Method and apparatus for accessing multi-dimensional mapping and information

• US 20070273758A1
• Filed: 06/16/2005
• Published: 11/29/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/16/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: True Voyager LLC
• Original Assignee: True Voyager LLC
• Inventors: Mendoza, Felipe, Loving, Ward
• Granted Patent: US 7,746,376 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/39
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9537 Spatial or temporal dependent retrieval, e.g. spatiotemporal queries
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04815 Interaction with a metaphor-based environment or interaction object displayed as three-dimensional, e.g. changing the user viewpoint with respect to the environment or object

Abstract

A method and apparatus for providing an interactive mapping and panoramic imaging application for utilization by a computer user is provided. A plurality of panoramic images are stored on a panoramic database, each panoramic image corresponding to a geographical location. A panoramic image is displayed on a screen and is navigable in response to input by the user. The panoramic image has embedded hotspots corresponding to selected panoramic images of geographically adjacent locations. Also displayed on the screen, simultaneously with the panoramic image, is a map image corresponding with the panoramic image. The map image is stored on a map database, and the map is navigable in response to input by the user. The map has embedded hotspots corresponding to the plurality of panoramic images. Also displayed on the screen, simultaneously with the panoramic image and the map image, is a text panel displaying textual information corresponding to the displayed panoramic image. The text panel is capable of receiving textual input from the user for activating a search of a text database having a plurality of text data corresponding to the plurality of panoramic images. The displayed panoramic image, the displayed map image and the displayed textual information are updated in response to the user activating a hotspot, such that the displayed panoramic image, the displayed map image and the displayed textual information correspond to one another.

Claims

1. A method of providing an interactive mapping and panoramic imaging application for utilization by a computer user, the method comprising the steps of:

displaying on a screen one of a plurality of panoramic images stored on a panoramic database, each panoramic image corresponding to a geographical location, the panoramic image navigable in response to input by the user, the panoramic image having embedded hotspots therein corresponding to selected panoramic images of geographically adjacent locations,

displaying on the screen, simultaneous with displaying the panoramic image, a map image corresponding with the displayed panoramic image, the map image stored on a map database, the map navigable in response to input by the user, the map having embedded hotspots therein corresponding to the plurality of panoramic images,

displaying on the screen, simultaneously with displaying the panoramic image and the map image, a text panel, the text panel displaying textual information corresponding to the displayed panoramic image, the text panel capable of receiving textual input from the user for activating a search of a text database having a plurality of text data corresponding to the plurality of panoramic images,

updating the displayed panoramic image, the displayed map image and the displayed textual information, in response to the user activating a hotspot, such that the displayed panoramic image, the displayed map image and the displayed textual information correspond to one another.

2. A method as in claim 1, wherein the step of updating the displayed map image comprises centering the map image about a location corresponding to the displayed panoramic image.

3. A method as in claim 1, wherein the step of updating the displayed panoramic image comprises displaying a different panoramic image.

4. A method as in claim 1, further comprising the step of updating the displayed map image and panoramic image in response to the user activating a search in the text panel, the updated panoramic and map images corresponding to the textual input from the user.

5. A method as in claim 1, further comprising the step of cross-referencing the map database, the text database and the panoramic image database.

6. A method as in claim 1, wherein the text panel comprises a plurality of search fields.

7. A method as in claim 6, wherein the search fields include an address field.

8. A method as in claim 6, wherein the search fields include fields for inputting intersecting streets.

9. A method as in claim 1, wherein each panoramic image is substantially a 360 degree image and is navigable by a user to rotate substantially 360 degrees.

10. A method as in claim 9, wherein each panoramic image covers a geographical area and wherein adjacent panoramic images at least partially overlap geographical areas.

11. A method as in claim 1, wherein the map image is navigable by a user to pan in a selected direction and to zoom in and out.

12. A method as in claim 1, wherein the hotspots are indicated on the screen by icons.

13. A method as in claim 1, further comprising the step of storing a GPS coordinate database corresponding to the map image database.

14. A method as in claim 13, further comprising displaying GPS coordinates corresponding to the displayed panoramic image.

15. A method as in claim 6, wherein the text fields include a keyword field, the text database having keywords associated with selected text data and cross-referenced to corresponding panoramic images.

16. A method as in claim 15, wherein activating a search of the text database results in displaying a plurality of matching text data, and wherein the user can select one of the plurality of matching text data, and wherein, in response to the user'"'"'s selection, the displayed map image and panoramic image are updated with images corresponding to the selected text data.

17. A method as in claim 1, wherein the text panel comprises a plurality of tabs for selectively displaying varying textual information and search fields.