Weather information delivery system and method thereof

• US 20020038353A1
• Filed: 09/20/2001
• Published: 03/28/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 09/22/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Original Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Inventors: Yamamoto, Osamu
• Application Number:
  US09/956,537
• Publication Number:
  US 20020038353A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/217
• CPC Class Codes: G01W 1/02 Instruments for indicating weather conditions by measuring two or more variables, e.g. humidity, pressure, temperature, cloud cover or wind speed G01W1/10 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/04 specially adapted for terminals or networks with limited capabilities; specially adapted for terminal portability
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/10 in which an application is distributed across nodes in the network software deployment G06F8/60; multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/46
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/12 specially adapted for proprietary or special-purpose networking environments, e.g. medical networks, sensor networks, networks in vehicles or remote metering networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 90/10 Information and communication technologies [ICT] supporting adaptation to climate change, e.g. for weather forecasting or climate simulation

Abstract

A weather information delivery system and a method of the system, in which real time weather information having high accuracy can be obtained by using many samples from mobile communication terminals, are provided. Mobile communication terminals, which scatter in wide areas and are connected to the Internet, output weather condition information of spots where the mobile communication terminals are positioned as a packet mode, by detecting the weather condition information by using a built-in sensor or by pushing one of designated keys on each of the mobile communication terminals. A switching exchange makes weather information basic data as packets by receiving the weather condition information transmitted from the mobile communication terminals and also receiving the position information of the mobile communication terminals from base stations to which the mobile communication terminals are connected, and adding the time information at the time when the weather condition information was received, and transmits the packets to a channel. A weather information server makes weather information of specified areas by collecting the weather information basic data transmitted from the switching exchange through the Internet, and by editing and processing the received weather information basic data. An information delivery server receives the weather information of specified areas transmitted from the weather information server and stores it in the information delivery server, and outputs the weather information of some area corresponding to request from users.

Claims

1. A weather information delivery system, wherein:

mobile communication terminals, which scatter in wide areas and are connected to the Internet, output weather condition information showing the weather conditions of spots where said mobile communication terminals are positioned,

said weather condition information of said spots outputted from said mobile communication terminals is collected and analyzed, and weather information of specified areas is made by editing and processing said collected and analyzed weather condition information, and

said weather information of specified areas is sold to each of users who request weather information of some area through the Internet.

2. A weather information delivery system, comprising:

mobile communication terminals, which scatter in wide areas and are connected to the Internet, for outputting weather condition information showing the weather conditions of spots where said mobile communication terminals are positioned as a packet mode by detecting said weather condition information automatically with a sensor or by inputting said weather condition information on one of designated keys of each of said mobile communication terminals;

mobile switching exchanges (or routers), which are connected to said mobile communication terminals through base stations, for outputting weather information basic data by receiving said weather condition information transmitted from said mobile communication terminals and position information of said mobile communication terminals from said base stations to which said mobile communication terminals are connected, and by adding time information at the time when said weather condition information was received; and

a weather information server for receiving said weather information basic data transmitted from said mobile switching exchanges (or routers) through the Internet, and for making weather information of specified areas by editing and processing said received weather information basic data.

4. A weather information delivery system in accordance with claim 2, further comprising:

an information delivery server for outputting weather information of some specified areas corresponding to requests from users, by receiving said weather information of specified areas from said weather information server and storing it.

6. A weather information delivery system in accordance with claim 2, wherein:

each of said mobile communication terminals outputs said weather condition information by detecting said weather condition information by using a rain/fair sensor combined a temperature sensor and a humidity sensor, or by pushing one of designated keys allocated to rain and fair information.

8. A weather information delivery system in accordance with claim 6, wherein:

said rain/fair sensor is built in or attached to each of said mobile communication terminals.

10. A weather information delivery system in accordance with claim 2, wherein:

said weather condition information is inputted by pushing one of designated keys allocated to rain, fair, cloud, and snow information at each of said mobile communication terminals, or in this, said snow information is included in said rain information instead of using an independent key for said snow information.

