Abstract:
A method of facilitating monitoring and interdicting of targets crossing through an area comprising first mixing a luminescent pigment and a soil stabilizer, second loading the mixture into a spray dispenser, third dispensing the mixture in a substantially continuous coating covering a swathe of ground, and fourth monitoring said continuous coating covering said swathe of ground for disturbances in the continuity of said swathe.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The instant application contains subject matter disclosed in applicant&#39;s provisional patent application No. 61/689,192 filed on Jun. 01, 2012, and accordingly it is respectfully requested that this application be accorded the above priority date of Jun. 01, 2012 for any common matter. According applicant hereby claim any benefits under 35 U.S.C. 119(e) of the above indicated United States provisional application. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a border detection method, and more particularly, a METHOD FOR FACILITATING DETECTING AND TRACKING MOVEMENT ACROSS AN AREA. 
     Description of the Prior Art 
     Numerous innovations for detecting movement across specified areas have been provided in the prior art that will be described. Even though these innovations may be suitable for the specific individual purposes to which the address, however, they differ from the present invention. 
     A FIRST EXAMPLE, U.S. Patent Office Document No. 20060214141, Published/Issued on Sept. 28, 2006, to Yankielun, et al. teaches a method, and a compound for facilitating it, that enhances night vision by dispersing a luminescent to provide low-intensity area illumination. Luminescents may include naturally occurring bioluminescents (visible spectrum) or man-made, preferably non-toxic, chemical-based luminescents (also termed chemiluminescents), the latter available for use in either the visible or IR spectrum. It may be applied locally to a surface or remotely by means of a delivery system. Preferably, select luminescents are dispersed as an aerosol to contact targeted surfaces. These luminescents may be used in spaces otherwise difficult to image with night vision equipment. Specifically provided is a method for viewing a target under low ambient light conditions comprising dispersing a luminescent material on surfaces in a dark space to provide a low-level, spatially broad, source of supplemental scene illumination, and viewing the target with image enhancing devices that are otherwise marginally useful without the presence of the luminescent material. 
     A SECOND EXAMPLE, U.S. Patent Office Document No. 20100288943, Published/Issued on Nov. 18, 2010, to Lambert teaches a low-cost, easily deployed, degradable taggant that can be dispersed over a wide area to serve as a witness to activity in the area and for queuing of other sensors. The taggant enables nearly real-time change detection within the treated area using one or more simple optical sensing techniques. 
     A THIRD EXAMPLE, U.S. Patent Office Document No. 4481422, Published/Issued on Nov. 06, 1984, to deMarco, et. al. teaches a camouflage luminescent composition comprising by weight: 52 to 54% of a osphor, 1 to 3% of a pyrogenic colloidal silica; 0 to 3% of a raw umber colorant; 8 to 15% of an organic resin binder; 23 to 46% of a aromatic hydrocarbon solvent, and a method of use thereof. 
     A FOURTH EXAMPLE, U.S. Patent Office Document No. 4324682, Published/Issued on Apr. 13, 1982, to Weston, et al. teaches a composition of matter useful for marking and identification purposes comprising a continuous, pressure rupturable coating containing (1) a flourescent material and (2) a water-insoluble, volatile, hydrocarbon solvent and a method of marking and identifying objects therewith. 
     A FIFTH EXAMPLE, U.S. Patent Office Document No. 6524390, Published/Issued on Feb. 25, 2003, to Jones teaches a handwashing medium which may be in liquid, cream, powder or spray form is provided with a detection agent such as an invisible fluorescent additive, which combination is then rubbed onto one&#39;S hands using the individual&#39;s handwashing technique and is allowed to dry. The individual&#39;s hands are rinsed with water as in the normal handwashing fashion and the hands are then exposed to an activating agent such as an ultraviolet (UV) light source. Areas missed during handwashing retain the fluorescent additive and are clearly visible due to fluorescence. The method is useful in evaluating one&#39;s handwashing technique and has applicability anywhere cleanliness is required such as in hospitals, clinics, restaurants, etc., and may be used as an instructional aid in teaching young children proper hygiene techniques. The invisible fluorescent additive in a handwashing medium may also be used in determining patterns of body part contact such as contact with one&#39;s hands or feet in a given area by applying the invisible fluorescent additive to a body part and exposing the area to UV light to detect the presence of residue of the fluorescent agent. 
