METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR OVERLAYING ELECTRONIC LOCATE INFORMATION ON FACILITIES MAP INFORMATION AND/OR OTHER IMAGE INFORMATION DISPLAYED ON A LOCATE DEVICE

• US 20100189312A1
• Filed: 02/05/2010
• Published: 07/29/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/02/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Certusview Technologies LLC (Dycom Industries Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Certusview Technologies LLC (Dycom Industries Incorporated)
• Inventors: CHAMBERS, CURTIS, FARR, JEFFREY, NIELSEN, STEVEN
• Granted Patent: US 8,527,308 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 382/113
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 15/02 Means for marking measuring points
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 29/006 Representation of non-cartographic information on maps, e.g. population distribution, wind direction, radiation levels, air and sea routes
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 29/10 Map spot or coordinate position indicators; Map reading aids optical projection apparatus per se G03B
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/377 for mixing or overlaying two or more graphic patterns G09G5/02, G09G5/397 take precedence

Abstract

A locate device for a locate operation to detect a presence or an absence of one or more underground facilities is configured to access and display facilities map information, and/or other image information, as a visual aid to facilitate the locate operation. In various aspects, methods and apparatus relate to: selection of an appropriate “base” facilities map, or information from a database of facilities map data, relating to a given work site/dig area; selection of an appropriate pan and/or zoom (resolution) for displaying facilities map information; appropriately updating displayed facilities map information while a locate device is used during a locate operation (e.g. changing pan, zoom and/or orientation); overlaying on the displayed facilities map information locate information and/or landmark information relating to the locate operation; and storing locally on the locate device, and/or transmitting from the locate device, facilities map information and/or overlaid locate/landmark information (e.g., for further processing, analysis and/or subsequent display).

Claims

1. A locate receiver to detect a presence or an absence of an underground facility, the locate receiver comprising:

a housing;

an RF antenna for receiving a magnetic field and outputting an output signal;

a processing circuit, for receiving the output signal from the RF antenna and determining a magnetic field strength of the magnetic field;

a display device coupled to the housing;

at least one memory; and

at least one processor, coupled to the processing circuit, the display device and the at least one memory, configured to;

display on the display device a map image that is generated based on first map data selected by the at least one processor and that includes a geographic location at which an indication of detection of a facility line was generated; and

overlay at least one electronic marking on the first map image at a position on the first map image corresponding to a location at which the indication of detection of a facility line was generated.

2. The locate receiver of claim 1, wherein the locate receiver comprises at least one actuation mechanism, and wherein the at least one processor is configured to generate the indication of detection of the facility line in response to an actuation of the actuation mechanism.

3. The locate receiver of claim 1, wherein the at least one processor is configured to generate the indication of detection of the facility line when the magnetic field strength exceeds a predefined threshold.

4. The locate receiver of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to obtain at least a portion of the first map data from a remote device and store the at least the portion of the first map data in the at least one memory.

5. The locate receiver of claim 4, wherein the at least the portion of the first map data comprises the at least one map image.

6. The locate receiver of claim 1, wherein the at least one processor is configured to generate the map image based on the portion of the first map data.

7. The locate receiver of claim 1, wherein the map image comprises a map that includes a geographic location of the locate receiver, and wherein the at least one processor is configured to cause the location of the locate receiver to be indicated on the map image when displayed on the display device.

8. The locate receiver of claim 1, wherein the map image comprises a first image layer, wherein the at least one electronic marking comprises a second image layer, and wherein the processor is configured to cause the first image layer and/or the second image layer to be displayed on the display device and cause the first image layer and/or the second image layer to not be displayed on the display device.

9. The locate receiver of claim 8, wherein the processor is configured to cause the first image layer and/or the second image layer to be displayed on the display device in response to user input, and to cause the first image layer and/or the second image layer to not be displayed on the display device in response to user input.

10. The locate receiver of claim 8, wherein the second image layer comprises at least two sub-layers, and wherein the processor is configured to cause the first sub-layer of the second image layer and/or the second sub-layer of the second image layer to be displayed on the display device and/or to cause the first sub-layer of the at least two sub-layers and/or the second sub-layer of the at least two sub-layers to not be displayed on the display device.

11. The locate receiver of claim 10, wherein the first sub-layer of the at least two sub-layers comprises an electronic marking corresponding to a location at which the indication of detection of a facility line of a first facility type was generated, and wherein the second sub-layer of the at least two sub-layers comprises an electronic marking corresponding to a location at which the indication of detection of a facility line of a second facility type was generated.

12. The locate receiver of claim 10, wherein the first sub-layer of the second image layer is a timing sub-layer that includes an electronic representation of the locates at which facility lines were detected during a defined time window.

13. The locate receiver of claim 10, wherein the first sub-layer of the second image layer is a ticket sub-layer that includes displayed information relating to at least one aspect of a ticket for a locate and/or marking operation.

14. The locate receiver of claim 13, wherein the at least one aspect of a ticket is at least one of:

a ticket number identifying the ticket;

at least one party identifier representing a party requesting the locate operation and/or the marking operation;

at least one facility identifier representing a type and/or number of one or more facilities to be detected and/or marked in the locate operation and/or the marking operation; and

at least one ground type identifier representing a ground type for a work site and/or dig area at which the locate operation and/or the marking operation is performed; and

the first sub-layer of the second image layer includes one or more of;

a ticket number sub-layer;

a requesting party sub-layer;

a facility type sub-layer; and

a ground type sub-layer.

15. The locate receiver of claim 10, wherein the first sub-layer of the second image layer is a service-related sub-layer that includes service-related information relating to at least one aspect of a locate and/or marking operation.

16. The locate receiver of claim 15, wherein:

the service-related information includes one or more of;

at least one service provider identifier representing a service provider overseeing performance of the locate operation and/or the marking operation;

at least one technician identifier representing a technician that performs the locate operation and/or the marking operation;

at least one device identifier representing at least one device used by the technician during the locate operation and/or the marking operation; and

at least one status identifier representing an operating status of at least one aspect of the at least one device; and

the first sub-layer of the second image layer includes one or more of;

a service provider sub-layer;

a technician sub-layer;

a device sub-layer; and

an operating status sub-layer.

17. The locate receiver of claim 10, wherein the first sub-layer of the second image layer is a geographic sub-layer comprising an electronic representation of facility lines detected in a particular geographic region.

18. The locate receiver of claim 10, wherein the processor is configured to automatically select either the first sub-layer of the second image layer or the second sub-layer of the second image layer to be displayed on the display device.

19. The locate receiver of claim 10, wherein the processor is configured to automatically select either the first sub-layer of the second image layer or the second sub-layer of the second image layer to be displayed on the display device based, at least in part, on a facility type that a user is attempting to detect using the locate receiver.

20. The locate receiver of claim 8, wherein the first image layer comprises at least two sub-layers, wherein a first sub-layer of the first image layer comprises a first portion of the map image, and wherein a second sub-layer of the first image layer comprises a second portion of the map image, and wherein the processor is configured to cause the first sub-layer of the first image layer and/or the second sub-layer of the first image layer to be displayed on the display device and/or to cause the first sub-layer of the first image layer and/or the second sub-layer of the first image layer to not be displayed on the display device.

21. The locate receiver of claim 20, wherein the processor is configured to cause the first sub-layer of the first image layer and/or the second sub-layer of the first image layer to be displayed on the display device in response to user input and/or is configured to cause the first sub-layer of the first image layer and/or the second sub-layer of the first image layer to not be displayed on the display device in response to user input.

22. The locate receiver of claim 20, wherein the processor is configured to automatically select either the first sub-layer of the first image layer or the second sub-layer of the first image layer to be displayed on the display device.

23. The locate receiver of claim 22, wherein the processor is configured to automatically select either the first sub-layer of the first image layer or the second sub-layer of the first image layer to be displayed on the display device based, at least in part, on a facility type that a user is attempting to detect using the locate receiver.

24. The locate receiver of claim 20, wherein the first portion of the map image is a portion of the map image that includes images relating to landmarks.

25. The locate receiver of claim 20, wherein the first portion of the map image is a portion of the map image that includes images relating to a type of landmark.

26. The locate receiver of claim 25, wherein the type of landmark is one of:

telephone poles;

fire hydrants;

termination boxes;

curbs; and

.

manhole covers.

27. The locate receiver of claim 20, wherein the first portion of the map image is a portion of the map image that includes images relating to facility lines.

