U.S. patent application number 12/422364 was filed with the patent office on 2010-08-12 for virtual white lines (vwl) application for indicating a planned excavation or locate path.
This patent application is currently assigned to CertusView Technologies, LLC. Invention is credited to Curtis Chambers, Jeffrey Farr, Steven E. Nielsen.
Application Number | 20100201690 12/422364 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 42540051 |
Filed Date | 2010-08-12 |
United States Patent
Application |
20100201690 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Nielsen; Steven E. ; et
al. |
August 12, 2010 |
VIRTUAL WHITE LINES (VWL) APPLICATION FOR INDICATING A PLANNED
EXCAVATION OR LOCATE PATH
Abstract
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 markings that indicate a point, line, and/or
path. The indicator(s) may provide a reference for a locate
operation or an area of planned excavation. A description, such as
of a path to be followed during the locate operation or of an area
of planned excavation, may be provided with reference to the
indicator(s).
Inventors: |
Nielsen; Steven E.; (North
Palm Beach, FL) ; Chambers; Curtis; (Palm Beach
Gardens, FL) ; Farr; Jeffrey; (Jupiter, FL) |
Correspondence
Address: |
WOLF GREENFIELD & SACKS, P.C.
600 ATLANTIC AVENUE
BOSTON
MA
02210-2206
US
|
Assignee: |
CertusView Technologies,
LLC
Palm Beach Gardens
FL
|
Family ID: |
42540051 |
Appl. No.: |
12/422364 |
Filed: |
April 13, 2009 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
61151815 |
Feb 11, 2009 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
345/443 ;
345/441; 345/442; 715/760 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06Q 10/06 20130101;
G01C 15/00 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
345/443 ;
345/441; 345/442; 715/760 |
International
Class: |
G06T 11/20 20060101
G06T011/20; G06F 3/01 20060101 G06F003/01 |
Claims
1. An apparatus for facilitating detection of 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 apparatus comprising: a
communication interface; a display device; a user input device; a
memory to store processor-executable instructions; and a processing
unit coupled to the communication interface, the display device,
the user input device, and the memory, wherein upon execution of
the processor-executable instructions by the processing unit, the
processing unit: controls the communication interface to
electronically receive source data representing at least one input
image of a geographic area including the dig area; controls the
display device to display at least a portion of the at least one
input image; acquires at least one first user input from the user
input device to provide a reference for a locate operation;
generates a marked-up image including at least one reference
indicator based on the user input; acquires at least one second
user input from the user input device, the at least one second user
input providing a description of a path to be followed during the
locate operation with reference to the at least one reference
indicator; and further controls the communication interface and/or
the memory to electronically transmit and/or electronically store
information relating to the marked-up digital image together with
information relating to the description of the path so as to
facilitate the detection of the presence or the absence of the at
least one underground facility within the dig area.
2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one reference
indicator comprises a line.
3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the line is curved.
4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one reference
indicator comprises a plurality of connected lines.
5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one reference
indicator comprises an isolated point.
6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processing unit: adds the
description of the path to the marked-up digital image as a textual
description.
7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the path
is adjacent to a location designated by the reference
indicator.
8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the description of the path to
be followed during the locate operation comprises an explicit
reference to the at least one reference indicator.
9. At least one computer-readable medium encoded with instructions
that, when executed by at least one processing unit, perform a
method for facilitating detection of 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 method comprising: A) electronically
receiving source data representing at least one input image of a
geographic area including the dig area; B) processing the source
data so as to display at least a portion of the at least one input
image on a display device; C) receiving user input, via a user
input device associated with the display device; D) adding, based
on the user input, at least one reference indicator to the
displayed at least one input image to provide a reference for a
locate operation and thereby generate a marked-up digital image; E)
providing, via the user input device, a description of a path to be
followed during the locate operation with reference to the at least
one reference indicator; and F) electronically transmitting and/or
electronically storing information relating to the marked-up
digital image together with information relating to the description
of the path so as to facilitate the detection of the presence or
the absence of the at least one underground facility within the dig
area.
10. The computer-readable medium of claim 9, wherein the at least
one reference indicator comprises a line.
11. The computer-readable medium of claim 10, wherein the line is
curved.
12. The computer-readable medium of claim 9, wherein the at least
one reference indicator comprises a plurality of connected
lines.
13. The computer-readable medium of claim 9, wherein the at least
one reference indicator comprises an isolated point.
14. The computer-readable medium of claim 9, wherein the method
further comprises: adding the description of the path to the
marked-up digital image as a textual description.
15. The computer-readable medium of claim 9, wherein at least a
portion of the path is adjacent to a location designated by the
reference indicator.
16. The computer-readable medium of claim 9, wherein the
description of the path to be followed during the locate operation
comprises an explicit reference to the at least one reference
indicator.
17. A method for facilitating detection of 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 method comprising: A)
electronically receiving source data representing at least one
input image of a geographic area including the dig area; B)
processing the source data so as to display at least a portion of
the at least one input image on a display device; C) adding, via a
user input device associated with the display device, at least one
reference indicator to the displayed at least one input image to
provide a reference for a locate operation and thereby generate a
marked-up digital image; D) providing, via the user input device, a
description of a path to be followed during the locate operation
with reference to the at least one reference indicator; and E)
electronically transmitting and/or electronically storing
information relating to the marked-up digital image together with
information relating to the description of the path so as to
facilitate the detection of the presence or the absence of the at
least one underground facility within the dig area.
18. The method of claim 17, wherein A) through D) are performed at
a location remote from the dig area.
19. The method of claim 17, further comprising: F) adding the
description of the path to the marked-up digital image as a textual
description.
20. The method of claim 17, wherein the information relating to the
marked-up digital image and the information relating to the
description of the path comprise locate instruction information and
the dig area corresponds to a ticket, the method further
comprising: F) bundling the locate instruction information with
ticket information derived from the ticket.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)
[0001] This application claims the benefit, under 35 U.S.C.
.sctn.119(e), of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/151,815,
entitled "VIRTUAL WHITE LINES (VWL) APPLICATION FOR INDICATING A
POINT, LINE, AND/OR PATH OF PLANNED EXCAVATION," filed on Feb. 11,
2009, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its
entirety.
