Live Mapping Display Combining Stored Maps with Camera Feed

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing in-flight entertainment systems (IFES) lack the ability to provide real-time, accurate geographic information to passengers, with map data becoming outdated and failing to offer comprehensive details about the aircraft's current location.

Innovation Solution

A live mapping display system that determines the vehicle's geographic position, accesses stored image data, positions a camera to capture live images of the surrounding region, and combines this data with stored images to create a dynamic display, ensuring the live images are seamlessly integrated within the boundaries of the stored images, providing an updated and accurate view of the area.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of information

If a database comprising map information is combined with position sensing mechanism information to display map data, then passengers can view geographic information, but the map data becomes outdated and provides little information about the actual area

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemap data currencyVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines stored map image data with live camera image data to create a composite display. The map database provides geographic context while the live camera feed provides real-time visual information about the actual area, merging both data sources to overcome the outdated nature of map data alone.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The camera system acts as an intermediary between the map database and the display, providing real-time visual verification and supplementation of the stored map information. This intermediary live feed ensures the displayed information remains current and accurate.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Measurement precision

If live image data from a camera is combined with stored image data to create a display image, then real-time geographic information is provided, but the area of live images may exceed the boundaries of stored images

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvegeographic information accuracyVSAvoiddisplay image boundaries
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by selectively displaying live camera images only within the geographic boundaries defined by the stored map images. Different regions of the display have different qualities: areas within map boundaries show combined map and live data, while areas outside boundaries are excluded or handled differently.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The display area is segmented into regions based on the stored map image boundaries. The live camera feed is georeferenced and only displayed within the appropriate geographic boundaries, creating distinct display zones that maintain spatial accuracy and prevent boundary violations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP2161195B1A system and method for providing a live mapping display in a vehicle
Publication Date: 2012.04.18 THALES AVIONICS INC
  • EP2161195B1 patent drawingFigure 1A
  • EP2161195B1 patent drawingFigure 1B
  • EP2161195B1 patent drawingFigure 2A

AI summary

A live mapping display system onboard a vehicle may determine a geographic position of a vehicle, access stored image data corresponding to the geographic position, position a camera to direct the camera toward a target region proximate a geographic region corresponding to the accessed stored image data, receive live image data from the camera of a captured image of the target region, generate a display image including the stored image data combined with the live image data, and display the display image.