Method and system for representation and use of shape information in geographic databases
US6366927B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 13, 1999 |
| Grant date | Apr 2, 2002 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 13, 2019 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10S707/99948
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A system and method for storing data to represent other-than-straight map features in a computer-readable geographic database for use in a navigation system. For geographic features that are other-than-straight, a curve generated by a computable function is fitted to an image of the other-than-straight map feature. The computable function may be a polynomial equation whose shape is defined by its coefficients. In one embodiment, the polynomial equation is a type of spline curve, in particular a Bezier curve whose shape is defined by control points. The coefficients of the polynomial equation are associated with data representing the other-than-straight feature. In the case in which the polynomial equation is a Bezier curve, the control points for generating the Bezier curve are associated with the data representing the other-than-straight feature. These control points are stored in the geographic database and are used in displaying the other-than-straight geographic feature. Use of a computable function to generate other-than-straight geographic features and storing parameters to be used by the computable function has the potential for significantly reducing the storage requirement…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.