28. The locate receiver of claim 20, wherein the first portion of the map image is a portion of the map image that includes images relating to facility lines of a particular facility type.

29. The locate receiver of claim 20, wherein the first portion of the map image is a portion of the map image that includes images relating to a dig area indicator indicative a geographic area in which excavation is planned.

30. The locate receiver of claim 20, wherein the first portion of the map image is a portion of the map image that includes images relating to facility lines owned by a particular entity.

31. The locate receiver of claim 20, wherein the first portion of the map image is a portion of the map image that includes images relating to facility lines in a particular geographic region.

32. The locate receiver of claim 20, wherein the first portion of the map image is a portion of the map image that originally generated during a particular time window.

33. A method for displaying information on a locate receiver having a housing, an RF antenna for receiving a magnetic field and outputting an output signal, a processing circuit, for receiving the output signal from the RF antenna and determining a magnetic field strength of the magnetic field, a display device coupled to the housing, at least one memory;

and at least one processor, coupled to the processing circuit, the display device and the at least one memory, the method comprising;

displaying on the display device a map image that is generated based on first map data selected by the at least one processor and that includes a geographic location at which an indication of detection of a facility line was generated; and

overlaying at least one electronic marking on the first map image at a position on the first map image corresponding to a location at which the indication of detection of a facility line was generated.

34. The method of claim 33, wherein the locate receiver comprises at least one actuation mechanism, and wherein the method further comprises:

generating the indication of detection of the facility line in response to an actuation of the actuation mechanism.

35. The method of claim 33, further comprising:

generating the indication of detection of the facility line when the magnetic field strength exceeds a predefined threshold.

36. The method of claim 33, further comprising:

obtaining at least a portion of the first map data from a remote device; and

storing the at least the portion of the first map data in the at least one memory.

37. The method of claim 36, wherein the at least the portion of the first map data comprises the at least one map image.

38. The method of claim 33, further comprising:

generating the map image based on the portion of the first map data.

39. The method of claim 33, wherein the map image comprises a map that includes a geographic location of the locate receiver, and wherein the method further comprises:

causing the location of the locate receiver to be indicated on the map image when displayed on the display device.

40. The method of claim 33, wherein the map image comprises a first image layer, wherein the at least one electronic marking comprises a second image layer, and wherein the method further comprises:

causing the first image layer and/or the second image layer to be displayed on the display device and causing the first image layer and/or the second image layer to not be displayed on the display device.

41. The method of claim 33, wherein the act of causing the first image layer and/or the second image layer to be displayed on the display device and causing the first image layer and/or the second image layer to not be displayed on the display device is performed in response to user input.

42. The method of claim 40, wherein the second image layer comprises at least two sub-layers including a first sub-layer of the second image layer and a second sub-layer of the second image layer, and wherein the method further comprises:

in response to user input, causing the first sub-layer of the at least two sub-layers and/or the second sub-layer of the at least two sub-layers to be displayed on the display device and, in response to user input, causing the first sub-layer of the at least two sub-layers and/or the second sub-layer of the at least two sub-layers to not be displayed on the display device.

43. The method of claim 42, wherein the first sub-layer of the at least two sub-layers comprises an electronic marking corresponding to a location at which the indication of detection of a facility line of a first facility type was generated, and wherein the second sub-layer of the at least two sub-layers comprises an electronic marking corresponding to a location at which the indication of detection of a facility line of a second facility type was generated.

44. The method of claim 40, wherein the first sub-layer of the second image layer is a timing sub-layer that includes an electronic representation of the marking material that was dispensed during a defined time window.

45. The method of claim 40, wherein the first sub-layer of the second image layer is a ticket sub-layer that includes displayed information relating to at least one aspect of a ticket for a locate and/or marking operation for which the marking material was dispensed.

46. The method of claim 45, wherein the at least one aspect of a ticket is at least one of:

a ticket number identifying the ticket;

at least one party identifier representing a party requesting the locate operation and/or the marking operation;

at least one facility identifier representing a type and/or number of one or more facilities to be detected and/or marked in the locate operation and/or the marking operation; and

at least one ground type identifier representing a ground type for a work site and/or dig area at which the locate operation and/or the marking operation is performed; and

the first sub-layer of the second image layer includes one or more of;

a ticket number sub-layer;

a requesting party sub-layer;

a facility type sub-layer; and

a ground type sub-layer.

