Method for graphical interaction with geographic databases for interactive broadcast presentation

• US 7,421,422 B1
• Filed: 04/03/2003
• Issued: 09/02/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/08/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: DTN, LLC (TBG AG)
• Original Assignee: WSI Incorporated
• Inventors: Dempster, Douglas G., Isaacs, Jeffrey, Dow, William R. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Alam; Shahid A
• Assistant Examiner(s): Mahmood; Rezwanul
• Application Number:
  US10/406,695
• Time in Patent Office: 1,979 Days
• Field of Search: 702/200, 702/300, 702/400, 702/2, 702/3, 709/200, 709/204, 715/700, 707/104.1, 707/3, 707/1, 707/200, 345/473
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/29 Geographical information databases
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99932 Access augmentation or optimizing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99933 Query processing, i.e. searching
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99934 Query formulation, input preparation, or translation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99943 Generating database or data structure, e.g. via user interface
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99945 Object-oriented database structure processing

Abstract

Methods and systems for providing random access, interactive presentations of geographic and temporal information for a region of interest. The system includes a database that receives and stores geographically registered data, an input system that receives parameter inputs, a data processor, and a visualization system that generates graphical representations of the geographically registered data for visual display. As parameters are interactively received via the input subsystem, a query of the geographically registered data is created, and the results of the query are returned to the visualization system such that the graphical representations are displayed in substantially real-time in accordance with the results.

Claims

1. A system for providing random access, interactive presentations of geographic and temporal information for a geographic region of interest, comprising:

a database that receives and stores geographically registered data;

an input system that interactively receives real time geographic inputs;

a data processor that dynamically creates a query of said geographically registered data in substantially real-time in response to receipt of said real time geographic inputs;

a visualization system that generates graphical representations of said geographically registered data returned with results of said query for visual display, wherein said graphical representations of said results are displayed in substantially real-time; and

a cursor that can be moved about said geographic region of interest using said input system; and

wherein visual characteristics of said displayed graphical representations dynamically change in substantially real time in response to changes in position of said cursor in relation to said geographic region of interest,

wherein said graphical representations comprise an avatar that can be positioned geographically at the location selected by the input system,

wherein said avatar comprises a graphical representation of the weather for a position of said avatar,

wherein said avatar can be dragged around a map displaying said geographic region of interest using said input system, and

wherein a visual characteristic of said displayed avatar dynamically changes as said position of said avatar changes with respect to said geographic region of interest.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said geographically registered data includes temporal characteristics, such that said data is dynamic over time, wherein visual characteristics of said displayed graphical representations are updated in real time to reflect said temporal characteristics of said geographically registered data in said database.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein said geographically registered data comprises at least one of gridded data, discreet position data, and geographic region data, and wherein a process is invoked on the data to retrieve said results.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein said input system further receives formatting inputs and a time selection, and wherein said formatting inputs include a representation input.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein said visualization system generates graphical representations of geographic information for display on broadcast and cable television.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein said visualization system provides a datastream communicated over a wide area network.

7. The system of claim 1, said avatar having characteristics that change over time based on data received in said database, and wherein said avatar changes according to updates of said data in real-time.

8. The system of claim 1, said avatar having characteristics that change based on a change to the avatar'"'"'s geographic position or altitude.

23. The system of claim 1, further comprising one or more parameter inputs that are received in said database, wherein said data processor creates multiple, simultaneous queries in response to said geographic and parameter inputs.

24. The system of claim 1, wherein said graphical representations displayed on said visualization system change as a geographic position of said graphical representations changes.

25. The system of claim 1, wherein said graphical representations displayed on said visualization system substantially continuously change as said graphical representations are moved about said region of interest using said input system.

26. The system of claim 1, wherein said visualization system further comprises a display displaying said map of said geographic region of interest and said graphical representations;

and

wherein said displayed graphical representations dynamically change as said input system is manipulated by a user to move said graphical representations to different geographical positions over said geographical area of interest.

27. The system of claim 1,

wherein characteristics of said avatar dynamically change as said avatar changes geographic positions as said avatar is moved about said geographical region of interest.

28. The system of claim 27, wherein said avatar characteristics further comprise one or more of:

content and graphical attributes representative of said geographically registered data; and

wherein one or more of said content and said graphical attributes dynamically changes as a geographical position of said avatar changes.

29. The system of claim 2, providing dynamic presentations of geographic information for a region of interest comprising:

a datastream providing updated data to said database;

wherein visual characteristics of said graphical representations are updated in real time to reflect said updates to said data in said database for said received geographic inputs.

31. The system of claim 1, wherein said graphical representations comprise said cursor, wherein said graphical representations are movable over said geographic region of interest and can be geographically positioned at a geographic position selected by said input system.

32. The system of claim 1, wherein said graphical representations are stationary with respect to said geographic region of interest.

