Geospatio-temporal Triggered Image Capture for Map Data

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Solution Overview

Problem

Navigation systems face challenges in maintaining up-to-date and accurate geographic data, as existing methods require continuous and labor-intensive collection and updating, often resulting in outdated information due to changes in road conditions, business locations, and other events.

Innovation Solution

An automatic photo capture system for mobile devices that triggers image capture based on a list of geospatio-temporal events, allowing images to be taken only when necessary, and used to update map databases or provide location-based features, utilizing a camera's field of view to intersect with predefined geographic and temporal triggers.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If continuous data collection is performed to maintain up-to-date geographic information, then data accuracy is improved, but the time and labor required for data collection increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvegeographic data accuracyVSAvoidtime for data collection
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs image capture periodically or event-triggered rather than continuously. The mobile device captures images at specific locations along a route or when certain conditions are met, reducing the time and resources required while still maintaining up-to-date geographic data through targeted, intermittent collection efforts.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

2Measurement precision

If manual updating of geographic data is performed, then data accuracy is improved, but the complexity and effort of the updating process increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvegeographic data accuracyVSAvoiddata updating process complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system automatically captures images, geotags them with location data, and uploads them to the server without requiring manual intervention. The mobile device and server work together to autonomously update geographic data, eliminating the need for manual data collection and processing while maintaining high accuracy through automated geospatial correlation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Reliability

If images are captured continuously to ensure timely updates, then data freshness is improved, but the energy consumption and data transmission load increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata freshnessVSAvoidenergy consumption for image capture
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system captures images periodically or based on event triggers rather than continuously. The mobile device determines whether to capture an image based on whether it has reached a specific location or if certain conditions are met, reducing energy consumption and data transmission load while still ensuring timely updates to geographic data.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

4Quantity of substance

If comprehensive geographic data collection is performed, then data completeness is improved, but the burden of processing and managing the data increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevolume of geographic dataVSAvoiddata processing burden
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system extracts only the essential image data and associated metadata needed for updating geographic information. Rather than collecting and processing all possible data, the mobile device captures images at specific locations and uploads only the necessary information to the server, reducing the processing burden while maintaining data completeness for navigation purposes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentEP2920954B1Automatic image capture
Publication Date: 2020.05.06 HERE GLOBAL BV
  • EP2920954B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2920954B1 patent drawingFigure 2A~2B
  • EP2920954B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

In one embodiment, a mobile device generates sensor data configured to describe a geographic position of a mobile device. A list of events is defined according to position data and time data. The geographic position of the mobile device is compared to positions in the list of events of interest and a current time is compared to time data in the list of events of interest. The comparison determines whether events in the list are in range of the mobile device. One or more nearby events in range of the mobile device at the current time or a future time are selected. A command is generated to capture an image of the nearby events using a camera coupled to the mobile device. The captured images may be used to update navigation or map database, provide community or weather data to other users, social media functions, or other features.