Patents by Inventor Tom Y. Sawyer, Jr.

Tom Y. Sawyer, Jr. has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 9836629
    Abstract: Method for capturing, organizing and retrieving data for utility assets using RFID tags, including: storing data related to a plurality of utility assets in a database, wherein the stored data include data about type of the utility asset; repair, documentation, testing validation, and inspection of the utility asset; programming a plurality of RFID tags for placement on a utility asset, by one or more processors; placing the programmed RFID tags on the utility asset; linking stored data related to the utility asset with the programmed data for the placed RFID tags, including location data of the placed RFID tags; and querying one or more of the placed RFID tags to retrieve data about the utility asset including data about the location of the utility asset, the specific segment and the specific joint, the type of the utility asset; repair, documentation, testing validation, and inspection of the utility asset, by one or more processors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: ECHORFID LLC
    Inventors: Layne D. Tucker, Gordon R. Hockridge, Tom Y. Sawyer, Jr., Tom D. Petty
  • Publication number: 20160371519
    Abstract: Method for capturing, organizing and retrieving data for utility assets using RFID tags, including: storing data related to a plurality of utility assets in a database, wherein the stored data include data about type of the utility asset; repair, documentation, testing validation, and inspection of the utility asset; programming a plurality of RFID tags for placement on a utility asset, by one or more processors; placing the programmed RFID tags on the utility asset; linking stored data related to the utility asset with the programmed data for the placed RFID tags, including location data of the placed RFID tags; and querying one or more of the placed RFID tags to retrieve data about the utility asset including data about the location of the utility asset, the specific segment and the specific joint, the type of the utility asset; repair, documentation, testing validation, and inspection of the utility asset, by one or more processors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2016
    Publication date: December 22, 2016
    Inventors: Layne D. Tucker, Gordon R. Hockridge, Tom Y. Sawyer, JR., Tom D. Petty
  • Patent number: 9471819
    Abstract: Method for capturing, organizing and retrieving data for utility assets using RFID tags, including: storing data related to a plurality of utility assets in a database, wherein the stored data include data about type of the utility asset; repair, documentation, testing validation, and inspection of the utility asset; programming a plurality of RFID tags for placement on a utility asset, by one or more processors; placing the programmed RFID tags on the utility asset; linking stored data related to the utility asset with the programmed data for the placed RFID tags, including location data of the placed RFID tags; and querying one or more of the placed RFID tags to retrieve data about the utility asset including data about the location of the utility asset, the specific segment and the specific joint, the type of the utility asset; repair, documentation, testing validation, and inspection of the utility asset, by one or more processors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2016
    Assignee: ECHORFID LLC.
    Inventors: Layne D. Tucker, Gordon R. Hockridge, Tom Y. Sawyer, Jr., Tom D. Petty
  • Publication number: 20130321131
    Abstract: Method for capturing, organizing and retrieving data for utility assets using RFID tags, including: storing data related to a plurality of utility assets in a database, wherein the stored data include data about type of the utility asset; repair, documentation, testing validation, and inspection of the utility asset; programming a plurality of RFID tags for placement on a utility asset, by one or more processors; placing the programmed RFID tags on the utility asset; linking stored data related to the utility asset with the programmed data for the placed RFID tags, including location data of the placed RFID tags; and querying one or more of the placed RFID tags to retrieve data about the utility asset including data about the location of the utility asset, the specific segment and the specific joint, the type of the utility asset; repair, documentation, testing validation, and inspection of the utility asset, by one or more processors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 28, 2013
    Publication date: December 5, 2013
    Inventors: Layne D. Tucker, Gordon R. Hockridge, Tom Y. Sawyer, JR., Tom D. Petty
  • Patent number: 8144058
    Abstract: A system and method for generating a geographical data transaction including information about a topography of a region and utilities within the region. The method and system include providing information about the topography of the region; receiving information from a user collecting data related to one or more utilities in the region; receiving information about time and date of the collected data; receiving information about each of the utilities; and receiving information about location of each of the utilities. The system and method further include receiving information about revisions made to the information about the map; and integrating the received information with the information about the topography of the region into a geographical data transaction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2012
    Assignee: Global Precision Solutions, LLP.
    Inventors: Tom Y. Sawyer, Jr., Mark Beckner, Page Tucker, Scott Austin Jones
  • Patent number: 8081112
    Abstract: A method and apparatus, including software, for the development and operational use of precise utility location and utility asset management information. Field-usable data sets may be produced that meet standards of accuracy and usability that are sufficient for use by field operations personnel participating in damage prevention activities associated with ground penetrating projects (e.g., excavating, trenching, boring, driving, and tunneling) or other asset applications. Some embodiments relate to integrating utility asset data including coordinate location, and geographical information data using a consistently available and accurate coordinates reference for collecting the data and for aligning the geographical information data. Some embodiments relate to managing projects with equipment that provides real time images and the updating of the data as required with this desired accuracy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2011
    Assignee: Global Precision Solutions, LLP.
    Inventors: Layne D. Tucker, John Lepper, Daniel E. Colby, Page Tucker, Tom Y. Sawyer, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20110241936
    Abstract: A system and method for generating a geographical data transaction including information about a topography of a region and utilities within the region. The method and system include providing information about the topography of the region; receiving information from a user collecting data related to one or more utilities in the region; receiving information about time and date of the collected data; receiving information about each of the utilities; and receiving information about location of each of the utilities. The system and method further include receiving information about revisions made to the information about the map; and integrating the received information with the information about the topography of the region into a geographical data transaction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 2, 2011
    Publication date: October 6, 2011
    Applicant: GLOBAL PRECISION SOLUTIONS, LLP.
