초록 ▼

A weather effects generator that generates weather data based on real-world weather data, and provides this data to a host simulator. The type of data provided and the spatial distribution of the data depend on the type of simulation. A real world database is accessed to obtain a dataspace of weathe

A weather effects generator that generates weather data based on real-world weather data, and provides this data to a host simulator. The type of data provided and the spatial distribution of the data depend on the type of simulation. A real world database is accessed to obtain a dataspace of weather data elements, each having a location parameter and various weather-related parameters. For visual display simulators, the data elements are preprocessed to obtain color, transparency, and texture values for each data element. The preprocessed data elements are further processed to obtain a prioritized display list of those data elements that correspond to field-of-view data provided by the simulator. Each data element in this list is assigned a graphics primitive that can be rasterized in accordance with the color and transparency values. Simulators other than visual display simulators provide location data and receive data representing the weather effects at that location.

대표청구항 ▼

[ What is claimed is:] [1.] A method of using a computer to provide frames of display data representing weather conditions based on real-world weather data, for use in rendering a three-dimensional display comprising the steps of:accessing a real-world weather database to obtain a three-dimensional

[ What is claimed is:] [1.] A method of using a computer to provide frames of display data representing weather conditions based on real-world weather data, for use in rendering a three-dimensional display comprising the steps of:accessing a real-world weather database to obtain a three-dimensional set of data elements, each data element having at least a location value and a liquid water content value;accessing field-of-view data representing a current field-of-view for a current frame;culling said data elements to determine which are within said field-of-view, to obtain a set of field-of-view data elements;sorting said field-of-view data elements to form a list of data elements in depth order;assigning a graphics primitive to each of said field-of-view data elements; andcovering an image plane with said graphic primitives.