Methods, apparatus and systems for generating limited access files for searchable electronic records of underground facility locate and/or marking operations

• US 8,902,251 B2
• Filed: 07/28/2011
• Issued: 12/02/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 02/10/2009
• 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
• Primary Examiner(s): Tung, Kee M
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hoang, Peter
• Application Number:
  US13/193,337
• Publication Number:
  US 20120110019A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,223 Days
• Field of Search: 345/629, 707/781, 715/764, 705/7.11
• US Class Current: 345/629
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/01 Customer relationship services
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/08 Construction
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/26 Government or public services business processes related to the transportation industry G06Q50/40

Abstract

Managing information relating to a locate and/or marking operation to detect and/or mark a presence or an absence of at least one underground facility. At least one electronic manifest corresponding to the locate and/or marking operation is generated based on first information relating to the locate and/or marking operation. The at least one electronic manifest includes image information documenting performance of the locate and/or the marking operation. At least one limited access file comprising second information relating to the at least one electronic manifest or the image information is generated, and the at least one limited access file and/or information relating to the at least one limited access file is electronically transmitted and/or stored to facilitate selective/limited access to or viewing of the electronic manifest(s).

Claims

1. An apparatus for managing information relating to a marking operation, the apparatus comprising:

a communication interface;

a memory to store processor-executable instructions; and

a processing unit coupled to the communication interface and the memory, wherein upon execution of the processor-executable instructions by the processing unit, the processing unit;

A) generates at least one electronic manifest relating to performance of the marking operation, the marking operation comprising, in response to a locate request ticket, applying, by at least one field technician, at least one physical locate mark on ground, pavement or other surface so as to mark a presence or an absence of at least one underground facility within a dig area, wherein at least a portion of the dig area is planned to be excavated or disturbed during excavation activities, the at least one electronic manifest being generated based on the field technician electronically drawing, on a base image of a geographic area in which the marking operation is performed, at least one locate mark indicator representing the at least one physical locate mark, the at least one electronic manifest comprising a marked-up digital image that includes the base image and the at least one locate mark indicator, the marked-up digital image constituting image information documenting the performance of the marking operation;

B) generates at least one limited access file comprising second information relating to the marked-up digital image; and

C) controls the communication interface to transmit, and/or controls the memory to store, the at least one limited access file and/or information relating to the at least one limited access file;

wherein in B), the second information specifies access permissions for the at least one locate mark indicator.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein in B), the processing unit generates the at least one limited access file so as to limit or prevent at least one of copying of, saving of, and writing to the at least one electronic manifest or the image information.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processing unit further:

D) allows access to the at least one limited access file and/or information relating to the at least one limited access file only when one or more certain conditions are met.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein in D), the processing unit allows access to the at least one limited access file and/or information relating to the at least one limited access file in response to a password protected log-in procedure.

5. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein in D), the processing unit allows access to the at least one limited access file and/or information relating to the at least one limited access file in response to an indication of acceptance of terms and/or conditions.

6. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein in D), the processing unit allows access to the at least one limited access file and/or information relating to the at least one limited access file in response to payment of a fee.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein in C), the processing unit controls the communication interface to transmit the information relating to the at least one limited access file, wherein the information includes a link to the at least one limited access file.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein in C), the processing unit controls the communication interface to send an email including the link to the at least one limited access file.

9. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein in C), the processing unit further sets an expiration date for the link to the at least one limited access file.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein in C), the processing unit controls the communication interface to transmit, and/or controls the memory to store, the at least one limited access file as at least one password-protected limited access file.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein in C), the processing unit controls the communication interface to transmit, and/or controls the memory to store, the at least one limited access file as at least one encrypted limited access file.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein in C), the processor controls the communication interface to transmit, and/or controls the memory to store, the at least one limited access file as at least one proprietary format limited access file.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein in B), the processing unit further configures the at least one limited access file so as to facilitate access to the at least one limited access file only via a corresponding image file viewer, wherein the image file viewer:

prevents write access to the at least one limited access file; and

/or

prevents save access to the at least one limited access file; and

/or

prevents copy access to the at least one limited access file; and

/or

requires a password to permit access to the at least one limited access file; and

/or

requires an indication of acceptance of terms and/or conditions prior to permit access to the at least one limited access file.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein at least one limited access file includes at least one encrypted file, and wherein the image file viewer decrypts the at least one encrypted file.

15. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the image file viewer is programmed to determine whether an updated version of the image file viewer is available.

16. A method for managing information relating to a marking operation, the method comprising:

A) electronically generating at least one electronic manifest relating to performance of the marking operation, the marking operation comprising, in response to a locate request ticket, applying, by at least one field technician, at least one physical locate mark on ground, pavement or other surface so as to mark a presence or an absence of at least one underground facility within a dig area, wherein at least a portion of the dig area is planned to be excavated or disturbed during excavation activities, the at least one electronic manifest being generated based on the field technician electronically drawing, on a base image of a geographic area in which the marking operation is performed, at least one locate mark indicator representing the at least one physical locate mark, the at least one electronic manifest comprising a marked-up digital image that includes the base image and the at least one locate mark indicator, the marked-up digital image constituting image information documenting the performance of the marking operation;

B) electronically generating at least one limited access file comprising second information relating to the marked-up digital image; and

C) electronically transmitting and/or electronically storing the at least one limited access file;

wherein in B), the second information specifies access permissions for the at least one locate mark indicator.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein B) comprises generating the at least one limited access file so as to limit or prevent at least one of copying of, saving of, and writing to the at least one electronic manifest or the image information.

19. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

D) allowing access to the at least one limited access file and/or information relating to the at least one limited access file only when one or more certain conditions are met.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein D) comprises allowing access to the at least one limited access file and/or information relating to the at least one limited access file in response to a password protected log-in procedure.

21. The method of claim 19, wherein D) comprises allowing access to the at least one limited access file and/or information relating to the at least one limited access file in response to an indication of acceptance of terms and/or conditions.

22. The method of claim 19, wherein D) comprises allowing access to the at least one limited access file and/or information relating to the at least one limited access file in response to payment of a fee.

23. The method of claim 16, wherein C) comprises transmitting the information relating to the at least one limited access file, wherein the information includes a link to the at least one limited access file.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein C) further comprises sending an email including the link to the at least one limited access file.

25. The method of claim 23, wherein C) further comprises setting an expiration date for the link to the at least one limited access file.

26. The method of claim 16, wherein C) comprises transmitting and/or storing the at least one limited access file as at least one password-protected limited access file.

27. The method of claim 16, wherein C) comprises transmitting and/or storing the at least one limited access file as at least one encrypted limited access file.

28. The method of claim 16, wherein C) comprises transmitting and/or storing the at least one limited access file as at least one proprietary format limited access file.

29. The method of claim 16, wherein B) comprises further configuring the at least one limited access file so as to facilitate access to the at least one limited access file only via a corresponding image file viewer, wherein the image file viewer:

prevents write access to the at least one limited access file; and

/or

prevents save access to the at least one limited access file; and

/or

prevents copy access to the at least one limited access file; and

/or

requires a password to permit access to the at least one limited access file; and

/or

requires an indication of acceptance of terms and/or conditions prior to permit access to the at least one limited access file.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein C) comprises transmitting the image file viewer to facilitate access to the at least one limited access file.

17. At least one non-transitory computer-readable storage medium encoded with at least one program including processor-executable instructions that, when executed by a processor, perform a method for managing information relating to a marking operation, the method comprising:

A) electronically generating at least one electronic manifest relating to performance of the marking operation, the marking operation comprising, in response to a locate request ticket, applying, by at least one field technician, at least one physical locate mark on ground, pavement or other surface so as to mark a presence or an absence of at least one underground facility within a dig area, wherein at least a portion of the dig area is planned to be excavated or disturbed during excavation activities, the at least one electronic manifest being generated based on the field technician electronically drawing, on a base image of a geographic area in which the marking operation is performed, at least one locate mark indicator representing the at least one physical locate mark, the at least one electronic manifest comprising a marked-up digital image that includes the base image and the at least one locate mark indicator, the marked-up digital image constituting image information documenting the performance of the marking operation;

B) electronically generating at least one limited access file comprising second information relating to the marked-up digital image; and

C) electronically transmitting and/or electronically storing the at least one limited access file;

wherein in B), the second information specifies access permissions for the at least one locate mark indicator.