    Inventors: Tom Y. Sawyer, JR., Mark Beckner, Page Tucker, Scott Austin Jones
  • Patent number: 7978129
    Abstract: A system and method for generating a GIS data transaction including information about a topography of a region and utilities within the region. The method and system include providing information about the topography of the region; receiving information about a user collecting data related to one or more utilities in the region; receiving information about time and date of the collected data; receiving information about each of the utilities; receiving information about location of each of the utilities; and receiving information about the manner of collecting data. The system and method further include receiving information about revisions made to the information about the map; and integrating the received information with the information about the topography of the region into a GIS data transaction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2011
    Assignee: Global Precision Solutions, LLP.
    Inventors: Tom Y. Sawyer, Jr., Mark Beckner, Page Tucker, Scott Austin Jones
  • Patent number: 7920068
    Abstract: A system and method for determining a distance of a utility asset from a moving equipment. The invention determines a first current location of the equipment; accesses stored coordinates for a plurality of utility assets; selects an area of interest including a portion of the plurality of utility assets; identifies local utility assets in the selected area; determines a utility asset nearest to the first current position of the equipment, from the local utility assets; determines velocity and direction of the moving equipment; and determines the distance from the nearest utility asset to the second current location of the equipment responsive to the determined velocity and direction of the equipment. The invention may then generate a warning indication responsive to the determined distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2011
    Assignee: Global Precision Solutions, LLP.
    Inventors: Tom Y. Sawyer, Jr., Daniel E. Colby, Senthilnathan Kannan
  • Patent number: 7834806
    Abstract: A method and apparatus, including software, for the development and operational use of precise utility location and utility asset management information. Field-usable data sets may be produced that meet standards of accuracy and usability that are sufficient for use by field operations personnel participating in damage prevention activities associated with ground penetrating projects (e.g., excavating, trenching, boring, driving, and tunneling) or other asset applications. Some embodiments relate to integrating utility asset data including coordinate location, and geographical information data using a consistently available and accurate coordinates reference for collecting the data and for aligning the geographical information data. Some embodiments relate to managing projects with equipment that provides real time images and the updating of the data as required with this desired accuracy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2010
    Assignee: Global Precision Solutions, LLP
    Inventors: Layne D. Tucker, John Lepper, Daniel E. Colby, Page Tucker, Tom Y. Sawyer, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20100045517
    Abstract: A method and apparatus, including software, for the development and operational use of precise utility location and utility asset management information. Field-usable data sets may be produced that meet standards of accuracy and usability that are sufficient for use by field operations personnel participating in damage prevention activities associated with ground penetrating projects (e.g., excavating, trenching, boring, driving, and tunneling) or other asset applications. Some embodiments relate to integrating utility asset data including coordinate location, and geographical information data using a consistently available and accurate coordinates reference for collecting the data and for aligning the geographical information data. Some embodiments relate to managing projects with equipment that provides real time images and the updating of the data as required with this desired accuracy.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 3, 2009
    Publication date: February 25, 2010
    Inventors: Layne D. Tucker, John Lepper, Daniel E. Colby, Page Tucker, Tom Y. Sawyer, JR.
  • Publication number: 20090237263
    Abstract: A system and method for determining a distance of a utility asset from a moving equipment. The invention determines a first current location of the equipment; accesses stored coordinates for a plurality of utility assets; selects an area of interest including a portion of the plurality of utility assets; identifies local utility assets in the selected area; determines a utility asset nearest to the first current position of the equipment, from the local utility assets; determines velocity and direction of the moving equipment; and determines the distance from the nearest utility asset to the second current location of the equipment responsive to the determined velocity and direction of the equipment. The invention may then generate a warning indication responsive to the determined distance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2006
    Publication date: September 24, 2009
    Inventors: Tom Y. Sawyer, JR., Daniel E. Colby, Senthilnathan Kannan
  • Publication number: 20090121933
    Abstract: A method and apparatus, including software, for the development and operational use of precise utility location and utility asset management information. Field-usable data sets may be produced that meet standards of accuracy and usability that are sufficient for use by field operations personnel participating in damage prevention activities associated with ground penetrating projects (e.g., excavating, trenching, boring, driving, and tunneling) or other asset applications. Some embodiments relate to integrating utility asset data including coordinate location, and geographical information data using a consistently available and accurate coordinates reference for collecting the data and for aligning the geographical information data. Some embodiments relate to managing projects with equipment that provides real time images and the updating of the data as required with this desired accuracy.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 7, 2009
    Publication date: May 14, 2009
    Inventors: Layne D. Tucker, John Lepper, Daniel E. Colby, Page Tucker, Tom Y. Sawyer, JR.
  • Patent number: 7482973
    Abstract: A method and apparatus, including software, for the development and operational use of precise utility location and utility asset management information. Field-usable data sets may be produced that meet standards of accuracy and usability that are sufficient for use by field operations personnel participating in damage prevention activities associated with ground penetrating projects (e.g., excavating, trenching, boring, driving, and tunneling) or other asset applications. Some embodiments relate to integrating utility asset data including coordinate location, and geographical information data using a consistently available and accurate coordinates reference for collecting the data and for aligning the geographical information data. Some embodiments relate to managing projects with equipment that provides real time images and the updating of the data as required with this desired accuracy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2009
    Assignee: Global Precision Solutions, LLP.
    Inventors: Layne D. Tucker, John Lepper, Daniel E. Colby, Page Tucker, Tom Y. Sawyer, Jr.