Patent Publication Number: US-2023144043-A1

Title: Systems and methods for artificial intelligence (ai) roof deterioration analysis

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     Benefit and priority under 35 U.S.C. § 120 is hereby claimed to, and this is a Continuation of, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 17/136,984 filed on Dec. 29, 2020 and titled “SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE (AI) ROOF DETERIORATION ANALYSIS”, which itself claims benefit and priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/112,884 filed on Nov. 12, 2020 and titled “ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE (AI) ROOF DETERIORATION ANALYSIS”, each of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. 
    
    
     SUMMARY 
     Embodiments of the invention provide systems and/or methods that identify and track changes in roofs (and/or other objects) over time by evaluating a series of features in high-resolution images (and/or other sensor data). These and other embodiments are described in detail in the description provided hereinafter. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Conventional roofing analysis systems rely on either human analysis or the use of neural networks to identify salient features within an image that match observed attributes of a human identifier. These systems process an image at a single point in time and are generally programmed to evaluate features as perceived from low-resolution imagery. Conventional systems do not adequately address how to determine aberrant changes in the condition of a roof over time and are not capable of identification of features that do not present well in low-resolution (e.g., low spatial resolution, such as fifty centimeters (50 cm) per pixel or more) imagery. These systems are also not capable of classifying or analyzing objects or features that do not match the observed attributes of the human identifier. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The figures depict embodiments for purposes of illustration only. One skilled in the art will readily recognize from the following description that alternative embodiments of the systems and methods illustrated herein may be employed without departing from the principles described herein, wherein: 
         FIG.  1    is a block diagram of a system according to some embodiments; 
         FIG.  2    is a diagram of a portion of an image according to some embodiments; 
         FIG.  3    is a flow diagram of a method according to some embodiments; 
         FIG.  4 A ,  FIG.  4 B , and  FIG.  4 C  are diagrams of an AI processing process according to some embodiments; 
         FIG.  5    is a diagram of mathematical distribution process according to some embodiments; 
         FIG.  6    is a diagram of an example data storage structure according to some embodiments; 
         FIG.  7    is a block diagram of an apparatus according to some embodiments; and 
         FIG.  8 A ,  FIG.  8 B ,  FIG.  8 C ,  FIG.  8 D , and  FIG.  8 E  are perspective diagrams of exemplary data storage devices according to some embodiments. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     I. Introduction 
     Existing systems for roof analysis typically involve subjective human determinations developed during human analysis of imagery (e.g., aerial imagery). While advances in acquiring satellite and in-atmosphere imagery have allowed for more frequent analysis determinations (even on-demand using modern Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) technology), such advances have in some cases compromised attempts to apply neural network analysis to acquired images. As both the quantity and resolution of imagery has increased, for example, the processing power required to analyze even simple image artifacts has become prohibitive. Accordingly, previous systems generally are programmed to perform analysis on low-resolution imagery (e.g., low spatial resolution, such as fifty centimeters (50 cm) per pixel or higher) to identify only significant image artifacts, such as large holes in a roof, exposed rafters, missing roofing sections, and trees down on the roof. While these systems may assist in identifying serious roof problems, they are not capable of detecting more discrete features. Nor are they capable of quantifying metrics for total roof health, much less analyzing such metrics with respect to time such that roof deterioration (or improvement) may be evaluated. 
     In accordance with embodiments herein, these and other deficiencies of existing systems are remedied by providing systems, apparatus, methods, and articles of manufacture for Artificial Intelligence (AI) roof deterioration analysis. In some embodiments, for example, AI roof deterioration analysis may comprise (i) trimming high-resolution (e.g., high spatial resolution, such as ten centimeters (10 cm) per pixel or less, such as seven and one half centimeters (7.5 cm) per pixel) and large format/size (e.g., five thousand pixels by five thousand pixels (5,000×5,000) or more) images (and/or other sensor data) based on stored roof and/or object geometry (e.g., roof/object polygon data) and/or location data, (ii) segmenting the trimmed high-resolution image into a plurality of high-resolution image tiles (e.g., having smaller dimensions and/or sizes than the full high-resolution image, such as approximately two hundred fifty-six pixels by two hundred fifty-six pixels (256×256)), (iii) scoring each high-resolution image tile based on features identified by a computer vision model (e.g., utilizing a scoring range of zero (0) to one (1) in tenths or hundredths increments therebetween), (iv) summing and/or averaging the scores to define a total or overall score for the roof, (v) assigning, based on the total or overall score for the roof, a qualitative assessment of the roof (e.g., “poor”, “fair”, “good”), (vi) comparing the total or overall score for the roof to previous scores for the roof, and/or (vii) identifying, based on the comparison, whether the roof is stable, deteriorating, or improving. In accordance with some embodiments, the application of AI roof deterioration analysis as described herein may provide a reduction in computer processing resources, a reduction in necessary memory storage requirements, and other technical improvements. The particular AI roof deterioration analysis systems and methods described herein may, for example, permit available processing and memory resources to be utilized to achieve highly-detailed roof feature analysis that has not been realized by previous systems and methods due to processing and memory storage requirement constraints. 
     II. AI Roof Deterioration Analysis Systems 
     Referring first to  FIG.  1   , a block diagram of a system  100  according to some embodiments is shown. In some embodiments, the system  100  may comprise a user device  102  communicatively coupled to a network  104 . In some embodiments, the user device  102  and/or the network  104  may also or alternatively be coupled to a sensor, such as an imaging device  106 , that is disposed to capture data descriptive of a location  108 . According to some embodiments, the user device  102  and/or the imaging device  106  may be in communication with (e.g., via the network  104 ) one or more of a controller device  110  and a memory device  140  (e.g., storing one or more AI modules  142 ). In accordance with various embodiments herein, the user device  102  may be utilized to direct, manage, and/or interface with the imaging device  106  to capture imagery (and/or other sensor data) of the location  108  and one or more objects thereof, such as a roof  150  (and/or other object identified for inspection and/or analysis). In some embodiments, the captured imagery/data may be provided from the imaging device  106  to the user device  102  (and/or the controller device  110 ) for imagery/sensor data analysis and execution of stored analysis rules and/or logic (e.g., the AI module(s)  142 ). In such a manner, for example, data descriptive of the roof  150  may be input into the system  100  and utilized to compute analytic metrics for the roof  150 , such as an indication of deterioration status and/or rate of deterioration. 
     Fewer or more components  102 ,  104 ,  106 ,  108 ,  110 ,  140 ,  142 ,  150  and/or various configurations of the depicted components  102 ,  104 ,  106 ,  108 ,  110 ,  140 ,  142 ,  150  may be included in the system  100  without deviating from the scope of embodiments described herein. In some embodiments, the components  102 ,  104 ,  106 ,  108 ,  110 ,  140 ,  142 ,  150  may be similar in configuration and/or functionality to similarly named and/or numbered components as described herein. In some embodiments, the system  100  (and/or portions thereof) may comprise an automatic AI roof deterioration analysis program, system, and/or platform programmed and/or otherwise configured to execute, conduct, and/or facilitate the methods/processes  300 ,  400 ,  500  of  FIG.  3   ,  FIG.  4 A ,  FIG.  4 B ,  FIG.  4 C , and/or  FIG.  5    herein, and/or portions or combinations thereof. 
     The user device  102 , in some embodiments, may comprise any type or configuration of computing, mobile electronic, network, user, and/or communication device that is or becomes known or practicable. The user device  102  may, for example, comprise one or more tablet computers, such as an iPad® manufactured by Apple®, Inc. of Cupertino, Calif., and/or cellular and/or wireless telephones or “smart” phones, such as an iPhone® (also manufactured by Apple®, Inc.) or an Optimus™ S smart phone manufactured by LG® Electronics, Inc. of San Diego, Calif., and running the Android® operating system from Google®, Inc. of Mountain View, Calif. In some embodiments, the user device  102  may comprise one or more devices owned and/or operated by one or more users, such as a risk manager, underwriter, community association staff, realtor, contractor, etc. According to some embodiments, the user device  102  may communicate with the controller device  110  via the network  104  to provide imagery and/or other data captured by the imaging device  106  for roof deterioration analysis, as described herein. According to some embodiments, the user device  102  may store and/or execute specially programmed instructions (such as a mobile device application) to operate in accordance with embodiments described herein. The user device  102  may, for example, execute one or more mobile device programs that activate and/or control the imaging device  106  and/or that analyze imagery and/or other data of the location  108  and/or the roof  150 , e.g., to identify discrete features of the roof  150 , score individual features and/or roof image tiles, add the individual scores to define a total roof deterioration score, and/or utilize the total roof deterioration score to assign a qualitative roof status identifier to the roof  150 . 
