09 - Appareils et instruments scientifiques et électriques
41 - Éducation, divertissements, activités sportives et culturelles
42 - Services scientifiques, technologiques et industriels, recherche et conception
Produits et services
Downloadable computer software for capturing data and information used to track and mange workforce productivity, time, project status, project details, project billing and contracts; Downloadable computer software for capturing data and information used for project quality evaluation and analysis, project quality assurance, and project quality control; Downloadable electronic guides in the field of telecommunications construction, engineering, facilities maintenance, and program management; Electronic publications, namely, guides in the field of telecommunications construction, engineering, facilities maintenance, and program management, recorded on computer media Technical training services, namely, providing online training courses, workshops, seminars, and presentations to workers in the field of telecommunications construction, engineering, facilities maintenance, and program management; Providing online non-downloadable electronic guides in the field of telecommunications construction, engineering, facilities maintenance, and program management Providing temporary use of non-downloadable computer software for capturing data and information used to track and manage workforce productivity, time, project status, project details, and contracts over computer networks and the internet; Quality management services, namely, quality evaluation and analysis, quality assurance, and quality control in the field of telecommunications construction, engineering, facilities maintenance, and program management; Providing on-line, non-downloadable, Internet-based software application for capturing data and information regarding project billing
09 - Appareils et instruments scientifiques et électriques
41 - Éducation, divertissements, activités sportives et culturelles
42 - Services scientifiques, technologiques et industriels, recherche et conception
Produits et services
Downloadable computer software for capturing data and information used to track and mange workforce productivity, time, project status, project details, project billing and contracts; Downloadable computer software for capturing data and information used for project quality evaluation and analysis, project quality assurance, and project quality control; Downloadable electronic guides in the field of telecommunications construction, engineering, facilities maintenance, and program management; Electronic publications, namely, guides in the field of telecommunications construction, engineering, facilities maintenance, and program management, recorded on computer media Technical training services, namely, providing online training courses, workshops, seminars, and presentations to workers in the field of telecommunications construction, engineering, facilities maintenance, and program management; Providing online non-downloadable electronic guides in the field of telecommunications construction, engineering, facilities maintenance, and program management Providing temporary use of non-downloadable computer software for capturing data and information used to track and manage workforce productivity, time, project status, project details, and contracts over computer networks and the internet; Quality management services, namely, quality evaluation and analysis, quality assurance, and quality control in the field of telecommunications construction, engineering, facilities maintenance, and program management; Providing on-line, non-downloadable, Internet-based software application for capturing data and information regarding project billing
Multiple elements of information relating to a locate and marking operation are integrated so as to provide an enhanced positive response to one or more entities associated with requesting the locate and marking operation (e.g., an excavator, a home owner or property owner, other contractor). The locate and marking operation is performed by a locate technician in response to at least one locate request ticket by applying at least one physical locate mark on ground, pavement, or other surface to indicate 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 by an excavator during excavation activities.
G06Q 10/06 - Ressources, gestion de tâches, des ressources humaines ou de projetsPlanification d’entreprise ou d’organisationModélisation d’entreprise ou d’organisation
G01V 3/15 - Prospection ou détection électrique ou magnétiqueMesure des caractéristiques du champ magnétique de la terre, p. ex. de la déclinaison ou de la déviation spécialement adaptée à l'utilisation pendant le transport, p. ex. par une personne, un véhicule ou un bateau
Methods, apparatus and systems for computer-aided determination of quality assessment for locate and marking operations. In one example, a quality assessment decision is solely under the discretion of a human reviewer, albeit facilitated in some respects by computer-aided display of information, and electronic record keeping and communication functions associated with the quality assessment result(s). In another example, information related to a locate and marking operation is electronically analyzed such that a quality assessment is not based solely on human discretion, but rather based at least in part on some predetermined criteria and/or metrics that facilitate an automated determination of quality assessment.
E02D 29/00 - Ouvrages souterrains ou sous l'eauMurs de soutènement
H04M 3/42 - Systèmes fournissant des fonctions ou des services particuliers aux abonnés
G06F 17/30 - Recherche documentaire; Structures de bases de données à cet effet
G06F 15/16 - Associations de plusieurs calculateurs numériques comportant chacun au moins une unité arithmétique, une unité programme et un registre, p. ex. pour le traitement simultané de plusieurs programmes
G06Q 99/00 - Matière non couverte par les autres groupes de la présente sous-classe
F41H 11/00 - Installations de défenseDispositifs de défense Moyens destinés à déminer ou à détecter les mines terrestres
7.
INGRESS MITIGATION HAVING COLLOCATED SUBSCRIBER SERVICE
Ingress detection and mitigation in the context higher-density subscriber environments (e.g., urban environments) that generally involve multi-occupant structures and collocation, to some degree, of various cable system components, and particularly subscriber-related system components (e.g., collocated subscriber service drop cables and/or other collocated subscriber service equipment). In one example, suspect taps coupled to multiple collocated subscriber service drop cables associated with a multi-occupant structure are analyzed according to particular measurement protocols to reliably and accurately facilitate identification and remediation of subscriber-related faults giving rise to ingress.
Methods and apparatus to evaluate a quality of a locate operation performed at a work site of proposed excavation following issuance of the instruction to a field-service technician. An input/output (I/O) interface receives an electronic manifest of the locate operation. The electronic manifest includes geographic information indicating a first location at which the electronic manifest was created. A distance is determined between the first location and a second location at which the locate operation was requested to be performed. One or more indications of a quality assessment of the locate operation are generated based on whether the distance is within or equal to a predefined range.
G06Q 10/06 - Ressources, gestion de tâches, des ressources humaines ou de projetsPlanification d’entreprise ou d’organisationModélisation d’entreprise ou d’organisation
Providing access at a jobsite to an electronic record of a locate operation. Data related to the locate operation is acquired by locate equipment and transmitted to a data repository for storage in the electronic record of the locate operation. A site-specific access mechanism is provided that establishes a link to the electronic record of the locate operation. In one example, the site-specific access mechanism is a physical mechanism, such as a printout of a website address, a barcode, or an RFID tag. In another example the site-specific access mechanism is a virtual mechanism, such as geographic location information provided by a location tracking system (e.g., GPS apparatus) and/or derived from information available to a wireless communications system or WiFi network. In one aspect, the access mechanism may be configured for use at the jobsite only by a person particularly authorized to access the electronic record of the locate operation.
G06F 21/00 - Dispositions de sécurité pour protéger les calculateurs, leurs composants, les programmes ou les données contre une activité non autorisée
G06Q 10/06 - Ressources, gestion de tâches, des ressources humaines ou de projetsPlanification d’entreprise ou d’organisationModélisation d’entreprise ou d’organisation
G06F 21/62 - Protection de l’accès à des données via une plate-forme, p. ex. par clés ou règles de contrôle de l’accès
G08B 5/22 - Systèmes de signalisation optique, p. ex. systèmes d'appel de personnes, indication à distance de l'occupation de sièges utilisant une transmission électriqueSystèmes de signalisation optique, p. ex. systèmes d'appel de personnes, indication à distance de l'occupation de sièges utilisant une transmission électromécanique
G06Q 10/08 - Logistique, p. ex. entreposage, chargement ou distributionGestion d’inventaires ou de stocks
G06F 17/30 - Recherche documentaire; Structures de bases de données à cet effet
10.
Apparatus, systems and methods to generate electronic records of underground facility marking operations performed with GPS-enabled marking devices
A technician performs a locate operation of an underground utility in a dig area of proposed excavation by applying one or more physical colored markers (e.g., paint, flags, other colored markers) to ground, pavement or other surface to indicate a presence or an absence of the underground utility in the dig area. A digital image of a geographic area comprising the dig area is displayed on a display device, and one or more electronic colored markers corresponding to the physical colored marker(s) are added to the displayed digital image so as to generate a marked-up image. Information relating to the marked-up image is electronically transmitted and/or electronically stored so as to document the locate operation.
G06K 9/00 - Méthodes ou dispositions pour la lecture ou la reconnaissance de caractères imprimés ou écrits ou pour la reconnaissance de formes, p.ex. d'empreintes digitales
Methods and apparatus to evaluate a quality of a locate and/or marking operation performed at a work site of proposed excavation in response to a locate request ticket. A display device displays a first portion of a graphical user interface based on first information from the locate request ticket, and further displays a second portion of the graphical user interface based on second information relating to the locate and/or marking operation as performed at the work site by a field technician. One or more indications of a quality assessment of the locate and/or marking operation are generated based on a comparison of at least some of the first information and at least some of the second information, and an electronic record of the quality assessment is stored and/or transmitted based on the indication(s).
G06Q 10/06 - Ressources, gestion de tâches, des ressources humaines ou de projetsPlanification d’entreprise ou d’organisationModélisation d’entreprise ou d’organisation
12.
Locating equipment docking station communicatively coupled to or equipped with a mobile/portable device
A docking station to dock locating equipment (e.g., marking devices, locate devices, combined locate and marking devices) may be communicatively coupled to and/or equipped with a mobile/portable device (e.g., a mobile phone, personal digital assistant or other portable computing device) that provides processing, electronic storage, electronic display, user interface, communication facilities and/or other functionality (e.g., GPS-enabled functionality) for the docking station. A mobile/portable device may be mechanically and/or electrically coupled to the docking station. The mobile/portable device may provide redundant, shared and/or backup functionality for the docking station to enhance robustness. In one example, the mobile/portable device itself serves as a docking station for the locating equipment.
G06F 19/00 - Équipement ou méthodes de traitement de données ou de calcul numérique, spécialement adaptés à des applications spécifiques (spécialement adaptés à des fonctions spécifiques G06F 17/00;systèmes ou méthodes de traitement de données spécialement adaptés à des fins administratives, commerciales, financières, de gestion, de surveillance ou de prévision G06Q;informatique médicale G16H)
G06F 3/048 - Techniques d’interaction fondées sur les interfaces utilisateur graphiques [GUI]
13.
Methods, apparatus, and systems for acquiring an enhanced positive response for underground facility locate and marking operations based on an electronic manifest documenting physical locate marks on ground, pavement, or other surface
A positive response notification to provide information regarding locate and/or marking operations for underground facilities may include time-stamp information to provide proof of a time at which the locate and/or marking operation was completed by a locate technician, and/or place-stamp information to provide proof of a presence of the locate technician at or near a work site. An electronic manifest image and/or a virtual white line image similarly may be included in a positive response notification. In one example, such images may be bundled together based on respective descriptor files (or descriptor metadata) that associates the corresponding images with a locate request ticket for the operation. In another example, a positive response notification may include environmental information regarding one or more environmental conditions present at or near the work site during the locate and/or marking operation.