47. The method of claim 40, wherein the first sub-layer of the second image layer is a service-related sub-layer that includes service-related information relating to at least one aspect of a locate and/or marking operation.

48. The method of claim 47, wherein:

the service-related information includes one or more of;

at least one service provider identifier representing a service provider overseeing performance of the locate operation and/or the marking operation;

at least one technician identifier representing a technician that performs the locate operation and/or the marking operation;

at least one device identifier representing at least one device used by the technician during the locate operation and/or the marking operation; and

at least one status identifier representing an operating status of at least one aspect of the at least one device; and

the first sub-layer of the second image layer includes one or more of;

a service provider sub-layer;

a technician sub-layer;

a device sub-layer; and

an operating status sub-layer.

49. The method of claim 40, wherein the first sub-layer of the second image layer is a geographic sub-layer comprising an electronic representation of a location at which facility lines were detected in a particular geographic region.

50. The method of claim 40, further comprising:

automatically selecting either the first sub-layer of the second image layer or the second sub-layer of the second image layer to be displayed on the display device.

51. The method of claim 50, wherein either the first sub-layer of the second image layer or the second sub-layer of the second image layer is automatically selected to be displayed on the display device based, at least in part, on a type of facility line that a user of the locate receiver is attempting to locate using the locate receiver.

52. The method of claim 40, wherein the first image layer comprises at least two sub-layers, wherein a first sub-layer of the first image layer comprises a first portion of the map image, and wherein a second sub-layer of the first image layer comprises a second portion of the map image, and wherein the method further comprises:

causing the first sub-layer of the first image layer and/or the second sub-layer of the first image layer to be displayed on the display device and/or causing the first sub-layer of the first image layer and/or the second sub-layer of the first image layer to not be displayed on the display device.

53. The method of claim 52, wherein causing the first sub-layer of the first image layer and/or the second sub-layer of the first image layer to be displayed on the display device in response to user input and/or causing the first sub-layer of the first image layer and/or the second sub-layer of the first image layer to not be displayed on the display device is performed in response to user input.

54. The method of claim 52, further comprising:

automatically selecting either the first sub-layer of the first image layer or the second sub-layer of the first image layer to be displayed on the display device.

55. The method claim 54, wherein either the first sub-layer of the first image layer or the second sub-layer of the first image layer is automatically selected to be displayed on the display device based, at least in part, on a type of facility line that a user of the locate receiver is attempting to locate using the locate receiver.

56. The method of claim 52, wherein the first portion of the map image is a portion of the map image that includes images relating to landmarks.

57. The method of claim 52, wherein the first portion of the map image is a portion of the map image that includes images relating to a type of landmark.

58. The method of claim 57, wherein the type of landmark is one of:

telephone poles;

fire hydrants;

termination boxes;

curbs; and

.

manhole covers.

59. The method of claim 52, wherein the first portion of the map image is a portion of the map image that includes images relating to facility lines.

60. The method of claim 52, wherein the first portion of the map image is a portion of the map image that includes images relating to facility lines of a particular facility type.

61. The method of claim 52, wherein the first portion of the map image is a portion of the map image that includes images relating to a dig area indicator indicative a geographic area in which excavation is planned.

62. The method of claim 52, wherein the first portion of the map image is a portion of the map image that includes images relating to facility lines owned by a particular entity.

63. The method of claim 52, wherein the first portion of the map image is a portion of the map image that includes images relating to facility lines in a particular geographic region.

64. The method of claim 52, wherein the first portion of the map image is a portion of the map image that originally generated during a particular time window.

65. At least one computer-readable storage medium encoded with instructions that, when executed on at least one processor in a locate receiver having a housing, an RF antenna for receiving a magnetic field and outputting an output signal, a processing circuit, for receiving the output signal from the RF antenna and determining a magnetic field strength of the magnetic field, a display device coupled to the housing, at least one memory;

and at least one processor, coupled to the processing circuit, the display device and the at least one memory, causes the at least one processor to perform a method comprising;

displaying on the display device a map image that is generated based on first map data selected by the at least one processor and that includes a geographic location at which an indication of detection of a facility line was generated; and

overlaying at least one electronic marking on the first map image at a position on the first map image corresponding to a location at which the indication of detection of a facility line was generated.