US6125329A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method, system and programmed medium for massive geodetic block triangulation in satellite imaging
Assignee: MDA Information Systems Inc
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Filing: 1998-06-17
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Granted: 2000-09-26
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Expires: 2018-06-17
Abstract
Abstract A computationally efficient method, system and programmed medium according to the present invention creates highly accurate maps of celestial bodies, spanning multiple UTM zones given sparse control points on the celestial body surface without requiring the existence or synthesis of a mathematical model of the satellite image sensor. The present invention provides an improved method and system for producing orthorectification coefficients needed to produce highly accurate maps of the surface of celestial bodies that span multiple UTM zones.
Inventors
- 👤 Michael Place
- 👤 Jon Dykstra
- 👤 Charles Sheffield
- 👤 Roger Mitchell
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 20:20
CPC Classifications
G; G09; G09B; G09B27/00; G09B27/04
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 34
Claim 1
Independent Claim
74 words
A method for producing a map of a surface using satellite imagery, control points, tie points and digital terrain module data comprising the steps of: correcting parallax errors by using said tie points, control points and digital terrain module data; calculating non-linear solution errors for said tie points and control points; converting said non-linear solution errors into angular geodetic coordinates; calculating orthorectification coefficients; and producing a map of a surface from said orthorectification coefficients.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
74 words
A method for producing a map of a surface using satellite imagery, control points, tie points and digital terrain module data comprising the steps of: correcting parallax errors by using said tie points, control points and digital terrain module data; calculating non-linear solution errors for said tie points and control points; converting said non-linear solution errors into angular geodetic coordinates; calculating orthorectification coefficients; and producing a map of a surface from said orthorectification coefficients.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method for producing a map of a surface according to claim 1, wherein said produced map spans at least one UTM zone.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
64 words
The method for producing a map of a surface according to claim 2 further comprising the steps of: determining a best mercator map projection of said surface; performing a linear solution affine transformation to map points in said satellite imagery data to points on said best mercator map projection of said surface; and constructing a space oblique mercator map projection for said imaging satellite.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method for producing a map of a surface according to claim 1, wherein said correcting step is iteratively repeated until a comparison with a previous result yields a value above a predetermined level.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
40 words
The method for producing a map of a surface according to claim 1, further comprising: iteratively performing said calculating and converting steps; and calculating final orthorectification coefficients when a level of said converted geodetic errors is above a predetermined level.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
93 words
The method for producing a map of a surface according to claim 5 wherein said iterative step further comprises: computing a non-linear regression model on said control and tie points to match adjoining images; calculating space oblique mercator errors for said control and tie points; converting said space oblique mercator errors into geodetic coordinates; comparing said converted geodetic errors with the geodetic errors of the previous iteration; and changing constraints if a result of said comparison is outside of a predetermined interval of values and repeating said computing step with said changed constraints.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method for producing a map of a surface according to claim 6, wherein said constraints are increased if said converted geodetic error is increased over said previous iteration.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method for producing a map of a surface according to claim 6, wherein said constraints are decreased if said converted geodetic error is decreased over said previous iteration.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method for producing a map of a surface according to claim 6, wherein said constraints comprise weighting values for translation corrections, rotation corrections and scaling corrections.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
81 words
A system for producing a map of a surface using satellite imagery, control points, tie points and digital terrain module data comprising: means for correcting parallax errors by using said tie points, control points and digital terrain module data; means for calculating non-linear solution errors for said tie points and control points; means for converting said non-linear solution errors into angular geodetic coordinates; means for calculating orthorectification coefficients; and means for producing a map of a surface from said orthorectification coefficients.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
81 words
A system for producing a map of a surface using satellite imagery, control points, tie points and digital terrain module data comprising: means for correcting parallax errors by using said tie points, control points and digital terrain module data; means for calculating non-linear solution errors for said tie points and control points; means for converting said non-linear solution errors into angular geodetic coordinates; means for calculating orthorectification coefficients; and means for producing a map of a surface from said orthorectification coefficients.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
23 words
The system for producing a map of a surface according to claim 10, wherein said produced map spans at least one UTM zone.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
67 words
The system for producing a map of a surface according to claim 11 further comprising: means for determining a best mercator map projection of said surface; means for performing a linear solution affine transformation to map points in said satellite imagery data to points on said best mercator map projection of said surface; and means for constructing a space oblique mercator map projection for said imaging satellite.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
40 words
The system for producing a map of a surface according to claim 10, wherein said correcting means further comprises means for iteratively calculating said parallax error until a comparison with a previous result yields a value above a predetermined level.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
44 words
The system for producing a map of a surface according to claim 10, further comprising: means for iteratively performing said calculating and converting steps; and means for calculating final orthorectification coefficients when a level of said converted geodetic errors is above a predetermined level.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
