Ticket entry systems and methods

• US 20060085396A1
• Filed: 10/15/2004
• Published: 04/20/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/15/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CeleritasWorks, LLC (RGS Senior Management Group, LC)
• Original Assignee: CeleritasWorks, LLC (RGS Senior Management Group, LC)
• Inventors: Evans, Scott A., Cudd, Steven Bruce, Marshall, Robert Lee
• Granted Patent: US 9,152,651 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/2455 Query execution
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/29 Geographical information databases
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence

Abstract

In one embodiment, a ticket entry system and method include a program management system, a spatial management system, a data management system, and a user interface. The program management system receives contact information and a search criteria for a locate request. The program management system transmits the search criteria to the spatial management system. The spatial management system geocodes the search criteria and retrieves map data from the data management system corresponding to the search criteria geocode. The spatial management system transmits the map data to the program management system. The program management system transmits the map data to the user system and, in return, receives an indication of a site location where the operation is to be performed. The program management system transmits the site location indication to the spatial management system. The spatial management system geocodes the site location indication and transmits the site location geocode to the program management system. The program management system creates a locate ticket, which comprises the site location geocode and the contact information.

Claims

1. A ticket entry system comprising:

a program management system configured to receive a request to mark a site location for an operation, the request comprising contact information and a search criteria comprising a location designation, to receive an indication for at least an approximation of the site location, and to generate a locate ticket comprising a site location geocode and the contact information;

a spatial management system configured to receive the search criteria from the program management system, to geocode the search criteria, to retrieve map data identifying an area corresponding to the geocoded search criteria, to receive the site location indication from the program management system, to geocode the site location indication, and to transmit the site location geocode to the program management system;

a data management system configured to store the map data and to transmit the map data to the spatial management system; and

a user interface configured to generate the map data for display, to receive the site location indication, and to transmit the site location indication to the program management system.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the operation comprises at least one member of a group consisting of an excavation, a construction, a boring, a trenching, a facility operation, a regulatory compliance determination, and a permit determination.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the location designation for the search criteria comprises at least one member of a group consisting of an address, an intersection, a county name, and a legal land description.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the site location geocode comprises a latitude and a longitude for the site location.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the area corresponding to the geocoded search criteria comprises a latitude and a longitude for the geocoded search criteria and a selected surrounding area.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the area corresponding to the geocoded search criteria comprises a selected distance from the location designation in at least one direction.

7. The system of claim 1 further comprising a user system configured to transmit the request for reception by the program management system, to receive the map data generated for display from the user interface, and to generate the site location indication.

8. The system of claim 1 further comprising a ticket processing system configured to process the locate ticket wherein the program management system further is configured to transmit the locate ticket for reception by the ticket processing system.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein the program management system further is configured to:

receive additional information for the request comprising at least one member of a group consisting of a type of the operation, a work date, a work time, an address, a county name, an intersection, a legal land description, driving directions to the site location, a property warning, whether the site location is marked, whether a bore is to be used in the operation, whether explosives are to be used in the operation, for whom the operation is being done, a grid designation for the operation, a latitude and a longitude for another operation, a contact email address, a contact facsimile number, and another contact designation; and

generate the locate ticket with the additional information.

10. The system of claim 1 wherein the map data comprises at least one member of a group consisting of at least one aerial image, at least one parcel map, at least one legal land description map, at least one raster image, at least one vector data, and planimetric data.

11. The system of claim 1 wherein:

the spatial management system further is configured to retrieve other map data identifying the site location and corresponding to the geocoded site location indication;

the data management system further is configured to store the other map data and to transmit the other map data to the spatial management system; and

the user interface further is configured to receive the other map and to generate the other map data for display.

12. The system of claim 11 wherein the other map data comprises at least one member of a group consisting of at least one aerial image, at least one parcel map, at least one legal land description map, at least one raster image, at least one vector data, and planimetric data.

13. The system of claim 11 wherein the other map data comprises a selected site locator comprising at least one member of a group consisting of a square, a circle, an oval, a polygon, a cross, and an X.

14. The system of claim 11 wherein the other map data comprises a selected site locator designating at least one member of a group consisting of a site location area and a site location point.

15. The system of claim 11 wherein the other map data comprises at least one member of a group consisting of a selected site locator configured to be overlayed on at least a portion of the map data of the area corresponding to the geocoded search criteria and the selected site locator and the at least the portion of the area corresponding to the geocoded search criteria.

16. The system of claim 11 further comprising a user system configured to receive the map data generated for display by the user interface, to transmit signaling comprising the site location indication, wherein the site location indication represents a selection of the site location on the map data, and to receive the other map data comprising a selected site locator and generated for display from the user interface.

17. The system of claim 1 wherein the site location indication comprises signaling representing a selection of the site location on the map data.

