System and method for synchronizing raster and vector map images

• US 7,142,217 B2
• Filed: 03/29/2001
• Issued: 11/28/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/29/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sourceprose Corporation (TransUnion Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Sourceprose Corporation (TransUnion Corporation)
• Inventors: Howard, John Willard, Higgins, Darin Wayne, Scott, Dan Martin
• Primary Examiner(s): Tung, Kee M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): AMINI, JAVID A
• Application Number:
  US09/820,552
• Publication Number:
  US 20010026270A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,070 Days
• Field of Search: 345/427, 345/569, 345/665, 345/667, 345/682, 345/629, 345/213, 345/581, 345/619, 345/211, 345/214
• US Class Current: 345/581
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 17/05 Geographic models
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 29/102 using electrical means

Abstract

A system and method for coordinated manipulation of multiple displayed maps, even when the maps use different internal coordinate systems. According to this embodiment, each map image to be displayed is first georeferenced, to provide a set of conversion functions between each map'"'"'s internal coordinate system and a geographic coordinate system, which is latitude/longitude in the preferred embodiment. After this is done, any point on each map can be referenced using the geographic coordinate set. Since this is the case, the maps can now be manipulated, edited, and annotated in a synchronized manner, by defining the manipulations in terms of the geographic coordinate system, and using the georeferencing functions to translate the manipulation to each map'"'"'s internal coordinate system.

Claims

1. A method of synchronizing map images, comprising:

selecting a boundary of a geographic region, which is present on both a first map and a second map, in the first map;

converting first map coordinates designating the boundary of the geographic region selected on the first map into geographic coordinates using a georeferencing function of the first map;

converting the geographic coordinates to corresponding second map coordinates designating the boundary of the geographic region on the second map using a georeferencing function of the second map; and

automatically adjusting a boundary of the second map to correspond to the selected boundary in the first map when the boundary is selected in the first map.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising receiving a user input to select a new geographic region in the first map.

3. The method of claim 2 further comprising determining a plurality of map coordinates for the new geographic region.

4. The method of claim 2 further comprising determining a plurality of map coordinates for a new boundary in the second map, such that the plurality of map coordinates in the second map correspond to the new geographic region that was selected in the first map.

5. The method of claim 3 further comprising configuring the new boundary of the first map for display.

6. The method of claim 4 further comprising configuring the new boundary of the second map for display.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a user input to select a new boundary of a new geographic area in the first map;

determining geographic coordinates for the new boundary in the first map; and

determining geographic coordinates for a new boundary of the new geographic area in the second map such that the geographic coordinates for the new boundary in the second map relate to the new boundary in the first map.

8. A computer readable medium containing instructions executable by a computer to perform a method to synchronize map images, the method comprising:

selecting a boundary of a geographic region, which is present on both a first map and a second map, in the first map;

converting first map coordinates designating the boundary of the geographic region selected on the first map into geographic coordinates using a georeferencing function of the first map;

converting the geographic coordinates to corresponding second map coordinates designating the boundary of the geographic region on the second map using a georeferencing function of the second map; and

automatically adjusting a boundary of the second map to correspond to the selected boundary when the boundary is selected in the first map.

9. A method of synchronizing map images, the method comprising:

displaying a first map and a second map, wherein a background of the first map is transparent such that features of both the first map and the second map are visible;

selecting a boundary of a geographic region, which is present on both the first map and the second map, in the first map;

converting first map coordinates designating the boundary of the geographic region selected on the first map into geographic coordinates using a georeferencing function of the first map;

converting the geographic coordinates to corresponding second map coordinates designating the boundary of the geographic region on the second map using a georeferencing function of the second map; and

automatically adjusting a boundary of the second map to correspond to the selected boundary in the first map when the boundary is selected in the first map.

10. A computer readable medium containing instructions executable by a computer to perform a method of synchronizing map images, the method comprising:

displaying a first map and a second map, wherein a background of the first map is transparent such that features of both the first map and the second map are visible;

selecting a boundary of a geographic region, which is present on both the first map and the second map, in the first map;

converting first map coordinates designating the boundary of the geographic region selected on the first map into geographic coordinates using a georeferencing function of the first map;

converting the geographic coordinates to corresponding second map coordinates designating the boundary of the geographic region on the second map using a georeferencing function of the second map; and

automatically adjusting a boundary of the second map to correspond to the selected boundary in the first map when the boundary is selected in the first map.

11. A system for map synchronizing map images, the system comprising:

a map display;

a map processing platform in communication with the map display, wherein the map processing platform is adapted to;

display a first map and a second map, wherein a background of the first map is transparent such that features of both the first map and the second map are visible;

select a boundary of a geographic region, which is present on both the first map and the second map, in the first map;

convert first map coordinates designating the boundary of the geographic region selected on the first map into geographic coordinates using a georeferencing function of the first map;

convert the geographic coordinates to corresponding second map coordinates designating the boundary of the geographic region on the second map using a georeferencing function of the second map; and

automatically adjust a boundary of the second map to correspond to the selected boundary in the first map when the boundary is selected in the first map;

a storage platform coupled to the map processing platform; and

a user interaction device coupled to the map processing platform.