Generating a multi-layered geographic image and the use thereof

• US 8,723,886 B2
• Filed: 09/08/2010
• Issued: 05/13/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/08/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: HERE Global B.V. (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Navteq B.V.
• Inventors: Stroila, Matei
• Primary Examiner(s): Thompson, James A
• Assistant Examiner(s): Chu, David H
• Application Number:
  US12/877,405
• Publication Number:
  US 20120056899A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,343 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 345/629
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3638 including 3D objects and buildings three dimensional [3D] modelling, e.g. data description of 3D objects G06T17/00; geographic models G06T17/05
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3826 Terrain data
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3848 Data obtained from both position sensors and additional sensors
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3867 Geometry of map features, e.g. shape points, polygons or for simplified maps
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3878 Hierarchical structures, e.g. layering
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/29 Geographical information databases
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 15/00 3D [Three Dimensional] image rendering
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 17/05 Geographic models
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 29/007 using computer methods

Abstract

Systems, devices, features, and methods for generating and/or using a multi-layered image are disclosed. For example, a method of creating a multi-layered image from a three-dimensional model of a geographic area includes receiving three-dimensional graphical object data that represents a geographic area. The three-dimensional graphical object includes multiple geographic features. A first graphical layer of a first geographic feature of the three-dimensional graphical object is rendered as a first independent image layer. A second graphical layer of a second geographic feature of the three-dimensional graphical object is rendered as a second independent image layer. The first graphical layer and the second graphical layer are combined or overlaid to form the multi-layered image. Also, removal of layers may occur in a reverse order of their creation and/or may avoid causing gaps within the other layers not removed.

Claims

1. A method of creating a two-dimensional graphical multi-layered image from a three-dimensional model of a geographic area to enhance a navigation database, the method comprising:

receiving three-dimensional graphical object data that represents a geographic area, the three-dimensional graphical object including representations of a path, a path marking on the path, and terrain surrounding the path;

rendering a two-dimensional graphical layer of the path by removing the path marking and the terrain, projecting the path in a two-dimensional space, and tracing boundaries of the path, wherein rendering the two-dimensional graphical layer of the path is based on a specific perspective view of the three-dimensional graphical object;

storing the two-dimensional graphical layer of the path as a first independent image layer;

rendering a two-dimensional graphical layer of the path marking by removing the terrain, projecting the path and the path marking in a two-dimensional space, and tracing boundaries of the path marking, wherein rendering the two-dimensional graphical layer of the path marking is based on the specific perspective view;

storing the two-dimensional graphical layer of the path marking as second independent image layer;

rendering a two-dimensional graphical layer of the terrain by projecting the path, the path marking, and the terrain in a two-dimensional space, and then tracing boundaries of the terrain, wherein rendering the two-dimensional graphical layer of the terrain is based on the specific perspective view;

storing the two-dimensional graphical layer of the terrain as a third independent image layer; and

adding the first image layer, the second image layer, and the third image layer together to generate the two-dimensional multi-layered image, the two-dimensional multi-layered image configured to be displayed.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the three-dimensional graphical object further including a representation of a sky, the method further comprising:

rendering a two-dimensional graphical layer of the sky by removing the path, the path marking, and the terrain, then projecting the sky in a two-dimensional space, and tracing boundaries of the sky, wherein rendering the two-dimensional graphical layer of the sky is based on the specific perspective view;

storing the two-dimensional graphical layer of the sky as another independent image layer;

adding the independent image layer of the sky with the first image layer, the second image layer, and the third image layer to generate the two-dimensional multi-layered image.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the two-dimensional graphical layer of the path is rendered first, then the two-dimensional graphical layer of the path marking is rendered second, and then the two-dimensional graphical layer of the terrain is rendered third.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the order of rendering and adding the independent image layers is based on a priority sequence in which removal of layers occurs in a reverse order of their creation and avoids causing holes within the other layers not removed.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein each independent image layer includes closed polygons.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein projecting the path in a two-dimensional space includes rasterizing the path in a two-dimensional image from the perspective view.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the terrain includes one or more buildings or man-made structures.

