Method and system for remotely servicing a detection device

• US 6,728,662 B2
• Filed: 02/15/2002
• Issued: 04/27/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 02/15/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Radiodetection Limited
• Original Assignee: Radiodetection Limited
• Inventors: Baker, Marcus, Ridley, Stephen F., Morgan, Michael J., Pearson, Richard D., Hanlon, Jason J., Frost, Nicholas J., Hiscox, Gary P., Lewis, Andrew B.
• Primary Examiner(s): ASSOUAD, PATRICK J
• Application Number:
  US10/076,104
• Publication Number:
  US 20030158708A1
• Time in Patent Office: 802 Days
• Field of Search: 324/323, 324/66, 324/67, 702/85, 702/104, 702/188
• US Class Current: 702/188
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/024 using relational databases for representation of network management data, e.g. managing via structured query language [SQL]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0253 using browsers or web-pages for accessing management information
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0806 for initial configuration or provisioning, e.g. plug-and-play
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/12 Discovery or management of network topologies

Abstract

A remotely configurable locator system includes a detection device to locate concealed underground conductors. The detection device is configured to connect to a communications network via a graphical user interface. Also included is a database management tool configured to connect to the communications network and communicate with the detection device via the communications network. A database is included and is adapted to store data related to the detection device wherein the data is configured to be accessed by the database management tool. Finally, the graphical user interface is configured to permit a user to remotely perform one of updating, analyzing, and diagnosing the detection device based upon the accessed stored data.

Claims

1. A method to permit a user to service a detection device configured to locate concealed underground conductors, the method comprising:

connecting the detection device to a communications network via a computer enabled user interface;

connecting a database management tool to the communications network, the database management tool including an interface to a database; and

initiating a communications session between the detection device and the database management tool via the communications network, the communications session permitting the user to remotely perform at least one of updating, analyzing, and diagnosing the detection device based, at least in part, on data stored in the database, wherein the communications session includes communicating via at least one from the group including a wireless communications link in accordance with wireless standards and a wired communications link.

2. A system comprising:

a detection device to locate concealed underground conductors, the detection device being configured to connect to a communications network via a graphical user interface, wherein the graphical user interface is configured to permit a user to remotely perform one of updating, analyzing, and diagnosing the detection device based upon the accessed stored data;

a database management tool configured to connect to the communications network and communicate with the detection device via the communications network, wherein the communications network includes at least one from the group including a wireless communications network based upon wireless communication standards and a wired communications network; and

a database adapted to store data related to the detection device, the data being configured to be accessed by the database management tool.

3. An apparatus including a processor, a memory, and a graphical user interface, the apparatus comprising:

a first interface configured to connect the processor to a removable detection device;

a second interface configured to connect the processor to a wide area communications network; and

a memory having stored thereon instructions to cause the processor to display at least one web page via the graphical user interface;

wherein the web page is configured to permit the detection device to received data via the wide area communication network.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the first interface includes a Winsock socket and an RS-232 serial interface.

5. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the detection device detects by processing radio frequency signals.

6. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the detection device is of a type available from Radiodetection, Ltd.

7. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the detection device detects underground devices.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the underground devices include at least one of pipes and cables.

9. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the graphical user interface permits a user to view data and input data through a computer display device.

10. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the wide area communications network includes the Internet.

11. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the stored instructions include a web browser.

12. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the apparatus is a personal computer.

13. A method for calibrating a detection device in a system, the system including a computer having a graphical user interface, a global communications network, and a communications server positioned in a location remote from the computer and the detection device, the detection device operating based upon stored operating values, the method comprising:

presenting a list of calibration values to a user via the graphical user interface, the list of calibration values to a user via the graphical user interface, the list of calibration values (i) being associated with the detection device and (ii) being extracted from the communications server via the global communications network;

comparing the presented calibration values to the stored operating values;

calculating offset values based upon the comparison; and

adjusting the operating values based upon the calculated offset values.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the calibration values include calibration frequencies.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the global communications network includes the Internet.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein the communications server is coupled to a database.

17. The method of claim 13, wherein the communications server includes a web server.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the web server includes at least one from the group including an Apache web server and a Microsoft Internet information server.

19. The method of claim 13, wherein the adjusting step is performed automatically.

28. The method of claim 16, further comprising conveying cost data associated with the connecting, displaying, extracting, or loading.

29. The method of claim 28, further comprising processing a user payment in accordance with at least one of the conveyed cost data and predetermined cost information.

20. A method for configuring a detection device including a computer readable medium, the detection device being used in a system, the system including a computer having a graphical user interface, a global communications server, the computer being configured for being positioned in a location remote from the communications server, the method comprising:

connecting the detection device to the computer using a predetermined or selected communications interface;

connecting the computer to the global communications network via at least one communications node;

connecting the communications server to the global communications network via another communications node;

displaying a web page via the graphical user interface when the computer and the communications server are connected to the global communications network, the web page facilitating communication between the computer and the communications server via the global communications network;

extracting information from the communications server via the displayed web page; and

loading the extracted information into the computer readable medium.

21. The method of claim 20, further comprising determining a detection device type based upon the loading.

22. The method of claim 20, wherein the communications server associates a particular feature code with the loaded extracted information.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the associating is performed automatically.

24. The method of claim 20, wherein the computer readable medium is an electrically erasable programmable read only memory.

25. The method of claim 20, wherein the remote location is a predetermined distance from the communications server.

26. The method of claim 21, wherein the global communications network is in the Internet.

27. The method of claim 21, wherein at least one from the following list of parameters is user configurable via a web page:

current display type, language, power frequency, inactivity period, device identification code, date of last calibration, software version number, and hardware version number.

30. A method for diagnosing a detection device in a system, the system including a computer having a graphical user interface, a global communications network, and a communications server positioned in a location remote from the computer and the detection device, wherein the computer and the communications server are connected to the global communications network, the method comprising:

connecting the detection device to the computer;

establishing a communications session between the computer and the communications server via the global communications network;

activating a test mode associated with the detection device, the activating including retrieving historical data related thereto, wherein the historical data is retrieved from the communications server; and

analyzing the detection device connected to the computer based at least upon the retrieved historical data, the analyzing providing analysis data via the graphical user interface.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein the global communications network includes the Internet.

32. The method of claim 30, further comprising conveying cost data associated with the connecting, establishing, activation, or analyzing.

33. The method of claim 32, further comprising processing a user payment in accordance with at least one of the conveyed cost data and predetermined cost information.

34. The method of claim 30, wherein the remote location is a predetermined distance from the communications server.

35. The method of claim 30, wherein the analysis data includes a continuous stream of data.

36. The method of claim 30, wherein the historical data includes at least one from the set including repair details, configuration download details, configuration download dates, and calibration data.

37. The method of claim 30, wherein the test mode includes a self-test test mode.

38. The method of claim 30, further comprising requesting operational data from the detection device.

39. The method of claim 38, herein the operational data includes a device identification code, wherein the method further comprises determining a type of the detection device based upon a received identification code.