Image mapping to provide visual geographic path

• US 7,756,300 B2
• Filed: 02/25/2005
• Issued: 07/13/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/25/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Location Based Services, LLC (Leigh M. Rothschild)
• Original Assignee: The Invention Science Fund I, L.L.C. (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Lord, Robert W., Levien, Royce A., Jung, Edward K. Y., Malamud, Mark A., Rinaldo, John D. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): AZARIAN, SEYED H
• Application Number:
  US11/066,112
• Publication Number:
  US 20060198550A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,964 Days
• Field of Search: 382/100, 382/103, 382/104, 382/106, 382/113, 382/114, 382/155, 382/168, 382/180, 382/181, 382/184, 382/189, 382/216, 382/232, 382/255, 382/274, 382/276, 382/291, 382/305, 707/101, 707/209, 707/200, 707/201, 379/201.03, 345/8
• US Class Current: 382/113
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/20 Instruments for performing navigational calculations G01C21/24, G01C21/26 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 29/106 using electronic means

Abstract

Provided is a computer system and method for mapping a visual path. The method includes receiving one or more images included in a predefined area; receiving one or more parameters associated with the image; and integrating the images and parameters into a map of the predefined area to enable mapping the visual path through the predefined area in response to one or more input path parameters.

Claims

1. A method for mapping a visual image path, the method implemented on a computing device by a processor configured to execute instructions that, when executed by the processor, direct the computing device to perform acts comprising:

receiving one or more current images of a predefined area, wherein at least a subset of the one or more current images are real-time or near real-time images of the predefined area obtained via a camera within the predefined area;

receiving one or more input path parameters associated with the one or more current images, the one or more input path parameters indicative of a desired path through the predefined area;

integrating the one or more current images and the one or more input path parameters into a mapped visual path through the predefined area where a wireless user is located, wherein the integrating further comprises combining the one or more current images with one or more delayed images through an image stitching operation; and

displaying the mapped visual path, the mapped visual path comprising the one or more current images of the desired path through the predefined area in response to one or more input path parameters, the displaying including correlating a time parameter with the mapped visual path to provide an interval for displaying and/or retrieving the one or more current images for the mapped visual path.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

sequentially displaying the one or more current images of the mapped visual path on a mobile device of the wireless user.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the displaying the mapped visual path, the mapped visual path comprising the one or more current images of the path through the predefined area in response to one or more input path parameters includes:

wirelessly receiving a location parameter included as one of the one or more input path parameters;

receiving a timing parameter included as one of the one or more input path parameters, the timing parameter identifying a periodicity for collecting the one or more current images; and

receiving an identification of a user included as the one or more input path parameters.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the receiving one or more current images of a predefined area includes:

receiving an image history taken from one or more public cameras and/or one or more private cameras.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the receiving one or more current images of a predefined area includes:

connecting to a server operably couplable to a mobile device to wirelessly receive the one or more current images.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the displaying the mapped visual path, the mapped visual path comprising the one or more current images of the path through the predefined area in response to one or more input path parameters includes:

enabling a user of a fixed and/or a mobile device to display the mapped visual path.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the receiving one or more current images of a predefined area includes:

receiving at least one current image for the visual path where a mobile device user is located or should be located, which current image is collected in real-time or near real-time.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the integrating the one or more current images and the one or more input path parameters into a mapped visual path through the predefined area where a wireless user is located includes:

receiving an identifier associated with an object on the one or more displayed current images, the identifier indicative of an action to be taken with respect to the object.

9. The method of claim 8 further comprising:

taking the action with respect to the object, the action including one or more of highlighting the object, removing the object, and/or altering the object.

10. The method of claim 8 wherein the receiving an identifier associated with an object on the one or more current images, the identifier indicative of an action to be taken with respect to the object includes:

matching the object to a person.

11. The method of claim 8 wherein the receiving an identifier associated with an object on the one or more current images, the identifier indicative of an action to be taken with respect to the object includes:

matching the object to a class of persons, the object acted upon according to an association with the class of persons.

12. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

receiving the input path parameters, the input path parameters including at least one location or at least one timing parameter.

13. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

combining the one or more displayed current images to create the mapped visual path which is scrollable with respect to the predefined area.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the combining the one or more displayed current images to create the mapped visual path, which is scrollable with respect to the predefined area includes:

combining the one or more displayed current images through an image stitching operation.

