Method for real time display of maintenance device location in an internal space

• US 7,010,759 B2
• Filed: 04/05/2002
• Issued: 03/07/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/05/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: U-Tech Environmental Manufacturing Supply, Inc.
• Original Assignee: U-Tech Environmental Manufacturing Supply, Inc.
• Inventors: Janu, David G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Cao (Kevin)
• Assistant Examiner(s): LEE, TING ZHOU
• Application Number:
  US10/118,510
• Publication Number:
  US 20030189596A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,432 Days
• Field of Search: 348/771, 348/772, 348/782, 348/848, 348/800, 348/803, 348/854, 348/84, 901/46, 700/245, 701/200, 715/848, 715/764, 356/237.1
• US Class Current: 715/848
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/185 from a mobile camera, e.g. for remote control

Abstract

A method for real time display of maintenance device location in an internal space includes a real time location display. An inspection window includes the real time location display, an observations spreadsheet, and a distance display. If the maintenance device is a video camera, a video screen is also included in the inspection window. The inspection window is displayed on a computer monitor. As a video camera is moved through an internal space, a video signal and distance signal are sent to a computer. Location display software on the computer receives the distance signal and provides a real time location display of the distance that the video camera has traveled. The observations spreadsheet enables an operator to enter information concerning a particular distance measurement of interest and which is also shown on the real time location display. The video screen displays real time video camera feed.

Claims

1. A method for the display of a maintenance device location in an interior of a pipeline including the steps of:

displaying a representation of an interior of a pipeline;

displaying the position of a maintenance device in real time as thereof is moving through the interior of the pipeline relative to said representation of an interior of a pipeline; and

providing a plurality of observation icons, each one of said plurality of observation icons having a unique graphical representation of a particular observation of the interior of the pipeline from said maintenance device, displaying at least one observation icon adjacent an observation and said representation of an interior of a pipeline, each one of said plurality of observation icons being displayed when a particular observation is observed at some location in the interior of the pipeline.

2. The method for the display of a maintenance device location in an interior of a pipeline of claim 1, further including the step of:

providing a dimensional scale adjacent said representation of an interior of a pipeline, said dimensional scale having a plurality of divisions.

3. The method for the display of maintenance device location in an interior of a pipeline of claim 2, further including the step of:

scaling said dimensional scale to fit a set size window as the maintenance device travels through the interior of the pipeline, scaling a length of said representation of an interior of a pipeline.

4. The method for the display of maintenance device location in an interior of a pipeline of claim 1, further including the step of:

providing a real time dimensional scale adjacent said representation of an interior of a pipeline, said real time dimensional scale having a plurality of divisions.

5. The method for the display of maintenance device location in an interior of a pipeline of claim 1, further including the step of:

revealing information about the particular observation from said at least one icon with a mouse.

6. The method for the display of maintenance device location in an interior of a pipeline of claim 1, further including the step of:

terminating each end of said representation of an interior of a pipeline with a manhole circle having identification that corresponds to an actual manhole.

7. The method for the display of maintenance device location in an interior of a pipeline of claim 1, further including the step of:

entering information concerning a particular observation through one of an observation spreadsheet and an observations window.

8. A method of displaying the position of a maintenance device in an interior of a pipeline, comprising the steps of:

displaying a representation of an interior of a pipeline;

displaying at least one icon adjacent said representation of an interior of a pipeline, said at least one icon representing the position of a maintenance device in real time as thereof is moving through the interior of the pipeline relative to said representation of an interior of a pipeline; and

displaying a location of a particular observation of the interior of the pipeline from said maintenance device with a distance measurement adjacent said representation of an interior of a pipeline.

9. The method of displaying the position of a maintenance device in an interior of a pipeline of claim 8, further comprising the step of:

providing a dimensional scale adjacent said representation of an interior of a pipeline, said dimensional scale having a plurality of divisions.

10. The method of displaying the position of a maintenance device in an interior of a pipeline of claim 9, further comprising the step of:

scaling said dimensional scale to fit a set size window as the maintenance device travels through the interior of the pipeline, scaling a length of said resprentation of an interior of a pipeline.

11. The method of displaying the position of a maintenance device in an interior of a pipeline of claim 8, further comprising the step of:

providing a real time dimensional scale adjacent said representation of an interior of a pipeline, said real time dimensional scale having a plurality of divisions.

12. The method of displaying the position of a maintenance device in an interior of a pipeline of claim 8, further comprising the step of:

revealing information about the particular observation from said at least one icon with a mouse.

13. The method of displaying the position of a maintenance device in an interior of a pipeline of claim 8, further comprising the step of:

terminating each end of said representation of an interior of a pipeline with a manhole circle having identification that corresponds to an actual manhole.

14. The method of displaying the position of a maintenance device in an interior of a pipeline of claim 8, further comprising the step of:

entering information concerning a particular observation through one of an observation spreadsheet and an observations window.

15. A method of displaying the position of a maintenance device in an interior of a pipeline, comprising the steps of:

displaying a representation of an interior of a pipeline;

displaying at least one icon adjacent said representation of an interior of a pipeline, said at least one icon representing the position of a maintenance device in real time as thereof is moving through the interior of the pipeline relative to said representation of an interior of a pipeline;

displaying a location of a particular observation of the interior of the pipeline from said maintenance device with a distance measurement adjacent said representation of an interior of a pipeline; and

providing a dimensional scale adjacent said representation of an interior of a pipeline, said dimensional scale having a plurality of divisions.

16. The method of displaying the position of a maintenance device in an interior of a pipeline of claim 15, further comprising the step of:

scaling said dimensional scale to fit a set size window as the maintenance device travels through the interior of the pipeline, scaling a length of said resprentation of an interior of a pipeline.

17. The method of displaying the position of a maintenance device in an interior of a pipeline of claim 15, further comprising the step of:

providing a real time dimensional scale adjacent said representation of an interior of a pipeline, said real time dimensional scale having a plurality of divisions.

18. The method of displaying the position of a maintenance device in an interior of a pipeline of claim 15, further comprising the step of:

revealing information about the particular observation from said at least one icon with a mouse.

19. The method of displaying the position of a maintenance device in an interior of a pipeline of claim 15, further comprising the step of:

terminating each end of said representation of an interior of a pipeline with a manhole circle having identification that corresponds to an actual manhole.

20. The method of displaying the position of a maintenance device in an interior of a pipeline of claim 15, further comprising the step of:

entering information concerning a particular observation through one of an observation spreadsheet and an observations window.

21. The method of displaying the position of a maintenance device in an interior of a pipeline of claim 15, further comprising the step of:

measuring the distance of travel of the maintenance device through the interior of the pipeline with a distance counter.