Image processing and map production systems
First Claim
1. A method of making a map comprising the steps of:
- (a) processing data collected by remote-sensing to provide image data usable to define a pictorial representation of a selected region, said image data consisting of a multiplicity of elements of data, and each of said elements of data containing image information,(b) digitising a representation of geographical features within said selected region to provide feature data, said feature data consisting of a multiplicity of elements of data, and at least some of said elements of data containing feature-defining information, and(c) integrating said image data with said feature data to provide combined data usable to define a pictorial representation of said selected region, said combined data consisting of a multiplicity of elements of data,wherein said image data and feature data integrating step includes(i) establishing, for each element of image data, whether any corresponding element or elements of feature data exist,(ii) for any element of said image data to which no element of feature data corresponds, said any element providing an element of said combined data containing only image information,(iii) for each element of image data for which one or more corresponding elements of feature data exist, establishing for each of said one or more corresponding elements of feature data whether said each of said one or more corresponding elements of feature data contains feature-defining information,(iv) where said each of said one or more corresponding elements of feature data contains feature-defining information, said each of said one or more corresponding elements of feature data which contains feature-defining information providing an element of said combined data incorporating information pertaining to a feature or features defined by said each of said one or more corresponding elements of feature data which contains feature-defining information, and(v) where none of said one or more corresponding elements of feature data contains feature-defining information, said each element of image data providing an element of said combined data containing only image information.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A map is prepared from a satellite image defined by digital data by integrating the image data with a digitised representation of geographical features within the map area and with text data defining textual material to appear in the finished product. This integration of data includes comparing each element of image data with an element or elements of feature data and replacing or modifying the element of image data as required to incorporate any feature or features defined by the element of feature data, and comparing the resulting combined image and feature data element with an element or elements of text data and replacing or modifying the combined data element as required to incorporate textual material defined by the element of text data. This integration of data may also include modification of the elements of integrated data in boundary regions surrounding features or text to provide a "burned-in" appearance in the finished product, as distinct from the appearance provided by overlay printing.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. A method of making a map comprising the steps of:
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(a) processing data collected by remote-sensing to provide image data usable to define a pictorial representation of a selected region, said image data consisting of a multiplicity of elements of data, and each of said elements of data containing image information, (b) digitising a representation of geographical features within said selected region to provide feature data, said feature data consisting of a multiplicity of elements of data, and at least some of said elements of data containing feature-defining information, and (c) integrating said image data with said feature data to provide combined data usable to define a pictorial representation of said selected region, said combined data consisting of a multiplicity of elements of data, wherein said image data and feature data integrating step includes (i) establishing, for each element of image data, whether any corresponding element or elements of feature data exist, (ii) for any element of said image data to which no element of feature data corresponds, said any element providing an element of said combined data containing only image information, (iii) for each element of image data for which one or more corresponding elements of feature data exist, establishing for each of said one or more corresponding elements of feature data whether said each of said one or more corresponding elements of feature data contains feature-defining information, (iv) where said each of said one or more corresponding elements of feature data contains feature-defining information, said each of said one or more corresponding elements of feature data which contains feature-defining information providing an element of said combined data incorporating information pertaining to a feature or features defined by said each of said one or more corresponding elements of feature data which contains feature-defining information, and (v) where none of said one or more corresponding elements of feature data contains feature-defining information, said each element of image data providing an element of said combined data containing only image information. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method of making a map comprising the steps of:
