METHODS, APPARATUS, AND SYSTEMS FOR ANALYZING USE OF A MARKING DEVICE BY A TECHNICIAN TO PERFORM AN UNDERGROUND FACILITY MARKING OPERATION

• US 20100262470A1
• Filed: 06/09/2010
• Published: 10/14/2010
• 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: Nielsen, Steven, Chambers, Curtis, Farr, Jeffrey
• Granted Patent: US 8,478,525 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/11
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 12/0026 to inhibit delivery
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 12/004 comprising sensors for monitoring the delivery, e.g. by displaying the sensed value or generating an alarm B05B12/08 takes precedence; registering or indicating the condition or the working of machines or other apparatus in general G07C3/00
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 12/08 responsive to condition of liquid or other fluent material to be discharged, of ambient medium or of target ; responsive to condition of spray devices or of supply means, e.g. pipes, pumps or their drive means
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 12/12 responsive to conditions of ambient medium or target, e.g. humidity, temperature position or movement of the target relative to the spray apparatus B05B12/082, B05B12/084 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 12/124 responsive to distance between spray apparatus and target
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 12/126 responsive to target velocity, e.g. to relative velocity between spray apparatus and target B05B9/06 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B05D 1/02 performed by spraying
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 83/203 comprising an extension rod located between the aerosol container and the hand grip setting-out line markings on playing courts A63C19/065; marking-out on finished paving by spraying from aerosol containers E01C23/227
• CPC Class Codes: E01C 23/20 for forming markings in situ
• CPC Class Codes: E01C 23/22 by spraying E01C23/206 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E01C 23/227 the marking material being supplied in aerosol containers
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 15/04 Permanent marks; Boundary markers
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 15/06 Surveyors' staffs; Movable markers
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/06 Energy or water supply
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/08 Construction

Abstract

Methods, apparatus, and systems for monitoring a technician'"'"'s performance of a marking operation to indicate the presence or absence of an underground facility, wherein the technician uses a marking device. Operating information representative of motion of the marking device during performance of the marking operation by the technician is analyzed to determine a pattern of motion. In one example, the pattern of motion is compared to at least one previously-identified pattern of motion associated with at least one technician. In various aspects, the operating information may representative of an acceleration, a velocity, a distance traveled by, and/or an angle of inclination of the marking device. In another aspect, the previously-identified pattern of motion may be a technician signature representing a pattern of motion unique to a technician.

Claims

1. A method of monitoring a technician'"'"'s performance of a marking operation to indicate the presence or absence of an underground facility, wherein the technician uses a marking device, the method comprising:

A) receiving operating information representative of motion of the marking device during performance of the marking operation by the technician; and

B) analyzing, using at least one processor, the operating information to determine a pattern of motion.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the operating information is representative of an acceleration of the marking device.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the operating information is representative of a velocity of the marking device.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the operating information is representative of a distance traveled by the marking device while performing at least one task associated with the marking operation.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the operating information is representative of an angle of inclination of the marking device.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein performance of the marking operation comprises dispensing of marking material on ground, pavement or other surface, and wherein the pattern of motion determined in B) relates to motion of the marking device while dispensing the marking material.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein if in B) the pattern of motion is determined, the method further comprises:

C) comparing the pattern of motion to a previously-identified pattern of motion associated with a technician.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the previously-identified pattern of motion is a technician signature representing a pattern of motion unique to a technician.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the technician signature represents a previously-identified pattern of motion unique to the technician performing the marking operation.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the technician signature represents a previously-identified pattern of motion unique to a technician different than the technician performing the marking operation.

11. A method of monitoring technician performance of a marking operation using a marking device to indicate the presence or absence of an underground facility, the method comprising:

A) receiving operating information representative of motion of the marking device during performance of the marking operation; and

B) comparing, using at least one processor, a pattern of motion of the marking device indicated by the operating information to at least one previously-identified pattern of motion associated with at least one technician.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising C) determining, using the at least one processor, the pattern of motion of the marking device indicated by the operating information.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the operating information is representative of an acceleration of the marking device.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the operating information is representative of a velocity of the marking device.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the operating information is representative of a distance traveled by the marking device while performing at least one task associated with the marking operation.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein the operating information is representative of an angle of inclination of the marking device.

