System for Producing Site Surveys

This invention relates to tools for use by surveyors, architects, builders and the like in producing site survey reports.

Surveyors and the like often need to visit, examine and assess properties, plots of land and building sites and produce reports including measurements, photos and narrative descriptions. It is an object of the invention to facilitate this.

When viewed from a first aspect the invention provides a system for facilitating the production of survey reports comprising: a hand-held portable device comprising: means for capturing and storing digital images, means for recording a voice, and means for measuring the distance from the device to an object; means for transferring said stored digital images from said portable device to a computing device; and means adapted for operation by a user's foot for controlling playback of said voice recording.

Thus it will be seen by those skilled in the art that in accordance with the invention a single portable device can be used to take measurements and photographs and record orally-made notes. The notes can then be typed into a report which is compiled on the computing device by a typist using the foot-operated control. The digital images can also be transferred onto the computing device and so incorporated into the report.

The portable device could be powered by any means suitable for powering portable electronic devices. Preferably it is powered by one or more rechargeable cells. Preferably a common power source is provided for the various components of the

device although this is not essential - one or more of them could have its own power source.

The digital images captured and stored are preferably still images but could be moving image clips. The means for capturing the images could be any appropriate known arrangement e.g. comprising a plastic or glass lens for focussing the image on a CCD or CMOS sensor. The device may optionally be arranged to compress the images for storage using an image compression algorithm such as JPEG or the like.

The voice recording means could comprise a built-in or externally-connected microphone. It could store sound recordings in an analogue format e.g. on cassette tape, but preferably the sound is stored digitally, e.g. using a built-in digital memory such as RAM, flash memory or a hard-disk; or a detachable storage medium such as a CD, magnetic disc, portable hard-drive, or digital memory card such as Secure Digital (SD), Compact Flash or SmartMedia. The recordings may be compressed before storage using an algorithm such as MP3 or the like. In some preferred embodiments, this algorithm will be optimised for the efficient storage of speech recordings.

The means for measuring distance to a remote object may operate by way of an ultrasound or, preferably, a laser timing unit capable of timing the duration between transmitting a pulsed signal and receiving an echo or reflection of the signal off the targeted remote object. In some embodiments of the invention, therefore, the portable device contains a solid-state laser, timing means, and lenses suitable for emitting a beam of light towards a remote object and for capturing light reflected back from said object. The device is preferably arranged to display the measured distance. Data relating to the measurements taken by the surveyor could be stored on the portable device and transferred along with the images. However it is envisaged that it will be more convenient for the surveyor simply to speak the identity and value of the measurements and thereby have them incorporated into the report automatically when it is typed up. Separate storage of the measurement data as such is therefore not essential.

Captured digital images, voice recordings and, if appropriate, distance measurement data could be stored on separate memory devices but preferably a common memory device is used.

The portable device is preferably engineered so as to be able to withstand use on a building site, being, for example, able to withstand being dropped. It is also preferably able to tolerate levels of dust and damp normally found in such locations.

The portable device must be of a suitable size and weight to allow it to be hand-held. Preferably it has a maximum dimension less than 20 cm; more preferably less than 15 cm; and most preferably less than 10 cm.

The means for transferring images from the portable device to the computing device could simply comprise a removable memory device, e.g. a memory card or stick, which once removed can be connected to the computing device. Preferably however it comprises a continuous coupling. The coupling may take any convenient form such as a cable, e.g. a USB or FireWire connection, or a wireless connection, either directly such as by IrDA link, Bluetooth or Ultra- Wideband, or indirectly such as via an 802.11 local-area network. Preferably the portable device is received by a docking station or cradle to which the connection to the computing device is made.

The foot-operated means for controlling the playback of sound recordings from the portable device on the computing device preferably comprises one or more switches and/or pedals adapted for operation by a foot. It may be connected to the computing device, but preferably it is connected in use to the portable device either directly or through the docking station/cradle where provided Each of the aforementioned connections may either be wired or wireless.

Preferably the means for controlling the playback of sound recordings is configured to allow a user to start, pause and stop playback of a recording, and to scan backwards or forwards through the recording. It may also be configured to allow

selection among various recordings captured by the portable device. Alternatively such selection may be made automatically (e.g. sequentially in order of recordal) or using another interface which could be on the device. Another alternative is to use the computing device to effect a selection.

