Local electronic environmental detection device

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method and system for gathering data along points of travel using common portable electronic devices that are typically used for other functions. More specifically, the data gathered by these portable electronic devices may be accessed, processed, validated, and used in conjunction with, or alone, to produce, augment, and/or validate other data sets across wide ranges of science and technology.

1 - 24 . (canceled) 
     
     
         25 . A method for determining a turbulent condition in an aircraft having a gyroscope, seismometer, and an accelerometer, the method comprising:
 receiving an output from each of the gyroscope, seismometer, and the accelerometer wherein each of said gyroscope, seismometer, and accelerometer are affixed to an aircraft;   comparing, by a processor, the received outputs to corresponding turbulence threshold values for the received outputs;   providing, by the processor, an indication of a turbulent condition upon said aircraft when the comparing indicates at least one of the received outputs exceeds the corresponding turbulence threshold value;   communicating at least one of the received outputs from the personal electronic device or the aircraft to a ground-based computer; and   wherein said ground-based computer outputs turbulence data indicative of said turbulent condition and said turbulence data is transmitted from said ground-based computer to personal electronic device located upon said aircraft by way of a communication link provided in order to connect said personal electronic device located upon said aircraft with said ground-based computer.   
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25 , further comprising:
 processing, at the ground-based computer, at least one of the received outputs transmitted from an aircraft that is in flight;   providing the processed at least one of the received outputs to another computer that is remote from the ground-based computer; and   determining, based on the processed at least one of the received outputs, relevant parameters to be measured at the aircraft.   
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein said personal electronic device located upon said aircraft is a tablet for use by pilots of said aircraft. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the receiving the outputs comprises receiving an angle output from the gyroscope indicative of at least one of a pitch, roll, and yaw angle of the aircraft. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 28 , further comprising determining a rate of change for at least one of the pitch, roll, and yaw angle from the angle output. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the comparing comprises comparing the rate of change to a corresponding rate of change threshold value. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the communication link provides ground to aircraft communications available to both pilots and passengers. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the receiving the output of the accelerometer is indicative of the acceleration in multi-dimensional motion of the aircraft. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the receiving the outputs comprises:
 receiving an angle output from the gyroscope indicative of a pitch, roll, and yaw angle of the aircraft and receiving acceleration output from the accelerometer.   
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 33 , further comprising determining turbulence of the aircraft in a multi-dimensional direction from the angle output, motion output, and acceleration output. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 34 , wherein the determining comprises executing software on the aircraft that receives as input the angle output, motion output, and acceleration output and then calculates the at least one of the motion and rate of change of motion. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 34 , wherein the comparing comprises comparing at least one of the motion and rate of change in motion to a corresponding motion threshold or motion rate of change threshold. 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 36 , wherein the comparing comprises executing software on the personal electronic device that compares the at least one of the motion and rate of change in the motion to the corresponding motion threshold and motion rate of change threshold. 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 36 , wherein the determining further comprises compensating for a plurality of said aircraft turbulence data so said pilots receive data indicative of a plurality of turbulence data. 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 36 , wherein the providing the indication of the turbulent condition comprises providing an indication on said personal electronic device upon said aircraft. 
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 39 , wherein the providing the indication to the personal electronic device comprises at least one of displaying an indication on a display of the portable device and emitting an audible indication from the personal electronic device. 
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 36 , wherein the providing the indication of the turbulent condition comprises transmitting a turbulence signal from the ground-based computer to the personal electronic device upon the aircraft. 
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 41 , further comprising providing an indication on a flight deck of the aircraft in response to the turbulence signal. 
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the providing the indication of the turbulent condition comprises transmitting a turbulence signal to the personal electronic device on the aircraft by way of a communications service, wherein said service provides commercial communications to pilots and consumer services to passengers upon said aircraft while in flight. 
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 25 , further comprising comparing the received outputs to threshold values periodic time intervals and providing an indication of a turbulent condition when the comparing indicates turbulence.