Patent Application
20070097143
The present invention is directed generally to superimposing data on images, and more particularly to superimposing probability density functions or power distributions on cartographic displays.
In certain geolocation applications, it is often useful to superimpose data, such as a probability data, power distribution, density data, or other data, on a cartographic display, such as a map. This allows representation of the probability that a certain feature is present at certain locations represented by the map, the amount of power that is present at certain locations represented by the map, or the densities of some element at certain locations represented by the map.
When forming the display, there is a trade-off between the visibility of the superimposed data and the underlying map. The superposition will use an alpha or opacity factor to determine the relative transparency of the superimposed data. An opacity of 0.0 will result in the underlying map being completely visible and the superimposed data being invisible. An opacity of 1.0 will result in the underlying map being obscured and the superimposed data being completely visible.
If the opacity is set too low, the superimposed data will be difficult to see. If the opacity is set too high, the features in the underlying map will be difficult to discern. Previously, applications would use a single opacity value for the entire data set that provided a compromise between the visibility of the data and the underlying map. When such arrangements are used in power distributions superimposed on maps, for example, regions of the map with little to no power would be obscured by the superimposed data to the same extent as regions with maximum power.
Superimposing data on an image requires a number of steps. The data may often be represented using a color scheme, with a color scale selected to span the range of data values. The data also needs to be registered to the map, as the data will generally represent the values of some quantity at specific locations. When using a map, for example, the superimposed data should be aligned and scaled to coincide with the map so that the location represented by a specific superimposed data value corresponds to the same location as represented on the map at the point of overlay. To superimpose the data, the map image and the color scheme representing the data are combined. An opacity factor determines the relative weight by which the color representing the data obscures the map.
Representative embodiments of the present invention provide for varying the opacity based upon variations in the numerical values of the data being superimposed on a chart. This allows for representing the superimposed data most prominently where the values are the highest, and viewing the underlying chart more prominently where the superimposed data values are the lowest. That is, the opacity may be higher for higher data values, and lower for lower data values. Such a variation allows for using a higher opacity to see clearly where data values are the highest, while still providing a clear view of the surrounding chart features. Other embodiments of the invention allow for an inverse relationship between opacity and data values, and/or non-linear relationships.
Representative embodiments of the present invention provide for varying the opacity based upon variations in the numerical values of the data to be overlaid. This allows for representing the power or probability most prominently where it is strongest, and viewing the underlying map more prominently where probability or power is weakest. That is, the opacity may be higher for higher data values, and lower for lower data values. Such a variation allows for using a higher opacity to see clearly where power or probability is strongest, while still providing a clear view of the surrounding landmarks and other map annotations. Other embodiments of the invention allow for an inverse relationship between opacity and data values, and/or non-linear relationships.
The foregoing has outlined rather broadly the features and technical advantages of the present invention in order that the detailed description of the invention that follows may be better understood. Additional features and advantages of the invention will be described hereinafter which form the subject of the claims of the invention. It should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the conception and specific embodiment disclosed may be readily utilized as a basis for modifying or designing other structures for carrying out the same purposes of the present invention. It should also be realized by those skilled in the art that such equivalent constructions do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims. The novel features which are believed to be characteristic of the invention, both as to its organization and method of operation, together with further objects and advantages will be better understood from the following description when considered in connection with the accompanying figures. It is to be expressly understood, however, that each of the figures is provided for the purpose of illustration and description only and is not intended as a definition of the limits of the present invention.
For a more complete understanding of the present invention, reference is now made to the following descriptions taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which:
It will be understood that the inventive concepts of the present invention may be adapted for use to superimpose data of any type related to an underlying chart or map. What follows will be understood to be specific embodiments, and the present invention need not be limited to only the embodiments described.
Line 105 shows a variation of opacity with power/probability. Line 105 shows a linear variation starting at an opacity of 0.0 for power/probability of 0.0 and increasing to a maximum opacity of 0.95 for a power/probability of 1.0. Note that in
Line 201 represents a variable opacity with a minimum opacity above 0.0 when the power/probability is at a minimum value. Line 202 represents a stepped opacity, with a number of discrete values covering various ranges of power/probability. Line 203 represents an inverse relationship between opacity and power/probability, shown here as an exponential decay.
Note that any of the functions described herein may be implemented in hardware, software, and/or firmware, and/or any combination thereof. When implemented in software, the elements of the present invention are essentially the code segments to perform the necessary tasks. The program or code segments can be stored in a processor readable medium or transmitted by a computer data signal embodied in a carrier wave, or a signal modulated by a carrier, over a transmission medium. The “processor readable medium” may include any medium that can store or transfer information. Examples of the processor readable medium include an electronic circuit, a semiconductor memory device, a ROM, a flash memory, an erasable ROM (EROM), a floppy diskette, a compact disk CD-ROM, an optical disk, a hard disk, a fiber optic medium, a radio frequency (RF) link, etc. The computer data signal may include any signal that can propagate over a transmission medium such as electronic network channels, optical fibers, air, electromagnetic, RF links, etc. The code segments may be downloaded via computer networks such as the Internet, Intranet, etc.
Bus 702 is also coupled to input/output (I/O) controller card 705, communications adapter card 711, user interface card 708, and display card 709. The I/O adapter card 705 connects to storage devices 706, such as one or more of a hard drive, a CD drive, a floppy disk drive, a tape drive, to the computer system. The I/O adapter 705 is also connected to printer 714, which would allow the system to print paper copies of information such as document, photographs, articles, etc. Note that the printer may a printer (e.g. dot matrix, laser, etc.), a fax machine, or a copier machine. Communications card 711 is adapted to couple the computer system 700 to a network 712, which may be one or more of a telephone network, a local (LAN) and/or a wide-area (WAN) network, an Ethernet network, and/or the Internet network. User interface card 708 couples user input devices, such as keyboard 713, pointing device 707, and microphone 716, to the computer system 700. User interface card 708 also provides sound output to a user via speaker(s) 715. The display card 709 is driven by CPU 701 to control the display on display device 710.
The overlays may be viewed on a display, such as a computer display device 710, or printed on any suitable medium. The color scale used for representing data values may either be true color or a grayscale. Examples of uses include display of the location of an emitter, such as a signal transmitter device, denoted by varying shades of color using the “Tentagram” display format as described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/114,759 entitled “METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR COMPUTING AND DISPLAYING LOCATION INFORMATION FROM CROSS-CORRELATION DATA,” the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference. Other examples of uses include, without limitation, displays of transmitter geolocation, transmitter power densities, acoustic sonar data, weather data, radiation distribution, particulate distribution, particle density, energy distribution, and lightning strike location.
The data to be superimposed may include multi-modal distributions which contain multiple regions of relatively high and low values, rather than just a single region of high values. Further, the shape of the distribution contours may be significantly different than circular, such as dog-bone shaped. The underlying image need not be a map, but may be any image suitable for an overlay of data. Examples include, without limitation, representations of objects, schematics of circuits, drawings of devices, photographs of scenes and medical images. The data may be supplied as a data file, or an attached system may furnish measurements. Likewise, the image may be supplied as a pre-existing image or may be collected using an attached system. The overlaying can be accomplished by merging two separate files on a computer or by maintaining two separate files and visually combining the files.
Although the present invention and its advantages have been described in detail, it should be understood that various changes, substitutions and alterations can be made herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. Moreover, the scope of the present application is not intended to be limited to the particular embodiments of the process, machine, manufacture, composition of matter, means, methods and steps described in the specification. As one of ordinary skill in the art will readily appreciate from the disclosure of the present invention, processes, machines, manufacture, compositions of matter, means, methods, or steps, presently existing or later to be developed that perform substantially the same function or achieve substantially the same result as the corresponding embodiments described herein may be utilized according to the present invention. Accordingly, the appended claims are intended to include within their scope such processes, machines, manufacture, compositions of matter, means, methods, or steps.
This application is related to co-pending and commonly assigned U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/114,314 entitled “METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR COMPUTING AND DISPLAYING LOCATION INFORMATION FROM CROSS-CORRELATION DATA,” filed Apr. 25, 2005, and co-pending and commonly assigned U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/114,759 entitled “METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR EVALUATING AND OPTIMIZING RF RECEIVER LOCATIONS IN A RECEIVER SYSTEM,” filed Apr. 2, 2005, all of the disclosures of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference.