18. The system of claim 1 wherein the site location indication comprises at least one member of a group consisting of a selectable area of the site location and a selectable point of the site location.

19. A ticket entry system comprising:

a program management system configured to receive a request to mark a site location for an operation, the request comprising contact information and a search criteria comprising a location designation, to generate for display map data identifying an area corresponding to a geocoded search criteria, to receive an indication for at least an approximation of the site location, and to generate a locate ticket comprising a site location geocode and the contact information; and

a spatial management system configured to geocode the search criteria and generate the map data, to transmit the map data to the program management system, to geocode the site location indication, and to transmit the site location geocode to the program management system.

20. The system of claim 19 wherein the program management system comprises a user interface configured to generate the map data for display.

21. The system of claim 19 further comprising a data management system configured to store the map data and to transmit the map data to the spatial management system.

22. The system of claim 19 wherein the operation comprises at least one member of a group consisting of an excavation, a construction, a boring, a trenching, a facility operation, a regulatory compliance determination, and a permit determination.

23. The system of claim 19 wherein the location designation for the search criteria comprises at least one member of a group consisting of an address, an intersection, a county name, and a legal land description.

24. The system of claim 19 wherein the site location geocode comprises a latitude and a longitude for the site location.

25. The system of claim 19 wherein the area corresponding to the geocoded search criteria comprises a latitude and a longitude for the geocoded search criteria and a selected surrounding area.

26. The system of claim 19 wherein the area corresponding to the geocoded search criteria comprises a selected distance from the location designation in at least one direction.

27. The system of claim 19 further comprising a user system configured to transmit the request for reception by the program management system, to receive the map data generated for display from the program management system, and to generate the site location indication.

28. The system of claim 19 further comprising a ticket processing system configured to process the locate ticket wherein the program management system further is configured to transmit the locate ticket for reception by the ticket processing system.

29. The system of claim 19 wherein the program management system further is configured to:

receive additional information for the request comprising at least one member of a group consisting of a type of the operation, a work date, a work time, an address, a county name, an intersection, a legal land description, driving directions to the site location, a property warning, whether the site location is marked, whether a bore is to be used in the operation, whether explosives are to be used in the operation, for whom the operation is being done, a grid designation for the operation, a latitude and a longitude for another operation, a contact email address, a contact facsimile number, and another contact designation; and

generate the locate ticket with the additional information.

30. The system of claim 19 wherein the map data comprises at least one member of a group consisting of at least one aerial image, at least one parcel map, at least one legal land description map, at least one raster image, at least one vector data, and planimetric data.

31. The system of claim 19 wherein:

the spatial management system further is configured to retrieve other map data identifying the site location and corresponding to the geocoded site location indication; and

the program management system further is configured to receive the other map and to generate the other map data for display.

32. The system of claim 31 wherein the other map data comprises at least one member of a group consisting of at least one aerial image, at least one parcel map, at least one legal land description map, at least one raster image, at least one vector data, and planimetric data.

33. The system of claim 31 wherein the other map data comprises a selected site locator comprising at least one member of a group consisting of a square, a circle, an oval, a polygon, a cross, and an X.

34. The system of claim 31 further comprising a user system configured to receive the map data generated for display by the program management system, to transmit signaling comprising the site location indication, wherein the site location indication represents a selection of the site location on the map data, and to receive the other map data comprising a selected site locator and generated for display from the program management system.

35. The system of claim 19 wherein the site location indication comprises signaling representing a selection of the site location on the map data.

36. The system of claim 19 wherein the site location indication comprises at least one member of a group consisting of a selectable area of the site location and a selectable point of the site location.

37. A user interface operable on a processor for entering ticket data identifying a site location of an operation comprising:

a search tool configured to receive a search criteria, the search criteria comprising a location designation;

a map tool configured to generate for display map data identifying an area corresponding to the search criteria, to receive an indication of at least an approximate site location relative to the map data, to identify the at least the approximate site location on the map data with a designation, and to identify a geocode for the at least the approximate site location based on the indication; and

a capture system configured to capture the contact information and geocode for a locate ticket.

38. The user interface of claim 37 further comprising a spatial management system configured to generate the geocode based on the indication of the at least the approximate site location.

39. The user interface of claim 37 wherein the operation comprises at least one member of a group consisting of an excavation, a construction, a boring, a trenching, a facility operation, a regulatory compliance determination, and a permit determination.

40. The user interface of claim 37 wherein the location designation for the search criteria comprises at least one member of a group consisting of an address, an intersection, a county name, and a legal land description.

41. The user interface of claim 37 wherein the geocode comprises a latitude and a longitude for the site location.

42. The user interface of claim 37 further comprising a user system configured to transmit the search criteria for reception by the user interface, to receive the map data generated for display from the user interface, and to generate the indication.

