# US 8,788,188 B1 · Dynamic weather selection > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,788,188 B1 - Document ID: US8788188B1 - Status: Granted - Kind: B1 - Application number: 13/448,222 - Filed: 2012-04-16 - Granted: 2014-07-22 - Earliest claimed: 2009-08-26 - Assignees: The Boeing Company - Applicants: Louis J. Bailey - Inventors: Louis J. Bailey - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8788188B1 ## CPC - G08G 5/32: for flight plan preparation - G01W 1/08: Adaptations of balloons, missiles, or aircraft for meteorological purposes; Radiosondes (transmission of measurements G01D; transmitting circuits H04B; {balloons in general B64B; aeroplanes in general B64D; missiles in general F42B15/00}) - G08G 5/21: located onboard the aircraft - G08G 5/22: located on the ground - G08G 5/25: Transmission of traffic-related information between aircraft - G08G 5/26: Transmission of traffic-related information between aircraft and ground stations - G08G 5/34: for flight plan modification - G01K 2203/00: Application of thermometers in cryogenics - G08G: TRAFFIC CONTROL SYSTEMS (guiding railway traffic, ensuring the safety of railway traffic B61L; arrangement of road signs or traffic signals E01F9/00; radar or analogous systems, sonar systems, lidar systems specially adapted for traffic control G01S13/91, G01S15/88, G01S17/88; {radar or analogous systems, sonar systems, lidar systems specially adapted for anti-collision purposes G01S13/93, G01S15/93, G01S17/93}) - G01W: METEOROLOGY (radar, sonar, lidar or analogous systems, designed for meteorological use G01S13/95, G01S15/88, G01S17/95) - G01K: MEASURING TEMPERATURE; MEASURING QUANTITY OF HEAT; THERMALLY-SENSITIVE ELEMENTS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR (radiation pyrometry G01J5/00) ## Abstract The different advantageous embodiments provide a system comprising a weather band selection process and a processor unit. The processor unit is configured to run the weather band selection process. The weather band selection process identifies a flight trajectory associated with an aircraft, identifies weather information for the flight trajectory, and identifies a weather band selection for the aircraft using the flight trajectory, aircraft information and the weather information. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for selecting weather bands, the method comprising: identifying a waypoint for a first aircraft; identifying weather information for the waypoint; and selecting a plurality of weather bands for the waypoint based on the waypoint and the weather information, wherein each of the plurality of weather bands comprises weather information for a different altitude at the waypoint. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: sending the plurality of weather bands to at least one of an aircraft and an operation center. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the identifying and selecting steps are performed responsive to a request. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the identifying and selecting steps are performed autonomously and continually. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the weather information is obtained from a second aircraft. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the weather information is obtained from a number of weather sources. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of weather bands comprise at least one of temperature, wind speed, wind direction, pressure, and anti-thermal icing information for a plurality of altitudes at the waypoint. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of weather bands are selected based on a phase of flight for the first aircraft at the waypoint, wherein the phase of flight is at least one of on-ground, climbing, cruising, descending, and landing. ### Claim 9 An apparatus, comprising: a dynamic weather band processor configured to identify a waypoint for a first aircraft, identify weather information for the waypoint, and select a plurality of weather bands for the waypoint based on the waypoint and the weather information, wherein each of the plurality of weather bands comprises weather information for a different altitude at the waypoint. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the dynamic weather band processor is configured to send the plurality of weather bands to at least one of an aircraft and an operation center. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the dynamic weather band processor is configured to select the plurality of weather bands responsive to a request. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the dynamic weather band processor is configured to select the plurality of weather bands autonomously and continually. ### Claim 13 (depends on 9) The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the dynamic weather band processor is configured to obtain the weather information from a second aircraft. ### Claim 14 (depends on 9) The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the dynamic weather band processor is configured to obtain the weather information from a number of weather sources. ### Claim 15 (depends on 9) The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the plurality of weather bands comprise at least one of temperature, wind speed, wind direction, pressure, and anti-thermal icing information for a plurality of altitudes at the waypoint. ### Claim 16 (depends on 9) The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the dynamic weather band processor is configured to select the plurality of weather bands based on a phase of flight for the first aircraft at the waypoint, wherein the phase of flight is at least one of on-ground, climbing, cruising, descending, and landing. ### Claim 17 A method for selecting weather bands, the method comprising: identifying a flight trajectory for an aircraft; identifying weather information for a number of locations along the flight trajectory; selecting a plurality of weather bands for the flight trajectory based on the flight trajectory and the weather information, wherein the plurality of weather bands comprise weather information for a plurality of altitudes; and ranking the plurality of weather bands in order of importance to the trajectory. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17 further comprising: sending the plurality of weather bands to at least one of the aircraft and an operation center. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, wherein the steps of identifying the weather information and selecting the plurality of weather bands are performed automatically in response to changing a flight plan for the aircraft. ### Claim 20 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, wherein: the plurality of weather bands comprise weather information for a plurality of altitudes at a waypoint of the flight trajectory. ### Claim 21 A system comprising: a weather band selection process; and a processor unit configured to run the weather band selection process, wherein the weather band selection process identifies a flight trajectory associated with an aircraft, identifies weather information for the flight trajectory, and identifies a weather band selection for the aircraft using the flight trajectory and the weather information, wherein the weather band selection includes a number of weather bands, and wherein the number of weather bands comprises wind speed, wind direction, and at least one of temperature, pressure, and anti-thermal icing information.