Patent Application
20110068164
The present invention relates in general to surveying and more particularly to detecting a barcode target associated with an item at a position of interest and determining position data for the position of interest.
Conventional methods of surveying typically employ ground markers, such as stakes, to mark a location. Marking locations may be performed by permanent or temporary markers such as wooden stakes or painted symbols. Unfortunately, these ground markers typically provide limited information. Additionally, devices currently available for surveying and identifying positions of interest are not configured to distinguish between the conventional markers. For example, many surveying devices employ a surveying pole placed at the location of a conventional survey stake. Because these conventional methods are typically performed with a surveying pole, the conventional systems for performing surveying and positioning measurements do not require survey markers to provide additional information. One disadvantage of such an approach may be difficulty in identifying surveying marks. Another disadvantage may be increased time required for performing a surveying measurement.
Thus, there is a need in the art for a method and apparatus for improved measurement and identification of items of interest.
Disclosed and claimed herein are a method and apparatus for detecting barcode data of at least one item of interest. In one embodiment, a method includes detecting a barcode target, by an imaging device, associated with an item located at a position of interest. The method further includes, decoding the barcode target to extract data associated with the item, determining position data for the position of interest and displaying the data associated with the item and the position data for a user.
Other aspects, features, and techniques of the invention will be apparent to one skilled in the relevant art in view of the following detailed description of the invention.
The features, objects, and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the detailed description set forth below when taken in conjunction with the drawings in which like reference characters identify correspondingly throughout and wherein:
One aspect of the present invention is directed to detecting a barcode target for an item located at a position of interest. According to one embodiment, one or more items may be marked with a barcode target, including but not limited to a surveying stake, a permanent marker, a mobile device, etc. A surveying measurement and/or positioning measurement may then be performed for the position of interest. As used herein, a position of interest may refer to a particular global position or target area. For example, a position of interest may relate to a position marked by a surveying marker. Similarly, the position of interest may relate to the location of a movable item. Detection and decoding of the barcode target may be performed by a barcode target device. In one embodiment, measurement data may be stored and/or displayed to a user based on data encoded in a barcode target. Further, one or more measurements may be performed following detection and identification of a barcode target.
The present disclosure further relates to a device configured for detection of a barcode target. In one embodiment, the device includes an imaging device configured to detect one or more barcode targets. The device may be configured to display data to a user based on one or more barcodes and provide decoded data to a user. According to another embodiment, the device may be configured to determine position data for the position of interest. Measurement results may be compared to decoded barcode data to determine changes associated with the position of interest. For example, a change in elevation, and/or global position, of the position of interest may be determined by the device. The device may further include a wired and/or wireless link to a processing station or server for post-processing of collected surveying data. To that end, the device may provide automated monitoring of an item at a position of interest.
Another aspect of the invention is directed to a process for identifying one or more items of interest based on a detected barcode target. According to one embodiment, a device configured for detection of a barcode target may be configured to display a target window identifying a detected barcode. The device may be configured to decode a barcode target based on a user selection.
When implemented in software, the elements of the invention are essentially the code segments to perform the necessary tasks. The program or code segments can be stored in a processor-readable medium. The “processor-readable medium” may include any medium that can store or transfer information. Examples of the processor readable medium include an electronic circuit, a semiconductor memory device, a ROM, a flash memory or other non-volatile memory, a floppy diskette, a CD-ROM, an optical disk, a hard disk, etc. The code segments may be downloaded via computer networks such as the Internet, Intranet, etc.
Referring now to the drawings,
According to another embodiment, device 100 can determine position data associated for a position of interest. As shown, device 100 includes a position detection module 110. Position detection module 110 may include an angle sensor to determined angular position of a position of interest in relation to device 100 and a distance sensor to detect distance to the position of interest. Output from position detection module 110 may be collected by processor 125 to determine at least one of an elevation, grade, and surveying data in general. Alternatively, or in combination, position detection module 110 may be configured to determine global positioning coordinates (e.g., Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS), Global Positioning System (GPS), Galileo Satellite Navigation System, or the Compass Global Satellite Navigation System).
Processor 125 can output measurement data and/or data received from imaging device 105 using I/O interface 120. According to another embodiment, processor 125 can be any type of processor such as a microprocessor, field programmable gate array (FPGA) and/or application specific integrated circuit (ASIC). Measurement data can be stored by memory 140 wherein memory 140 relates to one of a ROM and RAM memory. It may also be appreciated that measurement data collected by device 100 may be presented to a user by display 130.
