Method of Analyzing Ephedrine Purchase Logs

• US 20100332554A1
• Filed: 06/27/2010
• Published: 12/30/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Brian M. Camodeca, Derek D. Mulder, Mark C. Blair
• Original Assignee: Brian M. Camodeca, Derek D. Mulder, Mark C. Blair
• Inventors: Blair, Mark C., Camodeca, Brian M., Mulder, Derek D.
• Application Number:
  US12/824,189
• Publication Number:
  US 20100332554A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 707/802
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/2477 Temporal data queries
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 10/60 for patient-specific data, e.g. for electronic patient records
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 70/40 relating to drugs, e.g. their side effects or intended usage
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 90/10 Information and communication technologies [ICT] supporting adaptation to climate change, e.g. for weather forecasting or climate simulation

Abstract

Law enforcement personnel have found illegal purchases of ephedrine-containing products are difficult to control due to limitations in analyzing the available data. The within invention breaks through these limitations and addresses multi-purchaser activity over a set geographic area. This allows law enforcement to stay ahead of illicit ephedrine purchasers while ignoring normal, legal purchases of these over-the-counter cold remedies.

The method described herein is an analytic program that automates ephedrine purchase log analysis based on law enforcement experience and intelligence analysis experience. Without human assistance, the invention, a web-viewed service delivered either over local area networks or the interne, pinpoints and extracts the most suspicious names from the data logs for further investigation by the local police department. The automated invention instantaneously delivers a list of likely illegal ephedrine purchasers, sorted by level of suspicion to assist law enforcement.

Claims

1. A method of analyzing ephedrine purchase logs, the method comprising:

a computer processor for processing data;

storage means for storing data on a storage medium;

first means for inputting data by either manual or automated means;

second means for calculating data into appropriate data fields;

third means for analyzing and filtering data for suspicious characteristics and relationships;

fourth means for logging suspicious data into a database; and

,

fifth means for generating a report.

2. A method of analyzing ephedrine logs as claimed in claim 1 wherein said first means further comprises:

means for creating locations on the storage medium for storing data regarding;

(a) names of purchasers;

(b) addresses of purchasers;

(c) date of purchases;

(d) time of purchases; and

,

(e) quantity of epinephrine.

3. A method of analyzing ephedrine logs as claimed in claim 2 wherein said second means further comprises:

means for calculating and storing on the storage medium the data regarding;

(a) the number of purchases made by a purchaser in a specified time period;

(b) the total quantity of ephedrine purchased within a specified time period;

(c) the geographical distance from a purchasers home to the point of sale;

(d) the time between purchasers of a single purchaser;

(e) the time between the purchases of different multiple purchasers;

(f) the geographical distance between purchase locations; and

,

(g) the drive-time between purchase locations.

4. A method of analyzing ephedrine logs as claimed in claim 3 wherein said third means further comprises:

means for analyzing and filtering suspicious data and creating locations on the storage medium for storing data regarding;

(a) identified individuals of interest;

(b) identified addresses of interest;

(c) large distances between home and point of sale;

(d) the type of product purchased;

(e) amount of ephedrine in purchase;

(f) number of purchases made in a specified time period;

(g) same individuals purchasing from multiple points of sale;

(h) same individual making multiple purchases in a single day;

(i) same individual making regular patterned purchases (such as weekly or biweekly)

(j) an individuals favoritism toward a single type of ephedrine-containing product;

(k) short time periods between purchases;

(l) an individuals historic shopping pattern; and

,

(m) multiple purchases made within a temporal proximity of other purchasers.

5. A method of analyzing ephedrine logs as claimed in claim 4 wherein said fourth means further comprises:

means for logging suspicious data on the storage medium for storing data regarding;

(a) assigning a number of flags to an individual depending upon;

(i) the nature of the suspicious behavior; and

(ii) the frequency of the suspicious behavior; and

,

(b) permitting a user to modify the suspicious data depending on mitigating factors.

6. A method of analyzing ephedrine logs as claimed in claim 5 wherein said fifth means further comprises:

means for compiling all relevant data to present into a graphical report detailing suspicious purchase activity regarding;

(a) name of purchaser;

(b) alias of purchasers;

(c) state identification number of purchaser;

(d) date range of all purchases under consideration;

(e) total number of purchases by purchaser;

(f) total amount of ephedrine purchased by purchaser;

(g) a table of purchases made within a suspicious time period; and

,

(h) identification of purchases made by other individuals in close proximity and/or time.