G06Q 10/06 - Ressources, gestion de tâches, des ressources humaines ou de projetsPlanification d’entreprise ou d’organisationModélisation d’entreprise ou d’organisation
G01V 3/15 - Prospection ou détection électrique ou magnétiqueMesure des caractéristiques du champ magnétique de la terre, p. ex. de la déclinaison ou de la déviation spécialement adaptée à l'utilisation pendant le transport, p. ex. par une personne, un véhicule ou un bateau
Systems, methods, and apparatus are provided for tracking an object moving along and above a ground surface. The object may comprise a satellite-based location tracking apparatus to provide a first set of position coordinate pairs for the object as well as an inertial measurement unit to provide a plurality of heading direction values and/or a velocity/distance sensor to provide a second set of position coordinate pairs based on, for example, optical flow image processing of a plurality of images of the ground surface. At least one processor may calculate a third set of position coordinate pairs based on a combination of the first set of position coordinate pairs, accounting for first reliability factor(s), as well as the second set of position coordinate pairs, accounting for second reliability factor(s), and/or the plurality of heading direction values, accounting for third related reliability factor(s).
G01S 19/26 - Acquisition ou poursuite des signaux émis par le système faisant intervenir une mesure par capteur pour faciliter l'acquisition ou la poursuite
15.
Electronic manifest of underground facility locate marks
A method performed by a device may include receiving information regarding a particular geographic area; retrieving an aerial image of the particular geographic area; displaying the aerial image; determining an approximate geographic location of a mark denoting an underground facility; overlaying, on the displayed aerial image, information concerning the approximate geographic location of the mark denoting the underground facility; and storing the aerial image and the information concerning the approximate geographic location of the mark denoting the underground facility.
G06K 19/00 - Supports d'enregistrement pour utilisation avec des machines et avec au moins une partie prévue pour supporter des marques numériques
G06K 9/00 - Méthodes ou dispositions pour la lecture ou la reconnaissance de caractères imprimés ou écrits ou pour la reconnaissance de formes, p.ex. d'empreintes digitales
G06Q 10/06 - Ressources, gestion de tâches, des ressources humaines ou de projetsPlanification d’entreprise ou d’organisationModélisation d’entreprise ou d’organisation
Methods, apparatus and systems including a computer comprising at least one hardware processor, at least one tangible storage medium (memory), and at least one input/output (I/O) interface for evaluating a quality of a locate and/or marking operation. First information relating to the locate and/or marking operation is compared to second information relating to one or more environmental landmarks. One or more indications of a quality assessment of the locate and/or marking operation is automatically generated based on such a comparison, and the one or more indications of the quality assessment are electronically stored on the at least one tangible storage medium, and/or electronically transmitted via the at least one I/O interface, so as to provide an electronic record of the quality assessment.
G06Q 10/06 - Ressources, gestion de tâches, des ressources humaines ou de projetsPlanification d’entreprise ou d’organisationModélisation d’entreprise ou d’organisation
17.
Ingress-mitigated RF cable plants and ingress mitigation methods for same
An RF hardline coaxial cable plant to facilitate voice and/or data services to subscriber premises in one or more neighborhood nodes of a cable communication system by conveying upstream information over an upstream path bandwidth. One or more upstream radio frequency (RF) signals have a carrier frequency of between approximately 5 MHz and 19.6 MHz and are modulated using quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM) with voice and/or data information constituting at least some of the upstream information. An example RF signal defines a channel having an average channel power, and a highest value for an average noise power between 5 MHz and 19.6 MHz in the upstream path bandwidth of a given neighborhood node, as measured over at least a 24 hour period, is at least 25 decibels (dB) below the average channel power and/or less than 20 decibels (dB) above a noise floor associated with the neighborhood node.
H04B 10/00 - Systèmes de transmission utilisant des ondes électromagnétiques autres que les ondes hertziennes, p. ex. les infrarouges, la lumière visible ou ultraviolette, ou utilisant des radiations corpusculaires, p. ex. les communications quantiques
H04J 3/00 - Systèmes multiplex à division de temps
H04J 3/16 - Systèmes multiplex à division de temps dans lesquels le temps attribué à chacun des canaux au cours d'un cycle de transmission est variable, p. ex. pour tenir compte de la complexité variable des signaux, pour adapter le nombre de canaux transmis
H04W 52/22 - Commande de puissance d'émission [TPC Transmission power control] le TPC étant effectué selon des paramètres spécifiques tenant compte des informations ou des instructions antérieures
H04L 12/26 - Dispositions de surveillance; Dispositions de test
H04B 10/2575 - Radio sur fibre, p. ex. signal radio modulé en fréquence sur une porteuse optique
H04N 21/61 - Structure physique de réseauTraitement de signal
H04Q 11/00 - Dispositifs de sélection pour systèmes multiplex
H04B 10/114 - Systèmes d’intérieur ou à courte portée
H04N 17/00 - Diagnostic, test ou mesure, ou leurs détails, pour les systèmes de télévision
18.
OFFSET TRENCHING METHODS AND APPARATUS, AND VOID RESTORATION METHODS, APPARATUS AND MATERIALS IN CONNECTION WITH SAME
Methods and apparatus for forming a trench alongside a vehicle (for burying fiber optic cables, electrical conductors, and conduits). A cutting blade is coupled to the vehicle via an offset arm. As the vehicle is advanced along a road, the cutting blade is laterally offset from the vehicle and positioned so as to cut a narrow (e.g., 0.5 1.5 inches) and deep (e.g., 10-12 inches) trench alongside the vehicle (e.g., at the inner face of the street curb between the curb and a sidewalk abutting the curb). The offset arm includes one or more mechanical joints to facilitate adjustment of one or more of a lateral offset distance between the vehicle and the blade, a vertical offset distance between a blade housing and a road surface, and rotation of the blade housing around at least two axes to facilitate appropriate positioning of the cutting blade with respect to the vehicle.
G02B 6/00 - Guides de lumièreDétails de structure de dispositions comprenant des guides de lumière et d'autres éléments optiques, p. ex. des moyens de couplage
G02B 6/44 - Structures mécaniques pour assurer la résistance à la traction et la protection externe des fibres, p. ex. câbles de transmission optique
19.
Hybrid fiber-coaxial (HFC) cable communication systems having well-aligned optical and radio-frequency links to facilitate upstream channel plans having high aggregate data capacity
An HFC cable communication system comprising: a CMTS having a first attenuator to attenuate one or more upstream signals applied to the CMTS; an optical link having a dynamic range and comprising an optical receiver having a second attenuator to attenuate the upstream signal(s) and an optical transmitter having a third attenuator to attenuate the upstream signal(s); a coaxial RF link comprising one or more RF amplifiers having a fourth attenuator to attenuate the upstream signal(s); and one or more subscriber modems to generate the upstream signal(s) at respective transmit RF signal levels. The CMTS implements a long loop ALC to set the transmit RF signal level(s) based on received RF signal levels of the upstream signal(s) at the CMTS. Respective values for the first, second, third and fourth attenuators are selected based on the dynamic range of the optical link so as to facilitate implementation of the long loop ALC and effective transmission of upstream information carried by the upstream signal(s).
H04N 7/173 - Systèmes à secret analogiquesSystèmes à abonnement analogiques à deux voies, p. ex. l'abonné envoyant un signal de sélection du programme
H04L 12/28 - Réseaux de données à commutation caractérisés par la configuration des liaisons, p. ex. réseaux locaux [LAN Local Area Networks] ou réseaux étendus [WAN Wide Area Networks]
H04N 21/61 - Structure physique de réseauTraitement de signal
H04B 10/2575 - Radio sur fibre, p. ex. signal radio modulé en fréquence sur une porteuse optique
20.
ELECTRO-OPTICAL APPARATUS AND METHODS FOR UPSTREAM ALIGNMENT OF CABLE COMMUNICATION SYSTEMS
An HFC cable communications system includes an optical node having an upstream optical transmitter, coupled to an RF hardline cable plant via an upstream RF port and one or more RF attenuators. Upstream RF signals constituting an upstream channel plan for the hardline plant serve as input signals to the upstream optical transmitter, which outputs a modulated optical carrier. The upstream optical transmitter's dynamic range and operating point (e.g., input composite power or power spectral density) are based on an information transfer characteristic (e.g., noise power ratio) and a representative value for a target criterion (e.g., carrier-to-noise ratio) for the upstream channel plan to facilitate sufficiently error-free transmission of upstream information from subscribers. A value of the RF attenuator(s) is particularly selected to adjust the RF power applied to the upstream optical transmitter and thereby prevent the transmitter's output from causing excessive distortion and possible corruption of the upstream information.
Methods and apparatus for generating a searchable electronic record of a locate operation in which one or more physical locate marks are applied by a technician to identify a presence or an absence of at least one underground facility within a dig area. A digital image of a geographic area comprising the dig area is electronically received, and at least a portion of the received digital image is displayed on a display device. One or more digital representations of the physical locate mark(s) applied by the locate technician are added to the displayed digital image so as to generate a marked-up digital image. Information relating to the marked-up digital image is electronically transmitted and/or electronically stored so as to generate the searchable electronic record of the locate operation.
G06K 19/00 - Supports d'enregistrement pour utilisation avec des machines et avec au moins une partie prévue pour supporter des marques numériques
G06F 3/0484 - Techniques d’interaction fondées sur les interfaces utilisateur graphiques [GUI] pour la commande de fonctions ou d’opérations spécifiques, p. ex. sélection ou transformation d’un objet, d’une image ou d’un élément de texte affiché, détermination d’une valeur de paramètre ou sélection d’une plage de valeurs
G06K 7/10 - Méthodes ou dispositions pour la lecture de supports d'enregistrement par radiation électromagnétique, p. ex. lecture optiqueMéthodes ou dispositions pour la lecture de supports d'enregistrement par radiation corpusculaire
Cable communication systems and methods employing 256-QAM upstream channels and having increased upstream capacity for supporting voice and/or data services
Cable communication systems and methods to provide voice and/or data services to subscriber premises via a cable plant that conveys upstream information over an upstream path bandwidth, and a cable modem system including one or more demodulation tuners to receive and demodulate one or more upstream radio frequency (RF) signals. An RF signal includes an encoded carrier wave having a carrier frequency of between approximately 5 MHz and 25 MHz that is modulated using quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM) with voice and/or data information constituting at least some of the upstream information. A modulation order of the QAM for the first upstream RF signal is at least 32 and as high as at least 256, and at least one demodulation tuner of the cable modem system is configured to receive and demodulate the first upstream RF signal.
H04B 10/077 - Dispositions pour la surveillance ou le test de systèmes de transmissionDispositions pour la mesure des défauts de systèmes de transmission utilisant un signal en service utilisant un signal de surveillance ou un signal supplémentaire
H04B 10/2575 - Radio sur fibre, p. ex. signal radio modulé en fréquence sur une porteuse optique
H04B 10/114 - Systèmes d’intérieur ou à courte portée
H04B 3/50 - Systèmes de transmission entre stations fixes par l'intermédiaire de lignes de transmission bifilaires
H04J 3/00 - Systèmes multiplex à division de temps
H04J 3/16 - Systèmes multiplex à division de temps dans lesquels le temps attribué à chacun des canaux au cours d'un cycle de transmission est variable, p. ex. pour tenir compte de la complexité variable des signaux, pour adapter le nombre de canaux transmis
H04W 52/22 - Commande de puissance d'émission [TPC Transmission power control] le TPC étant effectué selon des paramètres spécifiques tenant compte des informations ou des instructions antérieures
H04L 12/26 - Dispositions de surveillance; Dispositions de test
H04N 21/61 - Structure physique de réseauTraitement de signal
H04Q 11/00 - Dispositifs de sélection pour systèmes multiplex
H04N 17/00 - Diagnostic, test ou mesure, ou leurs détails, pour les systèmes de télévision
H04B 3/02 - Systèmes à ligne de transmission Détails
H04B 10/03 - Dispositions pour le rétablissement de communication après défaillance
23.
