IP Library Granted Patent US 12,573,123
Granted Patent B2
US 12,573,123 · App. 18/543,035 · Granted Mar 10, 2026

Visualizing weather in digital environments

Inventors: Thai Quoc Tran (San Jose, CA); Qaish Shabbir Kanchwala (Atlanta, GA); Prachi Shirish Khadke (Arlington, MA); Manan Goyal (Secaucus, NJ)
G06T13/60G06T15/04
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,573,123
App. No.
18/543,035
Granted
Mar 10, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

Techniques are described with respect to a system, method, and computer program product for visualizing weather in a digital environment. An associated method includes; receiving a plurality of weather data; converting the plurality of weather data for a texture model associated with a plurality of virtual objects associated with the digital environment; and visualizing at least one derivative of the conversion in the digital environment based on the model.

Claims (46)

1 . A computer-implemented method for visualizing weather in a digital environment, the method comprising:

receiving, by a computing device, a plurality of weather data;

converting, by the computing device, the plurality of weather data for a texture model associated with a plurality of virtual objects associated with the digital environment; and

visualizing, by the computing device, at least one derivative of the conversion in the digital environment based on the model,

wherein the at least one derivative of the conversion comprises a physics-based impact associated with the plurality of weather data applied to one or more of the plurality virtual objects,

wherein physics-based elements of weather data are ascertained to visualize both weather and physics-based impacts within digital environments by utilizing texture model-based transformation of weather data streaming in real-time into physics-based weather impacts visualizations within digital environments in a scalable manner, and

wherein axis data generated by conversion of the plurality of weather data is analyzed to determine whether the axis data accounts for constraints and interpolation associated with the virtual objects, in which the constraints are correlated to physics applied to the digital environment maintained by the physics-based weather impact module and to ensure that the interpolation relates to the virtual object's position and rotation between physics updates to improve smoothness of the visualization and reduce jitter.

2 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the converting the plurality of weather data comprises:

sampling, by the computing device, the plurality of weather data at a plurality of time intervals;

wherein the output of the sampling is a Gridded Binary or General Regularly-distributed information in Binary Form (GRIB) data.

3 . The computer-implemented method of claim 2 , wherein the converting of the plurality of weather data further comprises transforming, by the computing device, the GRIB data onto a two-dimensional texture of the plurality of virtual objects derived from the texture model.

4 . The computer-implemented method of claim 3 , wherein the transforming of the GRIB data as part of the conversion of the plurality of weather data further comprises converting a plurality of color values from the GRIB data into the plurality of axis values associated with the digital environment at the plurality of time intervals;

wherein the plurality of axis values align with one or more weather-based impacts to the plurality of virtual objects, and

wherein the conversion into the plurality of axis values enables data associated with wind strength, wind turbulence, wind pulse, and wind direction to be represented as physical and/or visual effects on the digital environment.

5 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the digital environment is one or more virtual environments associated with virtual reality, augmented reality, extended reality, mixed reality, and gaming environment.

6 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein converting the plurality of weather data comprises analyzing, by the computing device, at least one of a type of virtual object, a physics material, and a physics constraint associated with the plurality of virtual objects.

7 . A computer program product for visualizing weather in a digital environment, the computer program product comprising one or more computer readable storage media and program instructions collectively stored on the one or more computer readable storage media, the stored program instructions comprising:

program instructions to receive a plurality of weather data;

program instructions to convert the plurality of weather data for a texture model associated with a plurality of virtual objects associated with the digital environment; and

program instructions to visualize at least one derivative of the conversion in the digital environment based on the model,

wherein the at least one derivative of the conversion comprises a physics-based impact associated with the plurality of weather data applied to one or more of the plurality virtual objects,

wherein physics-based elements of weather data are ascertained to visualize both weather and physics-based impacts within digital environments by utilizing texture model-based transformation of weather data streaming in real-time into physics-based weather impacts visualizations within digital environments in a scalable manner, and

wherein axis data generated by conversion of the plurality of weather data is analyzed to determine whether the axis data accounts for constraints and interpolation associated with the virtual objects, in which the constraints are correlated to physics applied to the digital environment maintained by the physics-based weather impact module and to ensure that the interpolation relates to the virtual object's position and rotation between physics updates to improve smoothness of the visualization and reduce jitter.

8 . The computer program product of claim 7 , wherein the program instructions to convert the plurality of weather data comprises program instructions to sample the plurality of weather data at a plurality of time intervals, and wherein the output of the sampling is a Gridded Binary or General Regularly-distributed information in Binary Form (GRIB) data.

9 . The computer program product of claim 8 , wherein program instructions to convert the plurality of weather data further comprise program instructions to transform the GRIB data onto a two-dimensional texture of the plurality of virtual objects derived from the texture model.

