Apparatus and method for user-selective data communication with verification

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A method for verified communication of data from a holder of such data to a requester of such data, comprising the steps of:

determination by the holder of a respective first error checking/fault detection indicator for each of a plurality of data items stored by the holder;

identification of one of said plurality of data items by the requester to the holder;

provision of said one data item to the requester;

determination by the requester of a second error checking/fault detection indicator, corresponding in nature to the first indicator, for said one data item;

provision, by the requester to the holder, of the second indicator;

comparison, by the holder, of the first and second indicators; and

provision by the holder to the requester of a message indicating whether the first and second indicators are identical.

2. A method as defined in claim 1 wherein each of the plurality of data items comprises radar data.

3. A method as defined in claim 2 wherein said identification step comprises:

sending by the requester to the holder an identifying signal identifying the one data item by radar product type of the one data item and by radar site from which the one data item originated; and

after said step of sending an identifying signal, determining whether the identifying signal identifies a valid radar product and a valid radar site, and if not then sending an error signal to the requester.

4. A method as defined in claim 1 wherein each of the plurality of data items comprises image data.

5. A method as defined in claim 1 wherein each of the plurality of data items comprises weather radar data.

6. A method as defined in claim 5 wherein said identification step comprises:

sending by the requester to the holder an identifying signal identifying the one data item by radar product type of the one data item and by radar site from which the one data item originated; and

after said step of sending an identifying signal, determining whether the identifying signal identifies a valid radar product and a valid radar site, and if not then sending an error signal to the requester.

7. Apparatus for verified communication of data from a holder of such data to a requester of such data, comprising:

means for determination by the holder of a respective first error checking/fault detection indicator for each of a plurality of data items stored by the holder;

means for identification of one of said plurality of data items by the requester to the holder;

means for provision of said one data item to the requester;

means for determination by the requester of a second error checking/fault detection indicator, corresponding in nature to the first indicator, for said one data item;

means for provision, by the requester to the holder, of the second indicator;

means for comparison, by the holder, of the first and second indicators; and

means for provision by the holder to the requester of a message indicating whether the first and second indicators are identical.

8. Apparatus as defined in claim 7 wherein each of the plurality of data items comprises radar data.

9. Apparatus as defined in claim 8 wherein:

said means for identification comprises means for generating an identifying signal identifying the one data item by radar product type of the one data item and by radar site from which the one data item originated; and

said holder comprises means, responsive to the identifying signal, for determining whether the identifying signal identifies a valid radar product and a valid radar site, and, if not, for sending an error signal to said requester.

10. Apparatus as defined in claim 7 wherein each of the plurality of data items comprises weather radar data.

11. Apparatus as defined in claim 10 wherein:

said means for identification comprises means for generating an identifying signal identifying the one data item by radar product type of the one data item and by radar site from which the one data item originated; and

said holder comprises means, responsive to the identifying signal, for determining whether the identifying signal identifies a valid radar product and a valid radar site, and, if not, for sending an error signal to said requester.

12. Apparatus as defined in claim 7 wherein each of the plurality of data items comprises image data.

13. Apparatus as defined in claim 7 wherein each of the plurality of data items comprises an image.

14. Apparatus as defined in claim 7 wherein each of the plurality of data items comprises a radar image.

15. Apparatus as defined in claim 14 wherein:

said means for identification comprises means for identification by the requester to the holder of one of said plurality of data items by radar product type of the one data item and by radar site at which the one data item originated; and

said holder comprises means, responsive to said means for identification by type and site, for determining whether said means for identification by type and site has identified a valid radar product and a valid radar site, and, if not, for sending an error signal to said requester.

16. Apparatus as defined in claim 7 wherein each of the plurality of data items comprises a weather radar image.

17. Apparatus as defined in claim 16 wherein:

said means for identification comprises means for identification by the requester to the holder of one of said plurality of data items by radar product type of the one data item and by radar site at which the one data item originated; and

said holder comprises means, responsive to said means for identification by type and site, for determining whether said means for identification by type and site has identified a valid radar product and a valid radar site, and, if not, for sending an error signal to said requester.

18. A method for verified selective communication of data from a holder of such data to a requester of such data, comprising th