Interactive geo-referenced source imagery viewing system and method
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method of managing geographical imagery, the method comprising:
- receiving, using one or more computing devices, oblique imagery and storing the oblique imagery as unstitched oblique images in a database;
associating, using the one or more computing devices, metadata with the unstitched oblique images, the metadata including location information for each respective unstitched image;
receiving, using the one or more computing devices, a first request for images, the first request including a target location and a first point of view;
comparing, using the one or more computing devices, the target location to the location information;
selecting, using the one or more computing devices, at least a first one of the unstitched oblique images based upon the comparison, wherein the at least one first unstitched oblique image is selected according to a ranking function, wherein the ranking function measures relevance of the unstitched oblique images based on the requested first point of view;
transmitting, using the one or more computing devices, the at least one first unstitched oblique images to a client device;
receiving, using the one or more computing devices, a second request for images, the second request including the target location from a second point of view;
selecting, using the one or more computing devices, at least a second one of the unstitched oblique images according to the ranking function; and
transmitting, using the one or more computing devices, the at least one second unstitched oblique images to the client device, wherein the transmitting includes a smooth transition between the at least one first unstitched oblique image and the at least one second unstitched oblique image.
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Abstract
The present invention pertains to geographical image applications. A user may transition between nadir and street level imagery using unstitched oblique imagery. Oblique images offer a rich set of views of a target location and provide a smooth transition to or from other images such as nadir photographs taken by satellites or street level photographs taken by ground level users. Using unstitched oblique images avoids artifacts that may be introduced when stitching together one or more images. This allows an application to display images to a user and create the illusion of three dimensional motion.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A method of managing geographical imagery, the method comprising:
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receiving, using one or more computing devices, oblique imagery and storing the oblique imagery as unstitched oblique images in a database; associating, using the one or more computing devices, metadata with the unstitched oblique images, the metadata including location information for each respective unstitched image; receiving, using the one or more computing devices, a first request for images, the first request including a target location and a first point of view; comparing, using the one or more computing devices, the target location to the location information; selecting, using the one or more computing devices, at least a first one of the unstitched oblique images based upon the comparison, wherein the at least one first unstitched oblique image is selected according to a ranking function, wherein the ranking function measures relevance of the unstitched oblique images based on the requested first point of view; transmitting, using the one or more computing devices, the at least one first unstitched oblique images to a client device; receiving, using the one or more computing devices, a second request for images, the second request including the target location from a second point of view; selecting, using the one or more computing devices, at least a second one of the unstitched oblique images according to the ranking function; and transmitting, using the one or more computing devices, the at least one second unstitched oblique images to the client device, wherein the transmitting includes a smooth transition between the at least one first unstitched oblique image and the at least one second unstitched oblique image. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 17)
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6. An apparatus for managing geographical imagery, the apparatus comprising:
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means for storing received oblique imagery as unstitched oblique images; and at least one processor coupled to the storing means, the at least one processor being configured to; associate metadata with the unstitched oblique images, the metadata including location information for each respective unstitched image; receive a first request for images from a client device, the first request including a target location and a first point of view; compare the target location to the location information; select at least a first one of the unstitched oblique images based upon the comparison, the at least one first unstitched oblique image being selected according to a ranking function, wherein the ranking function measures relevance of the unstitched oblique images based on the requested first point of view; transmit the at least one first unstitched oblique images to the client device; receive a second request for images, the second request including the target location from a second point of view; select at least a second one of the unstitched oblique images according to the ranking function; and transmit the at least one second unstitched oblique images to the client device, wherein the transmitting includes a smooth transition between the at least one first unstitched oblique image and the at least one second unstitched oblique image. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 18)
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11. A system for managing geographical imagery, the system comprising:
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one or more memories storing received oblique imagery as unstitched oblique images; and one or more computing devices coupled to the one or more memories and programmed to; associate metadata with the unstitched oblique images, the metadata including location information for each respective unstitched image; receive a first request for images, the first request including a target location and a first point of view; compare the target location to the location information; select at least a first one of the unstitched oblique images based upon the comparison, wherein the at least one first unstitched oblique image is selected according to a ranking function, wherein the ranking function measures relevance of the unstitched oblique images based on the requested first point of view; transmit the at least one first unstitched oblique images to a client device; receive a second request for images, the second request including the target location from a second point of view; select at least a second one of the unstitched oblique images according to the ranking function; and transmit the at least one second unstitched oblique images to the client device, wherein the transmitting includes a smooth transition between the at least one first unstitched oblique image and the at least one second unstitched oblique image. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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Specification