BACKGROUND
[0002] In the construction industry, the process of locating and
marking underground facilities is required prior to any excavation
activity. In this process, excavators are required to notify
underground facility owners in advance of their excavation
activities and to describe and communicate the geographic area of
those activities to the underground facility owners. For example,
excavators may submit a work order (i.e., locate request or ticket)
to, for example, a one-call center, which serves as notification to
underground facility owners of the planned excavation. A locate
request (or ticket) may be any communication or instruction to
perform a locate operation at a certain dig area. The dig area is
any specified geographic area within which excavation may occur.
One call centers may receive locate requests from excavators via
electronic delivery or verbally through a telephone conversation
between the excavator and a human call center operator. Whether
communicated electronically or verbally, excavators must describe
the planned geographic locations of dig areas. This description may
be ultimately reduced to text, which, along with other data about a
locate request, is communicated to the appropriate locate service
provider.
[0003] Textual descriptions of dig areas can be very imprecise as
to exact physical locations. In addition, addresses which are
provided may be unclear, indicating only cross streets and vague
descriptions of the extent of the dig area. Therefore, when a
locate request is submitted by an excavator, it may be beneficial
for the excavator to supplement the locate request with a visit to
the site of the dig area for the purpose of indicating the
particular geographic location of the proposed excavation. For
example, marks may be used to physically indicate a dig area. These
marks may consist of chalk or paint that is applied to the surface
of the ground, and are generally known as "white lines." The marked
dig area indicates to a locate technician the extent of the
boundaries where a locate operation is to be performed according to
the locate request that was submitted by the excavator.
[0004] However, the use of these physical white lines to physically
indicate the dig area may be limited. For example, these physical
white lines provide only a temporary indication of the dig area, as
the physical white lines may deteriorate or be eliminated over time
by such events as precipitation, excessive pedestrian or vehicle
traffic, erosion, the excavation process, or numerous other events.
Therefore, a need exists for improved ways of indicating the
proposed excavation site in a more permanent and/or reproducible
manner.
[0005] Further, while marking the dig area with white lines may
serve to identify a certain dig area, it may lack specificity with
respect to the precise location of the planned excavation.
Currently, a locate technician arrives at the job site and may
perform tasks associated with locate operations over the entire dig
area that has been marked via the white lines, when in fact the
precise location of interest to the excavator may only be a path or
line within or across the marked dig area. Consequently, time and
resources may be lost performing tasks associated with locate
operations over a larger physical area than is necessary.
Therefore, a need exists for improved ways of indicating with more
specificity the dig area of planned excavation.
SUMMARY
[0006] Various embodiments of the present invention are directed to
methods, apparatus and systems for creating an electronic record
relating to a geographic area including a dig area to be excavated
or otherwise disturbed. As part of the electronic record, the dig
area is somehow identified with respect to its immediate
surroundings in the geographic area. For example, to create such an
electronic record, one or more input images relating to the
geographic area including the dig area may be utilized. For
example, source data representing one or more input images of a
geographic area including the dig area is received and/or processed
so that the input image(s) may be displayed on a display device.
The dig area is then indicated in some manner on the displayed
input image(s) so as to generate one or more marked-up images
constituting at least a portion of the electronic record.
[0007] In some implementations of the inventive concepts disclosed
herein, the electronic record may include a variety of non-image
information to facilitate identification of the dig area (e.g., a
text description of the dig area, an address or lot number of a
property within which the dig area is located, geo-encoded
information such as geographic coordinates relating to the dig area
and/or various aspects of the geographic area surrounding the dig
area, etc.). The marked-up image(s) and the non-image information
may be formatted in a variety of manners in the electronic record;
for example, in one implementation the non-image information may be
included as metadata associated with the marked-up image(s), while
in other implementations the marked-up image(s) and the non-image
information may be formatted as separate data sets. These separate
data sets may be transmitted and/or stored separately, but may
nonetheless be linked together in some manner as relating to a
common electronic record.
[0008] One embodiment described herein comprises a method for
facilitating detection of 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 method comprises: A) electronically receiving
source data representing at least one input image of a geographic
area including the dig area; B) processing the source data so as to
display at least a portion of the at least one input image on a
display device; C) adding, via a user input device associated with
the display device, at least one reference indicator to the
displayed at least one input image to provide a reference for a
locate operation and thereby generate a marked-up digital image; D)
providing, via the user input device, a description of a path to be
followed during the locate operation with reference to the at least
one reference indicator; and E) electronically transmitting and/or
electronically storing information relating to the marked-up
digital image together with information relating to the description
of the path so as to facilitate the detection of the presence or
the absence of the at least one underground facility within the dig
area.
[0009] Another embodiment comprises at least one computer-readable
medium encoded with instructions that, when executed by at least
one processing unit, perform a method for facilitating detection of
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 method
comprises: A) electronically receiving source data representing at
least one input image of a geographic area including the dig area;
B) processing the source data so as to display at least a portion
of the at least one input image on a display device; C) receiving
user input, via a user input device associated with the display
device; D) adding, based on the user input, at least one reference
indicator to the displayed at least one input image to provide a
reference for a locate operation and thereby generate a marked-up
digital image; E) providing, via the user input device, a
description of a path to be followed during the locate operation
with reference to the at least one reference indicator; and F)
electronically transmitting and/or electronically storing
information relating to the marked-up digital image together with
information relating to the description of the path so as to
facilitate the detection of the presence or the absence of the at
least one underground facility within the dig area.
[0010] A further embodiment comprises an apparatus for facilitating
detection of 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 apparatus comprises: a communication interface; a display
device; a user input device; a memory to store processor-executable
instructions; and a processing unit coupled to the communication
interface, the display device, the user input device, and the
memory, wherein upon execution of the processor-executable
instructions by the processing unit. The processing unit: controls
the communication interface to electronically receive source data
representing at least one input image of a geographic area
including the dig area; controls the display device to display at
least a portion of the at least one input image; acquires at least
one first user input from the user input device to provide a
reference for a locate operation; generates a marked-up image
including at least one reference indicator based on the user input;
acquires at least one second user input from the user input device,
the at least one second user input providing a description of a
path to be followed during the locate operation with reference to
the at least one reference indicator; and further controls the
communication interface and/or the memory to electronically
transmit and/or electronically store information relating to the
marked-up digital image together with information relating to the
description of the path so as to facilitate the detection of the
presence or the absence of the at least one underground facility
within the dig area.