8. A non-transitory computer-readable medium including computer-executable instructions for creating a two-dimensional graphical multi-layered image from a three-dimensional model of a geographic area, the computer-executable instructions configured to cause a processor to perform:

receiving three-dimensional graphical object data that represents a geographic area, the three-dimensional graphical object including multiple geographic features;

rendering a first two-dimensional graphical layer of a first geographic feature of the three-dimensional graphical object as a first independent image layer, the rendering of the first independent image layer is based on a specific perspective view of the three-dimensional graphical object;

rendering a second two-dimensional graphical layer of a second geographic feature of the three-dimensional graphical object as a second independent image layer, the rendering of the second independent image layer is based on the specific perspective view; and

combining the first independent image layer and the second independent image layer as a function of the rendering to create the two-dimensional graphical multi-layered image,

wherein the order of rendering the first independent image layer and the second independent image layer is based on a priority sequence in which removal of layers occurs in a reverse order of their creation and avoids causing gaps within the other layers not removed,

and wherein the two-dimensional graphical multi-layered image is displayed as a navigation feature.

9. Non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 8, wherein the multiples geographic features include one or more features consisting of:

a sky, a path, a path marking, and a terrain.

10. Non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 8, further comprising:

rendering a third two-dimensional graphical layer of a third geographic feature of the three-dimensional graphical object as a third independent image layer, the rendering of the third independent image layer is based on the specific perspective view;

combining the third independent image layer with the first independent image layer and the second independent image layer,

wherein the order of rendering the third independent image layer is also based on the priority sequence.

11. Non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 10, wherein the first independent image layer corresponds to a path, the second independent image layer corresponds to a path marking, and the third independent image layer corresponds to a terrain.

12. Non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 8, wherein rendering the first independent image layer includes projecting the first geographic feature without the second geographic in a two-dimensional space, and then tracing boundaries of the first geographic feature based on the two-dimensional projection.

13. Non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 12, wherein projecting includes creating a raster image.

14. Non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 8, wherein the specific perspective view is based on received fixed camera parameters.

15. Non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 8, wherein the two-dimensional graphical multi-layered image comprises a multi-layered scalable vector graphics image.

16. A method of creating a multi-layered image from a three-dimensional model of a geographic area, the method comprising:

receiving three-dimensional graphical object data that represents a geographic area, the three-dimensional graphical object including multiple geographic features;

rendering a first graphical layer of a first geographic feature of the three-dimensional graphical object as a first independent image layer;

rendering a second graphical layer of a second geographic feature of the three-dimensional graphical object as a second independent image layer; and

overlaying the first graphical layer and the second graphical layer to form the graphical multi-layered image, wherein removal of a layer avoids causing a hole in any other layer.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the first graphical layer and the second graphical layer are scalable vector graphics layers.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the three-dimensional graphical object data corresponds to a roadway or pathway junction.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein the first geographic feature corresponds to a path and the second geographic feature corresponds to a path marking.

20. A method of creating a graphical multi-layered image from a three-dimensional model of a geographic area to enhance a navigation database, the method comprising:

receiving three-dimensional graphical object data that represents a geographic area, the three-dimensional graphical object including multiple geographic features;

rendering a first graphical layer of a first geographic feature of the three-dimensional graphical object as a first independent image layer;

assigning a first priority attribute to the first independent image layer;

rendering a second graphical layer of a second geographic feature of the three-dimensional graphical object as a second independent image layer;

assigning a second priority attribute to the second independent image layer; and

combining the first independent image layer and the second independent image layer to form the graphical multi-layered image, wherein combining includes ordering the first independent image layer and the second independent image layer based on the first and second priority attributes,

wherein the first and second priority attributes correspond to a priority sequence in which removal of layers occurs only in a reverse order of creation.

21. A method of creating a two-dimensional graphical multi-layered image from a three-dimensional model of a geographic area to enhance a navigation database, the method comprising:

receiving three-dimensional graphical object data that represents a geographic area, the three-dimensional graphical object including representations of a path, a path marking on the path, and terrain surrounding the path;

rendering a two-dimensional graphical layer of the path by removing the path marking and the terrain, projecting the path in a two-dimensional space, and tracing boundaries of the path, wherein rendering the two-dimensional graphical layer of the path is based on a specific perspective view of the three-dimensional graphical object;

storing the two-dimensional graphical layer of the path as a first independent image layer;

rendering a two-dimensional graphical layer of the path marking by removing the terrain, projecting the path and the path marking in a two-dimensional space, and tracing boundaries of the path marking, wherein rendering the two-dimensional graphical layer of the path marking is based on the specific perspective view;

storing the two-dimensional graphical layer of the path marking as second independent image layer; and

adding the first image layer, a second image layer, and a third image layer together to generate the two-dimensional multi-layered image.