3D Location Modeling with GPS-Positioned Image Overlay
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current technologies are inadequate for accurately understanding and documenting current, past, and future human interactions and activities at specific locations, such as bars or restaurants, making it difficult to visualize and predict activities effectively.
Innovation Solution
A computer system that generates an enhanced 3D representation of a location by combining images and videos from portable devices with a 3D model, using GPS and triangulation data to position them accurately within the 3D space, allowing for the recreation of past events and prediction of future activities.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If multiple portable computing devices capture images from different positions and times, then the completeness and detail of location representation is improved, but the complexity of combining and positioning these images within a 3-D representation increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses GPS coordinates and triangulation data as intermediary elements to bridge the gap between multiple portable devices and the central 3-D representation system. These intermediaries automatically translate device positions into spatial coordinates within the 3-D model, eliminating the need for complex manual positioning algorithms while ensuring accurate placement of images from multiple sources
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates virtual copies of the physical location in 3-D space, where each captured image is placed into its corresponding virtual position. This copying approach allows multiple images from different devices to be integrated into a unified 3-D representation without requiring direct manipulation of the original complex multi-device data streams
2Measurement precision
If GPS and triangulation data are used to position images accurately within 3-D space, then the positional accuracy of images is improved, but the time required to process and integrate location data increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by pre-establishing the 3-D representation of the location and pre-configuring the coordinate system before images are captured. GPS coordinates and triangulation parameters are pre-processed and stored in a ready-to-use format, allowing images to be quickly positioned by simple coordinate matching rather than requiring complex real-time calculations during image integration
3Manufacturing precision
If the system combines multiple images and 3-D representations to create an enhanced representation, then the detail and accuracy of location documentation is improved, but the computational resources and processing time required increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the enhanced representation creation process into distinct modules: 3-D model generation, image capture, GPS coordinate processing, image positioning, and final integration. Each module processes data independently and passes results to the next stage, allowing computational tasks to be distributed and optimized separately rather than requiring simultaneous processing of all data together
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses copying to create lightweight reference versions of the 3-D representation and image data that can be processed efficiently. Instead of manipulating the full-resolution original data throughout the entire pipeline, the system works with optimized copies for positioning and integration, reducing computational overhead while maintaining final output quality
Data Source
AI summary
A system, according to various embodiments, receives images such as photographs and videos from one or more portable computing devices associated with one or more individuals (e.g., construction workers or landscapers) while the portable computing devices are in a particular position within a particular location at a particular time. The system determines a virtual position within a 3-D representation of the particular location that generally corresponds to the particular position and combines the images with the 3-D representation to generate an enhanced 3-D representation of the particular location. This may allow, for example, owners of a particular property to track and quickly understand construction and landscaping work that has been done on their property and to easily contact those individuals regarding that work.