Methods, apparatus, and systems for providing an enhanced positive response for underground facility locate and marking operations based on an electronic manifest documenting physical locate marks on ground, pavement or other surface
A positive response notification to provide information regarding locate and/or marking operations for underground facilities may include time-stamp information to provide proof of a time at which the locate and/or marking operation was completed by a locate technician, and/or place-stamp information to provide proof of a presence of the locate technician at or near a work site. An electronic manifest image and/or a virtual white line image similarly may be included in a positive response notification. In one example, such images may be bundled together based on respective descriptor files (or descriptor metadata) that associates the corresponding images with a locate request ticket for the operation. In another example, a positive response notification may include environmental information regarding one or more environmental conditions present at or near the work site during the locate and/or marking operation.
G01S 13/00 - Systèmes utilisant la réflexion ou la reradiation d'ondes radio, p. ex. systèmes radarSystèmes analogues utilisant la réflexion ou la reradiation d'ondes dont la nature ou la longueur d'onde sont sans importance ou non spécifiées
G06Q 10/06 - Ressources, gestion de tâches, des ressources humaines ou de projetsPlanification d’entreprise ou d’organisationModélisation d’entreprise ou d’organisation
G01V 3/15 - Prospection ou détection électrique ou magnétiqueMesure des caractéristiques du champ magnétique de la terre, p. ex. de la déclinaison ou de la déviation spécialement adaptée à l'utilisation pendant le transport, p. ex. par une personne, un véhicule ou un bateau
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 in whole or in part to another device (e.g., a remote computer/server) for storage, processing and/or analysis. In one example, an output stream of data packets is provided, wherein each data packet includes one or more flag fields that is/are set or reset upon at least one actuation of the marking device.
G01C 21/10 - NavigationInstruments de navigation non prévus dans les groupes en utilisant des mesures de la vitesse ou de l'accélération
G09B 29/00 - CartesPlansGraphiquesTracés, p. ex. tracés de routes
G06Q 10/06 - Ressources, gestion de tâches, des ressources humaines ou de projetsPlanification d’entreprise ou d’organisationModélisation d’entreprise ou d’organisation
Marking apparatus and methods to mark ground, pavement or other surfaces to provide a visual indication of a presence or an absence of an underground utility in a dig area. An example marking tool has a hand-held housing, a marking dispenser coupled to the housing to dispense one or more markers in the dig area, and a triggering system to trigger the marking dispenser so as to dispense the marker(s). An example marking tool also may include a logging system to receive data associated with a marking event initiated by the triggering system, time tag the data, and store the time-tagged data in data storage in the marking tool.
G01C 15/02 - Moyens pour marquer les points de mesure
G01C 21/00 - NavigationInstruments de navigation non prévus dans les groupes
G01S 5/02 - Localisation par coordination de plusieurs déterminations de direction ou de ligne de positionLocalisation par coordination de plusieurs déterminations de distance utilisant les ondes radioélectriques
G06Q 10/06 - Ressources, gestion de tâches, des ressources humaines ou de projetsPlanification d’entreprise ou d’organisationModélisation d’entreprise ou d’organisation
26.
Methods for ingress mitigation in cable communication systems involving repair, replacement and/or adjustment of infrastructure elements
Methods for reducing ingress in a neighborhood node of a cable communication system. The node includes an RF hardline coaxial cable plant and multiple subscriber service drops to convey upstream information from multiple subscriber premises over an upstream path bandwidth. A test signal having a frequency falling within the upstream path bandwidth is transmitted proximate to one or more potential points of ingress into the hardline cable plant. Based on signal amplitudes at the test signal frequency representing test signal ingress into the hardline cable plant, one or more faults in the hardline cable plant are specifically identified and remediated so as to significantly reduce a noise power in the node in at least a portion of the upstream path bandwidth below approximately 20 MHz. In one example, hardline plant-related and/or subscriber-related faults are remediated so as to significantly reduce ingress arising from terrestrial short wave radio signals.
A technician performs a locate operation of an underground utility in a dig area of proposed excavation by applying one or more physical colored markers (e.g., paint, flags, other colored markers) to ground, pavement or other surface to indicate a presence or an absence of the underground utility in the dig area. A digital image of a geographic area comprising the dig area is displayed on a display device, and one or more electronic colored markers corresponding to the physical colored marker(s) are added to the displayed digital image so as to generate a marked-up image. Information relating to the marked-up image is electronically transmitted and/or electronically stored so as to document the locate operation.
G06K 9/00 - Méthodes ou dispositions pour la lecture ou la reconnaissance de caractères imprimés ou écrits ou pour la reconnaissance de formes, p.ex. d'empreintes digitales
G09B 29/10 - Spots pour la lecture des cartes ou indicateurs de position par coordonnéesAides pour la lecture des cartes
G06F 3/0481 - Techniques d’interaction fondées sur les interfaces utilisateur graphiques [GUI] fondées sur des propriétés spécifiques de l’objet d’interaction affiché ou sur un environnement basé sur les métaphores, p. ex. interaction avec des éléments du bureau telles les fenêtres ou les icônes, ou avec l’aide d’un curseur changeant de comportement ou d’aspect
G06T 11/60 - Édition de figures et de texteCombinaison de figures ou de texte
G06K 9/32 - Alignement ou centrage du capteur d'image ou de la zone image
28.
Cable communication systems and methods employing QAM upstream channels below 16.4 MHz for increased aggregate deployed upstream capacity
Cable communication systems and methods to provide voice and/or data services to subscriber premises via a cable plant that conveys upstream information over an upstream path bandwidth via one or more upstream radio frequency (RF) signals. One or more RF signals include an encoded carrier wave having a carrier frequency of between 5 MHz and 16.4 MHz that is modulated using a Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA) protocol or an Advanced time Division Multiple Access (ATDMA) protocol and quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM) with voice and/or data information constituting at least some of the upstream information. An aggregate deployed upstream capacity of the one or more RF signals to convey the upstream information in a portion of the upstream path bandwidth between 5 MHz and 16.4 MHz is at least approximately 12 Megabits per second (Mbits/s).
H04J 3/00 - Systèmes multiplex à division de temps
H04J 3/16 - Systèmes multiplex à division de temps dans lesquels le temps attribué à chacun des canaux au cours d'un cycle de transmission est variable, p. ex. pour tenir compte de la complexité variable des signaux, pour adapter le nombre de canaux transmis
H04W 52/22 - Commande de puissance d'émission [TPC Transmission power control] le TPC étant effectué selon des paramètres spécifiques tenant compte des informations ou des instructions antérieures
H04L 12/26 - Dispositions de surveillance; Dispositions de test
H04B 10/2575 - Radio sur fibre, p. ex. signal radio modulé en fréquence sur une porteuse optique
H04Q 11/00 - Dispositifs de sélection pour systèmes multiplex
H04B 10/114 - Systèmes d’intérieur ou à courte portée
H04N 17/00 - Diagnostic, test ou mesure, ou leurs détails, pour les systèmes de télévision
H04N 21/61 - Structure physique de réseauTraitement de signal
29.
Methods, apparatus, and systems for dispatching service technicians
Scheduling of activities for field service technicians may be improved by modifying availability constraints associated with appointment windows for activities. Activities may be scheduled based on a performance deadline and relevant shift times of the resources to whom the activity may be allocated, as well as a variety of parameters relating to activities, resources and/or relevant environmental conditions (e.g., weather, traffic). An activity may be moved from one calendar day to another, a location constraint at the beginning and/or the end of a technician's shift may be removed or modified, and/or information updates may be provided in real time or near real time (e.g., every five minutes or less) throughout a work day to facilitate scheduling. In one example for scheduling dispatch of locate technicians for locate operations, ticket information relating to locate request tickets, as well as resource information relating to available technicians, may be extracted from a ticket database and a resource/technician database to provide appropriate inputs to a scheduling engine, based at least in part on matching available resources to performance deadlines associated with locate requests.
Methods and apparatus for cutting a trench (e.g., for a fiber optic cable or wire conductors) in an existing covering surface (e.g., a road surface), wherein the trench has a depth of approximately 10 to 12 inches and a width of approximately 0.5 to 1.25 inches. Debris from the cut trench is evacuated (e.g., vacuumed) from the trench as the trench is cut. The trench may be backfilled by flowing a non-shrinking composition into at least a portion of the trench and, after hardening of the non-shrinking composition, applying a topping material to a remaining portion of the trench. In one example, the non-shrinking composition is configured to rigidify within one hour of being flowed into the trench, be substantially impermeable thereafter (e.g., having a hydraulic permeability of less than 0.0000001 cm/s upon drying), and be non-compressible and non-expanding.
F16L 1/00 - Pose ou récupération des tuyauxRéparation ou assemblage des tuyaux sur ou sous l'eau
H02G 9/00 - Installations de lignes ou de câbles électriques dans ou sur la terre ou sur l'eau
E02F 3/88 - DraguesEngins de terrassement entraînés mécaniquement avec des aménagements agissant par effet d'aspiration ou de refoulement, p. ex. dragues suceuses
E02F 5/08 - Dragues ou engins de terrassement à usages particuliers pour creuser des tranchées ou fossés avec des roues excavatrices tournant autour d'un axe
E02F 5/10 - Dragues ou engins de terrassement à usages particuliers pour creuser des tranchées ou fossés avec des dispositions pour consolider les tranchées ou fossésDragues ou engins de terrassement à usages particuliers pour creuser des tranchées ou fossés avec des dispositions pour exécuter ou assembler des conduites ou pour poser des conduites ou des câbles
E02F 5/12 - Dragues ou engins de terrassement à usages particuliers pour creuser des tranchées ou fossés avec des dispositifs de remblaiement des tranchées ou fossés
H02G 1/06 - Méthodes ou appareils spécialement adaptés à l'installation, entretien, réparation, ou démontage des câbles ou lignes électriques pour poser les câbles, p. ex. appareils de pose sur véhicule
E02F 5/02 - Dragues ou engins de terrassement à usages particuliers pour creuser des tranchées ou fossés
31.
Locating equipment communicatively coupled to or equipped with a mobile/portable device
Locating and/or marking equipment, such as a locate transmitter or locate receiver, a marking device, or a combined locate and marking device, may be communicatively coupled to and/or equipped with a mobile/portable device (e.g., a mobile phone, personal digital assistant or other portable computing device) that provides processing, electronic storage, electronic display, user interface, communication facilities and/or other functionality (e.g., GPS-enabled functionality) for the equipment. A mobile/portable device may be mechanically and/or electronically coupled to the equipment, and may be programmed so as to log and generate electronic records of various information germane to a locate and/or marking operation (e.g., locate information, marking information, and/or landmark information). Such records may be formatted in various manners, processed and/or analyzed on the mobile/portable device, and/or transmitted to another device (e.g., a remote computer/server) for storage, processing and/or analysis. The mobile/portable device also may provide redundant, shared and/or backup functionality for the equipment to enhance robustness.