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(a) processing data collected by remote-sensing to provide image data usable to define a pictorial representation of a selected region, said image data consisting of a multiplicity of elements of data, and each of said elements of data containing image information, (b) digitising a representation of geographical features within said selected region to provide feature data, said feature data consisting of a multiplicity of elements of data, and at least some of said elements of data containing feature-defining information, (c) integrating said image data with said feature data to provide combined data usable to define a pictorial representation of said selected region, said combined data consisting of a multiplicity of elements of data, (d) preparing text for disposition at appropriate locations within said selected region in a pictorial representation thereof, (e) digitising said text to provide text data, said text data consisting of a multiplicity of elements of data, and at least some of said elements containing text-defining information, and (f) integrating said text data with said combined data to provide printing data including image data, feature data containing feature-defining information and text data containing text-defining information, and consisting of a multiplicity of elements of data, wherein said image data and feature data integrating step includes (i) establishing, for each element of image data, whether any corresponding element or elements of feature data exist, (ii) for any element of said image data to which no element of feature data corresponds, said any element providing an element of said combined data containing only image information, (iii) for each element of image data for which one or more corresponding elements of feature data exist, establishing for each of said one or more corresponding elements of feature data whether said each of said one or more corresponding elements of feature data contains feature-defining information, (iv) where said each of said one or more corresponding elements of feature data contains feature-defining information, said each of said one or more corresponding elements of feature data which contains feature-defining information providing an element of said combined data incorporating information pertaining to a feature or features defined by said each of said one or more corresponding elements of feature data which contains feature-defining information, (v) where none of said one or more corresponding elements of feature data contains feature-defining information, said each element of image data providing an element of said combined data containing only image information, and (vi) for each element of said combined data within a defined spacing from another element of said combined data which incorporates information defining an edge region of a feature in a pictorial representation of the combined data, modifying said each element of said combined data to incorporate information defining, in said pictorial representation of the combined data, a surrounding region separating said feature from other information contained in said pictorial representation, and wherein said combined data and text data integrating step includes (i) establishing, for each element of combined data, whether any corresponding element or elements of text data exist, (ii) for any element of said combined data to which no element of text data corresponds, said any element providing an element of printing data containing only image and/or feature-defining information,. (iii) for each element of combined data for which one or more corresponding elements of text data exist, establishing for each of said one or more corresponding elements of text data whether said each of said one or more corresponding elements of text data contains text-defining information, (iv) where said each of said one or more corresponding elements of text data contains text-defining information, said each of said one or more corresponding elements of text data which contains text-defining information providing an element of said printing data incorporating information pertaining to text defined by said each of said one or more corresponding elements of text data which contains text-defining information, (v) where none of said one or more corresponding elements of text data contains text-defining information, said each element of combined data providing an element of said printing data containing only image and/or feature-defining information, and (vi) for each element of said printing data within a defined spacing from an element of said printing data incorporating information defining an edge region of text in a pictorial representation of the printing data, modifying said each element of said printing data to incorporate information defining, in said pictorial representation of the printing data, a surrounding region separating said text from other information contained in said pictorial representation. - View Dependent Claims (16)
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17. A method of making a map comprising the steps of:
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(a) processing data collected by remote-sensing to provide image data usable to define a pictorial representation of a selected region, said image data consisting of a multiplicity of elements of data, and each of said elements of data containing image information, (b) digitising a representation of geographical features within said selected region to provide feature data, said feature data consisting of a multiplicity of elements of data, and at least some of said elements of data containing feature-defining information, and (c) integrating said image data with said feature data to provide combined data usable to define a pictorial representation of said selected region, said combined data consisting of a multiplicity of elements of data, wherein said image data and feature data integrating step includes (i) establishing, for each element of image data, whether any corresponding element of feature data exists, (ii) for any element of said image data to which no element of feature data corresponds, said any element providing an element of said combined data containing only image information, (iii) for each element of image data for which a corresponding element of feature data exists, establishing whether said element of feature data contains feature-defining information, (iv) where said corresponding element of feature data contains feature-defining information, said corresponding element of feature data which contains feature-defining information providing an element of said combined data incorporating information pertaining to a feature or features defined by said corresponding element of feature data which contains feature-defining information, and (v) where said corresponding element of feature data does not contain feature-defining information, said each element of image data providing an element of said combined data containing only image information.
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Specification