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Environmental monitoring system

Assignee: Einstein Healthcare Network
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Filing: 1997-11-12
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Granted: 2000-04-25
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Expires: 2017-11-12
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Abstract

Abstract An apparatus and method for monitoring environmental conditions that processes information to create and display information concerning changes in the status of environmental conditions. The apparatus comprises a means of transforming measured values of more than one parameter of the condition using a function dependent on at least one of the baseline and critical values of the conditions. In a preferred form, the function is a non-linear transformation function. The apparatus further includes mapping values for mapping the function to a sequence of reference values and generating a deviation indicator for each parameter. The deviation indicators are then analyzed to generate and display information concerning the changed status of the environmental (i.e., meteorological or geological) conditions.

Inventors

  • 👤 Igal Nevo
  • 👤 Maher Salah
  • 👤 Srinivas S. Dagalur
  • 👤 Mark Newman

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-29 09:13
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06Q; G06Q10/00; G01; G01W; G01W1/00; G01W1/02; G01W1/06

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 33
Claim 1
Independent Claim 105 words
An apparatus for monitoring variable environmental conditions in order to analyze any changes and/or deviations from a predetermined norm, said apparatus comprising,: a. transformation means for transforming each value of a plurality of environmental index values associated with the environment using a function dependent on at least baseline and critical values of the index value; b. mapping means for mapping the function to a sequence of reference values and generating a deviation indicator for each environmental index value; and c. analysis means for analyzing the deviation indicators and generating an average deviation indicator in order to analyze any changes and/or deviations from a predetermined norm.
Claim 2
Independent Claim 105 words
An apparatus for monitoring variable environmental conditions in order to analyze any changes and/or deviations from a predetermined norm, said apparatus comprising,: a. transformation means for transforming each value of a plurality of environmental index values associated with the environment using a function dependent on at least baseline and critical values of the index value; b. mapping means for mapping the function to a sequence of reference values and generating a deviation indicator for each environmental index value; and c. analysis means for analyzing the deviation indicators and generating an average deviation indicator in order to analyze any changes and/or deviations from a predetermined norm.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 53 words
The apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein the analysis means generates an average deviation indicator employing a function of the form: ##EQU13## wherein DI avg represents the average deviation indicator, y i , represents the mapped value of the i th value and n represents the total number of values being measured.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 31 words
The apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein the transformation means employs a function which exhibits a maximum sensitivity for deviations close to the baseline value of the environmental index value.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 73 words
The apparatus as recited in claim 3 wherein the transformation means employs a function of the form: ##EQU14## wherein x represents the value of the particular environmental index; BL represents the baseline value for the environmental index; Xmax represents a predefined maximum value for the environmental index; a, b, and w represent predefined numbers; and y represents the value of the function, and Y m represents a predefined maximum value of the function.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 31 words
The apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein the transformation means employs a function which exhibits a minimum sensitivity for deviations close to the baseline value of the environmental index value.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 94 words
The apparatus as recited in claim 5 wherein the transformation means employs a function of the form: y=1/2{1-exp(-G(x-BL).sup.2)}, wherein y represents the mapped value of the parameter, x represents the measured value of the parameter, BL represents the baseline value for the parameter, and G represents the mapping parameter such that ##EQU15## wherein y' represents the value of the function at x min , x min represents the minimum value of the parameter, y" represents the value of the function at x max , and x max represents the maximum value of the parameter.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 16 words
The apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein the transformation means employs a non-linear transformation function.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 76 words
The apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein the mapping means comprises a means for determining the deviation indicators employing a function of the form: DI=.left brkt-bot.K×Abs(y-0.5).right brkt-bot. wherein DI represents the deviation indicator, K represents a constant, Abs represents absolute values, y represents the value of the function, and ".left brkt-bot..right brkt-bot." represents a floor function that returns the largest integer value of an expression contained between the ".left brkt-bot." and the ".right brkt-bot." symbols.
Claim 10
Independent Claim 90 words
An apparatus for monitoring variable environmental conditions comprising: a. transformation means for transforming each value of a plurality of environmental index values associated with the environment using a function dependent on at least baseline and critical values of the index value; b. mapping means for mapping the function to a sequence of reference values and generating a deviation indicator for each environmental index value; c. analysis means for analyzing the deviation indicators and generating an average deviation indicator; and d. a plurality of sensors operative to measure the environmental index.
