On-Demand Image Overlay for 3D Building Models
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional street view systems cannot provide a seamless perspective of surrounding areas and require loading multiple images to view scenes from different angles, leading to inefficient navigation and cluttered interfaces.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that overlays high-resolution street side imagery onto a three-dimensional rendering of a geographic region, allowing users to select points and display image bubbles as needed, reducing bandwidth requirements and improving clarity by using symbolic building models and on-demand image retrieval.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If conventional street view loads multiple image bubbles to provide different perspectives, then the user can view surrounding areas, but the interface becomes cluttered and navigation becomes inefficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from a two-dimensional conventional street view interface to a three-dimensional virtual globe interface. By rendering buildings and geographic features in 3D space, the system allows users to view surrounding areas from multiple perspectives simultaneously without loading multiple separate image bubbles, thus maintaining viewing versatility while improving navigation efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The virtual globe interface serves multiple functions simultaneously: it displays building models, provides street view imagery through image bubbles, shows geographic context, and enables navigation. This multi-functional interface replaces the need for separate conventional street view interfaces, allowing users to access different perspectives within a single unified system
2Adaptability or versatility
If conventional street view loads multiple image bubbles to show surrounding scenes, then the user can see different angles, but bandwidth usage increases and loading time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system extracts and displays only the specific image bubble corresponding to the selected building or location of interest, rather than loading multiple image bubbles to show all surrounding scenes. This extraction approach reduces bandwidth usage by transmitting only the necessary image data while still providing comprehensive scene coverage through the 3D virtual globe context
Solution Approach 2:
The system pre-loads or caches image bubbles associated with buildings and locations in the virtual globe before they are explicitly requested. When a user selects a building, the corresponding image bubble is already available or quickly retrievable, reducing actual loading time and bandwidth usage during interaction while maintaining the ability to show comprehensive scenes
3Adaptability or versatility
If conventional street view switches to next image bubble to view another perspective, then the user can see different directions, but the interface requires multiple loading operations and panning
Solution Approach 1:
By implementing a three-dimensional virtual globe, the system allows users to navigate between different perspectives through spatial rotation and zooming operations rather than sequential loading of multiple image bubbles. The 3D environment enables instant perspective changes by rendering different views of the same virtual space, eliminating the time required for multiple loading and panning operations
Solution Approach 2:
The system merges multiple image bubbles and building models into a single integrated virtual globe environment. Instead of switching between separate image bubble interfaces, all perspectives are combined into one cohesive 3D space where users can navigate smoothly between viewpoints without the delays associated with sequential loading operations
Data Source
AI summary
In one embodiment, a building model is presented to a user. The building model may be a three-dimensional rendering of a geographic region. A user selects a point on the three-dimensional rendering of a geographic region. Based on the selected point one or more image bubbles are chosen. The image bubbles are photographs or similar image data. The image bubbles and the three-dimensional rendering are associated with the same geographical space. The one or more image bubbles are incorporated with the building model such that at least a portion of one of the image bubbles is displayed in a window with the building model.