System and method utilizing enhanced imagery and associated overlays

• US 20060197781A1
• Filed: 08/19/2005
• Published: 09/07/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/03/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Housevalues, Inc. (Zillow Group, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Housevalues, Inc. (Zillow Group, Inc.)
• Inventors: Arutunian, Ethan B.
• Application Number:
  US11/207,605
• Publication Number:
  US 20060197781A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/629
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3852 Data derived from aerial or satellite images
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3881 Tile-based structures

Abstract

Providing location-specific information may be based on receiving a request for map image data associated with any combination of satellite images, aerial photographs, and rasterized maps and receiving a request for applying a displayable map overlay to the requested map image data. The displayable map overlay data may include one or more types of data configured for dynamic display in association with the imap. A display description associated with the requested map image data may be provided as a collection of map tiles, wherein the collection of map tiles is configurable to provide a map with capabilities that allow a user to continuously zoom in on and out of selected areas of the aerial map. Information associated with displaying the requested map overlay in association with the requested map image data may also be provided.

Claims

1. A method in a computer system for providing location-specific information, comprising:

receiving a request for map image data associated with satellite images, aerial photographs, or rasterized maps, or any combination of satellite images, aerial photographs, and rasterized maps;

receiving a request for map overlay data, wherein the map overlay data is configurable for display in association with one or more maps generated using the map image data;

providing a display description associated with the requested map image data as a collection of map tiles, wherein the collection of map tiles is configurable to provide a map with capabilities that allow a user to continuously zoom in on and out of selected areas of the map; and

providing overlay information associated with displaying the requested map overlay data in association with the requested map image data.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein at least some of the tiles in the collection of map tiles are configured to form a map of the continental United States.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein at least some of the tiles in the collection of map tiles are configured to form a detailed map that is set at a resolution of less than approximately one meter per pixel.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the capabilities that allow a user to zoom in on and out of selected areas of the map include capabilities that allow the user to zoom in from a national level map to a detailed map level that is set at a resolution of less than approximately one meter per pixel.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the provided display description and the provided overlay information are provided via a remote server, and do not require downloading an application specific to providing the location-specific information.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

providing a graphical user interface functionality allowing a user of the displayed map to lasso or otherwise select irregularly shaped areas on the map.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the applied displayable map overlay includes color coding of features.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the applied displayable map overlay provides an indication of features of interest using descriptive graphics.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the applied displayable map overlay provides an indication of features of interest using flashing graphics.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the applied displayable map overlay provides an indication of features using audible identifiers.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

providing overlay selection functionality configured for allowing a user to specify information relating to one or more map overlays to be applied to the requested information.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

providing textual and/or graphical information for display in a window or frame adjacent to the map, wherein the textual and/or graphical information is associated with features of the map or features of the overlay data.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein the multiple map tiles are enhanced via post-processing prior to display, wherein the post-processing includes processing activities from a set of processing activities including:

reprojection of the map image data;

beautification of the map image data; and

altering of the map image data to increase aesthetic appeal.

14. A computer-readable medium containing a data structure comprising:

map image data including data associated with satellite images, aerial photographs, rasterized maps, or any combination of satellite images, aerial photographs, and rasterized maps, wherein the map image data is configurable as map tiles to provide at least one displayable interactive map having capabilities that allow a user to zoom in on and out of selected areas of the interactive map, and wherein the map image data is represented in a first mathematical projection; and

map overlay data, wherein the map overlay data includes data configured for dynamic display in association with the displayed interactive map, and wherein the map overlay data is stored in a second mathematical projection and then reprojected in the first mathematical projection for display.

15. The computer-readable medium of claim 14 wherein the map overlay data is configured for dynamic display in association with the interactive aerial map in point form, in vector form, or in a combination of both point and vector form.

16. The computer-readable medium of claim 14 wherein the map overlay data is configured for dynamic display in multiple device types, including portable or mobile devices.

17. The computer-readable medium of claim 14 wherein the map overlay data is configured for allowing a user to access more detailed information about an item of interest by clicking on a graphic or feature displayed in association with the map overlay.

18. A system for providing location-specific information, comprising:

means for receiving a request for image data associated with satellite images, aerial photographs, rasterized maps, or any combination of satellite images, aerial photographs, and rasterized maps;

means for providing a display description containing the requested information to a client computer, wherein the display description includes a collection of one or more map tiles, wherein the collection of one or more map tiles is configurable to provide at least one map with capabilities that allow a user to continuously zoom in and out of selected areas of the map; and

means for applying a displayable map overlay to the requested image data.

19. The system of claim 18 wherein the displayable map overlay includes one or more types of location-based data configured for dynamic display in association with the map, wherein the one or more types of data include any one or more of city names information, commercial points of interest information, noncommercial points of interest information, neighborhood information, almanac information, state boundary information, county boundary information, waterway information, roads information, tax information, historical information, parks information, schools information, county parcel map information, real estate information associated with current listings, real estate information associated with previously sold listings, topography information, dwelling age information, real estate open house information, garage sale information, census bureau information, crime statistics, and traffic analysis information.

20. The system of claim 18 wherein the provided display description and associated displayable map overlay are presentable within a web browser at a client computer.

21. A computer-readable medium containing a data structure for performing a method in a computer system for providing maps and associated information, the method comprising:

receiving a request for map image data associated with satellite images, aerial photographs, or rasterized maps, or any combination of satellite images, aerial photographs, and rasterized maps;

receiving a request for map overlay data, wherein the map overlay data is configurable for display in association with one or more interactive maps generated using the map image data;

providing a display description associated with the requested map image data as a collection of map tiles, wherein the collection of map tiles is configurable to provide an interactive map with capabilities that allow a user to zoom in on and out of selected areas of the map; and

providing information associated with displaying the requested map overlay data in association with the requested map image data.

22. A method in a computer system for providing maps and associated information, comprising:

receiving a request for map image data associated with satellite images, aerial photographs, or rasterized maps, or any combination of satellite images, aerial photographs, and rasterized maps;

receiving a request for map overlay data, wherein the map overlay data is configurable for display in association with one or more maps generated using the map image data;

providing at least one display description associated with the requested map image data and the requested map overlay data; and

providing information associated with displaying a window or view adjacent to or in addition to the one or more maps generated using the map image data, wherein the window or view contains information related to the one or more maps or information related to the overlay data, or information associated with the one or more maps and the overlay data.