Patent Publication Number: US-2019174738-A1

Title: Seed trait verification for monitoring herbicide applications on non-resistant varieties and crops

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENT APPLICATION(S) 
     This patent application claims priority to U.S. provisional application 62/595,709, filed on Dec. 7, 2017, the contents of which are incorporated in their entirety herein. In accordance with 37 C.F.R. § 1.76, a claim of priority is included in an Application Data Sheet filed concurrently herewith. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to seed trait analytics. Specifically, the present invention relates to a system and method of preventing an application of an herbicide or other toxic chemical substance on plants and crops having non herbicide-resistant seed varieties. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Many seed varieties are currently available that contain traits that make them resistant to certain kinds of pesticides and other toxic chemical substances (and in particular, herbicides). Resistant traits in a particular seed variety are targeted by agronomists so that the resulting planted crop will be resistant to certain active ingredients in herbicides. This allows those herbicides to be applied overtop the planted crop and yet not affect the crop its self, and only targeting the pest. 
     However, active ingredient-resistant seed traits are often hidden under many different marketing or trade names by manufacturers. The same is true for the active ingredients in chemical herbicides. Different active ingredients can be produced under many different names, or mixed in with other active ingredients and sold under other names. This can make it very hard to match what herbicide can be applied to what crop in a particular field. Additionally, many active ingredients in herbicides affect crops depending on their specific amounts, and interactions with other ingredients (active or otherwise) in crop treatments, making it difficult to determine whether a crop will actually be resistant to crop treatments to be applied. 
     When an agronomist is making a chemical application recommendation using a pesticide, insecticide, herbicide, or other toxic substance, or an applicator is in the field ready to make an application, they need to ensure that the chemicals they are intending to recommend or apply can be safely introduced to the crop in that field. If the agronomist or applicator does not perform an analysis of the active ingredients associated with the seed resistance traits to make sure the seed variety is resistant to the herbicide active ingredient, there is a risk of harming or killing the crop. 
     In addition, they may also need the check to make sure that crops planted in neighboring or nearby fields are also not susceptible to the intended herbicide, for example where there is a possible drift issue. If a neighboring crop is susceptible to the herbicide, damage or death could happen to that crop as well. Therefore, this is a large liability risk to the agronomist, applicator and grower when recommending or applying a pesticide. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is an approach to preventing an application of herbicide on crops and plants from non-resistant seed varieties to ensure that an herbicide is not used on a non herbicide-resistant crop. In such an approach, an index of active ingredients for all herbicides in an herbicide or chemical database, and all active ingredient resistance traits for seed varieties in a chemical and a seed variety database, are checked against a planting event and seed variety recorded by a grower, agronomist, or other responsible party. A seed trait verification can then be performed using this information to ensure that the planting event does not result in an herbicide being unknowingly used on a non herbicide-resistant crop. 
     It is therefore one objective of the present invention to provide a system and method of protecting crop and plant health, and for improving food safety. It is another objective of the present invention to provide a system and method of preventing an application of herbicide on crops and plants with non-resistant seed varieties. It is still another objective of the present invention to provide an approach for enabling an agronomist to evaluate an herbicide application and provide either an approval or a warning of risk. It is yet another objective of the present invention to provide an applicator check that provides an in-cab display in agricultural equipment whether a selected plant variety is resistant or not resistant to a proposed herbicide application. It is another objective of the present invention to provide a system and method of preventing herbicide contamination in neighboring or nearby fields having crops and plants with non-resistant seed varieties. 
