Integrated weather display and travel and navigation decision system

• US 7,898,438 B2
• Filed: 01/22/2008
• Issued: 03/01/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 01/22/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Clearpoint International, LLC
• Original Assignee: Clearpoint International, LLC
• Inventors: Brosius, John W. III
• Primary Examiner(s): Previl; Daniel
• Application Number:
  US12/017,810
• Publication Number:
  US 20080180282A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,134 Days
• Field of Search: 340/995.27, 340/905, 340/995.1, 340/601, 340/602, 340/990, 340/907, 340/934, 340/933, 340/936, 340/968
• US Class Current: 340/995.27
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096775 where the origin of the information is a central station
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 29/006 Representation of non-cartographic information on maps, e.g. population distribution, wind direction, radiation levels, air and sea routes

Abstract

A method and apparatus for a weather information display and decision system that incorporates weather depiction charts together with other graphs and diagrams generated via a computing device on-board a vehicle (for example, a water, air and land based vehicle) as an integrated system to aid safe and comfortable vehicle navigation and handling, and provide data of immediate comprehension and use to the vehicle operator including data points on a geographic route at an applicable future time of vehicle presence and data presented from the operator'"'"'s chosen perspective, using the operator'"'"'s chosen frame of reference.

Claims

1. A method for outputting weather information for navigating a vehicle comprising:

receiving geographic region information for a region specified by a user;

presenting the geographic region in a graphical user interface;

receiving at least one of past, present and forecasted weather data for the geographic region;

storing received weather data;

receiving a geographical route data for navigating a vehicle from the user;

storing the route data;

obtaining criteria for calculating projected weather data projected on the route;

calculating said projected weather data for one or more selected points along the stored route at a specified applicable time input by the user for each selected point;

storing calculated projected weather data related to the selected points; and

outputting said projected weather data,

wherein outputting comprises simultaneously displaying said projected weather data for the selected points on the stored route, in accordance with the specified applicable time for each selected point along the stored route.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein weather data comprises conditions comprising at least one of wind, wave height, wave direction, wave period, swells, sea currents, sea surface temperatures, air temperature, visibility, precipitation, cloud cover, sea ice, atmospheric vorticity, 500 mile contours, fronts, lightning, cyclones, hurricanes, tornadoes and other weather, surrounding and environmental conditions.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the route comprises a plurality of geographical points for navigating the vehicle.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the criteria comprises at least one of exclusion conditions and vehicle data.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein exclusion condition comprises at least one of maximum winds, maximum waves, maximum swells, maximum discomfort index, maximum motion period and maximum motion amplitude.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein motion period and amplitude comprise at least one of roll and pitch data.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the discomfort index provides a means for evaluating the relative comfort of various positions or routes given the wave conditions at said positions or on said routes.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the discomfort index comprises a wave height divided by wave period as felt by a vehicle moving or fixed.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the discomfort index is adjusted by factors related to at least one of vessel heel angle, vessel roll amplitude and vessel roll frequency.

10. The method of claim 4, wherein vehicle data comprises one or more of vessel speed versus wind angle for stated wind speeds, vessel speed versus engine operating conditions, vessel response to vessel-felt sea period, vessel-felt swell period for each point along the route, vessel speed versus wind angle, vessel roll amplitude versus sea or swell angle or sea or swell amplitude.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the geographical route definition comprises waypoints and times at each waypoint, wherein waypoints comprises at least one of start, turns, layover, and destination waypoints.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein calculating projected weather data for each point along the route at a given time comprises applying weather data and timing data to the geographical route data.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein calculating projected weather for each point comprises interpolating available weather data to the point and to the time a vehicle is projected to be at the point for any point on the route.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the vehicle comprises at least one of a vessel, boat, airplane, truck, car, motorcycle, van, submarine and any object moving from one geographic location to another.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein outputting weather information comprises

displaying geographic region information in a graphical display, wherein the geographic region information comprises at least a map;

displaying the route data in the display; and

displaying weather data in at least one of tabular, geographic, graphical, textual and vector formats comprised in a weather data display;