Marking devices for dispensing a marking substance on the ground and marking methods are provided. The marking devices and marking methods use one or more detection mechanisms to detect one or more characteristics of the marking substance. In some embodiments, the detection mechanism may be, but is not limited to, an optical sensor, an olfactory sensor, a weight sensor, a switch device, and any combination thereof. The one or more detection mechanisms may provide, for example, the capability to: (1) determine the type of marking substance that is installed in the marking device; (2) determine in advance of or during a marking operation the amount of marking substance within the marking dispenser; and (3) determine when the marking dispenser is becoming empty.
B05C 11/00 - Parties constitutives, détails ou accessoires non prévus dans les groupes
B67D 7/56 - Aménagements des indicateurs de débit, p. ex. compartiments transparents, fenêtres, indicateurs tournants
B05D 1/02 - Procédés pour appliquer des liquides ou d'autres matériaux fluides aux surfaces réalisés par pulvérisation
B05B 12/00 - Aménagements de commande de la distributionAménagements de réglage de l’aire de pulvérisation
A63C 19/06 - Appareils pour disposer ou diviser le terrain
B05B 12/08 - Aménagements de commande de la distributionAménagements de réglage de l’aire de pulvérisation sensibles à l'état du liquide ou d'un autre matériau fluide expulsé, du milieu ambiant ou de la cible
E01C 23/22 - Dispositifs pour jalonner, placer ou former les marques de circulation ou autres sur le revêtement terminéProtection des marques fraîches pour réaliser des marquages sur place par pulvérisation
G01G 17/06 - Appareils ou méthodes pour peser un produit ayant une forme ou des propriétés particulières pour peser des fluides, p. ex. des gaz, des produits pâteux et ayant les moyens de commander le remplissage ou la vidange
G01G 19/18 - Appareils ou méthodes de pesée adaptés à des fins particulières non prévues dans les groupes pour peser des charges suspendues ayant des dispositifs électriques sensibles au poids
G01G 23/37 - Dispositifs indicateurs, p. ex. pour indication à distanceDispositifs enregistreursÉchelles, p. ex. graduées indiquant le poids par des moyens électriques, p. ex. par utilisation de cellules photo-électriques impliquant un comptage numérique
33.
Methods, apparatus and systems for determining correctness and completeness of locate operations
One or more pieces of equipment (e.g., a locate wand, a marking tool) are used to perform an operation to identify, in response to a ticket, a presence or an absence of an underground facility at a dig area. Data relating to the use of the equipment to perform the operation is electronically processed to determine whether the operation was completed correctly. In one example, ticket information from the ticket also is processed with the data relating to the use of the equipment to determine whether the operation was completed correctly. In another example, the equipment includes a marking apparatus, and data relating to the use of the marking apparatus that is processed includes one or more of marker characteristic information, timing information, supply information and location information relating to one or more markers dispensed by the marking apparatus.
A marking device for a marking operation to mark a presence of an absence of one or more underground facilities is configured to access and display facilities map information, and/or other image information, as a visual aid to facilitate the marking operation. In various aspects, methods and apparatus relate to: selection of an “base” facilities map, or information from a database of facilities map data, relating to a given work side/dig area; selection of an pan and/or zoom (resolution) for displaying facilities map information; updating displayed facilities map information while a marking device is used during a marking operation (e.g. changing pan, zoom and/or orientation); overlaying on the displayed facilities map information marking information and/or landmark information relating to the marking operation; and storing locally on the marking device, and/or transmitting from the marking device, facilities map information and/or overlaid marking/landmark information (e.g., for further processing, analysis and/or subsequent display).
A technician performs a locate operation of an underground utility in a dig area of proposed excavation by applying one or more physical colored markers (e.g., paint, flags, other colored markers) to ground, pavement or other surface to indicate a presence or an absence of the underground utility in the dig area. A digital image of a geographic area comprising the dig area is displayed on a display device, and one or more electronic colored markers corresponding to the physical colored marker(s) are added to the displayed digital image so as to generate a marked-up image. Information relating to the marked-up image is electronically transmitted and/or electronically stored so as to document the locate operation.
G06K 9/00 - Méthodes ou dispositions pour la lecture ou la reconnaissance de caractères imprimés ou écrits ou pour la reconnaissance de formes, p.ex. d'empreintes digitales
36.
Methods and apparatus for overlaying electronic marking information on facilities map information and/or other image information displayed on a marking device
A marking device for a marking operation to mark a presence or an absence of one or more underground facilities is configured to access and display facilities map information, and/or other image information, as a visual aid to facilitate the marking operation. In various aspects, methods and apparatus relate to: selection of a “base” facilities map, or information from a database of facilities map data, relating to a given work site/dig area; selection of a pan and/or zoom (resolution) for displaying facilities map information; updating displayed facilities map information while a marking device is used during a marking operation (e.g. changing pan, zoom and/or orientation); overlaying on the displayed facilities map information marking information and/or landmark information relating to the marking operation; and storing locally on the marking device, and/or transmitting from the marking device, facilities map information and/or overlaid marking/landmark information (e.g., for further processing, analysis and/or subsequent display).
G06T 11/60 - Édition de figures et de texteCombinaison de figures ou de texte
G06Q 10/06 - Ressources, gestion de tâches, des ressources humaines ou de projetsPlanification d’entreprise ou d’organisationModélisation d’entreprise ou d’organisation
Generating a searchable electronic record of a locate operation performed by a locate technician. The locate operation comprises identifying, using at least one physical locate 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 may be excavated or disturbed during excavation activities. A bare grid is displayed on display device and, via a user input device associated with the display device, at least one digital representation of the at least one physical locate mark is added to the displayed bare grid so as to generate a marked-up grid including the at least one digital representation of the at least one physical locate mark. Information relating to the marked-up grid is electronically transmitted and/or stored so as to generate the searchable electronic record of the locate operation.
G09G 5/00 - Dispositions ou circuits de commande de l'affichage communs à l'affichage utilisant des tubes à rayons cathodiques et à l'affichage utilisant d'autres moyens de visualisation
Assessing at least one aspect relating to a marking operation performed by a locate technician, based on an electronic representation of the marking operation. The marking operation comprises identifying, using at least one physical locate 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 may be excavated or disturbed during excavation activities. The physical locate mark(s) is/are digitally represented on a display device so as to generate an electronic visual representation of the marking operation. A length associated with at least a portion of the digitally represented physical locate mark(s) is determined and, based on the determined length, one or more aspects relating to the marking operation is/are automatically assessed. Exemplary aspects include a cost of the marking operation, a productivity of the locate technician, and/or a competence of the locate technician.
G06G 5/00 - Dispositifs dans lesquels l'opération de calcul est effectuée au moyen d'éléments actionnés par la pression d'un fluide
G09G 5/00 - Dispositions ou circuits de commande de l'affichage communs à l'affichage utilisant des tubes à rayons cathodiques et à l'affichage utilisant d'autres moyens de visualisation
A bare grid is displayed on a display device. At least one digital representation of at least one physical locate mark is added to the displayed grid to generate a marked-up grid. The physical locate mark(s) include(s) non-white paint and/or a non-white flag, and is/are applied during a locate operation performed after generation of and pursuant to a locate request ticket relating to a dig area that is planned to be excavated or disturbed during prospective excavation activities. The locate operation comprises providing at least one visible warning to an excavator performing the prospective excavation activities, using the physical locate mark(s), of a presence or an affirmative absence of at least one underground facility at the dig area specified in the locate request ticket. Information relating to the marked-up grid is electronically stored and/or transmitted so as to generate a searchable electronic record of the locate operation.
G09G 5/00 - Dispositions ou circuits de commande de l'affichage communs à l'affichage utilisant des tubes à rayons cathodiques et à l'affichage utilisant d'autres moyens de visualisation
A grid is displayed on a display device to provide a reference for a geographic area including an excavation site. User input is acquired that relates to a geographic location of at least one physical locate mark applied by a technician to a ground surface at the excavation site to indicate a presence or an absence of at least one underground facility at the excavation site. Based on the user input, at least one digital representation of the at least one physical locate mark is added to the displayed grid so as to generate a marked-up image. Information relating to the marked-up image is electronically stored and/or electronically transmitted so as to generate an electronic manifest.
Systems and methods for generating electronic records of locate operations and marking operations are described. Exemplary systems and methods include marking devices that generate, store and/or transmit electronic records of marking information, locate devices that generate, store and/or transmit electronic records of locate information, and locate devices and marking devices that communicate with each other (and optionally with other devices or systems) to share/exchange locate information and/or marking information. An exemplary method for analyzing and processing locate information and marking information includes a computer-implemented method for visually rendering (e.g., in a display field of a display device) various aspects of locate and marking operations.
G01V 3/38 - Traitement de données, p. ex. pour l'analyse, pour l'interprétation ou pour la correction
G01V 3/15 - Prospection ou détection électrique ou magnétiqueMesure des caractéristiques du champ magnétique de la terre, p. ex. de la déclinaison ou de la déviation spécialement adaptée à l'utilisation pendant le transport, p. ex. par une personne, un véhicule ou un bateau
43.
Searchable electronic records of underground facility locate marking operations
Methods and apparatus for generating a searchable electronic record of a locate operation in which a presence or an absence of at least one underground facility within a dig area may be identified using one or more physical locate marks. Source data representing one or more input images of a geographic area comprising the dig area is received and processed so as to display at least a portion of the input image(s) on a display device. One or more digital representations of the physical locate mark(s) applied to the dig area during the locate operation are added to the displayed input image(s) as “locate mark indicators” so as to generate a marked-up image. Information relating to the marked-up image is electronically transmitted and/or electronically stored so as to generate the searchable electronic record of the locate operation.
G06K 9/00 - Méthodes ou dispositions pour la lecture ou la reconnaissance de caractères imprimés ou écrits ou pour la reconnaissance de formes, p.ex. d'empreintes digitales
44.
Iterative mapping methods for ingress mitigation in cable communication systems
Methods for reducing ingress in a neighborhood node of a cable communication system. The node includes a hardline cable plant and multiple subscriber service drops to convey upstream information from multiple subscriber premises over an upstream path bandwidth. A mobile broadcast apparatus equipped with a transmitter is directed along a drive path proximate to the hardline plant, and a test signal having a frequency falling within the upstream path bandwidth is broadcast along the drive path. Respective positions of the broadcast apparatus, and signal amplitudes at the test signal frequency representing test signal ingress in the node due to one or more hardline plant-related and/or subscriber-related faults, are recorded, and a neighborhood node ingress map is generated. Following remediation of one or more faults based on the map, the process is repeated to generate one or more additional iterations of the map to document a progression of ingress mitigation efforts.
G01R 31/08 - Localisation de défauts dans les câbles, les lignes de transmission ou les réseaux
H04N 7/173 - Systèmes à secret analogiquesSystèmes à abonnement analogiques à deux voies, p. ex. l'abonné envoyant un signal de sélection du programme
45.