     In one embodiment, the present invention is a method, comprising receiving, as input data, a selected herbicide for an anticipated application in a particular field, information representing one or more active ingredients for the selected herbicide, planting data that includes a seed variety planted in the particular field, and seed resistance traits in the seed variety; analyzing the input data in a plurality of data processing modules within a computing environment in which the plurality of data processing modules are executed in conjunction with at least one processor, the data processing modules configured to validate the anticipated application of the selected herbicide in the particular field, by: identifying a specific amount of the one or more active ingredients to be delivered in the anticipated application of the selected herbicide in the particular field, associating a resistance of the seed variety to the specific amount of the one or more active ingredients from the seed resistance traits to determine a compatibility of the selected herbicide with the seed variety for enabling a crop treatment for the particular field, and generating a resistance profile characterizing the anticipated application of the selected herbicide to the particular field based on the compatibility of the selected herbicide with the seed variety; and initiating a stop operation from the resistance profile characterizing the anticipated application of the selected herbicide to the particular field where the resistance profile characterizes the seed variety as not resistant to the selected herbicide, and a proceed operation from the resistance profile characterizing the anticipated application of the selected herbicide to the particular field where the resistance profile characterizes the seed variety as resistant to the selected herbicide, wherein a user stops or proceeds with an herbicide application in the particular field based on the anticipated application of the selected herbicide to the particular field, or an automated stop or proceed is controlled based on the anticipated application of the selected herbicide to the particular field. 
     In another embodiment, the present invention is a system, comprising a computing environment including at least one non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having program instructions stored therein and a computer processor operable to execute the program instructions to validate an anticipated application of a selected herbicide in a particular field within a plurality of data processing components, the plurality of data processing components including a data retrieval and initialization component configured to receive, as input data, the selected herbicide for the anticipated application in the particular field, information representing one or more active ingredients for the selected herbicide, planting data that includes a seed variety planted in the particular field, and seed resistance traits in the seed variety; one or more components configured to identify a specific amount of the one or more active ingredients to be delivered in the anticipated application of the selected herbicide in the particular field, associating a resistance of the seed variety to the specific amount of the one or more active ingredients from the seed resistance traits to determine a compatibility of the selected herbicide with the seed variety for enabling a crop treatment for the particular field, and generating a resistance profile characterizing the anticipated application of the selected herbicide to the particular field based on the compatibility of the selected herbicide with the seed variety; and an output component configured to initiate a stop operation from the resistance profile characterizing the anticipated application of the selected herbicide to the particular field where the resistance profile characterizes the seed variety as not resistant to the proposed herbicide, and a proceed operation from the resistance profile characterizing the anticipated application of the selected herbicide to the particular field where the resistance profile characterizes the seed variety as resistant to the proposed herbicide, wherein a user stops or proceeds with an herbicide application in the particular field based on the anticipated application of the selected herbicide to the particular field, or an automated stop or proceed is controlled based on the anticipated application of the selected herbicide to the particular field. 
     Other objects, embodiments, features, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of the embodiments, taken together with any accompanying drawings, which illustrate, by way of example, the principles of the invention. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate several embodiments of the invention and together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention. 
         FIG. 1  is a diagram illustrating system components in a framework for verifying seed resistance traits for an anticipated application of a selected herbicide according to one embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a block diagram illustrating aspects of the framework for verifying seed resistance traits for an anticipated application of a selected herbicide according to another embodiment of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 3  is a block diagram illustrating aspects of the framework for verifying seed resistance traits for an anticipated application of a selected herbicide according to yet another embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     In the following description of the present invention, reference is made to the exemplary embodiments illustrating the principles of the present invention and how it is practiced. Other embodiments will be utilized to practice the present invention and structural and functional changes will be made thereto without departing from the scope of the present invention. 
     The present invention is a framework for seed trait verification  100  for determining whether a seed variety  104  in a planted field is resistant or not resistant to a recommended or proposed application of an herbicide, insecticide or pesticide  102  (which may collectively referred to herein as an “herbicide” or “herbicides”).  FIG. 1  is a systemic diagram illustrating various components in such a framework for seed trait verification  100 . 
     Input data  110  for the framework for seed trait verification  100  is processed using a plurality of data processing functions, within a computing environment  130  that includes one or more processors  132  and a plurality of software and hardware components. The one or more processors and plurality of software and hardware components may be organized as dedicated modules  134  for performing specific ones of the plurality data processing functions, and regardless are configured to execute program instructions or routines embodied within the dedicated modules  134  configured to carry out the data processing functions described herein. Seed trait verification  100  according to the present invention ensures that an herbicide  102  is not used on a non herbicide-resistant crop, for improvements in crop and plant health, and in food and consumer safety. 
