Method for determining an intuitively defined spatial relationship among physical entities
US4969114A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Nov 14, 1988 |
| Grant date | Nov 6, 1990 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 14, 2008 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06F16/5854
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
Apparatus and method for determining whether a specific spatial relationship exists among physical spatial entities. First, spatially significant descriptors such as the interior and boundary of the physical spatial entities are selected and sets of elements forming a representation of each of the descriptors for each spatial entity is determined. Intersections are then determined between the sets of elements for every combination of descriptors and these intersections are categorized. The categorized relationships are then combined to determine a unique mathematical relationship between the spatial entities. The specific spatial relationship to be analyzed is broken down into the set of desired mathetmatical relationships. According to the present invention, it is then determined whether the unique mathematical relationship between the spatial entities matches any of the desired mathematical relationships used to define the specific relationship, to determine whether or not the spatial entities have the specific relationship.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.