Apparatus and method for producing video drive-by data corresponding to a geographic location

US 7,389,181 B2
Filed: 08/31/2005
Issued: 06/17/2008
Est. Priority Date: 08/31/2004
Status: Expired due to Fees

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First Claim

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1. A system including a video and data server farm comprising:

at least one video storage server that stores video image files containing video drive-by data that corresponds to a geographic location;

a database server that processes a data query received from a user over a communications network that corresponds to a geographic location of interest; and

an image processing server;

wherein the database server identifies video image files stored in the video storage server that correspond to the geographic location of interest contained in the data query, and transfers the video image files over a pre-processing network to the image processing server; and

wherein the image processing server converts the video drive-by data to post processed video data corresponding to a desired image format, and transfers the post processed video data via post-processing network to the communications network in response to the query.

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Abstract

A system and method of providing video drive-by data is provided to enable a street level view of a neighborhood surrounding a selected geographic location. The system includes a video and data server farm incorporation at least one video storage server that stores video image files containing video drive-by data that corresponds to a geographic location, a database server that processes a data query received from a user over the Internet that corresponds to a geographic location of interest, and an image processing server. In operation, the database server identifies video image files stored in the video storage server that correspond to the geographic location of interest contained in the data query, and transfers the video image files over a pre-processing network to the image processing server. The image processing server converts the video drive-by data to post processed video data corresponding to a desired image format, and transfers the post processed video data via post-processing network to the Internet response to the query.

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21 Claims

1. A system including a video and data server farm comprising:
- at least one video storage server that stores video image files containing video drive-by data that corresponds to a geographic location;
  
  a database server that processes a data query received from a user over a communications network that corresponds to a geographic location of interest; and
  
  an image processing server;
  
  wherein the database server identifies video image files stored in the video storage server that correspond to the geographic location of interest contained in the data query, and transfers the video image files over a pre-processing network to the image processing server; and
  
  wherein the image processing server converts the video drive-by data to post processed video data corresponding to a desired image format, and transfers the post processed video data via post-processing network to the communications network in response to the query.
- View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
- - 2. A system as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a landing zone server that receives the video drive-by data from a portable memory device and permits the viewing of the video drive-by data prior to storage in the video storage server.
  - 3. A system as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a map server that presents a static image of an overhead view of the geographic location of interest.
  - 4. A system as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a video capture system including:
    - a camera array that generates video image data of a neighborhood corresponding to a geographic location;
      
      a positioning unit that produces positioning data corresponding to the location of the camera array; and
      
      a processing unit that processes the video image data and positioning data to produce the video drive-by data;
      
      wherein the processing unit stores the video drive-by data on the portable memory device.
  - 5. A system as claimed in claim 4, wherein the camera array includes a plurality of camera units arranged to provide a 360 degree view of the neighborhood.
  - 6. A system as claimed in claim 4, wherein the processing unit further provides time stamp data and file pointer data that permits synchronization of video images to precise locations of individual frames.
  - 7. A system as claimed in claim 1, further comprising means for providing a variety of geo-coded data layers in conjunction with the video drive-by data.
  - 8. A system as claimed in claim 1, further comprising means for creating geo-coded text, image and vector data which is superimposed onto the post processed video data that is transferred to the communications network.
  - 9. A system as claimed in claim 1, further comprising means for linking latitude and longitude data with video drive-by data.
  - 10. A system as claimed in claim 9, further comprising means for calculating a camera position of designated individual frames of video by using position data points captured before and after a designated frame position.
  - 11. A system as claimed in claim 10, wherein the position data points are used to create the parameters of a polynomial function which represent the spline path of movement by a vehicle in which the camera array is mounted, wherein this polynomial function can be used to calculate the position and camera orientation based on a smooth curve versus a straight point to point straight line segment for each frame captured between the position data transmission intervals.
  - 12. A system as claimed in claim 1, further comprising means for examining changes of relative position in the horizontal position of designated landmarks in a sequence of video image frames to create fixed landmark data points.
  - 13. A system as claimed in claim 1, further comprising means for examining images that match common image patterns to enable the creation of an accurate vector map of roads.
  - 14. A system as claimed in claim 1, further comprising means of providing OCR processing to generate a database of recognized text that is geo-coded with latitude and longitude coordinates based on camera orientation and relative position.
  - 15. A system as claimed in claim 1, further comprising means for selecting street level video for a given street address by calculating a centroid of a parcel and determining camera orientation and position to enable highly accurate delivery of video that is pointed toward the centroid of a parcel.
  - 16. A system as claimed in claim 15, further comprising means for by which a sequence of video frames that are oriented toward a designated parcel and it'"'"'s adjacent parcels can be stitched together to form a long horizontal image of a street which can be created with superimposed property county parcel data is placed above the centroid of the parcel centered above the property.
  - 17. A system as claimed in claim 1, further comprising means for providing authenticated annotation of information or comments to a photo and or video.
  - 18. A system as claimed in claim 1, further comprising means for uploading a digital image photograph to the video and data server farm and comparing the uploaded photo to a library of images captured by the video capture system.
  - 19. A system as claimed in claim 1, further comprising means for comparing digital image photos of building structures to generate a set of numeric values representing line segments of sharp horizontal, vertical and angular lines that are stored as vectors each with common ratios of distances from each other, wherein the list of vector line segments can be searched with a high-speed database query to generate a list of possible matches of a subject property against a large database of properties with vector line data on file.

20. A method comprising:
- storing video image files containing video drive-by data that corresponds to a geographic location in a video storage server;
  
  processing a data query with a database server received from a user over a communications network that corresponds to a geographic location of interest;
  
  identifying video image files stored in the video storage server that correspond to the geographic location of interest contained in the data query;
  
  transferring the video image files over a pre-processing network to an image processing server;
  
  converting the video drive-by data to post processed video data corresponding to a desired image format; and
  
  transferring the post processed video data via a post-processing network to the Internet in response to the query.
- View Dependent Claims (21)
- - 21. A method as claimed in claim 20, further comprising:
    - generating video image data of a neighborhood corresponding to a geographic location with a camera array;
      
      producing positioning data corresponding to the location of the camera array;
      
      processing the video image data and positioning data to produce the video drive-by data;
      
      storing the video drive-by data on the portable memory device.

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Litigation Data

Current Assignee
Visual Real Estate Incorporated (California Gold Corporation)
Original Assignee
Visre Incorporated
Inventors
Meadow, William D., Gordie, Jr., Randall A.
Primary Examiner(s)
ARTHUR JEANGLAUDE, GERTRUDE

Application Number

US11/216,465
Publication Number

US 20060075442A1
Time in Patent Office

1,021 Days
Field of Search

701/35, 701/207, 701/214, 701/300, 342/357.01, 342/357.09, 340/991, 340/993, 725/91, 725/114, 707/E17.028, 707/E17.11
US Class Current

701/207
CPC Class Codes

G06F 16/29   Geographical information da...

G06F 16/78   Retrieval characterised by ...

G06F 16/9537   Spatial or temporal depende...

Apparatus and method for producing video drive-by data corresponding to a geographic location

First Claim

12 Assignments

Litigations

2 Petitions

Accused Products

Abstract

75 Citations

21 Claims

Specification

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Apparatus and method for producing video drive-by data corresponding to a geographic location

First Claim

12 Assignments

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Litigations

2 Petitions

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Accused Products

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Abstract

75 Citations

21 Claims

Specification

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Solutions

Use Cases

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