Seismic event responsive alert and utilities control system and methodology

• US 10,416,616 B2
• Filed: 02/19/2018
• Issued: 09/17/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 05/11/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: E-Seismic Solutions, LLC
• Original Assignee: E-Seismic Solutions, LLC
• Inventors: Ogden, Everett
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel, Ramesh B
• Application Number:
  US15/898,905
• Publication Number:
  US 20180329373A1
• Time in Patent Office: 575 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 13/026 using a predictor
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/042 using digital processors G05B19/05 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/2639 Energy management, use maximum of cheap power, keep peak load low
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 23/0272 Presentation of monitored results, e.g. selection of status reports to be displayed; Filtering information to the user
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/06 Energy or water supply
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/10 responsive to calamitous events, e.g. tornados or earthquakes
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 27/005 with transmission via computer network
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 27/006 with transmission via telephone network
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 27/008 with transmission via TV or radio broadcast

Abstract

A method adapted to provide alert signals to individuals or institutions and/or control signals to utilities control units to automatically stop the flow of gas, water, electricity, oil, etc., such signals being delivered in response to the detection of seismic events, the detection occurring via ground-based monitoring systems and/or satellite-based monitoring systems. The alert and/or control signals are distributed through various broadcasting systems or similar channels of communication, such as radio frequency transmitters, Internet service providers, cell phone wireless carriers, satellite phone service providers and/or security monitoring service providers, to individuals and/or facilities through smartphones, landline telephones, tablets, PC'"'"'s, voice-controlled web communication devices or the like and/or to signal receivers on utilities control units.

Claims

1. A method of controlling the flow of one or more utilities responsive to seismic events, said one or more utilities chosen from the group of utilities consisting of gas, water, electricity and oil, the method comprising the steps of:

detecting physical seismic effects produced by a seismic event by a ground-based physical seismic event monitoring system;

detecting atmospheric seismic effects produced by a seismic event by a satellite-based atmospheric seismic event monitoring system, wherein said atmospheric seismic effects comprise high atmospheric LAI effects which are not detectable by said ground-based physical seismic event monitoring system;

interpreting information received from either or both of said ground-based physical seismic event monitoring system and said satellite-based atmospheric seismic event monitoring system, determining the likelihood of potential surface damage resulting from said seismic event, determining the region to be adversely affected by the seismic event, and initiating an immediate alert protocol whereby alert and utilities control signals are distributed to one or more broadcasting systems;

broadcasting said alert and utilities control signals to signal receivers within the region previously determined to be adversely affected by the seismic event, said signal receivers comprising utilities control units adapted to control utilities control mechanisms adapted to stop the flow of said one or more utilities; and

actuating said utilities control mechanisms to stop the flow of said one or more utilities.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said physical seismic effects comprise one or more of the group of physical seismic effects consisting of geological, surface and near-surface effects produced by the seismic event.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein said LAI effects comprise one or more of the group of LAI effects consisting of electromagnetic radiation disrupting or altering electromagnetic fields, ionosphere plasma and high-energy particles.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein said signals receivers further comprise one or more of the group of signal receivers consisting of smartphones, tablets, PC'"'"'s, landline telephones, satellite telephones and voice-controlled web communication devices.

5. The method of claim 2, further comprising the steps of detecting dangerous conditions in said utilities control mechanisms after said seismic event has concluded, and transmitting a warning signal upon the detection of a dangerous condition.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said LAI effects comprise one or more of the group of LAI effects consisting of electromagnetic radiation disrupting or altering electromagnetic fields, ionosphere plasma and high-energy particles.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said one or more broadcasting systems comprise one or more of the group of broadcasting systems consisting of Internet service providers, cell phone wireless carriers, satellite phone service providers, commercial or residential monitoring service providers, radio frequency transmitters or stations, and public service warning systems.

8. The system of claim 7, further comprising the steps of detecting dangerous conditions in said utilities control mechanisms after said seismic event has concluded, and transmitting a warning signal upon the detection of a dangerous condition.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein said signals receivers further comprise one or more of the group of signal receivers consisting of smartphones, tablets, PC'"'"'s, landline telephones, satellite telephones and voice-controlled web communication devices.

10. The system of claim 9, further comprising the steps of detecting dangerous conditions in said utilities control mechanisms after said seismic event has concluded, and transmitting a warning signal upon the detection of a dangerous condition.

11. The further of claim 1, further comprising the steps of detecting dangerous conditions in said utilities control mechanisms after said seismic event has concluded, and transmitting a warning signal upon the detection of a dangerous condition.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising the steps of transmitting a signal to said utilities control unit to re-open the flow of said one or more utilities.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein said warning signal is transmitted to one or more of the entities chosen from the group of entities consisting of utility companies, security monitoring service providers, and facilities control.

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of transmitting a signal to said utilities control unit to re-open the flow of said one or more utilities.

15. A method of controlling the flow of one or more utilities responsive to seismic events, said one or more utilities chosen from the group of utilities consisting of gas, water, electricity and oil, the method comprising the steps of:

detecting physical seismic effects by a ground-based physical seismic event monitoring system adapted to detect physical seismic effects produced by a seismic event, wherein said physical seismic effects comprise one or more of the group of physical seismic effects consisting of geological, surface and near-surface effects produced by the seismic event;

detecting atmospheric seismic effects by a satellite-based atmospheric seismic event monitoring system adapted to detect atmospheric seismic effects produced by a seismic event, wherein said atmospheric seismic effects comprise high atmospheric LAI effects which are not detectable by said ground-based physical seismic event monitoring system;

processing information received from either or both of said ground-based physical seismic event monitoring system and said satellite-based atmospheric seismic event monitoring system by a data analysis processor system adapted to interpret information received from either or both of said ground-based physical seismic event monitoring system and said satellite-based atmospheric seismic event monitoring system, determining the likelihood of potential surface damage resulting from said seismic event, determining the region to be adversely affected by the seismic event, and initiating an immediate alert protocol whereby alert and utilities control signals are distributed to one or more broadcasting systems;

delivering said alert and utilities control signals by one or more broadcasting systems adapted to deliver said alert and utilities control signals to signal receivers, wherein said one or more broadcasting systems comprise one or more of the group of broadcasting systems consisting of Internet service providers, cell phone wireless carriers, satellite phone service providers, commercial or residential monitoring service providers, radio frequency transmitters or stations, and public service warning systems;

receiving said alert and utilities control signals by signal receivers adapted to receive said alert and utilities control signals, said signal receivers comprising utilities control units adapted to control utilities control mechanisms adapted to stop the flow of said one or more utilities, wherein said utilities control mechanisms stop the flow of said one or more utilities, wherein said signals receivers further comprise one or more of the group of signal receivers consisting of smartphones, tablets, PC'"'"'s, landline telephones, satellite telephones and voice-controlled web communication devices; and

actuating said utilities control mechanisms to stop the flow of said one or more utilities.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising the steps of detecting dangerous conditions in said utilities control mechanisms or said utilities control units after said seismic event has concluded by detection systems associated with said utilities control mechanisms or said utilities control units, and transmitting by transmission systems incorporated in said utilities control mechanisms or said utilities control units a warning signal upon the detection of a dangerous condition, wherein said transmission systems transmit said warning signal to one or more of the entities chosen from the group of entities consisting of utility companies, security monitoring service providers, and facilities control.

17. The method of claim 15, further comprising the steps of transmitting a signal to said utilities control unit to re-open the flow of said one or more utilities.