Image mapping to provide visual geographic path

• US 8,270,683 B2
• Filed: 07/26/2010
• Issued: 09/18/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 02/25/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Location Based Services, LLC (Leigh M. Rothschild)
• Original Assignee: The Invention Science Fund I, L.L.C. (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Jung, Edward K. Y., Levien, Royce A., Lord, Robert W., Malamud, Mark A., Rinaldo, John D. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): AZARIAN, SEYED H
• Application Number:
  US12/804,708
• Publication Number:
  US 20110050721A1
• Time in Patent Office: 785 Days
• Field of Search: 382/100, 382/103, 382/104, 382/106, 382/113, 382/114, 382/155, 382/118, 382/168, 382/180, 382/181, 382/184, 382/189, 382/216, 382/232, 382/255, 382/274, 382/276, 382/291, 382/305, 382/284, 382/312, 345/619, 345/8, 707/101, 379/201.03, 701/209, 701/200, 701/201
• US Class Current: 382/118
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/20 Instruments for performing navigational calculations G01C21/24, G01C21/26 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 29/106 using electronic means

Abstract

Provided is a computer system and method for mapping a visual path. The method includes receiving one or more images included in a predefined area; receiving one or more parameters associated with the image; and integrating the images and parameters into a map of the predefined area to enable mapping the visual path through the predefined area in response to one or more input path parameters.

Claims

1. A method for mapping a visual path, the method comprising:

receiving, by a computing device including a processor, one or more images of a predefined area;

integrating, by the computing device, the one or more images into a map of the predefined area, wherein the integrating includes a time parameter associated with the one or more images, wherein the time parameter provides an interval for displaying or retrieving images;

mapping, by the computing device, a visual path through the predefined area, wherein the mapping includes an input path parameter associated with the predefined area, wherein the input path parameter includes location information;

receiving, by the computing device, an identifier associated with an object of at least one of the one or more images, wherein the object is associated with the visual path, wherein the object is associated with the time parameter, wherein the object is associated with a location parameter, and wherein an object location is periodically updated; and

altering, by the computing device, the visual path based at least on an action from the identifier.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the identifier is indicative of an action to be taken with respect to the object.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the action to be taken with respect to the object includes highlighting the object, removing the object, or altering the object.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising identifying, by the computing device, a person of the one or more images based on the identifier.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the altering, by the computing device, the visual path based on the identifier includes altering the person.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the altering, by the computing device, the visual path based on the identifier includes altering the class of persons based on the identifier.

7. The method of claim 4, further comprising determining, by the computing device, whether the person is related to a class of persons.

8. The method of claim 1, further includes a proximity parameter, wherein the proximity parameter includes associations with the time parameter, the input path parameter, and the location parameter.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the input path parameter includes locations in a specified order from the one or more images of the predefined area.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the receiving, by a computing device including a processor, of the one or more images of a predefined area includes receiving an image history of the predefined area captured by a public camera in the predefined area.

11. A computer system comprising:

a processor;

memory coupled to the processor,

an image module coupled to the memory, the image module configurable to receive images of a predefined area; and

an integration module coupled to the memory, the integration module configurable to;

integrate a plurality of the images into a map of the predefined area, wherein the integrate includes a time parameter associated with the one or more images, wherein the time parameter provides an interval for displaying or retrieving images;

map a visual path through the predefined area, wherein the map includes an input path parameter associated with the predefined area, wherein the input path parameter includes location information;

receive an identifier associated with an object of at least one of the plurality of images, wherein the object is associated with the visual path, wherein the object is associated with the time parameter, wherein the object is associated with a location parameter, and wherein an object location is periodically updated; and

alter the visual path based at least on an action from the identifier.

12. The computer system of claim 11, wherein the images of the predefined area include real time or near real time images of the predefined area.

13. The computer system of claim 11, wherein the image module configurable to receive the images of the predefined area includes:

the image module configurable to receive the images of the predefined area from a public camera, from a private camera, via the Internet, or a combination thereof.

14. The computer system of claim 11, wherein the image module configurable to receive the one or more images of the predefined area includes:

the image module configurable to receive the images of the predefined area from a mobile device of a user located within the predefined area.

15. The computer system of claim 11, wherein the

integration module configurable to integrate the plurality of the one or more images into a map of the predefined area includes:

combining the plurality of images to create a scrollable image path.

16. The computer system of claim 15, wherein the scrollable image path includes a virtual visual path through the predefined area.

17. A computer program product comprising:

computer readable storage media bearing computer executable instructions including;

one or more instructions for receiving one or more images of a predefined area;

one or more instructions for integrating the one or more images into a map of the predefined area, wherein the integrating includes a time parameter associated with the one or more images, wherein the time parameter provides an interval for displaying or retrieving images;

one or more instructions for mapping a visual path through the predefined area, wherein the mapping includes an input path parameter associated with the predefined area, wherein the input path parameter includes location information;

one or more instructions for receiving an identifier associated with an object of at least one of the one or more images, wherein the object is associated with the visual path, wherein the object is associated with the time parameter, and wherein the object is associated with a location parameter, wherein an object location is periodically updated; and

one or more instructions for altering the visual path based at least on an action from the identifier.

18. The computer program product of claim 17 further comprising

one or more instructions for periodically updating the one or more images.

19. The computer program product of claim 18, wherein the one or more instructions for periodically updating the one or more images further comprise one or more instructions for updating the one or more images in response to receiving input path parameters.

20. The computer program product of claim 18, wherein the one or more instructions for periodically updating the one or more images further comprise one or more instructions for receiving a location parameter via a GPS connection indicating a location of a user of a mobile device.

21. The computer program product of claim 17, further

comprising one or more instructions for receiving a time parameter for retrieving the one or more images.

22. The computer program product of claim 21, wherein the time parameter takes into account a speed at which a user of a mobile device is moving through the predefined area.

23. The computer program product of claim 22, further comprising one or more instructions for displaying images of the predefined area coordinated with a location where the user of the mobile device should be located based on the time parameter.