Presenting wireless-telecommunications coverage areas

• US 9,286,705 B1
• Filed: 11/20/2012
• Issued: 03/15/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 06/01/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: T-Mobile Innovations LLC (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Original Assignee: Sprint Communications Company LP (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Inventors: Haught, Rickey Jack, Kullman, John Patrick, Boxberger, Scott D., Martin, Mark Anthony
• Primary Examiner(s): Krasnic, Bernard
• Application Number:
  US13/681,705
• Time in Patent Office: 1,211 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 11/60 Editing figures and text; Combining figures or text
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 17/05 Geographic models

Abstract

Systems, methods, and computer-readable media for displaying an area of wireless-telecommunications coverage of a geographic region by a plurality of images is provided. In embodiments, an image representing an amount of wireless-telecommunications coverage for a geographic region is referenced. A plurality of image data points, including corners, is mapped to real-world geographic coordinates to create a registered image. A plurality of colors, each representing a different wireless-telecommunications coverage area, is identified. A second image is created that includes only pixels associated with selected colors and, thus, only represents the wireless-telecommunications coverage areas associated with the selected colors.

Claims

1. One or more nontransitory computer-readable media having computer-executable instructions embodied thereon that, when executed, perform a method for displaying an area of wireless-telecommunications coverage (WTC) of a geographic region by a plurality of images, the method comprising:

referencing a first image having a first corner and a second corner, wherein the first image includes,

(a) a first set of colored pixels that are a first color that depict a first area of WTC where coverage is offered in said geographic region, wherein each pixel in the first set of colored pixels corresponds to a respective geographic location within the first area of WTC in said geographic region, and wherein the first color identifies the first area of WTC where coverage is offered, and

(b) a second set of colored pixels that are a second color that depict a second area of WTC where coverage is offered in said geographic region, wherein each pixel in the second set of colored pixels corresponds to a respective geographic location within the second area of WTC in said geographic region, wherein the second color identifies the second area of WTC where coverage is offered, and wherein the first color which identifies the first area of WTC is a different color than the second color which identifies the second area of WTC, wherein the second area of WTC that is identified by the second color is associated with a different wireless telecommunications provider than the first area of WTC that is identified by the first color;

utilizing a computing device to register said first image with a real-world physical location by respectively associating said first and second corners with a first set and a second set of real-world geographic coordinates, thereby creating a registered image;

identifying said first color;

identifying said second color;

creating a second image that depicts a single WTC area, wherein said single WTC area corresponds to either the first area of WTC or the second area of WTC, but not both, wherein when said single WTC area corresponds to the first area of WTC, said single WTC area is determined based on the respective geographic locations of pixels in the first image that are the first color, wherein when said single WTC area corresponds to the second area of WTC, said single WTC area is determined based on the respective geographic locations of pixels in the first image that are the second color, and wherein said single WTC area is colored consistently with said first or second color; and

presenting said second image on a display device that is coupled to said computing device.

2. The one or more nontransitory computer-readable media of claim 1, wherein said area of WTC includes voice network coverage, roaming coverage, or broadband coverage.

3. The one or more nontransitory computer-readable media of claim 1, wherein said first corner is a lower-left corner of said first image.

4. The one or more nontransitory computer-readable media of claim 1, wherein said second corner is an upper-right corner of said first image.

5. The one or more nontransitory computer-readable media of claim 1, wherein said registered image further includes at least one registered point that is not a corner of said first image.

6. The one or more nontransitory computer-readable media of claim 1, wherein the second area of WTC that is identified by the second color is a different area of WTC than the first area of WTC that is identified by the first color.

