Method for determining and reporting the presence of red tide at beaches
First Claim
1. A method for making beach status information available to a person who wishes to visit a beach, the method comprising the steps of:
- a) storing by a host computer system data gathered by human observers stationed on or near a beach concerning the frequency of coughing or other observable respiratory distress indicators by beachgoers, including at least one observable condition for which subjectively-gathered data is a more sensitive, more timely or more accurate indicator of red tide-related respiratory distress than data gathered via airborne monitoring and scientific instrumentation;
b) a determining by a host computer system a current or timely beach status evaluation based on the stored subjectively-gathered data; and
c) transmitting by a host computer system such beach status evaluation to such person before that person visits the beach.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Human observers stationed on or near beaches gather subjective observations of one or more observable beach conditions associated with respiratory distress. Subjectively determined observations such as dead fish and audible coughing provide a better indication of the likelihood of respiratory distress than measurements made using scientific instruments. The observations may be sent to a remote central database using handheld communication devices. A beach status evaluation is determined based on stored observations, and may be provided to beachgoers through Internet web pages or by telephone or text-message to enable beachgoers to choose an alternative beach or alternative activity when respiratory distress is likely.
19 Citations
17 Claims
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1. A method for making beach status information available to a person who wishes to visit a beach, the method comprising the steps of:
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a) storing by a host computer system data gathered by human observers stationed on or near a beach concerning the frequency of coughing or other observable respiratory distress indicators by beachgoers, including at least one observable condition for which subjectively-gathered data is a more sensitive, more timely or more accurate indicator of red tide-related respiratory distress than data gathered via airborne monitoring and scientific instrumentation; b) a determining by a host computer system a current or timely beach status evaluation based on the stored subjectively-gathered data; and c) transmitting by a host computer system such beach status evaluation to such person before that person visits the beach. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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Specification