wherein the weather data display is at least one of displayed on a layer transposed onto the geographic region display and displayed separately from the geographic region display.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein displaying weather data in a vector format comprises displaying weather data selected as a vector for any point on the route in polar coordinates relative to the geographic region and for an applicable time for that point.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the geographic reference comprises one of true north, magnetic north, a fixed vehicle position, a moving vehicle position, a fixed geographic point, an intended course, a vessel heading, and any reference selected by user.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein displaying weather data in a vector format comprises one or more of displaying vector sum or difference plots whose resultant vector originates at the route point the user is interrogating on the route applicable to a time a vehicle would be at that point, and displaying weather data in reference to true or magnetic north coordinates, referenced to vessel coordinates, referenced to the desired track or any other route point for any route point of the route the user references for the time the vehicle is projected to be at that point.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein displaying weather data comprises displaying vector summation of one or more of compass heading, wind speed, wind direction, vessel speed through the water, currents of any type, anticipated sideslip, magnetic variation, compass deviation and/or any other effects on vessel speed and direction, for yielding a resultant forecasted vector applicable to any point on the route.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein weather data is derived from data array files.

21. The method of claim 1, wherein outputting weather information comprises

displaying geographic region information in a geographic display, wherein geographic region information comprises at least a map;

displaying the route data in the geographic region display;

receiving data selection information comprising at least one of geographical position coordinates, time and route waypoint(s) for allowing the user to display weather data for at least one of selected points and times along a route;

retrieving stored weather data relating to the received data selection information;

displaying weather data in at least one of tabular, geographic, graphical, textual and vector formats, for selected points and times along the route;

highlighting, simultaneous to displaying weather data, retrieved stored weather data on the route in the geographic region display;

wherein the weather data display is at least one of display superimposed over the geographic region display and displayed separately from the geographic region display.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein data selection information comprises data that is inputted by clicking on points using a pointer and/or entered by a user.

23. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the geographic region comprises receiving geographic data for a geographic region on earth.

24. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving weather data comprises receiving data from a second party data provider via at least one of a wireless and a wired connection.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein weather data comprises at least one of wind, wave height, wave direction, wave period, swells, sea currents, sea surface temperatures, air temperature, visibility, precipitation, cloud cover, sea ice, atmospheric vorticity, 500 mile contours, fronts, lightning, cyclones, hurricanes, tornadoes and other weather, surrounding and environmental conditions.

26. The method of claim 1, wherein said specified applicable time for each point is the time at which a vehicle is projected or proposed to arrive at said selected point or did arrive at said selected point.

27. A method for providing individualized, location specific weather information for navigating a vehicle, the method comprising:

receiving a request from a user for said weather information;

receiving a route from the user;

receiving weather data for the route;

calculating projected weather information for one or more selected points on the received route at a specified applicable time input by the user for each selected point based on the received weather data; and

presenting the projected weather information for the selected points on the received route, to the user for an applicable time for each selected point on the route,

wherein presenting comprises simultaneously displaying the projected weather data for the selected points on the route, in accordance with the specified applicable time for each selected point along the route.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein the specified applicable time for each point comprises the time at which the vehicle is projected or proposed to arrive at said point or did arrive at said point.

29. A computer readable medium having stored thereon executable instructions for a method for displaying information, the method comprising:

instructions for receiving geographic region information for a region specified by a user;

instructions for presenting the geographic region in a graphical user interface;

instructions for receiving at least one of past, present and forecasted weather data for the geographic region;

instructions for storing received weather data;

instructions for receiving a geographical route data for navigating a vehicle, from the user;

instructions for storing the route data;

instructions for obtaining criteria for calculating projected weather data projected on the route;

instructions for calculating said projected weather data for one or more selected points along the stored route at a specified applicable time input by the user for each selected point;

instructions for storing calculated projected weather data related to the selected points; and

instructions for outputting said projected weather data, wherein outputting comprises simultaneously displaying said projected weather data for the selected points on the route, in accordance with the specified applicable time for each selected point along the route.

30. A method for calculating projected weather data for one or more selected points along a route at a given time, the method comprising

receiving past, present and forecasted weather data;

applying said weather data and timing data to one or more selected points on the route a geographical route data for calculating projected weather data; and

outputting weather data, wherein weather data comprises at least one of past, present, forecasted and projected weather, and

wherein outputting comprises simultaneously displaying projected weather data for the selected points on the route, in accordance with specified applicable time for each selected point along the route.