17. The method of claim 11, wherein the previously-identified pattern of motion associated with the at least one technician is a signature of the at least one technician representing a previously-identified pattern of motion unique to the at least one technician.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the signature of the at least one technician corresponds to technician manipulation of the marking device when dispensing marking material from the marking device.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the marking operation is performed by a first technician and wherein the at least one technician is a second technician.

20. The method of claim 11, wherein the marking operation is performed by a first technician and wherein the at least one technician is a second technician.

21. A computer readable storage medium storing processor-executable instructions which, when executed by at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to perform a method of monitoring a technician'"'"'s performance of a marking operation to indicate the presence or absence of an underground facility, wherein the technician uses a marking device, the method comprising:

A) receiving operating information representative of motion of the marking device during performance of the marking operation by the technician; and

B) analyzing, using at least one processor, the operating information to determine a pattern of motion.

22. The computer readable storage medium of claim 21, wherein the operating information is representative of an acceleration of the marking device.

23. The computer readable storage medium of claim 21, wherein the operating information is representative of a velocity of the marking device.

24. The computer readable storage medium of claim 21, wherein the operating information is representative of a distance traveled by the marking device while performing at least one task associated with the marking operation.

25. The computer readable storage medium of claim 21, wherein the operating information is representative of an angle of inclination of the marking device.

26. The computer readable storage medium of claim 21, wherein the technician performance of the marking operation comprises dispensing of marking material on ground, pavement or other surface, and wherein the pattern of motion determined in B) relates to motion of the marking device while dispensing the marking material.

27. The computer readable storage medium of claim 21, wherein if in B) the pattern of motion is determined, the method further comprises:

C) comparing the pattern of motion to a previously-identified pattern of motion associated with a technician.

28. The computer readable storage medium of claim 27, wherein the previously-identified pattern of motion is a technician signature representing a pattern of motion unique to a technician.

29. The computer readable of claim 28, wherein the technician signature represents a previously-identified pattern of motion unique to the technician performing the marking operation.

30. The computer readable storage medium of claim 28, wherein the technician signature represents a previously-identified pattern of motion unique to a technician different than the technician performing the marking operation.

31. A computer readable storage medium storing processor-executable instructions which, when executed by at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to perform a method of monitoring technician performance of a marking operation using a marking device to indicate the presence or absence of an underground facility, the method comprising:

A) receiving operating information representative of motion of the marking device during performance of the marking operation; and

B) comparing, using at least one processor, a pattern of motion of the marking device indicated by the operating information to at least one previously-identified pattern of motion associated with at least one technician.

32. The computer readable storage medium of claim 31, wherein the method further comprises C) determining the pattern of motion of the marking device indicated by the operating information.

33. The computer readable storage medium of claim 31, wherein the operating information is representative of an acceleration of the marking device.

34. The computer readable storage medium of claim 31, wherein the operating information is representative of a velocity of the marking device.

35. The computer readable storage medium of claim 31, wherein the operating information is representative of a distance traveled by the marking device while performing a standard marking task.

36. The computer readable storage medium of claim 31, wherein the operating information is representative of an angle of inclination of the marking device.

37. The computer readable storage medium of claim 31, wherein the previously-identified pattern of motion is a signature of the at least one technician representing a previously-identified pattern of motion unique to the at least one technician.

38. The computer readable storage medium of claim 37, wherein the signature of the at least one technician corresponds to technician manipulation of the marking device when dispensing marking material from the marking device.

39. The computer readable storage medium of claim 38, wherein the marking operation is performed by a first technician and wherein the at least one technician is a second technician.

40. The computer readable storage medium of claim 31, wherein the marking operation is performed by a first technician and wherein the at least one technician is a second technician.

41. At least one computer-readable storage medium storing an electronic record, the electronic record comprising:

at least one data set representing a pattern of motion associated with a marking operation technician'"'"'s operation of marking devices for performing marking operations.

42. The at least one computer readable storage medium of claim 41, wherein the data set represents a signature of the marking operation technician, the signature representing a pattern of marking device motion unique to the marking operation technician.