104 words
The system for producing a map of a surface according to claim 14 wherein said iterative means further comprises: means for computing a non-linear regression model on said control and tie points to match adjoining images; means for calculating space oblique mercator errors for said control and tie points; means for converting said space oblique mercator errors into geodetic coordinates; means for comparing said converted geodetic errors with the geodetic errors of the previous iteration; means for changing constraints if a result of said comparison is outside of a predetermined interval of values; and means for repeating said computing step with said changed constraints.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
31 words
The system for producing a map of a surface according to claim 15, further comprising means for increasing said constraints if said converted geodetic error is increased over said previous iteration.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
31 words
The system for producing a map of a surface according to claim 15, further comprising means for decreasing said constraints if said converted geodetic error is decreased over said previous iteration.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
27 words
The system for producing a map of a surface according to claim 14, wherein said constraints comprise weighting values for translation corrections, rotation corrections and scaling corrections.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
109 words
A computer program comprising a computer useable medium having computer program logic recorded thereon for enabling a processor in a computer system to combine satellite imagery data using control points, tie points and digital terrain module data for producing a map of a surface, said computer program comprising: a module for correcting parallax errors by using said tie points, control points and digital terrain module data; a module for calculating non-linear solution errors for said tie points and control points; and a module for converting said non-linear solution errors into angular geodetic coordinates; whereby orthorectification coefficients are calculated and a map of a surface is produced using said coefficients.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
109 words
A computer program comprising a computer useable medium having computer program logic recorded thereon for enabling a processor in a computer system to combine satellite imagery data using control points, tie points and digital terrain module data for producing a map of a surface, said computer program comprising: a module for correcting parallax errors by using said tie points, control points and digital terrain module data; a module for calculating non-linear solution errors for said tie points and control points; and a module for converting said non-linear solution errors into angular geodetic coordinates; whereby orthorectification coefficients are calculated and a map of a surface is produced using said coefficients.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
17 words
The computer program according to claim 19, wherein said produced map spans at least one UTM zone.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
64 words
The computer program according to claim 20 further comprising: a module for determining a best mercator map projection of said surface; a module for performing a linear solution affine transformation to map points in said satellite imagery data to points on said best mercator map projection of said surface; and a module for constructing a space oblique mercator map projection for said imaging satellite.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
35 words
The computer program according to claim 19, wherein said correcting module further comprises a module for iteratively calculating said parallax error until a comparison with a previous result yields a value above a predetermined level.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
40 words
The computer program according to claim 19, further comprising: a module for iteratively performing said calculating and converting steps; and a module for calculating final orthorectification coefficients when a level of said converted geodetic errors is above a predetermined level.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
104 words
The computer program according to claim 23 wherein said iterative module further comprises: a module for computing a non-linear regression model on said control and tie points to match adjoining images; a module for calculating space oblique mercator errors for said control and tie points; a module for converting said space oblique mercator errors into geodetic coordinates; a module for comparing said converted geodetic errors with the geodetic errors of the previous iteration; a module for changing constraints if a result of said comparison is outside of a predetermined interval of values; and a module for repeating said computing step with said changed constraints.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
26 words
The computer program according to claim 24, further comprising a module for increasing said constraints if said converted geodetic error is increased over said previous iteration.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
26 words
The computer program according to claim 24, further comprising a module for decreasing said constraints if said converted geodetic error is decreased over said previous iteration.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
21 words
The computer program according to claim 24, wherein said constraints comprise weighting values for translation corrections, rotation corrections and scaling corrections.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
17 words
The computer program according to claim 19, wherein said surface is a surface of a celestial body.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
77 words
A map of a surface produced using satellite imagery, control points, tie points and digital terrain module data, said map being produced by the steps of: iteratively calculating parallax errors for said tie and control points; iteratively performing non-linear space oblique mercator error calculations for said tie and control points converted into angular geodetic coordinates; calculating orthorectification coefficients using said calculated parallax and angular geodetic errors; and computing said map of said surface using said orthorectification coefficients.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
77 words
A map of a surface produced using satellite imagery, control points, tie points and digital terrain module data, said map being produced by the steps of: iteratively calculating parallax errors for said tie and control points; iteratively performing non-linear space oblique mercator error calculations for said tie and control points converted into angular geodetic coordinates; calculating orthorectification coefficients using said calculated parallax and angular geodetic errors; and computing said map of said surface using said orthorectification coefficients.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
10 words
A map according to claim 29 spanning multiple UTM zones.
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) | 2003-09-26 | 2004-03-27 | 2004-09-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2007-09-26 | 2008-03-27 | 2008-09-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2011-09-26 | 2012-03-27 | 2012-09-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |