User selectable earth imagery on-line e-commerce and fulfillment system

• US 20030040971A1
• Filed: 08/21/2001
• Published: 02/27/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 08/21/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Harris Corporation (L3Harris Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: ITT Manufacturing Enterprises, Inc. (ITT, Inc.)
• Inventors: Parkes, David A., Wasilewski, Jerome J., Freedenberg, Candace
• Granted Patent: US 7,089,198 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/26
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0635 Processing of requisition or of purchase orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0643 Graphical representation of items or shoppers
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/08 Auctions

Abstract

A method is taught for offering for purchase user selected earth imagery content in the form of a photo product. The method comprises the steps of receiving earth imagery metadata from a plurality of earth imagery content providers; overlaying the earth imagery metadata on a mapping application provided by a service provider that offers earth imagery content; a user communicating over a channel with the service provider, the user locating a geographical area via the mapping application and dynamically selecting via the on-line interactive man-machine interface a desired geospatial area represented by one or more user defined polygons; converting the user-selected geospatial area represented by one or more polygons to a data string; and transmitting the data string over a channel to a fulfillment provider, the fulfillment provider generating a photo product of the desired geospatial area in a format selected by the user.

Claims

1. A method for offering for purchase earth imagery content of a user-selected desired geospatial area, the earth imagery content being delivered in the form of a photo product, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) receiving earth imagery metadata from a plurality of earth imagery content providers;

(b) overlaying the earth imagery metadata on a mapping application;

(c) a user interacting over a channel with the mapping application, the user locating a geographical area via the mapping application and selecting via an on-line, interactive man-machine interface a desired geospatial area represented by one or more user defined polygons;

(d) converting the user-selected geospatial area represented by one or more polygons to a data string;

(e) transmitting the data string over a channel to a fulfillment provider; and

(f) the fulfillment provider generating a photo product of the desired geospatial area in a format selected by the user.

2. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein:

the data string includes a name specified by the user.

3. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein:

the data string further includes an earth imagery content provider code.

4. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein:

one or more polygons are identified by polygon points in the form of longitude and latitude coordinates.

5. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein:

one or more polygons is communicated by digital file containing user'"'"'s desired area.

6. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein:

the channel is the internet.

7. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein:

the channel is a local server with direct remote access capability.

8. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein:

the data string further includes a year in which the earth imagery content provider acquired the earth imagery content.

9. A method as recited in claim 2 wherein:

the data string further includes a year in which the earth imagery content provider acquired the earth imagery content.

10. A method as recited in claim 2 wherein:

the data string further includes geospatial position of earth imagery content.

11. A method as recited in claim 10 wherein:

the data string further includes a year in which the earth imagery content provider acquired the earth imagery content.

12. A method as recited in claim 1 further comprising the steps of:

(a) determining if the user selected earth imagery content is available through the on-line, interactive man-machine interface;

(b) requesting a bid from at least one earth imagery content provider to obtain the user selected earth imagery content; and

(c) communicating the bid to the user.

13. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein:

the photo product is at least one digital image.

14. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein:

the photo product is at least one printed image.

15. A method as recited in claim 1 further comprising the step of:

delivering the photo product to the user in the format selected by the user.

16. A method as recited in claim 13 wherein:

at least one digital image is delivered to the user on a computer readable storage medium.

17. A method as recited in claim 1 further comprising the step of:

offering the user a choice of photo products.

18. A method as recited in claim 17 wherin:

the choice of products presented to user varies with the desired geospatial area selected.

19. A method as recited in claim 17 wherein:

the choice of photo products presented to the user varies with the geospatial area and/or format selected.

20. A method as recited in claim 17 wherein:

a price and a delivery time of the photo product and a location of the fulfillment provider are dependent on the the desired geospatial area and format selected.

21. A method as recited in claim 1 further comprising the step of:

allowing the user to share a view of the desired geospatial area for earth imagery content selected with another party over the channel.

22. A method as recited in claim 1 further comprising the step of:

allowing the user to select stereo and mono coverage.

23. A method as recited in claim 1 further comprising the step of:

allowing the user to purchase planned imagery.

24. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein:

the on-line, interactive man-machine interface enables viewing of referenced selection and metadata throughout decision process.

25. A method as recited in claim 1 further comprising the step of:

capturing unique ID'"'"'s relating to the desired geospatial area selected by the user from a back-end system access.

26. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein:

the user selects from earth imagery content available differentiated by year, color vs B&

W, resolution, scale or precision processed form.

27. A method as recited in claim 1 further comprising the step of:

delivering the photo product to the user.

28. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein:

the channel is an intranet site located on a local server with periodic updates.

29. A method as recited in claim 1 further comprising the step of:

offering to allow payment for the product via the channel.

30. A method as recited in claim 1 further comprising the step of:

generating the photo product of the desired geospatial area for earth imagery content using the fulfillment data string combined with the fulfillment metadata of the earth imagery content selected.

31. A method as recited in claim 27 further comprising the step of:

the delivering step is performed by mail, e-mail of digital file, FTP of digital file, on-line view, on-line download, or on-line use of digital file within desktop applications.

32. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein:

the user defines the format of the photo product with respect to a level of processing, a geographical projection, a software reading format, and a delivery means.

33. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein:

the photo product is defined by a geographical projection selected.

34. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein:

the photo product is defined by a software reading format selected.

35. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein:

the photo product is defined by a delivery means selected.

36. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein:

the data string is transmitted as an http request, sent by FTP.

37. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein:

the data string automatically populates a database via an html form interface.

38. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein:

the content providers control quality and accuracy of the display of earth imagery content over the channel through on-line upload and verification of the earth imagery content.

39. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein:

the desired geospatial area represented by one or more user defined polygons is substantially infinitely variable as to a location, a size and a shape thereof.

40. A computer storage medium having instructions stored thereon for causing

a computer to perform the method of claim 1.

41. A computer program product comprising:

a computer readable storage medium having a computer program stored thereon for performing the method steps of claim 1.

42. A method for offering for purchase user-selected earth imagery content of a desired geospatial area in the form of a photo product comprising the steps of:

(a) receiving earth imagery metadata from a plurality of earth imagery content providers;

(b) overlaying the earth imagery metadata on a mapping application, the earth imagery metadata provided by a service provider;

(c) a user communicating over a channel with the service provider, the user locating a geographical area via the mapping application and dynamically selecting via an on-line, interactive man-machine interface a desired geospatial area represented by one or more user defined polygons;

(d) converting the user-selected geospatial area represented by one or more polygons to a data string;

(e) transmitting the data string over a channel to a fulfillment provider; and

(f) the fulfillment provider generating a photo product of the desired geospatial area in a format selected by the user.