PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR ANNOTATING ELECTRONIC MAP DATA

• US 20090052806A1
• Filed: 08/13/2008
• Published: 02/26/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 08/21/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Airbus Operations SAS (Airbus SE)
• Original Assignee: Airbus France
• Inventors: Morbey, Joao, Landman, Mathieu
• Granted Patent: US 8,126,214 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 382/302
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3878 Hierarchical structures, e.g. layering
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 29/00 Maps; Plans; Charts; Diagrams, e.g. route diagram star maps G09B27/04; devices for holding or supporting maps A47B97/02; for computing purposes G06G1/14, G09B1/16; display boards G09F

Abstract

The invention relates to a method and a device for annotating electronic background maps adapted in particular to navigation aid systems for vehicles. Projection parameters and geodesic parameters are associated with the said background map. Display references are associated with the display of at least part of the said background map. After at least one annotation has been acquired, it is displayed on the said background map. The said at least one annotation is then transformed to at least one vectorial object characterized by at least one point having geometric coordinates defined in the display system of the said at least one annotation and of the said background map. The said geometric coordinates of the said at least one point of the said at least one vectorial object are then converted to geographic coordinates according to the said projection parameters and the said geodesic parameters associated with the said background map and according to the said display references.

Claims

1. A method for annotating an electronic background map, projection parameters and geodesic parameters being associated with the said background map, display references being associated with the display of at least part of the said background map, this method being characterized in that it comprises the following steps,

acquisition (300) of at least one annotation, the said at least one annotation being displayed on the said background map;

transformation (310) of the said at least one annotation to at least one object characterized by at least one point having geometric coordinates defined in the display system of the said at least one annotation and of the said background map; and

conversion (315) of the said geometric coordinates of the said at least one point of the said at least one object to geographic coordinates according to the said projection parameters and the said geodesic parameters associated with the said background map and according to the said display references.

2. A method according to claim 1, characterized in that the said transformation step comprises a step of transformation of the said at least one object to at least one vectorial object.

3. A method according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that the said at least one annotation belongs to a specific graphic layer of the display system of the said at least one annotation and of the said background map, and in that the said at least one part of the said background map belongs to a graphic layer separate from the said specific graphic layer comprising the said at least one annotation.

4. A method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it additionally comprises a step of storage in memory of the said at least one object and of the said associated geographic coordinates.

5. A computer program comprising instructions adapted to the implementation of each of the steps of the method according to any one of the preceding claims.

6. A device for annotating an electronic background map, projection parameters and geodesic parameters being associated with the said background map, display references being associated with the display of at least part of the said background map, this device being characterized in that it comprises the following means,

means for acquiring (215) at least one annotation;

means for displaying (210) the said at least one annotation and at least part of the said background map;

means for transforming (220) the said at least one annotation to at least one object characterized by at least one point having geometric coordinates defined in the display system of the said display means; and

means for converting (220) the said geometric coordinates of the said at least one point of the said at least one object to geographic coordinates according to the said projection parameters and the said geodesic parameters associated with the said background map and according to the said display references.

7. A device according to claim 6, characterized in that it additionally comprises storage means adapted to store in memory the said at least one object and the said associated geographic coordinates.

8. A device according to claim 6 or claim 7, characterized in that the said transformation means comprise means for transforming the said at least one object to at least one vectorial object.

9. A device according to any one of claims 6 to 8, characterized in that the said display means comprise means for managing graphic layers, and in that the said at least one annotation belongs to a specific graphic layer of the said display means and that the said at least one part of the said background map belongs to a graphic layer separate from the said specific graphic layer comprising the said at least one annotation.

10. An aircraft comprising the device according to any one of claims 6 to 9.