43. The user interface of claim 37 wherein the user interface further is configured to generate a form to enable input of additional information comprising at least one member of a group consisting of a type of the operation, a work date, a work time, an address, a county name, an intersection, a legal land description, driving directions to the site location, a property warning, whether the site location is marked, whether a bore is to be used in the operation, whether explosives are to be used in the operation, for whom the operation is being done, a grid designation for the operation, a latitude and a longitude for another operation, a contact email address, a contact facsimile number, and another contact designation.

44. The user interface of claim 37 wherein the map data comprises at least one member of a group consisting of at least one aerial image, at least one parcel map, at least one legal land description map, at least one raster image, at least one vector data, and planimetric data.

45. The user interface of claim 37 wherein a map tool configured to generate for display other map data identifying the site location and corresponding to the geocoded site location indication.

46. The user interface of claim 45 wherein the other map data comprises at least one member of a group consisting of at least one aerial image, at least one parcel map, at least one legal land description map, at least one raster image, at least one vector data, and planimetric data.

47. The user interface of claim 45 wherein the other map data comprises a selected site locator comprising at least one member of a group consisting of a square, a circle, an oval, a polygon, a cross, and an X.

48. The user interface of claim 45 wherein the other map data comprises a selected site locator designating at least one member of a group consisting of a site location area and a site location point.

49. The user interface of claim 45 wherein the site location indication comprises at least one member of a group consisting of a selectable area of the site location and a selectable point of the site location.

50. A method for entering a ticket using a processor comprising:

receiving a request at a program management system to mark a site location for an operation, the request comprising contact information and a search criteria comprising a location designation;

geocoding the search criteria at a spatial management system;

generating map data identifying an area corresponding to the geocoded search criteria for display from a user interface;

receiving an indication for at least an approximation of the site location, wherein the site location indication identifies at least one location within the area covered by the map data;

geocoding the site location indication at the spatial management system; and

generating a locate ticket at the program management system, the locate ticket comprising the site location geocode and the contact information.

51. The method of claim 50 further comprising generating other map data identifying a selected site locator for the site location for display from the user interface.

52. The method of claim 50 further comprising transmitting the locate ticket from the program management system for reception by a ticket processing system.

53. The method of claim 50 wherein receiving the request to mark the site location for the operation comprises receiving the request to mark the site location for at least one member of a group consisting of an excavation, a construction, a boring, a trenching, a facility operation, a regulatory compliance determination, and a permit determination.

54. The method of claim 50 wherein receiving the location designation for the search criteria comprises receiving at least one member of a group consisting of an address, an intersection, a county name, and a legal land description.

55. The method of claim 50 wherein generating the site location geocode comprises generating a latitude and a longitude for the site location.

56. The method of claim 50 wherein generating the map data identifying the area corresponding to the geocoded search criteria comprises generating the map data for a latitude and a longitude for the geocoded search criteria and a selected surrounding area.

57. The method of claim 50 wherein generating the map data identifying the area corresponding to the geocoded search criteria comprises generating the map data for a selected distance from the location designation in at least one direction.

58. The method of claim 50 further comprising:

transmitting the request from a user system for reception by the program management system;

receiving the map data at the user system; and

generating the site location indication from the user system for reception by the program management system.

59. The method of claim 50 further comprising:

transmitting the locate ticket from the program management system for reception by a ticket processing system; and

processing the locate request with the ticket processing system.

60. The method of claim 50 further comprising:

receiving additional information for the ticket comprising at least one member of a group consisting of a type of operation, a work date, a work time, an address, a county name, an intersection, a legal land description, driving directions to the site location, a property warning, whether the site location is marked, whether a bore is to be used in the operation, whether explosives are to be used in the operation, for whom the operation is being done, a grid designation, a latitude and a longitude for another operation, an email address, a facsimile number, and another contact designation; and

generating the locate ticket with the additional information.

61. The method of claim 50 wherein generating the map data for display comprises generating for display at least one member of a group consisting of at least one aerial image, at least one parcel map, at least one legal land description map, at least one raster image, at least one vector data, and planimetric data.

62. The method of claim 50 further comprising:

retrieving other map data identifying the site location and corresponding to the geocoded site location indication;

generating the other map data for display.

63. The method of claim 62 wherein generating the other map for display comprises generating for display at least one member of a group consisting of at least one aerial image, at least one parcel map, at least one legal land description map, at least one raster image, at least one vector data, and planimetric data.

64. The method of claim 62 wherein generating the other map for display comprises generating for display a selected site locator comprising at least one member of a group consisting of a square, a circle, an oval, a polygon, a cross, and an X.

65. The method of claim 62 wherein generating the other map for display comprises generating for display a selected site locator designating at least one member of a group consisting of a site location area and a site location point.

