Apparatus and method of concomitant scenario topography with the aid of a digital computer

• US H1,997 H1
• Filed: 01/27/1997
• Issued: 10/02/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 01/27/1997
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Peter Fleischer
• Original Assignee: Peter Fleischer
• Inventors: Fleischer, Peter
• Primary Examiner(s): Pihulic, Daniel T.
• Application Number:
  US87/914,33
• Publication Number:
  US H1,997 H1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,709 Days
• Field of Search: 434150, 434152, 434153, 702005
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management

Abstract

A system for concomitant scenario topography with the aid of a digital computer such that a two-dimensional or three-dimensional map is produced and displayed which illustrates the combined effects, particularly geo-environmental, of multiple, diverse criteria and factors relative to uniquely-referenced, uniform, small areas of a plane surface or the surface of a solid. The topography system employs plural interrelated tables, worksheets and mapping systems to receive, contain and apply various political, economic, scientific, and technical criteria and factors as attributes of a particular small area, and subsequently map the processed data. Each table includes at least one join field which links that table to at least one other table or worksheet. At least one worksheet includes capability for rapid, dynamic user-interaction to facilitate generation of a myriad of actual or imagined scenarios.

Claims

1. A method of concomitant scenario topography with the aid of a digital computer for mapping and visually depicting the features of a uniquely-referenced, relatively small area, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) partitioning at least one region of consideration for said topography into a plurality of uniquely-referenced, uniform, small areas, said region defined in terms of plane surfaces and surfaces of a solid;

(b) providing a set of procedural rules applicable to each said region, said rules including provision for determining exclusion factors, excluded categories, distance weighting, category scores, factor weighting, uniquely-referenced uniform, small area scores, and conversion of said exclusion factors and said excluded categories to normalized scores;

(c) providing said computer with a first interrelated table for said topography, said first table having first table data according to said set of procedural rules therein, having at least one join field, including at least one criterion datum, each of said criterion datum having at least one factor datum associated therewith, each said factor datum identified as of at least one type, each said factor datum having a weight datum and a normalized factor weight datum associated therewith;

(d) providing said computer with a second interrelated table for said topography including at least one join field linking said second table to said first table, linked to receive said first table data from said first table, said second table having second table data according to said set of procedural rules therein, including said factor datum, each said factor datum having said normalized factor weight datum associated therewith, each of said factor datum having at least one category range datum associated therewith, each of said category range datum having a value datum, a category score datum, and a weighted factor score datum associated therewith;

(e) providing said computer with a separate table array and score computation worksheet for each said region, linked to receive said second table data from said second table, thereupon combining said second table data with unique referencing for each of said plurality of uniquely-referenced, uniform, small areas associated therewith, forming a separate topographical dataset for each said region, each said topographical dataset including distance-related logistics data and scenario determined scoring of said second table data related to each of said plurality of uniquely-referenced, uniform, small areas associated therewith;

(f) providing said computer with a separate two-dimensional spreadsheet map and display for each said table array and score computation worksheet, linked to said table array and score computation worksheet and uniquely associated therewith, said two-dimensional map and display including dimensional referencing capability for said plurality of uniquely-referenced, uniform, small areas associated therewith;

(g) initializing each said two-dimensional spreadsheet map and display to receive data, said initializing including providing referencing for each of said plurality of uniquely-referenced, uniform, small areas associated with each said region associated with said table array and score computation worksheet, identifying all of said plurality of uniquely-referenced, uniform, small areas excluded from receiving data, and uniquely identifying all of said plurality of uniquely-referenced, uniform, small areas permitted and expected to receive data;

(h) mapping each said topographical dataset from each said table array and score computation worksheet onto each said two-dimensional spreadsheet map associated therewith; and

(i) visually depicting each said two-dimensional spreadsheet map.

2. A method of concomitant scenario topography with the aid of a digital computer, as recited in claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

(a) providing said computer with a first worksheet for said topography, having first worksheet data therein, linked to receive said second table data from said second table and to convey first worksheet data to both said first table and said second table;

(b) dynamically modifying, responsive to user control and according to said set of procedural rules, within said first worksheet, said second table data linked from said second table into said first worksheet data; and

(c) dynamically conveying, responsive to user control, said first worksheet data from said first worksheet to said first table and said second table.

