Detection of buried assets using current location and known buffer zones
US8872626B2 · kind B2 · utility
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 26, 2014 |
| Grant date | Oct 28, 2014 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 26, 2034 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01V3/15
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A method on a mobile computing device for locating a buried asset is provided. The method includes receiving a data structure that represents a two dimensional area comprising a buffer zone at an above-surface location, wherein the buffer zone corresponds to a particular buried asset sought by an operator of the device and iteratively executing the following steps: a) calculating an above-surface location of the device; b) determining whether the above-surface location of the device is located within the two dimensional area; c) if the above-surface location is not located within the two dimensional area, determining whether a locating function of a component coupled with the mobile computing device is enabled, and if so, disabling the locating function; d) if the above-surface location is located within the area, determining whether the locating function of the component is disabled, and if so, enabling the locating function.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.