Locating LDAR components using position coordinates

• US 8,386,164 B1
• Filed: 05/15/2008
• Issued: 02/26/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 05/15/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: LDARtools Incorporated
• Original Assignee: LDARtools Incorporated
• Inventors: Moses, Rex
• Primary Examiner(s): Tarcza, Thomas
• Assistant Examiner(s): PIPALA, EDWARD J
• Application Number:
  US12/121,705
• Time in Patent Office: 1,748 Days
• Field of Search: 701/400, 701/408, 701/409, 701/430, 701/431, 701/433, 701/438, 701/439, 701/440, 701/442, 701/445, 701/450, 701/451, 701/453, 701/461, 701/462, 701/468, 701/469, 701/470, 701/471, 701/475, 701/486, 701/487, 701/495, 701/516, 701/517, 701/518, 701/522, 701/532, 701/533, 701/538, 701/540, 701/300, 701/466, 701/491, 340/995.1, 340/995.14, 340/995.18, 340/995.19, 340/995.24, 707/609
• US Class Current: 701/409
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling

Abstract

Various technologies and techniques directed to creating, encrypting, and updating a database of position coordinates of LDAR components. In one implementation, the method for creating a database of coordinates of leak detection and repair (LDAR) components includes receiving an input pertaining to an LDAR component, obtaining position coordinates of a handheld computer device and associating the position coordinates of the handheld computer device with the LDAR component.

Claims

1. A method for creating a database of coordinates of leak detection and repair (LDAR) components, comprising:

receiving an input pertaining to an LDAR component;

obtaining position coordinates of a handheld computer device in response to receiving the input;

associating the position coordinates of the handheld computer device with the LDAR component; and

storing the position coordinates in association with the LDAR component into a database.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein associating the position coordinates comprises associating the position coordinates of the handheld computer device with a unique identifier of the LDAR component.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the position coordinates are Global Positioning System coordinates.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein obtaining the position coordinates comprises determining the position coordinates from one or more position coordinates satellites.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising encrypting the position coordinates.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising encrypting the association between the position coordinates of the handheld computer device and the LDAR component.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the database that stores the position coordinates is separate from a database that stores other information about the LDAR component.

8. A method for providing assistance to a user for locating a leak detection and repair (LDAR) component, comprising:

receiving a request to locate an LDAR component in a field;

retrieving position coordinates of the LDAR component;

obtaining position coordinates of a handheld computer device; and

displaying directions on the handheld computer device, wherein the directions are from the position coordinates of the handheld computer device to the position coordinates of the LDAR component.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the position coordinates of the LDAR component are encrypted and further comprising decrypting the encrypted position coordinates.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the directions comprise a heading and distance, a map, a video presentation, a travelogue map, vocal instructions, text or combinations thereof.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the directions are provided displayed without displaying the position coordinates of the LDAR component.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein displaying the directions comprises providing directions to the vicinity of the LDAR component.

13. The method of claim 8, wherein the position coordinates of the handheld device or the LDAR component are Global Positioning System (GPS) coordinates obtained from one or more GPS satellites or cellular phone towers.

14. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

obtaining current position coordinates of the handheld computer device when the user has reached the LDAR component;

comparing the current position coordinates of the handheld computer device with the retrieved position coordinates of the LDAR component; and

displaying a warning message on the handheld computer device to the user if the difference between the current position coordinates of the handheld computer device and the retrieved position coordinates of the LDAR component exceeds a predetermined range.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising providing the user with an option to either replace the position coordinates of the LDAR component with the current position coordinates of the handheld computer device if the difference between the current position coordinates of the handheld computer device and the retrieved position coordinates of the LDAR component exceeds a predetermined range.

16. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

obtaining current position coordinates of the handheld computer device when the user has reached the LDAR component;

determining whether the current position coordinates are within a predetermined range of the retrieved position coordinates of the LDAR component; and

if it is determined that the current position coordinates are within the predetermined range, then replacing the retrieved position coordinates of the LDAR component with the current position coordinates.

17. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

obtaining current position coordinates of the handheld computer device when the user has reached the LDAR component;

determining whether the current position coordinates are within a predetermined range of the retrieved position coordinates of the LDAR component and whether the dilution of precision of the current position coordinates is higher than the dilution of precision of the retrieved position coordinates; and

if it is determined that the current position coordinates are within the predetermined range and that the dilution of precision of the current position coordinates are higher than the dilution of precision of the retrieved position coordinates, then replacing the retrieved position coordinates of the LDAR component with the current position coordinates.

18. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

obtaining current position coordinates of the handheld computer device when the user has reached the LDAR component;

comparing the current position coordinates of the handheld computer device with the retrieved position coordinates of the LDAR component; and

if the difference between the current position coordinates of the handheld computer device and the retrieved position coordinates of the LDAR component exceeds a predetermined range, then sending a message regarding the difference to a database for quality assurances purposes.

19. A system for locating leak detection and repair (LDAR) components, comprising:

one or more position coordinates satellites; and

a handheld computer device in communication with the position coordinates satellite, wherein the handheld computer device comprises;

a processor; and

a memory comprising program instructions executable by the processor to;

receive an input pertaining to an LDAR component;

obtain position coordinates of the handheld computer device using the position coordinates satellites;

associate the position coordinates of the handheld computer device with the LDAR component;

store the position coordinates in association with the LDAR component into a database.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the handheld computer device further comprises a position coordinates device configured to determine the position coordinates of the handheld computer device from the position coordinates satellites.

21. The system of claim 19, wherein the memory further comprises program instructions executable by the processor to encrypt the position coordinates.

24. The system of claim 19, further comprising a position coordinates device configured to determine from the one or more position coordinates satellites the position coordinates of the handheld computer device, wherein the position coordinates device is in communication with the handheld computer device.

22. A system for locating leak detection and repair (LDAR) components, comprising:

one or more position coordinates satellites; and

a handheld computer device in communication with the position coordinates satellite, wherein the handheld computer device comprises;

a processor; and

a memory comprising program instructions executable by the processor to;

receive a request to locate an LDAR component in a field;

retrieve position coordinates of the LDAR component in response to receiving the request;

obtain position coordinates of the handheld computer device using the one or more position coordinates satellites; and

display directions on the handheld computer device, wherein the directions are from the position coordinates of the handheld computer device to the position coordinates of the LDAR component.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein the handheld computer device further comprises a position coordinates device configured to determine the position coordinates of the handheld computer device from the one or more position coordinates satellites.

25. A method for tracking a technician in an industrial plant, comprising:

receiving one or more sets of position coordinates of a handheld computer device while the technician is performing a task for a leak detection and repair (LDAR) component disposed inside the industrial plant, wherein the handheld computer device is used by the technician to perform the task;

associating the one or more sets of position coordinates with the technician; and

storing the one or more sets of position coordinates automatically by the handheld computer device into a database while performing the task.

26. The method of claim 25, further comprising displaying a representation of the one or more sets of position coordinates on a computer screen.

27. The method of claim 25, wherein the one or more sets of position coordinates comprise a first set of position coordinates and a second set of position coordinates, wherein the second set of position coordinates is received after the first set of position coordinates is received, and further comprising displaying a first representation of the first set of position coordinates and a second representation of the second set of position coordinates, wherein the second set of position coordinates is different from the first set of position coordinates.

28. The method of claim 25, wherein the task comprises monitoring the LDAR component, servicing the LDAR component, collecting data from the LDAR component, documenting the LDAR component or combinations thereof.