     The network  104  may, according to some embodiments, comprise a Local Area Network (LAN; wireless and/or wired), cellular telephone, Bluetooth® and/or Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE), Near Field Communication (NFC), and/or Radio Frequency (RF) network with communication links between the controller device  110 , the user device  102 , the imaging device  106 , and/or the memory device  140 . In some embodiments, the network  104  may comprise direct communications links between any or all of the components  102 ,  106 ,  110 ,  140  of the system  100 . The user device  102  may, for example, be directly interfaced or connected to one or more of the imaging device  106  and/or the controller device  110  via one or more wires, cables, wireless links, and/or other network components, such network components (e.g., communication links) comprising portions of the network  104 . In some embodiments, the network  104  may comprise one or many other links or network components other than those depicted in  FIG.  1   . The user device  102  and/or the imaging device  106  may, for example, be connected to the controller device  110  via various cell towers, routers, repeaters, ports, switches, and/or other network components that comprise the Internet and/or a cellular telephone (and/or Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN)) network, and which comprise portions of the network  104 . 
     While the network  104  is depicted in  FIG.  1    as a single object, the network  104  may comprise any number, type, and/or configuration of networks that is or becomes known or practicable. According to some embodiments, the network  104  may comprise a conglomeration of different sub-networks and/or network components interconnected, directly or indirectly, by the components  102 ,  106 ,  110 ,  140  of the system  100 . The network  104  may comprise one or more cellular telephone networks with communication links between the user device  102 , the imaging device  106 , and the controller device  110 , for example, and/or may comprise a BLE, NFC, RF, and/or “personal” network comprising short-range wireless communications between the user device  102  and the imaging device  106 , for example. 
     The imaging device  106 , in some embodiments, may comprise any type or configuration of device, vehicle, sensor, and/or object that is capable of capturing imagery and/or other data descriptive of the location  108  and/or the roof  150  thereof. The imaging device  106  may comprise, for example, one or more drones, UAV devices, remote-controlled or piloted aircraft, rigid and/or inflatable airships, satellites, rockets, payload delivery systems, and/or payload guidance systems. According to some embodiments, the imaging device  106  may comprise one or more commercial drones, such as one or more DJI Phantom 3 Pro drones with a twelve (12)-megapixel camera, available from Da-Jiang Innovations Science and Technology Co., Ltd (“DJI”) of Shenzhen, China. In some embodiments, the imaging device  106  may comprise a plurality of cooperative vehicles and/or devices (not separately shown in  FIG.  1   ), such as a Forward-Looking Infrared Radiation (FLIR) sensor, a Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) sensor, and/or one or more high-resolution cameras. The imagery device  106  may comprise, for example, an iXM-RS150F/iXM-RS100F full frame ultra-high resolution aerial camera capable of capturing three or four band imagery data (e.g., RGB plus Near IR) at an image resolution of 14204×10625 pixels, available from PhaseOne Industrial of Frederiksberg, Denmark. The imagery and/or other data captured by the imaging device  106  may generally comprise any type, quantity, and/or format of photographic, video, and/or other sensor data descriptive of the location  108  and/or the roof  150  thereof. In some embodiments, the imaging device  106  may also or alternatively comprise a server and/or datastore that is configured to provide the imagery and/or other data descriptive of the location  108  and/or the roof  150 . The imaging device  106  may comprise, for example, a third-party and/or vendor device configured to supply imagery and/or other sensor data acquired from various cameras, sensors, and/or other sources. 
     According to some embodiments, the location  108  may comprise any location desired for analysis, such as a location of an insured object, a location of a customer, a location of an account and/or business, etc. In some embodiments, the location  108  may be identified by one or more location parameters, such as an address, postal code, map quadrant, and/or one or more coordinates and/or other identifiers (e.g., a unique geo-referenced location identifier). According to some embodiments, the location  108  may comprise various objects, such as the roof  150 . For ease of reference and description herein, all such objects will simply be referred to as the roof  150 . In the case that the roof  150  comprises an actual roof of a structure, such as a building, the roof  150  may comprise one or more various types of roofs, such as a commercial roof, a residential roof, a flat roof, a pitched roof, a roof with gables, dormers, chimneys, vents, drains, roof-mounted equipment, cisterns, etc., and/or any combinations thereof. 
     In some embodiments, the controller device  110  may comprise an electronic and/or computerized controller device, such as a computer server and/or server cluster communicatively coupled to interface with the user device  102  and/or the imaging device  106  (directly and/or indirectly). The controller device  110  may, for example, comprise one or more PowerEdge™ M910 blade servers manufactured by Dell®, Inc. of Round Rock, Tex., which may include one or more Eight-Core Intel® Xeon® 7500 Series electronic processing devices. According to some embodiments, the controller device  110  may be located remotely from one or more of the user device  102  and the imaging device  106 . The controller device  110  may also or alternatively comprise a plurality of electronic processing devices located at one or more various sites and/or locations (e.g., a distributed computing and/or processing network). 
     According to some embodiments, the controller device  110  may store and/or execute specially-programmed instructions to operate in accordance with embodiments described herein. The controller device  110  may, for example, execute one or more programs that facilitate and/or cause the automatic detection, verification, data capture, and/or data analysis of the location  108  and/or the roof  150 , as described herein. According to some embodiments, the controller device  110  may comprise a computerized processing device, such as a PC, laptop computer, computer server, and/or other network or electronic device, operated to manage and/or facilitate AI roof deterioration analysis in accordance with embodiments described herein. 
     In some embodiments, the controller device  110 , the user device  102 , and/or the imaging device  106  may be in communication with the memory device  140 . The memory device  140  may store, for example, mobile device application data, discrete object data, insurance policy data, damage estimation data, location data (such as coordinates, distances, etc.), security access protocol and/or verification data, polygon and/or template data, scoring data, qualitative assessment mapping data and/or logic, and/or instructions that cause various devices (e.g., the controller device  110 , the user device  102 , and/or the imaging device  106 ) to operate in accordance with embodiments described herein. In some embodiments, the memory device  140  may comprise any type, configuration, and/or quantity of data storage devices that are or become known or practicable. The memory device  140  may, for example, comprise an array of optical and/or solid-state hard drives configured to store roof or object data, device identifier data, location data, AI module(s), image analysis data, image processing data, and/or damage estimation data provided by (and/or requested by) the user device  102  and/or the controller device  110 , and/or various operating instructions, drivers, etc. In some embodiments, the memory device  140  may comprise a stand-alone and/or networked data storage device, such as a solid-state and/or non-volatile memory card (e.g., a Secure Digital (SD) card, such as an SD Standard-Capacity (SDSC), an SD High-Capacity (SDHC), and/or an SD eXtended-Capacity (SDXC), and any various practicable form-factors, such as original, mini, and micro sizes, such as those available from Western Digital Corporation of San Jose, Calif.). While the memory device  140  is depicted as a stand-alone component of the system  100  in  FIG.  1   , the memory device  140  may comprise multiple components. In some embodiments, a multi-component memory device  140  may be distributed across various devices and/or may comprise remotely dispersed components. Any or all of the user device  102 , the imaging device  106 , and/or the controller device  110  may comprise the memory device  140  or a portion thereof, for example. 
     Turning to  FIG.  2   , a diagram of a portion of an image  200 - 1  according to some embodiments is shown. In some embodiments, the portion of the image  200 - 1  (referred to as the “image”  200 - 1 , for ease of reference) may comprise a portion of an overall image (not shown; and/or other sensor data readout or display) comprising a first or x-dimension  200 - 2  and a second or y-dimension  200 - 3 . The image  200 - 1  may, for example, comprise a captured or recorded depiction (graphical, numerical, and/or referential) of a location  208 , such as an office building (or other property, parcel, etc.), as depicted in  FIG.  2    for non-limiting purposes of example. In some embodiments, and as described herein, the image  200 - 1  may comprise a high-resolution image, such as an image wherein the x-dimension  200 - 2  and/or the y-dimension  200 - 3  are each greater than five thousand (5,000) pixels in length, e.g., a digital image with an image resolution of approximately twenty-four megapixels (24 Mp) or greater. In some embodiments, such as in the case that the image  200 - 1  comprises an aerial image (satellite and/or in-atmosphere), the image  200 - 1  may comprise a Ground Sampling Distance (GSD), pixel size, and/or spatial resolution of ten centimeters (10 cm) per pixel or better (e.g., “high-resolution”). 
