US6100897A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Method and device for pictorial representation of space-related data
Assignee: ART +COM AG
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Filing: 1996-12-17
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Granted: 2000-08-08
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Expires: 2016-12-17
Abstract
Abstract A method and device for the pictorial representation of space-related data, for example, geographical data of the earth. Such methods are used for visualising topographical or meteorological data in the form of weather maps or weather forecast films. Further fields of application are found in tourism, in traffic control, in navigation aids and also in studio technology. The space-related data, for example topography, actual cloud distribution, configurations of roads, rivers or frontiers, satellite images, actual temperatures, historical views, CAD-models, actual camera shots, are called up, stored or generated in a spatially distributed fashion. For a screen representation of a view of the object according to a field of view of a virtual observer, the required data are called up and shown only in the resolution required for each individual section of the image. The sub-division of the image into sections with different spatial resolutions is preferably effected according to the method of a binary or quadrant tree.
Inventors
- 👤 Pavel Mayer
- 👤 Axel Schmidt
- 👤 Joachim Sauter
- 👤 Gerd Gruneis
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 02:51
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06T; G06T17/00; G06T17/05
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 43
Claim 1
Independent Claim
231 words
A method of providing a pictorial representation of space-related data of a selectable object, the representation corresponding to the view of the object by an observer with a selectable location and a selectable direction of view comprising: (a) providing a plurality of spatially distributed data sources for storing space-related data; (b) determining a field of view including the area of the object to be represented through the selection of the distance of the observer to the object and the angle of view of the observer to the object; (c) requesting data for the field of view from at least one of the plurality of spatially distributed data sources; (d) centrally storing the data for the field of view; (e) representing the data for the field of view in a pictorial representation having one or more sections; (f) dividing each of the one or more sections having image resolutions below a desired image resolution into a plurality of smaller sections, requesting higher resolution space related data for each of the smaller sections from at least one of the plurality of spatially distributed data sources, centrally storing the higher resolution space related data, and representing the data for the field of view in a pictorial representation; and (g) repeating step (f), dividing the sections into smaller sections, until every section has the desired image resolution or no higher image resolution data is available.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
231 words
A method of providing a pictorial representation of space-related data of a selectable object, the representation corresponding to the view of the object by an observer with a selectable location and a selectable direction of view comprising: (a) providing a plurality of spatially distributed data sources for storing space-related data; (b) determining a field of view including the area of the object to be represented through the selection of the distance of the observer to the object and the angle of view of the observer to the object; (c) requesting data for the field of view from at least one of the plurality of spatially distributed data sources; (d) centrally storing the data for the field of view; (e) representing the data for the field of view in a pictorial representation having one or more sections; (f) dividing each of the one or more sections having image resolutions below a desired image resolution into a plurality of smaller sections, requesting higher resolution space related data for each of the smaller sections from at least one of the plurality of spatially distributed data sources, centrally storing the higher resolution space related data, and representing the data for the field of view in a pictorial representation; and (g) repeating step (f), dividing the sections into smaller sections, until every section has the desired image resolution or no higher image resolution data is available.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of pictorial representation defined in claim 1, further including altering the selectable location and performing steps (b) through (g).
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of pictorial representation defined in claim 2, further including determining the data and/or the co-cordinates of the data in terms of a new co-ordinate system.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of pictorial representation defined in claim 1, further including altering the selectable direction of the view and performing steps (b) through (g).