     In the present invention, at any time after a planting event has been recorded, a grower or agronomist may decide that an application of herbicide, insecticide or pesticide  102  is needed for a crop in a particular field  114 . As application data is entered into the present invention and the intended herbicide for use is selected, the framework for seed trait verification  100  performs seed trait analytics to check against planting data  111  and other relevant types of input data  110 . The framework for seed trait verification  100  looks at the different active ingredients  106  in the selected herbicide  102 , as well as specific amounts thereof, and compares those to the active ingredient-resistant seed traits  112  for the seed variety  104  recorded in the planting data  111 . 
     If there is an active ingredient  106  in the selected herbicide  102  that is not covered by the active ingredient-resistant seed traits  112  in the seed variety  104  that has been planted, the framework for seed trait verification  100  may generate output data  150  that includes one or more of a warning to a user that this application may be harmful to the crop in that field, or an instruction to stop with an application operation, or other types of management recommendations or notifications as noted further herein. The present invention may also be configured to check plantings in neighboring fields  115 , regardless of whether the anticipated application  145  passes this check for the particular field  114 . If there are plantings with a seed variety  104  that does not have the active ingredient-resistant seed trait needed for the anticipated application  145 , seed trait verification  100  may generate output data  150  that includes a notice or warning to the user of a possible drift issue and damage to those plantings, and may suggest procedures, such as for example setback buffers, to avoid drift problems. 
     Input data  110  for the framework for seed trait verification  100  may include, as noted above, the selected or proposed herbicide, insecticide or pesticide  102 , as well as specific active ingredients and amounts thereof that are present in the herbicide  102 . Input data  110  also includes planting data  111 , such as a seed variety  104 , and resistance traits  112  of such seed varieties  104 . Input data  110  also includes field data  113 , which may include characteristics that identify a particular field  114  to which the anticipated application of herbicide  102  is being analyzed. Field data  113  may also include information identifying neighboring fields  115 , and geo-positional or geo-spatial data such as Global Positioning System (GPS) information and/or other positional coordinates  116  or any other information or attributes that identify a particular field  114 , neighboring fields  115 , or other geographical location to which a selected herbicide  102  may be applied (as well as any specific field characteristics thereof). Input data  100  may also include weather data  117 , including historical or expected weather conditions for the particular field  114  and/or neighboring fields  115 , applicator-specific data  118 , (for example the type of delivery mechanism and any particular characteristics, such as nozzle types, prior container usage, etc.), and prior crop treatment data  119 . 
     The data processing modules  134  may include a data retrieval and initialization module  140 , which is configured to retrieve, ingest, request, or otherwise obtain the input data  110 , and initialize and distribute the input data  110  for the various other functions within the framework for seed trait verification  100  to validate and/or certify an anticipated application  145  of the herbicide  102 . The data processing modules  134  also include a compatibility determination module  142 , which is configured to process the input data  110  by identifying specific amounts  143  of active ingredients  106  and/or different types thereof, and performing calculations or mathematical manipulations to associate  144  a resistance of a seed variety with the specific amounts or types of active ingredients  106 . 
     It is to be noted that the framework for seed trait verification  100  of the present invention performs seed trait analytics using calculations and/or mathematical manipulations at least in part because active ingredients  106 , and the different amounts thereof, may have produce variances in chemical interactions and reactions between them when applied to a crop, depending on those specific amounts and the different types of active ingredients present. For example, one type of active ingredient  106  in a specific amount may react differently with an active ingredient  106  of a different type (or amount thereof), and therefore the present invention analyzes this information to ensure that different types and amounts of active ingredients are accounted for when an herbicide or herbicides  102  are applied to a particular field  114 . Further, different herbicides  102  may be applied at different times, and in different combinations, and the active ingredients  106  in such herbicides  102  may linger in a planted field depending on weather and soil conditions, and such different active ingredients  106  applied at different times and under different conditions may remain harmful or active in varying stages of strength, potency or decay. Consequently, knowledge of the entirety of such applications may help an agronomist, grower, owner, applicator, or other responsible party effectively manage crop treatments applied throughout a growing season. The calculations may therefore include any number of formulas, equations, algorithms, or other mathematical manipulations that account for variances in such strength, potency and decay across different time periods, and the corresponding reactions and interactions when other active ingredients  106  are also present. 
