Patent ID: 8818029
Filing Date: 2014-08-26
Classification: G01W,G06K

Abstract:
1. A weather forecasting system, comprising: memory for storing satellite image data; and logic configured to identify a first cloud object within a first image of the satellite image data, the first object representing a cumulus cloud that is not producing precipitation, the logic configured to identify, within a second image of the satellite image data, a second cloud object representing the cumulus cloud based on the first cloud object identified in the first image, the logic configured to compare the first and second cloud objects to make a prediction whether the cumulus cloud represented by the first and second cloud objects will produce precipitation or lightning in the future, wherein the first cloud object is associated with a geographic region different than a geographic region associated with the second cloud object, wherein the second image has a plurality of pixels, each of the pixels representing a respective geographic region, wherein the logic is configured to analyze the pixels of the second image to identify cumulus cloud pixels within the second image, each cumulus cloud pixel indicating that at least a portion of a cumulus cloud is within the geographic region associated with the respective cumulus cloud pixel, wherein the logic is configured to cluster a plurality of contiguous cumulus cloud pixels in the second image to define the second cloud object, and wherein the logic is configured to compare the first and second cloud objects for determining whether the cumulus cloud is represented by both the first cloud object and the second cloud object.