Automated graphical representation of agricutural information

• US 6,401,041 B1
• Filed: 05/11/2000
• Issued: 06/04/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 05/11/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Clayton Petersen
• Original Assignee: Clayton Petersen
• Inventors: Petersen, Clayton
• Primary Examiner(s): McElheny, Jr., Donald E.
• Application Number:
  US09/569,222
• Time in Patent Office: 754 Days
• Field of Search: 702/5, 702/2, 701/50, 701/208, 706/428, 706/930
• US Class Current: 702/5
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/904 Browsing; Visualisation therefor for navigating the web G06F16/954; browsing optimisation for the web G06F16/957
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 11/206 Drawing of charts or graphs

Abstract

An automated graphical representation of agricultural information features entry of agricultural data through an Internet web page, preferably by outside resources such as county extension agents. The data is stored within a temporary table until validated. Once the data is verified, it is transferred to a main database, to be included as a part of the data available for third-party graphical representation. The agricultural data is displayed using colors representative of the status or condition of a characteristic that is being evaluated by an end-user. This is preferably done by selecting one pre-established and uniquely colored layer from several that are available, most preferably with the color corresponding to the status. The unique graphical representation allows a very diverse base of users to quickly and readily ascertain the agricultural information, while simultaneously being able to quickly compare the information from one region against another or against historical norms.

Claims

1. A method for agricultural collection and reporting, comprising the steps of:

creating a master database for storing agricultural data;

providing a temporary table which acts as a repository for said agricultural data;

dividing a geographic region into a plurality of jurisdictional boundaries each having unique governmental jurisdiction;

generating an outline representative of at least one of said plurality of jurisdictional boundaries;

collecting agricultural data describing an agricultural characteristic of said at least one of said plurality of jurisdictional boundaries into said temporary table;

verifying the accuracy of said collected agricultural data in said temporary table;

transferring said verified agricultural data from said temporary table to said master database;

receiving a query about said at least one of said plurality of jurisdictional boundaries;

retrieving said verified agricultural data from said master database;

converting said retrieved agricultural data to a color value representative of an agricultural condition corresponding to said retrieved agricultural data; and

displaying said outline representative of said at least one of said plurality of jurisdictional boundaries filled with said color value.

2. The method for agricultural collection and reporting of claim 1 wherein said step of collecting further comprises computer-to-computer transfer of said data from a data gathering resource to said temporary table.

3. The method for agricultural collection and reporting of claim 2 wherein said data gathering resource comprises a governmental agent having jurisdiction within said jurisdictional boundary.

4. The method for agricultural collection and reporting of claim 1 wherein said color value is a pure browser color.

5. The method for agricultural collection and reporting of claim 1 wherein said step of generating outlines further comprises generating a vector outline of said one of said plurality of said reporting units.

6. The method for agricultural collection and reporting of claim 1 wherein said step of generating an outline further comprises generating a bitmap outline of said at least one of said plurality of said jurisdictional boundaries.

7. The method for agricultural collection and reporting of claim 1 wherein said step of dividing geographic regions further comprises county, state, regional and nation al reporting units.

8. An apparatus for agricultural data collection and agricultural information reporting to a client through the Internet, comprising:

an Internet gateway which couples said apparatus to agricultural data passing through said Internet;

a temporary repository for a first portion of said data passing through said Internet gateway;

a means for evaluating the probability for errors within said first portion of said data and providing an output representative of said probability;

a means for altering said first portion of said data responsive to said output from said evaluating means;

a permanent database for storing said altered first portion of said data;

a representation of a geographic area divided into outlined reporting units;

a query processing unit for converting input from said client into database queries and providing database output responsive to said database queries; and

a means for converting said database output into a colored display of said outlined reporting units.

9. The apparatus for agricultural data collection and agricultural information reporting of claim 8 wherein said reporting unit outlines are represented by vectors.

10. The apparatus for agricultural data collection and agricultural information reporting of claim 9 wherein said means for converting said database output selects a fill color for filling inside said vector outlines.

11. The apparatus for agricultural data collection and agricultural information reporting of claim 9 wherein said means for convening said database output selects a layer of vector-outlined color corresponding in display placement to said vector outlines and containing a color representative of said database output.

12. The apparatus for agricultural data collection and agricultural information reporting of claim 8 wherein said means for converting said database output fills said outlined reporting units with a color representative of said database output.

13. A method for agricultural forecasting which enables a wide range of diverse users to forecast agricultural conditions with improved reliability using existing data streams, comprising the steps of:

dividing a geographic region into a plurality of jurisdictional boundaries, each having unique governmental jurisdiction;

creating a database for storing agricultural data;

collecting agricultural data describing an agricultural characteristic of said at least one of said plurality of jurisdictional boundaries;

transferring said collected agricultural data to said database;

receiving a query about said at least one of said plurality of jurisdictional boundaries;

retrieving said collected agricultural data from said database responsive to said query;

converting said retrieved agricultural data to a color value representative of an agricultural condition corresponding to said retrieved agricultural data; and

displaying said color value representative of said agricultural condition within said at least one of said plurality of jurisdictional boundaries; and

forecasting an agricultural condition responsive to said color value display.

14. The method of claim 13 further comprising the step of generating an outline representative of at least one of said plurality of jurisdictional boundaries.

15. The method of claim 13 wherein said representative color value represents a relation to historical averages for said at least one of said plurality of jurisdictional boundaries.