     The compatibility determination module  144  applies these calculations and/or mathematical manipulations to determine whether the selected herbicide  102  is compatible with the planted seed variety  104 , for enabling a crop treatment for the particular field  114 , in the anticipated application  145  thereof. This information is used by a validation/certification module  146  to generate a resistance profile  148  that characterizes the anticipated application  145  of the selected herbicide  102  to the particular field  114  based on the compatibility of the selected herbicide  102  with the seed variety  104 , and indicates whether the anticipated application  145  has been certified, validated or invalidated based on such a compatibility. 
     The framework for seed trait verification  100  generates output data  150  from one or both of the validation/certification module  146  and the resistance profile  148 , and such output data  150  may take many different forms. Output data  150  may include stop/proceed operations instructions  152  or signals representing such instructions, whereby an anticipated application  145  of the selected herbicide  102  is controlled by either an instruction to stop the anticipated application  145 , or proceed with the anticipated application  145 . The present invention may be configured so that a stop instruction  152  is generated based on the resistance profile  148 , where the seed variety  104  is not resistant to the selected herbicide  102  and therefore the anticipated application  145  of the selected herbicide  102  to the particular field  114  should not be initiated or completed. Conversely, a proceed instruction  152  may be generated from the resistance profile  148  where the seed variety  104  is resistant to the selected herbicide  102 , and therefore the anticipated application  145  of the selected herbicide  102  to the particular field  114  may proceed as planned or scheduled. A user may respond to such output data  150  by manually stopping or proceeding with an application  145  of the herbicide  102  in the particular field  114 , for example in response to an in-cab display as noted below with regard to  FIG. 3 , or an automated operation to stop or to proceed may be controlled based on the output data  150  relative to the anticipated application  145  of the selected herbicide  102  to the particular field  114 . 
     Many other types of output data  150  are also possible and within the scope of the present invention. For example, one or more management recommendations, advisories or alerts  154  may be generated, such as a damage potential alert, a mitigation practices alert, or a localized rules compliance alert. Exemplary management recommendations  154  may further include applicator-specific instructions, such as a spray nozzle selection, a spray setting, and tank cleaning or flushing instructions. Regulatory, labeling, or rules compliance may be another specific type of output data  150 , comprising for example a regulatory notification  156  to relevant authorities, or a notice to an applicator that a tank cleaning is required in compliance with particular rules or manufacturer requirements. Additionally, output data  150  may include a notification  158  to owners, growers, or other responsible entities for neighboring fields  115  which may be affected by spray drift or other consequential outcome from an application  145  of a selected herbicide  102 . 
     One or both of the resistance profile  148  and the output data  150  may also be applied to an agronomic decision support tool  160  that is configured to allow access to one or more automated processes for agricultural decision-making and recommendation-writing, such as advising as to the type and timing of delivery of the herbicide  102 . The agronomic decision support tool  160  also enables a user to input and/or select one or more variables that may define or augment the input data  110 , such as for example manually defining boundaries of a particular field  114 . The agronomic decision support tool  160  may include a function enabling an override which allows a user, for example a crop advisor, to override a stop or proceed instruction  152 , input specific amounts of active ingredients  106 , define field boundaries as noted above, and customize other data and processing functions for seed trait verification  100 . 
       FIG. 2  is a block diagram illustrating aspects of seed trait verification  100  according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention that provides a system and method for agronomist verification  200 , in which a user enters a recommendation  210  for an anticipated application  145  of an herbicide  102 . The agronomist verification framework  200  accesses a seed variety  104  in planting data  111  at block  220 , and gathers seed resistance traits  112  at block  230  in the planted seed variety  104  as well as active ingredients  106  in the proposed herbicide  102  at block  240 . The agronomist verification  200  then associates the active ingredients  106  with the seed resistance traits  112  at block  250 , by performing seed trait analytics using the calculations and/or mathematical manipulations as above. If the seed variety  104  is resistant to the proposed herbicide  102 , the framework for agronomist verification  200  outputs a recommendation at block  260  to proceed with the anticipated application  145 . If the seed variety  104  is not resistant to the proposed herbicide  102 , then the present invention outputs a warning at block  270  to the user of a risk with proceeding with the anticipated application  145 . Where a warning is the output, the framework or agronomist verification  200  may include additional information, such as a “stop application” alert, or damage potential and mitigation practices, for example a timing and/or windows of application that may reduce the risk of contamination. Agronomist verification  200  may therefore incorporate, as noted above, information such as weather data  117 , applicator-specific data  118 , and prior crop treatment data  119  for generating information in its warning of risk. 
       FIG. 3  is a block diagram illustrating aspects of seed trait verification  100  according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention that provides a system and method for applicator verification  300 . In this embodiment, the present invention is a system and method that incorporates an in-vehicle or in-cab display system for in-field, real-time application operations. In this applicator verification framework  300 , an applicator selects a proposed herbicide  102  at block  310 , and the in-cab system communicates a verification request at block  320  that causes the present invention to look up a seed variety  104  in planting data  111  at block  330 , and gathers seed resistance traits  112  in the planted seed variety  104  at block  340  as well as active ingredients  106  in the proposed herbicide  102  at block  350 . The framework for application verification  300  then associates the active ingredients  106  with the seed resistance traits  112  at block  360 , by performing seed trait analytics in the calculations and/or mathematical manipulations as above. If the seed variety  104  is resistant to the proposed herbicide  102 , applicator verification  300  outputs a recommendation to proceed at block  370  with the anticipated application  145  and communicates this to the in-cab system for display to the applicator or user as feedback at block  380 . If the seed variety  104  is not resistant to the proposed herbicide  102 , then the framework for applicator verification  300  outputs a warning to the user of a risk with proceeding with the anticipated application  145  at block  390 , and also communicates this to the in-cab system for display to the applicator or user as feedback. 
     It should be noted that in addition to or in lieu of in-vehicle or in-cab display systems, many other implementations are also possible and within the scope of the present invention. For example, applicator verification  300  may utilize mobile devices such as smart telephones or tablet computers or the like for in-field verification of the anticipated application  145  that evaluates planted seed varieties  104  and their resistance traits  112  with active ingredients  106  in a mobile setting, either inside of or outside of agricultural equipment. The applicator verification  300  of this embodiment may be initiated by a remote call, or may be run on the device itself. Regardless, it is to be understood that the present invention may be performed in conjunction with agricultural equipment and while a user or applicator is operating such equipment, either manually or remotely. 
     As with the agronomist verification  200 , where a warning is the output, the present invention may include additional information, such as a “stop application” alert, or damage potential and mitigation practices, for example a timing and/or windows of application that may reduce the risk of contamination. The present invention may therefore incorporate information such as weather data  117 , applicator-specific data  118 , and prior crop treatment data  119  for generating information in its warning of risk. 
     In a further embodiment, seed trait verification  100  in the present invention may also analyze herbicide resistance data on seed varieties  104  planted in neighboring fields  115  to those of a particular field  114  to which an anticipated application  145  may occur. Seed trait verification  100  may then associate the active ingredients  106  and specific amounts thereof, and to account for interactions occurring between them (as well as the effect of different active ingredients  106  applied at different times and under different conditions), with the seed resistance traits  112  in the seed varieties  104  in those fields  115 , and output a warning to the applicator, agronomist, or in-cab display (or directly to agricultural equipment  170 , as noted further herein) that there is a risk of contamination or damage in the neighboring fields  115 . Similarly, a “proceed” recommendation may also be generated as an output  150  where no risk to the neighboring fields  115  is determined because the planted seed variety  104  contains traits resistant to the herbicide  102  in the particular field  114  in the anticipated application  145 . 