[0011] Another embodiment comprises a method for facilitating
detection of 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 method comprising: A) electronically receiving source data
representing at least one input image of a geographic area
including the dig area; B) processing the source data so as to
display at least a portion of the at least one input image on a
display device; C) adding, via a user input device associated with
the display device, at least one reference indicator to the
displayed at least one input image to provide a reference for an
area of planned excavation and thereby generate a marked-up digital
image; D) providing, via the user input device, a description of
the area of planned excavation with reference to the at least one
reference indicator; and E) electronically transmitting and/or
electronically storing information relating to the marked-up
digital image together with information relating to the description
of the area of planned excavation so as to facilitate the detection
of the presence or the absence of the at least one underground
facility within the dig area.
[0012] A further embodiment comprises at least one
computer-readable medium encoded with instructions that, when
executed by at least one processing unit, perform a method for
facilitating detection of 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 method comprises: A) electronically receiving
source data representing at least one input image of a geographic
area including the dig area; B) processing the source data so as to
display at least a portion of the at least one input image on a
display device; C) receiving user input, via a user input device
associated with the display device; D) adding, based on the user
input, at least one reference indicator to the displayed at least
one input image to provide a reference for a locate operation and
thereby generate a marked-up digital image; E) providing, via the
user input device, a description of the area of planned excavation
with reference to the at least one reference indicator; and F)
electronically transmitting and/or electronically storing
information relating to the marked-up digital image together with
information relating to the description of the area of planned
excavation so as to facilitate the detection of the presence or the
absence of the at least one underground facility within the dig
area.
[0013] Another embodiment comprises an apparatus for facilitating
detection of 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 apparatus comprises: a communication interface; a display
device; a user input device; a memory to store processor-executable
instructions; and a processing unit coupled to the communication
interface, the display device, the user input device, and the
memory, wherein upon execution of the processor-executable
instructions by the processing unit. The processing unit: controls
the communication interface to electronically receive source data
representing at least one input image of a geographic area
including the dig area; controls the display device to display at
least a portion of the at least one input image; acquires at least
one first user input from the user input device to provide a
reference for a locate operation; generates a marked-up image
including at least one reference indicator based on the user input;
acquires at least one second user input from the user input device,
the at least one second user input providing a description of the
area of planned excavation with reference to the at least one
reference indicator; and further controls the communication
interface and/or the memory to electronically transmit and/or
electronically store information relating to the marked-up digital
image together with information relating to the description of the
area of planned excavation so as to facilitate the detection of the
presence or the absence of the at least one underground facility
within the dig area.
[0014] It should be appreciated that all combinations of the
foregoing concepts and additional concepts discussed in greater
detail below (provided such concepts are not mutually inconsistent)
are contemplated as being part of the inventive subject matter
disclosed herein. In particular, all combinations of claimed
subject matter appearing at the end of this disclosure are
contemplated as being part of the inventive subject matter
disclosed herein. It should also be appreciated that terminology
explicitly employed herein that also may appear in any disclosure
incorporated by reference should be accorded a meaning most
consistent with the particular concepts disclosed herein.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0015] The drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead
generally being placed upon illustrating the principles of the
invention.
[0016] FIG. 1 illustrates a functional block diagram of a virtual
white lines application for indicating a point, line, and/or path
of planned excavation, according to the present disclosure;
[0017] FIG. 2 illustrates an example of a virtual white lines
image, which shows more details of virtual white lines for
indicating a point, line, and/or path of planned excavation,
according to the present disclosure;
[0018] FIG. 3 illustrates another example of a virtual white lines
image, which shows more details of virtual white lines for
indicating a point, line, and/or path of planned excavation,
according to the present disclosure;
[0019] FIG. 4 illustrates a functional block diagram of a virtual
white lines system that includes the virtual white lines
application, according to the present disclosure;
[0020] FIG. 5 illustrates a flow diagram of an example of a method
of operation and/or of using the virtual white lines system,
according to the present disclosure;
[0021] FIG. 6 shows a sketch 600, representing an exemplary input
image;
[0022] FIG. 7 shows a map 700, representing an exemplary input
image;
[0023] FIG. 8 shows a facility map 800, representing an exemplary
input image;
[0024] FIG. 9 shows a construction/engineering drawing 900,
representing an exemplary input image;
[0025] FIG. 10 shows a land survey map 1000, representing an
exemplary input image;
[0026] FIG. 11 shows a grid 1100, overlaid on the land survey map
1000 of FIG. 10, representing an exemplary input image; and
[0027] FIG. 12 shows a street level image 1200, representing an
exemplary input image.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0028] Following below are more detailed descriptions of various
concepts related to, and embodiments of, inventive methods and
apparatus according to the present disclosure for facilitating a
locate operation using a virtual white line image. It should be
appreciated that various concepts introduced above and discussed in
greater detail below may be implemented in any of numerous ways, as
the disclosed concepts are not limited to any particular manner of
implementation. Examples of specific implementations and
applications are provided primarily for illustrative purposes.
[0029] Various embodiments described herein are directed to
methods, apparatus and systems for creating an electronic record
relating to a geographic area including a dig area to be excavated
or otherwise disturbed. The electronic record may comprise a
virtual white line (VWL) image indicating a point, line, and/or
path of planned excavation. The VWL image may be created using a
VWL application that allows a user to generate (e.g., draw) one or
more virtual white lines for electronically indicating a point,
line, and/or path of planned excavation. For example, using a
drawing tool of the VWL application, a user may mark one or more
virtual white lines on any digital image of the geographic location
of the dig area to indicate the line or path of the planned
excavation. The marked-up digital image (i.e., a VWL image) may be
associated with a locate request (or ticket) and transmitted to the
locate service provider for use during locate operations.
[0030] By indicating a point, line, and/or path of planned
excavation, the VWL image may reduce, or even substantially
eliminate, the amount of time spent by a locate technician reading
and interpreting textual descriptions and/or interpreting verbal
descriptions of the planned excavation. It should be appreciated,
however, that the VWL image and/or the electronic record may
optionally include textual descriptions and other information
requiring interpretation. In addition, by visually and/or otherwise
indicating a point, line, and/or path of planned excavation, the
VWL image may rapidly orient the locate technician at the job site
with respect to the precise location of the planned excavation. As
a result, the locate operation may be performed more efficiently
and more cost effectively. The VWL image may also reduce or
eliminate uncertainty about the locate operation (e.g., by
providing more information or providing information in a more
useful format), which may reduce or eliminate the risk of
damage.
[0031] Referring to FIG. 1, a functional block diagram of a VWL
application 100 for indicating a point, line, and/or path of
planned excavation is presented. In one embodiment, VWL application
100 of the present disclosure may be, for example, a web-based
application that is accessible via the Internet. For example, a
graphical user interface (GUI) that is accessible via the Internet
may be associated with VWL application 100. VWL application 100 may
provide a secure login function, which allows users, such as
excavators and/or system administrators, to access the functions of
VWL application 100. In one example, excavators may login to VWL
application 100 and enter user-specific information which may be
saved in, for example, a user profile. The user-specific
information may include, for example, the user's name, user-ID, and
excavation company name. In another embodiment, VWL application 100
may be a desktop application that is running on the user's local
computing device.
[0032] VWL application 100 may include, but is not limited to, a
drawing tool 110. Certain inputs to VWL application 100 may
include, but are not limited to, ticket information 112, and source
data 114. The output of VWL application 100 may include, but is not
limited to, one or more VWL images 116.
[0033] Drawing tool 110 may be used to create an electronic record
relating to a geographic area including a dig area to be excavated
or otherwise disturbed. As part of the electronic record, the dig
area may be somehow identified with respect to its immediate
surroundings in the geographic area. For example, source data 110
representing one or more input images of a geographic area
including the dig area is received and/or processed so that the
input image(s) 118 may be displayed on a display device. The dig
area is then indicated in some manner on the displayed input
image(s) 118 so as to generate one or more marked-up images
constituting at least a portion of the electronic record. In some
implementations of the inventive concepts disclosed herein, the
electronic record may include a variety of non-image information to
facilitate identification of the dig area (e.g., a text description
of the dig area, an address or lot number of a property within
which the dig area is located, geo-encoded information such as
geographic coordinates relating to the dig area and/or various
aspects of the geographic area surrounding the dig area, etc.). The
marked-up image(s) 120 and the non-image information may be
formatted in a variety of manners in the electronic record; for
example, in one implementation the non-image information may be
included as metadata associated with the marked-up image(s), while
in another implementation the marked-up image(s) and the non-image
information may be formatted as separate data sets. These separate
data sets may be transmitted and/or stored separately, but may
nonetheless be linked together in some manner as relating to a
common electronic record.
[0034] The exemplary displayed input image 118 shown in FIG. 1,
displayed on a laptop computer 170, provides a view of the
geographic area surrounding the dig area. Various embodiments
relating to the inventive concepts disclosed herein enable
excavators, one-call centers, or other users to indicate the dig
area on one or more displayed input images. For purposes of the
present disclosure, an input image is any image represented by
source data that is electronically processed (e.g., the source data
is in a computer-readable format) to display the image on a display
device. An input image may include any of a variety of
paper/tangible image sources that are scanned (e.g., via an
electronic scanner) or otherwise converted so as to create source
data (e.g., in various formats such as XML, PDF, JPG, BMP, etc.)
that can be processed to display the input image. An input image
also may include an image that originates as source data or an
electronic file without necessarily having a corresponding
paper/tangible copy of the image (e.g., an image of a "real-world"
scene acquired by a digital still frame or video camera or other
image acquisition device, in which the source data, at least in
part, represents pixel information from the image acquisition
device).
[0035] In some exemplary implementations, input images according to
the present disclosure may be created, provided, and/or processed
by a geographic information system (GIS) that captures, stores,
analyzes, manages and presents data referring to (or linked to)
location, such that the source data representing the input image
includes pixel information from an image acquisition device
(corresponding to an acquired "real world" scene or representation
thereof), and/or spatial/geographic information ("geo-encoded
information"). In this manner, a GIS provides a framework for data
manipulation and display of images that may facilitate one or more
of (a) location verification, (b) location correlation, (c)
locational relationships, (d) district coding, (e) route analysis,
(f) area analysis and (g) mapping/display creation, for
example.
[0036] In view of the foregoing, various examples of input images
and source data representing input images according to the present
disclosure, to which the inventive concepts disclosed herein may be
applied, include but are not limited to: [0037] Manual "free-hand"
paper sketches of the geographic area (which may include one or
more buildings, natural or man-made landmarks, property boundaries,
streets/intersections, public works or facilities such as street
lighting, signage, fire hydrants, mail boxes, parking meters,
etc.). FIG. 6 shows an exemplary sketch 600; [0038] Various maps
indicating surface features and/or extents of geographical areas,
such as street/road maps (e.g., map 700 of FIG. 7), topographical
maps, military maps, parcel maps, tax maps, town and county
planning maps, call-center and/or facility polygon maps, virtual
maps, etc. (such maps may or may not include geo-encoded
information); [0039] Facility maps illustrating installed
underground facilities, such as gas, power, telephone, cable, fiber
optics, water, sewer, drainage, etc. Facility maps may also
indicate street-level features (streets, buildings, public
facilities, etc.) in relation to the depicted underground
facilities. Examples of facility maps include CAD drawings that may
be created and viewed with a GIS to include geo-encoded information
(e.g., metadata) that provides location information (e.g.,
infrastructure vectors) for represented items on the facility map.
An exemplary facility map 800 is shown in FIG. 8; [0040]
Architectural, construction and/or engineering drawings and virtual
renditions of a space/geographic area (including "as built" or
post-construction drawings). An exemplary construction/engineering
drawing 900 is shown in FIG. 9; [0041] Land surveys, i.e., plots
produced at ground level using references to known points such as
the center line of a street to plot the metes and bounds and
related location data regarding a building, parcel, utility,
roadway, or other object or installation. FIG. 10 shows an
exemplary land survey map 1000; [0042] A grid (a pattern of
horizontal and vertical lines used as a reference) to provide
representational geographic information (which may be used "as is"
for an input image or as an overlay for an acquired "real world"
scene, drawing, map, etc.). An exemplary grid 1100, overlaid on
construction/engineering drawing 900, is shown in FIG. 11. It
should be appreciated that the grid 1100 may itself serve as the
input image (i.e., a "bare" grid), or be used together with another
underlying input image; [0043] "Bare" data representing geo-encoded
information (geographical data points) and not necessarily derived
from an acquired/captured real-world scene (e.g., not pixel
information from a digital camera or other digital image
acquisition device). Such "bare" data may be nonetheless used to
construct a displayed input image, and may be in any of a variety
of computer-readable formats, including XML); and [0044]
Photographic renderings/images, including street level (see e.g.,
street level image 1200 of FIG. 12), topographical, satellite, and
aerial photographic renderings/images, any of which may be updated
periodically to capture changes in a given geographic area over
time (e.g., seasonal changes such as foliage density, which may
variably impact the ability to see some aspects of the image).
