Image processing computer system for photogrammetric analytical measurement

• US 6,954,217 B1
• Filed: 06/30/2000
• Issued: 10/11/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 07/02/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Pentax Corporation (Hoya Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Pentax Corporation (Hoya Corporation)
• Inventors: Nakayama, Toshihiro
• Primary Examiner(s): YANG, RYAN R
• Application Number:
  US09/608,008
• Time in Patent Office: 1,929 Days
• Field of Search: 345/642, 345/619, 345/723, 345/724, 345/725, 345/726, 345/764, 345/779, 345/804, 345/805, 345/853, 705/28, 382/154, 382/284, 382/199, 715/723, 715/724, 715/725, 715/726, 715/804, 715/805
• US Class Current: 345/619
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 11/06 by comparison of two or more pictures of the same area

Abstract

In an image processing computer system for a photogrammetric analytical measurement in which a survey map is produced by connecting a first group including at least a set of pictures featuring a photographed target located at a first target position and a second group including at least a set of pictures featuring a photographed target located at a second target position to each other, a monitor displays a scene including a picture-display area and an editing-display area. On the picture-display area, only one picture in a set included in said first group and only one picture in a set included in said second group are selectively displayed. A displayed picture is transferred from said picture-display area to said editing-display area and vice versa. Connection relationships between pictures are visually displayed on the editing-display area.

Claims

1. An image processing computer system for a photogrammetric analytical measurement in which a survey map is produced by connecting a first group of pictures and a second group of pictures, said system comprising:

a monitor that displays a first scene, said monitor including a picture-display area and an editing-display area;

a first monitor controller that selectively displays only one picture in each of said first group and said second group, on said picture-display area of said first scene;

a second monitor controller that transfers a displayed picture from said picture-display area to said editing-display area and vice versa; and

a third monitor controller that visually displays a connection relationship between pictures displayed on said editing-display area of said first scene;

wherein said first group comprises pictures featuring a photographed target located at a first target position and said second group comprises pictures featuring the photographed target located at a second target position; and

wherein said image processing computer system is configured to produce a survey map by representing objects, in the displayed pictures that have the connection relationship, in a three-dimensional coordinate system that is based on at least one of the first target position and the second target position.

2. An image processing computer system as set forth in claim 1, wherein a display of pictures on said picture-display area and said editing-display area is performed at a reduced size.

3. An image processing computer system as set forth in claim 1, wherein each of said first and second groups includes at least two sets of pictures, and all respective pictures, included in the sets forming each group, are displayed on said picture-display area in photographing order under control of said first monitor controller.

4. An image processing computer system as set forth in claim 3, wherein, upon transferring one of the respective pictures, included in the sets forming each group, from said picture-display area to said editing-area and vice versa, a transfer of the remaining pictures is simultaneously performed under control of said second monitor controller.

5. An image processing computer system as set forth in claim 4, wherein, upon transferring one of the respective pictures, included in the sets forming each group, from said picture-display area to said editing-area, a transfer of the remaining pictures is simultaneously performed under control of said second monitor controller, and all the respective pictures, included in the sets forming the other group, are displayed on said picture-display area under controller of said first monitor controller.

6. An image processing computer system as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a transfer-indicator that indicates a picture to be transferred from said picture-display area to said editing-display area and vice versa.

7. An image processing computer system as set forth in claim 6, wherein a marker is displayed on said editing-display area under control of said second monitor controller to indicate a location, at which the picture is to be transferred from said picture-display area to said editing-display area, when said picture is indicated by said transfer-indicator.

8. An image processing computer system as set forth in claim 7, wherein said marker comprises a frame representing an outline of the picture to be transferred from said picture-display area to said editing-display area.

9. An image processing computer system as set forth in claim 7, wherein said marker is movable under control of said second monitor controller in said editing-display area.

10. An image processing computer system as set forth in claim 1, wherein a connecting-strip is displayed on said editing-display area under control of said third monitor controller to indicate said connection relationship between the pictures displayed on said editing-display area of said first scene.

11. An image processing computer system as set forth in claim 10, wherein said connecting-strip is displayed as a strip connected between the centers of the two adjacent pictures at the back faces thereof.

12. An image processing computer system as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a fourth monitor controller that moves a picture, transferred from said picture-display area to said editing-display area, from one location to another location on said editing-display area.

13. An image processing computer system as set forth in claim 12, further comprising a movement-indicator that indicates a picture to be moved on said editing-display area.

14. An image processing computer system as set forth in claim 13, wherein a marker is displayed on said editing-display area under control of said fourth monitor controller to indicate a location, at which the picture is to be moved, when said picture is indicated by said movement-indicator.

15. An image processing computer system as set forth in claim 14, wherein said marker comprises a frame representing an outline of the picture to be moved on said editing-display area.

16. An image processing computer system as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a connection-indicator that indicates a picture, displayed on said picture-display area, and a picture, displayed on said editing-display area, to be connected to each other when the former picture is transferred to said editing-display area.

17. An image processing computer system as set forth in claim 16, further comprising a fourth monitor controller that changes said first scene of said monitor into a second scene in which a connection-processing for connecting said pictures to each other is performed before said former picture is transferred to said editing-display area.

18. An image processing computer system as set forth in claim 17, wherein two pictures, included in a set forming said first group, and two pictures, included in a set forming said second group, are displayed on said second scene of said monitor under control of said fourth monitor controller for said connection-processing.

19. An image processing computer system as set forth in claim 18, wherein said two pictures, included in a set forming said first group, and said two pictures, included in a set forming said second group, have at least two common connecting-image-points for said connection-processing.

20. An image processing method for a photogrammetric analytical measurement in which a survey map is produced by connecting a first group of pictures and a second group of pictures, said method comprising:

displaying a scene on a monitor that includes a picture-display area and an editing-display area;

selectively displaying only one picture in each of said first group and said second group, on the picture-display area of the monitor;

transferring a displayed picture from said picture-display area to said editing-display area;

visually displaying a connection relationship between pictures displayed on said editing-display area of said scene; and

wherein said first group comprises pictures featuring a photographed target located at a first target position and said second group comprises pictures featuring the photographed target located at a second target position; and

wherein said image processing computer system is configured to produce a survey map by representing objects, in the displayed pictures that have the connection relationship, in a three-dimensional coordinate system that is based on at least one of the first target position and the second target position.

21. A memory medium storing an image processing program for a photogrammetric analytical measurement in which a survey map is produced by connecting a first group of pictures and a second group of pictures, said program including:

displaying a scene on a monitor that includes a picture-display area and an editing-display area;

selectively displaying only one picture in each of said first group and said second group, on the picture-display area of the monitor;

transferring a displayed picture from said picture-display area to said editing-display area; and

visually displaying a connection relationship between pictures displayed on said editing-display area of said scene;

wherein said first group comprises pictures featuring a photographed target located at a first target position and said second group comprises pictures featuring the photographed target located at a second target position; and

wherein said image processing computer system is configured to produce a survey map by representing objects, in the displayed pictures that have the connection relationship, in a three-dimensional coordinate system that is based on at least one of the first target position and the second target position.