METHOD OF OBTAINING GEOGRAPHICALLY RELATED IMAGES USING A VEHICLE

• US 20100141736A1
• Filed: 04/22/2008
• Published: 06/10/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/22/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: iLOOKabout, Inc.
• Original Assignee: iLOOKabout, Inc.
• Inventors: Hack, Jeffrey
• Granted Patent: US 9,726,485 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/36
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 11/00 Photogrammetry or videogrammetry, e.g. stereogrammetry; Photographic surveying
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/28 with correlation of data from several navigational instruments
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3602 Input other than that of destination using image analysis, e.g. detection of road signs, lanes, buildings, real preceding vehicles using a camera
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 22/02 by conversion into electric waveforms and subsequent integration, e.g. using tachometer generator G01C22/002, G01C22/004, G01C22/006 take precedence

Abstract

The method employs a computer interconnected with a GPS transceiver and a distance measurement means and operatively interconnected with a digital camera, all provided on a moving vehicle, in order to acquire a plurality of geographic location related images. A first geographic position is obtained from the GPS transceiver and a plurality of distance measurements are then received before a second geographic position is taken. A photo request is generated after a pre-determined distance has been traveled and is transmitted to the digital camera. The camera takes a photo based on the request and the photos, photo requests, first and second positions and distance measurements are stored for post-processing. The post-processing determines a path traveled by the vehicle using the positions and distance measurements and assigns an accurate geographic location and orientation to each photo. The method is useful in building a database of geographically related images.

Claims

1. A method of obtaining digital images related to geographic locations, the method comprising:

(a) providing a moving vehicle having thereon a computer interconnected with a GPS transceiver and a distance measurement means for providing a measurement of distance traveled by the vehicle, the computer operatively interconnected with a digital camera mounted on the vehicle;

(b) receiving into the computer a first geographic position from the GPS transceiver;

(c) receiving into the computer a measurement of distance traveled from the distance measurement means;

(d) determining when a pre-determined distance has been traveled by the vehicle based on the measurement of distance;

(e) generating a photo request for the digital camera at the pre-determined distance;

(f) taking a digital photo based on the photo request;

(g) repeating steps c) through f);

(h) receiving into the computer a second geographic position from the GPS transceiver; and

,

(i) storing the photos, photo requests, first and second geographic positions and distance measurements.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the distance measurement means comprises a rotating wheel.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the vehicle is land-based.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the distance measurement means comprises a pair of laterally spaced apart independently rotating wheels, the distance measurement means simultaneously providing measurements from each wheel.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the vehicle comprises an automobile and wherein the distance measurement means comprises a wheel speed sensor connected to each of the automobile'"'"'s rear wheels.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein the method further comprises:

(j) calculating a difference in the distance measurements from the two wheels;

(k) calculating a change in vehicle orientation based on the difference; and

,

(l) using the change in orientation and distance traveled, iteratively fitting a path traveled by the vehicle between the first and second geographic positions.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein each photo is stored in association with a camera time value and wherein each photo request, geographic position and distance measurement is stored in association with a computer time value.

8. The method according to claim 6, wherein each photo is stored in association with a camera time value and wherein each photo request, geographic position and distance measurement is stored in association with a computer time value.

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein each photo is associated with the photo request used to generate that photo.

10. The method according to claim 8, wherein each photo is associated with the photo request used to generate that photo by comparing camera time values of a plurality of photos with computer time values of a plurality of photo requests.

11. The method according to claim 9, wherein the method further comprises determining a computer time value associated with each photo based on the computer time value of the photo request plus a lag value.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein the path is comprised of a plurality of segments that terminate with a vehicle location and orientation at a particular computer time value.

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein the method further comprises determining the vehicle location and orientation at the time each photo was taken based on the path segment corresponding to the computer time value of the photo.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the method further comprises correcting each photo to a rectilinear perspective based on at least the orientation of the vehicle and a field of view of the lens.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the digital camera is a still-image camera with a resolution of at least 6 megapixels.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the digital camera is equipped with a lens having a field of view of at least 160°

.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein the digital photos are adjacent to one another and share overlapping visual elements.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein the vehicle travels at a speed of at least 35 km/h while photos are being taken.

19. The method of claim 1, wherein the vehicle is equipped with at least two digital cameras oriented in opposite directions to one another and wherein each photo request is directed to all cameras.

20. A system for obtaining digital images related to geographic locations comprising a vehicle having thereon a computer interconnected with a GPS transceiver and a distance measurement means for providing a measurement of distance traveled by the vehicle, the computer operatively interconnected with a digital camera mounted on the vehicle.