System and method for synchronizing raster and vector map images

• US 20010026271A1
• Filed: 03/29/2001
• Published: 10/04/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 03/29/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sourceprose Corporation (TransUnion Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Sourceprose Corporation (TransUnion Corporation)
• Inventors: Higgins, Darin Wayne, Scott, Dan Martin
• Granted Patent: US 7,161,604 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/213
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 17/05 Geographic models
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 29/102 using electrical means

Abstract

A system and method for coordinated manipulation of multiple displayed maps, even when the maps use different internal coordinate systems. According to this embodiment, each map image to be displayed is first georeferenced, to provide a set of conversion functions between each map'"'"'s internal coordinate system and a geographic coordinate system, which is latitude/longitude in the preferred embodiment. After this is done, any point on each map can be referenced using the geographic coordinate set. Since this is the case, the maps can now be manipulated, edited, and annotated in a synchronized manner, by defining the manipulations in terms of the geographic coordinate system, and using the georeferencing functions to translate the manipulation to each map'"'"'s internal coordinate system.

Claims

1. A system for automatically manipulating or annotating a second map when a first map is manipulated or annotated, the system comprising:

a map display;

a map processing platform in communication with the map display;

a storage platform coupled to the map processing platform; and

a user interaction device coupled to the map processing platform.

2. The system of

claim 1

wherein the map display is enabled to display a first map and a second map.

3. The system of

claim 1

wherein the map display is coupled to a graphics adapter.

4. The system of

claim 1

wherein the processing platform is a microprocessor.

5. The system of

claim 1

wherein the map processing platform is an application service provider.

6. The system of

claim 1

wherein the map processing platform is located remotely from the map display.

7. The system of

claim 1

wherein the storage platform comprises cashed memory.

8. The system of

claim 1

wherein the storage platform comprises system memory.

9. The system of

claim 1

wherein the storage platform comprises non-cashed volatile storage.

10. The system of

claim 1

wherein the user interaction device compnses a mouse.

11. The system of

claim 1

wherein the map processing platform and the map display are coupled via a network.

12. The system of

claim 11

wherein the network is the internet.

13. The system of

claim 1

wherein the storage platform is associated with the map processing platform via a network.

14. The system of

claim 13

wherein the network is the internet.

15. The system of

claim 1

wherein the storage platform maintains code that enables the automatic manipulation of a second map when a first map is manipulated by:

determining a boundary of a geographic region of a first map;

converting the boundary of the geographic region of the first map into a corresponding boundary of a second map; and

configuring the boundary of the second map for display.

16. The system of

claim 1

wherein the storage platform maintains code that enables the automatic manipulation of a second map when a first map is manipulated by:

determining a boundary of a geographic region of a first map;

converting the boundary of the geographic region of the first map into a corresponding boundary of a second map;

configuring the boundary of the second map for display;

receiving a selection of a first region of a first map; and

receiving an interaction for multiple map manipulation by providing a user interaction with a map.

17. A data signal comprising a data structure capable of map manipulation, by:

determining a boundary of a geographic region of a first map;

converting the boundary of the geographic region of the first map into a corresponding boundary of a second map; and

configuring the boundary of the second map for display.

18. A method of correlating a map annotation from a first map to a second map, the second map being geographically substantially similar to the first map comprising:

detecting an annotation entry on the first map;

associating the annotation entry with a set of first map coordinates;

associating the set of the first map coordinates with a set of second map coordinates; and

enabling the display of the annotation entry on the second map.

19. The method of

claim 18

wherein associating the set of first map coordinates locates the annotation entry within the second map such that the set of second map coordinates correspond geographically to the location of the annotation as defined by the set of first map coordinates.

20. A computer readable medium whose contents cause a correlation of a map annotation between a first map and a second map, the second map being geographically substantially similar to the first map by:

detecting an annotation entry on the first map;

associating the annotation entry with a set of first map coordinates;

associating the set of the first map coordinates with a set of second map coordinates; and

enabling the display of the annotation entry on the second map.