Abstract: A virtual three-dimensional presentation in accordance with the present invention includes three stereoscopic layers, a stereoscopic background layer, a stereoscopic video insert layer, and a stereoscopic 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, the distance between the cameras, and the distance from the camera of the video scene, of a virtual stereoscopic camera looking at the three-dimensional scene being created. The separation of the virtual stereoscopic camera lens and distance to the aim point are set based on the stereoscopic cameras that are creating the video insert layer. The stereoscopic three-dimensional foreground layer scene may include a key which defines the transparency of objects in the foreground layer.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for presenting information includes a plurality of graphics that can be presented in an order determined by a presenter during the presentation. The method includes creating a presentation including a plurality of graphics, each graphic including at least one of static images, animations and video, wherein the graphics can be displayed in an order determined by the presenter during the presentation through selection of a launch area, tracking a presenter during presentation of the presentation to determine a location of the presenter's hand, and receiving a selection from the presenter during the presentation of the presentation indicating a selection of one of the multiple launch area graphics to be displayed, allowing the presenter to present the plurality of graphics in any order.

Abstract: An apparatus for tracking a pointing device in use by a foreground subject in a sequence of video fields having a foreground component and a background component, where the pointing device is the leftmost or rightmost object within the foreground component. The apparatus determines the boundaries of a cropped video field within each of the video fields and determines a pixel value and scan line representing the leftmost and rightmost positions of the foreground subject and pointing device for that cropped video field. The apparatus determines the centerline of the foreground subject for each cropped video field, and using the centerline, determines whether the pointing device is on the right side of the cropped video field or the left side of the cropped video field. The position of the pointing device is stored after receipt of a signal generated by the foreground subject.

Abstract: A method of predicting information related to a path of a weather phenomenon includes obtaining a plurality of tracks corresponding to the weather phenomenon from at least one source. A factor is assigned to each of the plurality of tracks. A set of probabilities for the weather phenomenon to intersect a plurality of segments corresponding to a boundary is determined using at least intersection points of the plurality of tracks with the boundary and the factor assigned to each of the plurality of tracks.

Abstract: A method of providing information related to a weather phenomenon includes obtaining a plurality of model tracks corresponding to a weather phenomenon from at least one forecast center. A probabilistic description of one or more characteristics of the weather phenomenon is determined based on a statistical analysis of the model tracks corresponding to the weather phenomenon. An electronic representation of the probabilistic description is provided.

Abstract: A method of predicting information related to a characteristic of a tropical cyclone includes obtaining a plurality of model tracks corresponding to the tropical cyclone from at least one forecast center. A factor from a set of factors is assigned to each of the plurality of model tracks. A value for at least one characteristic for the tropical cyclone at the intersection of each of the plurality of model tracks with a boundary is predicted. A set of probabilities for the value of the at least one characteristic corresponding to an actual value of the at least one characteristic at the time of intersection of the tropical cyclone with the boundary is calculated.

Abstract: A method of presenting weather phenomenon information including receiving weather data. At least one weather phenomenon represented by the weather data is identified. A plurality of current parameters related to the current state of the at least one weather phenomenon is determined. A plurality of historical parameters corresponding to one or more previous states of the at least one weather phenomenon is associated with the current state of the at least one weather phenomenon if at least one previous state of the at least one weather phenomenon has been identified. A plurality of forecasted parameters for the at least one weather phenomenon is calculated. Characteristics of the at least one weather phenomenon based on at least a first subset of the current parameters, the historical parameters, and the forecasted parameters are displayed.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method of predicting an output of a model includes receiving output data from a first run of a target predictive model. One or more additional sets of output data is received from runs of one or more alternate predictive model. The alternate predictive models predict parameters that relate to the output data of the first predictive model. A future output of a second run of the target predictive model is predicted based on the output data from the first run of the target predictive model and one or more sets of additional output data from runs of the alternate prediction model.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method of predicting an output of a model includes receiving output data from a first run of a target predictive model. One or more additional sets of output data is received from runs of one or more alternate predictive model. The alternate predictive models predict parameters that relate to the output data of the first predictive model. A future output of a second run of the target predictive model is predicted based on the output data from the first run of the target predictive model and one or more sets of additional output data from runs of the alternate prediction model.

Abstract: A method of presenting weather phenomenon information including receiving weather data. At least one weather phenomenon represented by the weather data is identified. A plurality of current parameters related to the current state of the at least one weather phenomenon is determined. A plurality of historical parameters corresponding to one or more previous states of the at least one weather phenomenon is associated with the current state of the at least one weather phenomenon if at least one previous state of the at least one weather phenomenon has been identified. A plurality of forecasted parameters for the at least one weather phenomenon is calculated. Characteristics of the at least one weather phenomenon based on at least a first subset of the current parameters, the historical parameters, and the forecasted parameters are displayed.

