Weather Central, Inc.

Wsi Corporation

Colorgraphics Systems, Inc.

Richard T Daly

Victor W Marsh

John S Moore

Terence F Kelly

Grant H Brohm

Brett A Wilt

David N Erickson

Robert N Stabler

Randall T Wiggins

Paul C Post

Randy Wiggins

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. The stereoscopic video insert layer may be generated by positioning a presenter, or other object, in a chroma-key set which is captured with a stereoscopic camera. The stereoscopic video insert layer may be distorted before being composited with the background and foreground such that elements of the stereoscopic video appear to move across a three-dimensional floor of the stereoscopic three-dimensional scene.

System and method for generating three dimensional presentations

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.

System and method for providing personalized weather reports and the like

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. 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. The high resolution forecast data may be generated locally for a limited region, e.g., at a television station for the station's viewing area, using initialization conditions provided from a central location, and/or for a wider region, e.g., the entire country, using a less high resolution weather forecast module.

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., at a television station for the station's viewing area, using initialization conditions provided from a central location.

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. Preferably, the displayed storm cell position and track is updated between the receipt of NEXRAD updates based on weather information received from a second weather information source, e.g., live radar data. Thus, integration of detailed NEXRAD weather data information with live radar data to provide an enhanced ability to predict accurately the movement of severe weather cells and to provide an accurate warning to those in the path of such cells is provided.

Weather tracking and display system and method

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.

Virtual presentation system and method

Video systems generally include chroma processors. The chroma processor may be configured as a chroma keyer, a key signal generator or a color collector. The chroma processor includes dual input look-up tables which are loaded by a central processor. The dual input look-up tables may be read and written to simultaneously. The look-up tables are addressed by chrominance signals, luminance signals or key signals input into the chroma processor. The look-up tables provide an exceptionally fast apparatus and exceptionally flexible method of keying one or more simultaneous regions of the display based on one or more unique chroma/luma combinations, new key signals, chrominance signals, and luminance signals. The chroma processor receives color modification parameters from a software user interface. Preferably, the chroma processor utilizes Y luminance signals, and U and V chrominance signals.

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Madison, WI, United States of America

Richard T Daly