     According to some embodiments, at least a portion of the image  200 - 1  depicted in  FIG.  2    may depict and/or show a roof  250  at the location  208 . In some embodiments, various features and/or components of the image  200 - 1  may be utilized to conduct AI roof deterioration analysis as described herein. The roof  250  may, for example, comprise a plurality of distinguishable and/or distinct sections  250 - 1 ,  250 - 2 ,  250 - 3 . In some embodiments, the sections  250 - 1 ,  250 - 2 ,  250 - 3  may be defined and/or distinguishable by the presence of distinct features, such as parapets, dividers, and/or walls  252  and/or roof seams  252 - 1 . According to some embodiments, the roof  250  may comprise and/or the image  200 - 1  may provide indications of various other features, such as, but not limited to, roof-mounted mechanical components  254  (such as HVAC equipment, generators, etc.), protruding structures  256  (such as vent domes, vent turbine heads, chimneys, antennae, hatches), openings  258  (such as open vent stacks, risers, drains, etc.), overhanging vegetation  260   a - b  (trees, vines, and/or or other overhanging objects), shadows  262 , patch areas  264  (e.g., areas having a first shade, hue, saturation level, etc., and/or comprising certain first pre-defined geometries and/or sizes), discolored areas  266  (e.g., areas having a first shade, hue, saturation level, etc., and/or comprising certain first pre-defined geometries and/or sizes), and/or deviant texture areas  268  (e.g., areas having a first texture, pattern, etc.). In some embodiments, any or all of the features  250 - 1 ,  250 - 2 ,  250 - 3 ,  252 ,  252 - 1 ,  254 ,  256 ,  258 ,  260   a - b ,  262 ,  264 ,  266 ,  268  may be present in the image  200 - 1  and/or other characteristics, objects, and/or data may be provided by the image  200 . According to some embodiments, any or all of the features  250 - 1 ,  250 - 2 ,  250 - 3 ,  252 ,  252 - 1 ,  254 ,  256 ,  258 ,  260   a - b ,  262 ,  264 ,  266 ,  268  may be distinguishable from the underlying roof  250  based on differences in sensed data from one or more data bands, such as one or more colors, hues, positions, sizes, reflectivity, height, and/or other data values. In some embodiments, any or all of the features  250 - 1 ,  250 - 2 ,  250 - 3 ,  252 ,  252 - 1 ,  254 ,  256 ,  258 ,  260   a - b ,  262 ,  264 ,  266 ,  268  may be utilized by processes described herein to effectuate AI roof deterioration analysis. 
     Fewer or more features and/or components  200 - 2 ,  200 - 3 ,  250 - 1 ,  250 - 2 ,  250 - 3 ,  252 ,  252 - 1 ,  254 ,  256 ,  258 ,  260   a - b ,  262 ,  264 ,  266 ,  268  and/or various configurations of the depicted features and/or components  200 - 2 ,  200 - 3 ,  250 - 1 ,  250 - 2 ,  250 - 3 ,  252 ,  252 - 1 ,  254 ,  256 ,  258 ,  260   a - b ,  262 ,  264 ,  266 ,  268  may be included in the image  200 - 1  without deviating from the scope of embodiments described herein. In some embodiments, the features and/or components  200 - 2 ,  200 - 3 ,  250 - 1 ,  250 - 2 ,  250 - 3 ,  252 ,  252 - 1 ,  254 ,  256 ,  258 ,  260   a - b ,  262 ,  264 ,  266 ,  268  may be similar in configuration and/or functionality to similarly named and/or numbered features and/or components as described herein. In some embodiments, the image  200 - 1  (and/or portions thereof) may comprise input into an AI roof deterioration analysis program, system, and/or platform programmed and/or otherwise configured to execute, conduct, and/or facilitate the methods/processes  300 ,  400 ,  500  of  FIG.  3   ,  FIG.  4 A ,  FIG.  4 B ,  FIG.  4 C , and/or  FIG.  5    herein, and/or portions or combinations thereof. 
     III. AI Roof Deterioration Analysis Processes 
     Referring now to  FIG.  3   , a flow diagram of a method  300  according to some embodiments is shown. In some embodiments, the method  300  may be performed and/or implemented by and/or otherwise associated with one or more specialized and/or specially-programmed computers (e.g., one or more of the user device  102 , the imaging device  106 , the controller device  110 , and/or the apparatus  710  of  FIG.  1    and/or  FIG.  7    herein), computer terminals, computer servers, computer systems and/or networks, and/or any combinations thereof (e.g., by one or more multi-threaded and/or multi-core processing units of AI roof deterioration analysis data processing system). In some embodiments, the method  300  may be embodied in, facilitated by, and/or otherwise associated with various input mechanisms and/or interfaces (such as the interface  720  of  FIG.  7    herein). 
     The process diagrams and flow diagrams described herein do not necessarily imply a fixed order to any depicted actions, steps, and/or procedures, and embodiments may generally be performed in any order that is practicable unless otherwise and specifically noted. While the order of actions, steps, and/or procedures described herein is generally not fixed, in some embodiments, actions, steps, and/or procedures may be specifically performed in the order listed, depicted, and/or described and/or may be performed in response to any previously listed, depicted, and/or described action, step, and/or procedure. Any of the processes and methods described herein may be performed and/or facilitated by hardware, software (including microcode), firmware, or any combination thereof. For example, a storage medium (e.g., a hard disk, Random Access Memory (RAM) device, cache memory device, Universal Serial Bus (USB) mass storage device, and/or Digital Video Disk (DVD); e.g., the memory/data storage devices  140 ,  740 ,  840   a - e  of  FIG.  1   ,  FIG.  7   ,  FIG.  8 A ,  FIG.  8 B ,  FIG.  8 C ,  FIG.  8 D , and/or  FIG.  8 E  herein) may store thereon instructions that when executed by a machine (such as a computerized processor) result in performance according to any one or more of the embodiments described herein. 
     In some embodiments, the method  300  may comprise receiving (e.g., by an electronic processing device and/or from a remote sensor/imaging device) high-resolution imagery of a roof, at  302 . One or more sensors, such as cameras, data transceivers, range finding devices, and/or other imagery and/or data acquisition devices, may, for example, be utilized to capture data descriptive of a geographic area that includes one or more objects, such as a roof of a structure. In some embodiments, the capturing of the data may occur in response to a request for the data. One or more signals may be transmitted from a user and/or controller device to one or more imaging devices, for example, to initiate and/or conduct data acquisition for one or more desired locations and/or objects. According to some embodiments, whether the data is captured on-demand, in response to a specific request, or as part of an overall data acquisition process, the data may be provided via one or more data storage devices, such as a data/imagery repository. In some embodiments, such data may be made available by one or more third parties that may or may not charge a fee to access the data. According to some embodiments, the data may comprise any quantity, type, and/or configuration of data that is or becomes known or practicable. The data may include, for example, a plurality of data bands, such as different color bands and/or various point data, such as elevations, locations, etc. In some embodiments, the data may comprise various imagery bands, such as visible colors (e.g., RGB), near-IR, IR, and/or point cloud data, such as a Digital Elevation Model (DEM). According to some embodiments, the image/data may be considered high-resolution. As utilized herein, “high-resolution” may generally refer to imagery/data that comprises a size or image/matrix resolution of five thousand pixels by five thousand pixels (5,000×5,000) or more and/or imagery/data that comprises a spatial resolution of ten centimeters (10 cm) per pixel or lower (e.g., seven and one half centimeters (7.5 cm) per pixel). 
     According to some embodiments, the method  300  may comprise identifying (e.g., by the electronic processing device) a roof shape file, at  304 . Based on a location associated with the imagery/data, for example, shape file information may be queried from a datastore storing a plurality of available shape files. In the case that the imagery/data is acquired in response to a specific data acquisition request, the location of the imagery/data may be utilized to structure the request. In the case that the imagery/data is acquired from a set of stored imagery/data files, the location may be utilized to query the set to acquire the received imagery/data. In some cases, the location may be derived from the imagery/data itself by reading and/or analysis of metadata, tags, headers, and/or other embedded and/or associated location data elements. According to some embodiments, a plurality of shape files (and/or other shape-indicative information) may be stored in relation to a plurality of objects, such as roofs at various locations, and one or more of such files/information may be selected based at least in part on the location of the imagery/data. In some embodiments, for example, the imagery/data may be requested for a particular location for which a shape file descriptive of a shape of a roof at the location is known to exist. According to some embodiments, any or all such information may be stored in association with a customer (current and/or potential) account, profile, and/or other identifier and/or retrieved utilizing such an identifier as a data query key. In some embodiments, the shape file may comprise any type, quantity, and/or configuration of shape information that is or becomes practicable, such as, but not limited to, an image file, a template, geospatial vector data, point data, line data, polygon data, coordinate data, and/or other geospatial data. In some embodiments, the shape file may be defined and/or stored in accordance with one or more data formatting standards, such as the Environmental Systems Research Institute (ESRI) Shapefile Technical Description 3-7855 published July, 1998 by ESRI, Inc. of Redlands, Calif. In some embodiments, the shape file may define known and/or estimated extents and/or geographic locations of a particular object, such as a roof of a commercial building. According to some embodiments, a shape file may be adjusted. In the case that a shape file may not be (or may not be believed to be) a precise representation of a shape of a roof, for example, the shape file may be inflated such as by increasing the extents of the shape file and/or points thereof by a desired multiplier or factor. In such a manner, for example, the adjusted shape file may be likely to capture more area than the roof itself so that no portions of the roof are missed when applying the shape file to acquired imagery/data. 
     In some embodiments, the method  300  may comprise trimming (e.g., by the electronic processing device) the high-resolution imagery/data utilizing the roof shape file, at  306 . While the term “trimming” is utilized for convenience of description, in some embodiments the processing of the high-resolution imagery/data (a first component) utilizing the roof shape file (a second component) may comprise one or more other and/or alternative image processing routines, such as overlapping, joining, subtracting, merging, etc. According to some embodiments, the “trimming” may comprise a removal of portions of the image/data that is believed to be extraneous for not being descriptive of the roof (or other object) in question. The roof shape file (or adjusted roof shape file) may be overlaid upon (e.g., digitally and/or mathematically) the high-resolution imagery/data, for example, by aligning the shape file with the imagery/data based on geo-referenced data associated with each component and comparing the extents of each component. In some embodiments, the shape file may be aligned with the imagery/data by identification of one or more features of the roof and alignment of such feature(s) as found in each of the components. According to some embodiments, portions of the imagery/data that do not align with and/or fall outside the extents of the shape file may be deleted, cut, removed, and/or otherwise discarded or ignored, thereby defining a trimmed high-resolution image (and/or data set). While the original (pre-trimming) high-resolution image may comprise an image resolution or size of five thousand pixels by five thousand pixels (5,000×5,000) or more, such as ten thousand by twenty thousand pixels (10,000×20,000), for example, the trimmed high-resolution image may comprise an image resolution of eight thousand by eighteen thousand pixels (8,000×18,000) or more (e.g., some number of pixels in the x-direction and/or y-direction (and/or z-direction, if applicable) may be cut from the original image, changing the overall image resolution thereof). 
