Method and apparatus for controlling site-specific operations
First Claim
1. A method of controlling a site-specific operation to be performed by an operator using a portable electronic tool when at a designated site, the method comprising:
- using a position detection device associated with the portable electronic tool to determine a current location of the portable electronic tool; and
enabling the portable electronic tool to be commanded by the operator to perform the site-specific operation when the position detection device determines that the current location of the portable electronic tool is proximate the designated site; and
further comprising;
using the position detection device to determine the current location in three dimensions; and
enabling the portable electronic tool to be commanded to perform the site-specific operation when the current location of the portable electronic tool is within a respective proximity value of the designated site in each of the dimensions.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus for controlling a site-specific activity at a plurality of remote locations, for example, the inspection of geographically remote equipment or the gathering of data for a census. A mobile operator transports a portable tool (14) to a plurality of locations where a site-specific activity is to be conducted. The portable tool includes a location detection device (32). Processing of data using the portable tool is enabled only when the portable tool is located proximate a designated site, as determined by the location detection device. In various embodiments, the enabled site-specific activity may include data recordation, data transmission, data reception, data processing, and/or the display of a data entry form.
32 Citations
24 Claims
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1. A method of controlling a site-specific operation to be performed by an operator using a portable electronic tool when at a designated site, the method comprising:
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using a position detection device associated with the portable electronic tool to determine a current location of the portable electronic tool; and enabling the portable electronic tool to be commanded by the operator to perform the site-specific operation when the position detection device determines that the current location of the portable electronic tool is proximate the designated site; and
further comprising;using the position detection device to determine the current location in three dimensions; and enabling the portable electronic tool to be commanded to perform the site-specific operation when the current location of the portable electronic tool is within a respective proximity value of the designated site in each of the dimensions. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A computer readable medium for use on a portable computing device associated with a location detector, with the medium including program instructions which when executed by the computing device allow the computing device to perform a site-specific operation under the control of an operator when proximate a designated site, the program instructions comprising:
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a software code module controlling operation of the location detector for determining a current position of the computing device relative to a designated site; and a software code module enabling operation of the computing device under the control of the operator to perform the site-specific operation when the current position of the computing device is proximate the designated site; wherein the software code module for determining the current position determines the position in three dimensions, and the software code module enabling operation of the computing device comprises a required proximity value in each of the three dimensions. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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Specification