A network of computers collects, stores and then distributes data to users. Office support staff to supervise the MIST Host and monitor the system management functions. The MIST Host is directly connected to a modem bank of The Met. Since the Host is permanently processing and saving data on-line the weather information available to users is always the latest at the time of access. Most customers only need weather information occasionally on a dial-up basis so they only get, and only pay for, the specific data they need.
Selection is made off-line enabling connection costs to be kept to a minimum.
Users instruct their PC to dial the Host, connecting through the PABX in the IT Ops Centre. The Host sends back the requested data to the user's hard drive and then automatically terminates the connection. Since the information is stored on the hard drive it can viewed at any time. The MIST system complements existing forecasting services because it allows conditions to be tracked more precisely, enabling actual weather to be monitored almost minute by minute. MIST is designed to provide businesses with the ability to monitor the current situation, in detail, across many regions.