Building search by contents

• US 8,566,325 B1
• Filed: 12/23/2010
• Issued: 10/22/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google Inc. (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Brewington, Brian Edmond
• Primary Examiner(s): Trujillo, James
• Assistant Examiner(s): VU, THONG H
• Application Number:
  US12/977,494
• Time in Patent Office: 1,034 Days
• Field of Search: 707/3, 707/2, 707/737, 707/743, 455/457
• US Class Current: 707/743
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3682 output of POI information on a road map G01C21/3614, G01C21/3685 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/2219 Large Object storage; Management thereof
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/29 Geographical information databases

Abstract

Aspects of the invention relate generally to identifying and providing 3D models in response to a search request. More specifically, a server may access a database of 3D models, at least some of which include geolocation information such as an address, intersection, or geolocation coordinates. The server may select a particular model and identify points of interest. For example, the server may use detailed map information to identify points of interest located at or near the geolocation information associated with the particular model. Once a point of interest has been identified, a corresponding system tag may be generated and associated with the 3D model. Tags may be used to index, search, and retrieve 3D models in response to a search request. For example, when a request for a 3D model is received, the server identifies the search terms and searches the tags to identify relevant 3D models.

Claims

1. A method for generating tags, the method comprising:

accessing a database including a plurality of 3D models of objects, wherein each 3D model of an object of the plurality of 3D models of objects is associated with information defining a geographic area of a base polygon of the respective object;

accessing map information including a plurality of points of interest, where each point of interest of the plurality of points of interest is associated with a geographic coordinate;

selecting a 3D model of an object from the plurality of 3D models of objects;

determining, by a processor, whether the geographic coordinate of a given point of interest of the plurality of points of interest is within the geographic area of the base polygon defined by the information associated with the selected 3D model of the object;

when the geographic coordinate of a given point of interest of the plurality of points of interest is within the geographic area of the base polygon defined by the information associated with the selected 3D model of the object, creating, by the processor, a system tag including a search term selected based on the given point of interest;

associating the system tag with the selected 3D model of an object; and

storing the association in memory.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the selected 3D model of the object represents a building and the geographic area of the base polygon defined by the information associated with the selected 3D model of the object represents a boundary of the building.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the database further includes a search index, and the method further comprises storing the system tag in the search index.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the search term is a title of the given point of interest.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, from a device, a request for one or more 3D models of objects including the search term;

identifying, by the processor, the system tag based on the identified search term;

identifying the selected 3D model of the object from the database based on the received system tag; and

transmitting the selected 3D model of the object to the device.

6. A computer comprising:

memory storing a database including a plurality of 3D models of objects, wherein each 3D model of an object of the plurality of 3D models of objects is associated with information defining a geographic area of a base polygon of the respective object, the memory also storing map information including a plurality of points of interest, where each point of interest of the plurality of points of interest is associated with a geographic coordinate; and

a processor coupled to the memory and operable to;

select a 3D model of an object from the plurality of 3D models of objects;

determine whether the geographic coordinate of a given point of interest of the plurality of points of interest is within the geographic area of the base polygon defined by the information associated with the selected 3D model of the object;

when the geographic coordinate of a given point of interest of the plurality of points of interest is within the geographic area of the base polygon defined by the information associated with the selected 3D model of the object, create a system tag including a search term selected based on the given point of interest;

associate the system tag with the selected 3D model of an object; and

store the association in the memory.

7. The computer of claim 6, wherein the selected 3D model of the object represents a building and the geographic perimeter represents a boundary of the building.

8. The computer of claim 6, wherein the database further includes a search index, and the processor is further operable to store the system tag in the search index.

9. The computer of claim 6, wherein the search term is a title of the given point of interest.

10. The computer of claim 6, wherein the processor is further operable to:

receive, from a device, a request for one or more 3D models of objects, the request including the search term;

identify the system tag based on the received search term;

identify the selected 3D model of the object from the database based on the identified system tag; and

transmit the selected 3D model of the object to the device.

11. A non-transitory, tangible computer-readable storage medium on which computer readable instructions of a program are stored, the instructions, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform a method, the method comprising:

accessing a database including a plurality of 3D models of objects, wherein each 3D model of an object of the plurality of 3D models of objects is associated with information defining a geographic area of a base polygon of the respective object;

accessing map information including a plurality of points of interest, where each point of interest of the plurality of points of interest is associated with a geographic coordinate;

selecting a 3D model of an object from the plurality of 3D models of objects;

determining whether the geographic coordinate of a given point of interest of the plurality of points of interest is within the geographic area of the base polygon defined by the information associated with the selected 3D model of the object;

when the geographic coordinate of a given point of interest of the plurality of points of interest is within the geographic area of the base polygon defined by the information associated with the selected 3D model of the object, creating, by the processor, a system tag including a search term selected based on the given point of interest;

associating the system tag with the selected 3D model of an object; and

storing the association in memory.

12. The medium of claim 11, wherein the selected 3D model of the object includes a building.

13. The medium of claim 11, wherein the database further includes a search index, and the method further comprises storing the system tag in the search index.

14. The medium of claim 11, wherein the search term is a title of the given point of interest.

15. The medium of claim 11, wherein the method further comprises:

receiving, from a device, a request for one or more 3D models of objects including the search term;

identifying, by the processor, the system tag based on the identified search term;

identifying the selected 3D model of the object from the database based on the received system tag; and

transmitting the selected 3D model of the object to the device.