Systems and methods for utilizing remote visualization for performing micro-trenching

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12579629-B2
Application number	US-202318310828-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 2, 2023
Priority date	May 2, 2023
Publication date	Mar 17, 2026
Grant date	Mar 17, 2026

Abstract

Systems and method for performing micro-trenching include causing one or more cameras to capture a plurality of photographs of an installation area; obtaining the plurality of photographs and causing processing of the plurality of photographs to provide one or more remote visualizations of the installation area; utilizing the one or more remote visualizations to determine an optimal route for micro-trenching fiber cables; and performing the micro-trenching based on the determined optimal route.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A method of performing micro-trenching and installation for a fiber network, the method comprising steps of:
causing one or more cameras to capture a plurality of photographs of an installation area, the installation area including interiors, exteriors, and surrounding areas of one or more structures; obtaining the plurality of photographs and causing processing of the plurality of photographs to generate a combination of remote visualizations of the installation area, the combination including one or more of: a three-dimensional (3D) model, a 360-degree view, an augmented reality projection, and a photo-stitched visualization, the remote visualizations encompassing interiors, exteriors, and surrounding areas of one or more structures; utilizing the combination of remote visualizations to determine an optimal route for micro-trenching and installation of fiber cables, wherein the determination accounts for interior routes, exterior ground features, and site surroundings; and performing the micro-trenching and installation of the fiber cables along the determined optimal route based on the combination of remote visualizations, wherein the remote visualizations are used to guide equipment placement and installation path.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the installation area includes any of a parking lot, an intersection, and a street.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the processing includes processing the plurality of photographs to define a three dimensional (3D) model of the installation area by correlating location identifiers from UAV and handheld devices with one or more identified objects of interest in the photographs.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the steps comprise causing the one or more cameras to capture a 360 degree view of the installation area.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein causing the one or more cameras to capture a plurality of photographs includes causing an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) to fly a flight path over the installation area and capture the plurality of photographs.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of photographs are obtained from a combination of an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) and one or more camera systems.

7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein determining an optimal route includes identifying a route that minimizes total trenching distance and cable length based on building layouts, existing obstructions, and measured dimensions in the remote visualizations.

8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein causing the one or more cameras to capture a plurality of photographs is performed remotely.

9 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the steps further comprise, after the installing, performing a virtual site inspection of the fiber network.

10 . The method of claim 9 , wherein performing a virtual site inspection of the fiber network includes causing the one or more cameras to capture a plurality of photographs of the installation area after the installation is completed.

11 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the steps further comprise providing a close-out package, wherein the close-out package provides verification of the fiber network installation or maintenance was performed consistent with the optimal plan.

Assignees

• Etak Systems Llc

Inventors

• Priest Lee

Classifications

• G06T7/73

  using feature-based methods · CPC title

• G06T2207/30108

  Industrial image inspection · CPC title

• G06T2207/30184

  Infrastructure · CPC title

• H04Q2011/0073

  Provisions for forwarding or routing, e.g. lookup tables · CPC title

• H04N23/698 Primary

  for achieving an enlarged field of view, e.g. panoramic image capture · CPC title