Interior Floor Map Generation From Interconnected Panorama Images
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods struggle to effectively generate accurate and detailed floor maps of building interiors from remote locations without physical presence, as they require precise distance information and manual input, which is time-consuming and inaccurate.
Innovation Solution
The use of interconnected panorama images captured from multiple viewing locations within a building, analyzed to determine relative positions and features, allowing for automated generation of floor maps without requiring detailed distance information, using metadata and image analysis to create a common coordinate system and room layouts.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If manual input and precise distance information are used to generate floor maps, then manufacturing precision is improved, but loss of time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual mechanical measurement and input processes with automated image processing and computer vision algorithms. The system automatically extracts spatial information from images captured by mobile devices, eliminating the need for manual distance measurement and input while maintaining floor map accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a digital copy of the physical building space through image capture and processing. By using images as the source data and automatically generating floor map representations, the system eliminates manual input requirements while preserving spatial accuracy through algorithmic analysis of visual information.
2Manufacturing precision
If detailed distance information is collected for floor map generation, then manufacturing precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex distance measurement devices and manual measurement processes with standard image capture devices and automated processing algorithms. The system uses readily available mobile device cameras combined with computer vision techniques to extract spatial information, significantly reducing device complexity while maintaining accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables the mobile device itself to perform the measurement and mapping functions using its built-in camera and sensors. The device automatically captures images, processes them through algorithms, and generates floor maps without requiring external specialized equipment, thereby reducing overall system complexity.
3Manufacturing precision
If physical presence in the building is required for accurate floor map generation, then manufacturing precision is improved, but productivity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a complete digital representation of the building interior through image capture and processing. By generating accurate floor maps from remotely captured images, the system eliminates the need for physical presence during the mapping process, enabling remote operation while maintaining precision through automated image analysis.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces image data as an intermediary between the remote operator and the building interior. The images serve as a mediator that conveys spatial information from the building to the remote user, enabling accurate floor map generation without requiring the operator to be physically present in the space.
4Loss of information
If comprehensive building interior analysis is performed, then loss of information is reduced, but use of energy increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the building interior analysis into discrete image captures from multiple viewing locations. Each image is processed independently to extract local spatial features, and these segmented results are then integrated to form the complete floor map. This segmentation approach reduces the computational burden compared to analyzing the entire space as a single unit.
Solution Approach 2:
The system captures images at multiple viewing locations that provide overlapping coverage of the building interior. This partial redundancy ensures comprehensive information extraction while allowing the algorithm to work with manageable subsets of data from each location, balancing information completeness with computational efficiency.
Data Source
AI summary
Techniques are described for using computing devices to perform automated operations to generate mapping information using inter-connected images of a defined area, and for using the generated mapping information in further automated manners. In at least some situations, the defined area includes an interior of a multi-room building, and the generated information includes a floor map of the building, such as from an automated analysis of multiple panorama images or other images acquired at various viewing locations within the building—in at least some such situations, the generating is further performed without having detailed information about distances from the images' viewing locations to walls or other objects in the surrounding building. The generated floor map and other mapping-related information may be used in various manners, including for controlling navigation of devices (e.g., autonomous vehicles), for display on one or more client devices in corresponding graphical user interfaces, etc.