Weather-based activity advisor

• US 7,383,130 B1
• Filed: 12/16/2004
• Issued: 06/03/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/16/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DTN, LLC (TBG AG)
• Original Assignee: The Weather Channel Incorporated (CF Entertainment, Inc.)
• Inventors: Koosam, Vinod
• Primary Examiner(s): Bui; Bryan
• Application Number:
  US11/013,849
• Time in Patent Office: 1,265 Days
• Field of Search: 702/3, 702/5, 702/150, 709/200, 709/201, 709/202, 709/219, 709/228
• US Class Current: 702/3
• CPC Class Codes: G01W 1/00 Meteorology

Abstract

A weather-based activity advisor that provides activity recommendations to a user based on location and a time parameters. The activity recommendations are based on assessments of the desirability of potential activities such as weather-based index values. The weather-based activity advisor may present recommended activities, facilities offering the activities, information about the activities, and information about weather conditions influencing the desirability of the activities. The activity advisor may also present supplemental information such as advertisements and related web links.

Claims

1. A method of providing weather-based activity information to a user comprising:

receiving a location ID and a time parameter;

in response to receiving the location ID and the time parameter, determining a plurality of index values for a plurality of potential activities for the location ID and time parameter, wherein the index values reflect desirability of the potential activities based at least in part on forecasted weather conditions, wherein index values for more desirable potential activities are greater than index values for less desirable potential activities;

identifying some of the potential activities as recommended activities, wherein the recommended activities are identified by comparing the index values of the potential activities and selecting the potential activities having index values greater than a threshold value; and

providing the plurality of recommended activities to the user.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein determining the plurality of index values for the potential activities comprises selecting the potential activities based on user preferences.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

retrieving user preferences for the user from a stored location; and

identifying the plurality of recommended activities using the index values and the user preferences.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the user preferences includes information from the user'"'"'s past transactions.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

identifying a recommended facility offering one of the recommended activities.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

selecting additional activities at an associated location, wherein the additional activities are different from the plurality of potential activities; and

determining index values for the additional activities.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the associated location is within a preset distance from the location ID.

8. The method of claim 6 wherein the travel time from the location ID to the associated location is less than a preset value.

9. The method of claim 1 further comprising displaying a color coded graphic showing desirability of the recommended activities.

10. The method of claim 1 further comprising graphically providing the recommended activities to the user.

11. The method of claim 1 further comprising graphically providing the recommended activities to the user on a map.

12. The method of claim 1 further comprising graphically providing the recommended activities to the user by highlighting a portion of the map.

13. The method of claim 1 further comprising providing advertisements targeted to the plurality of recommended activities.

14. The method of claim 1 further comprising providing supplemental information to the user.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein the supplemental information includes a map.

16. The method of claim 14 wherein the supplemental information includes a map having a highlighted portion for showing information related to the recommended activities.

17. The method of claim 14 wherein the supplemental information includes advertisements targeted to the user'"'"'s preferences.

18. The method of claim 14 wherein the supplemental information includes advertisements targeted to the location ID.

19. The method of claim 14 wherein the supplemental information includes advertisements targeted to the time period.

20. The method of claim 14 wherein the supplemental information includes information about one or more of the plurality of recommended activities.

21. The method of claim 14 wherein the supplemental information includes web links to websites offering products or information related to the recommended activities.

22. A weather-based activity recommendation system comprising:

a receiving component for receiving a location ID and a time parameter,

a potential activity identifying component for determining a plurality of index values for a plurality of potential activities for the location ID and time parameter wherein the index values reflect desirability of the potential activities based at least in part on forecasted weather conditions, wherein index values for more desirable potential activities are greater than index values for less desirable potential activities;

an activity selection component for identifying a plurality of recommended activities, wherein the recommended activities are identified by comparing the index values of the potential activities and selecting the potential activities having index values greater than a threshold value; and

a presentation component for providing the plurality of recommended activities to the user.

23. A method of providing weather-based activity information to a user comprising:

receiving a location ID and a time parameter;

in response to receiving the location ID and the time parameter, determining a plurality of index values for a plurality of potential activities for the location ID and time parameter, wherein the index values reflect desirability of the potential activities based at least in part on forecasted weather conditions, wherein index values for more desirable potential activities are less than index values for less desirable potential activities;

identifying some of the potential activities as recommended activities, wherein the recommended activities are identified by comparing the index values of the potential activities and selecting the potential activities having index values lower than a threshold value; and

providing the plurality of recommended activities to the user.

24. A weather-based activity recommendation system comprising:

a receiving component for receiving a location ID and a time parameter,

a potential activity identifying component for determining a plurality of index values for a plurality of potential activities for the location ID and time parameter wherein the index values reflect desirability of the potential activities based at least in part on forecasted weather conditions, wherein index values for more desirable potential activities are less than index values for less desirable potential activities;

an activity selection component for identifying a plurality of recommended activities, wherein the recommended activities are identified by comparing the index values of the potential activities and selecting the potential activities having index values lower than a threshold value; and

a presentation component for providing the plurality of recommended activities to the user.

25. A method of providing weather-based activity information to a user comprising:

receiving a location ID and a time parameter;

in response to receiving the location ID and the time parameter, determining a plurality of index values for a plurality of potential activities for the location ID and time parameter, wherein the index values reflect desirability of the potential activities based at least in part on forecasted weather conditions, wherein index values for more desirable potential activities are greater than index values for less desirable potential activities;

identifying some of the potential activities as recommended activities, wherein the recommended activities are identified by comparing the index values of the potential activities and selecting a set number of activities having the highest index values; and

providing the plurality of recommended activities to the user.

26. A method of providing weather-based activity information to a user comprising:

receiving a location ID and a time parameter;

in response to receiving the location ID and the time parameter, determining a plurality of index values for a plurality of potential activities for the location ID and time parameter, wherein the index values reflect desirability of the potential activities based at least in part on forecasted weather conditions, wherein index values for more desirable potential activities are less than index values for less desirable potential activities;

identifying some of the potential activities as recommended activities, wherein the recommended activities are identified by comparing the index values of the potential activities and selecting a set number of activities having the lowest index values; and

providing the plurality of recommended activities to the user.