Methods and apparatus for generating an electronic record of a marking operation based on marking device actuations
US8280631B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Aug 11, 2009 |
| Grant date | Oct 2, 2012 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 30, 2030 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04L69/22
- WIPO fieldIT methods for management
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
Methods and apparatus for generating electronic records of marking operations for underground facilities/utilities. Electronic records of marking information may be logged/stored in local memory of a marking device, formatted in various manners, processed and/or analyzed at the marking device itself, and/or transmitted to another device (e.g., a remote computer/server) for storage, processing and/or analysis. In one example, multiple pieces of geo-location data (e.g., from a GPS receiver) are collected and logged per actuation of a marking device (e.g., a trigger-pull to dispense marking material). A computer-generated image or other visual representation of the marking operation may be electronically rendered in a display field based on logged marking information, essentially in real time as the marking operation is conducted, and/or recreated thereafter based on one or more stored electronic records.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.