System and method for providing a device with protection from a weather event

• US 7,088,254 B2
• Filed: 03/06/2002
• Issued: 08/08/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/06/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Gateway Incorporated (Acer, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Gateway Incorporated (Acer, Inc.)
• Inventors: Liebenow, Frank
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, HUNG T
• Application Number:
  US10/092,171
• Publication Number:
  US 20030169174A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,616 Days
• Field of Search: 340/601, 340/602, 340/539.1, 340/539.19, 340/539.28, 340/286.02, 340/540, 340/825.49, 340/825.69, 340/7.48, 340/539, 731/701.6, 733/84, 361/1, 361/111, 361/118, 361/119
• US Class Current: 340/601
• CPC Class Codes: G01W 1/10 Devices for predicting weather conditions computers per se G06; display devices G09

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a system and method for providing a device with protection from a weather event. A method for providing a device with protection from weather events may include receiving a notification of a weather event. At least one weather characteristic of the weather event is determined and whether at least one device of a plurality of devices is ascertained as susceptible to the determined weather characteristic. Protective action is taken to protect the at least one device susceptible to the determined weather characteristic from the notified weather event.

Claims

1. A method for providing a device with protection from weather events, comprising:

receiving a notification of a weather event;

determining at least one weather characteristic of the weather event;

ascertaining whether at least one device of a plurality of devices is susceptible to the determined weather characteristic; and

taking protective action to protect the at least one device susceptible to the determined weather characteristic from the notified weather event,

wherein ascertaining includes querying a database of devices, the database including an indication of susceptibility of the device to a weather characteristic,

wherein the plurality of devices includes devices of different susceptibilities,

wherein the database includes an indication that a first device is susceptible to lightning, and wherein the database includes an indication that a corresponding protective action is disconnecting the device from at least one of an external power connection or an external communication connection.

2. The method as described in claim 1, wherein the notification is received from a weather monitoring device.

3. The method as described in claim 2, wherein the weather monitoring device includes a weather radio.

4. The method as described in claim 1, wherein the weather characteristic of the weather event includes at least one of lightning, flooding, winds, precipitation or temperature.

5. The method as described in claim 1, wherein protective action includes at least one of, disconnecting the device from an external connection, shutting down the device, saving data on the device, dampening an antenna turning off a water supply and turning off of a gas supply.

6. The method as described in claim 1, wherein the notification of the weather event includes an indication of a geographic region for the weather event.

7. The method as described in claim 6, wherein the indication includes at least one of data identifying current location of the weather event and data indicating a location to which the weather event may threaten.

8. The method as described in claim 6, wherein the graphic region is identified based on at least one of county and zip code.

9. The method as described in claim 1, further comprising:

determining an approaching weather event, the determination made by a local weather monitoring device, the local weather monitoring device monitoring weather conditions in a corresponding region to the device; and

accessing a weather data provider in response to the determined impending weather event, the weather data provider suitable for providing a notification of a weather event.

10. The method as described in claim 1, wherein a weather event is approaching, taking an initial protective action of at least one device of the plurality of devices.

11. The method as described in claim 1, wherein ascertaining includes receiving the indication of susceptibility.

12. The method as described in claim 1, wherein the protective action taken is disconnecting the device from an external connection.

13. The method as described in claim 1, wherein the protective action taken is shutting down the device.

14. The method as described in claim 1, wherein the protective action taken is saving data on the device.

15. The method as described in claim 1, wherein the protective action taken is dampening an antenna.

16. The method as described in claim 1, wherein the protective action taken is turning off a water supply.

17. The method as described in claim 1, wherein the protective action taken is turning off of a gas supply.

18. A method for providing a device with protection from weather events, comprising:

receiving a notification of a weather event, the notification including an indication of a geographic region for the weather event, the indication including at least one of data identifying a current location of the weather event and data indicating a location to which the weather event may threaten;

determining at least one weather characteristic of the weather event;

ascertaining whether at least one device of a plurality of devices is susceptible to the determined weather characteristic; and

taking protective action to protect the at least one device susceptible to the determined weather characteristic from the weather event,

wherein ascertaining includes querying a database of devices, the database including an indication of susceptibility of the device to a weather characteristic,

wherein the plurality of devices includes devices of different susceptibilities,

wherein the database includes an indication that a first device is susceptible to lightning, and wherein the database includes an indication that a corresponding protective action is disconnecting the device from at least one of an external power connection or an external communication connection.