     A SIXTH EXAMPLE, U.S. Patent Office Document No. 7279234, Published/Issued on Oct. 09, 2007, to Dean teaches methods of using a transparent, luminescent polymer for transparent marking and/or labeling for identity verification purposes. Also disclosed are sheets, films, markers, labels and taggants comprising transparent, luminescent polymers. Also disclosed are articles labeled with a transparent, luminescent polymer. This invention particularly relates to use of transparent, luminescent polymer compositions comprising ethylene (meth)acrylic acid copolymers and rare earth ions and transparent, luminescent polymer compositions comprising methyl (meth)acrylate/(meth)acrylic acid copolymers, fatty acids and rare earth ions for these purposes. 
     A SEVENTH EXAMPLE, U.S. Patent Office Document No. 20090068116, Published/Issued on Mar. 12, 2009, to Douglas teaches a luminescent composition, with a luminescent marker and a ionizing agent exhibiting luminescence for an indicatory period once intermixed, and with luminance intensity remaining at a threshold intensity during indicatory period. Luminescence also can be exhibited responsive to responsive to excitatory light applied to the composition. The luminescent marker includes a coumarinic compound and the ionizing agent includes an ammonium base. Antimicrobial agents are included. A luminescence measuring apparatus includes a photoemitter and a photodetector responsive to an emissive light induced by photoemitter. An optical filter can be used with the photodetector. A two-phase composition dispensing apparatus includes a first phase reservoir, a second phase reservoir, a mixing nozzle, and a dispensing mechanism. 
     AN EIGHTH EXAMPLE, U.S. Patent Office Document No. 3812052, Published/Issued on May 21, 1947, to Weston teaches compositions of matter useful for marking and identification purposes comprising a solvent, a fluorescent material and a coumarone-indene resin and a method of marking and identifying objects therewith. 
     A NINTH EXAMPLE, U.S. Patent Office Document No. 4089797, Published/Issued on May 16, 1978, to Heller, et al. teaches an air-reactive chemiluminescent formulation is encapsulated and material which will catalyze the reaction of the formulation with air is affixed to the outside of the capsule. When the capsule is crushed, the formulation, air and the catalyst all come into contact with one other and high intensity light is produced rapidly. 
     A TENTH EXAMPLE, U.S. Patent Office Document No. 5734167, Published/Issued on Mar. 31, 1998, to Skelly teaches methods of farming, which are particularly useful at nighttime, include a method of using apparatus to enable an equipment operator to determine and maintain a course along a field. The methods enable a user to determine spray patterns in target areas that have been sprayed with agricultural products. The methods employ fluorescent pigments and a source of illumination which causes the fluorescent pigments to fluoresce. 
     AN ELEVENTH EXAMPLE, Japanese Patent Office Document No. JP 2008019575, Published/Issued on Jan. 31, 2008, to Maruyama, et al. teaches to solve the following problems that: much labor and a long time are required because an existing rigid layer must be stripped off when a paving board for guidance is applied to an existing pavement, though the paving board for guidance containing a luminous agent is also used, because refuge becomes impossible and there is a high risk that a secondary disaster may occur due to the impossibility of the refuge on the ground that its gets completely pitch-dark, in the case that a power failure occurs in a subway due to earthquakes; a resin cannot be preserved for a long period of time because the resin is inevitably scraped away by persons&#39; feet and other moving objects, in the case of a method in which the resin containing a luminous pigment is applied to the pavement; and the resin should be preserved for a long period of time, particularly, so as to prepare countermeasures against a natural disaster occurring once in several years or once in several decades. ; SOLUTION: A groove section is provided by grinding the existing rigid pavement, and the luminous pigment and the resin are applied into the groove section. The luminous pigment and the resin are applied as a mixture. Otherwise, firstly, the resin is applied, the luminous pigment is sprayed on the resin, and the sprayed luminous pigment is topcoated. 
