Aqua index

Abstract

A method and system for computing a stable index value of a regulated substance by computing a virtual value of the substance based on the value of a freely marketed product of the substance. Particularly the invention may be applied to develop a stable investment instrument for investing in fresh water.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A computer-implemented method of connecting traders to an exchange, comprising:
 determining a first quantity of water utilized to produce a first quantity of a first traded product;   using a first data feed to constantly feed to one or more processors a varying parameter of the first traded product;   using one or more processors to repeatedly detect the varying parameter of the first traded product in the first data feed and to receive at least once, in regard to the first traded product, the first quantity of water utilized to produce the first quantity of the first traded product;   determining a second quantity of water utilized to produce a second quantity of a second traded product;   using a second data feed to constantly feed to the one or more processors a varying parameter of a second traded product;   using one or more processors to repeatedly detect the varying parameter of the second traded product in the second data feed and to receive at least once, in regard to the second traded product, the second quantity of water utilized to produce the second quantity of the second traded product;   using the one or more processors to repeatedly determine an index value of water applied to a particular amount of water based on the repeatedly varying parameter of the first traded product, based on the first quantity of water utilized to produce the first quantity of the first traded product, based on the repeatedly varying parameter of the second traded product and based on the second quantity of water utilized to produce the second quantity of the second traded product,   using the one or more processors to continually adjust the index value of water applied to the particular amount of water based on changes in the constantly received varying parameter of the first traded product and changes, if any, to the first quantity of water utilized to produce the first quantity of the first traded product and based on changes in the constantly received varying parameter of the second traded product and changes, if any, to the second quantity of water utilized to produce the second quantity of the second traded product,   having the one or more processors instruct a digital display device to display adjusted index values of water.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising using the one or more processors to determine, in combination with the index value of water, a market value of a portion of the particular amount of water based also on at least one of (i) a quality of the particular amount of water from a particular source and (ii) a geographical region or location of the particular amount of water. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising using the one or more processors to determine, in combination with the index value of water, a market value of a portion of the particular amount of water based also on a geographical location of the particular amount of water. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising using the one or more processors to determine, in combination with the index value of water, a market value of a portion of the particular amount of water based also on a quality of the particular amount of water from a particular water source. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the quality of the particular amount of water includes a salinity of the particular amount of water. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising determining a water quality based on an amount of one or more substances in a collateral or water asset comprising water, wherein the one or more processors are configured to determine a value of the collateral from the water quality of the collateral or water asset and from the index value of water or adjusted index values of water. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the one or more substances include a salinity of the collateral or water asset. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising using the one or more processors to combine the index value of water with at least one of (i) a quality of the particular amount of water from a particular source and (ii) a geographical region or location of the particular amount of water. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first and second traded products is an agricultural product, industrial product or precious metal. 
     