3. A method of concomitant scenario topography with the aid of a digital computer, as recited in claim 2, further comprising the steps of:

(a) combining each said topographical dataset from each said two-dimensional spreadsheet map and display, forming a combined topographical dataset and determining statistics thereof;

(b) mapping said combined uniquely-referenced topographical dataset into a combined map; and

(c) visually depicting, in a single depiction, said combined map, thereby producing concomitant scenario topography including all said regions of consideration.

4. A method of concomitant scenario topography with the aid of a digital computer, as recited in claim 3, further comprising the step of providing each said uniquely-referenced topographical dataset from each said two-dimensional map associated therewith to a separate three-dimensional concomitant scenario topographical map and display for each said region.

5. A method of concomitant scenario topography with the aid of a digital computer, as recited in claim 4, wherein referencing of said plurality of uniquely-referenced, uniform, small areas utilizes geographical coordinates for a portion of the earth'"'"'s surface.

6. A method of concomitant scenario topography with the aid of a digital computer, as recited in claim 1, wherein referencing of said plurality of uniquely-referenced, uniform, small areas utilizes geographical coordinates for a portion of the earth'"'"'s surface.

7. A method of concomitant scenario topography with the aid of a digital computer, as recited in claim 2, further comprising the step of providing said uniquely-referenced dataset to a three-dimensional concomitant scenario topographical display for each said region.

8. A method of concomitant scenario topography with the aid of a digital computer, as recited in claim 1, wherein said first table and said second table are constituent components of a single table.

18. The concomitant scenario topography produced by the method of claim 1.

9. A method of concomitant scenario topography with the aid of a digital computer, comprising the steps of:

(a) partitioning at least one geographical region of consideration for said topography into a plurality of geographically-referenced, uniform, small areas of the earth'"'"'s surface;

(b) providing a set of procedural rules applicable to each said region, said rules including provision for determining exclusion factors, excluded categories, distance weighting, category scores, factor weighting, category scores, geographically-referenced uniform, small area scores, and conversion of said exclusion factors and said excluded categories to normalized scores;

(c) providing said computer with an interrelated Factor-Weighting Table for said topography, said Factor-Weighting Table having Factor-Weighting data according to said set of procedural rules therein, having at least one join field, including at least one criterion datum, each of said criterion datum having at least one factor datum associated therewith, each said factor datum identified as of at least one type, including scorable, exclusion, and fixed score, each said factor datum having a weight datum and a normalized factor weight datum associated therewith;

(d) providing said computer with an interrelated Factor-Scoring Table for said topography including at least one join field linking said Factor-Scoring Table to said Factor-Weighting Table table, linked to receive said Factor-Weighting Table data from said Factor-Weighting Table, said Factor-Scoring Table having Factor-Scoring Table data according to said set of procedural rules therein, including said factor datum, each said factor datum having said normalized factor weight datum associated therewith, each of said factor datum having at least one category range datum associated therewith, each of said category range datum having a value datum, a category score datum, and a weighted factor score datum associated therewith;

(e) providing said computer with a Weighting/Scoring Worksheet for said topography, linked to receive said Factor-Scoring Table data from said Factor-Scoring Table and to transmit Weighting/Scoring Worksheet data to both said Factor-Weighting Table and said Factor-Scoring Table;

(f) dynamically modifying, responsive to user control and according to said set of procedural rules, within said Weighting/Scoring Worksheet, said Factor-Scoring Table data linked from said Factor-Scoring Table into said Weighting/Scoring Worksheet data;

(g) dynamically transmitting, responsive to user control, said Weighting/Scoring Worksheet data from said Weighting/Scoring Worksheet to said Factor-Weighting Table and said Factor-Scoring Table;

(h) providing said computer with a separate table array and score computation worksheet for each said region, linked to receive said Factor-Scoring Table data from said Factor-Scoring Table, thereupon combining and thereby geo-referencing said Factor-Scoring Table data with unique referencing for each of said plurality of geographically-referenced, uniform, small areas associated therewith, forming a separate topographical dataset for each said region, each said topographical dataset including distance-related logistics data and scenario determined scoring of said Factor-Scoring Table data related to each of said plurality of geographically-referenced, uniform, small areas associated therewith;

