Method and system for using geographic data for developing scenes for entertainment features

• US 7,921,136 B1
• Filed: 09/15/2004
• Issued: 04/05/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/11/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: HERE Global B.V. (HERE Holding Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Navteq North America LLC (HERE Holding Corporation)
• Inventors: Dougherty, Christopher, Shuman, Michael V., Uhlir, Kurt Brooks
• Primary Examiner(s): Stevens; Robert
• Application Number:
  US10/941,802
• Time in Patent Office: 2,393 Days
• Field of Search: 707/104.1, 707/102, 707/802, 707/803, 707/999, 715/201, 715/202, 715/209
• US Class Current: 707/802
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/26 specially adapted for navigation in a road network
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/29 Geographical information databases
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 17/05 Geographic models
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/854 Content authoring

Abstract

A system and method are disclosed for facilitating development of scenes for entertainment features, such as motion pictures or television shows, that depict or represent actual, real world (or imaginary) geographic areas. A source database contains data that represent geographic features in a region including roads in the region. The data in the source database includes attributes suitable for use for providing navigation-related functions. In addition to providing data from the source database for navigation-related functions, data from the source database are also provided for facilitating development of scenes for entertainment features that depict or represent actual, real world (or imaginary) geographic areas. An application programming interface, as well as other tools for handling geographic data, is provided for accessing and processing of the geographic data.

Claims

1. A method of using a source database for forming derived products, wherein the source database contains data that represent geographic features in a region including roads in the region, the method comprising:

maintaining the data that represents the geographic features in the region, the data including road segment data records formatted to be compiled for a vehicle navigation system, and wherein the road segment records are associated with attributes suitable to provide navigation-related functions including vehicle route calculation and vehicle route guidance, the attributes including

(i) geographic coordinates,

(ii) a street name,

(iii) an address range,

(iv) a turn restriction, and

(v) road shape;

using the data from the source database to form a template database;

using the template database with a tool set to develop a CG (computer graphics) scene from a street level viewpoint, wherein the scene depicts at least some of the geographic features, and wherein the template database is stored on a computer-readable storage medium; and

making an entertainment feature that includes the CG scene as a scene of the entertainment feature, the entertainment feature comprising a feature selected from the group consisting of;

a television show, a motion picture, and a television commercial, wherein the entertainment feature is not a video game and is not a navigation application, wherein the entertainment feature contains characters and plot details that contribute to a story line of the entertainment feature, and wherein the CG scene is portrayed from the street level viewpoint.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the template database includes data that provides a level of accuracy of the first set of data used for navigation-related functions.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the template database includes data that provides a level of detail of the first set of data used for navigation-related functions.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of using data from the source database to form a template database further comprises the steps of:

selecting a real world locale;

obtaining data that represents the real world locale, wherein the data that represents the real world locale is obtained from or derived from the source database;

using the data that represents the real world locale to determine at least one parameter of geographic features represented thereby; and

forming the template database using the parameter.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the parameter includes an overall size of the locale.

6. The method of claim 4 wherein the parameter includes road densities.

7. The method of claim 4 wherein the parameter includes road shapes.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein data in the template database is combined with road model data to provide a realistic visual appearance of roads.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein data in the template database is combined with road model data to provide a realistic visual appearance of roads in the region, wherein the road model data includes data representing one or more from a group consisting of:

road pavement colors, lane stripe markings, curbs, sidewalks, signs, lampposts, lane dividers, traffic signals, speed bumps, and crosswalks.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein data in the template database is combined with 3D model data to provide a realistic visual representation of polygon shaped features in the region.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein data in the template database is combined with 3D model data to provide a realistic visual representation of cityscape and landscape features in the region.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein data in the template database is combined with 3D model data to provide a realistic visual representation of one of a group consisting of:

buildings, trees, shrubbery, lawns, fences, and clouds in the region.

13. A method for making an entertainment feature with a CG (computer graphics) scene, the method comprising:

using an application programming interface program that runs on a computer platform to access a geographic database including road segment data records formatted to be compiled for a vehicle navigation system that represent roads of a geographic region, the geographic database stored on a computer-readable storage medium, wherein the road segment records are associated with attributes suitable to provide navigation-related functions including vehicle route calculation and vehicle route guidance, the attributes including

(i) geographic coordinates,

(ii) a street name,

(iii) an address range,

(iv) a turn restriction, and

(v) road shape;

selecting data from the geographic database that corresponds to a location within the geographic region;

using the data in a rendering application to form the computer graphics scene depicting the location from a street level viewpoint; and

including the computer graphics scene in the entertainment feature as a scene of the entertainment feature, wherein the entertainment feature comprises a movie excluding a computer game and excluding a map display feature, and wherein the computer graphics scene of the entertainment feature represents a story line scenario of a plot conveyed by the entertainment feature from the street level viewpoint.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the steps are performed by an entertainment feature developer.

15. A method of using a navigation source database to derive products including a computer graphics scene of an entertainment feature, wherein the navigation source database contains data that represent geographic features in a region including roads in the region, the method comprising:

providing a set of data from the navigation source database, wherein the set of data represents at least some of the geographic features in the region and is stored on a computer-readable storage medium, and wherein the navigation source database includes a plurality of road segment data records formatted to be compiled for a vehicle navigation system that represent the roads in the region, the road segment records associated with attributes suitable to provide navigation-related functions including vehicle route calculation and vehicle route guidance, the attributes including

(i) geographic coordinates,

(ii) a street name,

(iii) an address range,

(iv) a turn restriction, and

(v) road shape; and

providing a toolset with the set of data to develop a computer graphics scene of a motion picture or a television show from a street level viewpoint based on the set of data, the motion picture or the television show comprising a plurality of scenes including the computer graphics scene, the plurality of scenes depicting a sequence of the motion picture or the television show,

wherein the computer graphics scene of the motion picture or the television show depicts at least some of the geographic features in the region, wherein the motion picture or the television show is distinct from a video game and distinct from a navigation application, and wherein the entire computer graphics scene of the motion picture or the television show is portrayed from the street level viewpoint containing plot details that contribute to a story line of the motion picture or the television show.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the motion picture or television show includes a live actor.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the computer graphics scene comprises a background, and wherein the live actor is incorporated with the background to produce the motion picture or the television show.