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US5808916A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Method for monitoring the environment

Assignee: University of Arizona
•
Filing: 1997-07-25
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Granted: 1998-09-15
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Expires: 2017-07-25
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Abstract

Abstract A method for monitoring the environment is described which is capable of providing projected results and effects based upon varying the inputted data as a function of the consequences of presently made or proposed decisions by decisionmakers. Sources of data collected from a plurality of sources are converted into an electronic database which may be automatically and/or periodically updated. A series of software modules utilize the data for a series of to-be-defined specific applications. To portray the environment at a specified future date, the methodology utilizes the full capabilities and data resident in the database. The output provided by modeling and simulation modules may be in the form of two- or three-dimensional visual presentations in an especially equipped multiple, computer-driven, projector screen room or may be in the form of a printed media for binding and distribution with screen images combined with text.

Inventors

  • 👤 Wilson W. Orr
  • 👤 Raymond M. P. Miller

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-09 14:41
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06T; G06T17/00; G06T17/05; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S706/00; Y10S706/902; Y10S706/928; Y10S706/93

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 30
Claim 1
Independent Claim 128 words
A method for monitoring the environment by collecting data and presenting data that may be converted to a visually perceivable or to a documentary format, said method comprising the steps of: (a) acquiring factual natural and man-made environmental information on a real time basis; (b) identifying subject matter of the real time factual information; (c) ingesting and storing the identified factual information; (d) retrieving pre-existing factual environmental information of selected subject matter from a source; (e) correlating selected ingested information with corresponding retrieved information; (f) compiling the correlated information; (g) analyzing the compiled information to obtain simulation scenarios of the impact upon the environment due to either actual or anticipated variations of the factual information; and (h) selectively presenting the compiled or analyzed information for review and study.
Claim 2
Independent Claim 128 words
A method for monitoring the environment by collecting data and presenting data that may be converted to a visually perceivable or to a documentary format, said method comprising the steps of: (a) acquiring factual natural and man-made environmental information on a real time basis; (b) identifying subject matter of the real time factual information; (c) ingesting and storing the identified factual information; (d) retrieving pre-existing factual environmental information of selected subject matter from a source; (e) correlating selected ingested information with corresponding retrieved information; (f) compiling the correlated information; (g) analyzing the compiled information to obtain simulation scenarios of the impact upon the environment due to either actual or anticipated variations of the factual information; and (h) selectively presenting the compiled or analyzed information for review and study.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 28 words
The method as set forth in claim 1 including the step of deleting any retrieved information commensurate with any ingested information to render most current the correlated information.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 30 words
The method as set forth in claim 1 including the step of simulating the environment in at least one future time period based upon the ingested and the retrieved information.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 36 words
The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein said step of retrieving includes the step of using the retrieved environmental information and the ingested information to develop simulated environmental information in a predetermined time period.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 34 words
The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein said step of presenting includes the step of imaging a selected one of the compiled information and the simulation scenarios in a visually perceivable format.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 26 words
The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein said step of presenting includes the step of displaying the compiled information in more than one format.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 41 words
The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein said step of correlating includes the step of creating different combinations of the ingested information and the retrieved information and wherein said step of compiling produces a plurality of compilations of information.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 20 words
The method as set forth in claim 7 wherein said step of presenting includes presentation of the plurality of compilations.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 26 words
The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein said step of presenting includes the step of displaying the projections resulting from said step of analyzing.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 25 words
The method as set forth in claim 9 wherein said step of displaying includes the step of displaying the projections in more than one format.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 27 words
The method as set forth in claim 1 including the step of simulating the effect upon the compiled information as a result of varying the factual information.
Claim 13
Independent Claim 101 words
A method for collecting natural and man-made information relating directly and indirectly to the environment, said method comprising the steps of: (a) acquiring factual natural and man-made environmental information on a real time basis; (b) identifying subject matter of the real time factual information; (c) retrieving pre-existing factual environmental information of selected subject matter from a source; (d) correlating selected identified information with corresponding retrieved information; (e) analyzing the correlated information to obtain simulation scenarios of the impact upon the environment due to either actual or anticipated future variations of factual information; and (f) selectively presenting the correlated and analyzed information.
Claim 14
Independent Claim 101 words
A method for collecting natural and man-made information relating directly and indirectly to the environment, said method comprising the steps of: (a) acquiring factual natural and man-made environmental information on a real time basis; (b) identifying subject matter of the real time factual information; (c) retrieving pre-existing factual environmental information of selected subject matter from a source; (d) correlating selected identified information with corresponding retrieved information; (e) analyzing the correlated information to obtain simulation scenarios of the impact upon the environment due to either actual or anticipated future variations of factual information; and (f) selectively presenting the correlated and analyzed information.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 30 words
The method as set forth in claim 12 wherein said step of correlating includes the step of replacing the retrieved information with corresponding acquired information to present up-to-date factual information.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 27 words
The method as set forth in claim 12 wherein said step of correlating includes the step of compiling the correlated information in more than one time period.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 27 words
The method as set forth in claim 13 wherein said step of correlating includes the step of compiling the correlated information in more than one time period.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim 34 words
The method as set forth in claim 12 wherein said step of presenting includes the step of imaging a selected one of the correlated information and the simulation scenarios in a visually perceivable format.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim 21 words