19. The method as described in claim 18, wherein the notification is received from a weather monitoring device.

20. The method as described in claim 19, wherein the weather monitoring device includes a weather radio.

21. The method as described in claim 18, wherein the weather characteristic of the weather event includes at least one of lightning, flooding, winds, precipitation or temperature.

22. The method as described in claim 18, wherein protective action includes at least one of, disconnecting the device from an external connection, shutting down the device, saving data on the device, dampening an antenna, turning off a water supply and turning off a gas supply.

23. The method as described in claim 18, wherein the geographic region is identified based on at least one of county and zip code.

24. The method as described in claim 18, further comprising:

determining an approaching weather event, the determination made by a local weather monitoring device, the local weather monitoring device monitoring weather conditions in a corresponding region to the device; and

accessing a weather data provider in response to the determined impending weather event, the weather data provider suitable for providing a notification of a weather event.

25. The method as described in claim 18, wherein a weather event is approaching, taking an initial protective action of at least one device of the plurality of devices.

26. A The method as described in claim 18, wherein ascertaining includes receiving the indication of susceptibility.

27. A system for protecting devices from weather events, comprising:

a plurality of devices communicatively coupled over a network;

an

a weather warning detection device communicatively coupled over the network to the plurality of devices, wherein when the weather warning detection device receives a notification of a weather event, the weather warning detection device determines at least one weather characteristic of the weather event and ascertains whether at least one device of the plurality of devices is susceptible to the determined weather characteristic by querying a database of devices, the database including an indication of susceptibility of the plurality of devices to the at least one weather characteristic and takes protective action to protect the at least one device susceptible to the determined weather characteristic from the notified weather event,

wherein the plurality of devices includes devices of different susceptibilities,

wherein the database includes an indication that a first device is susceptible to lightning, and wherein the database includes an indication that a corresponding protective action is disconnecting the device from at least one of an external power connection or an external communication connection.

28. The system as described in claim 27, wherein the notification is received from at least one of a weather detector included with the weather warning detection device;

and a website.

29. The system as described in claim 27, wherein the weather warning detection device takes protective action to protect the at least one device susceptible to the determined weather characteristic from the notified weather event and does not take protective action to protect the at least one device of the plurality of devices which is ascertained as not susceptible to the determined weather characteristic from the notified weather event.

30. The system as described in claim 27, wherein the weather characteristic of the weather event includes at least one of lightning, flooding, winds, precipitation or temperature.

31. The system as described in claim 27, wherein protective action includes at least one of, disconnecting the device from an external connection, shutting down the device, saving data on the device, dampening an antenna, turning off a water supply and turning off a gas supply.

32. The system as described in claim 27, wherein the notification of the weather event includes an indication of a geographic region for the weather event.

33. The system as described in claim 32, wherein the indication includes at least one of data identifying current location of the weather event and data indicating a location to which the weather event may threaten.

34. The system as described in claim 32, wherein the geographic region is identified based on at least one of county and zip code.

35. The system as described in claim 27, further comprising:

determining an approaching weather event, the determination made by a local weather monitoring device, the local weather monitoring device monitoring weather conditions in a corresponding region to the device; and

accessing a weather data provider in response to the determined impending weather event, the weather data provider suitable for providing a notification of a weather event.

36. The system as described in claim 27, wherein a weather event is approaching, taking an initial protective action of at least one device of the plurality of devices.

37. The system as described in claim 27, wherein protective action includes at least one of dampening an antenna, turning off a water supply and turning off a gas supply.

38. The system as described in claim 27, wherein protective action includes dampening an antenna and at least one of disconnecting the device from an external connection, shutting down the device, saving data on the device, turning off a water supply and turning off a gas supply.

39. The system as described in claim 27, wherein protective action includes at least two of disconnecting the device from an external connection, shutting down the device, saving data on the device, dampening an antenna, turning off a water supply and turning off a gas supply.

