Blasting system and method of controlling a blasting operation
First Claim
1. A method of controlling a blasting operation wherein blast control equipment is used to initiate a plurality of detonators at a blast site, the method including the steps of:
- providing input information that comprises at leasta) the identity of a user of the blast control equipment;
b) the location of the blast control equipment;
c) the identity of the blast control equipment; and
d) a time or date during which blasting will be allowed;
providing inhibition software which is responsive to at least said input information and is connected to the blast control equipment;
using the inhibition software to inhibit full use of the blast control equipment;
providing validation software for conducting a validation process on the input information;
supplying the input information to the inhibit software and to the validation software;
using the validation software to conduct a validation process on the input information, and,if the input information is validated, causing the inhibit software to enable at least partial use of the blast control equipment.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus for controlling a blasting operation using blast control equipment to initiate a plurality of detonators at a blast site. According to the method, the full use of the blast control equipment is inhibited, a validation process on information is conducted, and, if the information is validated, at least partial use of the blast control equipment is enabled. The blasting system includes at least one installation of blast control equipment and a plurality of detonators that are configured to be initiated by the blast control equipment, a control facility, and a transmitter for transmitting an enabling signal to at least one selected installation which allows the blast control equipment at the selected installation to initiate the plurality of detonators.
32 Citations
26 Claims
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1. A method of controlling a blasting operation wherein blast control equipment is used to initiate a plurality of detonators at a blast site, the method including the steps of:
- providing input information that comprises at least
a) the identity of a user of the blast control equipment; b) the location of the blast control equipment; c) the identity of the blast control equipment; and d) a time or date during which blasting will be allowed; providing inhibition software which is responsive to at least said input information and is connected to the blast control equipment; using the inhibition software to inhibit full use of the blast control equipment; providing validation software for conducting a validation process on the input information; supplying the input information to the inhibit software and to the validation software; using the validation software to conduct a validation process on the input information, and, if the input information is validated, causing the inhibit software to enable at least partial use of the blast control equipment. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
- providing input information that comprises at least
Specification