7. A method for displaying an area of wireless-telecommunications coverage (WTC) of a geographic region by a plurality of images, the method comprising:

referencing a first image having a first corner and a second corner, wherein the first image includes,

(a) a first set of colored pixels that are a first color that depict a first area of WTC where coverage is offered in said geographic region, wherein each pixel in the first set of colored pixels corresponds to a respective geographic location within the first area of WTC in said geographic region, and wherein the first color identifies the first area of WTC where coverage is offered, and

(b) a second set of colored pixels that are a second color that depict a second area of WTC where coverage is offered in said geographic region, wherein each pixel in the second set of colored pixels corresponds to a respective geographic location within the second area of WTC in said geographic region, wherein the second color identifies the second area of WTC where coverage is offered, and wherein the first color which identifies the first area of WTC is a different color than the second color which identifies the second area of WTC, wherein the second area of WTC that is identified by the second color is associated with a different wireless telecommunications provider than the first area of WTC that is identified by the first color;

utilizing a computing device to register said first image with a real-world physical location by respectively associating said first and second corners with a first set and a second set of real-world geographic coordinates, thereby creating a registered image;

identifying said first color;

identifying said second color;

creating a second image that depicts a single WTC area, wherein said single WTC area corresponds to either the first area of WTC or the second area of WTC, but not both, wherein when said single WTC area corresponds to the first area of WTC, said single WTC area is determined based on the respective geographic locations of pixels in the first image that are the first color, wherein when said single WTC area corresponds to the second area of WTC, said single WTC area is determined based on the respective geographic locations of pixels in the first image that are the second color, and wherein said single WTC area is colored consistently with said first or second color; and

presenting said second image on a display device that is coupled to said computing device.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein said area of WTC includes voice network coverage, roaming coverage, or broadband coverage.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein said first corner is a lower-left corner of said first image.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein said second corner is an upper-right corner of said first image.

11. The method of claim 7, wherein said registered image further includes at least one registered point that is not a corner of said first image.

12. The method of claim 7, wherein the second area of WTC that is identified by the second color is a different area of WTC than the first area of WTC that is identified by the first color.

13. A system for displaying an area of wireless-telecommunications coverage (WTC) of a geographic region by a plurality of images, comprising:

one or more processors configured to

A) reference a first image having a first corner and a second corner, wherein the first image includes,

1) a first set of colored pixels that are a first color that depict a first area of WTC where coverage is offered in said geographic region, wherein each pixel in the first set of colored pixels corresponds to a respective geographic location within the first area of WTC in said geographic region, and wherein the first color identifies the first area of WTC where coverage is offered, and

2) a second set of colored pixels that are a second color that depict a second area of WTC where coverage is offered in said geographic region, wherein each pixel in the second set of colored pixels corresponds to a respective geographic location within the second area of WTC in said geographic region, wherein the second color identifies the second area of WTC where coverage is offered, and wherein the first color which identifies the first area of WTC is a different color than the second color which identifies the second area of WTC, wherein the second area of WTC that is identified by the second color is associated with a different wireless telecommunications provider than the first area of WTC that is identified by the first color;

B) utilize a computing device to register said first image with a real-world physical location by respectively associating said first and second corners with a first set and a second set of real-world geographic coordinates, thereby creating a registered image;

C) identify said first color;

D) identify said second color;

E) create a second image that depicts a single WTC area, wherein said single WTC area corresponds to either the first area of WTC or the second area of WTC, but not both, wherein when said single WTC area corresponds to the first area of WTC, said single WTC area is determined based on the respective geographic locations of pixels in the first image that are the first color, wherein when said single WTC area corresponds to the second area of WTC, said single WTC area is determined based on the respective geographic locations of pixels in the first image that are the second color, and wherein said single WTC area is colored consistently with said first or second color; and

a display device configured to present said second image.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein said area of WTC includes voice network coverage, roaming coverage, or broadband coverage.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein said first corner is a lower-left corner of said first image.

16. The system of claim 13, wherein said second corner is an upper-right corner of said first image.

17. The system of claim 13, wherein said registered image further includes at least one registered point that is not a corner of said first image.

18. The system of claim 13, wherein the second area of WTC that is identified by the second color is a different area of WTC than the first area of WTC that is identified by the first color.