[0045] It should also be appreciated that source data representing
an input image may be compiled from multiple data/information
sources; for example, any two or more of the examples provided
above for input images and source data representing input images,
or any two or more other data sources, can provide information that
can be combined or integrated to form source data that is
electronically processed to display an image on a display
device.
[0046] In some implementations an input image may be indexed to
Global Positioning System (GPS) coordinates or another coordinate
system that provides geo-spatial positioning. An input image may
include geo-coding or other geographical identification metadata
and may be provided in any computer-readable format. An input image
may also include images of map symbols, such as roads and street
names, that may be superimposed upon or displayed separately from
an underlying geographic area when the input image is displayed on
a display device.
[0047] With reference again to FIG. 1, "virtual white lines" 160
may be added to the displayed input image 150 to graphically
delimit the dig area 100. Virtual white lines 160 may be added to
the displayed input image 150 through the use of a drawing
application, or dig area marking tool application, which may
superimpose over or otherwise display the virtual white lines 160
on the displayed input image 150. As used herein, "virtual white
lines" may include lines, drawing shapes, shades, symbols,
coordinates, data sets, or other indicators to provide one or more
indications of or delimit the dig area on a displayed input
image.
[0048] The exemplary embodiments described herein may additionally
communicate to the underground facility owner the marked-up images
which indicate the boundary of the dig area both graphically and as
a series of geographical coordinates. These marked-up images and
coordinates enable locate technicians who are dispatched to locate
the existing underground facilities to know with precision the dig
area in which excavating activities are planned to occur regardless
of whether physical white lines exist or whether a description of
the area has been accurately provided. Implementations described
herein may give excavators the ability to provide one call centers
with virtual white lines as part of a locate request. Other
implementations may provide virtual white lines to facility owners
subsequent to the initial locate request to the one call
center.
[0049] Use of virtual white lines, as described herein, may
eliminate the uncertainty associated with imprecise excavator
locate requests. Thus, underground facility owners may determine
the presence of their underground facilities within a correctly
communicated and certain dig area and mark the location of their
facilities where excavators in fact plan to excavate. The precision
and permanency of virtual white lines may reduce the occurrence of
underground facilities not being marked within a dig area. Also,
use of virtual white lines may result in less field communication
between excavators and locate technicians about imprecise dig area
descriptions and may reduce confusion about the exact location of a
dig area. Confusion about precise dig area locations can result in
costly damages to underground facilities which may imperil the
general public. When excavators inadvertently excavate at locations
where underground facility owners have not located existing
underground facilities, damages to underground facilities are
highly likely. Additionally, in jurisdictions where excavators are
required to physically "white line" the dig area, implementations
described herein may enable excavators (if they so choose and are
permitted to do so) to identify the dig area boundaries with
precision without being required to physically visit the site. The
digital description of the dig area, on a displayed and marked-up
input image as generated by exemplary embodiments described herein,
also creates a permanent record of the dig area that is associated
with each locate request by an excavator.
[0050] Once read into VWL application 100 from source data 114, the
digital image and/or electronic data may be rendered in the viewing
window of drawing tool 110. In one example, FIG. 1 shows a rendered
image 118 that is displayed in the viewing window of drawing tool
110. The markings that the excavator adds to rendered image 118 are
used to graphically indicate the dig area. For example and
referring to FIG. 1, drawing tool 110 may be used to superimpose
over or otherwise display one or more "virtual white lines" (VWL)
120 for indicating a point, line, and/or path of planned excavation
upon rendered image 118. As used herein, the virtual white lines
may include points and/or lines, such as single segment lines,
multiple-segment lines, substantially straight lines, curved lines,
and the like.
[0051] A marked-up VWL image may be provided in a method that
involves sending an image to a user via a network; receiving a
marked-up version of the image from the user via the network that
includes one or more virtual white lines added to the image that
indicate a dig area in which excavation is planned; and providing
the marked-up version of the image, via one of an electronic or
tangible delivery system, to another entity.
[0052] The virtual white lines may include two-dimensional (2D)
drawing shapes, shades, points, symbols, coordinates, data sets, or
other indicators to indicate on a digital image the dig area in
which excavation is to occur. In addition, as described herein, the
VWL application 100 of the present disclosure provides the ability
to create one-dimensional (1D) virtual white lines for indicating a
point, line, and/or path of planned excavation.
[0053] Referring again to FIG. 1, drawing tool 110 of VWL
application 100 also provides text editing capability. This text
editing capability allows textual notes to be superimposed over or
otherwise displayed upon and/or along side of rendered image 118.
For example, textual information may be entered manually by
excavators in a notes window 122. Other textual information may
originate from ticket information 112 that may be read into VWL
application 100. For example, the ticket number, location
information (e.g., address), excavator information, and/or one-call
center information may be read into VWL application 100 from ticket
information 112 and automatically included in textual information
and/or the metadata that may be associated with VWL images 116.
[0054] When an excavator completes the sketch of the one or more
VWL 120 upon rendered image 118 and/or completes adding textual
notes upon rendered image 118, the resulting marked-up image may be
saved as a VWL image 116. One or more VWL images 116 may be
associated with a ticket. VWL image 116 may be saved in any
standard image and/or electronic data format. In one example, VWL
image 116 may be saved in any standard digital image file format,
such as, but not limited to, JPG, BMP, TIFF, and PDF file format.
In another example, VWL image 116 may be saved in XML file
format.
[0055] It should be appreciated that the virtual white lines
application for indicating a point, line, and/or path of planned
excavation described in connection with FIG. 1 is merely exemplary
and that many implementations of such an application are possible.
For example, the drawing application or dig area marking tool
application described in each of U.S. patent application Ser. No.
