Virtual earth mapping

• US 8,843,309 B2
• Filed: 10/07/2005
• Issued: 09/23/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 04/21/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Kimchi, Gur, Dekate, Amit, Kuppusamy, Ashok, Lombardi, Steve, Schwartz, Joseph, Lawler, Stephen L., Gounares, Alexander G., Endres, Raymond E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Cuong H
• Application Number:
  US11/246,436
• Publication Number:
  US 20060241860A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,273 Days
• Field of Search: 340/995.1, 340/990, 340/992, 340/995.14, 340/995.15, 707/10, 707/104.1, 707/101, 707/634, 345/440, 345/419, 345/427, 345/643, 345/634, 345629-630, 700/98, 700/118, 709/201, 701200-213, 701/429, 701/455, 701/4, 701/458, 701/532, 701/552, 701/436, 701/454, 701/58, 701437-439, 382/154, 382/284, 348/159, 348/218.1
• US Class Current: 701/436
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/26 specially adapted for navigation in a road network
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3841 Data obtained from two or more sources, e.g. probe vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/29 Geographical information databases
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0253 During e-commerce, i.e. online transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0275 Auctions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0277 Online advertisement
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0962 having an indicator mounted inside the vehicle, e.g. giving voice messages
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0969 having a display in the form of a map
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 29/007 using computer methods
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 29/106 using electronic means
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1001 for accessing one among a plurality of replicated servers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/535 Tracking the activity of the user network monitoring arrangements H04L43/00; recording of computer activity G06F11/34

Abstract

Provided is a single repository for capturing, connecting, sharing, and visualizing information based on a geographic location, for example. Provided is a schema, repository, index, and APIs for any information, place, entity, attribute, service or person that can be referenced geographically. A system to provide real time image data includes an input component that receives image data associated with a specific geographic area, a splitter component that splits the image data into at least two quadrants, and a storage component that stores at least a portion of the at least two quadrants. Also provides is on-line or real-time advertising based on a user'"'"'s mapped location and/or a user preference.

Claims

1. A method for providing map information, comprising:

providing a processor and an associated memory containing computer-executable instructions;

executing the computer-executable instructions to provide a method comprising;

receiving a user request to view a subset of 3-dimensional image data relating to a plurality of geographic locations;

rendering, on a user display device, the subset of 3-dimensional image data at a first viewing angle, the first viewing angle being a top viewing angle, a front viewing angle, or a back viewing angle;

rendering, on the user display device, the subset of 3-dimensional image data at a second viewing angle, the second viewing angle being a bird'"'"'s eye angle, a perspective angle, a downward trajectory angle, or an upward trajectory angle;

rendering, on the user display device, the subset of 3-dimensional image data at a third viewing angle; and

providing for the user to control navigation of the subset of the 3-dimensional image data from a plurality of navigation angles, the plurality of navigation angles comprising the first viewing angle, the second viewing angle, and the third viewing angle.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the third viewing angle is selected from an oblique view, a perspective angle, a downward trajectory viewing angle, and an upward trajectory viewing angle.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

dynamically refreshing the user display device as the user controls navigation of the subset of the 3-dimensional image data.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising associating a location and a time with the 3-dimensional image data.

5. A method for providing map information, comprising:

providing a processor and an associated memory containing computer-executable instructions;

executing the computer-executable instructions to provide a method comprising;

receiving a 3-dimensional image data relating to a plurality of geographic locations;

stitching the 3-dimensional image data together;

receiving a user request to view a subset of the 3-dimensional image data;

retrieving the subset of the 3-dimensional image data;

outputting the subset of the 3-dimensional image data to a user display;

navigating the subset of the 3-dimensional image data in a seamless 3-dimensional manner from a plurality of navigation angles, and

providing for a user to control navigation of the subset of the 3-dimensional image data.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the user control is received from a user physically located in the geographic location or from a user remote from the geographic location.

7. The method of claim 5, further comprising associating a location and a time with the 3-dimensional image.

8. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

dynamically refreshing a user display as the user controls navigation of the subset of the 3-dimensional image data.

9. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

altering a viewing angle of the 3-dimensional image based on user control.