     According to some embodiments, the method  300  may comprise segmenting (e.g., by the electronic processing device) the trimmed high-resolution image into a plurality of image tiles, at  308 . While the trimmed high-resolution image may comprise an image resolution or size of at least several thousand pixels by several thousand pixels, for example, such a resolution may prove too data-intensive to effectively perform timely image processing thereof. In some embodiments, the trimmed image may be segmented into the plurality of smaller size image tiles with each image tile comprising an image resolution/size, for example, in the range of two hundred by two hundred pixels (200×200) to three hundred by three hundred pixels (300×300), such as two hundred fifty-six by two hundred fifty-six pixels (256×256). In the example case of the trimmed image comprising eight thousand by eighteen thousand pixels (8,000×18,000) and each image tile comprising two hundred fifty-six by two hundred fifty-six pixels (256×256), for example, approximately two thousand one hundred ninety-eight (2,198) image tiles may be defined by segmentation of the trimmed high-resolution image (assuming optimal image shape and tile distribution). According to some embodiments, the segmenting may preserve the spatial resolution of the imagery/data such that each image tile comprises a spatial resolution of, for example, seven and one half centimeters (7.5 cm) per pixel (e.g., “high-resolution” image tiles). According to some embodiments, the image tiles may be defined by application of a segmentation algorithm to the trimmed high-resolution image. In some embodiments, each image tile may be assigned a unique identifier and/or may be defined in relation to adjacent image tiles. An identifier for each image tile, as well as relative (and/or actual) location information for each image tile, may be stored, for example, in a database and/or file. 
     In some embodiments, the method  300  may comprise selecting (e.g., by the electronic processing device) an image tile for analysis, at  310 . After the trimming and segmenting at  306  and  308  respectively, for example, the method  300  may comprise an iterative selection of each of the image tiles comprising the trimmed high-resolution image/data array. According to some embodiments, each image tile may be analyzed in turn based on an identifier and/or location of the image tile. In some embodiments, an image tile may be selected randomly from the set of image tiles. In some embodiments, only a subset of the image tiles may be identified and/or selected for analysis. 
     According to some embodiments, the method  300  may comprise identifying (e.g., by the electronic processing device) a roof feature (e.g., defect) in the selected image tile, at  312 . One or more trained AI algorithms and/or modules may be employed, for example, to identify an occurrence of an image/data pattern/value that matches predefined AI criteria indicative of a particular type of identifiable feature. In some embodiments, the identifying may be leveraged for roof scoring analysis and/or for prefiltering of image tiles. Prefiltering may be conducted, for example, to remove one or more image tiles from the listing of image tiles for analysis and/or to flag certain image tiles with a status that prevents and/or modifies the analysis thereof. In the case that the segmenting of the trimmed high-resolution imagery/data results in one or image tiles that represent areas and/or objects other than the desired object/roof (e.g., an adjacent roof, a yard or parking lot adjacent to the building), for example, such image tiles may be excluded from analysis in the case that the percentage of the image tile that represents the desired roof area is below a predetermined threshold (e.g., less than fifty percent (50%) of the image tile is descriptive of the desired object/roof). According to some embodiments, such prefiltering may comprise a first image analysis that is utilized to identify image/data portions that are not representative of the desired object/roof (e.g., by identifying colors, textures, shapes, and/or other features that are indicative of the desired object/roof and others that are not). In some embodiments, scoring analysis may comprise identifying a feature from a listing of features that have been determined to be related to roof quality. Such features may comprise, but are not limited to, for example, cracks (e.g., defects in a roof membrane surface), drains (their existence, pooling or ponding indications, and/or clogging indications), roof caps (e.g., visible damage, voids at areas of attachment), roof storage and/or debris (e.g., items or objects on the roof that are not designed to be there), substrate (e.g., the existence and/or degree of exposure of stones, gravel, and/or other roofing substrates, underlayment, etc.), vegetation (e.g., on-roof rooted vegetation and/or overhanging vegetation), roof patches, and/or areas of damage (e.g., missing shingles, coverings, etc.). 
     In some embodiments, the method  300  may comprise scoring (e.g., by the electronic processing device) the roof feature, at  314 . Each preprogrammed identifiable feature may correspond to a score, weight, and/or value, for example, which may be retrieved from a database, table, matrix, and/or file. In some embodiments, different types of features/objects may correspond to different scores and/or values. According to some embodiments, different characteristics of any particular feature may affect the score for the feature. In the case that the feature comprises an identified roof patch area, for example, the size, shape, pattern, data value, and/or location (e.g., relative to one or more other features, such as drains, seams, etc.) of the patch may govern the scoring. While a small roof patch may produce an elevated score, e.g., of six tenths (0.6) on a scale of zero (0) to one (1), for example, a larger roof patch and/or a roof patch within a predetermined distance to a roof drain may produce a less favorable score of, e.g., eight tenths (0.8). Such a difference in scoring may, for example, reflect an increased likelihood of roof drainage problems in the case that a larger roof area has been patched and/or in the case that the patch is adjacent to a drainage feature (e.g., a low point on the roof that is more susceptible to water damage). In some embodiments, the scoring may be calculated and/or computed to reflect a relative magnitude and/or likelihood of risk of damage to the roof. In the case that the feature comprises an identified clogged drain, for example, the scoring of the feature may represent an increased likelihood of water damage due to roof ponding (e.g., due to the clogged drain) and/or may represent an increased likelihood of risk for the roof due to an apparent lack of maintenance thereof. According to some embodiments, certain features (such as the overall lack of maintenance) may be weighted more heavily in the scoring algorithm than other features (such as an individual clogged drain, particularly on a roof having many drains). 
     According to some embodiments, the method  300  may comprise determining (e.g., by the electronic processing device) whether there are more features to evaluate, at  316 . The method  300  may, for example, cycle through a plurality of feature identification algorithms in accordance with one or more AI modules to identify all features of a first particular type and then to identify all features of a second particular type. In the example case of an identified roof patch, for example, an AI module trained to identify roof patches may be executed repeatedly until no more roof patches are identified in the image tile. Similarly, AI modules for different features may be executed until no additional identifiable features are found in the image tile. In the case that more AI modules remain to be executed and/or more features have been identified but not yet scored, the method  300  may revert back to identifying additional features, at  312 . In the case that all AI modules have been executed and/or no additional identifiable features have been located in the image tile, the method  300  may continue to compute (e.g., by the electronic processing device) an overall score for the image tile, at  318 . All of the individual scores for the individual features identified in the image tile may be utilized, for example, to generate the overall score for the tile. In some embodiments, the scores may be summed, averaged, weighted, and/or otherwise processed in accordance with one or more mathematical formulas or models to define the overall image tile score. In some embodiments, for example, a plurality of individual feature scores may be averaged (weighted or straight) to define the overall score for the particular image tile having been evaluated. In some embodiments, the method  300  may be utilized to analyze a plurality of image tiles, such as each image tile flagged for analysis (e.g., each image tile comprising an amount of usable roof data above a predefined threshold). The method  300  may, for example, determine whether additional image tiles remain to be analyzed, at  320 . In the case that more image tiles remain to be analyzed (e.g., feature identification and scoring), the method  300  may revert back to selecting additional image tiles, at  310 . In the case that all image tiles have been analyzed, the method  300  may continue to compute (e.g., by the electronic processing device) an overall defectiveness score for the roof, at  322 . 
     In some embodiments, the overall defectiveness score for the roof may be computed by utilizing each of the individual image tile scores as input. According to some embodiments, the individual image tile scores may be summed, averaged, weighted, and/or otherwise processed in accordance with one or more mathematical formulas or models to define the overall defectiveness score for the roof. In some embodiments, for example, a plurality of individual image tile scores may be averaged (weighted or straight) to define the overall defectiveness score for the roof having been evaluated. In some embodiments, cluster analysis, decision trees, and/or other trainable AI-based analysis may be conducted to compute the overall defectiveness score for the roof. According to some embodiments, the overall defectiveness score for the roof may comprise a quantitative value that is indicative of a measure of risk (e.g., of damage) for the roof. In some embodiments, the overall defectiveness score for the roof may be mapped to one or more qualitative labels utilizing a Structured Mapping Engine (SME) of an AI analysis module. The SME may, for example, map various quantitative data ranges for the overall defectiveness score for the roof to the one or more qualitative labels. In one non-limiting example of such mapping, the overall defectiveness score for the roof may be mapped utilizing a qualitative rules matrix such as set forth in Table 1, below: 
     
