Patent US6434258B2 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US6434258B2
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
User modifiable geographical zones for the variable application of substances thereto
Assignee: Centrak LLC
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Filing: 2001-07-23
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Granted: 2002-08-13
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Expires: 2021-07-23
Abstract
Abstract A method and system for applying substance formulations to a land area is disclosed. A flexible, easily modifiable graphical representation of subareas of the area is provided, wherein to each subarea it is desired to apply a combination of one or more substance formulations uniformly throughout the subarea. A user (e.g., a farmer) needs only to specify a boundary for each subarea on a graphical image of the land area for computationally defining the subarea. Subsequently, since the land area image and the subarea boundaries thereon are geographically referenced to latitude and longitude coordinates, when applying such formulations to the land area, the present invention utilizes global positioning system (GPS) signals to thereby determine when such a subarea boundary has been traversed so that a corresponding change in the applied formulation(s) can be performed.
Inventors
- 👤 Daniel W. Wiens
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 12:15
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06Q; G06Q99/00; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S111/00; Y10S111/903
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
239 words
A method for applying one or more substances to a geographical area, comprising: obtaining a visual representation of said geographical area; associating with a first representation of a first subarea of said visual representation, first information for applying a mixture of said one or more substances to said first subarea; presenting an image of said visual representation to a person, wherein said image distinguishes a presentation of said first representation from at least one other portion of said image; receiving input from the person, wherein said input is indicative of an area change in said first subarea, wherein (a) through (c) following: (a) said input includes a representation of one or more geographic locations for at least part of a perimeter for said area change, (b) said input does not include an identification of at least one pixel representing an interior to said area change, and (c) at least a portion of said area change does not have said first information associated therewith for applying said mixture of said one or more substances to said portion; generating, using said input, a second representation of a modified version of said first subarea, said modified version including said first subarea and said area change, wherein said first information is associated with said second representation; accessing said second representation and said first information for applying said one or more substances to said modified version of said first subarea according to said mixture.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
239 words
A method for applying one or more substances to a geographical area, comprising: obtaining a visual representation of said geographical area; associating with a first representation of a first subarea of said visual representation, first information for applying a mixture of said one or more substances to said first subarea; presenting an image of said visual representation to a person, wherein said image distinguishes a presentation of said first representation from at least one other portion of said image; receiving input from the person, wherein said input is indicative of an area change in said first subarea, wherein (a) through (c) following: (a) said input includes a representation of one or more geographic locations for at least part of a perimeter for said area change, (b) said input does not include an identification of at least one pixel representing an interior to said area change, and (c) at least a portion of said area change does not have said first information associated therewith for applying said mixture of said one or more substances to said portion; generating, using said input, a second representation of a modified version of said first subarea, said modified version including said first subarea and said area change, wherein said first information is associated with said second representation; accessing said second representation and said first information for applying said one or more substances to said modified version of said first subarea according to said mixture.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
73 words
The method of claim 1 , further including a step of second accessing second information associated with applying in a second way, different from said first way, said one or more substances to a second subarea of said geographical area outside of said modified version of said first subarea; wherein a difference of said second way from said first way is dependent on a difference of said second information from said first information.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 2 , wherein said difference includes at least one of a different formulation and a different application rate of said substances.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein said area change includes an area that is exterior to said first subarea.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein said visual representation includes a plurality of visually distinct representations of a plurality of subareas of said georgraphical area, said first subarea being one of said subareas.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
50 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein prior to said step of generating, said at least a portion of said area change had associated therewith second information indicative of an application of said substances to said at least a portion that is different from said mixture to said first subarea.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2005-08-12 | 2006-02-11 | 2006-08-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2009-08-12 | 2010-02-11 | 2010-08-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2013-08-12 | 2014-02-11 | 2014-08-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |