Locating equipment docking station communicatively coupled to or equipped with a mobile/portable device
First Claim
1. A locate device docking station for holding, storing, and/or locking a locate device as used in a locate operation to identify a presence or an absence of at least one underground facility in a dig area, wherein at least a portion of the dig area is to be excavated or disturbed during excavation activities, the locate device docking station comprising:
- a housing;
a mobile device interface to facilitate mechanical and electrical coupling and removal of a portable computing device; and
a docking interface, operably coupled to the housing, to mechanically receive the locate device and substantially hold the locate device when docked in the locate device docking station,wherein the docking interface comprises;
a communication interface to transmit data between the locate device docking station and the locate device; and
a power interface to provide power from the locate device docking station to the locate device.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A docking station to dock locating equipment (e.g., marking devices, locate devices, combined locate and marking devices) may be communicatively coupled to and/or equipped with a mobile/portable device (e.g., a mobile phone, personal digital assistant or other portable computing device) that provides processing, electronic storage, electronic display, user interface, communication facilities and/or other functionality (e.g., GPS-enabled functionality) for the docking station. A mobile/portable device may be mechanically and/or electrically coupled to the docking station. The mobile/portable device may provide redundant, shared and/or backup functionality for the docking station to enhance robustness. In one example, the mobile/portable device itself serves as a docking station for the locating equipment.
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Citations
25 Claims
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1. A locate device docking station for holding, storing, and/or locking a locate device as used in a locate operation to identify a presence or an absence of at least one underground facility in a dig area, wherein at least a portion of the dig area is to be excavated or disturbed during excavation activities, the locate device docking station comprising:
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a housing; a mobile device interface to facilitate mechanical and electrical coupling and removal of a portable computing device; and a docking interface, operably coupled to the housing, to mechanically receive the locate device and substantially hold the locate device when docked in the locate device docking station, wherein the docking interface comprises; a communication interface to transmit data between the locate device docking station and the locate device; and a power interface to provide power from the locate device docking station to the locate device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 12)
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5. A locate device docking station for holding, storing, and/or locking a locate device as used in a locate operation to identify a presence or an absence of at least one underground facility in a dig area, wherein at least a portion of the dig area is to be excavated or disturbed during excavation activities, the locate device docking station comprising:
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a housing; a mobile device interface to facilitate mechanical and electrical coupling and removal of a portable computing device; a docking interface, operably coupled to the housing, to mechanically receive the locate device and substantially hold the locate device when docked in the locate device docking station, wherein the docking interface comprises; a communication interface to transmit data between the locate device docking station and the locate device; and a power interface to provide power from the locate device docking station to the locate device; a processor; a user input device; a memory, operably coupled to the communication interface, the processor, and the user input device, to store processor-executable instructions and/or data received via the communication interface and/or the user input device; and a locking mechanism to mechanically or electromagnetically secure the locate device to the locate device docking station when the locate device is docked in the docking station. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8)
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9. A locate device docking station for holding, storing, and/or locking a locate device as used in a locate operation to identify a presence or an absence of at least one underground facility in a dig area, wherein at least a portion of the dig area is to be excavated or disturbed during excavation activities, the locate device docking station comprising:
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a housing; a mobile device interface to facilitate mechanical and electrical coupling and removal of a portable computing device; and a docking interface, operably coupled to the housing, to mechanically receive the locate device and substantially hold the locate device when docked in the locate device docking station, wherein the docking interface comprises; a communication interface to transmit data between the locate device docking station and the locate device; and a power interface to provide power from the locate device docking station to the locate device, wherein the communication interface comprises a wireless interface for wireless communication between the locate device and the locate device docking station.