Abstract: A method of presenting weather phenomenon information including receiving weather data. At least one weather phenomenon represented by the weather data is identified. A plurality of current parameters related to the current state of the at least one weather phenomenon is determined. A plurality of historical parameters corresponding to one or more previous states of the at least one weather phenomenon is associated with the current state of the at least one weather phenomenon if at least one previous state of the at least one weather phenomenon has been identified. A plurality of forecasted parameters for the at least one weather phenomenon is calculated. Characteristics of the at least one weather phenomenon based on at least a first subset of the current parameters, the historical parameters, and the forecasted parameters are displayed.

Abstract: Systems and methods of providing alerts on a recording device. The alerting service is provided on a digital video recorder (DVR) or other computing device as an application that is loaded into memory. The DVR is configured with geographic information and is able to determine its geographic location. A data channel is used for receiving the emergency bulletins. A central database system receives the emergency bulletins and transmits to the DVR. The DVR may process the bulletins to select those which are geographically relevant. The DVR displays the bulletins on top of the video signal that it is sending to a display device. The bulletin is displayed even if the user is pausing, rewinding, fast-forwarding, altering the display of the program content, or controlling the DVR.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method of providing personalized weather and transportation information includes receiving operational parameters, a user profile, and weather data. Personalized weather and transportation information is derived based on the received weather, operational parameters, and the user profile. The personalized weather and transportation information is presented to a user.

Abstract: A weather briefing system that may be used in the cockpit to provide near real-time graphic and text weather information. Weather information and pilot reports are fed to the cockpit from, e.g., a satellite in geosynchronous orbit. Once delivered to the aircraft, the system processes the data stream and formats it for delivery to an end user device. The data is collected from an extensive network of sources. The end user device may be a portable electronic flight bag (EFB), panel-mounted display (MFD), or similar device programmed to display the formatted data. The system provides timely and accurate weather information to pilots of all types of aircraft. This information may be used for pre-flight planning and in-flight decision-making.

Abstract: A method of presenting weather phenomenon information including receiving weather data. At least one weather phenomenon represented by the weather data is identified. A plurality of current parameters related to the current state of the at least one weather phenomenon is determined. A plurality of historical parameters corresponding to one or more previous states of the at least one weather phenomenon is associated with the current state of the at least one weather phenomenon if at least one previous state of the at least one weather phenomenon has been identified. A plurality of forecasted parameters for the at least one weather phenomenon is calculated. Characteristics of the at least one weather phenomenon based on at least a first subset of the current parameters, the historical parameters, and the forecasted parameters are displayed.

Abstract: A method of presenting weather phenomenon information including receiving weather data. At least one weather phenomenon represented by the weather data is identified. A plurality of current parameters related to the current state of the at least one weather phenomenon is determined. A plurality of historical parameters corresponding to one or more previous states of the at least one weather phenomenon is associated with the current state of the at least one weather phenomenon if at least one previous state of the at least one weather phenomenon has been identified. A plurality of forecasted parameters for the at least one weather phenomenon is calculated. Characteristics of the at least one weather phenomenon based on at least a first subset of the current parameters, the historical parameters, and the forecasted parameters are displayed.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method of providing a suggested transportation route includes receiving a set of operational parameters and weather data. At least one transportation route corresponding to the operational parameters is obtained. The weather data is used to identify an impact of a weather condition along the obtained transportation routes. At least one suggested transportation route is identified by applying the weather data to the at least one transportation route. The suggested transportation route is presented to a user.

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.

Abstract: A system and method for determining information about the potential impact of a significant weather event on a category of interest, such as a population base, property, traffic flow and infrastructure. Information about the forecasted path of a weather event is used in conjunction with census or other data to determine the human safety and property risks, etc. that are present in the situation. The path of the weather event is used to determine an area which is likely to be effected by the storm during the time period. The population, property value, traffic flow, infrastructure etc. within the area is determined to ascertain the impact of the weather event.

Abstract: Systems and methods for providing visualizations of forecast weather in accordance with information received from a forecast database. A forecast engine generates analysis and forecast grids indicative of weather conditions which is stored at a weather data server. A data processor receives user inputs and converts the grids into data representative of predetermined objects within a scene. An element generator generates the objects as graphical elements, and a render receives the graphical elements and renders the scene. The system automatically generates a plurality of scenes as a visualization of weather over a predetermined period of time in accordance the grids for previous time periods through future time periods.