System and method for generating a virtual tour on a display device

• US 8,200,712 B2
• Filed: 01/26/2011
• Issued: 06/12/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 02/21/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Farmx, Automodality Inc. (FarmX Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Geopeg, Inc.
• Inventors: Collier, Wesley Clay, Koch, Edward Lee, Hennage, Daniel Allan
• Primary Examiner(s): LU, KUEN S
• Application Number:
  US13/014,600
• Publication Number:
  US 20110196897A1
• Time in Patent Office: 503 Days
• Field of Search: 707/802, 707/803
• US Class Current: 707/802
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3856 Data obtained from user input
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3874 Structures specially adapted for data searching and retrieval
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/285 Clustering or classification
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/444 Spatial browsing, e.g. 2D maps, 3D or virtual spaces
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9537 Spatial or temporal dependent retrieval, e.g. spatiotemporal queries
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99942 Manipulating data structure, e.g. compression, compaction, compilation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99943 Generating database or data structure, e.g. via user interface
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99945 Object-oriented database structure processing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99948 Application of database or data structure, e.g. distributed, multimedia, or image
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99953 Recoverability

Abstract

A system and method for generating a virtual tour on a display device is described. The method comprises providing at least one map. The method further comprises providing a plurality of sequenced images, wherein each of the images is associated with at least one location by a geo-coding module configured to generate a geo-location object data sheet that associates sequential images with a corresponding location. The sequenced images are organized based on the location of each of the sequenced images and displayed on the map. The method is implemented by the system.

Claims

1. A method for generating a virtual tour on a display device, the method comprising:

providing at least one map;

providing a plurality of sequenced images, wherein each of the images is associated with at least one location by a geo-coding module configured to generate a geo-location object data sheet that associates sequential images with a corresponding location;

providing a route on the map that is associated with the organized sequenced images;

associating a time with each of the organized sequenced images;

organizing the sequenced images based on the location of each of the sequenced images;

displaying the organized sequenced images on the map;

displaying the organized sequence of images along the route that is shown on the map; and

providing at least one user control that is configured to receive a user instruction corresponding to the organized sequence of images, wherein the user instruction is configured to control an animation that includes the organized sequence of images.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein one of the organized sequenced images comprises a point-of-interest (POI) having additional information that is provided by a third party.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising generating the animation of the organized sequenced images based on the time of each organized sequenced image.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein one of the organized sequenced images comprises a point-of-interest (POI) having additional information that is provided by a third party.

5. A system for generating a virtual tour on a display device, the system comprising:

at least one map;

a plurality of sequenced images, wherein each of the sequenced images is associated with at least one location on the at least one map;

a content repository configured to store the sequenced images;

a map repository configured to store the map data;

a geo-coding module configured to generate a geo-location object data sheet (GDS) that associates the plurality of sequenced images with corresponding locations;

the geo-coding module configured to organize the plurality of sequenced images based on the location of each of the sequenced images;

a time is associated with each of the organized sequential images;

the geo-coding module configured to provide a route on the map that is associated with the organized sequence of images, and displaying the organized sequence of images along the route on the map;

a GDS repository configured to store a plurality of GDSs; and

at least one user control configured to receive a user instruction corresponding to the organized sequence of images, wherein the user instruction is configured to control an animation that includes the organized sequence of images.

6. The system of claim 5 further comprising a third party providing point-of-interest (POI) information about at least one of the organized sequential images.

7. The system of claim 5 wherein the animation of the organized sequenced images is generated based on the time of each organized sequenced image.

8. The system of claim 7 further comprising the third party providing point-of-interest (POI) information about at least one of the organized sequential images.

9. A system for generating a virtual tour on a display device, the system comprising:

at least one map;

a plurality of sequenced images, wherein each of the sequenced images is associated with at least one location on the at least one map;

a means for storing the sequenced images;

a means for storing the map data;

a means for generating a geo-location object data sheet (GDS) that associates the plurality of sequenced images with corresponding locations;

the means for generating a GDS configured to organize the plurality of sequenced images based on the location of each of the sequenced images;

a time associated with each of the organized sequential images;

the means for generating a GDS configured to provide a route on the map that is associated with the organized sequence of images, and displays the organized sequence of images along the route on the map;

a means for storing a plurality of GDSs; and

at least one user control configured to receive a user instruction corresponding to the organized sequence of images, wherein the user instruction is configured to control an animation that includes the organized sequence of images.

10. The system of claim 9 further comprising a third party providing point-of-interest (POI) information about at least one of the organized sequential images.

11. The system of claim 9 wherein the animation of the organized sequenced images generated based on the time of each organized sequenced image.

12. The system of claim 11 further comprising the third party providing point-of-interest (POI) information about at least one of the organized sequential images.