Method for manually aligning two digital images on mobile devices

• US 9,189,852 B2
• Filed: 02/02/2012
• Issued: 11/17/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 02/02/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google Inc. (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Teittinen, Marko A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Zimmerman, Mark
• Assistant Examiner(s): HOSSAIN, FM RASHED
• Application Number:
  US13/364,631
• Publication Number:
  US 20150154754A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,384 Days
• Field of Search: 345/634
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04804 Transparency, e.g. transparent or translucent windows
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04806 Zoom, i.e. interaction techniques or interactors for controlling the zooming operation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04845 for image manipulation, e.g. dragging, rotation, expansion or change of colour
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 11/60 Editing figures and text; Combining figures or text
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/10004 Still image; Photographic image
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2340/10 Mixing of images, i.e. displayed pixel being the result of an operation, e.g. adding, on the corresponding input pixels
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2340/12 Overlay of images, i.e. displayed pixel being the result of switching between the corresponding input pixels
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2354/00 Aspects of interface with display user
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/14 Display of multiple viewports
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/377 for mixing or overlaying two or more graphic patterns G09G5/02, G09G5/397 take precedence

Abstract

Systems and methods of aligning two digital images using a user interface on a device that includes an electronic circuit and a display screen are disclosed. The electronic circuit displays a first image on the display screen and receives a selection of a first reference point on the first image from the user interface. The electronic circuit generates a snippet image that is a partially transparent square portion of the user map image centered on the first reference point. The electronic circuit overlays the snippet image on a second image on the display screen, such that the second image is visible through the snippet image. The electronic circuit receives a selection of a second reference point on the second image corresponding to the first reference point on the first image from the user interface and an indication of acceptable alignment of the two digital images.

Claims

1. A method of aligning two images, the method comprising:

displaying, by one or more electronic circuits of a device, a first image using a display screen of the device;

receiving, by the one or more electronic circuits, a selection of a first reference point on said first image, using a user interface of the device;

generating, by the one or more electronic circuits, a partially transparent snippet image, wherein the partially transparent snippet image is centered on said first reference point and said partially transparent snippet image is smaller than said first image;

overlaying, by the one or more electronic circuits, said partially transparent snippet image on a second image on said display screen such that said second image is visible through said partially transparent snippet image;

receiving, by the one or more electronic circuits, a selection of a second reference point on said second image corresponding to said first reference point on said first image, using said user interface; and

aligning, by the one or more electronic circuits, said partially transparent snippet image and said second image by aligning said first reference point and said second reference point.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein aligning comprises:

moving said second image to align said first reference point and said second reference point in response to one or more touch inputs directed to the second image.

3. The method according to claim 2, further comprising:

displaying at least one user interface element to control a manipulation of the partially transparent snippet image separate from a manipulation of the second image.

4. The method according to claim 3, further comprising changing a transparency, a scale, or a rotation of the partially transparent snippet image in response to an input directed to the at least one user interface element.

5. The method according to claim 2, wherein the moving comprises translation and rotation of said second image.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein said user interface comprises a touch screen.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the second image comprises a map or satellite imagery of a geographic area.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

tracking a user location on the first image using information on the second image, wherein the first image is a user map image and the second image is a digital map image.

9. A system, comprising a user interface;

a display screen; and

at least one electronic circuit configured to perform the following operations;

displaying, by said at least one electronic circuit, a first image using said display screen,

receiving, by said at least one electronic circuit, a selection of a first reference point on said first image, using said user interface,

generating, by said at least one electronic circuit, a partially transparent snippet image, wherein said partially transparent snippet image is centered on said first reference point and said partially transparent snippet image is smaller than said first image,

overlaying, by said at least one electronic circuit, said partially transparent snippet image on a second image on said display screen, such that said second image is visible through said partially transparent snippet image, and

receiving, by said at least one electronic circuit, a selection of a second reference point on said second image corresponding to said first reference point on said first image; and

aligning, by said at least one electronic circuit, said partially transparent snippet image and said second image by aligning said first reference point and said second reference point.

10. The system according to claim 9 wherein aligning comprises:

moving said second image using said user interface to align said first reference point and said second reference point; and

receiving an indication of alignment.

11. The system according to claim 10, wherein moving comprises translation and rotation of said second image.

12. The system according to claim 9, wherein aligning comprises:

moving said partially transparent snippet image using translation and rotation controls added to said user interface to align said first reference point and said second reference point; and

receiving an indication of alignment.

13. The system according to claim 9, wherein said user interface comprises a touch screen.

14. The system according to claim 9, wherein said device comprises a smart phone.

15. A method of aligning two map images, the method comprising:

displaying, by one or more electronic circuits, a first image comprising a user map image on the touch screen;

receiving, by the one or more electronic circuits, a selection of a first reference point on the user map image, using the touch screen;

generating, by the one or more electronic circuits, a partially transparent snippet image, wherein the partially transparent snippet image is a portion of the user map image centered on the first reference point and said snippet image is smaller than the user map image;

overlaying, by the one or more electronic circuits, the partially transparent snippet image on a digital map image on the touch screen, such that the second image is visible through the partially transparent snippet image;

receiving, by the one or more electronic circuits, a selection of a second reference point on the digital map image corresponding to the first reference point on the user map image;

aligning, by the one or more electronic circuits, the partially transparent snippet image and the second image by aligning the first reference point and the second reference point; and

receiving, by the one or more electronic circuits, an indication of acceptable alignment of the two map images.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

displaying a user interface element to control a scale of the partially transparent snippet image and a user interface element to control a rotation of the partially transparent snippet image, the user interface elements displayed while the partially transparent snippet image is displayed on the digital map image.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

displaying a user interface element to control a transparency of the partially transparent snippet image.

18. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

receiving a touch input directed to the digital map image and, in response to the touch input, panning or zooming the digital map image while the partially transparent snippet image is not panned or zoomed.

19. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

geo-locating a user by utilizing the geographical positioning system (GPS) of a GPS-enabled user device on the digital map image, wherein the digital map image does not include GPS coordinates.