Cable communication systems and methods employing QAM upstream channels below 16.4 MHz for increased aggregate deployed upstream capacity to support voice and/or data services
Cable communication systems and methods to provide voice and/or data services to subscriber premises via a cable plant that conveys upstream information over an upstream path bandwidth, and a cable modem system including one or more demodulation tuners to receive and demodulate one or more upstream radio frequency (RF) signals. One or more RF signals include an encoded carrier wave having a carrier frequency of between 5 MHz and 16.4 MHz that is modulated using a Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA) protocol or an Advanced Time Division Multiple Access (ATDMA) protocol and quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM) with voice and/or data information constituting at least some of the upstream information. An aggregate deployed upstream capacity of the one or more RF signals to convey the upstream information in a portion of the upstream path bandwidth between 5 MHz and 16.4 MHz is at least approximately 12 Megabits per second (Mbits/s).
H04Q 11/00 - Dispositifs de sélection pour systèmes multiplex
46.
Cable communication systems and methods employing TDMA/ATDMA QAM upstream channels below 20 MHz for increased upstream capacity to support voice and/or data services
Cable communication systems and methods to provide voice and/or data services to subscriber premises via a cable plant that conveys upstream information over an upstream path bandwidth, and a cable modem system including one or more demodulation tuners to receive and demodulate one or more upstream radio frequency (RF) signals. An RF signal includes an encoded carrier wave having a carrier frequency of between 5 MHz and 19.6 MHz that is modulated using a Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA) protocol or an Advanced Time Division Multiple Access (ATDMA) protocol and quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM) with voice and/or data information constituting at least some of the upstream information. A modulation order of the QAM for the first upstream RF signal is at least 32, and at least one demodulation tuner of the cable modem system is configured to receive and demodulate the first upstream RF signal.
H04J 3/00 - Systèmes multiplex à division de temps
H04J 3/16 - Systèmes multiplex à division de temps dans lesquels le temps attribué à chacun des canaux au cours d'un cycle de transmission est variable, p. ex. pour tenir compte de la complexité variable des signaux, pour adapter le nombre de canaux transmis
H04W 52/22 - Commande de puissance d'émission [TPC Transmission power control] le TPC étant effectué selon des paramètres spécifiques tenant compte des informations ou des instructions antérieures
H04L 12/26 - Dispositions de surveillance; Dispositions de test
H04B 10/2575 - Radio sur fibre, p. ex. signal radio modulé en fréquence sur une porteuse optique
H04N 21/61 - Structure physique de réseauTraitement de signal
H04Q 11/00 - Dispositifs de sélection pour systèmes multiplex
H04B 10/114 - Systèmes d’intérieur ou à courte portée
H04N 17/00 - Diagnostic, test ou mesure, ou leurs détails, pour les systèmes de télévision
47.
Systems and methods for using location data to electronically display dispensing of markers by a marking system or marking tool
One or more markers are dispensed on ground, pavement or other surface in a dig area to be excavated or disturbed during excavation activities, so as to provide a visual indication of a presence or an absence of one or more underground utilities in the dig area. One or more signals are wirelessly transmitted in response to the dispensing of the one or more markers, wherein the signal(s) represent(s) first data relating to a location at which the marker(s) is/are dispensed, and/or one or more characteristics of the dispensed marker(s).
G01C 21/00 - NavigationInstruments de navigation non prévus dans les groupes
48.
Cable communication systems and methods employing 256-QAM upstream channels and having increased upstream capacity for supporting voice and/or data services
Cable communication systems and methods to provide voice and/or data services to subscriber premises via a cable plant that conveys upstream information over an upstream path bandwidth, and a cable modem system including one or more demodulation tuners to receive and demodulate one or more upstream radio frequency (RF) signals. An RF signal includes an encoded carrier wave having a carrier frequency of between approximately 5 MHz and at least approximately 42 MHz that is modulated using quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM) with voice and/or data information constituting at least some of the upstream information. A modulation order of the QAM for the first upstream RF signal is at least 256, and at least one demodulation tuner of the cable modem system is configured to receive and demodulate the first upstream RF signal.
Cable communication systems and methods to provide voice and/or data services to subscriber premises in one or more neighborhood nodes via an ingress-mitigated cable plant that conveys upstream information over an upstream path bandwidth. One or more upstream radio frequency (RF) signals have a carrier frequency of between approximately 5 MHz and 19.6 MHz and are modulated using quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM) with voice and/or data information constituting at least some of the upstream information. An example RF signal defines a channel having an average channel power, and a highest value for an average noise power between 5 MHz and 19.6 MHz in the upstream path bandwidth of a given neighborhood node, as measured over at least a 24 hour period, is at least 25 decibels (dB) below the average channel power and/or less than 20 decibels (dB) above a noise floor associated with the neighborhood node.
H04B 10/00 - Systèmes de transmission utilisant des ondes électromagnétiques autres que les ondes hertziennes, p. ex. les infrarouges, la lumière visible ou ultraviolette, ou utilisant des radiations corpusculaires, p. ex. les communications quantiques
Methods and apparatus for facilitating detection of a presence or an absence of at least one underground facility within a dig area. Source data representing one or more input images of a geographic area including the dig area is electronically received at a first user location, which may be remote from the dig area. The source data is processed so as to display at least a portion of the input image(s) on a display device at the first user location. One or more indicators are added to the displayed input image(s), via a user input device associated with the display device, to provide at least one indication of the dig area and thereby generate a marked-up digital image. In one example, the indicator(s) is/are added to the displayed input image(s) without acquiring geographic coordinates corresponding to the indicator(s).
G06K 9/00 - Méthodes ou dispositions pour la lecture ou la reconnaissance de caractères imprimés ou écrits ou pour la reconnaissance de formes, p.ex. d'empreintes digitales
G06F 17/30 - Recherche documentaire; Structures de bases de données à cet effet
51.
METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR INGRESS MITIGATION IN CABLE COMMUNICATION SYSTEMS AND INCREASED UPSTREAM CAPACITY
A mobile transmitter traverses a drive path in a neighborhood node of a cable communication system and broadcasts a test signal at frequencies falling within an upstream path bandwidth. A navigational device generates a first record of positions of the transmitter along the drive path, and an analyzer monitors the upstream path bandwidth and generates a second record of received signal amplitudes of the transmitted test signal as a function of time. An ingress map is generated showing the drive path and potential points of ingress in the node, and employed to remediate faults particularly in the hardline coaxial cable plant. Iterative generation of maps and corresponding remediation in the node enable improved cable communication systems with reduced noise profiles between 5 MHz and 20 MHz and employing higher modulation order QAM communication channels (e.g., 256-QAM and higher) throughout the upstream path bandwidth to increase upstream capacity.
A mobile transmitter traverses a drive path in a neighborhood node of a cable communication system and broadcasts a test signal at frequencies falling within an upstream path bandwidth. A navigational device generates a first record of positions of the transmitter along the drive path, and an analyzer monitors the upstream path bandwidth and generates a second record of received signal amplitudes of the transmitted test signal as a function of time. An ingress map is generated showing the drive path and potential points of ingress in the node, and employed to remediate faults particularly in the hardline coaxial cable plant. Iterative generation of maps and corresponding remediation in the node enable improved cable communication systems with reduced noise profiles between 5 MHz and 20 MHz and employing higher modulation order QAM communication channels (e.g., 256-QAM and higher) throughout the upstream path bandwidth to increase upstream capacity.
H04B 10/00 - Systèmes de transmission utilisant des ondes électromagnétiques autres que les ondes hertziennes, p. ex. les infrarouges, la lumière visible ou ultraviolette, ou utilisant des radiations corpusculaires, p. ex. les communications quantiques
H04J 3/00 - Systèmes multiplex à division de temps
H04J 3/16 - Systèmes multiplex à division de temps dans lesquels le temps attribué à chacun des canaux au cours d'un cycle de transmission est variable, p. ex. pour tenir compte de la complexité variable des signaux, pour adapter le nombre de canaux transmis
H04W 52/22 - Commande de puissance d'émission [TPC Transmission power control] le TPC étant effectué selon des paramètres spécifiques tenant compte des informations ou des instructions antérieures
H04L 12/26 - Dispositions de surveillance; Dispositions de test
H04B 10/2575 - Radio sur fibre, p. ex. signal radio modulé en fréquence sur une porteuse optique
H04Q 11/00 - Dispositifs de sélection pour systèmes multiplex
H04B 10/114 - Systèmes d’intérieur ou à courte portée
H04N 17/00 - Diagnostic, test ou mesure, ou leurs détails, pour les systèmes de télévision
H04N 21/61 - Structure physique de réseauTraitement de signal
53.
MARKING METHODS, APPARATUS AND SYSTEMS INCLUDING OPTICAL FLOW-BASED DEAD RECKONING FEATURES
Position of a marking device is monitored by receiving start position information of an initial position of the marking device, capturing images using camera systems attached to the marking device, and analyzing the image to determine tracking information indicative of a motion of the marking device. Tracking information and start position information are analyzed to determine current position information. Images of a target surface over which the marking device is carried are analyzed by optical flow algorithm for estimates of relative position for a deadreckoning process, current position information is determined based on the estimates of relative position and the start position information. Geo-location device generates geo-location data indicative of positions of the device as it traverses portions of the path. Camera system(s) obtain optical flow-based dead reckoning data indicative of relative positions of the device as it traverses at least a second portion of the path.
B05D 5/06 - Procédés pour appliquer des liquides ou d'autres matériaux fluides aux surfaces pour obtenir des effets, finis ou des structures de surface particuliers pour obtenir des effets multicolores ou d'autres effets optiques
B05C 11/00 - Parties constitutives, détails ou accessoires non prévus dans les groupes
54.
Virtual white lines for delimiting planned excavation sites
Method and apparatus for facilitating detection of a presence or an absence of at least one underground facility within a dig area. At least one marked-up digital image of a geographic area including the dig area, the image including at least one indicator to delimit the dig area, is electronically processed by converting the at least one indicator to a plurality of geographic coordinates representing the delimited dig area. Information relating to a locate request ticket identifying the dig area to be excavated is electronically transmitted and/or electronically stored, wherein the locate request ticket includes image data and non-image data associated with the dig area. The image data includes the at least one marked-up digital image of the geographic area surrounding the dig area, and the non-image data includes the plurality of geographic coordinates representing the delimited dig area.
G06K 9/00 - Méthodes ou dispositions pour la lecture ou la reconnaissance de caractères imprimés ou écrits ou pour la reconnaissance de formes, p.ex. d'empreintes digitales
A dispensing device is provided for use in a dispensing operation. The dispensing device includes a hand-held housing, a memory to store processor-executable instructions, a processor coupled to the memory and disposed within or communicatively coupled to the hand-held housing, and a camera system mechanically and/or communicatively coupled to the dispensing device to provide image information to the processor. The image information relates to the dispensing operation. The dispensing device also includes a dispensing mechanism to control dispensing of the material. The material is not readily visible after the dispensing operation. The processor analyzes the image information to determine tracking information indicative of a motion or an orientation of the dispensing device. The processor also determines actuation information relating to operation of the dispensing mechanism and stores the actuation information and the tracking information to provide an electronic record of geographic locations at which the material is dispensed.
