Generating an amalgamated image including a static image and a dynamic image

• US 8,103,125 B2
• Filed: 03/13/2007
• Issued: 01/24/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 03/13/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Martin, Maykel
• Primary Examiner(s): Bali, Vikkram
• Assistant Examiner(s): ENTEZARI, MICHELLE M
• Application Number:
  US11/685,387
• Publication Number:
  US 20080226195A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,778 Days
• Field of Search: 382/287, 382/284
• US Class Current: 382/284
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 13/80 2D [Two Dimensional] animation, e.g. using sprites
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 17/05 Geographic models

Abstract

In an embodiment, a request is received that includes a specification of a static location and a dynamic location. A static image is created that includes a map that represents an area centered around the static location. A dynamic image is created asynchronously from the creation of the static image. An amalgamated image is generated that includes the static image and the dynamic image, which is over a portion of the static image. In this way, spatial data may be drawn in a manner that increases performance.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving a request from a client, wherein the request comprises a specification of a static location and a dynamic location;

creating a static image, wherein the static image comprises a map that represents an area centered around the static location, wherein the static image does not move;

creating a dynamic image asynchronously from the creating the static image;

generating an amalgamated image comprising the static image and the dynamic image, wherein the generating further comprises generating the dynamic image at the dynamic location over a portion of the static image;

sending the amalgamated image to the client; and

moving the dynamic image in the amalgamated image with respect to the static image, wherein the moving further comprises receiving a second request from the client, wherein the second request comprises a new dynamic location and moving the dynamic image to the new dynamic location in response to the receiving the second request, wherein the moving represents a movement of a physical object through the area represented by the map, and wherein the dynamic location specifies a location of the client and wherein the dynamic location and the static location are initially identical and wherein the dynamic location moves away from the static location over time.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the client displays the amalgamated image.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the second request further comprises the static location.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the creating the static image and the creating the dynamic image are performed in parallel.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

creating object data representing the map prior to the receiving the request, wherein the creating the static image reads the object data.

6. A method for deploying computing services, comprising:

integrating computer readable code into a computer system, wherein the code in combination with the computer system performs the method of claim 1.

7. A non-transitory storage medium encoded with instructions, wherein the instructions when executed on a processor comprise:

receiving a request from a client, wherein the request comprises a specification of a static location and a dynamic location;

creating a static image, wherein the static image comprises a map that represents an area centered around the static location, wherein the static image does not move;

creating a dynamic image asynchronously from the creating the static image;

generating an amalgamated image comprising the static image and the dynamic image, wherein the generating further comprises generating the dynamic image at the dynamic location over a portion of the static image;

sending the amalgamated image to the client, wherein the client displays the amalgamated image; and

moving the dynamic image in the amalgamated image with respect to the static image, wherein the moving further comprises receiving a second request from the client, wherein the second request comprises a new dynamic location and moving the dynamic image to the new dynamic location in response to the receiving the second request, wherein the moving represents a movement of a physical object through the area represented by the map, and wherein the dynamic location specifies a location of the client and wherein the dynamic location and the static location are initially identical and wherein the dynamic location moves away from the static location over time.

8. The non-transitory storage medium of claim 7, wherein the second request further comprises the static location.

9. The non-transitory storage medium of claim 7, wherein the creating the static image and the creating the dynamic image are performed in parallel.

10. The non-transitory storage medium of claim 7, further comprising:

creating object data representing the map prior to the receiving the request, wherein the creating the static image reads the object data.

11. A computer system comprising:

a processor; and

memory connected to the processor, wherein the memory encodes instructions that when executed by the processor comprise;

receiving a request from a client, wherein the request comprises a specification of a static location and a dynamic location,

creating a static image, wherein the static image comprises a map that represents an area centered around the static location, wherein the static image does not move,

creating a dynamic image asynchronously from the creating the static image,

generating an amalgamated image comprising the static image and the dynamic image, wherein the generating further comprises generating the dynamic image at the dynamic location over a portion of the static image,

sending the amalgamated image to the client, wherein the client displays the amalgamated image; and

moving the dynamic image in the amalgamated image with respect to the static image, wherein the moving further comprises receiving a second request from the client, wherein the second request comprises a new dynamic location, and moving the dynamic image to the new dynamic location in response to the receiving the second request, wherein the moving represents a movement of a physical object through the area represented by the map, and wherein the dynamic location specifies a location of the client and wherein the dynamic location and the static location are initially identical and wherein the dynamic location moves away from the static location over time.

12. The computer system of claim 11, wherein the second request further comprises the static location.

13. The computer system of claim 11, wherein the creating the static image and the creating the dynamic image are performed in parallel.

14. The computer system of claim 11, wherein the instructions further comprise:

creating object data representing the map prior to the receiving the request, wherein the creating the static image reads the object data.