       
         
           
               
               
             
               
                   
               
               
                 Overall defectiveness score for the roof 
                 Qualitative SME Label 
               
               
                   
               
             
            
               
                 &lt;0.30 
                 Good 
               
               
                 0.30-0.70 
                 Fair 
               
               
                 &gt;0.70 
                 Poor 
               
               
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     According to some embodiments, the overall defectiveness score for the roof (quantitative and/or qualitative) may be utilized to compute a defectiveness trend for the roof/object. The overall defectiveness score for the roof may be calculated based on imagery/data from a first time, for example, and may be compared to other overall defectiveness scores for the roof calculated based on imagery/data from other points in time. In some embodiments, a plurality of previously calculated overall defectiveness scores for the roof may be utilized in conjunction with the currently-calculated overall defectiveness score for the roof to define a mean, standard deviation, and/or other statistical and/or mathematical metric descriptive of the series of scores. According to some embodiments, compared scores may be selected from a plurality of available scores based on one or more similar characteristics between the scoring events. One often significant variation in roof analysis is the amount of leaf cover in areas where deciduous trees are common—and likely to overhang roof structures. In some embodiments, the seasonality (e.g., leaf-on or leaf-off) of the dates the underlying imagery/data were captured may be utilized to select a set of scores for statistical analysis. Such a characteristic-based statistical approach may, for example, permit an understanding regarding whether the changes observed over time are apparent changes in images due to lighting, camera angle, etc., or whether the changes represent actual changes in roof condition. In some embodiments, five (5) seasonally consistent scores may be statistically compared to compute a composite five-lagged z-score for the data set. In some embodiments, the z-score may be utilized to determine whether the current score and/or trend for the data set is indicative of increasing, decreasing, or steady roof deterioration conditions. According to some embodiments, other trend algorithms, linear fit algorithms, seasonality, and/or outlier analysis models may be utilized to analyze the roof data to derive the defectiveness trend for the roof. 
     In some embodiments, the method  300  may comprise outputting (e.g., by the electronic processing device and/or via a remote user device) the overall defectiveness score (and/or other metrics) for the roof, at  324 . A signal may be transmitted, for example, to one or more electronic devices of a user and/or customer, the signal including data identifying the overall defectiveness score, e.g., computed at  322 . In some embodiments, the quantitative label, z-score, qualitative trend label, score distribution, and/or other score metrics or information may also or alternatively be output. According to some embodiments, the output information may be provided in various media formats, such as text, pictures/photos, graphics, and/or video. In some embodiments, the format of the output information may be varied based on the capabilities of the destination device (e.g., text to a cell phone, video to a home PC, etc.). 
     Referring now to  FIG.  4 A ,  FIG.  4 B , and  FIG.  4 C , diagrams of an AI processing process  400  according to some embodiments are shown. In some embodiments, the process  400  may be performed and/or implemented by and/or otherwise associated with one or more specialized and/or specially-programmed computers (e.g., one or more of the user device  102 , the imaging device  106 , the controller device  110 , and/or the apparatus  710  of  FIG.  1    and/or  FIG.  7    herein), computer terminals, computer servers, computer systems and/or networks, and/or any combinations thereof (e.g., by one or more multi-threaded and/or multi-core processing units of AI roof deterioration analysis data processing system). In some embodiments, the process  400  may be embodied in, facilitated by, and/or otherwise associated with various input mechanisms and/or interfaces (such as the interface  720  of  FIG.  7    herein). 
     According to some embodiments, the process  400  may comprise various steps, routines, and/or procedures that operate upon and/or utilize input data, such as an image  400 - 1 , or portion thereof, as depicted in  FIG.  4 A . In some embodiments, the image  400 - 1  may comprise a high-resolution image as described herein. The image  400 - 1 , for example, may comprise an aerial image acquired from an aircraft, satellite, etc., and/or may comprise an image received at  302  in the method  300  of  FIG.  3    herein. According to some embodiments, the image  400 - 1  may be edited in accordance with the process  400  by application of a template  400 - 4  that cuts, crops, and/or trims the image  400 - 1  into at least a first portion  400 - 5  and a second portion  400 - 6 . The template  400 - 4  may, for example, comprise a shape file, point cloud data, and/or other geometric and/or location data, such as the shape file identified at  304  in the method  300  of  FIG.  3    herein. In some embodiments, the template  400 - 4  may be overlaid on and/or compared to (physically and/or mathematically) the image  400 - 1  with any or all areas falling within the bounds of the template  400 - 4  being defined as the first portion  400 - 5  and all areas falling outside of the bounds of the template  400 - 4  being defined as the second portion  400 - 6 . According to some embodiments, the bounds of the template  400 - 4  may be utilized to trim, cut, and/or crop (e.g., the trimming at  306  of the method  300  of  FIG.  3    herein) the second portion  400 - 6  from the image  400 - 1 , thereby retaining only the first portion  400 - 5  of the image  400 - 1 , which may be referred to as the trimmed image or first portion  400 - 5 . In some embodiments, the trimmed image  400 - 5  may comprise data descriptive of a geographic location  408  and at least one object thereof, such as a roof  450 . According to some embodiments, the second portion  400 - 6  (e.g., that is removed and/or discarded from the image  400 - 1  via the process  400 ) may comprise data descriptive of objects and/or areas at or near the location  408  that do not correspond to the roof  450 . As described herein, for example, the template  400 - 4  may comprise data descriptive of the area and/or boundaries of the roof  450  and may accordingly be utilized to trim the image  400 - 1  to remove data and/or areas (i.e., the second portion  400 - 6 ) that do not fall within the boundaries of the roof  450 . 
     In some embodiments, and referring to  FIG.  4 B , the process  400  may conduct further operations on the trimmed image  400 - 5 . The process  400  may, for example, execute an algorithm to segment, apportion, and/or divide the trimmed image  400 - 5  into a plurality of image tiles  470   a - o  (e.g., the segmenting  308  of the method  300  of  FIG.  3    herein). According to some embodiments, the image tiles  470   a - o  may be evenly and/or systematically distributed across the trimmed image  400 - 5 , e.g., forming a grid-pattern as depicted in  FIG.  4 B . In some embodiments, fewer or more image tiles  470   a - o  may be generated and/or defined than are depicted in  FIG.  4 B . According to some embodiments, each image tile  470   a - o  may comprise and/or be defined by a first or x-dimension  470 - 2  and a second or y-dimension  470 - 3 . In some embodiments, the x-dimension  470 - 2  and/or the second or y-dimension  470 - 3  may be in the range of two hundred (200) pixels to three hundred (300) pixels and in some embodiments as described herein, between two hundred twenty (220) and two hundred sixty (260) pixels. According to some embodiments, the process  400  may remove, discard, ignore, and/or conduct a modified analysis on one or more of the image tiles  470   a - o . The process  400  may, for example, execute a first AI program that is configured to filter out image tiles  470   a - o  that are representative of less than a predetermined threshold amount of area that corresponds to the roof  450 . 
     As depicted in  FIG.  4 B , for example, three (3) of the image tiles  470   a ,  470   d ,  470   g  may comprise non-roof areas  472   a ,  472   d ,  472   g . The first AI module may be trained and/or programmed to identify these non-roof areas  472   a ,  472   d ,  472   g  by analyzing colors, reflectivity, patterns, textures, heights/elevations, and/or other data from the trimmed image  400 - 5 . The first AI module may, for example, be trained to identify areas of grass, parking lots, and/or other areas that do not match (e.g., color, saturation, hue, etc.) the characteristics of the roof  450 . According to some embodiments, rules may be applied to discard any image tiles  470   a - o  that contain and/or represent non-roof areas  472   a ,  472   d ,  472   g  that exceed a predefined threshold level. In the case of a seventh image tile  470   g  having a corresponding identified seventh non-roof area  472   g , for example, should the seventh non-roof area  472   g  exceed a certain percentage (e.g., fifteen percent (15%)) of the overall area of the seventh image tile  470   g , the seventh image tile  470   g  may be discarded and/or flagged as not having enough “useful roof” area to be included in roof deterioration analysis. In some embodiments, as opposed to being discarded or filtered out, the seventh image tile  470   g  may be additionally trimmed and/or processed to remove and/or discard the seventh non-roof area  472   g.    
     In some embodiments, and referring to  FIG.  4 C , the process  400  may conduct AI-based roof deterioration analysis on the image tiles  470   a - o  (e.g., and the trimmed image  400 - 5 ). Each image tile  470   a - o  may be selected (e.g., in-turn), analyzed, and scored, for example. The process  400  may, in some embodiments, select (e.g., the selecting  310  of the method  300  of  FIG.  3    herein) one or more image tiles  470   b - c ,  470   j ,  470   m - o  as depicted in  FIG.  4 C . The subset of image tiles  470   b - c ,  470   j ,  470   m - o  depicted in  FIG.  4 C  are presented for non-limiting purposes of example and ease of explanation. Fewer or more image tiles  470   a - o  may be selected in series or in parallel, as is or becomes known or practicable. According to some embodiments, each of the selected image tiles  470   b - c ,  470   j ,  470   m - o  may be analyzed pursuant to the process  400  by a second AI module that is trained and/or programmed to identify features of the roof  450  (and/or other object). The second AI module may, for example, identify (e.g., the identifying  312  of the method  300  of  FIG.  3    herein) (i) roof cracks or seams  452 - 1   c ,  452 - 1   j ,  452 - 1   m ,  452 - 1   n  in respective selected image tiles  470   c ,  470   j ,  470   m - n , (ii) roof-mounted equipment  454   n  and/or a roof protrusion  456   n  in a fourteenth image tile  470   n , (iii) roof vents or drains  458   b ,  458   j  in a second image tile  470   b  and a tenth image tile  470   j , (iv) overhanging vegetation  460   j ,  460   m  in the tenth image tile  470   j  and a thirteenth image tile  470   m , (v) shadow areas  462   b ,  462   j ,  462   m ,  462   n ,  462   o  in the second image tile  470   b , the tenth image tile  470   j , the thirteenth image tile  470   m , the fourteenth image tile  470   n , and a fifteenth image tile  470   o , (vi) roof patches  464   b ,  464   j ,  464   n  in the second image tile  470   b , the tenth image tile  470   j , and the fourteenth image tile  470   n , (vii) discolored areas  466   b ,  466   c ,  466   o  in the second image tile  470   b , a third image tile  470   c , and the fifteenth image tile  470   o , and/or (viii) deviant texture areas  468   c ,  468   o  in the third image tile  470   c  and the fifteenth image tile  470   o.    