9. A method for providing near real-time, random access, interactive presentation of weather information for a geographic region of interest, comprising:

receiving geographically registered weather data at a database;

randomly receiving a geographic position/region selection and a parameter selection;

formulating one or more queries of said geographically registered weather data in response to said selections;

interactively generating graphical representations of weather conditions for said region of interest in near real-time in response to results of said one or more queries;

displaying said graphical representations of weather conditions for said region of interest;

moving said graphical representations over said geographic region of interest using said input system; and

dynamically changing a characteristic of said graphical representations based on a position of said graphical representations,

wherein said graphical representations comprise avatars that can be positioned geographically at the geographic position/region selected by the input system,

wherein each said avatar comprises a graphical representation of the weather for a position of said avatar,

wherein said avatar can be dragged around a map displaying said geographic region of interest using said input system, and

wherein a visual characteristic of said displayed avatar dynamically changes as said position of said avatar changes with respect to said geographic region of interest.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein said database includes at least one of information about temperature, weather conditions, wind speed and direction, weather advisories, watches and warnings, radar and satellite data, and predicted storm and hurricane paths.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein interactively generating graphical representations comprises generating avatars having characteristics that change over time based on weather data received and stored in said database.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein interactively generating graphical representations further comprises generating avatars having characteristics that change based on a change to the avatar'"'"'s geographic position or altitude.

13. The method of claim 9, further comprising broadcasting said geographic representations on broadcast and cable television.

14. The method of claim 9, further comprising providing a datastream communicated over a wide area network.

15. The method of claim 9, further comprising;

receiving a time selection; and

updating said graphical representation in response to said time selection.

16. The method of claim 9, further comprising providing a presentation containing graphical representations of forecasted weather for said region of interest.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising providing a time-lapsed presentation of graphical representations of weather information, wherein the weather information comprises past and forecasted conditions.

18. The method of claim 16, further comprising providing avatars having characteristics that change over time based on forecasted weather data in said database.

19. The method of claim 9, further comprising generating graphical representations of weather conditions in response to temporal characteristics, such that said weather data is dynamic over time.

20. The method of claim 9, wherein said database includes at least one of information about city, town, county and state boundaries or locations.

21. The method of claim 9, further comprising generating avatars which can display information from the said geographic information database based on the geographic position selected by the input system.

22. The method of claim 9, further comprising generating avatars which can be positioned geographically at the location selected by the input system.

30. A system for providing random access, interactive presentations of geographic and temporal information for a region of interest, comprising:

a database that receives and stores geographically registered data;

an input system that interactively receives real time geographic inputs;

a data processor that dynamically creates a query of said geographically registered data in substantially real-time in response to receipt of said real time geographic inputs; and

a visualization system that generates graphical representations of said geographically registered data returned with results of said query for visual display, wherein said graphical representations of said results are displayed in substantially real-time;

a cursor that can be moved about said geographic region of interest using said input system; and

a map displaying said geographic region of interest;

wherein visual characteristics of said displayed graphical representations dynamically change in substantially real time in response to changes in a geographic position of said cursor in relation to said geographic region of interest,

wherein each said graphic representation can be moved around said map using said input system, wherein said graphic representation comprises a graphical representation of the weather for said geographic position of said graphic representation on said map,

wherein said graphical representation of the weather further comprises a weather parameter, wherein a visual characteristic of said displayed weather parameter dynamically changes as said geographic position of said displayed weather parameter is interactively dragged over said map.

33. The system of claim 30, wherein said geographically registered data includes temporal characteristics, such that said data is dynamic over time, wherein visual characteristics of said displayed graphical representations are updated in real time to reflect said temporal characteristics of said geographically registered data in said database.

34. The system of claim 30, wherein said geographically registered data comprises at least one of gridded data, discreet position data, and geographic region data, and wherein a process is invoked on the data to retrieve said results.

35. The system of claim 30, wherein said input system further receives formatting inputs and a time selection, and wherein said formatting inputs include a representation input.

36. The system of claim 30, wherein said visualization system generates graphical representations of geographic information for display on broadcast and cable television.

37. The system of claim 30, wherein said graphical representations comprise avatars having characteristics that change over time based on data received in said database, and wherein the avatars change to updates of said data in real-time.

38. The system of claim 30, wherein said graphical representations comprise avatars having characteristics that change based on a change to the avatar'"'"'s geographic position or altitude.

39. The system of claim 30, further comprising one or more parameter inputs that are received in said database, wherein said data processor creates multiple, simultaneous queries in response to said geographic and parameter inputs.

40. The system of claim 30, wherein said graphical representations displayed on said visualization system substantially continuously change as said graphical representations are moved about said region of interest using said input system.

41. A method for providing near real-time, random access, interactive presentation of weather information for a geographic region of interest, comprising:

receiving geographically registered weather data at a database;

randomly receiving a geographic position/region selection and a parameter selection;

formulating one or more queries of said geographically registered weather data in response to said selections;

interactively generating graphical representations of weather conditions for said region of interest in near real-time in response to results of said one or more queries;

displaying said graphical representations of weather conditions for said region of interest;

moving said graphical representations over said geographic region of interest using said input system; and

dynamically changing a characteristic of said graphical representations based on a geographic position of said graphical representations,

wherein visual characteristics of said displayed graphical representations dynamically change in substantially real time in response to changes in a geographic position of said graphical representations in relation to said geographic region of interest,

wherein each said graphic representation comprises a graphical representation of the weather for said geographic position of said graphic representation on said map,

wherein said graphical representation of the weather further comprises a weather parameter, wherein a visual characteristic of said displayed weather parameter dynamically changes as said geographic position of said displayed weather parameter is interactively dragged over said map.