66. The method of claim 62 wherein generating the other map for display comprises generating for display at least one member of a group consisting of a selected site locator configured to be overlayed on at least a portion of the map data of the area corresponding to the geocoded search criteria and the selected site locator and the at least the portion of the area corresponding to the geocoded search criteria.

67. The method of claim 62 further comprising:

receiving the map data at a user system from the user interface;

transmitting signaling comprising the site location indication from the user system for reception by the program management system, wherein the site location indication represents a selection of the site location on the map data; and

receiving the other map data comprising a selected site locator at the user system.

68. The method of claim 50 wherein receiving the site location indication comprises receiving signaling representing a selection of the location on the map data.

69. The method of claim 50 wherein receiving the site location indication comprises receiving at least one member of a group consisting of a selectable area of the site location and a selectable point of the site location.

70. The method of claim 50 further comprising retrieving the map data from a data management system and transmitting the map data to the spatial management system.

71. A method for entering a ticket using a processor comprising:

receiving a request at to mark a site location for an operation, the request comprising contact information and a search criteria comprising a location designation;

geocoding the search criteria;

generating for display map data identifying an area corresponding to the geocoded search criteria;

receiving an indication for at least an approximation of the site location, wherein the site location indication identifies at least one location within the area covered by the map data;

geocoding the site location indication; and

generating a locate ticket comprising the site location geocode and the contact information.

72. The method of claim 71 further comprising generating for display other map data identifying a selected site locator for the site location.

73. The method of claim 71 further comprising transmitting the locate ticket for reception by a ticket processing system.

74. The method of claim 71 wherein receiving the request to mark the site location for the operation comprises receiving the request to mark the site location for at least one member of a group consisting of an excavation, a construction, a boring, a trenching, a facility operation, a regulatory compliance determination, and a permit determination.

75. The method of claim 71 wherein receiving the location designation for the search criteria comprises receiving at least one member of a group consisting of an address, an intersection, a county name, and a legal land description.

76. The method of claim 71 wherein generating the site location geocode comprises generating a latitude and a longitude for the site location.

77. The method of claim 71 wherein generating the map data identifying the area corresponding to the geocoded search criteria comprises generating the map data for a latitude and a longitude for the geocoded search criteria and a selected surrounding area.

78. The method of claim 71 wherein generating the map data identifying the area corresponding to the geocoded search criteria comprises generating the map data for a selected distance from the location designation in at least one direction.

79. The method of claim 71 further comprising:

transmitting the request from a user system for reception by a program management system;

receiving the map data at the user system generated for display from the program management system; and

generating the site location indication from the user system for reception by the program management system.

80. The method of claim 71 further comprising:

transmitting the locate ticket for reception by a ticket processing system; and

processing the locate request with the ticket processing system.

81. The method of claim 71 further comprising:

receiving additional information for the ticket comprising at least one member of a group consisting of a type of operation, a work date, a work time, an address, a county name, an intersection, a legal land description, driving directions to the site location, a property warning, whether the site location is marked, whether a bore is to be used in the operation, whether explosives are to be used in the operation, for whom the operation is being done, a grid designation, a latitude and a longitude for another operation, an email address, a facsimile number, and another contact designation; and

generating the locate ticket with the additional information.

82. The method of claim 71 wherein generating the map data for display comprises generating for display at least one member of a group consisting of at least one aerial image, at least one parcel map, at least one legal land description map, at least one raster image, at least one vector data, and planimetric data.

83. The method of claim 71 further comprising:

retrieving other map data identifying the site location and corresponding to the geocoded site location indication;

generating the other map data for display.

84. The method of claim 83 wherein generating the other map for display comprises generating for display at least one member of a group consisting of at least one aerial image, at least one parcel map, at least one legal land description map, at least one raster image, at least one vector data, and planimetric data.

85. The method of claim 83 wherein generating the other map for display comprises generating for display a selected site locator comprising at least one member of a group consisting of a square, a circle, an oval, a polygon, a cross, and an X.

86. The method of claim 83 wherein generating the other map for display comprises generating for display a selected site locator designating at least one member of a group consisting of a site location area and a site location point.

87. The method of claim 83 wherein generating the other map for display comprises generating for display at least one member of a group consisting of a selected site locator configured to be overlayed on at least a portion of the map data of the area corresponding to the geocoded search criteria and the selected site locator and the at least the portion of the area corresponding to the geocoded search criteria.

88. The method of claim 83 further comprising:

receiving the map data at a user system from a program management system;

transmitting signaling comprising the site location indication, wherein the site location indication represents a selection of the site location on the map data; and

receiving the other map data comprising a selected site locator and generated for display from the program management system.

89. The method of claim 71 wherein receiving the site location indication comprises receiving signaling representing a selection of the location on the map data.

90. The method of claim 71 wherein receiving the site location indication comprises receiving at least one member of a group consisting of a selectable area of the site location and a selectable point of the site location.