Method and apparatus for generating digital map images of a uniform format

• US 6,377,278 B1
• Filed: 09/29/2000
• Issued: 04/23/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 05/02/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Amesmaps LLC
• Original Assignee: Amesmaps LLC
• Inventors: Curtright, William Ames, Parks, Edwin E., Bieker, Matthew T., Roethe, Kevin J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Phu K.
• Application Number:
  US09/675,188
• Time in Patent Office: 571 Days
• Field of Search: 345/629, 345/630, 345/631, 345/632, 345/634, 345/635
• US Class Current: 345/634
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 11/00 2D [Two Dimensional] image generation

Abstract

A computer-implemented method and associated apparatus for generating digital map images of a uniform format. Bit-mapped map images corresponding to a printed map are obtained by scanning or other means. A bit-mapped map image is then cropped to select a map image corresponding to a desired geographic area, such as a one-degree by one-degree area. The boundaries of the selected map image are moved to shape the geographic area into a tessellated shape, such as a rectangle. The selected map image is then re-sized to contain a predetermined pixel area. The map image, now of a uniform format, is then stored with an identifier of a reference point and size of the geographic area represented by the map image. The identifier may be the name of a computer-readable file containing the map image.

Claims

1. A computer implemented method of preparing bit-mapped map images of a desired surface area, the method comprising:

providing first and second bit-mapped map images;

cropping a portion of the first bit-mapped map image to achieve a boundary having a straight line portion adapted to being fitted adjacent the second bit-mapped map image;

cropping a portion of the second bit-mapped map image to achieve a boundary having a corresponding straight line portion adapted to match the straight line portion of the boundary of the first bit-mapped map image, wherein a desired feature of the second bit-mapped map image is aligned so as to merge with the corresponding feature of the first bit-mapped map image without visual discontinuity; and

storing the cropped first and second bit-mapped map images for subsequent retrieval for display as a plurality of bit-mapped map images adapted to being fitted seamlessly together.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the method comprises preparing at least three bit-mapped map images and each of the bit-mapped map images is cropped to achieve a boundary having a straight line portion adapted to match a straight line portion of at least one of the other bit-mapped map images.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising cropping the entire boundary of each of the bit-mapped map images to achieve a tesselated shape for each of the bit-mapped map images.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising sizing each of the tesselated shapes to contain a predetermined pixel area.

5. The method of claim 1, comprising sizing at least one of the first and second bit-mapped map images to contain a predetermined pixel area.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein each of the first and second bit-mapped map images contains a predetermined pixel area.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein each of the first and second bit-mapped map images contains a uniform predetermined pixel area.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein each of the first and second bit-mapped map images is stored with an identifier comprising a reference point.

9. A method of displaying bit-mapped map images of a desired area, the method comprising:

retrieving from a computer readable form first and second cropped bit-mapped map images, each of the bit-mapped map images having been prepared so that a straight line portion of the boundary of the first cropped bit-mapped map image is adapted to match a corresponding straight line portion of the second cropped bit-mapped map image wherein a desired feature of the second bit-mapped map image is aligned so as to merge with the corresponding feature of the first bit-mapped map image without visual discontinuity; and

placing the first and second cropped bit-mapped map images on a medium of visual display so that the corresponding straight line portions of the respective bit-map mapped images are adjacent to one another, forming a seamless plurality of images.

10. Apparatus for providing a plurality of digital map images, comprising:

a storage medium for use in a computer system for storing bit-mapped map images in computer-readable form; and

first and second bit-mapped map images stored in computer readable files on the medium,

the first bit-mapped map image having a boundary comprising a straight line portion adapted to being fitted adjacent the second bit-mapped map image,

the second bit-mapped map image having a boundary comprising a corresponding straight line portion adapted to match the straight line portion of the first bit-mapped map image wherein a desired feature of the second bit-mapped map image is aligned so as to merge with the corresponding feature of the first bit-mapped map image without visual discontinuity.

11. Apparatus as in claim 10, wherein the first and second bit-mapped map images are cropped to provide the corresponding straight line portions of the respective boundaries.