The method as set forth in claim 12 wherein said step of presenting includes the step of displaying the correlated information.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim 26 words
The method as set forth in claim 12 wherein said step of presenting includes the step of displaying the projections resulting from said step of analyzing.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim 25 words
The method as set forth in claim 18 wherein said step of displaying includes the step of displaying the projections in more than one format.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim 27 words
The method as set forth in claim 12 including the step of simulating the effect upon the correlated information as a result of varying the factual information.
Claim 23
Independent Claim 133 words
A method for projecting the effect on the environment resulting from varying collected natural and man-made environmental information, said method comprising the steps of: (a) acquiring factual natural and man-made environmental information on a real time basis; (b) identifying subject matter of the real time factual information; (c) ingesting and storing the identified factual information; (d) retrieving pre-existing factual environmental information of selected subject matter from a source; (e) correlating selected ingested information with corresponding retrieved information; (f) varying selected parameters of the ingested factual information; (g) compiling the correlated information and the varied information; (h) analyzing the compiled information to obtain simulation scenarios of the impact upon the environment resulting from the selected variations of the factual information; and (i) presenting the analyzed simulation scenarios of the environment for review and study.
Claim 24
Independent Claim 133 words
A method for projecting the effect on the environment resulting from varying collected natural and man-made environmental information, said method comprising the steps of: (a) acquiring factual natural and man-made environmental information on a real time basis; (b) identifying subject matter of the real time factual information; (c) ingesting and storing the identified factual information; (d) retrieving pre-existing factual environmental information of selected subject matter from a source; (e) correlating selected ingested information with corresponding retrieved information; (f) varying selected parameters of the ingested factual information; (g) compiling the correlated information and the varied information; (h) analyzing the compiled information to obtain simulation scenarios of the impact upon the environment resulting from the selected variations of the factual information; and (i) presenting the analyzed simulation scenarios of the environment for review and study.
Claim 25
Independent Claim 133 words
A method for projecting the effect on the environment resulting from varying collected natural and man-made environmental information, said method comprising the steps of: (a) acquiring factual natural and man-made environmental information on a real time basis; (b) identifying subject matter of the real time factual information; (c) ingesting and storing the identified factual information; (d) retrieving pre-existing factual environmental information of selected subject matter from a source; (e) correlating selected ingested information with corresponding retrieved information; (f) varying selected parameters of the acquired factual information; (g) compiling the correlated information and the varied information; (h) analyzing the compiled information to obtain simulation scenarios of the impact upon the environment resulting from the selected variations of the factual information; and (i) presenting the analyzed simulation scenarios of the environment for review and study.
Claim 26
Independent Claim 133 words
A method for projecting the effect on the environment resulting from varying collected natural and man-made environmental information, said method comprising the steps of: (a) acquiring factual natural and man-made environmental information on a real time basis; (b) identifying subject matter of the real time factual information; (c) ingesting and storing the identified factual information; (d) retrieving pre-existing factual environmental information of selected subject matter from a source; (e) correlating selected ingested information with corresponding retrieved information; (f) varying selected parameters of the acquired factual information; (g) compiling the correlated information and the varied information; (h) analyzing the compiled information to obtain simulation scenarios of the impact upon the environment resulting from the selected variations of the factual information; and (i) presenting the analyzed simulation scenarios of the environment for review and study.
Claim 27
Independent Claim 101 words
A method for projecting the effect on the environment resulting from varying collected natural and man-made environmental information, said method comprising the steps of: (a) acquiring factual natural and man-made environmental information on a real time basis; (b) retrieving pre-existing factual environmental information of selected subject matter from a source; (c) correlating selected identified information with corresponding retrieved information; (d) varying selected parameters of the retrieved factual information; (e) analyzing the correlated information to obtain simulation scenarios of the impact upon the environment resulting from the selected variations of factual information; and (f) presenting the analyzed simulation scenarios of the environment.
Claim 28
Independent Claim 101 words
A method for projecting the effect on the environment resulting from varying collected natural and man-made environmental information, said method comprising the steps of: (a) acquiring factual natural and man-made environmental information on a real time basis; (b) retrieving pre-existing factual environmental information of selected subject matter from a source; (c) correlating selected identified information with corresponding retrieved information; (d) varying selected parameters of the retrieved factual information; (e) analyzing the correlated information to obtain simulation scenarios of the impact upon the environment resulting from the selected variations of factual information; and (f) presenting the analyzed simulation scenarios of the environment.
Claim 29
Independent Claim 101 words
A method for projecting the effect on the environment resulting from varying collected natural and man-made environmental information, said method comprising the steps of: (a) acquiring factual natural and man-made environmental information on a real time basis; (b) retrieving pre-existing factual environmental information of selected subject matter from a source; (c) correlating selected identified information with corresponding retrieved information; (d) varying selected parameters of the acquired factual information; (e) analyzing the correlated information to obtain simulation scenarios of the impact upon the environment resulting from the selected variations of factual information; and (f) presenting the analyzed simulation scenarios of the environment.
Claim 30
Independent Claim 101 words
A method for projecting the effect on the environment resulting from varying collected natural and man-made environmental information, said method comprising the steps of: (a) acquiring factual natural and man-made environmental information on a real time basis; (b) retrieving pre-existing factual environmental information of selected subject matter from a source; (c) correlating selected identified information with corresponding retrieved information; (d) varying selected parameters of the acquired factual information; (e) analyzing the correlated information to obtain simulation scenarios of the impact upon the environment resulting from the selected variations of factual information; and (f) presenting the analyzed simulation scenarios of the environment.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US4868771A Cited
US4890249A Cited
US5005147A Cited
US5375074A Cited
US5329464A Cited
US5307292A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 2001-09-14 2002-03-16 2002-09-15 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 2005-09-14 2006-03-16 2006-09-15 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2009-09-14 2010-03-16 2010-09-15 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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