Method for constructing polygons used to represent geographic features
First Claim
1. A method for constructing polygons from data representations of a given plurality of links, comprising:
- (a) determining a first point, wherein said first point is located on one of said given plurality of links;
(b) determining as a first known link that forms part of the boundary of a candidate polygon a link upon which the first point is located;
(c) determining an orientation of said first known link;
(d) determining each subsequent known link that forms part of the boundary of the candidate polygon by selecting from the given plurality of links that link that connects to a chosen ordered end of a known link and that forms a minimum rotation angle therewith in a chosen rotational direction; and
(e) after determining that the candidate polygon is a complete polygon, removing from the given plurality of links any links that are not shared by the complete polygon with any other candidate polygon.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method for constructing a polygon from data representations of a given plurality of links. A first point of a candidate polygon is determined by selecting a point located on one of the given plurality of links. Then, a first known link that forms part of the boundary of a candidate polygon is determined to be that link upon which the first point is located. The orientation of the first known link is determined. Then, each subsequent known link that forms part of the boundary of the candidate polygon is determined by selecting from the given plurality of links that link (1) that connects to an end of a known link in a chosen direction and (2) that forms a minimum rotation angle therewith in a chosen rotational direction. After determining that the candidate polygon is a complete polygon, any links from the given plurality of links that are not shared by the complete polygon with any other candidate polygon are removed from the given plurality of links. The process continues until all the links of the given plurality of links are removed. The process also determines all links that do not form part of any complete polygon.
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Citations
16 Claims
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1. A method for constructing polygons from data representations of a given plurality of links, comprising:
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(a) determining a first point, wherein said first point is located on one of said given plurality of links;
(b) determining as a first known link that forms part of the boundary of a candidate polygon a link upon which the first point is located;
(c) determining an orientation of said first known link;
(d) determining each subsequent known link that forms part of the boundary of the candidate polygon by selecting from the given plurality of links that link that connects to a chosen ordered end of a known link and that forms a minimum rotation angle therewith in a chosen rotational direction; and
(e) after determining that the candidate polygon is a complete polygon, removing from the given plurality of links any links that are not shared by the complete polygon with any other candidate polygon. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A program for constructing one or more polygons from data representations of a given plurality of links, wherein said program is stored on a computer-readable medium, said program comprising:
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program code that determines a first point, wherein said first point is located on one of said given plurality of links;
program code that determines as a first known link that forms part of the boundary of a candidate polygon a link upon which the first point is located;
program code that determines an orientation of said first known link;
program code that determines each subsequent known link that forms part of the boundary of the candidate polygon by selecting from the given plurality of links that link that connects to a chosen ordered end of a known link and that forms a chosen rotation angle therewith in a chosen rotational direction; and
program code that removes from the given plurality of links any links that are not shared by the complete polygon with any other candidate polygon after determining that the candidate polygon is a complete polygon. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16)
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Specification