     As in the exemplary embodiments above, where a warning is the output, the seed trait verification framework  100  may include additional information, such as a “stop application” alert, tank cleaning instructions, and damage potential and mitigation practices, for example a timing and/or windows of application that may reduce the risk of contamination. The present invention may therefore incorporate information such as weather data  117 , applicator-specific data  118 , and past pesticide or other treatment applications  119  for generating information in its warning of risk. 
     Many examples of output warnings, advisories, and recommendations are possible and within the scope of the present invention. For example, where drift risk is a concern for neighboring or nearby fields  115 , an advisory may be issued to warn the user of the risk to those fields  115  due to label-sensitive crops and weather conditions outside of the allowable label conditions that may lead to drift, and such an advisory may include preferred or non-preferred application time intervals. It is to be understood, in addition, that many factors may affect issues such as drift, and for which still more additional information may be needed. One such factor is geographical characteristics of the field  114  to be sprayed and of the neighboring fields  115 , and examples of such geographical characteristics include recorded buffer strips, waterways, and environmentally-sensitive areas. Accordingly, the seed trait verification framework  100  of the present invention may access additional sources of information, either from third party sources directly or from other database collections, for example Global Positioning System (GPS) data (or other satellite-based radio-navigation data) and/or geo-spatial data for neighboring or nearby fields  115  to evaluate the relevance of such special geographical characteristics. 
     Where the present invention provides the output data  150  directly to agricultural equipment  170  for automated control of an application of an herbicide  102 , the output data  150  may also include instructions that effect control of the agricultural equipment  170  to either continue with an application of the herbicide  102 , stop the application of the herbicide  102 , or adjust the application timing or delivery in some way. For example, the output data  150  may include information that enables a spray nozzle to be automatically changed on agricultural equipment  170 , as needed to deliver the selected herbicide  102  in a manner consistent with the seed trait verification  100 . Alternatively, the output data  150  may include information that enables the agricultural equipment  170  to speed up, slow down, or change direction as it progresses through a particular field  114 . Output data  150  may therefore be configured to communicate directly with on-board controllers configured on agricultural equipment  170 , or via a serial CAN (Controller Area Network) bus to on-board controllers. Regardless, it is to be understood that the present invention contemplates many ways in which the output data  150  may effect operational control of agricultural equipment  170  in response to a validation or invalidation of the anticipated application  145  of herbicide  102 . 
     As noted above, the present invention may be configured to generate specific advisories, warnings, alerts, and recommendations as output data  150  from the seed trait verification framework  100 . One such specific output involves the type of spray technique or device used in a herbicide or other chemical application, as well as the settings used. Such an output  150  may recommend or advise as to a particular selection of a spray nozzle, as well as nozzle settings such as pressure and spray pattern. This may result, at least in part, from the use of multiple herbicides  102  in the same tank or at the same time and with the same nozzle. Based on the herbicide  102  to applied (and also affected by other products that have been mixed with the herbicide  102 ), there may be a label-specified nozzle that needs to be used to reduce the risk of drift. In another example, the type of tank and the level of maintenance, flushing, or sanitation required for such a tank may also be the subject of an output  150  of the present invention. In such an example, an applicator, agronomist, or other user may be advised to use a particular tank cleaning procedure or flushing procedure (and type of liquid/solution used), both before and after application, based on the last product that was applied with the intended machine, due to or based on the sensitivity of the crop being applied to, and the pervious product that was applied using the same equipment or machinery. 
     It is to be understood that many other types of outputs  150  are contemplated within the seed trait verification framework  100 , and therefore the present invention is not to be limited to any output  150  specifically mentioned herein. Examples of other outputs include those communicated to one or more additional components that allow application programming interfaces for performing additional processing regarding the anticipated application  145 . Other outputs  150  may include guidance for university or academic review and analysis, and guidance for customized agronomic issues such as mitigating irrigation or spraying of other substances. Examples of such other outputs  150  include compliance with rules that may not be part of a particular label, but which may still be important, such as localized rules for certain geographical areas that are the result of court orders or legislative activity or public policy. 
