Sequential Ground-Level Image Replay for Immersive Route Visualization

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Current electronic map systems, such as Google Maps, primarily offer static or animated transitions between street-level images, lacking a seamless and immersive first-person view of routes, which limits user engagement and realism in route exploration.

Innovation Solution

A computer system and method that provides a sequence of ground-level area representations along a recorded route, allowing users to interactively replay and control the display of these images as if they were traveling the route, using a user-interactive interface with controls for speed and navigation, and optionally presenting a 360-degree view.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If static or animated transitions between street-level images are used, then implementation simplicity is maintained, but user engagement and realism are limited

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveuser engagementVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent transforms static street-level images into a dynamic first-person view experience by sequencing multiple images to simulate movement along a route. The system dynamically transitions between discrete images to create the illusion of continuous travel, making the route viewing experience active and engaging rather than static

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system creates a simulated first-person perspective by copying and sequencing street-level images taken from actual route locations. These copied images are arranged in temporal and spatial sequence to reconstruct the experience of traveling along the route, providing realism without requiring actual real-time travel

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

2Use of energy by moving object

If discrete street-level images are displayed with simple transitions, then data processing requirements are reduced, but immersion and first-person view realism are compromised

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata processing loadVSAvoidroute realism
Core Design Contradiction:
Use of energy by moving objectVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The route is segmented into multiple discrete image capture locations, with each location providing a ground-level view. These segmented images are then sequenced and presented in order to reconstruct the complete route experience, allowing the system to manage data processing in manageable segments while maintaining overall route realism

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent transitions from traditional top-down map perspective to a ground-level third dimension view. By displaying images from actual street-level heights and perspectives rather than aerial views, the system creates an immersive first-person experience that preserves route realism while managing data requirements through selective image capture

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Ease of operation

If traditional map perspectives are used, then system simplicity is maintained, but user engagement and route exploration realism are limited

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveuser engagementVSAvoiddisplay system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically sequences ground-level images to simulate movement along the route, creating an active first-person viewing experience. Unlike static map displays, the image sequence progresses through time and space to mimic actual travel, significantly enhancing user engagement through immersive route exploration

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP2694918B1System and method for providing an electronic representation of a route
Publication Date: 2017.05.24 FLEETMATICS IRELAND LTD
  • EP2694918B1 patent drawingFigure 1A
  • EP2694918B1 patent drawingFigure 1B
  • EP2694918B1 patent drawingFigure 2

AI summary

Disclosed is a computer systems, methods and computer program products for providing an electronic representation of a route. A display device displays a plurality of sequential displays of the ground level area representations along the recorded route including: a first display comprising an origin location area representation; a plurality of sequential displays comprising sequential location area representations along the route; and a last display of a destination location area representation. The at least one ground level image can be a photographic image. A record of a route is recorded by a GPS device.