Detection of buried assets using current location and known buffer zones
DC CAFCFirst Claim
1. A method on a mobile computing device for locating electromagnetic signals radiating from a buried asset, the method comprising:
- receiving, via a communications network communicatively coupled with the mobile computing device, a group of buried asset data points corresponding to a particular buried asset sought by an operator of the mobile computing device;
reading a predefined value pertaining to a width of a buffer zone;
generating, based on the group of buried asset data points, a two dimensional area comprising the buffer zone at an above-surface location, wherein a width of the buffer zone corresponds to the predefined value, and wherein the buffer zone corresponds to the particular buried asset;
iteratively executing the following four steps;
a) calculating an above-surface location of the mobile computing device using spatial processes;
b) determining whether the above-surface location of the mobile computing device is located within the two dimensional area;
c) if the above-surface location is not located within the two dimensional area, displaying a first graphic in a display of the mobile computing device; and
d) if the above-surface location is located within the two dimensional area, displaying a second graphic in the display.
2 Assignments
Litigations
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method on a mobile computing device for locating electromagnetic signals radiating from a buried asset is disclosed. The method includes receiving buried asset data points corresponding to a buried asset, reading a predefined value, generating, based on the buried asset data points, a two dimensional area comprising a buffer zone at an above-surface location, wherein a width of the buffer zone corresponds to the predefined value, and wherein the buffer zone corresponds to the buried asset, and iteratively executing the following four steps: a) calculating an above-surface location, b) determining whether the above-surface location is located within the two dimensional area, c) if the above-surface location is not located within the two dimensional area, displaying a first graphic in a display, and d) if the above-surface location is located within the two dimensional area, displaying a second graphic.
11 Citations
7 Claims
-
1. A method on a mobile computing device for locating electromagnetic signals radiating from a buried asset, the method comprising:
-
receiving, via a communications network communicatively coupled with the mobile computing device, a group of buried asset data points corresponding to a particular buried asset sought by an operator of the mobile computing device; reading a predefined value pertaining to a width of a buffer zone; generating, based on the group of buried asset data points, a two dimensional area comprising the buffer zone at an above-surface location, wherein a width of the buffer zone corresponds to the predefined value, and wherein the buffer zone corresponds to the particular buried asset; iteratively executing the following four steps; a) calculating an above-surface location of the mobile computing device using spatial processes; b) determining whether the above-surface location of the mobile computing device is located within the two dimensional area; c) if the above-surface location is not located within the two dimensional area, displaying a first graphic in a display of the mobile computing device; and d) if the above-surface location is located within the two dimensional area, displaying a second graphic in the display. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
-
Specification