(i) providing said computer with a separate two-dimensional spreadsheet map and display for each said table array and score computation worksheet, linked to said table array and score computation worksheet and uniquely associated therewith, said two-dimensional map and display including dimensional referencing capability for said plurality of geographically-referenced, uniform, small areas associated therewith;

(j) initializing each said two-dimensional spreadsheet map and display to receive each said dataset associated therewith, said initializing including providing referencing for each of said plurality of geographically-referenced, uniform, small areas associated with each said region associated with said table array and score computation worksheet, identifying all of said plurality of geographically-referenced, uniform, small areas excluded from receiving said dataset, and uniquely identifying all of said plurality of geographically-referenced, uniform, small areas permitted and expected to receive said dataset;

(k) mapping and visually depicting each said topographical dataset from each said table array and score computation worksheet onto each two-dimensional spreadsheet map and display associated therewith;

(l) combining each said topographical dataset from each said two-dimensional spreadsheet map and display, forming a combined topographical dataset and computing statistics thereof;

(m) mapping said combined geographically-referenced topographical dataset into a combined map; and

(n) visually depicting said combined map, thereby producing in a single depiction, concomitant scenario topography including all said geographical regions of consideration.

10. A method of concomitant scenario topography with the aid of a digital computer, as recited in claim 9, wherein said Factor-Weighting Table and said Factor-Scoring Table are constituent components of a single table.

11. A method of concomitant scenario topography with the aid of a digital computer, as recited in claim 9, wherein said Weighting/Scoring Worksheet and each said table array and score computation worksheet for each said region are constituent components of a single worksheet.

19. The concomitant scenario topography produced by the method of claim 9.

12. A computer-implemented method of selecting a site from among a plurality of sites within a spatial region, comprising the steps of:

(a) partitioning said spatial region into a plurality of discrete, non-overlapping, uniform portions;

(b) defining a database structure in a first segment of computer memory, said database structure having a plurality of cells, each one of said cells being uniquely referenced to one of said portions;

(c) determining a plurality of attributes for which all of said portions are to be assigned a raw score;

(d) setting a minimum and maximum score for each of said attributes;

(e) assigning a weight factor to each of said attributes;

(f) grading all of said cells for each of said attributes, thus creating, for all of said cells, said raw score for each of said attributes;

(g) entering said weight factors and said raw scores into corresponding cells of said database structure;

(h) converting, within each cell of said database structure, said entered raw scores and weight factors into a normalized sum total score corresponding to the sum of the normalized, factor weighted scores for each of said attributes;

(i) storing said normalized sum total scores for each of said cells in a second segment of computer memory, said normalized sum total scores for each said cell being linked, in said second segment of computer memory, with said corresponding portion of said spatial region; and

(j) displaying said linked normalized sum total scores in said second segment of computer memory as a map of said partitioned spatial region, said map associating for each said portion of said partitioned region, a visual indication of said normalized sum total score for that portion.

13. A method according to claim 12, further comprising the steps of:

(a) defining a worksheet structure in a third segment of computer memory, said worksheet structure, interrelated to said database structure, having at least one join field linking said worksheet structure with said database structure;

(b) entering, responsive to user control, replacement weight factors and replacement raw scores into said worksheet structure; and

(c) replacing said weight factors and said raw scores located in said database structure with said replacement weight factors and said replacement raw scores.

20. The selection of a site from among a plurality of sites within a spatial region by the method of claim 13.

14. An apparatus for concomitant scenario topography with the aid of a digital computer for mapping and visually depicting the multivariate features of a uniquely-referenced, relatively small area, said apparatus comprising:

(a) a first interrelated table, responsive to user control, including visual depiction, configured in said computer such that said first table receives user input data and includes at least one join field, said first interrelated table having first interrelated table data therein, according to a set of procedural rules, said set of procedural rules applicable to at least one region of interest, each said region of interest partitioned into a plurality of uniquely-referenced, uniform, small areas, each said region defined in terms of plane surfaces and surfaces of a solid, said procedural rules including provision for determining exclusion factors, excluded categories, distance weighting, category scores, factor weighting, category scores, uniquely-referenced uniform, small area scores, and conversion of said exclusion factors and said excluded categories to normalized scores, said first table including at least one criterion datum, each of said criterion datum having at least one factor datum associated therewith, each said factor datum identified as of at least one type, each said factor datum having a weight datum and a normalized factor weight datum associated therewith;

