Methods, apparatus, and systems for processing technician checklists ...
US 20110035252Al
(19) United States (12) Patent Application Publication (10) Pub. No.: US 2011/0035252 A1 (43) Pub. Date:
Nielsen et al.
?led on Feb. 11, 2009, provisional application No.
(54) METHODS, APPARATUS, AND SYSTEMS FOR
61/172,843, ?led on Apr. 27, 2009, provisional appli
PROCESSING TECHNICIAN CHECKLISTS FOR LOCATE AND/OR MARKING OPERATIONS
cation No. 61/174,081, ?led on Apr. 30, 2009.
(30) (75) Inventors:
Feb. 10, 2011
Steven Nielsen, North Palm Beach, FL (US); Curtis Chambers, Palm
Foreign Application Priority Data
Feb. 10,2010
Beach Gardens, FL (U S); Jeffrey Farr, Jupiter, FL (U S)
(CA) .................................... .. 2692110
Publication Classi?cation
(51)
Int. Cl.
WOLF GREENFIELD & SACKS, RC. 600 ATLANTIC AVENUE
(52)
U.S. Cl. .......................................................... .. 705/9
BOSTON, MA 02210-2206 (US)
(57)
Correspondence Address:
G06Q 10/00
(2006.01) ABSTRACT
CertusVieW Technologies, LLC,
Processing a checklist for a locate and/or marking operation
Palm Beach Gardens, FL (US)
to detect a presence or an absence of at least one underground
(21) Appl. No.:
12/837,353
facility Within a dig area, Wherein at least a portion of the dig area is planned to be excavated or disturbed during excavation
(22) Filed:
Jul. 15, 2010
activities, Wherein the checklist comprises a plurality of checklist items to be processed pursuant to the locate and/or marking operation. The checklist is displayed to a locate
Related US. Application Data
technician performing the locate and/or marking operation,
(73) Assignee:
and a status of at least one of the checklist items is determined based at least in part on at least one input received in connec
(63)
Continuation of application No. 12/703,809, ?led on Feb. 11,2010.
(60)
Provisional application No. 61/151,760, ?led on Feb.
checklist is generated based on the status of the at least one of
11, 2009, provisional application No. 61/151,778,
the checklist items.
tion With the locate and/ or marking operation. An updated
Underground Locate. Technician
Owner 40
45
—_———:>
i
I l: Ticket 1
Excavator
:
Qne-CG“ Center
20
Locate Service Provider
30
m9“?
Techn IClCm
50
70 Excavation Notice ——9
Ticket ——:>
_-—>
Patent Application Publication
Feb. 10, 2011 Sheet 1 0f 28
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Patent Application Publication
Feb. 10, 2011 Sheet 2 0f 28
Remote computer @
Processor
r ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— ——.
117 Comm Int.
l
: l
Memory 123 Electronic
Ticket process'ng
T h ec nician activity log
125
5
tickets @
s°?ware L12
137
I ,; I
r' _
_
_
_
-
_
_
_
_
:
Marking
record 1i 5
/ -
_
_
_
_
_
_
_
_
_
_
_
_
_
_
_
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_
| |
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Control
:
electronics 1;
User
.
‘
Interface 1i‘
l
.
Actuation
:
Communication ‘
__
l
|ndicators
'
Timing
__
:
system Q
:1‘
115
‘
| '
Location
:
tracking
1
system 1@
| '
7*
I ‘ EnvirOnmental
:1 Sensors 1_7_0 |
Operational
——
l
Sensors 12
‘
i
I
r
l
Local Memory 122
:
|
|
I
Marking
Electronic
Ticket
|
processing
:
:
:
record 1% tickets 1@
:
Technician
Marking
software
1
activity log
algorithm
—
:
137
134
113
|
I |
_
_
t
_
_
_
_
_
_
_
_
_
_
_
_
_
AK
mechanism 12
I ‘
I
:
detection
A
ro?gsor ‘
I
_
A
_
_
_
_
_
_
_
_
A
Power source m
FIG. 2
|
1~
Marking material
v P
msQ:/8»
US 2011/0035252 A1
Patent Application Publication
Feb. 10, 2011 Sheet 10 0f 28
VWL Application
Computing Device
sirzvzer
US 2011/0035252 A1
Image Server
424
420
®
%
e e
Excavator 10
FIG. 5B
§ 0
e
Patent Application Publication
Feb. 10, 2011 Sheet 12 0f 28
US 2011/0035252 A1
185 1
8O \‘
Receive ticket
l
1 82
\
Display ticket as received on locating
equipment
184
\ Parse ticket/extract ticket infon'nation
V
186
Display ticket information (eg,
\
reformatted/reorganized; process guide, check list, workflow, etc.)
V
188
“Real-time" technician "interaction” with
\
ticket/ticket information and/or automatic/semiautomatic
implementation of guided operation V
190
\
Generate technician activity log (“completed” ticket)
FIG. 6
Patent Application Publication
Feb. 10, 2011 Sheet 14 0f 28
US 2011/0035252 A1
Work Order
/215 512
Work Order Id: 28955502 Ticket Numberz/zogsm 309-000 Scheduled Work Begin Date/Time
Expected Duration: /0é\ 514B
514A 04-Jan-2009 9:00AM
1 Hour
Due Date: 05-Jan-2009
Type:
Utility Locate
Priority:
3-ROUT/NE 504 Dispatch Address: Address1: Address2: Add ress3:
4600 E STREET RD
City: Feasterville Trevose County: Bucks State: PA Zip: 18045 Nearest Intersection: RT 1 Municipality: BENSALEM TWP Second Intersection: [] 506
Excavation Information/
Work Being Done For: VERIZON FTTP AND INFRASOURCE
Project Type: Type of Work: Extent:
INSTL CONDUIT 392FT
Depth: 18-30IN Method: DRILL, TRENCHER
Street--[] SidewaIk--[] Pub Prop--[] Pvt Prop--[x] Other--[]
Excavator Information:/ Name:
570
JACK SMITH CONSTRUCTION
Address:
17 WILLOW RD
City: FAX #:
PALMER 610-258-9238
Homeowner/Business--[B]
State: PA Zip: 18045 Email: [email protected]
Site Information From Address1: 4600 STREET RD From Address2: From Address3:
To Address1: To Address2: To Address3:
City: County: BUCKS
State: PA Zip: 18045 Municipality: BENSALEM TWP
Subdivison Name:
Site Marked in White--[Y]
F/ G. 8A F/ G. 85
FIG. 8A
Patent Application Publication
Feb. 10, 2011 Sheet 15 0f 28
US 2011/0035252 A1
Locate Instructions: [STARTING AT POLE NUMBER 24860 AT THE ENTRANCE OF TREVOSE CORPORATE CENTER AND PROCEEDING IN THE GRASS AROUND THE SIDE OF THE BLDG, THEN CROSS THE PARKING LOT TO THE BLDG]
Caller Information: Name: JOE LOCATOR Contact: JOE LOCATOR Best Time to Call: ANYTIME
Phone: 123-456-7890 Ext: Phone: 123-456-7890 Ext:
Remarks-
[1
Work Order Task
516 /
0001 0002 0003
Utility Locate Utility Locate Utility Locate
Gas Electric CATV
PECO WRTR ( KD ) PECO WRTR ( KD ) COMCAST CABLE B ( XZ )
Patent Application Publication
Feb. 10, 2011 Sheet 16 0f 28
US 2011/0035252 A1
Auxiliary Data Sources
f Facilities Maps 610
Historical Records 620
Industry Best Practice Guides 630
SOP Information 640
Other Electronic Information 650
FIG. 9
250
Patent Application Publication
Feb. 10, 2011 Sheet 17 0f 28
US 2011/0035252 A1
26E
3:50am no:
Patent Application Publication
Feb. 10, 2011 Sheet 18 0f 28
US 2011/0035252 A1
Checklist 1100
5/ Electric power
El Marked I] Cleared [I
Not marked or cleared
Gas El Marked E Cleared El
Not marked or cleared
Communications E Marked III Cleared [I Water
Not marked or cleared
E Marked El Cleared El
Not marked or cleared
FIG. 11
Patent Application Publication
68I5:§0>1N5
/ no:
$58.1 Q NK
Feb. 10, 2011 Sheet 19 0f 28
US 2011/0035252 A1
(19) United States (12) Patent Application Publication (10) Pub. No.: US 2011/0035252 A1 (43) Pub. Date:
Nielsen et al.
