of a municipality. A third step involves using the GPS co-ordinate device to dynamically provide GPS co-ordinates to the controller as positioning of the GPS co-ordinate device changes. A fourth step involves using the display to display the GPS co-ordinates of the GPS co-ordinate device on a scrolling display of GPS co-ordinates, together with the series of GPS co-ordinates for the one or more selected utilities, such that the relative position of the GPS co-ordinate device to the one or more selected utilities is always known.

Claims

1. A system of dynamically tracking a location of one or more selected utilities, the system comprising:

a controller having a memory for storing a series of global positioning system (GPS) co-ordinates for the selected utilities within an assigned service area of a municipality;

a display coupled to the controller and for displaying an icon; and

a GPS co-ordinate device coupled to the display via the controller;

wherein the GPS co-ordinate device dynamically provides its GPS co-ordinates to the controller as positioning of the GPS co-ordinate device changes location, such that the relative position of the GPS co-ordinate device to the selected utilities is always known; and

wherein the icon is locked on to a closest of the selected utilities within a pre-determined area of interest.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the display comprises a scrolling display for displaying the GPS co-ordinates of the GPS co-ordinate device together with the series of GPS co-ordinates for the selected utilities.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the display specifies a distance from the GPS co-ordinate device to the closest of the selected utilities.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the display indicates a direction from the GPS co-ordinate device to known utilities.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the display indicates the longitude, the latitude and the speed of travel of the GPS co-ordinate device.

6. The system of claim 1, further comprising a geographical map having a context, wherein the display places the GPS co-ordinates in the context of the geographical map.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the geographical map includes a road infrastructure.

8. The system of claim 6, wherein the geographical map is an aerial photo.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the display provides vital data identifying characteristics of the closest of the selected utilities.

10. A system of dynamically tracking a location of one or more selected utilities, the system comprising:

means for storing a series of global positioning system (GPS) co-ordinates for the selected utilities within an assigned service area of a municipality in a memory of a controller;

means for dynamically providing GPS co-ordinates of a GPS co-ordinate device to the controller as positioning of the GPS co-ordinate device changes location, such that the relative position of the GPS co-ordinate device to the one or more selected utilities is always known;

means for locking on to a closest of the selected utilities within a pre-determined area of interest; and

means for specifying a distance from the GPS co-ordinate device to the closest of the selected utilities.

11. The system of claim 10, further comprising means for displaying the GPS co-ordinates of the GPS co-ordinate device in a scrolling manner together with the series of GPS co-ordinates for the selected utilities.

12. The system of claim 10, further comprising means for displaying the location of the controller relative to the closest of the selected utilities.

13. The system of claim 10, further comprising means for indicating a direction from the GPS co-ordinate device to known utilities.

14. The system of claim 10, further comprising means for indicating the longitude, the latitude and the speed of travel of the GPS co-ordinate device.

15. The system of claim 10, further comprising:

a geographical map having a context; and

means for placing the GPS co-ordinates in the context of the geographical map.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the geographical map includes road infrastructure.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein the geographical map is an aerial photo.

18. The system of claim 10, further comprising means for providing vital data identifying characteristics of the closest of the selected utilities.

19. A method of dynamically tracking a location of one or more selected utilities, the method comprising:

storing a series of global positioning system (GPS) co-ordinates for the one or more selected utilities within an assigned service area of a municipality in a memory of a controller;

dynamically providing GPS co-ordinates to the controller as positioning of a GPS co-ordinate device coupled to the controller changes location;

displaying the GPS co-ordinates of the GPS co-ordinate device on a scrolling display, together with the series of GPS co-ordinates for the one or more selected utilities, such that the relative position of the GPS co-ordinate device to the one or more selected utilities is always known; and

locking on to a closest of the selected utilities within the pre-determined area of interest.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

specifying a distance from the GPS co-ordinate device to the closest of the selected utilities.