     A TWELFTH EXAMPLE, Chinese Patent Office Document No. CN 101024593, Published/Issued on Aug. 29, 2007, to Sun Yuke teaches a manufacture method for flower fertilizer that has decoration effect. It is made up from 10-20 portions of celadon calcium magnesium phosphorus, 14-23 portions of white ammonia sulfate, 10-20 portions of red potassium chloride, 1-5 portions of white borax, 2-8 portions of white zinc sulphate, 15-25 portions of urea formaldehyde, 5-15 portions of grey ammonium phosphate, 5-10 portions of yellow alta mud, 2-8 portions gold powder, and 2-5 portions of luminous paint. The invention could be used on the surface of soil and could improve sensitive of beauty. 
     A THIRTEENTH EXAMPLE, World Intellectual Property Office Document No. WO 2008138044, Published/Issued on Nov. 20, 2008, to Osvath, et al. teaches a tagged explosive comprising an explosive composition and a precursor tag, the precursor tag comprising a transformable material that can transform during detonation of the explosive composition into a luminescent tag. 
     It is apparent now that numerous innovations for detection methods have been provided in the prior art that adequate for various purposes. Furthermore, even though these innovations may be suitable for the specific individual purposes to which they address, accordingly, they would not be suitable for the purposes of the present invention as heretofore described. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     AN OBJECT of the present invention is to provide a METHOD FOR FACILITATING DETECTING AND TRACKING MOVEMENT ACROSS AN AREA that avoids the disadvantages of the prior art. 
     ANOTHER OBJECT of the present invention is to provide a METHOD FOR FACILITATING DETECTING AND TRACKING MOVEMENT ACROSS AN AREA that is simple and inexpensive to implement. 
     STILL ANOTHER OBJECT of the present invention is to provide a METHOD FOR FACILITATING DETECTING AND TRACKING MOVEMENT ACROSS AN AREA that is simple to use. 
     BRIEFLY STATED, STILL YET ANOTHER OBJECT of the present invention is to provide a METHOD AND FOR FACILITATING DETECTING AND TRACKING MOVEMENT ACROSS AN AREA that is easily noticed by the persons, animals or vehicles being tracked. 
     The novel features which are considered characteristic of the present invention are set forth in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its construction and its method of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following description of the specific embodiments when read in conjunction with the drawing. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
       The FIGURE of the drawing is briefly described as follows: 
       The FIGURE is a diagram illustrating the relative orientation of the road of the present invention with respect to a border between a source area and a target area. 
       A MARSHALING OF REFERENCE NUMERALS UTILIZED IN THE DRAWING 
         10  Road 
         12  Border 
         14  Source Area 
         16  Target Area 
         18  Tracking Area 
         20  Monitoring Area 
         22  Distance from a point on the border  12  to the nearest point on the road  10   
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring now to the drawings,  FIG. 1  shows a general schematic to relate the orientation of a road  10  to a border  12  between a source area  14  and a target area  16 , showing that there exists a gap between the border  12  and the road  10 , and that the road  10  is placed in the target area  16 . The road  10  is further subdivided into a tracking area  18  and a monitoring area  20 . 
     Referring now to the method of the invention, the method comprises  9  principal steps, some of which have sub-steps, which when completed will greatly facilitate detection and interdiction of targets crossing an area. In particular, the invention is well suited to aiding in enforcement of national borders, particularly borders in substantially desert areas, such as exist for much of the border between the United States and Mexico. 
     The Steps in the Method of the Invention are: 
     1.) Establishing a swathe of ground, wherein the swathe of ground is established with respect to a source area  14  and a target area  16  and wherein the swathe of ground lies within the target area  16 . Specifically, the source area  14  is the area from which subjects to be tracked emanate from, and the target area  16  is the area to which they seek to go. The border  12  between the source area  14  and the target area  16  in a preferred use is a national border  12 .
 
