Vehicle-centric weather prediction system and method
First Claim
1. A method of providing weather hazard information to a plurality of vehicles, comprising the steps of:
- (1) generating a weather forecast covering a plurality of geographically specific cells, and indicating for each cell whether a forecast weather hazard exists for that cell;
(2) generating a plurality of forecast vehicle locations with respect to the plurality of geographically specific cells; and
(3) generating a warning for each vehicle that is forecast to be in a cell for which a weather hazard forecast exists.
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Abstract
The invention provides a system and method for receiving weather forecast information in a vehicle and using that information to warn a vehicle operator of a future weather hazard with reference to the vehicle'"'"'s intended direction of travel. A weather forecasting center maintains a database and display of forecast weather hazards across a large area. The forecasting center also receives information regarding the, location of each of a plurality of vehicles, such as automobiles or a fleet of commercial trucks. A hazard location algorithm compares a forecast location of each vehicle with a forecast weather hazard and transmits a warning to each vehicle that is predicted to encounter the hazard. The warning can take the form of text, audio, and/or a visual display indicating, for example, that the weather hazard will continue for a certain period of time. As the vehicle moves, its actual position is updated in the forecasting center, and a revised warning is transmitted to the vehicle.
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Citations
43 Claims
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1. A method of providing weather hazard information to a plurality of vehicles, comprising the steps of:
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(1) generating a weather forecast covering a plurality of geographically specific cells, and indicating for each cell whether a forecast weather hazard exists for that cell;
(2) generating a plurality of forecast vehicle locations with respect to the plurality of geographically specific cells; and
(3) generating a warning for each vehicle that is forecast to be in a cell for which a weather hazard forecast exists. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A vehicle weather warning system, comprising:
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a locator device that receives information sufficient to determine the location of the vehicle, and that outputs location information;
a transmitter that transmits the location information and vehicle identification information to a weather center;
a receiver adapted to receive a weather hazard warning signal, wherein the weather hazard warning signal is based at least in part on a weather forecast and based at least in part on a forecast location of the vehicle;
a warning device that generates warnings in response to a signal indicating the nature and duration of a weather hazard; and
a microprocessor that controls the operation of the locator device, the transmitter, the receiver, and the warning device. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A data processing device for initiating weather warnings, comprising:
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a processor;
memory storing computer readable instructions that, when executed, cause the data processing device to perform the steps of;
(i) based on received meteorological information, generating a weather forecast covering a plurality of geographically specific cells;
(ii) indicating for each cell whether a forecast weather hazard exists for that cell;
(iii) determining a future location for each of a plurality of mobile warning devices with respect to the plurality of geographically specific cells; and
(iv) sending warning information corresponding to each vehicle that is forecast to be in a cell for which a weather hazard forecast exists.
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23. A vehicle weather warning system, comprising:
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a locator device that receives information sufficient to determine the location of the vehicle, and that outputs location information;
a transmitter that transmits the location information and vehicle identification information;
a receiver adapted to receive a weather hazard warning signal, wherein the weather hazard warning signal is based at least in part on a forecast location of the vehicle and a weather forecast, and wherein the signal indicates the location, nature and duration of a weather hazard;
a display unit that displays at least the vehicle'"'"'s location in relation to the weather hazard responsive to the signal;
a speaker that produces an audible warning responsive to the signal; and
a microprocessor that controls the operation of the locator device, the transmitter, the receiver, the display unit, and the speaker.
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24. A weather warning system, comprising:
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a locator device that receives information sufficient to determine the location of the system, and that outputs location information;
a transmitter that transmits the location information and identification information;
a receiver adapted to receive a weather hazard warning signal, wherein the weather hazard warning signal is based at least in part on a forecast location of the system and a weather forecast, and wherein the signal indicates the predicted location and nature of a weather hazard;
a display unit that displays at least the system'"'"'s location in relation to the weather hazard responsive to the signal; and
a microprocessor that controls the operation of the locator device, the transmitter, the receiver, and the display unit. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. A weather warning device, comprising:
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memory storing computer executable instructions that, when executed by a processor cause the device to perform a method, comprising;
(i) receiving forecast weather hazard information for a plurality of geographically distinct cells;
(ii) determining a future location of the weather warning device with respect to the geographically distinct cells; and
(iii) causing an output device to output a warning when the future location of the weather warning device falls within one of the geographically distinct cells at a time when a forecast weather hazard exists for the one geographically distinct cell. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32, 33)
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34. A data processing device for initiating weather warnings, comprising:
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memory storing computer readable instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the data processing device to perform the steps of;
(i) based on received meteorological information, generating a weather forecast covering a plurality of geographically specific cells;
(ii) indicating for each cell whether a forecast weather hazard exists for that cell;
(iii) determining a future location for a user with respect to the plurality of geographically specific cells; and
(iv) initiating a weather warning corresponding to the user when the user is forecast to be in a cell for which a weather hazard forecast exists.
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35. A method of providing a weather hazard warning, comprising:
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(i) generating a weather forecast covering a plurality of geographically specific cells, and indicating for each cell whether a forecast weather hazard exists for that cell;
(ii) generating a forecast location of a user with respect to the plurality of geographically specific cells; and
(iii) initiating a warning for the user when the user is forecast to be in a cell for which a forecast weather hazard exists.
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36. A mobile system, comprising:
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a display unit that displays a location of the mobile system on a map superimposed with forecast weather information based on a location of the mobile system; and
a processor for controlling operation of the mobile system based on computer executable instructions for performing a method comprising outputting an alert when a forecast location of the system is predicted to encounter the forecast weather information. - View Dependent Claims (37, 38, 39)
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40. A method of providing a weather hazard warning, comprising:
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(i) generating a forecast weather hazard for a predefined geographic area based on weather forecast information;
(ii) determining a future location of a user with respect to the predefined geographic area and (iii) initiating a warning for the user when the user is forecast to be in the predefined geographic area when the forecast weather hazard exists. - View Dependent Claims (41, 42, 43)
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Specification