Method of obtaining geographically related images using a vehicle
First Claim
1. A method of obtaining digital images related to geographic locations, the method comprising:
- providing a moving vehicle having thereon a computer having a computer clock interconnected with a GPS transceiver and distance measurement structure configured to measure a distance traveled by the vehicle from a first geographic location, the computer operatively interconnected with a digital camera having a camera clock mounted on the vehicle;
receiving into the computer the first geographic position from the GPS transceiver;
receiving into the computer a measurement of the distance traveled by the vehicle relative to the first geographic position from the distance measurement structure;
selecting a pre-determined distance based on a distance between a subject of a photo to be acquired and the camera;
determining when the pre-determined distance has been traveled by the vehicle based on the measurement of distance;
generating a photo request using the computer on the vehicle for the digital camera on the vehicle at the pre-determined distance, the photo request having an associated photo request time comprising a computer time value obtained from the computer clock, the photo request resulting in a shutter release by the digital camera;
taking a digital photo using the camera on the vehicle based on the shutter release, the digital photo having an associated photo time comprising a camera time value obtained from the camera clock;
repeating the steps of receiving into the computer the measurement of distance traveled by the vehicle, determining when the pre-determined distance has been traveled, generating a photo request using the computer resulting in a shutter release by the digital camera and taking a digital photo using the camera on the vehicle based on the shutter release;
receiving into the computer a second geographic position from the GPS transceiver;
storing the photos, associated photo times, photo requests, associated photo request times, first and second geographic positions and distance measurements;
conducting a processing step comprising;
calculating a difference in the distance measurements from the two wheels;
calculating a change in vehicle orientation based on the difference;
using the change in orientation and distance traveled, iteratively fitting a plurality of path segments, each having a fixed length corresponding to the pre-determined distance and having an associated vehicle orientation comprising the direction in which the vehicle has turned and the number of degrees in the turn, to a path traveled by the vehicle between the first and second geographic positions;
associating each photo with the photo request used to generate that photo by comparing camera time values of a plurality of photos with computer time values of a plurality of photo requests;
determining a computer time value associated with each photo based on the computer time value of the photo request;
obtaining a location of each photo on the path based on the computer time value of the photo; and
,correcting at least one photo to a rectilinear perspective based on the associated vehicle orientation of the path segment corresponding to the photo.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The method employs a computer interconnected with a GPS transceiver and a distance measurement means and operatively interconnected with a digital camera, all provided on a moving vehicle, to acquire a plurality of geographic location related images. A first geographic position is obtained from the GPS transceiver and a plurality of distance measurements are then received before a second geographic position is taken. A photo request is generated after a pre-determined distance is traveled, as determined by the distance measurement means, and transmitted to the digital camera. The camera takes a photo based on the request; and the photos, photo requests, first and second positions and distance measurements are stored for post-processing. Post-processing determines a path traveled by the vehicle using the positions and distance measurements to determine an accurate geographic location and orientation for each photo. The method is suitable for building a database of geographically related images.
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Citations
13 Claims
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1. A method of obtaining digital images related to geographic locations, the method comprising:
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providing a moving vehicle having thereon a computer having a computer clock interconnected with a GPS transceiver and distance measurement structure configured to measure a distance traveled by the vehicle from a first geographic location, the computer operatively interconnected with a digital camera having a camera clock mounted on the vehicle; receiving into the computer the first geographic position from the GPS transceiver; receiving into the computer a measurement of the distance traveled by the vehicle relative to the first geographic position from the distance measurement structure; selecting a pre-determined distance based on a distance between a subject of a photo to be acquired and the camera; determining when the pre-determined distance has been traveled by the vehicle based on the measurement of distance; generating a photo request using the computer on the vehicle for the digital camera on the vehicle at the pre-determined distance, the photo request having an associated photo request time comprising a computer time value obtained from the computer clock, the photo request resulting in a shutter release by the digital camera; taking a digital photo using the camera on the vehicle based on the shutter release, the digital photo having an associated photo time comprising a camera time value obtained from the camera clock; repeating the steps of receiving into the computer the measurement of distance traveled by the vehicle, determining when the pre-determined distance has been traveled, generating a photo request using the computer resulting in a shutter release by the digital camera and taking a digital photo using the camera on the vehicle based on the shutter release; receiving into the computer a second geographic position from the GPS transceiver; storing the photos, associated photo times, photo requests, associated photo request times, first and second geographic positions and distance measurements; conducting a processing step comprising; calculating a difference in the distance measurements from the two wheels; calculating a change in vehicle orientation based on the difference; using the change in orientation and distance traveled, iteratively fitting a plurality of path segments, each having a fixed length corresponding to the pre-determined distance and having an associated vehicle orientation comprising the direction in which the vehicle has turned and the number of degrees in the turn, to a path traveled by the vehicle between the first and second geographic positions; associating each photo with the photo request used to generate that photo by comparing camera time values of a plurality of photos with computer time values of a plurality of photo requests; determining a computer time value associated with each photo based on the computer time value of the photo request; obtaining a location of each photo on the path based on the computer time value of the photo; and
,correcting at least one photo to a rectilinear perspective based on the associated vehicle orientation of the path segment corresponding to the photo. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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Specification