Systems, methods, and apparatus for utility common pool database

• US 8,473,509 B2
• Filed: 05/13/2011
• Issued: 06/25/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 05/13/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GE Digital Holdings LLC (GE Vernova, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Robinson, Phillip, Kavitha, Andoji, Mohan, Vinoth Kumar
• Primary Examiner(s): LEWIS, CHERYL RENEA
• Application Number:
  US13/107,120
• Publication Number:
  US 20120290604A1
• Time in Patent Office: 774 Days
• Field of Search: 707/736, 707/769, 707/770, 707/791, 709/203
• US Class Current: 707/769
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/245 Query processing
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/2455 Query execution
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/29 Geographical information databases
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information

Abstract

Certain embodiments of the invention may include systems, methods, and apparatus for providing for utility common pool database. According to an example embodiment of the invention, a method is provided for utilizing a common pool database. The method may include transmitting, by one or more networks, one or more queries comprising location data from a mobile device to a server in communication with a database; receiving, from the database by the one or more networks, localized field information based at least in part on the one or more queries; and outputting the localized field information via the mobile device.

Claims

1. A method for utilizing a common pool database comprising:

transmitting, by one or more networks, one or more queries comprising location data from a mobile device to a server in communication with a database, wherein the location data comprises a spatial location of one or more objects, wherein the one or more objects comprises either (1) respective object names, materials, lengths, and embedded valves, or (2) respective object names, addresses, and shortest paths to reach a location or address;

receiving, from the database by the one or more networks, localized field information associated with the one or more objects based at least in part on the one or more queries; and

outputting the localized field information via the mobile device.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising transmitting, by the one or more networks, field information related to one or more utility-objects within a predefined distance of the location data from the mobile device to the server in communication with the database.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising storing the field information in the database.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the field information comprises one or more of structured parameters or unstructured information, wherein the structured parameters comprise standard descriptors, and wherein the unstructured information comprises one or more of:

text, graphics, images, audio or video.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more queries further comprise a request for specific utility information.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the location data comprise global position system (GPS) coordinates.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the localized field information includes one or more of:

structural information, visual cues, composition, schematics, condition, history, status, intersecting utility networks, descriptors, text, graphics, images, audio or video.

8. A system for controlling and coordinating common pool database information,

comprising:

a database;

a server comprising at least one processor in communication with the database;

one or more networks in communication with the server; and

at least one mobile device configured for;

transmitting, by one or more networks, one or more queries comprising location data to the server database, wherein the location data comprises a spatial location of one or more objects, wherein the one or more objects comprises either (1) respective object names, materials, lengths, and embedded valves, or (2) respective object names, addresses, and shortest paths to reach a location or address;

receiving, from the database by the one or more networks, localized field information associated with the one or more objects based at least in part on the one or more queries; and

outputting the localized field information on the mobile device.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the at least one mobile device is further configured for transmitting, by the one or more networks, field information related to one or more utility objects within a predefined distance of the location data to the server in communication with the database.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the server is configured storing the field information in the database.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein the field information comprises one or more of structured parameters or unstructured information, wherein the structured parameters comprise standard descriptors, and wherein the unstructured information comprises one or more of:

text, graphics, images, audio or video.

12. The system of claim 8, wherein the one or more queries further comprise a request for specific utility information.

13. The system of claim 8, wherein the location data comprise global position system (GPS) coordinates.

14. The system of claim 8, wherein the localized field information includes one or more of:

structural information, visual cues, composition, schematics, condition, history, status, intersecting utility networks, descriptors, text, graphics, images, audio or video.

15. An apparatus for controlling and coordinating common pool database information, comprising:

a database;

a server in communication with the database and one or more networks, the server

comprising at least one processor and configured for;

receiving one or more queries comprising location data, wherein the location data comprises a spatial location of one or more objects, wherein the one or more objects comprises either (1) respective object names, materials, lengths, and embedded valves, or (2) respective object names, addresses, and shortest paths to reach a location or address;

outputting stored localized field information from the database to one or more external devices, by the one or more networks, based at least in part on the one or more queries.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the server is further configured for receiving by the one or more networks, field information related to one or more utility objects within a predefined distance of the location data.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the server is further configured storing the field information in the database.

18. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the field information comprises one or more of structured parameters or unstructured information, wherein the structured parameters comprise standard descriptors, and wherein the unstructured information comprises one or more of:

text, graphics, images, audio or video.

19. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the one or more queries further comprise a request for specific utility information.

20. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the localized field information includes one or more of:

structural information, visual cues, composition, schematics, condition, history, status, intersecting utility networks, descriptors, text, graphics, images, audio or video.