G06K 9/00 - Méthodes ou dispositions pour la lecture ou la reconnaissance de caractères imprimés ou écrits ou pour la reconnaissance de formes, p.ex. d'empreintes digitales
56.
Methods and apparatus for tracking motion and/or orientation of a marking device
Marking material is dispensed onto a target surface using a marking device, and one or more images are captured by one or more camera systems attached to the marking device. The image(s) is/are analyzed to determine tracking information indicative of the a motion or an orientation of the marking device. The tracking information is analyzed to determine marking information relating to the dispensed marking material. In one example, the image(s) is/are analyzed to obtain an optical flow plot indicative of a path on the target surface traversed by the marking device. One or more reference plots respectively representing a plurality of reference marking patterns are compared to one or more portions of the optical flow plot to identify at least one reference marking pattern that substantially matches the portion(s) of the optical flow plot.
G06Q 10/08 - Logistique, p. ex. entreposage, chargement ou distributionGestion d’inventaires ou de stocks
B05B 12/08 - Aménagements de commande de la distributionAménagements de réglage de l’aire de pulvérisation sensibles à l'état du liquide ou d'un autre matériau fluide expulsé, du milieu ambiant ou de la cible
57.
Methods, apparatus and systems for onsite linking to location-specific electronic records of locate operations
Providing access at a jobsite to an electronic record of a locate operation. Data related to the locate operation is acquired by locate equipment and transmitted to a data repository for storage in the electronic record of the locate operation. A site-specific access mechanism is provided that establishes a link to the electronic record of the locate operation. In one example, the site-specific access mechanism is a physical mechanism, such as a printout of a website address, a barcode, or an RFID tag. In another example the site-specific access mechanism is a virtual mechanism, such as geographic location information provided by a location tracking system (e.g., GPS apparatus) and/or derived from information available to a wireless communications system or WiFi network. In one aspect, the access mechanism may be configured for use at the jobsite only by a person particularly authorized to access the electronic record of the locate operation.
G06F 21/00 - Dispositions de sécurité pour protéger les calculateurs, leurs composants, les programmes ou les données contre une activité non autorisée
G06Q 10/08 - Logistique, p. ex. entreposage, chargement ou distributionGestion d’inventaires ou de stocks
G08B 5/22 - Systèmes de signalisation optique, p. ex. systèmes d'appel de personnes, indication à distance de l'occupation de sièges utilisant une transmission électriqueSystèmes de signalisation optique, p. ex. systèmes d'appel de personnes, indication à distance de l'occupation de sièges utilisant une transmission électromécanique
58.
Methods, apparatus and systems for facilitating generation and assessment of engineering plans
Electronically generating an engineering plan for installation of equipment, such as cable system equipment, at a work site. First geographic information relating to a first location of the work site is compared with second geographic information representing a second location of an engineer generating the engineering plan (or of a plan generating tool being used by the engineer to generate the plan) to verify that the engineer/tool is sufficiently near to the work site. A digital image of a geographic area including the work site is displayed on the plan generating tool, and user input is acquired from the engineer (e.g., via a user input device associated with the plan generating tool) relating to at least one first position, relative to the displayed digital image, representing a first equipment location of at least a first piece of the equipment to be installed at the work site. A marked-up digital image including at least one first digital representation of the first piece of the equipment placed on the displayed digital image is generated, based at least in part on the user input, and information relating to the marked-up digital image is electronically transmitted and/or electronically stored so as to generate the engineering plan.
Generating an engineering plan for installation of equipment at a work site. First geographic information for a first location of the work site is compared with second geographic information for a second location of an engineer generating the engineering plan to verify that the engineer/tool is sufficiently near to the work site. A digital image of a geographic area including the work site is displayed on the plan generating tool, and user input is acquired from the engineer relating to at least one first position, relative to the displayed digital image, representing a first equipment location of at least a first piece of the equipment to be installed at the work site. A marked-up digital image including first digital representation of the first piece of the equipment placed on the displayed digital image and information relating to the marked-up image is electronically transmitted and/or stored to generate the engineering plan.
Systems, methods, and apparatus for performing surface type detection in connection with locate and marking operations. In some embodiments, one or more sensors may be employed to collect information regarding a ground surface on which marking material is to be dispensed which is then analyzed to provide an estimate of a type of the surface. For example, a still-image or video camera may be used as a sensor that detects visible light reflecting from a surface. One or more images captured by the camera may be analyzed using analysis software to identify one or more characteristics indicative of a surface type. As another example, one or more radiation sensors may be employed to measure an amount of electromagnetic radiation reflected by the sensed surface one or more selected wavelengths or ranges of wavelengths to identify a spectral signature that may also be indicative of a surface type.
G01K 11/30 - Mesure de la température basée sur les variations physiques ou chimiques, n'entrant pas dans les groupes , , ou utilisant la mesure de l'effet d'un matériau sur un rayonnement X, un rayonnement gamma ou un rayonnement corpusculaire
H04N 7/18 - Systèmes de télévision en circuit fermé [CCTV], c.-à-d. systèmes dans lesquels le signal vidéo n'est pas diffusé
E01C 19/12 - Machines, outillage ou dispositifs auxiliaires pour préparer ou répartir les matériaux de revêtement, pour travailler les matériaux mis en place, ou pour façonner, consolider ou finir le revêtement pour répartir les matériaux granuleux ou liquides
G01J 3/02 - SpectrométrieSpectrophotométrieMonochromateursMesure de la couleur Parties constitutives
G01J 3/46 - Mesure de couleurDispositifs de mesure de couleur, p. ex. colorimètres
G01C 15/02 - Moyens pour marquer les points de mesure
G06K 9/00 - Méthodes ou dispositions pour la lecture ou la reconnaissance de caractères imprimés ou écrits ou pour la reconnaissance de formes, p.ex. d'empreintes digitales
61.
METHODS, APPARATUS AND SYSTEMS FOR MARKING MATERIAL COLOR DETECTION IN CONNECTION WITH LOCATE AND MARKING OPERATIONS
Systems, methods, and apparatus for determining a color of marking material dispensed by a marking device onto a surface to mark a presence or an absence of at least one underground facility within a dig area that is planned to be excavated or disturbed during excavation activities. In some embodiments, one or more camera systems (e.g., digital video cameras) are mounted on a marking device to capture information (e.g., one or more of image information, color information, motion information and light level information) relating to the surface being marked. The camera system(s) may be mounted near a nozzle of a marking material dispenser, so as to capture information relating to freshly dispensed marking material on the surface being marked. The captured information may be analyzed to determine a color of the freshly dispensed marking material, which may then be correlated with a type of facilities being marked.
Systems, methods, and apparatus for performing surface type detection in connection with locate and marking operations. In some embodiments, one or more sensors (e.g., radiation sensors, acoustic sensors, color sensors, light sensors, etc.) may be employed to collect information regarding a surface, such as a ground surface on which marking material is to be dispensed to mark the presence or absence of an underground facility. The collected sensor data may be analyzed to provide an estimate of a type of the surface that is being sensed. For example, a still-image or video camera may be used as a sensor that detects visible light reflecting from a surface. One or more images of the surface captured by the camera may be analyzed using some suitable image analysis software to identify one or more characteristics (e.g., color, intensity, randomness, presence/absence of lines, etc.) that may be indicative of a surface type. As another example, one or more radiation sensors may be employed to measure an amount of electromagnetic radiation reflected by the sensed surface one or more selected wavelengths or ranges of wavelengths to identify a spectral signature that may also be indicative of a surface type.
Methods, apparatus and systems including a computer comprising at least one hardware processor, at least one tangible storage medium (memory), and at least one input/output (I/O) interface for evaluating a quality of a locate and/or marking operation. First information relating to the marking operation (e.g., marking information) is compared to second information relating to the locate operation (e.g., locate information). In some examples, one or both of the marking information and the locate information may be filtered to improve data integrity in some manner. One or more indications of a quality assessment of the locate and/or marking operation is automatically generated based on such a comparison, and the one or more indications of the quality assessment are electronically stored on the at least one tangible storage medium, and/or electronically transmitted via the at least one I/O interface, so as to provide an electronic record of the quality assessment.
Providing access at a jobsite to an electronic record of a locate operation. Data related to the locate operation is acquired by locate equipment and transmitted to a data repository for storage in the electronic record of the locate operation. A site-specific access mechanism is provided that establishes a link to the electronic record of the locate operation. In one example, the site-specific access mechanism is a physical mechanism, such as a printout of a website address, a barcode, or an RFID tag. In another example the site-specific access mechanism is a virtual mechanism, such as geographic location information provided by a location tracking system (e.g., GPS apparatus) and/or derived from information available to a wireless communications system or WiFi network. In one aspect, the access mechanism may be configured for use at the jobsite only by a person particularly authorized to access the electronic record of the locate operation.
G08B 5/22 - Systèmes de signalisation optique, p. ex. systèmes d'appel de personnes, indication à distance de l'occupation de sièges utilisant une transmission électriqueSystèmes de signalisation optique, p. ex. systèmes d'appel de personnes, indication à distance de l'occupation de sièges utilisant une transmission électromécanique
65.
SYSTEM FOR AND METHODS OF AUTOMATICALLY INSERTING SYMBOLS INTO ELECTRONIC RECORDS OF LOCATE OPERATIONS
Marking data representative of an underground facility locate operation is acquired by locate equipment and automatically processed so as to determine one or more symbols associated with the locate operation. A locate operation work order also may be processed with the marking data to determine the one or more symbols. An electronic record of the locate operation is generated and includes a graphic representation of the marking data as well as the one or more symbols.
Determining a permit status of a jobsite at which a locate operation is requested and/or performed. A work order that describes the locate operation is received and processed, and a permit database of a permitting entity is accessed based at least in part on information from the work order. The permit database is electronically reviewed to determine whether a valid permit covers work at the jobsite.
Methods, apparatus and systems for generating accuracy-annotated searchable electronic records of underground facility locate and/or marking operations
Generating an accuracy-referenced electronic record of a locate and/or marking operation performed by a locate technician. The locate and/or marking operation comprises locating and/or identifying, using at least one physical locate 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 may be excavated or disturbed during excavation activities. A location of the at least one underground facility and/or the at least one physical locate mark is electronically rendered on a display device so as to generate an electronic visual representation of the locate and/or marking operation. An accuracy of the represented location is digitally represented on the display device using at least one accuracy indicator overlaid on the electronic visual representation of the locate and/or marking operation so as to generate an accuracy-annotated representation of the locate and/or marking operation. Information relating to the accuracy-annotated representation of the locate and/or marking operation is electronically transmitted and/or stored so as to generate the accuracy-referenced electronic record of the locate and/or marking operation.
