Transit view for a traffic report

• US 8,350,845 B2
• Filed: 01/12/2009
• Issued: 01/08/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 01/12/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: HERE Global B.V. (HERE Holding Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Navteq North America LLC (HERE Holding Corporation)
• Inventors: Soulchin, Robert M., Reh, Stephen J.
• Primary Examiner(s): CHOW, JEFFREY J
• Application Number:
  US12/351,985
• Publication Number:
  US 20100177092A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,457 Days
• Field of Search: 701117-122, 345/419, 345/629
• US Class Current: 345/419
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 17/05 Geographic models

Abstract

A method and system for visually displaying views of current transit conditions are disclosed. A user selects a transit system (e.g., bus, train, ferry) and a rundown of views of the transit system to show in a traffic report. To more easily identify the transit system in the traffic report, graphics representing the buildings and other landmarks in the geographic area of the transit system are displayed in x-ray mode, while the transit system graphics are highlighted using colors. Graphic objects are added to the views to provide additional information regarding the transit system, including information regarding incidents on the transit system.

Claims

1. A method of displaying transit conditions in a traffic report that includes a visual depiction of a geographical area, comprising in combination:

selecting a transit system and a road system, wherein the transit system includes transit conditions and wherein the road system includes traffic conditions;

determining a transit condition on the transit system, wherein the transit condition includes a status of the transit system;

determining a traffic condition on the road system;

displaying a three dimensional virtual world view of the transit system and the road system such that the three dimensional virtual world view emphasizes the transit system within the geographic area by making structures near the transit system more transparent in the three dimensional virtual world view; and

displaying the transit condition along the transit system and the traffic condition along the road system in the three dimensional virtual world view.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the transit system is one of a train system and a ferry system.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising creating transit system graphics using a scene graph.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein determining a transit condition of the transit system includes obtaining the transit condition from a transit agency.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein determining a transit condition of the transit system includes obtaining data from sensors.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein making structures near the transit system more transparent in the three dimensional virtual world view includes changing textures of the structure graphics.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the three dimensional virtual world view emphasizes the transit system by adding color to the transit system graphics.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the three dimensional virtual world view of the transit conditions includes a graphic object that identifies an incident on the transit system.

9. A system for providing a transit view for a traffic report that includes a visual depiction of a geographical area, comprising:

a data collection center configured to receive data regarding transit conditions on at least one transit system and traffic conditions on at least one road system, wherein the data collection center is configured to generate a condition data output; and

a non-transitory computer readable medium executable by a processor to execute a traffic report application configured to receive the condition data output from the data collection center and configured to generate a video output for a traffic report including a three dimensional virtual world view of the transit conditions and traffic conditions that minimizes visual obstructions from landmarks near the transit system in the three dimensional virtual world view.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the data collection center receives data regarding transit conditions from an operator that enters data into the data collection center.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein the data collection center receives data regarding transit conditions from sensors.

12. The system of claim 9, wherein the video output includes a run down of views including the view of transit conditions.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the rundown further includes a view of traffic conditions.

14. The system of claim 9, wherein the three dimensional virtual world view minimizes visual obstructions by making the landmark graphics appear more transparent than the transit system graphics in the three dimensional virtual world view.

15. A method of displaying transit conditions in a traffic report that includes a visual depiction of a geographical area, comprising in combination:

creating a geographical map of a geographic area including a transit system and a road system;

creating a three dimensional virtual world view depicting the transit system, the road system, and other features in the geographical area, wherein the three dimensional virtual world view highlights the transit system by de-emphasizing the other features in the geographic area;

obtaining data representing transit conditions on the transit system and data representing traffic conditions on the road system; and

using the geographical map, the three dimensional virtual world view, the data representing traffic conditions and the data representing transit conditions in a visual traffic report.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein creating the geographical map includes adding a transit layer to a scene file.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising creating transit system graphics using a scene graph.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein creating the three dimensional virtual world view includes changing textures of the other feature graphics to make the features more transparent in the three dimensional virtual world view.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein creating the three dimensional virtual world view includes adding color to the transit system graphics.