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10. A locate device docking station for holding, storing, and/or locking a locate device as used in a locate operation to identify a presence or an absence of at least one underground facility in a dig area, wherein at least a portion of the dig area is to be excavated or disturbed during excavation activities, the locate device docking station comprising:
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a housing; a mobile device interface to facilitate mechanical and electrical coupling and removal of a portable computing device; a docking interface, operably coupled to the housing, to mechanically receive the locate device and substantially hold the locate device when docked in the locate device docking station, wherein the docking interface comprises; a communication interface to transmit data between the locate device docking station and the locate device; and a power interface to provide power from the locate device docking station to the locate device; and an identification reader, to read in identification information of the locate device. - View Dependent Claims (11)
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13. A locate device docking station for holding, storing, and/or locking a locate device as used in a locate operation to identify a presence or an absence of at least one underground facility in a dig area, wherein at least a portion of the dig area is to be excavated or disturbed during excavation activities, the locate device docking station comprising:
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a housing; a mobile device interface to facilitate mechanical and electrical coupling and removal of a portable computing device; a docking interface, operably coupled to the housing, to mechanically receive the locate device and substantially hold the locate device when docked in the locate device docking station, wherein the docking interface comprises; a communication interface to transmit data between the locate device docking station and the locate device; and a power interface to provide power from the locate device docking station to the locate device; a mounting interface, operably coupled to the housing, to mount the locate device docking station to at least a portion of a vehicle; and a second power interface, operably coupled to the housing, to electrically couple the locate device docking station to an electrical power system of the vehicle so as to receive power from the vehicle and to provide power to the power interface for the locate device.
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14. A locate device docking station for holding, storing, and/or locking a locate device as used in a locate operation to identify a presence or an absence of at least one underground facility in a dig area, wherein at least a portion of the dig area is to be excavated or disturbed during excavation activities, the locate device docking station comprising:
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a housing; a mobile device interface to facilitate mechanical and electrical coupling and removal of a portable computing device; a docking interface, operably coupled to the housing, to mechanically receive the locate device and substantially hold the locate device when docked in the locate device docking station, wherein the docking interface comprises; a communication interface to transmit data between the locate device docking station and the locate device; and a power interface to provide power from the locate device docking station to the locate device, the docking station further comprising the portable computing device communicatively coupled to the housing via the mobile device interface, wherein the portable computing device comprises; a second processor; a second memory to store processor-executable instructions; a display device to display at least a portion of a graphic user interface (GUI); and a second communication interface, wherein the portable computing device is configured as a user terminal to control an operation of the locate device at least in part via the GUI.
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15. An apparatus for holding, storing, and/or controlling a locate device as used in a locate operation to identify a presence or an absence of at least one underground facility in a dig area, wherein at least a portion of the dig area is to be excavated or disturbed during excavation activities, the apparatus comprising:
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a locate device docking station to dock the locate device, the locate device docking station comprising a mobile device interface to facilitate mechanical and electrical coupling and removal of a portable computing device; and the portable computing device communicatively coupled to the locate device docking station via the mobile device interface, wherein the portable computing device comprises; a processor; a memory to store processor-executable instructions; a display device to display at least a portion of a graphic user interface (GUI); and a communication interface, wherein the portable computing device is configured as a user terminal to control an operation of the locate device. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21)
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16. An apparatus for holding, storing, and/or controlling a locate device as used in a locate operation to identify a presence or an absence of at least one underground facility in a dig area, wherein at least a portion of the dig area is to be excavated or disturbed during excavation activities, the apparatus comprising:
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a locate device docking station to dock the locate device, the locate device docking station comprising a mobile device interface to facilitate mechanical and electrical coupling and removal of a portable computing device; and the portable computing device communicatively coupled to the locate device docking station via the mobile device interface, wherein the portable computing device comprises; a processor; a memory to store processor-executable instructions; a display device to display at least a portion of a graphic user interface (GUI); and a communication interface, wherein the portable computing device is configured as a user terminal to control an operation of the locate device, and wherein upon execution by the processor of the processor-executable instructions, the processor; controls the communication interface to receive a current date and time from a timing system attached to the locate device; and controls the memory to store the current date and time. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18)
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22. A locate device docking station for holding, storing, and/or locking a locate device as used in a locate operation to identify a presence or an absence of at least one underground facility in a dig area, wherein at least a portion of the dig area is to be excavated or disturbed during excavation activities, the locate device docking station comprising:
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a housing; a portable computing device removably coupled to the housing, the portable computing device comprising; a processor; a memory to store processor-executable instructions; a communication interface; and a display device to display at least a portion of a graphic user interface (GUI); and a docking interface, operably coupled to the housing and communicatively coupled to the portable computing device, to mechanically receive the locate device and substantially hold the locate device when docked in the locate device docking station, wherein the locate device docking station is configured to control an operation of the locate device via at least one of the GUI and the communication interface. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25)
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Specification