Method and apparatus for representing an area of a raster image by a centerline
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method for representing an area of a raster image by a centerline, the method comprising:
- using a computer to perform;
receiving a planar map which represents a raster image that contains a region, wherein a face in the planar map maps to the region in the raster image, and wherein the edges of the face map to the boundary of the region;
selecting as a subregion of the region a portion of the region whose width, as measured across the region from one boundary point to another boundary point, does not exceed a maximum-width threshold, wherein both the subregion and a portion of the region outside the subregion are currently represented by an outline comprising the edges of the face;
determining a centerline for the subregion, wherein the centerline coincides with at least a portion of a medial axis of the region;
transforming the planar map so that the subregion is represented by the centerline, and so that the portion of the region outside the subregion is represented by an outline comprising a portion of the edges of the face.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
One embodiment of the present invention provides a system that can represent an area of a raster image by a centerline. During operation, the system receives a planar map which represents a raster image that contains a region. Note that the region corresponds to a face in the planar map whose edges correspond to the boundaries of the region. Next, the system determines a centerline for a subregion within the region which is currently represented by an outline. The system then transforms the planar map so that the subregion is represented by the centerline.
-
Citations
24 Claims
-
1. A method for representing an area of a raster image by a centerline, the method comprising:
- using a computer to perform;
receiving a planar map which represents a raster image that contains a region, wherein a face in the planar map maps to the region in the raster image, and wherein the edges of the face map to the boundary of the region; selecting as a subregion of the region a portion of the region whose width, as measured across the region from one boundary point to another boundary point, does not exceed a maximum-width threshold, wherein both the subregion and a portion of the region outside the subregion are currently represented by an outline comprising the edges of the face; determining a centerline for the subregion, wherein the centerline coincides with at least a portion of a medial axis of the region; transforming the planar map so that the subregion is represented by the centerline, and so that the portion of the region outside the subregion is represented by an outline comprising a portion of the edges of the face. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
- using a computer to perform;
-
7. A computer-readable storage device storing instructions that when executed by a computer cause the computer to perform a method for representing an area of a raster image by a centerline, the method comprising:
-
receiving a planar map which represents a raster image that contains a region, wherein a face in the planar map maps to the region in the raster image, and wherein the edges of the face map to the boundary of the region; selecting as a subregion of the region a portion of the region whose width as measured across the region from one boundary point to another boundary point does not exceed a maximum-width threshold, wherein both the subregion and a portion of the region outside the subregion are currently represented by an outline comprising the edges of the face; determining a centerline for the subregion, wherein the centerline coincides with at least a portion of a medial axis of the region; transforming the planar map so that the subregion is represented by the centerline, and so that the portion of the region outside the subregion is represented by an outline comprising a portion of the edges of the face. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
-
-
13. A method for associating an emergent boundary with a subregion, the method comprising:
- using a computer to perform;
receiving a raster image that contains a region; representing an area within the region by a centerline, which creates disjoint subregions of the region and creates corresponding emergent boundaries which are distinct from the centerline; identifying the emergent boundaries; identifying the disjoint subregions; associating each emergent boundary with one of the disjoint subregions; distinguishing each emergent boundary as either an inner boundary or an outer boundary; and pairing each inner boundary with its corresponding outer boundary. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
- using a computer to perform;
-
19. A computer-readable storage device storing instructions that when executed by a computer cause the computer to perform a method for associating an emergent boundary with a subregion, the method comprising:
-
receiving a raster image that contains a region; representing an area within the region by a centerline, which creates disjoint subregions of the region and creates corresponding emergent boundaries which are distinct from the centerline; identifying the emergent boundaries; identifying the disjoint subregions; associating each emergent boundary with one of the disjoint subregions; distinguishing each emergent boundary as either an inner boundary or an outer boundary; and pairing each inner boundary with its corresponding outer boundary. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
-
Specification