Patent ID: 9235821
Filing Date: 2016-01-12
CPC Classification: G01V,G06Q

Claim Text:
1. An apparatus for providing a positive response for a locate and marking operation performed by a locate technician in response to at least one locate request ticket generated by a one-call center, the locate and marking operation comprising applying, by the locate technician, 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, the apparatus comprising: a user input device; a display device; a communication interface; a memory to store processor-executable instructions; and a processing unit communicatively coupled to the user input device, the display device, the communication interface and the memory, wherein upon execution of the processor-executable instructions by the processing unit, the processing unit: A) controls the display device so as to display at least one digital image of a geographic area proximate to and including the dig area; B) receives user input from the locate technician via the user input device and controls the display device to facilitate electronic drawing by the locate technician, on the displayed at least one digital image, of at least one electronic marking corresponding to the at least one physical locate mark applied by the locate technician to the ground, pavement or other surface during the locate and marking operation, so as to graphically depict the locate and marking operation performed by the locate technician and thereby create an electronic manifest of the locate and marking operation, the electronic manifest including the at least one digital image and the at least one electronic marking electronically drawn by the locate technician and corresponding to the at least one physical locate mark; and C) controls the communication interface to electronically transmit information so as to communicate to at least one of the one-call center and the excavator at least one of: wherein the enhanced positive response includes at least one of: