Patent ID: 7363191

Claim:
A method of estimating information about the speed of a wave through a medium using a function that relates at least one varying output parameter to at least one varying input parameter known only with some uncertainty, the function's varying parameters including a set of one or more measured variables having associated measurement error, and one of the varying parameters being a target wave-speed variable for which an estimate is desired, the method comprising, with a computer, automatically: (a) receiving a measurement of one of the measured variables; (b) receiving a probability distribution of the varying input parameters of the function; (c) receiving bounds for the output parameter of the function based on known real-world constraints on possible values of the output parameter; (d) wherein measurement error associated with the measured variable influences the probability distribution or bounds of the measured variable; (e) drawing a plurality of values of the varying input parameters, which draws are randomized using the probability distribution of the varying input parameters, and applying the function to each drawn value to determine an associated value of the output parameter; (f) for the draws, comparing the determined value of the output parameter to the bounds; (g) applying a formula to the set of values of the target wave-speed variable associated with drawn values that result in values of the output parameter that are within the bounds, to calculate information about the estimated speed of the wave through the medium; and (h) storing or displaying the calculated information about the estimated wave speed.