According to another embodiment, device 100 may relate an optical total station, such as the Trimble™ VX Spatial Station. The Trimble™ VX Spatial Station can employ a camera and/or electronic telescope as imaging device 105 to observe a target area where items of interest are located. In certain embodiments, a barcode scanner may be electrically coupled to one of the telescope display and the camera display to detect a barcode target in a target area. In this way, the recognition range of barcodes on a distant target may be increased dramatically. As a result, device 100 can identify barcode targets at greater distances. Device 100 may further be configured to detect barcode data of at least one item of interest as will be described in more detail below with respect to
In yet another embodiment, device 100 may relate to a Geographic Information System (GIS) device which may be configured to detect one or more barcode targets as will be discussed in more detail below with respect to
As described above, device 100 may be configured to determine surveying measurements for a position of interest labeled with a barcode. It may also be appreciated that position determination tool 100 can determine at least one surveying measurement for a position of interest and generate a barcode using optional printer 145. Optional printer 145 may be configured to print a barcode label which may be generated in the field for a position of interest.
Referring now to
Barcode target 210 may be fixed or attached to item 206. Data encoded in barcode target 210 may include an identification and feature information for item 206. According to another embodiment of the invention, total station 200 may be configured to detect a barcode 210 from a distance. Data encoded in barcode 210 may be decoded by total station 200 to provide an orientation of the total station. As such, total station 200 can then use decoded information to provide directional information to the user of the total station 200.
According to another embodiment, barcode target 210 can provide a plurality of information types. For example, barcode target 210 may include an identification number assigned by a surveying tool or a predefined identifier, such as a government issued benchmark number. Similarly, barcode target 210 can include data such as a date or time relating to a time and/or date that the barcode is encoded. The date value can be useful when determining a rate of movement for a position of interest. Latitude and longitude coordinates relating to global position data and/or latitude and longitude coordinates may further be decoded from a barcode target. Additionally, barcode target 210 may include feature information including data entered by a user related to the position of interest. For example, the location of a utility service in the vicinity of a surveying mark may be indicated. In addition, information related to a position of interest that the device is required to locate and measure.
Total station 200 may include a position detection module (e.g., position detection module 110) configured to determine position data for the position of interest 205. In one embodiment, total station 200 may be configured to determine position data by employing Global Position Satellite (GPS) system data. Additional positioning satellite system data which may be employed includes GLONASS, Galileo, and Compass, the Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS). Accordingly, total station 200 may include and/or relate to equipment manufactured by Trimble Navigation Limited, the assignee of this application, and include products designed for surveying applications and Geographical Information System (GIS) applications. Exemplary equipment which may be employed includes the Trimble™ S6, VX Spatial Station, and the family of GeoExplorers used in GIS applications. Other techniques employing a combination of terrestrial optical survey and satellite-based position determination are also well known in the arts. The following patents are incorporated by reference herein in their entirety: U.S. Pat. No. 5,471,218; U.S. Pat. No. 5,923,287; and U.S. Pat. No. 6,529,828.
According to another embodiment of the invention, total station 200 may be configured to detect barcodes of various dimensions. In certain embodiment, the dimensions of barcode 210 can limit the amount of data which may be encoded into the barcode. However, it should be appreciated that barcode 210 may be produced having a variety of dimensions. When used as a surveying target, barcode 210 may conform to a predefined surveying target size. The following table provides exemplary values of the maximum number of characters which can be encoded by barcode 210 according to one embodiment of the invention. Although the values presented relate to an exemplary maximum number of characters encoded by barcode data, it may be appreciated that barcode 210 may be decoded with less characters. It should also be appreciated that total station 200 could decode a barcode target having data exceeding the exemplary values.
According to another embodiment of the invention, total station 200 may be configured to perform a surveying measurement and/or detect a barcode 210 from a distance to reduce risk associated with performing a surveying measurement in a high risk site, such as earth movement. Further, barcode 210 may be produced at relatively low cost. In that fashion, monitoring a position of interest in a high risk site may be performed by total station 200.
Referring now to
According to another embodiment, device 250 may relate to a Geographic Information System (GIS) unit which may be a handheld unit. In that fashion, one or more detected barcode targets may be decoded by device 250 wherein the decoded data may be used by one or more applications of the GIS.
Detection of barcodes 260, 265 and/or 266 may be used to determine position of device 250 by decoding data associated with the barcodes. According to another embodiment of the invention, device 250 can transmit detected barcodes to a central processor 270 for collection and processing over communication link 275. Communication link 275 may be one of a wired or wireless data link. Device 250 may further be configured to store data for items 255, 256 and 257.
Referring now to
Referring now to
In one embodiment, the device may prompt a user when multiple barcode targets are detected in a target area. When process 400 detects an additional barcode target, (“YES” path out of decision block 425) the device can determine position data at block 430. When no additional barcode targets are detected, (“NO” path out of decision block 425) process 400 can search another target area.
Referring now to
Referring now to
While certain exemplary embodiments have been described and shown in the accompanying drawings, it is to be understood that such embodiments are merely illustrative of and not restrictive on the broad invention, and that this invention not be limited to the specific constructions and arrangements shown and described, since various other modifications may occur to those ordinarily skilled in the art. Trademarks and copyrights referred to herein are the property of their respective owners.