     According to some embodiments, any or all of the identified roof features  452 - 1   c ,  452 - 1   j ,  452 - 1   m ,  452 - 1   n ,  454   n ,  456   n ,  458   b ,  458   j ,  460   j ,  460   m ,  462   b ,  462   j ,  462   m ,  462   n ,  462   o ,  464   b ,  464   j ,  464   n ,  466   b ,  466   c ,  466   o ,  468   c ,  468   o  may be scored (e.g., the scoring  314  of the method  300  of  FIG.  3    herein) by the process  400 . The scoring may comprise, for example, retrieving and/or utilizing (e.g., for each identified roof feature  452 - 1   c ,  452 - 1   j ,  452 - 1   m ,  452 - 1   n ,  454   n ,  456   n ,  458   b ,  458   j ,  460   j ,  460   m ,  462   b ,  462   j ,  462   m ,  462   n ,  462   o ,  464   b ,  464   j ,  464   n ,  466   b ,  466   c ,  466   o ,  468   c ,  468   o ) a score, weight, and/or value stored in a database, table, matrix, and/or file. In some embodiments, different types of objects and/or identified roof features  452 - 1   c ,  452 - 1   j ,  452 - 1   m ,  452 - 1   n ,  454   n ,  456   n ,  458   b ,  458   j ,  460   j ,  460   m ,  462   b ,  462   j ,  462   m ,  462   n ,  462   o ,  464   b ,  464   j ,  464   n ,  466   b ,  466   c ,  466   o ,  468   c ,  468   o  may correspond to different scores and/or values. According to some embodiments, different characteristics of any particular identified roof feature  452 - 1   c ,  452 - 1   j ,  452 - 1   m ,  452 - 1   n ,  454   n ,  456   n ,  458   b ,  458   j ,  460   j ,  460   m ,  462   b ,  462   j ,  462   m ,  462   n ,  462   o ,  464   b ,  464   j ,  464   n ,  466   b ,  466   c ,  466   o ,  468   c ,  468   o  may affect the score for the identified roof feature  452 - 1   c ,  452 - 1   j ,  452 - 1   m ,  452 - 1   n ,  454   n ,  456   n ,  458   b ,  458   j ,  460   j ,  460   m ,  462   b ,  462   j ,  462   m ,  462   n ,  462   o ,  464   b ,  464   j ,  464   n ,  466   b ,  466   c ,  466   o ,  468   c ,  468   o . In the case that a thirteenth overhanging vegetation feature  460   m  accounts for a certain first percentage (e.g., approximately fifty percent (50%) as depicted in  FIG.  4 C ) of the thirteenth image tile  470   m  it may correspond to a score of seven tenths (0.7), for example, while a tenth overhanging vegetation feature  460   j  that accounts for a certain second percentage (e.g., approximately thirty-three percent (33%) as depicted in  FIG.  4 C ) of the tenth image tile  470   j  it may correspond to a score of five tenths (0.5). 
     In some embodiments, each individual score for each identified roof feature  452 - 1   c ,  452 - 1   j ,  452 - 1   m ,  452 - 1   n ,  454   n ,  456   n ,  458   b ,  458   j ,  460   j ,  460   m ,  462   b ,  462   j ,  462   m ,  462   n ,  462   o ,  464   b ,  464   j ,  464   n ,  466   b ,  466   c ,  466   o ,  468   c ,  468   o  in each of the selected image tiles  470   b - c ,  470   j ,  470   m - o  may be utilized to compute an overall score  474   b - c ,  474   j ,  474   m - o  (e.g., the computing  318  of the method  300  of  FIG.  3    herein) for each of the selected image tiles  470   b - c ,  470   j ,  470   m - o . The individual scores may be summed, averaged, weighted, and/or otherwise processed in accordance with one or more mathematical formulas or models, for example, to define the overall scores  474   b - c ,  474   j ,  474   m - o  for the selected image tiles  470   b - c ,  470   j ,  470   m - o . In some embodiments, for example, a plurality of individual feature scores may be averaged (weighted or straight) to define the overall scores  474   b - c ,  474   j ,  474   m - o  for the selected image tiles  470   b - c ,  470   j ,  470   m - o . According to some embodiments, the overall scores  474   b - c ,  474   j ,  474   m - o  for the selected image tiles  470   b - c ,  470   j ,  470   m - o  may be compiled and/or arranged in a matrix and/or array  476 . In some embodiments, the overall scores  474   b - c ,  474   j ,  474   m - o  for the selected image tiles  470   b - c ,  470   j ,  470   m - o  and/or the array  476  may be utilized as input by the process  400  to compute (e.g., the computing  322  of the method  300  of  FIG.  3    herein) an overall defectiveness score  480  (e.g., four tenths (0.4)) for the roof  450 . In some embodiments, the overall defectiveness score  480  for the roof  450  may be computed by summing, averaging, weighing, and/or otherwise processing the overall scores  474   b - c ,  474   j ,  474   m - o  in accordance with one or more mathematical formulas or models. In some embodiments, for example, the plurality of individual overall scores  474   b - c ,  474   j ,  474   m - o  may be averaged (weighted or straight) to define the overall defectiveness score  480  for the roof  450 . 
     Fewer or more features and/or components  400 - 1 ,  400 - 4 ,  400 - 5 ,  400 - 6 ,  408 ,  450 ,  452 - 1   c ,  452 - 1   j ,  452 - 1   m ,  452 - 1   n ,  454   n ,  456   n ,  458   b ,  458   j ,  460   j ,  460   m ,  462   b ,  462   j ,  462   m ,  462   n ,  462   o ,  464   b ,  464   j ,  464   n ,  466   b ,  466   c ,  466   o ,  468   c ,  468   o ,  470   a - o ,  470 - 2 ,  470 - 3 ,  472   a ,  472   d ,  472   g ,  474   b - c ,  474   j ,  474   m - o ,  476 ,  480  and/or various configurations of the depicted features and/or components  400 - 1 ,  400 - 4 ,  400 - 5 ,  400 - 6 ,  408 ,  450 ,  452 - 1   c ,  452 - 1   j ,  452 - 1   m ,  452 - 1   n ,  454   n ,  456   n ,  458   b ,  458   j ,  460   j ,  460   m ,  462   b ,  462   j ,  462   m ,  462   n ,  462   o ,  464   b ,  464   j ,  464   n ,  466   b ,  466   c ,  466   o ,  468   c ,  468   o ,  470   a - o ,  470 - 2 ,  470 - 3 ,  472   a ,  472   d ,  472   g ,  474   b - c ,  474   j ,  474   m - o ,  476 ,  480  may be included in the process  400  without deviating from the scope of embodiments described herein. In some embodiments, the features and/or components  400 - 1 ,  400 - 4 ,  400 - 5 ,  400 - 6 ,  408 ,  450 ,  452 - 1   c ,  452 - 1   j ,  452 - 1   m ,  452 - 1   n ,  454   n ,  456   n ,  458   b ,  458   j ,  460   j ,  460   m ,  462   b ,  462   j ,  462   m ,  462   n ,  462   o ,  464   b ,  464   j ,  464   n ,  466   b ,  466   c ,  466   o ,  468   c ,  468   o ,  470   a - o ,  470 - 2 ,  470 - 3 ,  472   a ,  472   d ,  472   g ,  474   b - c ,  474   j ,  474   m - o ,  476 ,  480  may be similar in configuration and/or functionality to similarly named and/or numbered features and/or components as described herein. 
     Turning no to  FIG.  5   , a diagram of mathematical distribution process  500  according to some embodiments is shown. The process  500  may comprise, for example, a statistical score analysis algorithm that operates upon and/or defines a mean score  504 , a first positive standard deviation or first positive z-score  506 , a second positive standard deviation or second positive z-score  508 , a third positive standard deviation or third positive z-score  510 , a first negative standard deviation or first negative z-score  512 , a second negative standard deviation or second negative z-score  514 , and/or a third negative standard deviation or third negative z-score  516 . In some embodiments, the mean score  504  and/or the various z-scores  506 ,  508 ,  510 ,  512 ,  514 ,  516  may define and/or be mathematically tied to a score distribution  518  (depicted as a standard bell-curve distribution for non-limiting purposes of example in  FIG.  5   ). According to some embodiments, the score distribution  518  may represent a distribution of roof deterioration scores that may be computed and/or calculated via the method  300  and/or the process  400  of  FIG.  3    and/or  FIG.  4    herein. In some embodiments, the score distribution  518  may comprise a plurality of comparable scores  580 - 1 ,  580 - 2 ,  580 - 3 ,  580 - 4 ,  580 - 5  (e.g., comparable due to having at least one characteristic in common, such as being calculated from data acquired at the same time of year (seasonality), during similar weather conditions, times of day, etc.), such as a most-recent score  580 - 5  for a particular object/roof and a set of four (4) or more previous scores  580 - 1 ,  580 - 2 ,  580 - 3 ,  580 - 4  for the same object/roof. According to some embodiments, the process  500  may comprise computing the z-scores for each of the plurality of comparable scores  580 - 1 ,  580 - 2 ,  580 - 3 ,  580 - 4 ,  580 - 5  and comparing the calculated z-scores to determine whether the analyzed object/roof is deteriorating (e.g., a progression of z-scores in the negative direction), improving (e.g., a progression of z-scores in the positive direction), or constant (e.g., z-score progression in either direction that is below a predefined threshold). In some embodiments, a five (5)-lagged composite z-score may be calculated to characterize (and/or score, rank, label, etc.) the progression of object/roof condition as analyzed by the AI systems and processes described herein. According to some embodiments, the results of the progression analysis may be converted to a qualitative label such as “stable”, “deteriorating”, or “improved” by cross-referencing the numeric result with a matrix or table identifying applicable labels for different ranges in value. As depicted for non-limiting purposes of example with respect to the plurality of comparable scores  580 - 1 ,  580 - 2 ,  580 - 3 ,  580 - 4 ,  580 - 5  in  FIG.  5   , a first score  580 - 1 , a second score  580 - 2 , a third score  580 - 3 , and a fourth score  580 - 4  all fall within one standard deviation (plus or minus; e.g., a z-score between one and negative one) of the mean score  504 , which may be an indication that the roof being analyzed is stable (i.e., neither deteriorating nor improving). A fifth score  580 - 5 , which may be the most current score for example, has a z-score of greater than one (1) however, indicating that the fifth score  580 - 5  is either an outlier or that the condition of the roof is improving (e.g., due to a recent repair or replacement). 
     IV. AI Roof Deterioration Analysis Data Storage Structures 
     Referring now to  FIG.  6   , diagrams of an example data storage structure  640  according to some embodiments are shown. In some embodiments, the data storage structure  640  may comprise a plurality of data tables, such as a data table  644   a , a shape file table  644   b , and/or an image tile table  644   c . The data tables  644   a - c  may, for example, be utilized in an execution of an AI roof deterioration analysis process, as described herein. 
     The data table  644   a  may comprise, in accordance with some embodiments, a data IDentifer (ID)  644   a - 1 , a data type field  644   a - 2 , a data location field  644   a - 3 , a location ID field  644   a - 4 , a resolution field  644   a - 5 , and/or a size field  644   a - 6 . In some embodiments, the data stored in the data table  644   a  may comprise high-resolution imagery and/or other data files, matrices, arrays, and/or values descriptive of one or more objects (e.g., a roof) at a geographic location, e.g., at a particular time. The shape file table  644   b  may comprise, in accordance with some embodiments, a location ID field  644   b - 1 , a location field  644   b - 2 , a shape file field  644   b - 3 , and/or a shape file type field  644   b - 4 . In some embodiments, the data stored in the shape file table  644   b  may comprise one or more shape and/or location-based data elements descriptive of the boundaries and/or extents of a particular object, structure, building, and/or roof thereof. In some embodiments, the image tile table  644   c  may comprise a tile ID field  644   c - 1 , a data ID field  644   c - 2 , a resolution field  644   c - 3 , a size field  644   c - 4 , and/or a score field  644   c - 5 . According to some embodiments, data stored in the image tile table  644   c  may comprise data descriptive of a plurality of image tiles that have been defined based on a segmentation of an underlying high-resolution image/data matrix. 
     In some embodiments, data processing results, such as AI roof deterioration analysis scores and/or value results, may be defined utilizing relationships established between two or more of the data tables  644   a - c . As depicted in the example data storage structure  640 , for example, a first relationship “A” may be established between the data table  644   a  and the shape file table  644   b . In some embodiments (e.g., as depicted in  FIG.  6   ), the first relationship “A” may be defined by utilizing the location ID field  644   a - 4  as a data key linking to the location ID field  644   b - 1 . According to some embodiments, the first relationship “A” may comprise any type of data relationship that is or becomes desirable, such as a one-to-one, one-to-many, many-to-many, or many-to-one relationship. In the case that a shape file may exist for any particular location, the first relationship “A” may comprise a one-to-one relationship. In such a manner, for example, location data may be utilized to compare, query, and/or otherwise process against the shape file table  644   b  to identify one or more shape files for a particular location. The shape file(s) may be utilized, for example, to trim a high-resolution image stored in (and/or referenced by) the data table  644   a.    
     According to some embodiments, a second relationship “B” may be established between the data table  644   a  and the image tile table  644   c . In some embodiments (e.g., as depicted in  FIG.  6   ), the second relationship “B” may be defined by utilizing the data ID  644   a - 1  as a data key linking to the data ID field  644   c - 2 . According to some embodiments, the second relationship “B” may comprise any type of data relationship that is or becomes desirable, such as a one-to-one, one-to-many, many-to-many, or many-to-one relationship. In the case that a plurality of image tiles are generated with respect to and/or for any given image file stored in (and/or referenced by) the data table  644   a , for example, the second relationship “B” may comprise a many-to-one relationship. In such a manner, for example, the relationship between an image and the segmented image tiles thereof may be utilized to perform mathematical operations, such as summing and/or averaging scores for the image stored in the score field  644   c - 5 . 
     In some embodiments, fewer or more data fields than are shown may be associated with the data tables  644   a - c . Only a portion of one or more databases and/or other data stores is necessarily shown in  FIG.  6   , for example, and other database fields, columns, structures, orientations, quantities, and/or configurations may be utilized without deviating from the scope of some embodiments. Further, the data shown in the various data fields is provided solely for exemplary and illustrative purposes and does not limit the scope of embodiments described herein. 