12/366,853 entitled "VIRTUAL WHITE LINES FOR INDICATING PLANNED
EXCAVATION SITES ON ELECTRONIC IMAGES" filed on Feb. 6, 2009, and
U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/050,555 entitled "VIRTUAL WHITE
LINES FOR DELIMITING PLANNED EXCAVATION SITES" filed on Mar. 18,
2008, which are hereby incorporated by reference herein in their
entireties, may be configured to indicate a point, line, and/or
path of planned excavation, as described herein. In addition, the
user device described in each of U.S. patent application Ser. Nos.
12/366,853 and 12/050,555 may be used as a hardware interface to
create the multi-generational VWL images described herein.
[0056] With respect to a point, line, and/or path of planned
excavation, examples of VWL images 116 that may be created using
VWL application 100 are shown with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3.
Referring to FIG. 2, a view of a VWL image 200, which shows more
details of virtual white lines for indicating a point, line, and/or
path of planned excavation, is presented. VWL image 200 is an
example of a VWL image 116 of FIG. 1.
[0057] VWL image 200 may be, for example, a marked-up aerial image
of the geographic location of the dig area of a certain ticket. By
way of example, VWL image 200 is a marked-up image of a certain
residential property location. VWL image 200 shows a VWL 210 that
has been marked by, for example, an excavator to indicate a point,
line, and/or path of planned excavation. In this example, VWL 210
is formed of two line segments, e.g. segments 220A-220B and
220B-220C. VWL 210 may represent the center line with respect to
the line or path of planned excavation. It may be the intent of the
excavator to have a locate operation covering a certain area along
both sides of VWL 210, VWL 210 being the center line of the locate
operation. For example, it may be the intent of the excavator to
have a locate operation covering 5 feet on both sides of VWL 210,
VWL 210 being the center line of the locate operation.
[0058] Additionally, VWL image 200 shows another example (aside
from notes window 122 of FIG. 1) of a mechanism for manually adding
textual information to a VWL image. For example, with respect to
VWL 210, a notes callout 230 may be provided where the excavator
may enter certain notes about the line or path of planned
excavation. By way example, the textual information with respect to
VWL 210 may be as follows . . . "Begin locate operation at the near
front corner of barn. Proceed in a line toward the near side of the
driveway where it meets the road. Proceed across the driveway and
along the roadside for about 50 feet. Locate 5 feet on both sides
of line."
[0059] VWL image 200 also shows a VWL 240, which may indicate a
point of planned excavation. For example, it may be the intent of
the excavator to have a locate operation covering a certain radius
(e.g., a 5-foot radius) around VWL 240, VWL 240 being the center
point of the locate operation.
[0060] Referring to FIG. 3, a view of a VWL image 300, which shows
more details of virtual white lines for indicating a point, line,
and/or path of planned excavation, is presented. VWL image 300 is
another example of a VWL image 116 of FIG. 1.
[0061] VWL image 300 may be, for example, a marked-up aerial image
of the geographic location of the dig area of a certain ticket. By
way of example, VWL image 300 is a marked-up image of the
intersection of two streets (e.g., Maple St and Elm St). VWL image
300 shows a VWL 310 that has been marked by, for example, an
excavator to indicate a point, line, and/or path of planned
excavation. In this example, VWL 310 is formed of three line
segments, e.g. segments 320A-320B, 320B-320C, and 320C-320D. VWL
310 may represent the center line with respect to the line or path
of planned excavation. It may be the intent of the excavator to
have a locate operation covering a certain area along both sides of
VWL 310, VWL 310 being the center line of the locate operation. For
example, it may be the intent of the excavator to have a locate
operation covering 5 feet on both sides of VWL 310, VWL 310 being
the center line of the locate operation.
[0062] Additionally, VWL image 300 shows another example (aside
from notes window 122 of FIG. 1) of a mechanism for manually adding
textual information to a VWL image. For example, a notes callout
330 may be provided where the excavator may enter certain notes
about the line or path of planned excavation. By way example, the
textual information with respect to VWL 310 may be as follows . . .
"Begin locate operation on sidewalk on northerly side of Elm St and
about 50 feet from Maple St. Proceed toward Maple St, but without
crossing Maple St. Then cross from the northerly side of Elm St to
the southerly side of Elm St. Then cross from the westerly side of
Maple St to the easterly side of Maple St and proceed southerly
about 50 feet along Elm St."
[0063] Referring again to FIGS. 2 and 3, when made available to
locate personnel, a VWL image, such as VWL image 200 and 300, and
the information thereof provides precise clarity as to the scope of
the locate operation. In particular, a VWL image, such as VWL image
200 and 300, is useful to rapidly orient the locate technician at
the job site with respect to the precise location of the planned
excavation.
[0064] Referring to FIG. 4, a functional block diagram of a VWL
system 400 that includes VWL application 100 is presented. VWL
system 400 of the present disclosure may include an application
server 410, upon which resides VWL application 100 that is
described with reference to FIGS. 1 through 3. VWL application 100
is stored in memory 442 and executed by processing unit 440.
Application server 410 may be any application server, such as a web
application server and/or web portal, by which one or more
excavators 412 may access VWL application 100 with respect to
generating virtual white lines for indicating a point, line, and/or
path of planned excavation. Application server 410 may be accessed
by excavators 412 via any networked computing device, such as
his/her local computer 413. Excavators 412 may be any personnel
associated with excavation companies (not shown), such as, but not
limited to, individuals who are requesting and/or performing
excavation activities.
[0065] VWL system 400 of the present disclosure may further include
one or more one-call centers 414. One-call centers 414 may be any
organizations, entities, and/or systems that receive, process,
and/or transmit locate requests. The locate request (or ticket) may
be any communication or instruction to perform a locate operation.
One-call centers are generally owned, controlled, or funded by
underground facility owners, such as telephone companies, cable
television multiple system operators, electric utilities, gas
utilities, or others. One-call center operations may be managed by
a non-profit entity or outsourced to a for-profit firm. Excavators,
such as excavators 412, are required to notify one-call centers in
advance of their excavation activities and identify through the
locate request the dig area where individual excavating activities
will be performed. Locate requests consist of information supplied
by the excavator to the one-call center regarding the specific
geographic location of the dig area, date, time, purpose of
excavation, and so on. The locate request, in turn, requires
activity from an underground facility owner to perform a locate
operation in the specified dig area. With respect to VWL system
400, a locate request (or ticket) that may be processed by one-call
centers 414 may have a VWL image associated therewith.
