Creating and linking 3D spatial objects with dynamic data, and visualizing said objects in geographic information systems

• US 8,977,521 B2
• Filed: 11/01/2011
• Issued: 03/10/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 11/01/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cube Lease, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Cube Lease, Inc.
• Inventors: Angevine, Greg, Cuff, James
• Primary Examiner(s): Chad, Aniss
• Application Number:
  US13/882,984
• Publication Number:
  US 20130238290A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,225 Days
• Field of Search: 703/1
• US Class Current: 703/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/29 Geographical information databases
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 30/00 Computer-aided design [CAD]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/16 Real estate
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 17/05 Geographic models

Abstract

A method and system of creating and linking 3D spatial objects with dynamic data, and visualizing said objects in geographic information systems (GIS) that includes a front end for a user interface, a database at the back end, and an application layer which processes the data sent between interface and database. A method of generating and uploading Keyhole Markup Language (KML) rings is disclosed. Furthermore, a user specifies a search location, and is shown a view of the available space indicated on the buildings by KML code which is assembled from the database by the system. A method for creating, linking and displaying a three-dimensional spatial object is also disclosed, as well as a method of generating a visual flight between several geographical points, showing the KML structures during the flight. Lastly, a method of showing a cardinal view from a floor of a building in a GIS is disclosed.

Claims

1. A method for creating, linking and displaying a three-dimensional spatial object, the method comprising:

generating a multi-geometry string specifying one or more outline characteristics;

retrieving building class data from a database;

assigning a different style to each building class of said building class data as an assigned style;

retrieving floor data for each floor of one or more buildings;

generating multi-geometry polygons for each building of the one or more buildings to generate a wire structure and associating each building of the one or more buildings with said assigned style using the floor data;

generating a ring for each floor by linking two or more points each located by latitude, longitude and altitude, wherein the ring is associated with the data for each floor;

generating a string of said multi-geometry polygons and styles;

generating a spatial object from said string; and

displaying the spatial object into a graphical information system wherein the spatial object is shown in a context of a local environment, and wherein the spatial object and ring are viewable in three dimensions.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising using an overlay file to reduce the significance of the background.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the wire structure is colored based on characteristics of a floor or a building.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the spatial object is an accurate representation of an exterior shape of a building or structure and comprises:

a. geographically and proportionally accurate wire-frame models of the exterior shape of the building or structure; and

b. geographically and proportionally accurate individual floors that are nested within the wire-frame models wherein each individual floor is an independent nested spatial object.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of generating a visual flight between geographic points.

6. The method of claim 5 further comprising the steps of:

a. receiving a Globally Unique Identifier that is passed to the database;

b. receiving from the database data associated with all of said geographical points including building identification data;

c. determining a start and end point for the visual flight;

d. creating structures associated with the several geographical points from the data received using a CPU;

e. retrieving camera views for start and end point of the flight; and

f. generating and assembling the flight using the CPU and a Geographical Information System Application Programming Interface.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the Globally Unique Identifier is contained within a URL.

8. The method of claim 6 wherein the geographical points are leases, and the building identification data is leasing data.

9. The method of claim 6 wherein the structures are rings and balloons adjacent to the rings contain data associated with the rings.

10. The method of claim 6 further comprising the steps of pausing the flight and replaying the flight.