Abstract: A system and method for defining and presenting a presentation, e.g., a televised weather report presentation, including a plurality of computer or other generated scenes in which a live on-screen presenter appears as part of the presentation and controls scene sequence and timing in a non-linear manner. A plurality of launch areas are defined for scenes of the presentation. Each launch area has associated therewith a destination scene and, preferably, an indicator icon. During the presentation the location of a pointing element controlled by the on-screen presenter, e.g., the presenter's hand, is tracked, and the indicator icon displayed when the pointing element is moved into a position in space corresponding to a defined launch area. With the pointing element thus positioned, the on-screen presenter operates a communication device to indicate that a new scene corresponding to the launch area is to be displayed.

Abstract: A system and method for presenting wind speed information in a manner so as to be easily understood and appreciated by viewers of televised weather report presentations and the like. Wind speed information is presented as two or three-dimensional wind speed contour lines, delineating geographic areas corresponding to different wind speeds, overlaid on a geographic map display either alone, or in combination with radar reflectivity information. Wind velocity information received from a weather radar system, such as NEXRAD, relative to the weather radar is converted to absolute wind speed information for display.

Abstract: A system and method for generating weather reports and the like which are precisely computed automatically for a particular individual user's geographic location, e.g., home or work, and which are provided to the individual user in both graphical and textual format in a user interactive manner. A personalized weather report presentation in accordance with the present invention may include a tabular presentation of a plurality of forecast weather conditions for the user location of interest throughout a day, along with a linked graphical representation of at least one of those weather conditions overlaid on a map centered at the user location of interest. Under user control, the user may select the time of the forecast weather conditions shown in the graphical portion of the presentation.

Abstract: A system and method for generating a realistic weather forecast visualization. Realistic weather graphics and animations are combined with a few of view of location of interest to allow weather presentation viewers to visualize future forecast weather conditions as the would actually be seen. A forecast weather video presentation may be formed by selecting and combining pre-rendered or pre-recorded video segments based on user selected time period and location parameters and model generated forecast weather data.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for finding a pointing element within a digital image. A digitized image is received including a background and an object to be tracked. The background and the object have a different color. A rectangle is defined within the image including at least a portion of the object. The defined rectangle is searched to determine the X and Y coordinates of the pointing element.

Abstract: A system and method for generating storm warnings which are precisely tailored automatically for a particular individual or business user's geographic location of interest. The user establishes an individualized user profile, in which the user may define a particular location of interest and a contact address to which a personalized storm warning is to be delivered. The user may also establish a storm profile defining characteristics of a storm for which the user desires a storm warning to be provided. A detailed and accurate storm track is generated. Generated storm tracks are compared to individual user profiles. Personalized storm warnings are generated for user profiles defining locations of interest within a predicted storm track, if the storm track characteristics of the storm meet the characteristics specified in the storm profile established by the user, and may be delivered to users via e-mail, cell phone, pager, etc.

Abstract: A system and method for generating weather reports and the like which are precisely computed automatically for a particular individual user's geographic location and which are provided automatically to the individual user. A user establishes an individualized user profile in which the user defines a particular location of interest, a contact address, and optionally, a personalized activity weather condition profile. A detailed and accurate weather forecasting model is run to provide high geographic and temporal resolution forecast data. The high resolution forecast data is compared to the individual user profile and a personalized weather report for the particular location, times, and conditions of interest are provided automatically to the individual, e.g., via e-mail and/or at a personalized internet web page. A detailed weather forecast report may be provided in an easily readable tabular form, with notable weather conditions, e.g., daily high and low temperatures, highlighted.

Abstract: A system and method for generating a realistic weather forecast visualization. Realistic weather graphics and animations are combined with a view of a location of interest to allow weather presentation viewers to visualize future forecast weather conditions as they would actually be seen. A forecast weather video presentation may be formed by selecting and combining pre-rendered or pre-recorded video segments based on user selected time period and location parameters and model generated forecast weather data.

Abstract: A method for creating a rendered scene that is composed of two or more RGB image layers that can be composited at a later time. The resulting composition will appear the same as if it were rendered all at the same time. The elements of a foreground image layer scene are rendered separately over a black background and a white background. The RGB components for each pixel of the foreground image layer scene rendered over the black background are combined with the RGB components for each corresponding pixel of the foreground image layer scene rendered over the white background to form a rendered foreground layer. The foreground layer may be combined with a background image layer in a conventional manner, possibly with additional material added between the background and foreground image layers.

Abstract: Weather information provided to a system for processing is converted from a weather information source coordinate system to a three-dimensional XYZ coordinate system. Processing of the weather information, e.g., to determine a current location and predicted path of weather phenomena, and to determine geographic locations which are or may be affected by the weather phenomena, is accomplished in the three-dimensional XYZ coordinate system. Locations in the three-dimensional XYZ coordinate system may be converted to two-dimensional screen xy coordinates for the display of weather phenomena indications over a geographic map display without converting the weather phenomena locations to a latitude/longitude coordinate system.

Abstract: A system and method for generating weather reports and the like which are precisely computed automatically for a particular individual user's geographic location and which are provided automatically to the individual user. A user establishes an individualized user profile in which the user defines a particular location of interest, a contact address, and optionally, a personalized activity weather condition profile, establishing a preferred weather condition profile for activities of interest. A detailed and accurate weather forecasting model is run to provide high geographical and temporal resolution forecast data. The resulting modeled forecast data may be constrained by an operator using a constrainer module. The high resolution forecast data is compared to the individual user profile and a personalized weather report for the particular location, times, and conditions of interest are provided automatically to the individual, e.g., via e-mail and/or at a personalized internet web page.

Abstract: A system and method for generating storm warnings which are precisely tailored automatically for a particular individual or business user's geographic location of interest. The user establishes an individualized user profile, in which the user may define a particular location of interest and a contact address to which a personalized storm warning is to be delivered. The user may also establish a storm profile defining characteristics of a storm for which the user desires a storm warning to be provided. A detailed and accurate storm track is generated. Generated storm tracks are compared to individual user profiles. Personalized storm warnings are generated for user profiles defining locations of interest within a predicted storm track, if the storm track characteristics of the storm meet the characteristics specified in the storm profile established by the user, and may be delivered to users via e-mail, cell phone, pager, etc.

Abstract: A dynamic graphical information presentation is generated and overlaid onto a time-lapse video image sequence to form a combined graphical information and time-lapse photography presentation. The time-lapse photography video image sequence and dynamic graphical information presentation are preferably time synchronized in the combined presentation. For a weather presentation of past weather conditions, the time-lapse photography video image sequence may be a video image sequence of sky conditions, with the dynamic graphical information presentation generated based on weather conditions recorded for the same period of time from a weather information source. For a presentation of forecast weather conditions, the time-lapse photography video image sequence may be selected from a database of stored prerecorded sequences, with the dynamic graphical information presentation derived from forecast weather condition information.

Abstract: A system and method for generating weather reports and the like which are precisely computed automatically for a particular individual user's geographic location and which are provided automatically directly to the individual user. A user establishes an individualized user profile in which the user defines a particular location of interest, a contact address, and optionally, a personalized activity weather condition profile, establishing a preferred weather condition profile for activities of interest. A detailed and accurate weather forecasting model is run to provide high geographical and temporal resolution forecast data. The high resolution forecast data is compared to the individual user profile and a personalized weather report for the particular location, times, and conditions of interest are provided directly and automatically to the individual, e.g., via e-mail. The high resolution forecast data is preferably generated locally for a limited region, e.g.

Abstract: A system and method for preparing and manipulating a weather display including accurately displaying the current position of a weather storm cell and predicting and displaying a future path of the cell is provided. Various operator tools and functions are provided in a graphical user interface to allow an operator to prepare a weather display for broadcast, and to manipulate the display during a live weather presentation. A position and predicted track of a storm cell may be determined based on weather information from a first weather information source, e.g., NEXRAD, and displayed on a weather display. The displayed position of the storm cell and track is updated between the receipt of NEXRAD information updates to maintain an accurate display of storm cell position. Updates of the displayed storm cell position may be provided periodically between NEXRAD updates based on storm cell speed and heading information contained in the latest available NEXRAD data.

Abstract: A virtual three-dimensional presentation in accordance with the present invention includes three layers, a three-dimensional background layer, a two-dimensional video insert layer, and a three-dimensional foreground layer. A surface, the Z-sphere, is defined in the virtual three-dimensional space of the three-dimensional scene with reference to the aim point of a virtual camera looking at the three-dimensional scene being created. The three-dimensional foreground layer scene may include a key which defines the transparency of objects in the foreground layer. The two-dimensional video insert layer may be generated by positioning a presenter, or other object, in a chroma-key set. The two-dimensional video insert layer may be distorted before being composited with the background and foreground such that elements of the two-dimensional video appear to move across a three-dimensional floor of the three-dimensional scene.