Process and apparatus for annotating electronic map data

• US 8,126,214 B2
• Filed: 08/13/2008
• Issued: 02/28/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 08/21/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Airbus Operations SAS (Airbus SE)
• Original Assignee: Airbus Operations SAS (Airbus SE)
• Inventors: Morbey, Joao, Landman, Mathieu
• Primary Examiner(s): CHANG, JON CARLTON
• Application Number:
  US12/190,977
• Publication Number:
  US 20090052806A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,294 Days
• Field of Search: 382/113, 382/276, 382/293, 382/302
• US Class Current: 382/113
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3878 Hierarchical structures, e.g. layering
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 29/00 Maps; Plans; Charts; Diagrams, e.g. route diagram star maps G09B27/04; devices for holding or supporting maps A47B97/02; for computing purposes G06G1/14, G09B1/16; display boards G09F

Abstract

The invention relates to a method and a device for annotating electronic background maps adapted in particular to navigation aid systems for vehicles. Projection parameters and geodesic parameters are associated with the said background map. Display references are associated with the display of at least part of the said background map. After at least one annotation has been acquired, it is displayed on the said background map. The said at least one annotation is then transformed to at least one vectorial object characterized by at least one point having geometric coordinates defined in the display system of the said at least one annotation and of the said background map. The said geometric coordinates of the said at least one point of the said at least one vectorial object are then converted to geographic coordinates according to the said projection parameters and the said geodesic parameters associated with the said background map and according to the said display references.

Claims

1. A method for annotating an electronic background map, the background map being associated with projection parameters and geodesic parameters, and display references being associated with a display of at least part of the background map, the method comprising:

acquiring at least one annotation, the at least one annotation being displayed on the background map;

transforming the at least one annotation to at least one object including at least one point having geometric coordinates defined in the display system of the at least one annotation and of the background map; and

converting the geometric coordinates of the at least one point of the at least one object to geographic coordinates according to the projection parameters and the geodesic parameters associated with the background map and according to the display references.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of transforming includes transforming the at least one object to at least one vectorial object.

3. The method according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein

the at least one annotation belongs to a specific graphic layer of the display system of the at least one annotation and of the background map, and

the at least one part of the background map belongs to a graphic layer separate from the specific graphic layer comprising including the at least one annotation.

4. The method according to claim 1, further comprising storing, in memory, the at least one object and the associated geographic coordinates.

5. A computer program stored on a non-transitory medium comprising instructions that when executed by a computer cause the computer to perform the method of claim 1.

11. The method according to claim 1, wherein in the step of acquiring, the at least one annotation is acquired from a user viewing the displayed background map.

6. A device for annotating an electronic background map, the background map being associated with projection parameters and geodesic parameters, and display references being associated with a display of at least part of the background map, the device, comprising:

means for acquiring at least one annotation;

means for displaying the at least one annotation and at least part of the background map;

means for transforming the at least one annotation to at least one object including at least one point having geometric coordinates defined in the display system of the display means; and

means for converting the geometric coordinates of the at least one point of the at least one object to geographic coordinates according to the projection parameters and the geodesic parameters associated with the background map and according to the display references.

7. The device according to claim 6, further comprising storage means adapted to store in memory the at least one object and the associated geographic coordinates.

8. The device according to claim 6 or claim 7, wherein the transformation means includes means for transforming the at least one object to at least one vectorial object.

9. The device according to claim 6, wherein

the display means includes means for managing graphic layers,

the at least one annotation belongs to a specific graphic layer of the display means, and

the at least one part of the background map belongs to a graphic layer separate from the specific graphic layer comprising including the at least one annotation.

10. An aircraft comprising the device according to claim 6.

12. The device according to claim 6, wherein the means for acquiring acquires the at least one annotation from a user viewing the displayed background map.

13. A device for annotating an electronic background map, the background map being associated with projection parameters and geodesic parameters, and display references being associated with a display of at least part of the background map, the device comprising:

an interface configured to acquire at least one annotation;

a display configured to display the at least one annotation and at least part of the background map; and

a processor configured to

transform the at least one annotation to at least one object including at least one point having geometric coordinates defined in the display system of the display, and

convert the geometric coordinates of the at least one point of the at least one object to geographic coordinates according to the projection parameters and the geodesic parameters associated with the background map and according to the display references.

14. The device according to claim 13, further comprising a memory configured to store the at least one object and the associated geographic coordinates.

15. The device according to claim 13, wherein the processor is configured to transform the at least one object to at least one vectorial object.

16. The device according to claim 13, wherein

the display is configured to manage graphic layers,

the at least one annotation belongs to a specific graphic layer of the display, and

the at least one part of the background map belongs to a graphic layer separate from the specific graphic layer including the at least one annotation.

17. An aircraft comprising the device according to claim 13.

18. The device according to claim 13, wherein the interface is configured to acquire the at least one annotation from a user viewing the displayed background map.