12. A weather information delivery system in accordance with claim 2, wherein:

each of said mobile switching exchanges (or routers), comprising;

a packet transmitting/receiving controller that receives said weather condition information transmitted from said mobile communication terminals through said base stations and also receives the position information of said mobile communication terminals from said base stations, and adds the time information at the received time of the weather condition information, and makes said weather information basic data by using said received weather condition information, said position information, and said time information, and makes packets from said weather information basic data, and transmits said packets to a channel;

a weather condition information distinguishing controller that distinguishes said weather condition information received at said packet transmitting/receiving controller, and also controls to store said weather condition information and to process charging operation;

a weather information storage that stores said weather condition information distinguished at said weather information distinguishing controller every transmitted mobile communication terminal number; and

a charging processor that calculates the amount of money reducing from the charging amount for each of said mobile communication terminals by accumulating the number of times that each of said mobile communication terminals transmitted said weather condition information based on the information storing in said weather information storage, by the instruction from said weather information distinguishing controller, that is, said charging processor calculates the amount of commission that should be paid to each of said mobile communication terminals corresponding to the transmitting times of said weather condition information, and

said weather information server, comprising;

a weather information receiver that receives said weather information basic data transmitted from said mobile switching exchanges (or routers) through the Internet;

a weather information editing processor that makes weather information of specified areas by editing and processing said weather information basic data received from said weather information receiver;

a database that stores said weather information edited and processed at said weather information editing processor;

a weather information outputting controller that controls to extract some weather information from said database and to output said extracted weather information; and

a weather information transmitter that transmits said extracted weather information based on an instruction from said weather information outputting controller.

14. A weather information delivery system in accordance with claim 4, wherein:

said information delivery server, comprising;

a weather information receiver that receives weather information from said weather information server through said Internet;

weather information storage that stores said weather information received at said weather information receiver;

a request receiving section that receives weather information outputting requests from users;

a weather information outputting controller that controls to extract some weather information from said weather information storage based on said requests from said users, and to output requested weather information; and

a weather information transmitter that transmits said requested weather information to said users.

3. A weather information delivery system, comprising:

mobile communication terminals, which scatter in wide areas and are connected to the Internet, for outputting weather condition information showing the weather conditions of spots where said mobile communication terminals are positioned by detecting said weather condition information automatically with a sensor or by inputting said weather condition information on one of designated keys of each of said mobile communication terminals, with position information of said mobile communication terminals by obtaining from a GPS receiver built-in each of said mobile communication terminals as a packet mode;

mobile switching exchanges (or routers), which are connected to said mobile communication terminals through base stations, for outputting weather information basic data by receiving said weather condition information with said position information transmitted from said mobile communication terminals and by adding time information at the time when said weather condition information was received; and

a weather information server for receiving said weather information basic data transmitted from said mobile switching exchanges (or routers) through the Internet, and for making weather information of specified areas by editing and processing said received weather information basic data.

5. A weather information delivery system in accordance with claim 3, further comprising:

an information delivery server for outputting weather information of some specified areas corresponding to requests from users, by receiving said weather information of specified areas from said weather information server and storing it.

7. A weather information delivery system in accordance with claim 3, wherein:

each of said mobile communication terminals outputs said weather condition information by detecting said weather condition information by using a rain/fair sensor combined a temperature sensor and a humidity sensor, or by pushing one of designated keys allocated to rain and fair information.

9. A weather information delivery system in accordance with claim 7, wherein:

said rain/fair sensor is built in or attached to each of said mobile communication terminals.

11. A weather information delivery system in accordance with claim 3, wherein:

said weather condition information is inputted by pushing one of designated keys allocated to rain, fair, cloud, and snow information at each of said mobile communication terminals, or in this, said snow information is included in said rain information instead of using an independent key for said snow information.

13. A weather information delivery system in accordance with claim 3, wherein:

each of said mobile switching exchanges (or routers), comprising;

a packet transmitting/receiving controller that receives said weather condition information and said position information obtained from said built-in said GPS receiver in each of said mobile communication terminals transmitted from each of said mobile communication terminals and adds the time information at the received time of said weather condition information, and makes said weather information basic data by using said received weather condition information, said position information, and said added time information, and makes packets from said weather information basic data, and transmits said packets to a channel;

a weather condition information distinguishing controller that distinguishes said weather condition information received at said packet transmitting/receiving controller, and also controls to store said weather condition information and to process charging operation;