     V. AI Roof Deterioration Analysis Apparatus and Articles of Manufacture 
     Turning to  FIG.  7   , a block diagram of an AI device or other apparatus  710  according to some embodiments is shown. In some embodiments, the apparatus  710  may be similar in configuration and/or functionality to any of the user device  102 , the imaging device  106 , and/or the controller device  110  of  FIG.  1    herein. The apparatus  710  may, for example, execute, process, facilitate, and/or otherwise be associated with the methods/processes  300 ,  400 ,  500  of  FIG.  3   ,  FIG.  4 A ,  FIG.  4 B ,  FIG.  4 C , and/or  FIG.  5    herein, and/or portions or combinations thereof. In some embodiments, the apparatus  710  may comprise a processing device  712 , a transceiver device  714 , an input device  716 , an output device  718 , an interface  720 , a memory device  740  (storing various programs and/or instructions  742  and data  744 ), and/or a cooling device  750 . According to some embodiments, any or all of the components  712 ,  714 ,  716 ,  718 ,  720 ,  740 ,  742 ,  744 ,  750  of the apparatus  710  may be similar in configuration and/or functionality to any similarly named and/or numbered components described herein. Fewer or more components  712 ,  714 ,  716 ,  718 ,  720 ,  740 ,  742 ,  744 ,  750  and/or various configurations of the components  712 ,  714 ,  716 ,  718 ,  720 ,  740 ,  742 ,  744 ,  750  be included in the apparatus  710  without deviating from the scope of embodiments described herein. 
     According to some embodiments, the processor  712  may be or include any type, quantity, and/or configuration of processor that is or becomes known. The processor  712  may comprise, for example, an Intel® IXP 2800 network processor or an Intel® XEON™ Processor coupled with an Intel® E6501 chipset. In some embodiments, the processor  712  may comprise multiple interconnected processors, microprocessors, and/or micro-engines. According to some embodiments, the processor  712  (and/or the apparatus  710  and/or other components thereof) may be supplied power via a power supply (not shown), such as a battery, an Alternating Current (AC) source, a Direct Current (DC) source, an AC/DC adapter, solar cells, and/or an inertial generator. In the case that the apparatus  710  comprises a server, such as a blade server, necessary power may be supplied via a standard AC outlet, power strip, surge protector, and/or Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) device. 
     In some embodiments, the transceiver device  714  may comprise any type or configuration of communication device that is or becomes known or practicable. The transceiver device  714  may, for example, comprise a Network Interface Card (NIC), a telephonic device, a cellular network device, a router, a hub, a modem, and/or a communications port or cable. According to some embodiments, the transceiver device  714  may also or alternatively be coupled to the processor  712 . In some embodiments, the transceiver device  714  may comprise an IR, RF, Bluetooth™, Near-Field Communication (NFC), and/or Wi-Fi® network device coupled to facilitate communications between the processor  712  and another device (not shown). 
     According to some embodiments, the input device  716  and/or the output device  718  may be communicatively coupled to the processor  712  (e.g., via wired and/or wireless connections and/or pathways) and they may generally comprise any types or configurations of input and output components and/or devices that are or become known, respectively. The input device  716  may comprise, for example, a keyboard that allows an operator of the apparatus  710  to interface with the apparatus  710  (e.g., a user, such as to initiate and/or review AI roof deterioration analysis scores/results, as described herein). The output device  718  may, according to some embodiments, comprise a display screen and/or other practicable output component and/or device. The output device  718  may, for example, provide an interface (such as the interface  720 ) via which AI roof deterioration analysis data or information is provided to a user (e.g., via a website and/or mobile application). According to some embodiments, the input device  716  and/or the output device  718  may comprise and/or be embodied in a single device, such as a touch-screen monitor or display. 
     The memory device  740  may comprise any appropriate information storage device that is or becomes known or available, including, but not limited to, units and/or combinations of magnetic storage devices (e.g., a hard disk drive), optical storage devices, and/or semiconductor memory devices, such as RAM devices, Read Only Memory (ROM) devices, Single Data Rate Random Access Memory (SDR-RAM), Double Data Rate Random Access Memory (DDR-RAM), and/or Programmable Read Only Memory (PROM). The memory device  740  may, according to some embodiments, store one or more of AI roof deterioration analysis instructions  742 - 1  and/or interface instructions  742 - 2 , sensor data  744 - 1 , structure data  744 - 2 , and/or scoring data  744 - 3 . In some embodiments, the AI roof deterioration analysis instructions  742 - 1 , interface instructions  742 - 2 , sensor data  744 - 1 , structure data  744 - 2 , and/or scoring data  744 - 3  may be utilized by the processor  712  to provide output information via the output device  718  and/or the transceiver device  714 . 
     According to some embodiments, the AI roof deterioration analysis instructions  742 - 1  may be operable to cause the processor  712  to process sensor data  744 - 1 , structure data  744 - 2 , and/or scoring data  744 - 3  in accordance with embodiments as described herein. Sensor data  744 - 1 , structure data  744 - 2 , and/or scoring data  744 - 3  received via the input device  716  and/or the transceiver device  714  may, for example, be analyzed, sorted, filtered, decoded, decompressed, ranked, scored, plotted, and/or otherwise processed by the processor  712  in accordance with the AI roof deterioration analysis instructions  742 - 1 . In some embodiments, sensor data  744 - 1 , structure data  744 - 2 , and/or scoring data  744 - 3  may be fed by the processor  712  through one or more mathematical and/or statistical formulas and/or models in accordance with the AI roof deterioration analysis instructions  742 - 1  to conduct an AI-based analysis (utilizing one or more AI modules) of roof/object deterioration by scoring discrete features and computing a metric of change based on a times series of computed scores, as described herein. 
     In some embodiments, the interface instructions  742 - 2  may be operable to cause the processor  712  to process sensor data  744 - 1 , structure data  744 - 2 , and/or scoring data  744 - 3  in accordance with embodiments as described herein. Sensor data  744 - 1 , structure data  744 - 2 , and/or scoring data  744 - 3  received via the input device  716  and/or the transceiver device  714  may, for example, be analyzed, sorted, filtered, decoded, decompressed, ranked, scored, plotted, and/or otherwise processed by the processor  712  in accordance with the interface instructions  742 - 2 . In some embodiments, sensor data  744 - 1 , structure data  744 - 2 , and/or scoring data  744 - 3  may be fed by the processor  712  through one or more mathematical and/or statistical formulas and/or models in accordance with the interface instructions  742 - 2  provide an interface (such as the interface  720 ) via which input and/or output descriptive of AI roof deterioration analysis may be provided, as described herein. 
     According to some embodiments, the apparatus  710  may comprise the cooling device  750 . According to some embodiments, the cooling device  750  may be coupled (physically, thermally, and/or electrically) to the processor  712  and/or to the memory device  740 . The cooling device  750  may, for example, comprise a fan, heat sink, heat pipe, radiator, cold plate, and/or other cooling component or device or combinations thereof, configured to remove heat from portions or components of the apparatus  710 . 
     Any or all of the exemplary instructions and data types described herein and other practicable types of data may be stored in any number, type, and/or configuration of memory devices that is or becomes known. The memory device  740  may, for example, comprise one or more data tables or files, databases, table spaces, registers, and/or other storage structures. In some embodiments, multiple databases and/or storage structures (and/or multiple memory devices  740 ) may be utilized to store information associated with the apparatus  710 . According to some embodiments, the memory device  740  may be incorporated into and/or otherwise coupled to the apparatus  710  (e.g., as shown) or may simply be accessible to the apparatus  710  (e.g., externally located and/or situated). 
     Referring now to  FIG.  8 A ,  FIG.  8 B ,  FIG.  8 C ,  FIG.  8 D , and  FIG.  8 E , perspective diagrams of exemplary data storage devices  840   a - e  according to some embodiments are shown. The data storage devices  840   a - e  may, for example, be utilized to store instructions and/or data, such as the AI roof deterioration analysis instructions  742 - 1 , interface instructions  742 - 2 , sensor data  744 - 1 , structure data  744 - 2 , and/or scoring data  744 - 3 , each of which is presented in reference to  FIG.  7    herein. In some embodiments, instructions stored on the data storage devices  840   a - e  may, when executed by a processor, cause the implementation of and/or facilitate the methods/processes  300 ,  400 ,  500  of  FIG.  3   ,  FIG.  4 A ,  FIG.  4 B ,  FIG.  4 C , and/or  FIG.  5    herein. 
     According to some embodiments, the first data storage device  840   a  may comprise one or more various types of internal and/or external hard drives. The first data storage device  840   a  may, for example, comprise a data storage medium  846  that is read, interrogated, and/or otherwise communicatively coupled to and/or via a disk reading device  848 . In some embodiments, the first data storage device  840   a  and/or the data storage medium  846  may be configured to store information utilizing one or more magnetic, inductive, and/or optical means (e.g., magnetic, inductive, and/or optical-encoding). The data storage medium  846 , depicted as a first data storage medium  846   a  for example (e.g., breakout cross-section “A”), may comprise one or more of a polymer layer  846   a - 1 , a magnetic data storage layer  846   a - 2 , a non-magnetic layer  846   a - 3 , a magnetic base layer  846   a - 4 , a contact layer  846   a - 5 , and/or a substrate layer  846   a - 6 . According to some embodiments, a magnetic read head  848   a  may be coupled and/or disposed to read data from the magnetic data storage layer  846   a - 2 . 
     In some embodiments, the data storage medium  846 , depicted as a second data storage medium  846   b  for example (e.g., breakout cross-section “B”), may comprise a plurality of data points  846   b - 2  disposed with the second data storage medium  846   b . The data points  846   b - 2  may, in some embodiments, be read and/or otherwise interfaced with via a laser-enabled read head  848   b  disposed and/or coupled to direct a laser beam through the second data storage medium  846   b.    
     In some embodiments, the second data storage device  840   b  may comprise a CD, CD-ROM, DVD, Blu-Ray™ Disc, and/or other type of optically-encoded disk and/or other storage medium that is or becomes know or practicable. In some embodiments, the third data storage device  840   c  may comprise a USB keyfob, dongle, and/or other type of flash memory data storage device that is or becomes know or practicable. In some embodiments, the fourth data storage device  840   d  may comprise RAM of any type, quantity, and/or configuration that is or becomes practicable and/or desirable. In some embodiments, the fourth data storage device  840   d  may comprise an off-chip cache, such as a Level 2 (L2) cache memory device. According to some embodiments, the fifth data storage device  840   e  may comprise an on-chip memory device, such as a Level 1 (L1) cache memory device. 
     The data storage devices  840   a - e  may generally store program instructions, code, and/or modules that, when executed by a processing device cause a particular machine to function in accordance with one or more embodiments described herein. The data storage devices  840   a - e  depicted in  FIG.  8 A ,  FIG.  8 B ,  FIG.  8 C ,  FIG.  8 D , and  FIG.  8 E  are representative of a class and/or subset of computer-readable media that are defined herein as “computer-readable memory” (e.g., non-transitory memory devices as opposed to transmission devices or media). 
     Throughout the description herein and unless otherwise specified, the following terms may include and/or encompass the example meanings provided. These terms and illustrative example meanings are provided to clarify the language selected to describe embodiments both in the specification and in the appended claims, and accordingly, are not intended to be generally limiting. While not generally limiting and while not limiting for all described embodiments, in some embodiments, the terms are specifically limited to the example definitions and/or examples provided. Other terms are defined throughout the present description. 