15. The method of claim 13 wherein the combining the one or more displayed current images to create the mapped visual path which is scrollable with respect to the predefined area includes:

correlating a time parameter with the visual path to provide an interval for displaying and/or retrieving the one or more current images for the mapped visual path.

16. A computer program product comprising:

computer readable media bearing computer executable instructions including one or more instructions for receiving one or more current images of an area where a wireless user is located, wherein at least a subset of the one or more current images are real-time or near real-time images of the predefined area obtained via a camera within the predefined area;

one or more instructions for receiving one or more input path parameters indicative of a visual path and associated with the one or more current images;

one or more instructions for integrating the one or more current images and the one or more input path parameters into a map of the area, wherein the integrating further comprises combining the one or more current images with one or more delayed images through an image stitching operation; and

one or more instructions for mapping the visual path through the area to generate a mapped visual path in response to one or more input path parameters and the map, the displaying including correlating a time parameter with the mapped visual path to provide an interval for displaying and/or retrieving the one or more current images for the mapped visual path.

17. The computer program product of claim 16 wherein the computer readable media comprises:

a recordable medium.

18. The computer program product of claim 16 further comprising:

one or more instructions for sequentially displaying the mapped visual path of the one or more current images on a mobile device of the wireless user.

19. The computer program product of claim 16 wherein the one or more instructions for receiving one or more current images of an area include:

one or more instructions for receiving an image history of the visual path taken from one or more public cameras and/or one or more private cameras.

20. The computer program product of claim 16 wherein the one or more instructions for receiving one or more current images of an area include:

one or more instructions for connecting to a server operably couplable to a mobile device to wirelessly receive the one or more current images.

21. The computer program product of claim 16 wherein the one or more instructions for mapping the visual path through the area to generate a mapped visual path in response to one or more input path parameters and the map includes:

one or more instructions for enabling a user of a fixed and/or a mobile device to display the mapped visual path.

22. The computer program product of claim 16 wherein the one or more instructions for integrating the one or more current images and the one or more input path parameters into a display a map of the area include:

one or more instructions for receiving an identifier associated with an object on the one or more current images, the identifier indicative of an action to be taken with respect to the object.

23. The computer program product of claim 22 further comprising:

one or more instructions for taking the action with respect to the object, the action including one or more of highlighting the object, removing the object, and/or altering the object.

24. The computer program product of claim 22 wherein the one or more instructions for receiving an identifier associated with an object on the one or more current images, the identifier indicative of an action to be taken with respect to the object include:

one or more instructions for matching the object to a person.

25. The computer program product of claim 22 wherein the one or more instructions for receiving an identifier associated with an object on the one or more current images, the identifier indicative of an action to be taken with respect to the object include:

one or more instructions for matching the object to a class of persons, the object acted upon according to an association with the class of persons.

26. The computer program product of claim 16 further comprising:

one or more instructions for receiving the input path parameters, the input path parameters including at least one location or at least one timing parameter.

27. The computer program product of claim 16 further comprising:

one or more instructions for combining the one or more current images to create the mapped visual path which is scrollable with respect to the predefined area.

28. The computer program product of claim 27 wherein the one or more instructions for combining the one or more current images to create the mapped visual path which is scrollable with respect to the predefined area include:

one or more instructions for combining the one or more current images through an image stitching operation.

29. The computer program product of claim 27 wherein the one or more instructions for combining the one or more current images to create the mapped visual path which is scrollable with respect to the predefined area include:

one or more instructions for correlating a time parameter with the visual path to provide an interval for displaying and/or retrieving the one or more current images of the visual path.

30. The computer program product of claim 16 wherein the one or more for mapping the visual path through the area to generate a mapped visual path in response to one or more input path parameters and the map includes:

one or more instructions for wirelessly receiving a location parameter included as the one or more input path parameters;

one or more instructions for receiving a timing parameter included as the one or more input path parameters, the timing parameter identifying a periodicity for collecting the one or more current images; and

one or more instructions for receiving an identification of the wireless user included as the one or more input path parameters.

31. The computer program product of claim 16 wherein the one or more instructions for receiving one or more current images of an area include:

one or more instructions for receiving at least one current image collected in real-time or near real-time.