Claim 11
Independent Claim 90 words
An apparatus for monitoring variable environmental conditions comprising: a. transformation means for transforming each value of a plurality of environmental index values associated with the environment using a function dependent on at least baseline and critical values of the index value; b. mapping means for mapping the function to a sequence of reference values and generating a deviation indicator for each environmental index value; c. analysis means for analyzing the deviation indicators and generating an average deviation indicator; and d. a plurality of sensors operative to measure the environmental index.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 18 words
The apparatus as recited in claim 9 further comprising a display means for displaying the average environmental index.
Claim 13
Independent Claim 107 words
An apparatus for monitoring an environmental system in order to analyze any changes and/or deviations from a predetermined norm, said apparatus comprising: a. transformation means for transforming each value of a plurality of environmental index values associated with the environmental system using a function dependent on at least baseline and critical values of the environmental index value; b. mapping means for mapping the function to a sequence of reference values and generating a deviation indicator for each environmental index value; and c. analysis means for analyzing the deviation indicators and generating a system criticality indicator in order to analyze any changes and/or deviations from a predetermined norm.
Claim 14
Independent Claim 107 words
An apparatus for monitoring an environmental system in order to analyze any changes and/or deviations from a predetermined norm, said apparatus comprising: a. transformation means for transforming each value of a plurality of environmental index values associated with the environmental system using a function dependent on at least baseline and critical values of the environmental index value; b. mapping means for mapping the function to a sequence of reference values and generating a deviation indicator for each environmental index value; and c. analysis means for analyzing the deviation indicators and generating a system criticality indicator in order to analyze any changes and/or deviations from a predetermined norm.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 82 words
The apparatus as recited in claim 11 wherein the analysis means generates the system criticality indicator employing a function of the form: ##EQU16## wherein DI cri represents the system criticality indicator, n represents the total number of measured values, DI max represents a maximum deviation indicator for all the measured values, DI avg represents an average of the deviation indicators for all the measured values, n m is the total number of values with a deviation indicator equal to DI max .
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 31 words
The apparatus as recited in claim 11 wherein the transformation means employs a function which exhibits a maximum sensitivity for deviations close to the baseline value of the environmental index value.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 74 words
The apparatus as recited in claim 13 wherein the transformation means employs a function of the form: ##EQU17## wherein x represents the value of the particular environmental index; BL represents the baseline value for the environmental index; x max represents a predefined maximum value for the environmental index; a, b, and w represent predefined numbers; and y represents the value of the function, and Y m represents a predefined maximum value of the function.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim 31 words
The apparatus as recited in claim 10 wherein the transformation means employs a function which exhibits a minimum sensitivity for deviations close to the baseline value of the environmental index value.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim 94 words
The apparatus as recited in claim 15 wherein the transformation means employs a function of the form: y=1/2{1-exp(-G(x-BL).sup.2)} wherein y represents the mapped value of the parameter, x represents the measured value of the parameter, BL represents the baseline value for the parameter, and G represents the mapping parameter such that ##EQU18## wherein y' represents the value of the function at x min , x min represents the minimum value of the parameter, y" represents the value of the function at x max , and x max represents the maximum value of the parameter.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim 16 words
The apparatus as recited in claim 10 wherein the transformation means employs a non-linear transformation function.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim 76 words
The apparatus as recited in claim 10 wherein the mapping means comprises a means for determining the deviation indicators employing a function of the form: DI=.left brkt-bot.K×Abs(y-0.5).right brkt-bot. wherein DI represents the deviation indicator, K represents a constant, Abs represents absolute values, y represents the value of the function, and ".left brkt-bot..right brkt-bot." represents a floor function that returns the largest integer value of an expression contained between the ".left brkt-bot." and the ".right brkt-bot." symbols.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim 20 words
The apparatus as recited in claim 10 further comprising a plurality of sensors operative to measure the environmental index values.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim 18 words
The apparatus as recited in claim 10 further comprising a display means for displaying the system criticality indicator.
Claim 24
Independent Claim 110 words
