Virtual earth rooftop overlay and bounding

• US 20060238383A1
• Filed: 02/15/2006
• Published: 10/26/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/21/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Smith, Leonard, Kimchi, Gur
• Granted Patent: US 7,466,244 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/995.100
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3667 Display of a road map G01C21/3614 takes precedence; guidance using 3D or perspective road maps G01C21/3635
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3673 Labelling using text of road map data items, e.g. road names, POI names
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/29 Geographical information databases
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0112 from the vehicle, e.g. floating car data [FCD]
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0141 for traffic information dissemination
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0145 for active traffic flow control
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0962 having an indicator mounted inside the vehicle, e.g. giving voice messages
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096775 where the origin of the information is a central station
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096811 where the route is computed offboard
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/163 involving continuous checking
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/20 Monitoring the location of vehicles belonging to a group, e.g. fleet of vehicles, countable or determined number of vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 29/007 using computer methods
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 29/106 using electronic means

Abstract

Provided is a single repository for capturing, connecting, sharing, and visualizing information based on a geographic location, for example. Detailed information of a structure or object information can be displayed on a rooftop or over an area of interest. The detailed information can be provided for a single structure or for each structure shown on a map area. According to an embodiment is a system that facilitates surface overlay and bounding on a map. The system can include a receiver component that receives information for an object, a boundary component that ascertains a perimeter of the object, and a rendering component that selectively displays the object information and object on a map based in part on a user perspective.

Claims

1. A system that facilitates information overlay and bounding on a map, comprising:

a receiver component that receives a three-dimensional object image and geo-coded object information;

a boundary component that identifies at least one discrete location in the image and ascertains a boundary of the location or object; and

a rendering component that displays the information and the object on a map, the object is annotated and overlaid with the information based in part on a viewing angle.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising a stitching component that maintains the object and the object information in a retrievable format.

3. The system of claim 1, further comprising an update module that updates the object information before the object and the object information is displayed.

4. The system of claim 1, the receiver component comprising:

an identification module that identifies the object; and

an information module that receives detailed information relating to the object.

5. The system of claim 1, the boundary component comprising:

a parcel polygon module that ascertains a polygon that defines a viewable surface of the object; and

an edge detection module that determines an outside area of the object.

6. The system of claim 1, the object information is detailed information about the occupants of a structure.

7. The system of claim 1, the rendering component selectively alters the position of the information based on a user perspective.

8. The system of claim 1, the rendering component selectively rotates the overlaid information about an axes defined by the at least one discrete location.

9. A method for rooftop overlay and bounding, comprising:

receiving a three-dimensional object image and an object information from at least one source;

defining a discrete location in the object;

determining an object perimeter; and

annotating the object image with the object information based on the perimeter of the object and a viewing perspective.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising selectively altering a location of the object information when the viewing perspective is altered.

11. The method of claim 9, defining an area of the specific object, further comprising:

receiving a polygon definition of a rooftop; and

ascertaining the position of the rooftop based in part on the received polygon definition.

12. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

receiving a location request;

retrieving parcel polygon information for the location request; and

displaying the object information and the metadata.

13. The method of claim 12, displaying the object information and the metadata is bounded by the physical shape of the specific object.

14. The method of claim 12, further comprising finding a nearest road to the specific object.

15. The method of claim 12, further comprising displaying object information and associated metadata for the entire mapped area.

16. The method of claim 12, further comprising providing subcomponents of metadata as a request for more information is received.

17. The method of claim 16, the subcomponents are provided as a drop-down menu item.

18. A system for providing detailed object information on a map area, comprising:

means for obtaining object imagery, object geographical data, and detailed object information;

means for defining a footprint of the object based in part on the object imagery;

means for associating the object geographical data with the object imagery in a retrievable format; and

means for selectively displaying the object imagery and the detailed object information upon request.

19. The system of claim 18, further comprising means for defining the boundary of the object imagery.

20. The system of claim 18, further comprising means for changing a viewing angle of the detailed object information when a viewing angle of the object imagery is changed.