Method and Apparatus for Localized Vehicle-Sourced Weather Observations

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016334547-A1
Application number	US-201514713638-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	May 15, 2015
Priority date	May 15, 2015
Publication date	Nov 17, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A system includes a processor configured to receive recorded weather-related observation data from a plurality of vehicles in a building locality. The processor is also configured to combine the received weather-related observation data with remote weather data received from a remote source. Further, the processor is configured to determine a weather pattern developing in the building locality based on the combined weather-related observation data and remote weather data.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A system comprising:
a processor configured to: receive recorded weather-related observation data from a plurality of vehicles in a building locality; combine the received weather-related observation data with remote weather data received from a remote source; and determine a weather pattern developing in the building locality based on the combined weather-related observation data and the remote weather data.

2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the building locality is a building parking lot.

3 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the observation data includes wind direction and speed data represented by readings from vehicle accelerometers.

4 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the observation data includes visibility data represented by readings from vehicle pyrometers.

5 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the observation data includes precipitation data represented by readings from vehicle rain sensors.

6 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the observation data includes data gathered by vehicle barometers, humidity measuring devices, microphones, infrared sensors or ultrasonic sensors.

7 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
determine a data type needed to enhance weather pattern determination for a present weather pattern; and request data corresponding to the determined data type from the plurality of vehicles.

8 . The system of claim 7 , wherein the request is made to all of the plurality of vehicles.

9 . The system of claim 7 , wherein the processor is further configured to determine a non-zero subset of less than all of the plurality of vehicles, wherein location characteristics of vehicles in the subset correlate to weather pattern determination, and wherein the request is made to the non-zero subset of vehicles.

10 . The system of claim 7 , wherein the processor is further configured to determine a non-zero subset of less than all of the plurality of vehicles, wherein sensing capabilities of vehicles in the subset correspond to a particular weather pattern determination, and wherein the request is made to the non-zero subset of vehicles.

11 . A system comprising:
a processor configured to: receive data, indicating a light source presence, from a first vehicle providing the light source; receive data, indicating a light source strength, from a second vehicle having a sensor capable of detecting the light source; compare the received strength data from the second vehicle to stored strength data previously received from the second vehicle; and determine a change in visibility based on the compared data.

12 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the processor is configured to identify one or more candidate vehicles as suitable second vehicles based on a location and heading of the candidate vehicles received from the candidate vehicles.

13 . The system of claim 12 , wherein the processor is further configured to identify the one or more candidate vehicles as suitable second vehicles based on a location and heading of the first vehicle received from the first vehicle.

14 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the processor is configured to notify the second vehicle when the first vehicle is providing the light source.

15 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the processor is located in a building and the first and second vehicles are located within a predefined distance from the building.

16 . The system of claim 15 , wherein the predefined distance is defined by geographic boundaries assigned to a building parking lot associated with the building.

17 . A system comprising:
a processor configured to: receive wind data from a plurality of vehicles located within a predefined distance of each other and more than a predefined distance apart from each other; compare directional wind data included with the wind data; and determine a shape of a local wind pattern based on the comparison.

18 . The system of claim 17 , wherein the wind data also includes wind force data.

19 . The system of claim 17 , wherein the processor is further configured to issue an based on the shape of the local wind pattern.

20 . The system of claim 17 , wherein the processor is further configured to request and receive repeated updated wind data from the plurality of vehicles if the shape of the local wind pattern corresponds to a shape associated with a dangerous condition forming, persisting until at least the shape of the local wind pattern no longer indicates the dangerous condition.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Macneille Perry Robinson
• Liu Yimin

Classifications

• G01W1/02 Primary

  Instruments for indicating weather conditions by measuring two or more variables, e.g. humidity, pressure, temperature, cloud cover or wind speed (G01W1/10 takes precedence) · CPC title

• G01W1/10

  Devices for predicting weather conditions (computers per se G06; display devices G09) · CPC title

• G01W1/00

  Meteorology · CPC title

• G01W2001/006

  Main server receiving weather information from several sub-stations · CPC title