[0066] VWL system 400 of the present disclosure may further include
a source data server 416, which is one example of an entity
supplying source data 114 of FIG. 1. Source data server 416 may be
any computer device for storing and providing source data 114 of
geographic locations. In FIG. 4, source data server 416 includes
memory 446 that stores source data 114 and a processing unit 444
coupled to memory.
[0067] VWL system 400 of the present disclosure may further include
a central server 420 that may be associated with, for example, a
locate service provider. A workforce management application 422 is
stored on memory 428 and executed by processor 424. Workforce
management application 422 processes the output of the VWL
application 100 and dispatches tickets 426 to locate personnel 428.
The tickets 426 may have one or more VWL images 116 associated
therewith. Locate personnel 428 may be, for example, locate
technicians and/or quality control technicians that, for example,
perform locate operations.
[0068] Tickets 426 that are dispatched from central server 420 may
be received by locate personnel 428 via one or more onsite
computers 432. Each onsite computer 432 may be a computer including
processing unit 436 and memory 438, such as, but not limited to, a
computer that is present in the vehicle that is being used by
locate personnel 428. Each onsite computer 432 may be, for example,
any computing device, such as portable computer, a personal
computer, a tablet device, a PDA, a cellular radiotelephone, a
mobile computing device, a touch-screen device, a touchpad device,
or generally any device including, or connected to, a processor and
a user interface. Preferably, onsite computer 432 is a portable
computing device, such as laptop computer or tablet device.
Residing in memory 438 of onsite computer 432, may be certain
tools, such as a viewer 434, which may be executed by processing
unit 436. Viewer 434 may be any viewer application that is capable
of reading and displaying ticket information and/or digital images,
such as VWL images 116. More details of a method of operation
and/or using VWL system 400 are described with reference to FIG.
5.
[0069] A network 436 provides the communication link between any
and/or all entities of VWL system 400. For example, network 436
provides the communication network by which information may be
exchanged between application server 410, local computer 413,
one-call centers 414, source data server 416, central server 420
and onsite computers 432. Network 436 may be, for example, any
local area network (LAN) and/or wide area network (WAN) for
connecting to the Internet.
[0070] In order to connect to network 436, each entity of VWL
system 400 includes a communication interface. For example, the
respective communication interfaces 450a-e of application server
410 one-call centers 414, source data server 416, central server
420 and onsite computers 432, as well as the communication
interface of local computer 413, may be any wired and/or wireless
communication interface by which information may be exchanged
between any entities of VWL system 400. Examples of wired
communication interfaces may include, but are not limited to, USB
ports, RS232 connectors, RJ45 connectors, Ethernet, and any
combinations thereof. Examples of wireless communication interfaces
may include, but are not limited to, an Intranet connection,
Internet, Bluetooth.RTM. technology, Wi-Fi, Wi-Max, IEEE 802.11
technology, radio frequency (RF), Infrared Data Association (IrDA)
compatible protocols, Local Area Networks (LAN), Wide Area Networks
(WAN), Shared Wireless Access Protocol (SWAP), any combinations
thereof, and other types of wireless networking protocols.
[0071] VWL system 400 is not limited to the types and numbers of
entities that are shown in FIG. 4. Any types and numbers of
entities that may be useful in underground facilities locate
applications may be included in VWL system 400.
[0072] Referring to FIG. 5, a flow diagram of an example of a
method 500 of operation and/or of using VWL system 400 is
presented. Method 500 may include, but is not limited to, the
following steps, which are not limited to any order.
[0073] At step 510, a certain excavator 412 requests a ticket
number from a certain one-call center 414 and also provides other
information. In particular, the excavator 412 calls and/or accesses
a web portal of the one-call center 414 and requests a ticket
number. Furthermore, the excavator 412 may provide other
information, such as, but not limited to, the excavator's name,
excavation company name, excavation company location, and the dig
area address and/or other location information.
[0074] At step 512, the certain excavator 412 logs into VWL
application 100 of the present disclosure and enters certain
information. For example, using the Internet browser of any
networked computer, the excavator 412 logs into VWL application 100
at application server 410 in order to access drawing tool 110.
[0075] At step 514, VWL application 100 acquires an image and/or
electronic data comprising the excavation site location from source
data 114 and displays an image thereof in drawing tool 110. In one
example, location information of the proposed dig area, such as the
address and/or any other location information (e.g.,
latitude/longitude coordinates), may be automatically read into VWL
application 100 from ticket information 112. Subsequently, VWL
application 100 automatically queries source data server 416 for
the corresponding source data 114, which is read into the
application and rendered in drawing tool 110. In another example,
VWL application 100 provides a mechanism by which the excavator 412
may view and pan over an aerial map of a region and then manually
identify the location of the proposed dig area. Once manually
identified, the source data 114 that corresponds to the aerial map
is read into the application and rendered in drawing tool 110.
[0076] At step 516, the excavator 412 creates a VWL that indicates
a point, line, and/or path of planned excavation. By way of example
and referring again to FIG. 2, the excavator 412 creates VWL 210 on
the image that is displayed in drawing tool 110, which indicates a
point, line, and/or path of the planned excavation.
[0077] At step 518, the excavator 412 enters other textual
information and saves the VWL image. For example, the excavator 412
enters other descriptive text that may be superimposed over or
otherwise displayed upon and/or along side of the rendered image.
In one example, the excavator 412 enters textual information in
notes window 122 of drawing tool 110. In another example, the
excavator 412 enters textual information in one or more callout
windows, such as notes callout 230 of FIG. 2 and notes callout 330
of FIG. 3.
[0078] At step 520, the VWL image is saved and associated with the
corresponding ticket. For example, when an excavator completes the
sketch of one or more virtual white lines and/or completes adding
textual notes upon the rendered image, such as rendered image 118,
the resulting marked-up image may be saved as a VWL image 116.
Further, the one or more VWL images 116 may be associated with the
corresponding ticket. For example, during the save operation, the
excavator 412 may be prompted to enter the ticket number that was
provided by the one-call center 414 at step 510.
[0079] At step 522, workforce management application 422 dispatches
the ticket and the associated VWL image 116. In one example, a
certain VWL image 116, such as VWL image 200 and VWL image 300, may
be bundled along with its corresponding ticket information in order
to create a certain ticket 426.