?led on Feb. 11, 2009, provisional application No.
(54) METHODS, APPARATUS, AND SYSTEMS FOR
61/172,843, ?led on Apr. 27, 2009, provisional appli
PROCESSING TECHNICIAN CHECKLISTS FOR LOCATE AND/OR MARKING OPERATIONS
cation No. 61/174,081, ?led on Apr. 30, 2009.
(30) (75) Inventors:
Feb. 10, 2011
Steven Nielsen, North Palm Beach, FL (US); Curtis Chambers, Palm
Foreign Application Priority Data
Feb. 10,2010
Beach Gardens, FL (U S); Jeffrey Farr, Jupiter, FL (U S)
(CA) .................................... .. 2692110
Publication Classi?cation
(51)
Int. Cl.
WOLF GREENFIELD & SACKS, RC. 600 ATLANTIC AVENUE
(52)
U.S. Cl. .......................................................... .. 705/9
BOSTON, MA 02210-2206 (US)
(57)
Correspondence Address:
G06Q 10/00
(2006.01) ABSTRACT
CertusVieW Technologies, LLC,
Processing a checklist for a locate and/or marking operation
Palm Beach Gardens, FL (US)
to detect a presence or an absence of at least one underground
(21) Appl. No.:
12/837,353
facility Within a dig area, Wherein at least a portion of the dig area is planned to be excavated or disturbed during excavation
(22) Filed:
Jul. 15, 2010
activities, Wherein the checklist comprises a plurality of checklist items to be processed pursuant to the locate and/or marking operation. The checklist is displayed to a locate
Related US. Application Data
technician performing the locate and/or marking operation,
(73) Assignee:
and a status of at least one of the checklist items is determined based at least in part on at least one input received in connec
(63)
Continuation of application No. 12/703,809, ?led on Feb. 11,2010.
(60)
Provisional application No. 61/151,760, ?led on Feb.
checklist is generated based on the status of the at least one of
11, 2009, provisional application No. 61/151,778,
the checklist items.
tion With the locate and/ or marking operation. An updated
Underground Locate. Technician
Owner 40
45
—_———:>
i
I l: Ticket 1
Excavator
:
Qne-CG“ Center
20
Locate Service Provider
30
m9“?
Techn IClCm
50
70 Excavation Notice ——9
Ticket ——:>
_-—>
Patent Application Publication
Feb. 10, 2011 Sheet 1 0f 28
£2053 3:.2683:.2Eo60zB.
Al y
on
g30 4 o.p6cw2o350 4
QvM‘
:UO®IQmC>L
23890 Q
Q
_
n
n3%:
QNQM
n _
Exec. Al _
US 2011/0035252 Al
0
_
coz>xm
@05 2 I
6R N
Patent Application Publication
Feb. 10, 2011 Sheet 2 0f 28
Remote computer @
Processor
r ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— ——.
117 Comm Int.
l
: l
Memory 123 Electronic
Ticket process'ng
T h ec nician activity log
125
5
tickets @
s°?ware L12
137
I ,; I
r' _
_
_
_
-
_
_
_
_
:
Marking
record 1i 5
/ -
_
_
_
_
_
_
_
_
_
_
_
_
_
_
_
_
_
_
_
_
_
_
| |
I
| |
I
Control
:
electronics 1;
User
.
‘
Interface 1i‘
l
.
Actuation
:
Communication ‘
__
l
|ndicators
'
Timing
__
:
system Q
:1‘
115
‘
| '
Location
:
tracking
1
system 1@
| '
7*
I ‘ EnvirOnmental
:1 Sensors 1_7_0 |
Operational
——
l
Sensors 12
‘
i
I
r
l
Local Memory 122
:
|
|
I
Marking
Electronic
Ticket
|
processing
:
:
:
record 1% tickets 1@
:
Technician
Marking
software
1
activity log
algorithm
—
:
137
134
113
|
I |
_
_
t
_
_
_
_
_
_
_
_
_
_
_
_
_
AK
mechanism 12
I ‘
I
:
detection
A
ro?gsor ‘
I
_
A
_
_
_
_
_
_
_
_
A
Power source m
FIG. 2
|
1~
Marking material
v P
msQ:/8»
US 2011/0035252 A1
Patent Application Publication
Feb. 10, 2011 Sheet 10 0f 28
VWL Application
Computing Device
sirzvzer
US 2011/0035252 A1
Image Server
424
420
®
%
e e
Excavator 10
FIG. 5B
§ 0
e
Patent Application Publication
Feb. 10, 2011 Sheet 12 0f 28
US 2011/0035252 A1
185 1
8O \‘
Receive ticket
l
1 82
\
Display ticket as received on locating
equipment
184
\ Parse ticket/extract ticket infon'nation
V
186
Display ticket information (eg,
\
reformatted/reorganized; process guide, check list, workflow, etc.)