An apparatus for monitoring an environmental system in order to analyze any changes and/or deviations from a predetermined norm, said apparatus comprising: a. transformation means for transforming each value of a plurality of environmental indices associated with the system using a function dependent on at least baseline and critical values of the environmental index value, wherein the function exhibits a maximum sensitivity for deviations close to the baseline value of the environmental index value; and b. mapping means for mapping the function to a sequence of reference values and generating a deviation indicator for each environmental index value in order to analyze any changes and/or deviations from a predetermined norm.
Claim 25
Independent Claim 110 words
An apparatus for monitoring an environmental system in order to analyze any changes and/or deviations from a predetermined norm, said apparatus comprising: a. transformation means for transforming each value of a plurality of environmental indices associated with the system using a function dependent on at least baseline and critical values of the environmental index value, wherein the function exhibits a maximum sensitivity for deviations close to the baseline value of the environmental index value; and b. mapping means for mapping the function to a sequence of reference values and generating a deviation indicator for each environmental index value in order to analyze any changes and/or deviations from a predetermined norm.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim 74 words
The apparatus as recited in claim 21 wherein the transformation means employs a function of the form: ##EQU19## wherein x represents the value of the particular environmental index; BL represents the baseline value for the environmental index; x max represents a predefined maximum value for the environmental index; a, b, and w represent predefined numbers; and y represents the value of the function, and Y m represents a predefined maximum value of the function.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim 31 words
The apparatus as recited in claim 21 wherein the transformation means employs a function which exhibits a minimum sensitivity for deviations close to the baseline value of the environmental index value.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim 95 words
The apparatus as recited in claim 23 wherein the transformation means employs a function of the form: y=1/2{1-exp(-G(x-BL).sup.2)}, wherein y represents the mapped value of the parameter, x represents the measured value of the parameter, BL represents the baseline value for the environmental parameter, and G represents the mapping parameter such that ##EQU20## wherein y' represents the value of the function at x min , x min represents the minimum value of the parameter, y" represents the value of the function at x max , and x max represents the maximum value of the parameter.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim 76 words
The apparatus as recited in claim 21 wherein the mapping means comprises a means for determining the deviation indicators employing a function of the form: DI=.left brkt-bot.K×Abs(y-0.5).right brkt-bot. wherein DI represents the deviation indicator, K represents a constant, Abs represents absolute values, y represents the value of the function, and ".left brkt-bot..right brkt-bot." represents a floor function that returns the largest integer value of an expression contained between the ".left brkt-bot." and the ".right brkt-bot." symbols.
Claim 30
Independent Claim 99 words
An apparatus for monitoring an environmental system comprising: a. transformation means for transforming each value of a plurality of environmental indices associated with the system using a function dependent on at least baseline and critical values of the environmental index value, wherein the function exhibits a maximum sensitivity for deviations close to the baseline value of the environmental index value; b. mapping means for mapping the function to a sequence of reference values and generating a deviation indicator for each environmental index value; and c. a plurality of sensors operative to measure the values of the environmental index values.
Claim 31
Independent Claim 99 words
An apparatus for monitoring an environmental system comprising: a. transformation means for transforming each value of a plurality of environmental indices associated with the system using a function dependent on at least baseline and critical values of the environmental index value, wherein the function exhibits a maximum sensitivity for deviations close to the baseline value of the environmental index value; b. mapping means for mapping the function to a sequence of reference values and generating a deviation indicator for each environmental index value; and c. a plurality of sensors operative to measure the values of the environmental index values.
Claim 32
Independent Claim 89 words
An apparatus for monitoring an environmental system in order to analyze any changes and/or deviations from a predetermined norm, said apparatus comprising: a. transformation means for transforming each value of a plurality of environmental index values associated with the system using a function dependent on at least baseline values of the environmental system; and b. mapping means for mapping the function to a sequence of reference values and generating a deviation indicator for each environmental index value in order to analyze any changes and/or deviations from a predetermined norm.
Claim 33
Independent Claim 89 words
An apparatus for monitoring an environmental system in order to analyze any changes and/or deviations from a predetermined norm, said apparatus comprising: a. transformation means for transforming each value of a plurality of environmental index values associated with the system using a function dependent on at least baseline values of the environmental system; and b. mapping means for mapping the function to a sequence of reference values and generating a deviation indicator for each environmental index value in order to analyze any changes and/or deviations from a predetermined norm.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US5798923A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 2003-04-25 2003-10-25 2004-04-25 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 2007-04-25 2007-10-25 2008-04-25 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
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