[0080] At step 524, one or more tickets 426 are dispatched and
locate personnel 428 retrieve the one or more tickets 426 from
central server 420 via their respective onsite computers 432. In
one example, a certain locate personnel 428 retrieves a ticket 426
that includes a certain VWL image 116 along with its corresponding
ticket information.
[0081] At step 526, locate personnel 428 view the ticket
information and the VWL image 116 that indicates the line or path
of planned excavation in order to perform the locate operation. In
one example, a certain locate personnel 428 uses viewer 434 to view
information of ticket 426 and to view a certain VWL image 116 in
order to perform the locate operation along the line or path of
planned excavation.
[0082] In summary, VWL application 100, VWL system 400, and/or
method 500 of the present disclosure for indicating a point, line,
and/or path of planned excavation may be used to reduce, preferably
substantially eliminate, the amount of time spent by a locate
technician reading and interpreting textual descriptions and/or
interpreting verbal descriptions of the planned excavation.
[0083] Further, VWL application 100, VWL system 400, and/or method
500 of the present disclosure for indicating a point, line, and/or
path of planned excavation may be used to rapidly orient the locate
technician at the job site with respect to the precise location of
the planned excavation. As a result, the locate operation may be
performed more efficiently and more cost effectively.
[0084] Further, VWL application 100, VWL system 400, and/or method
500 of the present disclosure for indicating a point, line, and/or
path of planned excavation may be used to reduce, preferably
substantially eliminate, any uncertainty about the locate
operation, which also has the benefit of reducing, preferably
substantially eliminating, risk of damage.
[0085] While various inventive embodiments have been described and
illustrated herein, those of ordinary skill in the art will readily
envision a variety of other means and/or structures for performing
the function and/or obtaining the results and/or one or more of the
advantages described herein, and each of such variations and/or
modifications is deemed to be within the scope of the inventive
embodiments described herein. More generally, those skilled in the
art will readily appreciate that all parameters, dimensions,
materials, and configurations described herein are meant to be
exemplary and that the actual parameters, dimensions, materials,
and/or configurations will depend upon the specific application or
applications for which the inventive teachings is/are used. Those
skilled in the art will recognize, or be able to ascertain using no
more than routine experimentation, many equivalents to the specific
inventive embodiments described herein. It is, therefore, to be
understood that the foregoing embodiments are presented by way of
example only and that, within the scope of the appended claims and
equivalents thereto, inventive embodiments may be practiced
otherwise than as specifically described and claimed. Inventive
embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to each
individual feature, system, article, material, kit, and/or method
described herein. In addition, any combination of two or more such
features, systems, articles, materials, kits, and/or methods, if
such features, systems, articles, materials, kits, and/or methods
are not mutually inconsistent, is included within the inventive
scope of the present disclosure.
[0086] All definitions, as defined and used herein, should be
understood to control over dictionary definitions, definitions in
documents incorporated by reference, and/or ordinary meanings of
the defined terms.
[0087] The indefinite articles "a" and "an," as used herein in the
specification and in the claims, unless clearly indicated to the
contrary, should be understood to mean "at least one."
[0088] The phrase "and/or," as used herein in the specification and
in the claims, should be understood to mean "either or both" of the
elements so conjoined, i.e., elements that are conjunctively
present in some cases and disjunctively present in other cases.
Multiple elements listed with "and/or" should be construed in the
same fashion, i.e., "one or more" of the elements so conjoined.
Other elements may optionally be present other than the elements
specifically identified by the "and/or" clause, whether related or
unrelated to those elements specifically identified. Thus, as a
non-limiting example, a reference to "A and/or B", when used in
conjunction with open-ended language such as "comprising" can
refer, in one embodiment, to A only (optionally including elements
other than B); in another embodiment, to B only (optionally
including elements other than A); in yet another embodiment, to
both A and B (optionally including other elements); etc.
[0089] As used herein in the specification and in the claims, "or"
should be understood to have the same meaning as "and/or" as
defined above. For example, when separating items in a list, "or"
or "and/or" shall be interpreted as being inclusive, i.e., the
inclusion of at least one, but also including more than one, of a
number or list of elements, and, optionally, additional unlisted
items. Only terms clearly indicated to the contrary, such as "only
one of" or "exactly one of," or, when used in the claims,
"consisting of," will refer to the inclusion of exactly one element
of a number or list of elements. In general, the term "or" as used
herein shall only be interpreted as indicating exclusive
alternatives (i.e. "one or the other but not both") when preceded
by terms of exclusivity, such as "either," "one of," "only one of,"
or "exactly one of." "Consisting essentially of," when used in the
claims, shall have its ordinary meaning as used in the field of
patent law.
[0090] As used herein in the specification and in the claims, the
phrase "at least one," in reference to a list of one or more
elements, should be understood to mean at least one element
selected from any one or more of the elements in the list of
elements, but not necessarily including at least one of each and
every element specifically listed within the list of elements and
not excluding any combinations of elements in the list of elements.
This definition also allows that elements may optionally be present
other than the elements specifically identified within the list of
elements to which the phrase "at least one" refers, whether related
or unrelated to those elements specifically identified. Thus, as a
non-limiting example, "at least one of A and B" (or, equivalently,
"at least one of A or B," or, equivalently "at least one of A
and/or B") can refer, in one embodiment, to at least one,
optionally including more than one, A, with no B present (and
optionally including elements other than B); in another embodiment,
to at least one, optionally including more than one, B, with no A
present (and optionally including elements other than A); in yet
another embodiment, to at least one, optionally including more than
one, A, and at least one, optionally including more than one, B
(and optionally including other elements); etc.
[0091] It should also be understood that, unless clearly indicated
to the contrary, in any methods claimed herein that include more
than one step or act, the order of the steps or acts of the method
is not necessarily limited to the order in which the steps or acts
of the method are recited.
[0092] In the claims, as well as in the specification above, all
transitional phrases such as "comprising," "including," "carrying,"
"having," "containing," "involving," "holding," "composed of," and
the like are to be understood to be open-ended, i.e., to mean
including but not limited to. Only the transitional phrases
"consisting of" and "consisting essentially of" shall be closed or
semi-closed transitional phrases, respectively, as set forth in the
United States Patent Office Manual of Patent Examining Procedures,
Section 2111.03.
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