Geographic information storage, transmission and display system

• US 20060208927A1
• Filed: 03/08/2005
• Published: 09/21/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/08/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation (Northrop Grumman Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Northrop Grumman Corporation
• Inventors: Mitchell, Robert, Burton, Dale, Mos, Michael, Duffey, Christopher, Poor, Jeffrey
• Granted Patent: US 7,495,582 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/995.100
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/20 Instruments for performing navigational calculations G01C21/24, G01C21/26 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3878 Hierarchical structures, e.g. layering
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3889 Transmission of selected map data, e.g. depending on route
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3896 Transmission of map data from central databases
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 29/10 Map spot or coordinate position indicators; Map reading aids optical projection apparatus per se G03B

Abstract

A system is disclosed in which a geographic area of interest can be selected, and information corresponding to the selected area can be downloaded and displayed by a user in an efficient and timely manner. The geographic area of interest may initially be selected by various input means such as a map, longitude/latitude coordinates, a global positioning system (GPS), and the like. Once the particular geographic area has been selected, geographic information corresponding to the selected area is downloaded to the user. The geographic information may include photographic images, radar, radio transmission, cell phone transmission, time sequenced images, ground moving target information, air moving target information, maritime moving target information, red or blue force identification and/or potential hazard areas information. The geographic information may be stored in a suitable data storage system such as a server. Alternatively, the geographic information may be generated real time and downloaded to the user. In one embodiment, the geographic information includes photographic images and a relatively low resolution image of a large geographic area is initially displayed to the user. The user can then select a limited region of the photographic image for closer viewing. The limited region of the photographic image may then be downloaded to the user in a higher resolution format, thereby reducing the amount of high resolution data that must be transmitted to the user. Various display devices may be used, such as personal data assistants (PDAs), laptop computers, desktop computers, vehicle-mounted computers, tablets, cell phones and the like. The display device may also be used as the input device to both select the geographic area of interest and display the photographic images or other geographic information of the selected area.

Claims

1. A system for displaying geographic information comprising:

an input device for selecting a geographic area of interest; and

a display device for displaying geographic information corresponding to at least a portion of the selected geographic area, wherein the geographic information may be displayed at different resolutions.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the input device and the display device are a single device.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the input device comprises a display.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the display of the input device also displays the geographic information corresponding to the selected geographic area.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the input device displays a map.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein at least a portion of the geographic information is overlaid on at least a portion of the map.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the input device uses longitude and/or latitude coordinates in selecting the geographic area of interest.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the input device uses a global positioning system in selecting the geographic area of interest.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the input device comprises a global positioning system transmitter and the selected geographic area of interest includes the location of the transmitter.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the input device comprises a personal data assistant, laptop computer, desktop computer, vehicle-mounted computer, tablet, cell phone and/or camera.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the display device comprises a personal data assistant, laptop computer, desktop computer, vehicle-mounted computer, tablet and/or cell phone.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the displayed geographic information corresponds to substantially the entire selected geographic area.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the geographic information comprises photographic images, radar images, radio transmission information, cell phone transmission information, time sequenced images, ground moving target information, air moving target information, maritime moving target information, red or blue force identification and/or potential hazard areas.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein the geographic information comprises photographic and/or radar images.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the at least one displayed image comprises a relatively low resolution image.

16. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the displayed images corresponds to a portion of the selected geographic area.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the at least one displayed image comprises a relatively high resolution image.

18. The system of claim 1, further comprising a geographic information data storage device communicating with the input device and the display device.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the geographic information data storage device comprises a server.

20. The system of claim 18, wherein the geographic information data storage device transmits the geographic information data to the display device by narrowband communication means.

21. The system of claim 18, wherein the geographic information data storage device transmits the geographic information data to the display device by broadband communication means.

22. The system of claim 18, wherein the geographic information data storage device transmits the geographic information data to the display device selectively by narrowband communication means and broadband communication means.

23. The system of claim 18, further comprising means for initially transmitting the geographic information data to the display device at a relatively low resolution, and for subsequently transmitting a portion of the geographic information data to the display device at a relatively high resolution to display information corresponding to the portion of the selected geographic area.

24. The system of claim 18, wherein at least a portion of the geographic information data transmitted to the display device comprises multiple images stored in an image data storage device.

25. The system of claim 24, wherein the multiple images include overlapping portions.

26. The system of claim 18, further comprising another display device communicating with the geographic information data storage device.

27. The system of claim 26, wherein the geographic information data storage device transmits geographic information data to one of the display devices by broadband communication means and transmits geographic information data to the other display device by narrowband communication means.

28. The system of claim 18, wherein the geographic information data storage device stores information relating to the geographic area at different times, and the display device may display the geographic information from the different times.

29. A system for displaying geographic information comprising:

an input device for selecting a geographic area of interest; and

a display device for displaying geographic information corresponding to at least a portion of the selected geographic area, wherein the geographic information comprises at least two types of information selected from the group consisting of photographic images, radar images, radio transmission information, cell phone transmission information, time sequenced images, ground moving target information, air moving target information, maritime moving target information, red or blue force identification and/or potential hazard areas.

30. The system of claim 29, wherein at least one of the types of geographic information may be displayed at different resolutions.

31. The system of claim 29, wherein the geographic information comprises photographic and/or radar images.

32. A system for storing, transmitting and displaying geographic information comprising:

a geographic information data storage device;

an input device communicating with the geographic information data storage device for selecting a geographic area of interest; and

a display device communicating with the geographic information data storage device for displaying geographic information corresponding to at least a portion of the selected geographic area, wherein the geographic information may be displayed at different resolutions.

33. The system of claim 32, wherein the geographic information comprises photographic images, radar images, radio transmission information, cell phone transmission information, time sequenced images, ground moving target information, air moving target information, maritime moving target information, red or blue force identification and/or potential hazard areas.

34. The system of claim 32, wherein the geographic information comprises photographic and/or radar images.

35. A method of displaying geographic information comprising:

selecting a geographic area of interest; and

displaying geographic information corresponding to at least a portion of the selected geographic area, wherein the geographic information may be displayed at different resolutions.

36. The method of claim 35, wherein the geographic information comprises photographic images, radar images, radio transmission information, cell phone transmission information, time sequenced images, ground moving target information, air moving target information, maritime moving target information, red or blue force identification and/or potential hazard areas.

37. The method of claim 35, wherein the geographic information comprises photographic and/or radar images.