31. A method for outputting weather information comprising

receiving geographic region information, wherein geographic region information comprises at least a map;

displaying the geographic region information in a geographic of a graphical user interface,

receiving a geographic route;

displaying the route on the map in the geographic region;

receiving weather data, wherein weather data comprises at least one of past, present, forecasted and projected weather data; and

displaying weather data in at least one of tabular, geographic, graphical, textual and vector formats comprised in a weather data display;

wherein the weather data display is at least one of displayed on a layer superimposed over the geographic region display and displayed separately from the geographic region display,

wherein displaying weather data comprises simultaneously displaying projected weather data for the selected points on the route, in accordance with specified applicable time for each selected point along the route.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein the geographic region information comprises at least one weather condition adapted to display along on map.

33. The method of claim 31, wherein displaying weather data in a vector format comprises displaying weather data selected as a vector for any point on the route in polar coordinates relative to the geographic region.

34. A method for outputting weather information, the method comprising:

receiving geographic region information, wherein geographic region information comprises at least a map;

displaying said geographic region information in a geographic region display;

receiving a geographic route;

displaying the route in the geographic region display;

receiving data selection information comprising at least one of geographical position coordinates, time and route waypoint for allowing user to display weather data for at least one of selected points on the route;

receiving weather data relating to the received data selection information;

displaying weather data in at least one of tabular, geographic, graphical, textual and vector formats comprised in a weather data display for selected points in accordance with the selected time for each selected points along the route;

highlighting, simultaneous to displaying weather data, weather data on the selected points on the route in the geographic region display;

wherein the weather data display is at least one of displayed on a layer superimposed over the geographic region display and displayed separately from the geographic region display.

35. The method of claim 34, wherein data selection information comprises data that is inputted by clicking on points using a pointer and/or entered by a user.

36. The method of claim 34, wherein the geographic region information comprises at least one weather condition adapted to display along on the map.

37. A computer readable medium having executable instructions for calculating projected weather data for one or more selected points along a geographical route, comprising instructions for:

receiving past, present and forecasted weather data;

applying said weather data and timing data to one or more selected points on the geographical route for calculating projected weather data on the selected points at a specified applicable time input by the user; and

outputting projected weather, and

wherein outputting comprises simultaneously displaying the projected weather data for the selected points on the route, in accordance with the specified applicable time for each selected point along the route.

38. An apparatus for outputting weather information, the apparatus comprising:

a transceiving unit for receiving and sending data, wherein the transceiving unit comprises steps for;

receiving geographic region information, wherein geographic region information comprises at least a map,

receiving a geographic route, and

receiving weather data for one or more selected points on the route for a specified applicable time input by the user for each selected point, wherein weather data comprises at least one of past, present, forecasted and projected weather data; and

a display unit for outputting weather information, wherein the display unit comprises steps for;

displaying the geographic region information in a geographic region display of a graphical user interface,

displaying the route on the map in the geographic region display, and

displaying weather data in at least one of tabular, geographic, graphical, textual and vector formats comprised in a weather data display wherein the weather data display is at least one of displayed on a layer superimposed over the geographic region display and displayed separately from the geographic region display,

wherein displaying weather data comprises simultaneously displaying the projected weather data for the selected points on the route, in accordance with the specified applicable time for each selected point along the route.

39. An apparatus for outputting weather information, the apparatus comprising:

a transceiving unit for receiving and sending data, wherein the transceiving unit comprises steps for;

receiving geographic region information, wherein geographic region information comprises at least a map,

receiving a geographic route, and

receiving weather data for one or more selected points on the route for a specified applicable time input by the user for each selected point; and

a display unit for displaying weather information, wherein the display unit comprises steps for;

displaying said geographic region information in a geographic region display,

displaying the route in the geographic region display,

displaying weather data in at least one of tabular, geographic, graphical, textual and vector formats comprised in a weather data display, for selected points and times along the route, and

highlighting, simultaneous to displaying weather data, weather data on the route in the geographic region display, wherein the weather data display is at least one of displayed on a layer superimposed over the geographic region display and displayed separately from the geographic region display, and

wherein displaying weather data comprises simultaneously displaying the weather data for the selected points on the route, in accordance with the specified applicable time for each selected point along the route.