METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR OBTAINING AND ANALYZING INFORMATION FROM A PLURALITY OF SOURCES

Methods and systems are disclosed for obtaining and analyzing information to determine an estimated state of a real world. First information is obtained from a first source of a plurality of sources (e.g., data stores, real-time data streams, or information services), where the first information is potentially indicative of first and second states of the real world. If the first information exceeds a first decision threshold, then the estimated state is the first state, and if the first information exceeds a second decision threshold, then the estimated state is the second state. If the first information does not exceed either of the first and second decision thresholds, then second information is obtained from a second source. Obtaining the second information is based on whether the second source includes information that is relevant to the estimated state and whether the second source includes information that is redundant with the first information.