| Patent application number | Description | Published |
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| 20080266142 | System and method for stitching of video for routes - A system and method are disclosed for displaying video on a computing device for navigation and other purposes. A map database developer collects video data. The video data is collected by traveling along roads in a geographic area and storing the video data along with data indicating the positions at which the video data had been captured. This captured video data is then used in navigation systems and other devices that provide navigation, routing, video games, or other features. An application forms a video that shows a turn at an intersection from a first road onto a second road. The application adds video that depicts travel away from the intersection along the second road to video that depicts travel into the intersection along the first road to form a composite video that shows a turn at the intersection from the first road onto the second road. The composite video is then presented to a user on a display. | 10-30-2008 |
| 20080266324 | Street level video simulation display system and method - A system and method are disclosed for displaying video on a computing device for navigation and other purposes. Video data is collected by traveling along roads in a geographic area and storing the video data along with data indicating the positions at which the video data had been captured. This captured video data is then used in navigation systems and other devices that provide navigation, routing, or other features. A video is presented to a user on the display of a navigation system (or other device). An application associated with the navigation system uses the previously captured video data to create the video shown to the user. The application selects that video data that shows the end user's position from a vantage point. The application further superimposes an indication on the video at a location that corresponds to the position of the end user. | 10-30-2008 |
| 20080288545 | Method and System for Forming a Keyword Database for Referencing Physical Locations - An improved method and system for specifying physical locations when using applications run on navigation systems or other computer platforms that provide navigation- or map-related functions. When requesting a navigation- or map-related function from such an application, a user specifies a physical location using a keyword instead of specifying the physical location conventionally, such as by street address. A keyword database relates keywords to physical locations. The application uses the keyword database, or a copy thereof, to find data indicating the physical location associated with the keyword specified by the user. Preferably, physical locations are defined in the keyword database in terms of data in a corresponding geographic database. The application then performs the requested navigation- or map-related function using the data indicating the physical location associated with the keyword. The keyword database is built using input from users. An on-line system is provided that users can access to associate keywords with physical locations. A user accessing the on-line system is presented with a map from which a physical location can be selected. A keyword, which may be selected by the user, is associated with the selected physical location. The keyword is stored in the keyword database along with data indicating the associated physical location. | 11-20-2008 |
| 20090110239 | System and method for revealing occluded objects in an image dataset - Disclosed are a system and method for identifying objects in an image dataset that occlude other objects and for transforming the image dataset to reveal the occluded objects. In some cases, occluding objects are identified by processing the image dataset to determine the relative positions of visual objects. Occluded objects are then revealed by removing the occluding objects from the image dataset or by otherwise de-emphasizing the occluding objects so that the occluded objects are seen behind it. A visual object may be removed simply because it occludes another object, because of privacy concerns, or because it is transient. When an object is removed or de-emphasized, the objects that were behind it may need to be “cleaned up” so that they show up well. To do this, information from multiple images can be processed using interpolation techniques. The image dataset can be further transformed by adding objects to the images. | 04-30-2009 |
| 20090153549 | System and method for producing multi-angle views of an object-of-interest from images in an image dataset - Disclosed are a system and method for creating multi-angle views of an object-of-interest from images stored in a dataset. A user specifies the location of an object-of-interest. As the user virtually navigates through the locality represented by the image dataset, his current virtual position is determined. Using the user's virtual position and the location of the object-of-interest, images in the image dataset are selected and interpolated or stitched together, if necessary, to present to the user a view from his current virtual position looking toward the object-of-interest. The object-of-interest remains in the view no matter where the user virtually travels. From the same image dataset, another user can select a different object-of-interest and virtually navigate in a similar manner, with his own object-of-interest always in view. The object-of-interest also can be “virtual,” added by computer-animation techniques to the image dataset. For some image datasets, the user can virtually navigate through time as well as through space. | 06-18-2009 |
| Patent application number | Description | Published |
|---|
| 20100020093 | OPEN AREA MAPS BASED ON VECTOR GRAPHICS FORMAT IMAGES - Systems and methods corresponding to an open area map are disclosed. For example, one method includes receiving an image of a layout corresponding to a real-world area in which a person moves about. The image is in a vector graphics format. A reference region is determined using the image of the layout. A grid is combined with the reference region to generate a routable map. The routable map is configured to provide point-to-point routing within the layout. | 01-28-2010 |
| 20100021012 | END USER IMAGE OPEN AREA MAPS - Systems, devices, applications, and methods for generating an open area map are disclosed. For example, a software application is configured to run on a computing platform of an end user. The end user generates an image of a layout of a walkable area. The software application performs a method of generating an open area map based on the image. The method includes applying an array of uniformly spaced objects on the image. A routable map is generated as a function of the array. The routable map is configured to provide point-to-point routing within the layout. | 01-28-2010 |
| 20100021013 | OPEN AREA MAPS WITH GUIDANCE - Systems and methods corresponding to an open area map are disclosed. For example, one method comprises identifying a destination selected in an open area map. The open area map includes an image of a layout representing a real-world area in which a person walks about. The open area map is associated with a grid. A route is calculated from an origin point to the selected destination in the open area map as a function of the grid. Audio or text content corresponding to the calculated route is provided. | 01-28-2010 |
| 20100023249 | OPEN AREA MAPS WITH RESTRICTION CONTENT - Open area maps and related systems and methods are disclosed. For example, one method includes receiving an image of a layout corresponding to a real-world area in which a person walks about. A restriction associated to a passageway within the image is generated. The image is used to generate a routable map for point-to-point routing. Routing through or around the restriction is based on whether or not criteria for passing the restriction is met. | 01-28-2010 |
| 20100023250 | OPEN AREA MAPS - Systems and methods associated with an open area map are disclosed. For example, one method comprises obtaining an image of a layout. The layout represents a real-world area in which a person moves about. A grid is applied on the image. The grid includes tiles that fill in a ground area of the image. A routable map is generated as a function of the grid. The routable map is configured to provide point-to-point routing within the layout. | 01-28-2010 |
| 20100023251 | COST BASED OPEN AREA MAPS - Open area maps as well as related systems and methods are disclosed. For example, an open area map includes an image of a layout corresponding to a real-world area in which pedestrians walk about. An array is associated with the image. The array includes a plurality of spaced objects. A cost value is designated to each of the spaced objects. The open area map is configured for point-to-point routing based, in part, on the designation of the cost values. | 01-28-2010 |
| 20100023252 | POSITIONING OPEN AREA MAPS - Open area maps as well as related features, systems, and methods are disclosed. For example, one method comprises translating coordinates associated with an open area map into real-world coordinates. The open area map is positioned within a geographic map as a function of the real-world coordinates. The geographic map represents a real-world area around the open area map. The open area map includes an image of a layout representing a pedestrian walkable area, and the open area map is configured to provide point-to-point routing within the layout. | 01-28-2010 |
