Transmitting location-specific weather-related data to terminals within a plurality of regions
OwnerRobert R. Foustinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A system for distributing weather information accepts differing types of such information for storage in a number of databases. Data representing levels of precipitation are stored in an overall database, to be overwritten as new data becomes available. Data representing storm warnings and lightening strikes are stored in a time-sensitive database, to be erased according to a predetermined schedule. Data representing a satellite photograph of cloud cover are stored in a cloud map database. These databases are read to obtain data which is transmitted to terminals within various regions, so that each terminal receives weather information for an area surrounding its region.
Claims27
A method for transmitting location-specific weather-related data to terminals within a plurality of terminal regions, wherein said method comprises steps of:
- a) receiving input weather information;
- b) storing said input weather information in a buffer;
- c) storing said input weather information in a database, wherein each portion of said weather information is addressable according to a geographical location associated with said portion of said weather information;
- d) reading from said database each portion of said weather information associated with a geographical location within an area of interest surrounding a terminal region and associated with said terminal region;
- e) writing a data packet for transmission to terminals within said terminal region wherein said data packet includes header information identifying said terminal region and said weather information associated with said geographical location within said area of interest surrounding said terminal region and associated with said terminal region
- f) transmitting said data packet to terminals within said terminal region;
- g) repeating steps d), e), and f) for another terminal region within said plurality of terminal regions until a data packet for transmission to terminal within each said terminal region has been transmitted to each terminal region within said plurality of terminal regions.
A method for transmitting location-specific weather-related data to terminals within a plurality of terminal regions, wherein said method comprises steps of:
- a) receiving said input weather information;
- b) storing said input weather information in a buffer;
- c) determining whether said input weather information is in a first or second class, wherein input weather information in said first class is stored to be overwritten by subsequent weather information, and wherein weather information in said second class is stored to be erased at a specified time;
- d) storing said input weather information in said first class in an overall database, wherein each portion of said input weather information in said first class is addressable according to a geographical location associated with said portion of said weather information;
- e) storing said input weather information in said second class in a time-sensitive database, wherein each portion of said weather information in said second class is addressable according to a geographical location associated with said portion of said weather information, and wherein each portion of said weather information in said second class is stored with an indication of a time when said weather information is to be erased;
- f) for weather information stored in said time-sensitive database, checking said indication of said time when said weather information is to be erased, and erasing said weather information if said time has past,
- g) reading from said overall database each portion of said weather information of said first class associated with a geographical location within an area of interest surrounding a terminal region and associated with said terminal region;
- h) reading from said time-sensitive database each portion of said weather information of said second class associated with a geographical location within an area of interest surrounding said terminal region and associated with said terminal region;
- i) formatting weather information read in steps g) and h) to superimpose information read in step h) over information read in step g)
- j) transmitting weather information formatted in step i) to terminals within said terminal region;
- and
- k) repeating steps g) through j) for another terminal region within said plurality of terminal regions until portion of said weather information have been transmitted to each terminal region within said plurality of terminal regions.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.