a weather information storage that stores said weather condition information distinguished at said weather information distinguishing controller every transmitted mobile communication terminal number; and

a charging processor that calculates the amount of money reducing from the charging amount for each of said mobile communication terminals by accumulating the number of times that each of said mobile communication terminals transmitted said weather condition information based on the information storing in said weather information storage, by the instruction from said weather information distinguishing controller, that is, said charging processor calculates the amount of commission that should be paid to each of said mobile communication terminals corresponding to the transmitting times of said weather condition information, and

said weather information server, comprising;

a weather information receiver that receives said weather information basic data transmitted from said mobile switching exchanges (or routers) through the Internet;

a weather information editing processor that makes weather information of specified areas by editing and processing said weather information basic data received from said weather information receiver;

a database that stores said weather information edited and processed at said weather information editing processor;

a weather information outputting controller that controls to extract some weather information from said database and to output said extracted weather information; and

a weather information transmitter that transmits said extracted weather information based on an instruction from said weather information outputting controller.

15. A weather information delivery system in accordance with claim 5, wherein:

said information delivery server, comprising;

a weather information receiver that receives weather information from said weather information server through said Internet;

weather information storage that stores said weather information received at said weather information receiver;

a request receiving section that receives weather information outputting requests from users;

a weather information outputting controller that controls to extract some weather information from said weather information storage based on said requests from said users, and to output requested weather information; and

a weather information transmitter that transmits said requested weather information to said users.

18. A weather information delivery method in accordance with claim 16, wherein:

each of said mobile communication terminals obtains said weather condition information by detecting said weather condition information by using a rain/fair sensor combined a temperature sensor and a humidity sensor, or by pushing one of designated keys allocated to rain and fair information.

19. A weather information delivery method in accordance with claim 17, wherein:

each of said mobile communication terminals obtains said weather condition information by detecting said weather condition information by using a rain/fair sensor combined a temperature sensor and a humidity sensor, or by pushing one of designated keys allocated to rain and fair information.

20. A weather information delivery method in accordance with claim 16, wherein:

said weather condition information is inputted by pushing one of designated keys allocated to rain, fair, cloud, and snow information at each of said mobile communication terminals, or in this, said snow information is included in said rain information instead of using an independent key for said snow information.

21. A weather information delivery method in accordance with claim 17, wherein:

said weather condition information is inputted by pushing one of designated keys allocated to rain, fair, cloud, and snow information at each of said mobile communication terminals, or in this, said snow information is included in said rain information instead of using an independent key for said snow information.

22. A weather information delivery method in accordance with claim 16, wherein:

said weather condition information is transmitted right before a user of each of said mobile communication terminals calls to his/her destination, or after said user called to his/her destination, or by detecting said weather condition information from said sensor or only pushing one of said designated keys of each of said mobile communication terminals independently of calling to his/her destination.

23. A weather information delivery method in accordance with claim 17, wherein:

said weather condition information is transmitted right before a user of each of said mobile communication terminals calls to his/her destination, or after said user called to his/her destination, or by detecting said weather condition information from said sensor or only pushing one of said designated keys of each of said mobile communication terminals independently of calling to his/her destination.

24. A weather information delivery method in accordance with claim 16, wherein:

owners of each of said mobile communication terminals supply said weather condition information to weather forecast companies from each of said mobile communication terminals, and receive commission for supplying said weather condition information, and

said weather forecast companies collect and edit said weather condition information and supply said edited weather condition information to broadcasting companies and service providers, and receive payments from said broadcasting companies and said service providers, and

said broadcasting companies use said weather information for their own weather forecast programs and said service providers receive payments from users who requested and received requested weather information from said service providers.

25. A weather information delivery method in accordance with claim 17, wherein:

owners of each of said mobile communication terminals supply said weather condition information to weather forecast companies from each of said mobile communication terminals, and receive commission for supplying said weather condition information, and

said weather forecast companies collect and edit said weather condition information and supply said edited weather condition information to broadcasting companies and service providers, and receive payments from said broadcasting companies and said service providers, and

said broadcasting companies use said weather information for their own weather forecast programs and said service providers receive payments from users who requested and received requested weather information from said service providers.

26. A weather information delivery method in accordance with claim 24, wherein:

said commission to each of said mobile communication terminals for supplying said weather condition information is deposited in the bank account of each of said mobile communication terminals or is subtracted from the telephone charge for each of said mobile communication terminals.