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of pictorial representation defined in claim 4, further including determining the data and/or the co-cordinates of the data in terms of a new co-ordinate system.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of pictorial representation defined in claim 1, wherein step (f) further includes requesting data of a uniform resolution for each of the smaller sections.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of pictorial representation defined in claim 1, wherein steps (c) and (f) further include requesting data not already centrally stored from only one of the spatially distributed data sources.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of pictorial representation defined in claim 1, wherein step (f) further includes showing only the centrally stored data of each section with the highest spatial density.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of pictorial representation defined in claim 1, wherein step (f) further includes effecting the representation of the data in an optional pre-set form of representation.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
45 words
The method of pictorial representation defined in claim 1, further including removing the data of a section from the central store when the section passes out of the field of view due to an alteration in the location or of the angle of the view.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of pictorial representation defined in claim 1, further including permanently centrally storing at least one full set of space-related data with a low spatial resolution.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of pictorial representation defined in claim 1, further including not showing the regions of the object located with respect to the observer behind non-transparent areas of the object.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of pictorial representation defined in claim 1, wherein step (f) comprises dividing each of the one or more sections using a model of the binary tree.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of pictorial representation defined in claim 1, wherein step (f) comprises dividing each of the one or more sections using a model of the quadrant tree.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of pictorial representation defined in claim 1, wherein step (f) comprises dividing the sections using a model of the octant tree.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of pictorial representation defined in claim 1, further including using an adaptive sub-division model with a plurality of models used next to one another for sub-dividing the field of view into smaller sections.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of pictorial representation defined in claim 1, wherein the data are present as pixel graphics and/or as vector graphics and/or in tabular form.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of pictorial representation defined in claim 1, wherein the object is a heavenly body.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
50 words
The method of pictorial representation defined in claim 18, wherein steps (e) and (f) further include representating the data with a two-dimensional polygonal geometrical model of the topography of the object, the spatial relationship of the data being given by the provision of two co-ordinates on the polygonal geometrical model.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of pictorial representation defined in claim 19, wherein height information is represented as color vertices on the two-dimensional polygonal geometrical model.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of pictorial representation defined in claim 19, wherein an adaptive topographical grid model is used, the spatial distance between two grid lines becoming smaller as the topographical altitude becomes greater.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of pictorial representation defined in claim 19, wherein step (f) further includes dividing each of the one or more sections using a model of the quadrant tree.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method of pictorial representation defined in claim 22, wherein step (f) further includes dividing each of the one or more sections using an adaptive sub-division model such that the sub-division merges into a binary tree at the poles.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of pictorial representation defined in claim 19, wherein in the two-dimensional polygonal grid model, spatial data are shown on a plurality of different two-dimensional layers.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of pictorial representation defined in claim 18, wherein the representation in steps (e) and (f) is in the form of a globe.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of pictorial representation defined in claim 18, wherein the representation in steps (e) and (f) is in the form of cartographic form of representation.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of pictorial representation defined in claim 1, wherein the object is the earth.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of pictorial representation defined in claim 1, wherein steps (e) and (f) further include representing the data with a polygonal grid model.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of pictorial representation defined in claim 28, wherein step (f) comprises dividing the sections using a model of the octant tree.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
48 words
The method of pictorial representation defined in claim 1, wherein steps (e) and (f) further include representing the data with a three-dimensional geometrical model of the topography of the objects, the spatial relationship of the data being given by the provision of three co-ordinates on the geometrical model.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of pictorial representation defined in claim 1, wherein the space-related data include CAD models.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of pictorial representation defined in claim 1, further including inserting animated objects into the pictorial representation.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of pictorial representation defined in claim 1, further including inserting display tables into the pictorial representation.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of pictorial representation defined in claim 1, further including inserting information and/or directly generated image material into the representation.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of pictorial representation defined in claim 1, wherein the directly generated image material includes camera shots.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of pictorial representation defined in claim 1, wherein the space related data are provided with references to further spatial data.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of pictorial representation defined in claim 1, wherein the space related data are provided with references to thematically adjacent data.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of pictorial representation defined in claim 1, wherein the space related data are provided with references to data of the same area with another resolution.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
49 words
The method of pictorial representation defined in claim 1 further including determining a probability for the regions surrounding the field of view that the regions will pass into the field of view when there is an alteration in the location or of the angle of view of the observer.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of pictorial representation defined in claim 39 further including requesting and centrally storing the data of the areas with the highest probability.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of pictorial representation defined in claim 1, wherein steps (c) and (f) further include transmitting data asynchronously.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of pictorial representation defined in claim 1, wherein steps (e) and (f) further include showing the data on a screen.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2003-08-08 | 2004-02-07 | 2004-08-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2007-08-08 | 2008-02-07 | 2008-08-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2011-08-08 | 2012-02-07 | 2012-08-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |