Locating equipment communicatively coupled to or equipped with a mobile/portable device

A system for generating electronic information relating to a marking operation to mark on ground, pavement, or other surface a presence or an absence of at least one underground facility, the system comprising:

• a hand-held locate/marking device comprising:
• an actuator to generate an actuation signal and cause dispensing of a marking material during the marking operation;
• at least one input device to provide marking information regarding the marking operation;
• and
• a hand-size mobile or portable computing device including:
• a memory to store processor-executable instructions;
• and
• a processor communicatively coupled to the memory, the at least one input device, and the actuator, wherein upon execution of the processor-executable instructions by the processor, the processor generates the electronic information relating to performance of the marking operation, wherein the electronic information is based at least in part on the marking information provided by the at least one input device, in response to the actuation signal.

A system for generating electronic information relating to a locate operation to detect a presence or an absence of at least one underground facility, the system comprising:

• a hand-held locate/marking device comprising:
• at least one receiver antenna to detect a magnetic field from a target object and provide at least one detection signal;
• and
• at least one input device to provide locate information regarding the locate operation;
• and
• a hand-size mobile or portable computing device including:
• a memory to store processor-executable instructions;
• and
• a processor communicatively coupled to the memory, the at least one input device, and the at least one receiver antenna, wherein upon execution of the processor-executable instructions by the processor, the processor generates the electronic information relating to performance of the locate operation, wherein the electronic information is based at least in part on the locate information provided by the at least one input device and the at least one detection signal.