Three dimensional weather forecast rendering
First Claim
1. A computer implemented method for generating a realistic dynamic graphical presentation of forecast weather conditions, comprising(a) receiving a forecast of weather conditions including forecast cloud conditions;
- (b) generating fractal three-dimensional cloud images corresponding to the forecast cloud conditions by(i) generating a spherical three-dimensional solid fractal texture;
(ii) extracting a plurality of slices through the spherical solid fractal texture;
(iii) generating a plurality of cloudlets as an assembly of a plurality of the slices; and
(iv) combining cloudlets into three-dimensional images; and
(c) automatically generating an animated representation of the forecast weather conditions including the three-dimensional fractal cloud images corresponding to the forecast cloud conditions.
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Abstract
A system and method for generating a realistic visual representation of forecast weather conditions. A “future time-lapse” video image of weather conditions effecting a given area may be generated automatically from a meteorologist'"'"'s weather forecast. The resulting presentation may include a photo-realistic terrain background, an image of a landmark, such as a cityscape familiar to users, realistic three-dimensional cloud images, as well as informative textual and/or graphical overlays. Realistic fractal cloud images may be generated in an efficient manner by combining a plurality of slices taken through a spherical solid fractal texture to create three-dimensional cloud images.
31 Citations
36 Claims
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1. A computer implemented method for generating a realistic dynamic graphical presentation of forecast weather conditions, comprising
(a) receiving a forecast of weather conditions including forecast cloud conditions; -
(b) generating fractal three-dimensional cloud images corresponding to the forecast cloud conditions by (i) generating a spherical three-dimensional solid fractal texture; (ii) extracting a plurality of slices through the spherical solid fractal texture; (iii) generating a plurality of cloudlets as an assembly of a plurality of the slices; and (iv) combining cloudlets into three-dimensional images; and (c) automatically generating an animated representation of the forecast weather conditions including the three-dimensional fractal cloud images corresponding to the forecast cloud conditions. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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7. A method of for generating fractal three-dimensional cloud images, comprising:
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(a) generating a spherical three-dimensional solid fractal texture; (b) extracting a plurality of slices through the spherical solid fractal texture; (c) generating a plurality of cloudlets as an assembly of a plurality of the slices; and (d) combining cloudlets into three-dimensional cloud images. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10)
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18. A method of generating fractal three-dimensional images, comprising:
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(a) generating a three-dimensional solid fractal texture; (b) extracting a plurality of slices through the solid fractal texture; (c) generating a plurality of assemblies of a plurality of the slices; and (d) combining the assemblies into three-dimensional images. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A system for generating a realistic dynamic graphical presentation of forecast weather conditions, comprising
(a) an input adapted to receive a forecast of weather conditions including forecast cloud conditions; -
(b) a computer processor coupled to the input and adapted to generate fractal three-dimensional cloud images corresponding to the forecast cloud conditions by (i) generating a spherical three-dimensional solid fractal texture; (ii) extracting a plurality of slices through the spherical solid fractal texture; (iii) generating a plurality of cloudlets as an assembly of a plurality of the slices; and (iv) combining the cloudlets into three-dimensional images and to generate automatically an animated representation of the forecast weather conditions including the three-dimensional fractal cloud images corresponding to the forecast cloud conditions; and (c) an output coupled to the computer processor and adapted to display the animated representation of the forecast weather conditions generated thereby. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36)
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Specification