Open area maps based on vector graphics format images

• US 8,339,417 B2
• Filed: 07/25/2008
• Issued: 12/25/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 07/25/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: HERE Global B.V. (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Navteq B.V.
• Inventors: Stroila, Matei N., Seegers, Peter A., Mays, Joseph P., Gale, William N.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wu, Xiao M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): BUTTRAM, ALAN T
• Application Number:
  US12/179,726
• Publication Number:
  US 20100020093A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,614 Days
• Field of Search: 345/529, 345/589, 345/530, 345/632, 345/634, 345/636, 382/199, 701208-212, 701409-413
• US Class Current: 345/629
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/20 Instruments for performing navigational calculations G01C21/24, G01C21/26 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/206 specially adapted for indoor navigation
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 11/60 Editing figures and text; Combining figures or text
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 29/106 using electronic means

Abstract

Systems and methods corresponding to an open area map are disclosed. For example, one method includes receiving an image of a layout corresponding to a real-world area in which a person moves about. The image is in a vector graphics format. A reference region is determined using the image of the layout. A grid is combined with the reference region to generate a routable map. The routable map is configured to provide point-to-point routing within the layout.

Claims

1. A method of generating an open area map, the method comprising:

receiving an image of a layout corresponding to a real-world area in which a person moves about, the image being in a vector graphics format and including an image reference object;

generating a reference region from the image of the layout, the reference region representative of the image reference object; and

combining a grid with the reference region to generate a routable map,

wherein the routable map is configured to be displayed on an end user device and configured to provide point-to-point routing as a function of the grid, and wherein the point-to-point routing in the generated routable map includes route calculation not dependent upon one or more path segments determined prior to the route calculation.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the grid includes a plurality of tiles, and wherein routing comprises calculating a route via adjacent tiles.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein generating the reference region comprises:

modifying the image of the layout;

generating a rasterized image based on the modification, the rasterized image including the image reference object; and

generating a boundary around the image reference object in the rasterized image to form the reference region.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein modifying the image of the layout comprises:

converting the image of the layout into a scalable vector graphics format;

removing text from the scalable vector graphics format; and

replacing color in the scalable vector graphics format.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein replacing the color comprises replacing a gradient color fill with a flat color fill.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein generating the rasterized image comprises:

rasterizing the scalable vector graphics format with removed text and replaced color.

7. The method of claim 3, wherein generating the boundary comprises:

color filtering the rasterized image to highlight the image reference object; and

outlining the highlighted image reference object to generate the boundary.

8. The method of claim 3, wherein the grid includes a plurality of tiles, and wherein the boundary is associated with non-navigable tiles.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the image of the layout comprises an image of a layout selected from the group consisting of:

a building floor plan, a park layout, and a parking lot layout.

10. A method of generating an open area map, the method comprising:

obtaining a vector based image of a layout corresponding to a pedestrian walkable area, the image of the layout including a plurality of image reference objects;

generating a rasterized image as a function of the vector based image;

generating a plurality of reference regions based on the rasterized image, the plurality of reference regions corresponding to a respective image reference object of the plurality of image reference objects; and

combining a mesh with the plurality of reference regions to generate a routable map, the generated routable map configured to be displayed on an end user device,

wherein routing between the plurality of reference regions is based on the mesh, the routing in the generated routable map being point-to-point routing that includes route calculation not dependent upon one or more path segments determined prior to the route calculation.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein generating the rasterized image comprises:

converting the vector based image into a scalable vector graphics format;

altering the scalable vector graphics format; and

rasterizing the altered scalable vector graphics format to form the rasterized image.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein altering the scalable vector graphics format comprises removing text from the scalable vector graphics format.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein altering the scalable vector graphics format comprises replacing color in the scalable vector graphics format.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein the mesh is applied over the vector based image, and wherein the combining comprises compiling the mesh with the plurality of reference regions to generate the routable map.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the mesh and the plurality of reference regions are in separate spatial layers prior to compilation.

16. The method of claim 10, wherein the mesh includes a plurality of tiles substantially uniform in size.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein routing comprises generating a path via connected tiles.

18. The method of claim 10, wherein the vector based image of the layout comprises an image of a building floor plan.

19. A non-transitory computer-readable medium including computer-executable instructions for performing a method of generating an open area map, the method comprising:

obtaining a vector graphics format image of a layout corresponding to a real-world area in which a pedestrian walks about;

applying a grid over the vector graphics format image;

determining a plurality of reference regions as a function of the vector graphics format image, wherein determining the plurality of reference regions comprises;

modifying the vector graphics image of the layout;

generating a rasterized image based on the modified vector graphics image; and

generating a boundary around each of a plurality of image reference objects in the rasterized image to form the respective plurality of reference regions; and

combining the grid with the plurality of reference regions to generate a routable map, wherein the generated routable map is configured to be displayed on an end user device and configured to provide routing to and from any of the plurality of reference regions as a function of the grid, the routing in the generated routable map being point-to-point routing that includes route calculation not dependent upon one or more path segments determined prior to the route calculation.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the plurality of reference regions comprise polygons corresponding to respective areas in the layout.