(b) a second interrelated table, responsive to user control, including visual depiction, configured in said computer such that said second table receives user input data and includes at least one join field which links said first interrelated table to said second interrelated table, said second interrelated table having second interrelated table data therein, according to said set of procedural rules, including said factor datum, each said factor datum having said normalized factor weight datum associated therewith, each of said factor datum having at least one category range datum associated therewith, each of said category range datum having a value datum, a category score datum, and a weighted factor score datum associated therewith;

(c) a database array and score computation worksheet for each said region of interest, responsive to user control, including visual depiction, configured in said computer such that each said score computation worksheet includes at least one join field which links each said score computation worksheet to said second interrelated table, thereupon combining said second interrelated table data with unique referencing for each of said plurality of uniquely-referenced, uniform, small areas associated therewith, forming a separate concomitant scenario topographical dataset for each said region, each said topographical dataset including distance-related logistics data and scenario determined scoring of said second table data related to each of said plurality of uniquely-referenced, uniform, small areas associated therewith;

(d) a separate two-dimensional spreadsheet map for each said region, responsive to user control for visual depiction, configured in said computer such that each said separate two-dimensional spreadsheet map is uniquely and exclusively linked to one of each said database array and score computation worksheet, thereby uniquely associated therewith, to receive data therefrom, said two-dimensional map including dimensional referencing capability for said plurality of uniquely-referenced, uniform, small areas associated therewith, each said map initialized prior to receiving data, said initialization referencing each of said plurality of uniquely-referenced, uniform, small areas associated with each said region associated with said database array and score computation worksheet, identifying all of said plurality of uniquely-referenced, uniform, small areas excluded from receiving data, and uniquely identifying all of said plurality of uniquely-referenced, uniform, small areas permitted and expected to receive data, each said two-dimensional map further configured to provide visual depiction of said map.

15. An apparatus as recited in claim 14, further comprising:

(a) a weighting/scoring worksheet, for receiving, manipulating, storing, visually depicting, and conveying weighting/scoring worksheet data, responsive to user control, configured in said computer such that said weighting/scoring worksheet includes at least one join field which links said weighting/scoring worksheet to said first interrelated table and said second interrelated table, linked to convey said weighting/scoring worksheet data to said first interrelated table and said second interrelated table.

16. An apparatus as recited in claim 15, further comprising:

(a) a separate three-dimensional map for each said region, responsive to user control for visual depiction, configured in said computer such that each said separate three-dimensional map is uniquely and exclusively linked to one of each said two-dimensional spreadsheet map, thereby uniquely associated therewith, to receive data therefrom, said three-dimensional map including dimensional referencing capability for said plurality of uniquely-referenced, uniform, small areas associated therewith, each said three-dimensional map initialized prior to receiving data, said initialization including providing referencing for each of said plurality of uniquely-referenced, uniform, small areas associated with each said region associated with said two-dimensional spreadsheet map, identifying all of said plurality of uniquely-referenced, uniform, small areas excluded from receiving data, and uniquely identifying all of said plurality of uniquely-referenced, uniform, small areas permitted and expected to receive data, each said three-dimensional map further configured to provide visual depiction of said three-dimensional map.

17. An apparatus as recited in claim 16, further comprising:

(a) a combined scores and statistics worksheet, for receiving, manipulating, storing, and conveying each said topographical dataset, responsive to user control, configured in said computer such that said combined scores and statistics worksheet includes at least one join field which links said combined scores and statistics worksheet to each said two-dimensional spreadsheet map, receiving each said topographical dataset from each said two-dimensional spreadsheet map, forming a combined topographical dataset therefrom; and

(b) a combined, uniquely-referenced topographical map, responsive to user control for visual depiction thereof, said combined map linked to said combined scores and statistics worksheet and receiving combined topographical dataset therefrom.