40. A system for configuring a device for protection from weather events, comprising:

an information handling system;

a weather radio for monitoring the weather, the weather radio having an antenna, the weather radio being communicatively coupled to the information handling system; and

a receiver communicatively coupled to the weather radio, wherein the receiver controls at least one electronic device,

wherein when the weather radio receives a notification of a weather event, a weather warning device determines at least one weather characteristic of the weather event and ascertains susceptibility of the at least one electronic device to a weather characteristic by querying a database of devices, the database including indication of susceptibility of the at least one electronic devices to the at least one weather characteristic and takes any protective action determined to be needed for the information handling system, the receiver, and the at least one electronic device to the determined weather characteristic and takes protective action to protect those device susceptible to the determined weather characteristic from the notified weather event,

wherein the database includes an indication that a first device is susceptible to lightning, and wherein the database includes an indication that a corresponding protective action is disconnecting the device from at least one of an external power connection or an external communication connection.

41. The system of claim 40, wherein the weather radio is communicatively coupled to a weather site through Internet.

42. The system of claim 41, wherein the at least one electronic device includes at least two of the group consisting of a digital versatile disk (DVD) player, a game console, and a radio.

43. The system of claim 42, wherein the information handling system is connected to a telephone network through a modem.

44. The system of claim 40, wherein the plurality of devices includes devices of different susceptibilities.

45. The system of claim 40, wherein the information handling system is a digital information appliance.

46. The system of claim 40, wherein the information handling system is a personal digital assistant.

47. The system of claim 40, wherein the information handling system is an Internet appliance.

48. The system of claim 40, wherein the information handling system is a convergence device.

49. A method for providing a device with protection from weather events, comprising:

receiving a notification of a weather event;

determining at least one weather characteristic of the weather event;

ascertaining whether at least one device of a plurality of devices is susceptible to the determined weather characteristic; and

taking protective action to protect the at least one device susceptible to the determined weather characteristic from the notified weather event,

wherein ascertaining includes querying a database of devices, the database including an indication of susceptibility of the device to a weather characteristics,

wherein the plurality of devices includes devices of different susceptibilities,

wherein the database includes an indication that a first device is not susceptible to weather characteristics, and wherein the protective action taken comprises no action.

50. A method for providing a device with protection from weather events, comprising:

receiving a notification of a weather event;

determining at least one weather characteristic of the weather event;

ascertaining whether at least one device of a plurality of devices is susceptible to the determined weather characteristic; and

taking protective action to protect the at least one device susceptible to the determined weather characteristic from the notified weather event,

wherein ascertaining includes querying a database of devices, the database including an indication of susceptibility of the device to a weather characteristic,

wherein the plurality of devices includes devices of different susceptibilities, and

wherein the database of devises includes an indication that a first device is susceptible to a first weather characteristic, and includes an indication that a second device is susceptible to a second weather characteristic, and the first weather characteristic and the second weather characteristic are different weather characteristics.

51. A method for providing a device with protection from weather events, comprising:

receiving a notification of a weather event;

determining at least one weather characteristic of the weather event;

ascertaining whether at least one device of a plurality of devices susceptible to the determined weather characteristic; and

taking protective action to protect the at least one device susceptible to the determined weather characteristic from the notified weather event,

wherein ascertaining includes querying a database of devices, the database including an indication of susceptibility of the device to a weather characteristic,

wherein the plurality of devices includes devices of different susceptibilities,

wherein the database includes an indication that a first device is susceptible to flood, and wherein the database includes an indication that a corresponding protective action is disconnecting the device from an external power connection.

52. A method for providing a device with protection from weather events, comprising:

receiving a notification of a weather event;

determining at least one weather characteristic of the weather event;

ascertaining whether at least one device of a plurality of devices is susceptible to the determined weather characteristic; and

taking protective action to protect the at least one device susceptible to the determined weather characteristic from the notified weather event,

wherein ascertaining includes querying a database of devices, the database including an indication of susceptibility of the device to a weather characteristic,

wherein the plurality of devices includes devices of different susceptibilities,

wherein the database includes an indication that a first device is susceptible to flood, and wherein the database includes an indication that a corresponding protective action is shutting off gas.