27. A weather information delivery method in accordance with claim 25, wherein:

said commission to each of said mobile communication terminals for supplying said weather condition information is deposited in the bank account of each of said mobile communication terminals or is subtracted from the telephone charge for each of said mobile communication terminals.

28. A weather information delivery method in accordance with claim 26, wherein:

a decision criterion is defined, in order to increase said commission for each of said mobile communication terminals for supplying said weather condition information.

29. A weather information delivery method in accordance with claim 27, wherein:

a decision criterion is defined, in order to increase said commission for each of said mobile communication terminals for supplying said weather condition information.

30. A weather information delivery method in accordance with claim 28, wherein:

said decision criterion includes a report from an area whose population density is low, a report at a designated time period, reports whose reporting times exceed designated times and whose accuracy is high.

31. A weather information delivery method in accordance with claim 29, wherein:

said decision criterion includes a report from an area whose population density is low, a report at a designated time period, reports whose reporting times exceed designated times and whose accuracy is high.

32. A weather information delivery method in accordance with claim 16, wherein:

said edited and processes weather condition information is transmitted back to each of said mobile communication terminals who transmitted said weather condition information.

33. A weather information delivery method in accordance with claim 17, wherein:

said edited and processes weather condition information is transmitted back to each of said mobile communication terminals who transmitted said weather condition information.

16. A weather information delivery method, comprising the steps of:

inputting weather condition information showing a rain or fair condition of a spot where each of mobile communication terminals is positioned from each of said mobile communication terminals, which scatter in wide areas and are connected to the Internet;

making said weather condition information a packet at each of said mobile communication terminals;

transmitting said packet being said weather condition information from each of said mobile communication terminals to a mobile switching exchange (or router) through a base station to which each of said mobile communication terminals is connected;

receiving said packet being said weather condition information at said mobile switching exchange (or router);

receiving position information of each of said mobile communication terminals from said base station, and adding time information at the time when said weather condition information was received at said mobile switching exchange (or router);

making weather condition basic data from said weather condition information and said position information and said time information at said mobile switching exchange (or router) as packets;

transmitting said packets being said weather information basic data from said mobile switching exchange (or router) to a weather information server through the Internet;

receiving said weather information basic data transmitted from said mobile switching exchange (or router) through the Internet at said weather information server;

making weather information of specified areas by editing and processing said received weather information basic data at said weather information server;

storing said weather information of specified areas in said weather information server and transmitting said weather information of specified areas to an information delivery server from said weather information server through the Internet;

receiving said weather information of specified areas at said information delivery server, and storing said weather information of specified areas in said information delivery server; and

selling said weather information of specified areas to users corresponding to requests from said users by transmitting through the Internet from said information delivery server.

17. A weather information delivery method, comprising the steps of:

inputting weather condition information showing a rain or fair condition of a spot where each of mobile communication terminals is positioned from each of said mobile communication terminals, which scatter in wide areas and are connected to the Internet;

making said weather condition information and position information of each of said mobile communication terminals obtained at a GPS receiver built in each of said mobile communication terminals a packet at each of said mobile communication terminals;

transmitting said packet being said weather condition information with said position information from each of said mobile communication terminals to a mobile switching exchange (or router) through a base station to which each of said mobile communication terminals is connected;

receiving said packet being said weather condition information with said position information at said mobile switching exchange (or router);

adding time information at the time when said weather condition information with said position information was received at said mobile switching exchange (or router);

making weather condition basic data from said weather condition information with said position information and said time information at said mobile switching exchange (or router) as packets;

transmitting said packets being said weather information basic data from said mobile switching exchange (or router) to a weather information server through the Internet;

receiving said weather information basic data transmitted from said mobile switching exchange (or router) through the Internet at said weather information server;

making weather information of specified areas by editing and processing said received weather information basic data at said weather information server;

storing said weather information of specified areas in said weather information server and transmitting said weather information of specified areas to an information delivery server;

receiving said weather information of specified areas at said information delivery server, and storing said weather information of specified areas in said information delivery server; and

selling said weather information of specified areas to users corresponding to requests from said users by transmitting through the Internet from said information delivery server.