43. The at least one computer readable storage medium of claim 42, wherein the data set comprises operational data indicative of an operating condition of a marking device during performance of a single marking operation.

44. The at least one computer readable storage medium of claim 42, wherein the pattern of marking device motion relates to acceleration of a marking device.

45. The at least one computer readable storage medium of claim 42, wherein the pattern of marking device motion relates to velocity of a marking device.

46. The at least one computer readable storage medium of claim 42, wherein the pattern of marking device motion relates to distance traveled by a marking device while performing at least one task associated with a marking operation.

47. The at least one computer readable storage medium of claim 46, wherein the at least one task comprises dispensing of marking material to form a locate mark.

48. The at least one computer readable storage medium of claim 42, wherein the pattern of marking device motion relates to angle of inclination of a marking device.

49. An apparatus for monitoring a technician'"'"'s performance of a marking operation to indicate the presence or absence of an underground facility, wherein the technician uses a marking device, the apparatus comprising:

a memory storing processor-executable instructions; and

at least one processor coupled to the memory to receive the processor-executable instructions,

wherein, upon execution of the processor executable instructions, the at least one processor;

A) receives operating information representative of motion of the marking device during performance of the marking operation by the technician; and

B) analyzes the operating information to determine a pattern of motion.

50. The apparatus of claim 49, wherein the operating information is representative of an acceleration of the marking device.

51. The apparatus of claim 49, wherein the operating information is representative of a velocity of the marking device.

52. The apparatus of claim 49, wherein the operating information is representative of a distance traveled by the marking device while performing at least one task associated with the marking operation.

53. The apparatus of claim 49, wherein the operating information is representative of an angle of inclination of the marking device.

54. The apparatus of claim 49, wherein performance of the marking operation comprises dispensing of marking material on ground, pavement or other surface, and wherein the pattern of motion determined in B) relates to motion of the marking device while dispensing the marking material.

55. The apparatus of claim 49, wherein the processor, upon execution of the processor-executable instructions, C) compares the pattern of motion determined in B) to a previously-identified pattern of motion associated with a technician.

56. The apparatus of claim 55, wherein the previously-identified pattern of motion is a technician signature representing a pattern of motion unique to a technician.

57. The apparatus of claim 56, wherein the technician signature represents a previously-identified pattern of motion unique to the technician performing the marking operation.

58. The apparatus of claim 56, wherein the technician signature represents a previously-identified pattern of motion unique to a technician different than the technician performing the marking operation.

59. An apparatus for monitoring a technician'"'"'s performance of a marking operation to indicate the presence or absence of an underground facility, wherein the technician uses a marking device, the apparatus comprising:

a memory storing processor-executable instructions; and

at least one processor coupled to the memory to receive the processor-executable instructions,

wherein, upon execution of the processor executable instructions, the at least one processor;

A) receives operating information representative of motion of the marking device during performance of the marking operation; and

B) compares a pattern of motion of the marking device indicated by the operating information to at least one previously-identified pattern of motion associated with at least one technician.

60. The apparatus of claim 59, wherein the operating information is representative of an acceleration of the marking device.

61. The apparatus of claim 59, wherein the operating information is representative of a velocity of the marking device.

62. The apparatus of claim 59, wherein the operating information is representative of a distance traveled by the marking device while performing at least one task associated with the marking operation.

63. The apparatus of claim 59, wherein the operating information is representative of an angle of inclination of the marking device.

64. The apparatus of claim 59, wherein upon execution of the processor executable instructions, the at least one processor further C) determines the pattern of motion of the marking device indicated by the operating information.

65. The apparatus of claim 59, wherein the previously-identified pattern of motion associated with the at least one technician is a signature of the at least one technician representing a previously-identified pattern of motion unique to the at least one technician.

66. The apparatus of claim 65, wherein the signature of the at least one technician corresponds to technician manipulation of the marking device when dispensing marking material from the marking device.

67. The apparatus of claim 66, wherein the marking operation is performed by a first technician and wherein the at least one technician is a second technician.

68. The apparatus of claim 59, wherein the marking operation is performed by a first technician and wherein the at least one technician is a second technician.