Weather channel

• US 20060035628A1
• Filed: 07/30/2004
• Published: 02/16/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 07/30/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Howard, Dane M., VanderSpek, Paul J., Miller, Roger Colin, Cooley, James W., Tan, Albert W., Curtis, Keith C.
• Application Number:
  US10/909,181
• Publication Number:
  US 20060035628A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/414.300
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/493 Interactive information services, e.g. directory enquiries ; Arrangements therefor, e.g. interactive voice response [IVR] systems or voice portals

Abstract

The present invention provides a weather channel that provides a user of a mobile electronic device simple access to weather information, such as local weather, national and international weather, user selected cities, as well as weather alerts and messages. The user may customize the weather content they receive on their devices. Users are able to view weather information based on their preferences. While using the weather channel, users automatically receive broadcast weather information, including local weather information (current temperature, forecast information, sunset, sunrise, humidity, UV index, and the like); selected city information, national and international weather, and weather alerts and messages that are easy to navigate.

Claims

1. A method for receiving, displaying and interacting with weather channel content on a mobile electronic device, comprising:

receiving the weather channel content encoded on a communication signal that is broadcast to many electronic devices;

storing at least a portion of the weather channel content on the electronic device;

associating the weather channel content with a weather channel application on the electronic device;

setting a current view associated with the weather channel; and

displaying the current view on a display of the electronic device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein setting the current view further comprises setting the current view to at least one of:

a current local weather view; and

a list of cities along with weather information.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein setting the current view associated with the weather channel, further comprises selecting a mode, wherein the mode is selected from at least one of:

a local weather mode;

a my cities mode;

a North American mode; and

an International mode.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising setting the current view to display:

a local weather display when the local weather mode is selected;

user selected cities when the my cities mode is selected;

a list of North American cities when the North American mode is selected; and

a list of International cities when the International mode is selected.

5. The method of claim 3, further comprising receiving an input indicating a selection associated with one of the modes;

and in response to the selection setting the current view.

6. The method of claim 2, further comprising determining when a detail view is selected;

and in response to the detail view being selected showing details associated with the selected detail view.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein showing details further comprises showing a current weather view.

8. The method of claim 5, further comprising automatically receiving updates to the weather channel content throughout a day.

9. The method of claim 1, further adjusting the current view based on user preferences.

10. The method of claim 2, further comprising automatically alternating weather information within the current view.

11. An apparatus for receiving, navigating, and displaying weather content, comprising:

a data store;

a communication connection configured to receive a communication signal including the weather content that is directed to a plurality of mobile electronic devices and store the weather content in the data store;

a display;

a user interface that includes a selector; and

an electronic system that is arranged to interact with the user interface, the data store, the communication connection, and the display, wherein the electronic system is configured to;

select a current view from at least one of the set of views including;

a local weather view;

a my cities view; and

a cities view; and

display the current view on the display.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the electronic system is further configured to select a details view associated with the current view in response to the selector.

13. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the local weather view includes local weather information associated with a user.

14. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the electronic system is further configured to activate a city list in response to the interface selection device, wherein the city list is organized as a list of cities having associated weather information.

15. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the electronic system is further configured to activate a user selected city list in response to the interface selection device, wherein the user selected city list is organized as a list of cities having associated weather information.

16. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the electronic system is further configured to automatically receive the communication signal including the weather content that includes updates to the weather content.

17. The apparatus of claim 12, further comprising adjusting the weather content received by the device based on user preferences.

18. A system for providing and interacting with weather content, comprising:

a data collector configured to collect the weather content associated with a weather channel;

a broadcast device configured to transmit a communication signal including the weather content to a plurality of mobile electronic devices at the same time;

a mobile electronic device, having;

a data store;

a communication connection configured to receive the communication signal and store the weather content in the data store;

a display;

a user interface that includes a selector; and

an electronic system that is arranged to interact with the communication connection, the user interface, the data store and the display, wherein the electronic system is configured to;

select a current view associated with the weather channel;

change the current view in response to the selector; and

display the current view on the display.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the weather content includes at least one of the following:

local weather information;

North American weather information, and International weather information.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the electronic system is further configured to a detailed weather view associated with a selected city.

21. The system of claim 18, wherein the broadcast device is configured to broadcast an FM communication signal.

22. The system of claim 18, further comprising a server configured to receive user preferences associated with users receiving the weather channel;

wherein the user preferences include preferences related to at least one of the following;

cities and weather information.