     
         10 . A computer-implemented method of connecting traders to an exchange, comprising:
 determining a first quantity of water utilized to produce a first quantity of a first traded product; and determining a first water quantity constituent in the first quantity of the first traded product;   using a first data feed to constantly feed to one or more processors a varying parameter of the first traded product;   using one or more processors to repeatedly detect the varying parameter of the first traded product in the first data feed and to receive at least once, in regard to the first traded product, the first quantity of water utilized to produce the first quantity of the first traded product and the first water quantity constituent in the first quantity of the first traded product;   determining a second quantity of water utilized to produce a second quantity of a second traded product; and determining a second water quantity constituent in the second quantity of the second traded product;   using a second data feed to constantly feed to the one or more processors a varying parameter of a second traded product;   using one or more processors to repeatedly detect the varying parameter of the second traded product in the second data feed and to receive at least once, in regard to the second traded product, the second quantity of water utilized to produce the second quantity of the second traded product and the second water quantity constituent in the second quantity of the second traded product;   using the one or more processors to repeatedly determine an index value of water applied to a particular amount of water based on the repeatedly varying parameter of the first traded product, the first quantity of water utilized to produce the first quantity of the first traded product, the first water quantity constituent in the first quantity of the first traded product, and based on the repeatedly varying parameter of the second traded product, the second quantity of water utilized to produce the second quantity of the second traded product, and the second water quantity constituent in the second quantity of the second traded product,   using the one or more processors to continually adjust the index value of water applied to the particular amount of water based on changes in the constantly received varying parameter of the first traded product and changes, if any, to one or both of (i) the first quantity of water utilized to produce the first quantity of the first traded product and (ii) the first water quantity constituent in the first quantity of the first traded product, and based on changes in the constantly received varying parameter of the second traded product and based on changes, if any, to one or both of (i) the second quantity of water utilized to produce the second quantity of the second traded product and (ii) the second water quantity constituent in the second quantity of the second traded product,   having the one or more processors instruct a digital display device to display adjusted index values of water.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising using the one or more processors to determine, in combination with the index value of water, a market value of a portion of the particular amount of water based also on at least one of (i) a quality of the particular amount of water from a particular source and (ii) a geographical region or location of the particular amount of water. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising using the one or more processors to determine, in combination with the index value of water, a market value of a portion of the particular amount of water based also on a geographical location of the particular amount of water. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising using the one or more processors to determine, in combination with the index value of water, a market value of a portion of the particular amount of water based also on a quality of the particular amount of water from a particular water source. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising determining water quality based on an amount of one or more substances in a collateral or water asset comprising water, wherein the one or more processors are configured to determine a value of the collateral from the water quality of the collateral or water asset and from the index value of water or adjusted index values of water. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising using the one or more processors to combine the index value of water with at least one of (i) a quality of the particular amount of water from a particular source and (ii) a geographical region or location of the particular amount of water. 
     
     
         16 . A computer-implemented method of connecting traders to an exchange, comprising:
 utilizing a first quantity of water to produce a first quantity of a first traded product; and determining a first water quantity constituent in the first quantity of the first traded product;   using a first data feed to constantly feed to one or more processors a varying parameter of the first traded product;   using one or more processors to repeatedly detect the varying parameter of the first traded product in the first data feed and to receive at least once, in regard to the first traded product, the first quantity of water utilized to produce the first quantity of the first traded product and the first water quantity constituent in the first quantity of the first traded product;   utilizing a second quantity of water to produce a second quantity of a second traded product; and determining a second water quantity constituent in the second quantity of the second traded product;   using a second data feed to constantly feed to the one or more processors a varying parameter of a second traded product;   using one or more processors to repeatedly detect the varying parameter of the second traded product in the second data feed and to receive at least once, in regard to the second traded product, the second quantity of water utilized to produce the second quantity of the second traded product and the second water quantity constituent in the second quantity of the second traded product;   using the one or more processors to repeatedly determine an index value of water applied to a particular amount of water based on the repeatedly varying parameter of the first traded product, the first quantity of water utilized to produce the first quantity of the first traded product, the first water quantity constituent in the first quantity of the first traded product, and based on the repeatedly varying parameter of the second traded product, the second quantity of water utilized to produce the second quantity of the second traded product, and the second water quantity constituent in the second quantity of the second traded product,   using the one or more processors to continually adjust the index value of water applied to the particular amount of water based on changes in the constantly received varying parameter of the first traded product and changes, if any, to one or both of (i) the first quantity of water utilized to produce the first quantity of the first traded product and (ii) the first water quantity constituent in the first quantity of the first traded product, and based on changes in the constantly received varying parameter of the second traded product and based on changes, if any, to one or both of (i) the second quantity of water utilized to produce the second quantity of the second traded product and (ii) the second water quantity constituent in the second quantity of the second traded product,   having the one or more processors instruct a digital display device to display adjusted index values of water.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising determining water quality based on an amount of one or more substances in a collateral or water asset comprising water, wherein the one or more processors are configured to determine a value of the collateral from the water quality of the collateral or water asset and from the index value of water or adjusted index values of water. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising using the one or more processors to combine the index value of water with at least one of (i) a quality of the particular amount of water from a particular source and (ii) a geographical region or location of the particular amount of water. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising using the one or more processors to determine, in combination with the index value of water, a market value of a portion of the particular amount of water based also on at least one of (i) a quality of the particular amount of water from a particular source and (ii) a geographical region or location of the particular amount of water. 
     
     
         20 . A computer-implemented method of connecting traders to an exchange, comprising:
 at least one of (a) determining a first quantity of water utilized to produce a first quantity of a first traded product; and (b) determining a first water quantity constituent in the first quantity of the first traded product;   using a first data feed to constantly feed to one or more processors a varying parameter of the first traded product;   using one or more processors to repeatedly detect the varying parameter of the first traded product in the first data feed and to receive at least once, in regard to the first traded product, at least one of the first quantity of water utilized to produce the first quantity of the first traded product and the first water quantity constituent in the first quantity of the first traded product;   at least one of (a) determining a second quantity of water utilized to produce a second quantity of a second traded product; and (b) determining a second water quantity constituent in the second quantity of the second traded product;   using a second data feed to constantly feed to the one or more processors a varying parameter of a second traded product;   using one or more processors to repeatedly detect the varying parameter of the second traded product in the second data feed and to receive at least once, in regard to the second traded product, at least one of the second quantity of water utilized to produce the second quantity of the second traded product and the second water quantity constituent in the second quantity of the second traded product;   using the one or more processors to repeatedly determine an index value of water applied to a particular amount of water based on the repeatedly varying parameter of the first traded product, based on at least one of (i) the first quantity of water utilized to produce the first quantity of the first traded product, and (ii) the first water quantity constituent in the first quantity of the first traded product, based on the repeatedly varying parameter of the second traded product and based on at least one of (i) the second quantity of water utilized to produce the second quantity of the second traded product, and (ii) the second water quantity constituent in the second quantity of the second traded product,   using the one or more processors to continually adjust the index value of water applied to the particular amount of water based on changes in the constantly received varying parameter of the first traded product and changes, if any, to the at least one of (i) the first quantity of water utilized to produce the first quantity of the first traded product and (ii) the first water quantity constituent in the first quantity of the first traded product, and based on changes in the constantly received varying parameter of the second traded product and based on changes, if any, to the at least one of (i) the second quantity of water utilized to produce the second quantity of the second traded product and (ii) the second water quantity constituent in the second quantity of the second traded product,   using the one or more processors to combine the index value of water with a quality of the particular amount of water from a particular source, and   having the one or more processors instruct a digital display device to display adjusted index values of water.   
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , further comprising determining water quality based on an amount of one or more substances in a collateral or water asset comprising water, wherein the one or more processors are configured to determine a value of the collateral from the water quality of the collateral or water asset and from the index value of water or adjusted index values of water. 
     
     
         22 . A computer-implemented method of connecting traders to an exchange, comprising:
 determining a first quantity of water utilized to produce a first quantity of a first traded product;   using a first data feed to constantly feed to one or more processors a varying parameter of the first traded product, the traded product capable of being physically consumed by a consumer;   using one or more processors to repeatedly detect the varying parameter of the first traded product in the first data feed and to receive at least once, in regard to the first traded product, the first quantity of water utilized to produce the first quantity of the first traded product;   using the one or more processors to repeatedly determine an index value of water applied to a particular amount of water based on the repeatedly varying parameter of the first traded product and based on the first quantity of water utilized to produce the first quantity of the first traded product;   using the one or more processors to continually adjust the index value of water applied to the particular amount of water based on changes in the constantly received varying parameter of the first traded product and changes, if any, to the first quantity of water utilized to produce the first quantity of the first traded product,   using the one or more processors to combine the index value of water and/or adjusted index values of water with a quality of the particular amount of water from a particular source,   having the one or more processors instruct a digital display device to display adjusted index values of water.   
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22 , further comprising determining a water quality based on an amount of one or more substances in a collateral or water asset comprising water, wherein the one or more processors are configured to determine a value of the collateral from the water quality of the collateral or water asset and from the index value of water or adjusted index values of water. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 22 , further comprising using the continually adjusted index values of water to set at least one parameter of a water product.