SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PREDICTING SUNSET VIBRANCY

• US 20170109634A1
• Filed: 12/28/2015
• Published: 04/20/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 12/26/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Skyfire Services
• Original Assignee: Matthew Kuhns
• Inventors: Kuhns, Matthew
• Granted Patent: US 10,459,119 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: G01W 1/10 Devices for predicting weather conditions computers per se G06; display devices G09
• CPC Class Codes: G06N 20/00 Machine learning

Abstract

A sunset prediction system performs the steps of determining a location of interest, and collecting weather forecast data at or around the time of either sunrise or sunset, at the location and a surrounding area adjacent the location. The collected weather forecast data includes cloud density and cloud altitude. The sun prediction system then determines from the collected weather forecast data whether there will be clouds at the location that are advantageous for photography at or around the time of sunrise or sunset, and whether the sunlight will be obstructed by obstructing clouds in the surrounding area. A forecast rating is then reported so that the user can determine whether to plan photography at the location.

Claims

1. A sunset prediction system for forecasting conditions for photography around the time of sunrise or sunset, the sunset prediction system comprising a computer system having one or more computer devices and computer memory, the computer memory storing executable code that, when executed, enables the computer system to perform a process that comprises the steps of:

determining a location of interest;

collecting weather forecast data at or around the time of either sunrise or sunset, at the location and a surrounding area adjacent the location, the collected weather forecast data comprising;

cloud density; and

cloud altitude;

determining from the collected weather forecast data whether there will be clouds at the location that are advantageous for photography at or around the time of sunrise or sunset;

determining from the collected weather forecast data whether the sunlight will be obstructed by obstructing clouds in the surrounding area between the sun and the clouds at the location;

determining a forecast rating of forecast conditions for photography at or around the time of sunrise or sunset based upon the clouds at the location and the presence of any obstructing clouds; and

reporting the forecast rating so that the user can determine whether to plan photography at the location.

2. The sunset prediction system of claim 1, wherein the weather forecast data is in METAR format.

3. The sunset prediction system of claim 1, wherein the weather forecast data is in grib, grib2, or graphical format.

4. The sunset prediction system of claim 1, wherein the cloud density is selected from the group consisting of overcast, broken, scattered, few, and none.

5. The sunset prediction system of claim 1, wherein the cloud density is in the form of a percentage.

6. The sunset prediction system of claim 1, wherein the computer system determines the forecast rating at a plurality of the locations, and the reporting comprises generating an overlay of the forecast ratings onto a map, the overlay functioning to visually indicate the projected quality.

7. The sunset prediction system of claim 6, wherein the overlay includes different colors to indicate the forecast ratings at each of the plurality of locations.

8. The sunset prediction system of claim 1, further comprising the step of determining an optimum time at which the sun is about 1 to 6 degrees of the horizon relative to the clouds at the location.

9. The sunset prediction system of claim 8, wherein the step of determining whether there are any clouds in the surrounding area between the sun and the clouds at the location is performed at the optimum time.

10. The sunset prediction system of claim 9, further comprising the step of reporting the optimum time.

11. A sunset prediction system for forecasting conditions for photography around the time of sunrise or sunset, the sunset prediction system comprising a computer system having one or more computer devices and computer memory, the computer memory storing executable code that, when executed, enables the computer system to perform a process that comprises the steps of:

determining a location of interest;

collecting weather forecast data at or around the time of either sunrise or sunset, at the location and a surrounding area adjacent the location, the collected weather forecast data comprising;

cloud density; and

cloud altitude;

determining a direction of sunlight at or around the time of sunrise or sunset;

determining from the collected weather forecast data whether there will be clouds at the location that are advantageous for photography at or around the time of sunrise or sunset;

determining from the collected weather forecast data whether the sunlight will be obstructed by obstructing clouds in the surrounding area between the sun and the clouds at the location;

determining a forecast rating of forecast conditions for photography at or around the time of sunrise or sunset based upon the clouds at the location and the presence of any obstructing clouds;

repeating the above-described steps for a plurality of the locations; and

providing an overlay for use with a map, the overlay functioning to visually indicate the forecast ratings at the plurality of the locations.

12. The sunset prediction system of claim 11, wherein the overlay includes different colors to indicate the forecast ratings at each of the plurality of the locations.

13. The sunset prediction system of claim 11, further comprising the step of determining an optimum time at which the sun is about 6 degrees of the horizon of the clouds at the location.

14. The sunset prediction system of claim 13, wherein the step of determining whether there are any clouds in the surrounding area between the sun and the clouds at the location is performed at the optimum time.

15. The sunset prediction system of claim 11, further comprising the step of checking for obstructing terrain.

16. The sunset prediction system of claim 11, further comprising a forecast that takes into consideration multiple cloud altitudes, and more heavily weights clouds at higher altitudes than lower altitudes.

17. The sunset prediction system of claim 11, further comprising a forecast rating system that separates pre sunset good light from post sunset good light.

18. The sunset prediction system of claim 11, further comprising a reporting system wherein alerts are sent out to the users based on their location and the forecast results.

19. A sunset prediction system for forecasting conditions for photography around the time of sunrise or sunset, the sunset prediction system comprising a computer system having one or more computer devices and computer memory, the computer memory storing executable code that, when executed, enables the computer system to perform a process that comprises the steps of:

collecting weather forecast data at or around the time of either sunrise or sunset, the collected weather forecast data comprising humidity at various cloud altitudes;

determining from the collected weather forecast data whether the weather forecast data indicates conditions that are advantageous for photography at or around the time of sunrise or sunset, the determination giving greater weight to humidity at higher altitudes that at lower altitudes;

determining a forecast rating of forecast conditions for photography at or around the time of sunrise or sunset;

providing an overlay for use with a map, the overlay functioning to visually indicate the forecast ratings.

20. The sunset prediction system of claim 19, wherein the overlay uses red colors to indicate positive forecast ratings and blue colors indicate poor forecast ratings.