System and method for generating a computer model to display a position of a person

• US 9,147,284 B2
• Filed: 10/05/2010
• Issued: 09/29/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 10/05/2009
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Edward K. Welch II
• Original Assignee: Myles L. Strohl
• Inventors: Keene, Richard Moyer, Crouch, Milne Thomas, Maxwell, Daniel Carl, Garland, Stephen Kent
• Primary Examiner(s): Xiao, Ke
• Assistant Examiner(s): TRAN, KIM THANH THI
• Application Number:
  US12/898,656
• Publication Number:
  US 20110249008A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,820 Days
• Field of Search: 345/419, 345/633, 345/441
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 17/05 Geographic models
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 19/20 Editing of 3D images, e.g. changing shapes or colours, aligning objects or positioning parts

Abstract

Generating a computer model to display a position of a person in a defined location is disclosed. A method includes the operation of selecting a substantially overhead image of a defined location having spatial coordinates. A perimeter of the defined location is marked using a graphical user interface. The marked perimeter is related to the spatial coordinates of the defined location. A computer model of the defined location is generated based on the marked perimeter. Multiple levels can be added to the computer model. Spatial coordinates of the person can be determined. The position of the person can be displayed relative to the computer model of the defined location based on the spatial coordinates of the person relative to the spatial coordinates of the defined location.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for generating a computer model to display a position of a person in a defined location, comprising:

selecting a substantially overhead satellite or aerial image of the defined location having spatial coordinates, the defined location being a physical, geographic location having existing dimensions;

marking a perimeter outline of a building at the defined location using a processor and a graphical user interface, marking the perimeter outline including selecting corners of the building on the satellite or aerial image with perimeter lines extending between the corners;

relating the marked perimeter to the spatial coordinates of the defined location, using the processor, by identifying spatial coordinates for portions of the satellite or aerial image corresponding to the corners and defining spatial coordinates of the corners to correspond with the spatial coordinates for the portions of the satellite or aerial image corresponding to the corners;

inputting a number of levels of the building at the defined location using the graphical user interface;

generating a computer model of the building at the defined location using the processor, wherein generating the computer model of the building includes generating a shape of the computer model of the building corresponding to the perimeter outline, and wherein generating the computer model of the building includes generating a number of levels of the computer model corresponding to the number of levels of the building;

determining spatial coordinates of the person using the processor; and

displaying the position of the person relative to the computer model of the building at the defined location based on the spatial coordinates of the person relative to the spatial coordinates of the defined location.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein generating the computer model further comprises generating a wire frame model showing each level of the building to enable the position of the person to be displayed within the building at a level corresponding to the person'"'"'s spatial coordinates.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein inputting a number of levels further comprises inputting a number of above ground levels and a number of below ground levels and wherein generating the computer model of the building includes generating the number of above ground levels and generating the number of below ground levels.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein selecting the substantially overhead satellite or aerial image of the defined location further comprises selecting the substantially overhead satellite or aerial image using a web mapping service.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising selecting the substantially overhead satellite or aerial image of the defined location using a previously recorded image.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein marking a perimeter of the defined location further comprises placing markers at a plurality of the corners of the building at the defined location and connecting the markers to form the perimeter of the defined location.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

marking a perimeter outline of at least one adjacent building using the graphical user interface;

generating a computer model of the at least one adjacent building based on the marked perimeter outline; and

displaying the position of the person relative to the computer model of the building and the at least one adjacent building.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving spatial coordinates of the person further comprises receiving spatial coordinates based on both of a position of a global positioning satellite receiver carried by the person and a position of a deduced reckoning device carried by the person.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving spatial coordinates of the person further comprises receiving spatial coordinates based on a position of a deduced reckoning device carried by the person.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein displaying the position of the person further comprises displaying an icon of the person relative to the computer model of the building, wherein the icon includes a color and a shape selected to represent an identity of the person, including one or more skills of the person.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising displaying a position of a plurality of persons relative to the computer model by displaying a separate icon showing a location of each of the plurality of persons relative to the computer model of the building.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising positioning infrastructure icons within the computer model of the defined location to represent locations of infrastructure within the building, the infrastructure being selected from any one or more in the group consisting of:

water hookups or fire extinguishers.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising positioning icons relative to the computer model of the building to represent locations of survivors or hostages relative to the building.

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising storing a log of movements made by the person relative to the spatial coordinates of the defined location and the computer model.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising storing comments of a user in the log relating to at least one of the person and conditions or events near the defined location.

16. The method of claim 14, further comprising playing back the movements made by the person relative to the spatial coordinates of the defined location and the computer model in an actual scenario in reverse, and determining a path of the person based on playing back the movements.

17. A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising computer-executable instructions which, when executed by a processor, implement a system for generating a computer model displaying a position of a person in a defined location, comprising:

an image presentation module configured to display an overhead satellite or aerial image of the defined location having spatial coordinates, the defined location being a physical, geographic location having existing dimensions;

a perimeter marking module configured to mark selected locations of a perimeter outline of a building at the defined location, the selected locations representing building corners and the perimeter outline extending between the selected locations;

a spatial relation module configured to relate the selected locations marked on the perimeter of the building at the defined location with the spatial coordinates of the defined location by identifying spatial coordinates for portions of the satellite or aerial image corresponding to the building corners and defining spatial coordinates of the building corners to correspond with the spatial coordinates for the portions of the satellite or aerial image corresponding to the building corners;

a model generation module configured to form a computer model of the building based on the marked locations of the perimeter, the marked locations of the perimeter defining a shape of the computer model of the building, the model generation module being further configured to generate a number of levels of the computer model corresponding to a number of levels of the building;

a position reception module operable to receive spatial coordinates of the person; and

a model display module configured to display the position of the person relative to the computer model of the building based on the spatial coordinates of the person relative to the spatial coordinates of the building.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the model generation module is further configured to enable a user to input a number of levels in the building to form a three dimensional computer model based on the marked locations of the perimeter and the number of levels.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the model display module is further configured to display an icon relating to the position of the person relative to the computer model, wherein the icon is selected to represent the person'"'"'s occupation, the person'"'"'s team affiliation, and the person'"'"'s health.

20. A system comprising:

a processor;

a non-transitory computer readable storage medium;

computer readable instructions on the non-transitory computer readable storage medium which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to implement a method for generating a computer model displaying a position of a person in a defined location, comprising;

selecting a substantially overhead satellite or aerial image of the defined location having spatial coordinates, the defined location being a physical, geographic location having existing dimensions;

marking a perimeter outline of a building at the defined location using a graphical user interface, marking the perimeter outline including selecting corners of the building on the satellite or aerial image with perimeter lines extending between the corners;

relating the marked perimeter to the spatial coordinates of the defined location by identifying spatial coordinates for portions of the satellite or aerial image corresponding to the corners and defining spatial coordinates of the corners to correspond with the spatial coordinates for the portions of the satellite or aerial image corresponding to the corners;

generating a computer model of the building based on the marked perimeter, wherein generating the computer model of the building includes generating a shape of the computer model of the building corresponding to the perimeter outline, and wherein generating the computer model of the building includes generating a number of levels of the computer model corresponding to a number of levels of the building;

determining spatial coordinates of the person; and

displaying the position of the person relative to the computer model of the building based on the spatial coordinates of the person relative to the spatial coordinates of the defined location.