G09G 5/00 - Dispositions ou circuits de commande de l'affichage communs à l'affichage utilisant des tubes à rayons cathodiques et à l'affichage utilisant d'autres moyens de visualisation
G06F 17/30 - Recherche documentaire; Structures de bases de données à cet effet
Methods, apparatus and systems for generating digital-media-enhanced searchable electronic records of underground facility locate and/or marking operations
Generating a digital-media-enhanced electronic record of a locate and/or marking operation performed by a locate technician. The locate and/or marking operation comprises locating and/or identifying, using at least one physical locate 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 may be excavated or disturbed during excavation activities. A location of the at least one underground facility and/or the at least one physical locate mark is electronically rendered on a display device so as to generate an electronic visual representation of the locate and/or marking operation. At least one digital media file representation of a corresponding digital media file relating to at least one aspect of the locate and/or marking operation or an environment of the dig area is also electronically rendered on the display device, so as to generate a digital-media-annotated representation of the locate and/or marking operation. Information relating to the digital-media-annotated representation of the locate and/or marking operation is electronically transmitted and/or stored so as to generate the digital-media-enhanced electronic record of the locate and/or marking operation.
G09G 5/00 - Dispositions ou circuits de commande de l'affichage communs à l'affichage utilisant des tubes à rayons cathodiques et à l'affichage utilisant d'autres moyens de visualisation
G06F 17/30 - Recherche documentaire; Structures de bases de données à cet effet
69.
Methods, apparatus and systems for generating searchable electronic records of underground facility locate and/or marking operations and assessing aspects of same
A method is disclosed for assessing an aspect relating to a locate and/or marking operation performed by a locate technician based on an electronic representation of the operation. The operation includes locating and/or identifying, using a physical locate mark, a presence or an absence of an underground facility within a dig area. A portion of the dig area may be excavated or disturbed during excavation activities. The method includes digitally representing, on a display device, the facility and/or the physical locate mark to generate an electronic visual representation of the operation. The method further includes determining a length associated with a portion of the digitally represented facility and/or physical locate mark in the electronic visual representation of the operation. The method further includes, based on the determined length, automatically assessing the aspect relating to the operation.
G09G 5/00 - Dispositions ou circuits de commande de l'affichage communs à l'affichage utilisant des tubes à rayons cathodiques et à l'affichage utilisant d'autres moyens de visualisation
Managing and displaying information relating to a locate operation and/or a marking operation to detect and/or mark a presence or an absence of at least one underground facility. First information relating to the locate operation and/or the marking operation is electronically received, wherein the first information includes image information. The image information is processed to improve at least one aspect of an image represented by the image information and thereby provide improved image information. Based at least in part on the improved image information, at least one electronic manifest is generated that documents a performance of the locate operation and/or the marking operation.
G09G 5/00 - Dispositions ou circuits de commande de l'affichage communs à l'affichage utilisant des tubes à rayons cathodiques et à l'affichage utilisant d'autres moyens de visualisation
G06F 17/30 - Recherche documentaire; Structures de bases de données à cet effet
Methods, apparatus and systems for generating location-corrected searchable electronic records of underground facility locate and/or marking operations
Generating a corrected electronic record of a locate and/or marking operation. The operation comprises locating and/or identifying, using a physical locate mark, presence or absence of an underground facility within a dig area. At least a portion of the dig area may be excavated or disturbed. First information relating to a location of the facility and/or the mark is received. Based at least in part on the first information, the location of the facility and/or the mark is represented to generate an electronic visual representation of the operation. Second information relating to a corrected location of the facility and/or the mark is received. Based at least in part on the second information, the corrected location is represented to generate a corrected electronic visual representation of the operation. Third information relating to the corrected representation of the operation is transmitted and/or stored to generate the corrected electronic record of the operation.
G09G 5/00 - Dispositions ou circuits de commande de l'affichage communs à l'affichage utilisant des tubes à rayons cathodiques et à l'affichage utilisant d'autres moyens de visualisation
Geo-referenced and/or time-referenced electronic drawings may be generated based on electronic vehicle information to facilitate documentation of a vehicle-related event. A symbols library, a collection of geo-referenced images, and any data acquired from one or more vehicles may be stored in memory for use in connection with generation of such drawings, and a drawing tool graphical user interface (GUI) may be provided for electronically processing vehicle data and geo-referenced images. Processed geo-referenced images may be saved as event-specific images, which may be integrated into, for example, an electronic vehicle accident report for accurately depicting a vehicle accident.
G07C 5/12 - Enregistrement ou indication de données de marche autres que le temps de circulation, de fonctionnement, d'arrêt ou d'attente, avec ou sans enregistrement des temps de circulation, de fonctionnement, d'arrêt ou d'attente sous forme de graphique
73.
Locating equipment docking station communicatively coupled to or equipped with a mobile/portable device
A docking station to dock locating equipment (e.g., marking devices, locate devices, combined locate and marking devices) may be communicatively coupled to and/or equipped with a mobile/portable device (e.g., a mobile phone, personal digital assistant or other portable computing device) that provides processing, electronic storage, electronic display, user interface, communication facilities and/or other functionality (e.g., GPS-enabled functionality) for the docking station. A mobile/portable device may be mechanically and/or electrically coupled to the docking station. The mobile/portable device may provide redundant, shared and/or backup functionality for the docking station to enhance robustness. In one example, the mobile/portable device itself serves as a docking station for the locating equipment.
Control of locating equipment used by a locate technician to perform a locate and/or marking operation to detect and/or mark a presence or an absence of at least one underground facility at a work site is based at least in part on marking specifications (e.g., government-based regulations, industry-based recommended guidelines/best practices, standard operating procedures of locate companies and/or facility owners, and/or contractual obligations relating to marking operations). In various examples, control signals are generated to alert a locate technician when to start and stop dispensing of a marking material, or control signals are generated to automatically or semi-automatically control dispensing of the marking material by a marking device, so as to facilitate compliance with marking specifications.
Locating and/or marking equipment, such as a locate transmitter or locate receiver, a marking device, or a combined locate and marking device, may be communicatively coupled to and/or equipped with a mobile/portable device (e.g., a mobile phone, personal digital assistant or other portable computing device) that provides processing, electronic storage, electronic display, user interface, communication facilities and/or other functionality (e.g., GPS-enabled functionality) for the equipment. A mobile/portable device may be mechanically and/or electronically coupled to the equipment, and may be programmed so as to log and generate electronic records of various information germane to a locate and/or marking operation (e.g., locate information, marking information, and/or landmark information). Such records may be formatted in various manners, processed and/or analyzed on the mobile/portable device, and/or transmitted to another device (e.g., a remote computer/server) for storage, processing and/or analysis. The mobile/portable device also may provide redundant, shared and/or backup functionality for the equipment to enhance robustness.
A docking station to dock locating equipment (e.g., marking devices, locate devices, combined locate and marking devices) may be communicatively coupled to and/or equipped with a mobile/portable device (e.g., a mobile phone, personal digital assistant or other portable computing device) that provides processing, electronic storage, electronic display, user interface, communication facilities and/or other functionality (e.g., GPS-enabled functionality) for the docking station. A mobile/portable device may be mechanically and/or electrically coupled to the docking station. The mobile/portable device may provide redundant, shared and/or backup functionality for the docking station to enhance robustness. In one example, the mobile/portable device itself serves as a docking station for the locating equipment.
Control of locating equipment used by a locate technician to perform a locate and/or marking operation to detect and/or mark a presence or an absence of at least one underground facility at a work site is based at least in part on marking specifications (e.g., government-based regulations, industry-based recommended guidelines/best practices, standard operating procedures of locate companies and/or facility owners, and/or contractual obligations relating to marking operations). In various examples, control signals are generated to alert a locate technician when to start and stop dispensing of a marking material, or control signals are generated to automatically or semi-automatically control dispensing of the marking material by a marking device, so as to facilitate compliance with marking specifications.
Indicating a precise geographic extent and a precise geographic location of a dig area at a work site at which excavation is planned, to facilitate detection and/or marking of a presence or an absence of an underground facility in the dig area. A graphical user interface includes an aerial image of a geographic area proximate to and including the work site and the dig area, and a drawing tool to facilitate placement of one or more dig area indicators on the aerial image. A user uses the drawing tool to delimit the precise geographic extent and the precise geographic location of the dig area(s) on the displayed aerial image so as to form the dig area indicator(s), representing unbuffered dig areas, and thereby generate a marked-up aerial image. Geographic coordinates are determined corresponding to the unbuffered dig area(s) represented by the dig area indicator(s). A locate request ticket is generated that includes the marked-up aerial image itself, the geographic coordinates corresponding to the unbuffered dig area(s), and/or a link to a webpage at which the marked-up aerial image may be viewed and/or the geographic coordinates may be accessed.
G06K 9/00 - Méthodes ou dispositions pour la lecture ou la reconnaissance de caractères imprimés ou écrits ou pour la reconnaissance de formes, p.ex. d'empreintes digitales
80.
Methods, apparatus and systems for ensuring wage and hour compliance in locate operations
Control of locating equipment used by a locate technician to perform a locate and/or marking operation to detect and/or mark a presence or an absence of at least one underground facility at a work site (e.g., locate receivers, locate transmitters, marking devices and/or combined locate and marking devices) is based on time-keeping information associated with the technician and/or wage and hour compliance information. In one example, one or more control signals are generated to at least partially enable or disable one or more piece of locating equipment based at least in part on a time clock status of the locate technician (e.g., clocked-in or clocked-out), and/or wage and hour compliance information associated with the locate technician and/or the work site (e.g., relating to required breaks and/or maximum number of work hours).
G06F 15/02 - Calculateurs numériques en généralÉquipement de traitement de données en général commandés manuellement avec entrée par clavier et à calcul commandé par programme incorporé, p. ex. calculettes
G07C 1/10 - Enregistrement ou indication de l'heure d'un événement ou d'un temps écoulé, p. ex. horodateurs pour la main-d'œuvre combinés avec l'enregistrement ou l'indication d'autres données, p. ex. de signes d'identification
81.
Methods, apparatus, and systems for providing an enhanced positive response in underground facility locate and marking operations
A positive response notification to provide information regarding locate and/or marking operations for underground facilities may include time-stamp information to provide proof of a time at which the locate and/or marking operation was completed by a locate technician, and/or place-stamp information to provide proof of a presence of the locate technician at or near a work site. An electronic manifest image and/or a virtual white line image similarly may be included in a positive response notification. In one example, such images may be bundled together based on respective descriptor files (or descriptor metadata) that associates the corresponding images with a locate request ticket for the operation. In another example, a positive response notification may include environmental information regarding one or more environmental conditions present at or near the work site during the locate and/or marking operation.
G06F 15/16 - Associations de plusieurs calculateurs numériques comportant chacun au moins une unité arithmétique, une unité programme et un registre, p. ex. pour le traitement simultané de plusieurs programmes
82.
Marking device with transmitter for triangulating location during locate operations
Methods, apparatus and systems for determining the location of a marking device during performance of a marking operation using triangulation are described. The marking device may be of the type used to mark the presence or absence of underground facilities and may include a marking material dispenser to dispense marking material as an indicator. The marking device may include a transmitter which transmits a signal received by a receiving system including two or more receiving devices at separate locations. Triangulation algorithms may then be used to determine the location of the marking device relative to the receiving system.