V
188
“Real-time" technician "interaction” with
\
ticket/ticket information and/or automatic/semiautomatic
implementation of guided operation V
190
\
Generate technician activity log (“completed” ticket)
FIG. 6
Patent Application Publication
Feb. 10, 2011 Sheet 14 0f 28
US 2011/0035252 A1
Work Order
/215 512
Work Order Id: 28955502 Ticket Numberz/zogsm 309-000 Scheduled Work Begin Date/Time
Expected Duration: /0é\ 514B
514A 04-Jan-2009 9:00AM
1 Hour
Due Date: 05-Jan-2009
Type:
Utility Locate
Priority:
3-ROUT/NE 504 Dispatch Address: Address1: Address2: Add ress3:
4600 E STREET RD
City: Feasterville Trevose County: Bucks State: PA Zip: 18045 Nearest Intersection: RT 1 Municipality: BENSALEM TWP Second Intersection: [] 506
Excavation Information/
Work Being Done For: VERIZON FTTP AND INFRASOURCE
Project Type: Type of Work: Extent:
INSTL CONDUIT 392FT
Depth: 18-30IN Method: DRILL, TRENCHER
Street--[] SidewaIk--[] Pub Prop--[] Pvt Prop--[x] Other--[]
Excavator Information:/ Name:
570
JACK SMITH CONSTRUCTION
Address:
17 WILLOW RD
City: FAX #:
PALMER 610-258-9238
Homeowner/Business--[B]
State: PA Zip: 18045 Email: [email protected]
Site Information From Address1: 4600 STREET RD From Address2: From Address3:
To Address1: To Address2: To Address3:
City: County: BUCKS
State: PA Zip: 18045 Municipality: BENSALEM TWP
Subdivison Name:
Site Marked in White--[Y]
F/ G. 8A F/ G. 85
FIG. 8A
Patent Application Publication
Feb. 10, 2011 Sheet 15 0f 28
US 2011/0035252 A1
Locate Instructions: [STARTING AT POLE NUMBER 24860 AT THE ENTRANCE OF TREVOSE CORPORATE CENTER AND PROCEEDING IN THE GRASS AROUND THE SIDE OF THE BLDG, THEN CROSS THE PARKING LOT TO THE BLDG]
Caller Information: Name: JOE LOCATOR Contact: JOE LOCATOR Best Time to Call: ANYTIME
Phone: 123-456-7890 Ext: Phone: 123-456-7890 Ext:
Remarks-
[1
Work Order Task
516 /
0001 0002 0003
Utility Locate Utility Locate Utility Locate
Gas Electric CATV
PECO WRTR ( KD ) PECO WRTR ( KD ) COMCAST CABLE B ( XZ )
Patent Application Publication
Feb. 10, 2011 Sheet 16 0f 28
US 2011/0035252 A1
Auxiliary Data Sources
f Facilities Maps 610
Historical Records 620
Industry Best Practice Guides 630
SOP Information 640
Other Electronic Information 650
FIG. 9
250
Patent Application Publication
Feb. 10, 2011 Sheet 17 0f 28
US 2011/0035252 A1
26E
3:50am no:
Patent Application Publication
Feb. 10, 2011 Sheet 18 0f 28
US 2011/0035252 A1
Checklist 1100
5/ Electric power
El Marked I] Cleared [I
Not marked or cleared
Gas El Marked E Cleared El
Not marked or cleared
Communications E Marked III Cleared [I Water
Not marked or cleared
E Marked El Cleared El
Not marked or cleared
FIG. 11
Patent Application Publication
68I5:§0>1N5
/ no:
$58.1 Q NK
Feb. 10, 2011 Sheet 19 0f 28
US 2011/0035252 A1