In accordance with the invention the portable device is configured to permit transfer of the digital images stored thereon to the computing device. The same or a different transfer mechanism could be used to transfer the voice recording(s). This would allow them to be played back through the audio system of the computing device. Storage on the computing device might also be desirable in case it later became necessary to check the original recording. Alternatively the portable device might itself be adapted to replay the recording, under the control of the foot-operated means, through a suitable loudspeaker, headset or earpiece.

The invention extends to the portable device of the system set out hereinabove and thus, when viewed from a second aspect, the invention provides a hand-held portable device for facilitating the production of survey reports comprising: means for capturing and storing digital images; means for recording a voice; means for measuring the distance from the device to an object; and means for transferring said stored digital images from said portable device to a computing device.

A particular embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a view of a computing device, docking station and foot pedal in accordance with the invention;

Figure 2 is a rear view of a portable device in accordance with the invention;

Figure 3 is a front view of the portable device; Figure 4 is a side view of the device;

Figure 5 is an opposite side view of the device;

Figure 6 is a plan view of the device; and

Figure 7 is a bottom view of the device.

Referring now to Figure 1, there is shown a computing device 2 such as a personal computer having a monitor 4, a keyboard 6, a slot 8 for a Secure Digital (SD) memory card, and USB ports 10 for peripheral devices. A docking station 12 is connected to the computing device via one of the USB ports. A foot pedal 14 is connected to the computing device via another of the USB ports. These connections are omitted for clarity.

Figures 2 to 7 shows views, from various angles, of a portable device 16 in accordance with the invention. Figure 2 shows the rear of the device 16 which has a robust dust-proof and damp-proof housing 18. On the rear face are a liquid crystal display 20, buttons 22 for controlling the device, a zoom button 24 and a shutter release button 26. Figure 3 is a front view of the device 16. Visible on the front of the device are a lens 28 of a digital camera arrangement and a flash unit 30. Figure 4 shows one side of the device, having a USB port 32 and an SD memory card slot 34.

Figure 5 shows the opposite side of the device, on which can be seen a microphone aperture 36, a record button 38 and a laser button 40. A membrane could be provided over the microphone aperture 36 to maintain dust-proofing

Figure 6 shows the top of the device, which comprises loudspeaker exit holes 42. A membrane could be provided over these to maintain dust-proofing. The loudspeaker exist holes and the microphone aperture 36 are part of a digital voice recording subsystem.

Figure 7 shows the bottom of the device 16, which has an opening 46 through which light from a laser can emerge from the device and a lens 44 through which light can enter the device. These make up part of a laser range-finding device (the remainder being hidden from view inside the case) which measures the amount of time between transmission of a pulse of laser light and receipt of the pulse reflected from

an object in order to calculate the distance travelled by the pulse and thus the distance between the portable device and the laser.

In use, a surveyor uses the range-finder to calculate distances, captures still images and dictates notes relating to a site survey being carried out.

When being used to take a photograph, the device is typically held with the rear face towards the user. The LCD display 20 acts as a viewfmder, allowing the user to compose the photograph. Zoom button 24 acts to enlarge or reduce the field of view by optical and/or digital means. Once the user is satisfied with the composition of the shot, shutter release button 26 is depressed which causes the device to capture and store a photograph of the composed view. The buttons 22 allow the user to select a mode of operation from among the various functions of the device. These buttons may also be used for configuring device settings relating to each function, or global settings such as those relating to memory management and information transfer. The buttons 22 and LCD display 20 can also be used to organise and preview photographs, sound recordings and distance measurements stored on the device.

The device 16 might be used to carry out surveys of several sites. It will be appreciated that since all the required functions are integrated into a single handheld unit, it is significantly more convenient to carry and use than having a separate camera, dictaphone and laser range-finder.

Once the surveyor returns to his or her office, the device 16 can be placed in the docking station 12 which causes the photographs associated with a given site to be transferred to the computer 2. Alternatively a memory card could be inserted into the slot 8 on the computer - e.g. if more than one card was needed to store all the information acquired on the visit. A typist then types up the notes, including measurements taken, into a report including the photographs transferred. The typist uses the foot pedal 14 to control playback of the audio recording and listens to the playback through headphones connected to the docking station 12.