Water quality early warning system
First Claim
1. In a system for monitoring water quality in a selected water system:
- (a) tank means for exposing a plurality of living organisms to water from said selected water system;
(b) video means for simultaneously visually monitoring the movements of a plurality of said organisms in said tank means;
(c) sensor means for measuring selected characteristics of said organisms'"'"' environment including the temperature of said water;
(d) warning means for generating a warning message; and
(e) computer means, coupled to said video means, sensor means and warning means, for automatically, periodically evaluating the quality of the water in said water system, includingvideo analysis means for generating a set of observed statistical distributions for a multiplicity of preselected movement parameters based on said movements of said plurality of organisms monitored by said video means;
predictor means, responsive to measurements by said sensor means, for generating a set of prediction parameters, includingbehavioral model means for defining a set of expected statistical distributions for said multiplicity of preselected movement parameters,wherein each of a plurality of said expected statistical distributions defined by said behavioral model means is a function of one or more measurements by said sensor means, and said set of prediction parameters corresponds to said set of expected statistical distributions; and
analysis means for analyzing said movements of said organisms monitored by said video means, including means for comparing said set of observed statistical distributions with said set of prediction parameters and for activating said warning means when said movements do not correspond to said prediction parameters.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A water quality monitoring system for detecting sublethal degradations in environmental quality. The system continuously or periodically monitors the movements of a plurality of living organisms which are exposed to water from one or more selected sources. A computer controls and coordinates the tasks performed by the system. A video camera is used to visually monitor the movements of the organisms. Sensors measure other selected characteristics of the organisms'"'"' environment, including the temperature of the water. The computer includes software, responsive to the measurements by the sensors, for deriving a set of prediction parameters corresponding to the statistical distribution of expected movement patterns of the organisms. Other software is used for analyzing the organisms'"'"' movements and for comparing the observed movements with the set of prediction parameters, and for initiating the generation of a warning message when the organisms'"'"' observed movements do not correspond to the prediction parameters.
100 Citations
18 Claims
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1. In a system for monitoring water quality in a selected water system:
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(a) tank means for exposing a plurality of living organisms to water from said selected water system; (b) video means for simultaneously visually monitoring the movements of a plurality of said organisms in said tank means; (c) sensor means for measuring selected characteristics of said organisms'"'"' environment including the temperature of said water; (d) warning means for generating a warning message; and (e) computer means, coupled to said video means, sensor means and warning means, for automatically, periodically evaluating the quality of the water in said water system, including video analysis means for generating a set of observed statistical distributions for a multiplicity of preselected movement parameters based on said movements of said plurality of organisms monitored by said video means; predictor means, responsive to measurements by said sensor means, for generating a set of prediction parameters, including behavioral model means for defining a set of expected statistical distributions for said multiplicity of preselected movement parameters, wherein each of a plurality of said expected statistical distributions defined by said behavioral model means is a function of one or more measurements by said sensor means, and said set of prediction parameters corresponds to said set of expected statistical distributions; and analysis means for analyzing said movements of said organisms monitored by said video means, including means for comparing said set of observed statistical distributions with said set of prediction parameters and for activating said warning means when said movements do not correspond to said prediction parameters. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. In a method of monitoring water quality in a selected water system, the steps of:
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exposing a plurality of living organisms to water from said selected water system; simultaneously visually monitoring the movements of a plurality of said organisms; measuring selected characteristics of said organisms'"'"' environment including the temperature of said water; providing a behavioral model for defining a set of expected statistical distributions for a multiplicity of preselected movement parameters, wherein said expected statistical distribution for parameters is a function of one or more measurements of said selected characteristics of said organisms'"'"' environment; and for automatically, periodically performing the steps of; gnerating a set of observed statistical distributions for said multiplicity of preselected movement parameters based on said movements of said plurality of visually monitored organisms; in response to measurements by said sensor means, generating a set of prediction parameters corresponding to said set of expected statistical distributions; analyzing said movements, including comparing said observed statistical distributions with said set of prediction parameters; and generating a warning message when said movements do not correspond to said prediction parameters. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13)
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14. In a system for monitoring environmental quality in a selected environmental system;
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(a) tank means for exposing a plurality of living organisms to an environmental medium from said selected environmental system; (b) video means for simultaneously visually monitoring the movements of a plurality of said organisms in said tank means; (c) sensor means for measuring selected characteristics of said organisms'"'"' environment including the temperature of said environmental medium; (d) warning means for generating a warning message; and (e) computer means, coupled to said video means, sensor means and warning means, for automatically, periodically evaluating the quality of the environmental medium in said environmental system, including video analysis means for generating a set of observed statistical distributions for a multiplicity of preselected movement parameters based on said movements of said plurality of organisms monitored by said video means; predictor means, responsive to measurements by said sensor means, for generating a set of prediction parameters, including behavioral model means for defining a set of expected statistical distributions for said multiplicity of preselected movement parameters, wherein each of a plurality of said expected statistical distributions defined by said behavioral model means is a function of one or more measurements by said sensor means, and said set of prediction parameters corresponds to said set of expected statistical distributions; and analysis means for analyzing said movements of said organisms monitored by said video means, including means for comparing said set of observed statistical distributions with said set of prediction parameters and for activating said warning means when said movements do not correspond to said prediction parameters. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16)
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17. In a method of monitoring environmental quality in a selected environmental system, the steps of:
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exposing a plurality of living organisms to an environmental medium of said selected environmental system; simultaneously visually monitoring the movements of a plurality of said organisms; measuring selected characteristics of said organisms'"'"' environment including the temperature of said environmental medium; providing a behavioral model for defining a set of expected statistical distributions for a multiplicity of preselected movement parameters, wherein said expected statistical distribution for parameters is a function of one or more measurements of said selected characteristics of said organisms'"'"' environment; and for automatically, periodically performing the steps of; generating a set of observed statistical distributions for said multiplicity of preselected movement parameters based on said movements of said plurality of visually monitored organisms; in response to measurements by said sensor means, generating a set of prediction parameters corresponding to said set of expected statistical distributions; analyzing said movements, including comparing said observed statistical distributions with said set of prediction parameters; and generating a warning message when said movements do not correspond to said prediction parameters. - View Dependent Claims (18)
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Specification