10 . The computer program product of claim 9 , wherein the program instructions to transform the GRIB data as part of the conversion of the plurality of weather data further comprise program instructions to convert a plurality of color values from the GRIB data into the plurality of axis values associated with the digital environment at the plurality of time intervals,

wherein the plurality of axis values align with one or more weather-based impacts to the plurality of virtual objects, and

wherein the conversion into the plurality of axis values enables data associated with wind strength, wind turbulence, wind pulse, and wind direction to be represented as physical and/or visual effects on the digital environment.

11 . The computer program product of claim 7 , wherein the digital environment is one or more virtual environments associated with virtual reality, augmented reality, extended reality, mixed reality, and gaming environment.

12 . The computer program product of claim 7 , wherein program instructions to convert the plurality of weather data comprises programing instructions to analyze at least one of a type of virtual object, a physics material, and a physics constraint associated with the plurality of virtual objects.

13 . A computer system for visualizing weather in a digital environment, the computer system comprising:

one or more processors;

one or more computer-readable memories;

program instructions stored on at least one of the one or more computer-readable memories for execution by at least one of the one or more processors, the program instructions comprising:

program instructions to receive a plurality of weather data;

program instructions to convert the plurality of weather data for a texture model associated with a plurality of virtual objects associated with the digital environment; and

program instructions to visualize at least one derivative of the conversion in the digital environment based on the model,

wherein the at least one derivative of the conversion comprises a physics-based impact associated with the plurality of weather data applied to one or more of the plurality virtual objects,

wherein physics-based elements of weather data are ascertained to visualize both weather and physics-based impacts within digital environments by utilizing texture model-based transformation of weather data streaming in real-time into physics-based weather impacts visualizations within digital environments in a scalable manner, and

wherein axis data generated by conversion of the plurality of weather data is analyzed to determine whether the axis data accounts for constraints and interpolation associated with the virtual objects, in which the constraints are correlated to physics applied to the digital environment maintained by the physics-based weather impact module and to ensure that the interpolation relates to the virtual object's position and rotation between physics updates to improve smoothness of the visualization and reduce jitter.

14 . The computer system claim 13 , wherein the program instructions to convert the plurality of weather data comprise program instructions to sample the plurality of weather data at a plurality of time intervals, wherein the output of the sampling is a Gridded Binary or General Regularly-distributed information in Binary Form (GRIB) data.

15 . The computer system claim 14 , wherein the program instructions to convert the plurality of weather data further comprise program instructions to transform the GRIB data onto a two-dimensional texture of the plurality of virtual objects derived from the texture model.

16 . The computer system claim 15 , wherein the program instructions to transform the GRIB data as part of the conversion to convert the plurality of weather data further comprise program instructions to convert a plurality of color values from the GRIB data into the plurality of axis values associated with the digital environment at the plurality of time intervals,

wherein the plurality of axis values align with one or more weather-based impacts to the plurality of virtual objects, and

wherein the conversion into the plurality of axis values enables data associated with wind strength, wind turbulence, wind pulse, and wind direction to be represented as physical and/or visual effects on the digital environment.

17 . The computer system claim 13 , wherein the digital environment is one or more virtual environments associated with virtual reality, augmented reality, extended reality, mixed reality, and gaming environment.

Assignments (6)
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE CONVEYING PARTY FROM IBM RESEARCH AND INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY TO INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINED CORPORATION AND TO CORRECT THE RECEIVING PARTY FROM ZEPHYR BUYER L.P. TO ZEPHYR BUYER, L.P. PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL: 66795 FRAME: 858. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNMENT. Recorded Mar 20, 2024
From: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
To: ZEPHYR BUYER, L.P.
Reel/Frame 066838/0157 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE CONVEYING PARTY NAME PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL: 66796 FRAME: 188. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNMENT. Recorded Mar 20, 2024
From: ZEPHYR BUYER, L.P.
To: THE WEATHER COMPANY, LLC
Reel/Frame 067188/0894 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 13, 2024
From: IBM RESEARCH AND INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY
To: ZEPHYR BUYER L.P.
Reel/Frame 066795/0858 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 13, 2024
From: ZEPHYR BUYER L.P.
To: THE WEATHER COMPANY, LLC
Reel/Frame 066796/0188 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jan 31, 2024
From: THE WEATHER COMPANY, LLC
To: MIDCAP FINANCIAL TRUST, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 066404/0122 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 18, 2023
From: TRAN, THAI QUOC; KANCHWALA, QAISH SHABBIR; KHADKE, PRACHI SHIRISH; GOYAL, MANAN
To: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 065894/0954 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20250200856A1 · Jun 19, 2025
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