     Some embodiments described herein are associated with a “user device” or a “network device”. As used herein, the terms “user device” and “network device” may be used interchangeably and may generally refer to any device that can communicate via a network. Examples of user or network devices include a PC, a workstation, a server, a printer, a scanner, a facsimile machine, a copier, a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA), a storage device (e.g., a disk drive), a hub, a router, a switch, and a modem, a video game console, or a wireless phone. User and network devices may comprise one or more communication or network components. As used herein, a “user” may generally refer to any individual and/or entity that operates a user device. Users may comprise, for example, customers, consumers, product underwriters, product distributors, customer service representatives, agents, brokers, etc. 
     As used herein, the term “network component” may refer to a user or network device, or a component, piece, portion, or combination of user or network devices. Examples of network components may include a Static Random Access Memory (SRAM) device or module, a network processor, and a network communication path, connection, port, or cable. 
     In addition, some embodiments are associated with a “network” or a “communication network”. As used herein, the terms “network” and “communication network” may be used interchangeably and may refer to any object, entity, component, device, and/or any combination thereof that permits, facilitates, and/or otherwise contributes to or is associated with the transmission of messages, packets, signals, and/or other forms of information between and/or within one or more network devices. Networks may be or include a plurality of interconnected network devices. In some embodiments, networks may be hard-wired, wireless, virtual, neural, and/or any other configuration of type that is or becomes known. Communication networks may include, for example, one or more networks configured to operate in accordance with the Fast Ethernet LAN transmission standard 802.3-2002® published by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE). In some embodiments, a network may include one or more wired and/or wireless networks operated in accordance with any communication standard or protocol that is or becomes known or practicable. 
     As used herein, the terms “information” and “data” may be used interchangeably and may refer to any data, text, voice, video, image, message, bit, packet, pulse, tone, waveform, and/or other type or configuration of signal and/or information. Information may comprise information packets transmitted, for example, in accordance with the Internet Protocol Version 6 (IPv6) standard as defined by “Internet Protocol Version 6 (IPv6) Specification” RFC 1883, published by the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF), Network Working Group, S. Deering et al. (December 1995). Information may, according to some embodiments, be compressed, encoded, encrypted, and/or otherwise packaged or manipulated in accordance with any method that is or becomes known or practicable. 
     In addition, some embodiments described herein are associated with an “indication”. As used herein, the term “indication” may be used to refer to any indicia and/or other information indicative of or associated with a subject, item, entity, and/or other object and/or idea. As used herein, the phrases “information indicative of” and “indicia” may be used to refer to any information that represents, describes, and/or is otherwise associated with a related entity, subject, or object. Indicia of information may include, for example, a code, a reference, a link, a signal, an identifier, and/or any combination thereof and/or any other informative representation associated with the information. In some embodiments, indicia of information (or indicative of the information) may be or include the information itself and/or any portion or component of the information. In some embodiments, an indication may include a request, a solicitation, a broadcast, and/or any other form of information gathering and/or dissemination. 
     Numerous embodiments are described in this patent application, and are presented for illustrative purposes only. The described embodiments are not, and are not intended to be, limiting in any sense. The presently disclosed invention(s) are widely applicable to numerous embodiments, as is readily apparent from the disclosure. One of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that the disclosed invention(s) may be practiced with various modifications and alterations, such as structural, logical, software, and electrical modifications. Although particular features of the disclosed invention(s) may be described with reference to one or more particular embodiments and/or drawings, it should be understood that such features are not limited to usage in the one or more particular embodiments or drawings with reference to which they are described, unless expressly specified otherwise. 
     Devices that are in communication with each other need not be in continuous communication with each other, unless expressly specified otherwise. On the contrary, such devices need only transmit to each other as necessary or desirable, and may actually refrain from exchanging data most of the time. For example, a machine in communication with another machine via the Internet may not transmit data to the other machine for weeks at a time. In addition, devices that are in communication with each other may communicate directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries. 
     A description of an embodiment with several components or features does not imply that all or even any of such components and/or features are required. On the contrary, a variety of optional components are described to illustrate the wide variety of possible embodiments of the present invention(s). Unless otherwise specified explicitly, no component and/or feature is essential or required. 
     Further, although process steps, algorithms or the like may be described in a sequential order, such processes may be configured to work in different orders. In other words, any sequence or order of steps that may be explicitly described does not necessarily indicate a requirement that the steps be performed in that order. The steps of processes described herein may be performed in any order practical. Further, some steps may be performed simultaneously despite being described or implied as occurring non-simultaneously (e.g., because one step is described after the other step). Moreover, the illustration of a process by its depiction in a drawing does not imply that the illustrated process is exclusive of other variations and modifications thereto, does not imply that the illustrated process or any of its steps are necessary to the invention, and does not imply that the illustrated process is preferred. 
     “Determining” something can be performed in a variety of manners and therefore the term “determining” (and like terms) includes calculating, computing, deriving, looking up (e.g., in a table, database or data structure), ascertaining and the like. The term “computing” as utilized herein may generally refer to any number, sequence, and/or type of electronic processing activities performed by an electronic device, such as, but not limited to looking up (e.g., accessing a lookup table or array), calculating (e.g., utilizing multiple numeric values in accordance with a mathematic formula), deriving, and/or defining. 
     It will be readily apparent that the various methods and algorithms described herein may be implemented by, e.g., appropriately and/or specially-programmed computers and/or computing devices. Typically a processor (e.g., one or more microprocessors) will receive instructions from a memory or like device, and execute those instructions, thereby performing one or more processes defined by those instructions. Further, programs that implement such methods and algorithms may be stored and transmitted using a variety of media (e.g., computer readable media) in a number of manners. In some embodiments, hard-wired circuitry or custom hardware may be used in place of, or in combination with, software instructions for implementation of the processes of various embodiments. Thus, embodiments are not limited to any specific combination of hardware and software. 
     A “processor” generally means any one or more microprocessors, CPU devices, computing devices, microcontrollers, digital signal processors, or like devices, as further described herein. 
     The term “computer-readable medium” refers to any medium that participates in providing data (e.g., instructions or other information) that may be read by a computer, a processor or a like device. Such a medium may take many forms, including but not limited to, non-volatile media, volatile media, and transmission media. Non-volatile media include, for example, optical or magnetic disks and other persistent memory. Volatile media include DRAM, which typically constitutes the main memory. Transmission media include coaxial cables, copper wire and fiber optics, including the wires that comprise a system bus coupled to the processor. Transmission media may include or convey acoustic waves, light waves and electromagnetic emissions, such as those generated during RF and IR data communications. Common forms of computer-readable media include, for example, a floppy disk, a flexible disk, hard disk, magnetic tape, any other magnetic medium, a CD-ROM, DVD, any other optical medium, punch cards, paper tape, any other physical medium with patterns of holes, a RAM, a PROM, an EPROM, a FLASH-EEPROM, any other memory chip or cartridge, a carrier wave, or any other medium from which a computer can read. 
     The term “computer-readable memory” may generally refer to a subset and/or class of computer-readable medium that does not include transmission media, such as waveforms, carrier waves, electromagnetic emissions, etc. Computer-readable memory may typically include physical media upon which data (e.g., instructions or other information) are stored, such as optical or magnetic disks and other persistent memory, DRAM, a floppy disk, a flexible disk, hard disk, magnetic tape, any other magnetic medium, a CD-ROM, DVD, any other optical medium, punch cards, paper tape, any other physical medium with patterns of holes, a RAM, a PROM, an EPROM, a FLASH-EEPROM, any other memory chip or cartridge, computer hard drives, backup tapes, Universal Serial Bus (USB) memory devices, and the like. 
     Various forms of computer readable media may be involved in carrying data, including sequences of instructions, to a processor. For example, sequences of instruction (i) may be delivered from RAM to a processor, (ii) may be carried over a wireless transmission medium, and/or (iii) may be formatted according to numerous formats, standards or protocols, such as Bluetooth™ TDMA, CDMA, 3G. 
     Where databases are described, it will be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art that (i) alternative database structures to those described may be readily employed, and (ii) other memory structures besides databases may be readily employed. Any illustrations or descriptions of any sample databases presented herein are illustrative arrangements for stored representations of information. Any number of other arrangements may be employed besides those suggested by, e.g., tables illustrated in drawings or elsewhere. Similarly, any illustrated entries of the databases represent exemplary information only; one of ordinary skill in the art will understand that the number and content of the entries can be different from those described herein. Further, despite any depiction of the databases as tables, other formats (including relational databases, object-based models and/or distributed databases) could be used to store and manipulate the data types described herein. Likewise, object methods or behaviors of a database can be used to implement various processes, such as the described herein. In addition, the databases may, in a known manner, be stored locally or remotely from a device that accesses data in such a database. 
     The present invention can be configured to work in a network environment including a computer that is in communication, via a communications network, with one or more devices. The computer may communicate with the devices directly or indirectly, via a wired or wireless medium, such as the Internet, LAN, WAN or Ethernet, Token Ring, or via any appropriate communications means or combination of communications means. Each of the devices may comprise computers, such as those based on the Intel® Pentium® or Centrino™ processor, that are adapted to communicate with the computer. Any number and type of machines may be in communication with the computer. 
     The present disclosure provides, to one of ordinary skill in the art, an enabling description of several embodiments and/or inventions. Some of these embodiments and/or inventions may not be claimed in the present application, but may nevertheless be claimed in one or more continuing applications that claim the benefit of priority of the present application. Applicant intends to file additional applications to pursue patents for subject matter that has been disclosed and enabled but not claimed in the present application. 
     It will be understood that various modifications can be made to the embodiments of the present disclosure herein without departing from the scope thereof. Therefore, the above description should not be construed as limiting the disclosure, but merely as embodiments thereof. Those skilled in the art will envision other modifications within the scope of the invention as defined by the claims appended hereto.