Patents by Inventor Duncan Murray Lawler
Duncan Murray Lawler has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Publication number: 20240013486Abstract: The present disclosure relates to methods, devices, and systems for blending geographic data when combining geographic data sources. The methods, devices, and systems identify a blend region for transitioning between a first dataset and a second dataset. The methods, devices, and systems extrapolate geographic data from the second dataset to blend with the geographic data from the first dataset to create blended elevation data in the blend region. The methods, devices, and systems may generate an image for a geographic region with the first set of geographic data, the second set of geographic data, and the blended elevation data.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 25, 2023Publication date: January 11, 2024Inventor: Duncan Murray LAWLER
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Patent number: 11810252Abstract: The present disclosure relates to methods, devices, and systems for blending geographic data when combining geographic data sources. The methods, devices, and systems identify a blend region for transitioning between a first dataset and a second dataset. The methods, devices, and systems extrapolate geographic data from the second dataset to blend with the geographic data from the first dataset to create blended elevation data in the blend region. The methods, devices, and systems may generate an image for a geographic region with the first set of geographic data, the second set of geographic data, and the blended elevation data.Type: GrantFiled: April 9, 2021Date of Patent: November 7, 2023Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLCInventor: Duncan Murray Lawler
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Publication number: 20220327776Abstract: The present disclosure relates to methods, devices, and systems for blending geographic data when combining geographic data sources. The methods, devices, and systems identify a blend region for transitioning between a first dataset and a second dataset. The methods, devices, and systems extrapolate geographic data from the second dataset to blend with the geographic data from the first dataset to create blended elevation data in the blend region. The methods, devices, and systems may generate an image for a geographic region with the first set of geographic data, the second set of geographic data, and the blended elevation data.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 9, 2021Publication date: October 13, 2022Inventor: Duncan Murray LAWLER
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Publication number: 20170213383Abstract: Systems and methods for displaying geographic data on an image taken at an oblique angle are presented. In order to efficiently allow a user computer to map geographic data on an image taken at an oblique angle, an online source, such as an online image source, provides metadata in conjunction with the image. The metadata includes a projection matrix, approximate elevations information, and a depth bitmap. Upon receipt of the image and metadata, and in displaying the geographic data on the image, an approximate elevation for a given coordinate pair (latitude and longitude) is determined according to the approximate elevations information and a determination as to whether the particular element of geographic data is occluded is determined according to a corresponding depth value in the depth bitmap of the metadata.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 27, 2016Publication date: July 27, 2017Inventors: Duncan Murray Lawler, Philip Max Starhill
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Publication number: 20170090460Abstract: Methods and systems are described for generating a three dimensional (3D) model from map data, for example, for 3D printing, 3D virtualization, etc. In one aspect, a method for generating a 3D model may include obtaining map data corresponding to an area or volume, for example, based on a selection of an area of a map. The map data may be translated into a local space. A surface mesh may be formed from the translated map data, and, in some cases, holes in the map data may be connected. At least one side surface may be generated at an angle relative to the surface mesh. In some cases, the side surface may include a side skirt that extends from the surface mesh to a local medium point. The at least one side surface may be combined with the surface mesh to generate the 3D model of the map data.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 24, 2016Publication date: March 30, 2017Inventors: Felix G.T.I. Andrew, Duncan Murray Lawler, Kristofer N. Iverson, Apurva Ashvinkumar Thanky
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Publication number: 20170091993Abstract: Methods and systems are described for selecting, via a graphical user interface, map data to generate a three-dimensional (3D) model based on the selected map data. In one aspect, a method may include displaying, via the graphical use interface, a visual representation of map data. A selection of the map data may be received by the graphical user interface via a selector. The received selection of the map data may be modified to correspond to at least one of a boundary or an object in the map data. A 3D model of the modified selection of the map data may be generated and displayed by the graphical user interface. In some aspects, modifying the received selection of map data may be performed concurrently with receiving the selection of the map data, such as including moving the selector to at least one of the boundary or the object.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 24, 2016Publication date: March 30, 2017Inventors: Felix G.T.I. Andrew, Duncan Murray Lawler, Kristofer N. Iverson, Apurva Ashvinkumar Thanky
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Publication number: 20150371439Abstract: Digital maps can be composed of a series of image tiles that are selected based on the context of the map to be presented. Independently hosted tiles can comprise additional details that can be added to the map. A manifest can be created that describes the layers of map details composed of such independently hosted tiles. Externally referable mechanisms can, based on the manifest and map context, select tiles, from among the independently hosted tiles, that correspond to map tiles being displayed to a user. Subsequently, the mechanisms can instruct a browser, as specified in the manifest, to combine the map tiles and the independently hosted tiles to generate a more detailed map. Alternatively, customized mechanisms can generate map detail tiles in real-time, based on an exported map context. Also, controls instantiated by the browser can render three-dimensional images based on the combined map tiles.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 19, 2014Publication date: December 24, 2015Applicant: Microsoft CorporationInventors: Keith Robert Kinman, Chandrasekhar Thota, Jaya Bhatia, Jeremy Eric Elson, Jonathan R. Howell, Danyel Fisher, John R. Douceur, Duncan Murray Lawler
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Patent number: 8749585Abstract: Digital maps can be composed of a series of image tiles that are selected based on the context of the map to be presented. Independently hosted tiles can comprise additional details that can be added to the map. A manifest can be created that describes the layers of map details composed of such independently hosted tiles. Externally referable mechanisms can, based on the manifest and map context, select tiles, from among the independently hosted tiles, that correspond to map tiles being displayed to a user. Subsequently, the mechanisms can instruct a browser, as specified in the manifest, to combine the map tiles and the independently hosted tiles to generate a more detailed map. Alternatively, customized mechanisms can generate map detail tiles in real-time, based on an exported map context. Also, controls instantiated by the browser can render three-dimensional images based on the combined map tiles.Type: GrantFiled: March 29, 2007Date of Patent: June 10, 2014Assignee: Microsoft CorporationInventors: Keith Robert Kinnan, Chandrasekhar Thota, Jaya Bhatia, Jeremy Eric Elson, Jonathan R. Howell, Danyel Fisher, John R. Douceur, Duncan Murray Lawler
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Patent number: 7869946Abstract: A routing system for efficiently determining a route between an origin and destination is provided. The routing system operates on route data that is organized into rectangular grids. The route data includes edges with their costs, and nodes that identify connecting edges. The route data is also organized according to a hierarchy, with higher level grids corresponding to at least one lower level grid. The lowest level grids contain all route data corresponding to the area covered by each low level grid. The higher level grids contain a copy of route data from their corresponding lower level grids for only those routes that are identified as important routes. A routing algorithm uses the hierarchy in a manner such that higher level grids are used whenever practical to efficiently find a route from the origin to the destination.Type: GrantFiled: February 4, 2005Date of Patent: January 11, 2011Assignee: Microsoft CorporationInventors: Jeffrey Darren Couckuyt, Duncan Murray Lawler
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Patent number: 7533112Abstract: The subject disclosure pertains to systems and methods for storing and maintaining a large volume of data in a hierarchical data structure. In particular, geographical data can be stored in the hierarchical data structure to facilitate location and retrieval of data. In addition, system and methods for retrieving data from the hierarchical data structure are provided. Search queries can specify both the point of origin of the search and a search method or strategy for navigating the hierarchical data structure. In one aspect, the hierarchical data structure can provide for maintaining sibling relationships.Type: GrantFiled: March 27, 2006Date of Patent: May 12, 2009Assignee: Microsoft CorporationInventors: Bryan Kendall Beatty, Nikolai Michael Faaland, Duncan Murray Lawler, Elizabeth Jean Wood
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Publication number: 20080238941Abstract: Digital maps can be composed of a series of image tiles that are selected based on the context of the map to be presented. Independently hosted tiles can comprise additional details that can be added to the map. A manifest can be created that describes the layers of map details composed of such independently hosted tiles. Externally referable mechanisms can, based on the manifest and map context, select tiles, from among the independently hosted tiles, that correspond to map tiles being displayed to a user. Subsequently, the mechanisms can instruct a browser, as specified in the manifest, to combine the map tiles and the independently hosted tiles to generate a more detailed map. Alternatively, customized mechanisms can generate map detail tiles in real-time, based on an exported map context. Also, controls instantiated by the browser can render three-dimensional images based on the combined map tiles.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 29, 2007Publication date: October 2, 2008Applicant: Microsoft CorporationInventors: Keith Robert Kinnan, Chandrasekhar Thota, Jaya Bhatia, Jeremy Eric Elson, Jonathan R. Howell, Danyel Fisher, John R. Douceur, Duncan Murray Lawler