Patent ID: 7768265

Claim:
In a system in which a boring tool is moved through the ground within a given region along a path while transmitting a locating signal having a transmit axis such that the locating signal exhibits locate points at the surface of the ground for detection by a portable locator, both ahead of and to the rear of the boring tool, along with a locate line that is normal to the transmit axis and extends through the boring tool, a method comprising the steps of: a) displaying a first type of positional relationship to an operator at an above ground point including at least the position of the portable locator and an estimated position of one of a nearest one of the locate points to, at least in part, serve in guiding the operator to at least the nearest locate point using measured values of flux intensity of the locating signal; b) after finding the nearest locate point, moving in a direction from the nearest locate point into an adjacent side locating region defined between a pair of planes one of which extends through each locate point and each of which is normal to said transmit axis; and c) based on a set of certain criteria within said adjacent side locating region, as the portable locator is moved therethrough, switching to a locate line display to display a second type of positional relationship including at least the position of the portable locator and an estimated position of the locate line.