     The seed trait verification framework  100  of the present invention may further include a machine learning or natural language processing component (or other language processing methods) that enables analyzing database collections and other relevant information for both the seed variety  104  and active ingredients  106  for names that may not be entered correctly, as well as foreign-language or translated names. The machine learning component may further be configured to be trained so as to learn how to evaluate reactions from interactions of different active ingredients  106  in different herbicides  102 , and make automated recommendations for future crop treatments based on knowledge of historical treatments  119 , seed varieties  104 , resistance traits  112 , and weather conditions  117 . 
     The systems and methods of the present invention may be implemented in many different computing environments. For example, they may be implemented in conjunction with a special purpose computer, a programmed microprocessor or microcontroller and peripheral integrated circuit element(s), an ASIC or other integrated circuit, a digital signal processor, electronic or logic circuitry such as discrete element circuit, a programmable logic device or gate array such as a PLD, PLA, FPGA, PAL, and any comparable means. In general, any means of implementing the methodology illustrated herein can be used to implement the various aspects of the present invention. Exemplary hardware that can be used for the present invention includes computers, handheld devices, telephones (e.g., cellular, Internet enabled, digital, analog, hybrids, and others), and other such hardware. Some of these devices include processors (e.g., a single or multiple microprocessors), memory, nonvolatile storage, input devices, and output devices. Furthermore, alternative software implementations including, but not limited to, distributed processing, parallel processing, or virtual machine processing can also be configured to perform the methods described herein. 
     The systems and methods of the present invention may also be partially implemented in software that can be stored on a storage medium, non-transitory or otherwise, executed on programmed general-purpose computer with the cooperation of a controller and memory, a special purpose computer, a microprocessor, or the like. In these instances, the systems and methods of this invention can be implemented as a program embedded on personal computer such as an applet, JAVA® or CGI script, as a resource residing on a server or computer workstation, as a routine embedded in a dedicated measurement system, system component, or the like. The system can also be implemented by physically incorporating the system and/or method into a software and/or hardware system. 
     Additionally, the data processing functions disclosed herein may be performed by one or more program instructions stored in or executed by such memory, and further may be performed by one or more modules configured to carry out those program instructions. Modules are intended to refer to any known or later developed hardware, software, firmware, artificial intelligence, fuzzy logic, expert system or combination of hardware and software that is capable of performing the data processing functionality described herein. 
     The foregoing descriptions of embodiments of the present invention have been presented for the purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed. Accordingly, many alterations, modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings, may be made by those having ordinary skill in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. For example, the present invention may apply additional machine learning techniques, and/or other models, to convert observations into clusters for multi-band datasets. It is therefore intended that the scope of the invention be limited not by this detailed description. For example, notwithstanding the fact that the elements of a claim are set forth below in a certain combination, it must be expressly understood that the invention includes other combinations of fewer, more or different elements, which are disclosed in above even when not initially claimed in such combinations. 
     The words used in this specification to describe the invention and its various embodiments are to be understood not only in the sense of their commonly defined meanings, but to include by special definition in this specification structure, material or acts beyond the scope of the commonly defined meanings. Thus if an element can be understood in the context of this specification as including more than one meaning, then its use in a claim must be understood as being generic to all possible meanings supported by the specification and by the word itself. 
     The definitions of the words or elements of the following claims are, therefore, defined in this specification to include not only the combination of elements which are literally set forth, but all equivalent structure, material or acts for performing substantially the same function in substantially the same way to obtain substantially the same result. In this sense it is therefore contemplated that an equivalent substitution of two or more elements may be made for any one of the elements in the claims below or that a single element may be substituted for two or more elements in a claim. Although elements may be described above as acting in certain combinations and even initially claimed as such, it is to be expressly understood that one or more elements from a claimed combination can in some cases be excised from the combination and that the claimed combination may be directed to a sub-combination or variation of a sub-combination. 
     Insubstantial changes from the claimed subject matter as viewed by a person with ordinary skill in the art, now known or later devised, are expressly contemplated as being equivalently within the scope of the claims. Therefore, obvious substitutions now or later known to one with ordinary skill in the art are defined to be within the scope of the defined elements. 
     The claims are thus to be understood to include what is specifically illustrated and described above, what is conceptually equivalent, what can be obviously substituted and also what essentially incorporates the essential idea of the invention.