2.) Preparing the swathe of ground by forming thereon a bed of sand. The bed of sand is preferably at least 2 inches in deep, and at most 4 inches deep. This depth will allow for stable and durable road  10  without requiring excessively costly construction.
 
3.) Combining into a mixture water and a soil stabilizer. In a preferred use, the soil stabilizer is a liquid polymer based emulsion soil stabilizer as sold under the trademark TOPSEAL™ by Soils Control International of PO Box 200117, Austin Tex. 78720 U.S.A. The mixture is in a preferred use at least 4 parts water to one part soil stabilizer by volume, and at most 9 parts water to one part soil stabilizer by volume. The dilution of the stabilizer in water prevents the formation of an extremely hard or slick surface, on which footprints and other evidence would not collect easily, and where the presence of the luminescent pigment of the present invention would be more obvious to a subject.
 
4.) Loading the mixture of water and soil stabilizer into a dispensing means, preferably a sprayer.
 
5.) Dispensing the mixture of water and soil stabilizer onto the bed of sand for said mixture to seep into said bed of sand. In a preferred use, at least ¼ gallon of mixture is used per 100 square feet of the sand bed, and at most 1 gallon of mixture is used per 100 square feet of the sand bed. The preferred rate one-half gallon per 100 square feet of sand bed, which produces a durable road  10  while still not producing such a rigid surface as to hinder evidence collection or the inconspicuousness of the luminescent material.
 
6.) Waiting for the water and soil stabilizer mixture which has seeped into said bed of sand to cure, which will produce a durable surface.
 
7.) Establishing a tracking area  18  and a monitoring area  20  within the swathe of ground, wherein the tracking area  18  has a surface end wherein the monitoring area  20  has a surface. The tracking area  18  runs along the entirety of the length of the swathe of ground. The monitoring area  20  also runs along the entirety of the length of the swathe of ground. The surface of the tracking area  18  in combination with the surface of the monitoring area  20  together constitute the whole surface of the swathe of ground.
 
8.) Spreading a luminescent pigment onto the surface of the tracking area  18  in a substantially continuous coating. The luminescent pigment is preferably a strontium oxide aluminate luminescent pigment as sold under the trademark LumiNova® by the United Mineral &amp; Chemical Corp of 1050 Wall Street West, Suite 660 Lyndhurst, N.J. 07071 U.S.A. This is accomplished by spreading at least 2 pounds of strontium oxide aluminate luminescent pigment per 100 square feet of surface, and at most 4 pounds of strontium oxide aluminate luminescent pigment per 100 square feet of surface. Preferably, in order to avoid a subject noticing the pigment during daylight (when the pigment will not luminesce), the pigment should have a granule size similar to that of the sand of the sand bed, for example the granule size marketed as G-300L250N sold under the trademark LumiNova® by the United Mineral &amp; Chemical Corp. The range of 2 to 4 pounds per 100 square foot allows for sufficient nighttime luminescence to deter crossing of the swathe of land, while still not making the luminescent pigment obvious to the naked eye of a subject in daylight.
 
9.) Monitoring said tracking area  18  for evidence subjects crossing said tracking area  18 . The monitoring step comprises sub-steps as follows:
 
     I Observing the tracking area  18  from the monitoring area  20 . 
     II Noting any disturbances in said luminescent pigment on said surface of said tracking area  18 . 
     III Documenting any disturbances in said luminescent pigment on said surface of said tracking area  18 . 
     IV Restoring said luminescent pigment on said surface of said tracking area  18 . The restoring sub-step comprises sub-sub-steps as follows:
         i Raking said luminescent pigment.   ii Distributing additional luminescent pigment onto any portion of said surface of said tracking area  18  where a disturbance was noted.
 
