System and method for predicting storm direction
First Claim
1. A method of using weather data to graphically display a weather phenomenon'"'"'s predicted future path, said method comprising the steps of:
- a) collecting weather data over a period of time, said weather data corresponding to a weather phenomenon and including a weather phenomenon location and a time, b) associating the weather phenomenon location with geographical information and storing the weather phenomenon location in a computer memory by its time to create a historical weather data database;
c) displaying current collected weather data corresponding to said weather phenomenon as a current graphical representation of said weather phenomenon on a display device together with said geographical information;
d) requesting said historical weather data for a particular time;
e) displaying said historical weather data on said display device as a historical graphical representation of said weather phenomenon;
f) selecting a first reference point on said historical graphical representation of said weather phenomenon with an input device;
g) automatically updating the graphical display in response to said selecting step to display a then current graphical representation of said weather phenomenon;
h) selecting a second reference point on said then current graphical representation of said weather phenomenon;
i) calculating an predicted fixture path of said weather phenomenon; and
j) displaying a graphical representation of said predicted future path of said weather phenomenon on said display device.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The subject invention relates to weather forecasting systems which can predict the direction of a storm'"'"'s movement. More particularly, the invention will receive and record weather data from any of a variety of weather data sources. The invention will then allow a user to request a storm tracking prediction, and graphically display said prediction with a high degree of accuracy. The weather data is stored in a time-tagged fashion. By storing the weather data in a time-tagged fashion, the weather system constructs an easily accessible weather database containing the locations of storms and other weather phenomena as a function of time. The weather system provides a Graphical User Interface which allows the user to call up a graphical representation of current weather data being supplied to the weather system. The weather system also provides the user with the ability to call up a graphical representation of any of the time-tagged historical weather data stored in the weather database. Then, by invoking some prediction algorithm, such as a linear extrapolation or other similar function, the weather system is able to calculate and display a projection of the selected storm'"'"'s path from its current location.
63 Citations
13 Claims
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1. A method of using weather data to graphically display a weather phenomenon'"'"'s predicted future path, said method comprising the steps of:
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a) collecting weather data over a period of time, said weather data corresponding to a weather phenomenon and including a weather phenomenon location and a time, b) associating the weather phenomenon location with geographical information and storing the weather phenomenon location in a computer memory by its time to create a historical weather data database;
c) displaying current collected weather data corresponding to said weather phenomenon as a current graphical representation of said weather phenomenon on a display device together with said geographical information;
d) requesting said historical weather data for a particular time;
e) displaying said historical weather data on said display device as a historical graphical representation of said weather phenomenon;
f) selecting a first reference point on said historical graphical representation of said weather phenomenon with an input device;
g) automatically updating the graphical display in response to said selecting step to display a then current graphical representation of said weather phenomenon;
h) selecting a second reference point on said then current graphical representation of said weather phenomenon;
i) calculating an predicted fixture path of said weather phenomenon; and
j) displaying a graphical representation of said predicted future path of said weather phenomenon on said display device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
determining a distance between said first reference point and said second reference point;
determining an elapsed time between receipt of said requested historical weather data and receipt of weather data corresponding to the then current graphical representation of said weather phenomenon; and
calculating velocity using said distance and said elapsed time.
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4. The method of claim 3 further comprising the steps of selecting a future time of interest and calculating a velocity vector corresponding to said future time of interest via linear extrapolation.
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5. The method of claim 4 wherein step j) comprises the step of displaying said velocity vector on said display device.
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6. The method of claim 5 further comprising the step of displaying communities in the predicted future path of said weather phenomenon.
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7. The method of claim 6 further comprising the step of indicating the estimated time of arrival of said weather phenomenon for each said community.
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8. A system using weather data to graphically display a weather phenomenon'"'"'s predicted future path, said system comprising;
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a) at least one communication port for receiving weather data over a period of time, said weather data corresponding to a weather phenomenon and including a weather phenomenon location and a time;
b) a computer memory for storing geographical information and received weather data, said received weather data stored in said computer memory comprising historical weather data;
c) a CPU communicating with said at least one communication port and said computer memory to associate said weather data with said geographical data and to store said weather data by time;
c) a display device communicating with said CPU to graphically display said geographical information and current received weather data corresponding to said weather phenomenon;
d) an input device communicating with said CPU and said display device to select said historical weather data for a particular time at the request of a user, wherein said display device displays a historical graphical representation of said weather phenomenon for that particular time, and to select a first reference point on said historical graphical representation at the request of a user, wherein said CPU automatically updates the graphical display depicted on said display device to display a then current graphical representation of said weather phenomenon, and to select a second reference point on said then current graphical representation of said weather phenomenon at the request of a user, whereby said CPU calculates an expected future path of said weather phenomenon, and whereby said display device displays a graphical representation of said expected future path of said weather phenomenon. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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Specification