To construct an underground cable line in-situ, cut and immediately evacuate a void in the existing covering surface. Next, lay or apply cable(s) into the void. Then, flow a non-shrinking composition into a portion of the void around the cable to fill a portion of the void. Upon rigidification the cable is encased in the void by the non-shrinking composition. Last, apply a topping material to the exposed surface of the composition in such volume as to fill any remaining portion of the void.
Marking devices of the type used for marking a presence or an absence of underground facilities and including motion detectors such as accelerometers are described. Methods of collecting and analyzing motion information indicative of the motion of a marking device are also described. The motion information may be used for various purposes, including documenting performance of a marking operation and/or performance of a particular technician, pattern determination and comparison, as well as quality control assessment.
Methods and marking devices for indicating and/or detecting a color of marking material used in performance of a marking operation to mark the presence or absence of an underground facility are described. Information about the color of the marking material may optionally be logged or stored by a marking device and/or transmitted to an external device.
B05C 11/00 - Parties constitutives, détails ou accessoires non prévus dans les groupes
B05B 12/00 - Aménagements de commande de la distributionAménagements de réglage de l’aire de pulvérisation
B65D 83/14 - Récipients pour distribuer des contenus liquides ou semi-liquides par pression interne de gaz, c.-à-d. réceptacles aérosols contenant un propulseur
G01C 15/02 - Moyens pour marquer les points de mesure
B05B 15/00 - Parties constitutives des installations ou des appareillages de pulvérisation non prévus ailleursAccessoires
B05B 12/08 - Aménagements de commande de la distributionAménagements de réglage de l’aire de pulvérisation sensibles à l'état du liquide ou d'un autre matériau fluide expulsé, du milieu ambiant ou de la cible
89.
Methods and apparatus for analyzing locate and marking operations by comparing locate information and marking information
Methods, apparatus and systems including a computer comprising at least one hardware processor, at least one tangible storage medium (memory), and at least one input/output (I/O) interface for evaluating a quality of a locate and/or marking operation. First information relating to the marking operation (e.g., marking information) is compared to second information relating to the locate operation (e.g., locate information). In some examples, one or both of the marking information and the locate information may be filtered to improve data integrity in some manner. One or more indications of a quality assessment of the locate and/or marking operation is automatically generated based on such a comparison, and the one or more indications of the quality assessment are electronically stored on the at least one tangible storage medium, and/or electronically transmitted via the at least one I/O interface, so as to provide an electronic record of the quality assessment.
Methods, apparatus and systems for determining the location of a marking device during performance of a marking operation using triangulation are described. The marking device may be of the type used to mark the presence or absence of underground facilities and may include a marking material dispenser to dispense marking material as an indicator. The marking device may include a transmitter which transmits a signal received by a receiving system including two or more receiving devices at separate locations. Triangulation algorithms may then be used to determine the location of the marking device relative to the receiving system.
Methods and marking devices for indicating and/or detecting a color of marking material used in performance of a marking operation to mark the presence or absence of an underground facility are described. Information about the color of the marking material may optionally be logged or stored by a marking device and/or transmitted to an external device.
Marking devices of the type used for marking a presence or an absence of underground facilities and including motion detectors such as accelerometers are described. Methods of collecting and analyzing motion information indicative of the motion of a marking device are also described. The motion information may be used for various purposes, including documenting performance of a marking operation and/or performance of a particular technician, pattern determination and comparison, as well as quality control assessment.
B05C 1/16 - Appareillages dans lesquels un liquide ou autre matériau fluide est appliqué à la surface de l'ouvrage par contact avec un élément portant le liquide ou autre matériau fluide, p. ex. un élément poreux imprégné du liquide à appliquer sous forme de revêtement pour appliquer un liquide ou autre matériau fluide à un ouvrage de longueur indéfinie uniquement sur des parties déterminées de la pièce
93.
LOCATING EQUIPMENT EQUIPPED WITH A MOBILE/PORTABLE DEVICE
Locating and/or marking equipment, such as a locate transmitter or locate receiver, a marking device, or a combined locate and marking device, may be communicatively coupled to and/or equipped with a mobile/portable device (e g, a mobile phone, personal digital assistant or other portable computing device) that provides processing, electronic storage, electronic display, user interface, communication facilities and/or other functionality (e g, GPS-enabled functionality) for the equipment A mobile/portable device may be mechanically and/or electronically coupled to the equipment, and may be programmed so as to log and generate electronic records of various information gennane to a locate and/or marking operation (e g, locate infonnation, marking information, and/or landmark information) Such records may be formatted in various manners, processed and/or analyzed on the mobile/portable device, and/or transmitted to another device for storage, processing and/or analysis The mobile/portable device also may provide redundant, shared and/or backup functionality for the equipment to enhance robustness
A vehicle-based complex event processing (CEP) engine executes on a hardware computer processor in a vehicle. The CEP engine receives a first input stream onto which vehicle information related to the vehicle is published, and applies at least one query to the first input stream. The CEP engine then assesses, based on application of the query/queries, if a vehicle-related event has occurred and, if so, the CEP engine publishes an indication of occurrence of the vehicle-related event on at least one output stream of the CEP engine. In one example, the CEP engine may receive a second input stream onto which image information is published, wherein the image information is based at least in part on data provided by at least one on-board vehicle camera.
Manual, semi-automated or automated image-based electronic manifests of locate operations. Image layers may be selectively enabled or disabled for display to facilitate viewing of base images and/or categories of information overlaid on the base image(s) relating to the locate operation. Accuracy indicators and/or calibration factors may be employed to ensure geographic integrity and appropriate registration of displayed information. Revision layers may be employed so that “raw” data, modified data, and/or annotated images may be maintained and locked to prevent unauthorized modifications. Limited access files may be employed to prevent unauthorized edits or use. Base images may be sketched manually with a drawing tool, and/or edge-detection and other image processing algorithms may be employed to improve feature recognition and/or remove undesirable features. Safeguards are employed to ensure that manifests are created at or near the work site, and information in the manifests may be analyzed to assess labor/material costs.
G09G 5/00 - Dispositions ou circuits de commande de l'affichage communs à l'affichage utilisant des tubes à rayons cathodiques et à l'affichage utilisant d'autres moyens de visualisation
G06F 17/30 - Recherche documentaire; Structures de bases de données à cet effet
Manual, semi-automated or automated image-based electronic manifests of locate operations. Multiple image layers may be selectively enabled or disabled for display to facilitate comparative viewing of different base images and/or categories of information overlaid on the base image(s) relating to the locate operation. Accuracy indicators and/or calibration factors may be employed to ensure geographic integrity and appropriate registration of displayed information. In one example, revision layers are employed so that "raw" data, modified data, and/or annotated images may be maintained and locked to prevent unauthorized modifications. Limited access files also may be employed to prevent unauthorized edits to or use of manifests. If a digital base image is not available or of poor quality, base images may be sketched manually (e.g., on a displayed grid) with a drawing tool, and/or edge-detection and other image processing algorithms may be employed to improve feature recognition and/or remove undesirable features. Safeguards are employed to ensure that manifests are created at or near the work site, and information in the manifests may be analyzed to assess labor/material costs.
Training systems for and methods of simulating locate operations are provided for training and/or skills evaluation. Facility locating equipment, such as on-site computers and/or locate receivers, may include modules for electronically simulating locate operations. Locating equipment including simulation modules may be used, for example, in locate technician training processes and/or for updating and/or evaluating the skills of locate technicians, hi particular, a simulation module is provided for electronically generating "virtual" facilities, the presence and/or absence of which may be indicated to a locate technician during, for example, a training exercise. The actions of the locate technicians with respect to dispensing marking material that corresponds to the presence and/or absence of the virtual facilities are electronically captured, stored, and evaluated.
G01S 1/00 - Radiophares ou systèmes de balisage émettant des signaux ayant une ou des caractéristiques pouvant être détectées par des récepteurs non directionnels et définissant des directions, situations ou lignes de position déterminées par rapport aux émetteurs de radiophareRécepteurs travaillant avec ces systèmes
98.
METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR ASSESSING LOCATE REQUEST TICKETS
Locate and/or marking operations involve detecting and/or marking 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. One or more attributes of a locate and/or marking operation requested in a locate request ticket are assessed to provide one or more ticket assessment outcomes. Ticket information is obtained from the locate request ticket at least in part by parsing the locate request ticket. One or more business rules are applied to at least some of the ticket information to generate the ticket assessment outcome(s) for the attribute(s) of the locate and/or marking operation. The ticket assessment outcome(s) is/are transmitted and/or stored so as to facilitate clearing the locate request ticket and/or dispatching a locate technician to perform the locate and/or marking operation.
G06Q 50/00 - Technologies de l’information et de la communication [TIC] spécialement adaptées à la mise en œuvre des procédés d’affaires d’un secteur particulier d’activité économique, p. ex. aux services d’utilité publique ou au tourisme
99.
SYSTEMS FOR AND METHODS OF SIMULATING FACILITIES FOR USE IN LOCATE OPERATIONS TRAINING EXERCISES
Systems for and methods of simulating facilities for use in locate operations training exercises are disclosed. Embodiments of the simulated facilities systems include a floor system in which one or more concealed wires may be energized to simulate underground facilities for the purpose of performing, for example, locate operations training, updating, and/or certification exercises for locate technicians. Embodiments of the simulated facilities systems include configurable pedestals by which either non-electric power line type of facilities and/or electric power line types of facility may be simulated. In some embodiments, simulated facilities systems may be configured manually and/or by use of a system controller.
E04G 21/00 - Préparation, transport ou travail sur place des matériaux ou des éléments de constructionAutres dispositifs ou mesures concernant les travaux de construction
E04B 1/00 - Constructions en généralStructures qui ne sont limitées ni aux murs, p. ex. aux cloisons, ni aux planchers, ni aux plafonds, ni aux toits
100.
Management system, and associated methods and apparatus, for dispatching tickets, receiving field information, and performing a quality assessment for underground facility locate and/or marking operations
An electronically generated locate request ticket identifying a dig area includes first image data associated with the dig area. The first image data includes one or both of: i) a marked-up image of a geographic area including the dig area, wherein the marked-up image includes at least one dig area indicator to provide an indication of the dig area; and ii) geographic information relating to the at least one dig area indicator. The locate request ticket is electronically transmitted to at least one entity associated with the locate operation. A completed locate request ticket is electronically received including second image data and/or non-image data relating to the locate operation as performed. The completed locate request ticket is electronically processed so as to provide a quality assessment of the locate operation. Information relating to the completed ticket and/or the quality assessment is electronically stored and/or transmitted so as to provide a searchable electronic record of the locate operation.
G01V 3/38 - Traitement de données, p. ex. pour l'analyse, pour l'interprétation ou pour la correction
G01V 3/08 - Prospection ou détection électrique ou magnétiqueMesure des caractéristiques du champ magnétique de la terre, p. ex. de la déclinaison ou de la déviation fonctionnant au moyen de champs magnétiques ou électriques produits ou modifiés par les objets ou les structures géologiques, ou par les dispositifs de détection
