Weather forecasting systems and methods
First Claim
1. A weather forecasting system, comprising:
- memory for storing satellite image data; and
logic configured to identify a first cloud object within a first image of the satellite image data, the first object representing a cumulus cloud that is not producing precipitation, the logic configured to identify, within a second image of the satellite image data, a second cloud object representing the cumulus cloud based on the first cloud object identified in the first image, the logic configured to compare the first and second cloud objects to make a prediction whether the cumulus cloud represented by the first and second cloud objects will produce precipitation or lightning in the future, wherein the first cloud object is associated with a geographic region different than a geographic region associated with the second cloud object,wherein the second image has a plurality of pixels, each of the pixels representing a respective geographic region, wherein the logic is configured to analyze the pixels of the second image to identify cumulus cloud pixels within the second image, each cumulus cloud pixel indicating that at least a portion of a cumulus cloud is within the geographic region associated with the respective cumulus cloud pixel, wherein the logic is configured to cluster a plurality of contiguous cumulus cloud pixels in the second image to define the second cloud object, and wherein the logic is configured to compare the first and second cloud objects for determining whether the cumulus cloud is represented by both the first cloud object and the second cloud object.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A weather forecasting system has weather forecasting logic that receives raw image data from a satellite. The raw image data has values indicative of light and radiance data from the Earth as measured by the satellite, and the weather forecasting logic processes such data to identify cumulus clouds within the satellite images. For each identified cumulus cloud, the weather forecasting logic applies interest field tests to determine a score indicating the likelihood of the cumulus cloud forming precipitation and/or lightning in the future within a certain time period. Based on such scores, the weather forecasting logic predicts in which geographic regions the identified cumulus clouds will produce precipitation and/or lighting within during the time period. Such predictions may then be used to provide a weather map thereby providing users with a graphical illustration of the areas predicted to be affected by precipitation within the time period.
33 Citations
23 Claims
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1. A weather forecasting system, comprising:
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memory for storing satellite image data; and logic configured to identify a first cloud object within a first image of the satellite image data, the first object representing a cumulus cloud that is not producing precipitation, the logic configured to identify, within a second image of the satellite image data, a second cloud object representing the cumulus cloud based on the first cloud object identified in the first image, the logic configured to compare the first and second cloud objects to make a prediction whether the cumulus cloud represented by the first and second cloud objects will produce precipitation or lightning in the future, wherein the first cloud object is associated with a geographic region different than a geographic region associated with the second cloud object, wherein the second image has a plurality of pixels, each of the pixels representing a respective geographic region, wherein the logic is configured to analyze the pixels of the second image to identify cumulus cloud pixels within the second image, each cumulus cloud pixel indicating that at least a portion of a cumulus cloud is within the geographic region associated with the respective cumulus cloud pixel, wherein the logic is configured to cluster a plurality of contiguous cumulus cloud pixels in the second image to define the second cloud object, and wherein the logic is configured to compare the first and second cloud objects for determining whether the cumulus cloud is represented by both the first cloud object and the second cloud object. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 21, 22, 23)
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9. A weather forecasting method, comprising:
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storing, in memory, satellite image data; identifying a first cloud object within a first image of the satellite image data, the first cloud object representing a cumulus cloud that is not producing precipitation; associating the first cloud object with a first geographic region; identifying a second cloud object within a second image of the satellite image data based on the identifying the first cloud object, the second cloud object representing the cumulus cloud; associating the second cloud object with a second geographic region different than the first geographic region, wherein the second image has a plurality of pixels, each of the pixels representing a respective portion of the second geographic region; comparing the first and second cloud objects; predicting whether the cumulus cloud will produce precipitation or lightning in the future based on the comparing; analyzing the pixels of the second image; identifying cumulus cloud pixels within the second image based on the analyzing, each cumulus cloud pixel indicating that at least a portion of a cumulus cloud is within a geographic region associated with the respective cumulus cloud pixel; clustering a plurality of contiguous cumulus cloud pixels in the second image to define the second cloud object; and determining whether the cumulus cloud is represented by both the first cloud object and the second cloud object based on the comparing. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification