Patent · US Expired

Image data navigation method and apparatus

US7212661B2 · kind B2 · utility

83Cited by
3References
51Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateFeb 14, 2003
Grant dateMay 1, 2007
Priority date
Expiry dateJul 7, 2025

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG06T2210/41
  • WIPO fieldComputer technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A technique is provided for generating scout or navigational images based upon a series of related images. The related images are analyzed to compute pixels of scout images, such as by determining a characteristic of aligned pixels of each of the related images. The scout or navigational images are then projections of the related images and individual rows or columns of the scout images correspond to individual images of the related set. One or more of the related images may then be accessed by review of the scout image or images. The scout images may be referred to in their own right for an overview of features of interest and may be modified by a user. The technique provides for efficient time management by allowing specific images to be identified in large image series, and facilitates intelligent use of bandwidth for accessing specific images in a viewer workstation.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.