Mobile instrument, viewing device, and methods of processing and storing information

• US 20060100816A1
• Filed: 08/07/2003
• Published: 05/11/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/09/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ikeGPS Group Limited
• Original Assignee: Surveylab Group Limited
• Inventors: Mann, Graham Leslie, Bond, Craig Richard, Prentice, Mark Eric James, Van Toorenburg, Leon Lamers
• Granted Patent: US 7,647,197 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 702/127
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 15/00 Surveying instruments or accessories not provided for in groups G01C1/00 - G01C13/00

Abstract

A method of transferring information stored in a mobile instrument, the information including a first information file containing metadata and a pointer indicative of a first auxiliary file address; and first auxiliary file containing image information, the first auxiliary file being located at the first auxiliary file address. The method includes the steps of: storing the metadata in a second information file; storing the image information in a second auxiliary file at a second auxiliary file address; generating a second pointer indicative of the second auxiliary file address; and storing the second pointer in the second information file. The instrument includes a camera; one or more spatial sensors; and an external sensor port. Power to the sensors can be controlled asynchronously. Various parsing methods are also described. The instrument includes a marker module configured to superimpose a marker on the image.

Claims

1. A method of processing and storing information in a mobile instrument, the method including:

receiving metadata;

storing the metadata in an information file in the mobile instrument;

receiving image information from a camera;

storing the image information in an auxiliary file at an auxiliary file address in the mobile instrument;

generating a pointer indicative of the auxiliary file address; and

storing the pointer in the information file.

2. A method according to claim 1 further including receiving further information;

storing the further information in one or more further auxiliary files at one or more further auxiliary file addresses;

generating one or more further pointers each indicative of a respective further auxiliary file address; and

storing the further pointer(s) in the information file.

6. A method according to claim 1 wherein the metadata includes spatial metadata, and the spatial metadata includes one or more of:

distance information, global position information, orientation information, and input information received from a human user.

10. A method of transferring information stored in a mobile instrument by the method of claim 1, the information including a first information file containing metadata and a pointer indicative of a first auxiliary file address;

and a first auxiliary file containing image information, the first auxiliary file being located at the first auxiliary file address, the method including the steps of;

storing the metadata in a second information file;

storing the image information in a second auxiliary file at a second auxiliary file address;

generating a second pointer indicative of the second auxiliary file address; and

storing the second pointer in the second information file.

3-5. -5. (canceled)

7-9. -9. (canceled)

11-18. -18. (canceled)

19. A method of obtaining information including:

acquiring image information from a camera;

acquiring input information from a human user;

acquiring spatial metadata from a spatial sensor; and

associating the image information with the input information and the spatial metadata.

20. A method according to claim 19 wherein the image information is associated with the input information and the spatial metadata by generating one or more pointers to the input information and the spatial metadata, and storing the pointer with the image information.

21-28. -28. (canceled)

29. A mobile instrument including:

a camera;

one or more spatial sensors; and

a port able to be connected, when in use, to an external sensor from which the instrument may obtain further information.

30. An instrument according to claim 29 wherein the one or more spatial sensors include one or more of:

a distance meter, a global position sensor and an orientation sensor.

35. A mobile instrument according to claim 29 further including a processor which is configured to compile a file containing information from the camera and/or the spatial sensor, wherein the processor is further configured to append to the file the further information obtained from the port.

31-34. -34. (canceled)

36-37. -37. (canceled)

38. A method of operating a mobile instrument, the instrument including two or more measuring devices, the measuring devices including a camera and one or more spatial sensors:

the method including asynchronously controlling the supply of power to at least two of the measuring devices.

39. A mobile instrument including:

two or more measuring devices including a camera and one or more spatial sensors;

a first power switch operable to control power to one or more first ones of the measuring devices;

a second power switch to control power to one or more second ones of the measuring devices; and

a power controller capable of asynchronously operating the first and second power switches.

40. A mobile instrument according to claim 39 wherein the power controller is at least partially integrated with one of the measuring devices.

43. A mobile instrument according to claim 39 wherein the power controller includes one or more power control lines for controlling the power switches, a camera data line coupled to the camera and one or more sensor data lines each coupled to a respective spatial sensor.

45. An instrument according to claim 39 to wherein the one or more spatial sensors include one or more of:

a distance meter, a global position sensor and an orientation sensor.

41-42. -42. (canceled)

44. (canceled)

46-47. -47. (canceled)

48. A viewing device for providing an image of a field of view, the device including a marker module configured to superimpose a marker on the image, the marker including a plurality of image elements including a first element, and a second element having visual content which contrasts with the first element.

49. A device according to claim 48 further including a distance meter for measuring the distance to a datum position indicated by the marker.

50. A device according to claim 49 wherein the first and second elements are adjacent, substantially straight, parallel lines.

52. A device according to claim 48 wherein the marker includes four or more lines which radiate from a common central region and wherein the lines do not intersect at the common central region, whereby the image can be viewed in the central region.

54. A device according to claim 48 wherein the elements are arranged in a line in an alternating pattern.

58. A device according to claim 48 further including one or more of:

a global position sensor;

a tilt sensor for indicating the tilt of the device relative to a datum direction indicated by the marker; and

an electronic display screen for displaying the image superimposed with the marker.

51. (canceled)

53. (canceled)

55-57. -57. (canceled)

59-60. -60. (canceled)

61. An instrument including two or more sensors;

two or more identical generic parsers; and

two or more description files, each containing description data describing an associated sensor, wherein each generic parser is configured to receive sensor information from a respective sensor and description data from a respective description file, parse the sensor information in accordance with the description data to generate parsed sensor information, and output the parsed sensor information.

62. An instrument according to claim 61 wherein the generic parser examines the sensor information and determines if there is a valid message therein in accordance with the description data.

64. An instrument according to claim 61 further including a buffer arranged between each generic parser and its respective sensor.

66. An instrument according to claim 61 further including two or more identical reply interpreters, wherein each reply interpreter is configured to interpret the parsed information in accordance with the description data.

63. (canceled)

65. (canceled)

67. An instrument including two or more sensors;

two or more identical request interpreters; and

two or more description files, each containing description data describing an associated sensor, wherein each request interpreter is configured to receive a request relating to a respective sensor, interpret the request in accordance with the description data to generate an interpreted request, and output the interpreted request to its respective sensor.

68-78. -78. (canceled)