Method of determining a climate-based activity index and best-time-to ...

(54) METHOD OF DETERMINING A

CLIMATE-BASED ACTIVITY INDEX AND
BEST-TIME-TO RECOMMENDATION

(75) Inventors: Monisha Longacre, Smyrna, GA (US);

Todd Richards, Marietta, GA (US)

(73) Assignee: The Weather Channel, Inc., Atlanta, GA(US)

( * ) Notice: Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this patent is extended or adjusted under 35 U.S.C. 154(b) by 37 days.

(21) Appl. No.: 11/013,830

(22) Filed: Dec. 16, 2004

(51)

(52) (58)

(56)

Int. CI.

G01W1/00 (2006.01)
G06F19/00 (2006.01)

U.S. CI 702/3

Field of Classification Search 702/2 5;

705/1, 4, 5, 10 See application file for complete search history.

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(Continued)

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(Continued)

Primary Examiner—Donald McElheny, Jr.

(74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm—Kilpatrick Stockton LLP

A method of using climate data to determine activity index values for a given activity. One embodiment provides a method of more objectively determining the desirability of an activity based on climate data by determining an activity index value using a weighted-element type analysis. Multiple activity index values may be determined for different time periods and used to provide information useful in comparing the desirability of the different time periods for a given activity. The activity index values may be used to answer questions such as "what is the best month to visit Kingston, Jamaica" and "what is the worst season for allergies in Atlanta."

21 Claims, 7 Drawing Sheets

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* cited by examiner