Detailed Discussion of the Swathe of Ground
       

     The swathe of ground is within the target area  16 , and is within a reasonable proximity to the border  12  wherein the source area  14  abuts the target area  16 , but not so close as to be easily visible from the border  12 . Specifically the distance  22  from a point on the border  12  to the nearest point on the swathe of ground is at least 1 mile and at most 15 miles. 
     The swathe of ground has a length and a width. The width of the swathe of ground is at least 20 feet and at most 200 feet. The length of the swathe of ground is at least 500 feet and may extend to any practical length. The swathe in the preferred embodiment comprises a road  10 , however only the monitoring area  20  of the swathe is intended to be used as a road  10 , so as not to disturb the tracking area  18 . Being a road  10 , the practical length of the swathe may be very long, with the primary limitations being geographic (e.g. oceans). 
     The length of the swathe is substantially parallel to the border  12  between said source area  14  and the target area  16 , and the width of the swathe is accordingly substantially perpendicular to the border  12  between the source area  14  and said target area  16 . The swathe of ground has therefore two sides to its width, one of which is proximal to the border  12 , and one of which is distal from the border  12 . The tracking area  18  is disposed along the proximal side of the swathe of ground, and the monitoring area  20  is disposed along the distal side of the swathe of ground. Between the border  12  and the swathe of ground there exists a controlled area, and the present invention facilitates detection of subjects exiting that controlled area. 
     Description of the Path 
     Referring now to the path of the invention, the path comprises a road  10  created by the above method for use in monitoring and interdicting of subjects crossing through an area. Specifically, the road  10  comprises: a swathe of ground, a bed of sand, a tracking area  18 , a monitoring area  20 ,  1   a  mixture of water and a soil stabilizer, and luminescent pigment. 
     The swathe of ground comprises the ground on which the road  10  is constructed. The bed of sand comprises the base for the road  10 . The tracking area  18  comprises a portion of the road  10 . The monitoring area  20  comprises that portion of the road  10  which is not comprised of said tracking area  18 . The mixture of water and said soil stabilizer creates a durable surface for said path. And the tracking area  18  has a substantially continuous coating of said luminescent pigment on the durable surface thereof. 
     With respect to the swathe of ground, it has a length and a width, wherein the width of the swathe of ground is at least 20 feet and at most 200 feet, and wherein the length of the swathe of ground is at least 500 feet. 
     With respect to the bed of sand, it is preferably at least 2 inches deep and at most 4 inches deep. 
     With respect to the mixture of water and soil stabilizer, it is in a preferred use at least 4 parts water to one part soil stabilizer by volume, and at most 9 parts water to one part soil stabilizer by volume. The dilution of the stabilizer in water prevents the formation of an extremely hard or slick surface, on which footprints and other evidence would not collect easily, and where the presence of the luminescent pigment of the present invention would be more obvious to a subject. 
     With respect to the tracking area  18  and the monitoring area  20 , they both run along the entire length of the road  10 . 
     With respect to the luminescent pigment, it is preferably a strontium oxide aluminate luminescent pigment as sold under the trademark LumiNova® by the United Mineral &amp; Chemical Corp. At least 2 pounds of the luminescent pigment are used per 100 square feet of the surface of the tracking area  18  to be covered, and at most 4 pounds of the luminescent pigment are used per 100 square feet of the surface of the tracking area  18  to be covered. 
     With respect to the soil stabilizer, it is preferably a liquid soil stabilizer, specifically a liquid polymer based emulsion soil stabilizer as sold under the trademark TOP-SEAL™ by Soils Control International of PO Box 200117, Austin, Tex. 78720 U.S.A., 
     With respect to the amount of the mixture of water and soil stabilizer present in proportion to the sand bed, at least ¼ gallon of mixture is used per 100 square feet of the sand bed, and at most 1 gallon of mixture is used per 100 square feet of the sand bed. The preferred rate is one -half gallon per 100 square feet of sand bed, which produces a durable road  10  while still not producing such a rigid surface as to hinder evidence collection or the inconspicuousness of the luminescent material. 
     While the invention has been illustrated and described as embodiments of a METHOD FOR FACILITATING DETECTING AND TRACKING MOVEMENT ACROSS AN AREA, accordingly it is not limited to the details shown, since it will be understood that various omissions, modifications, substitutions and changes in the forms and details of the device illustrated and its operation can be made by those skilled in the art without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention. 
     Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention.