Patents by Inventor John Willard Howard
John Willard Howard 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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Patent number: 7148898Abstract: A system and method for coordinated manipulation of multiple displayed maps, even when the maps use different internal coordinate systems. According to this embodiment, each map image to be displayed is first georeferenced, to provide a set of conversion functions between each map's internal coordinate system and a geographic coordinate system, which is latitude/longitude in the preferred embodiment. After this is done, any point on each map can be referenced using the geographic coordinate set. Since this is the case, the maps can now be manipulated, edited, and annotated in a synchronized manner, by defining the manipulations in terms of the geographic coordinate system, and using the georeferencing functions to translate the manipulation to each map's internal coordinate system.Type: GrantFiled: March 29, 2000Date of Patent: December 12, 2006Assignee: SourceProse CorporationInventors: John Willard Howard, Dan Martin Scott, Darin Wayne Higgins
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Patent number: 7142217Abstract: A system and method for coordinated manipulation of multiple displayed maps, even when the maps use different internal coordinate systems. According to this embodiment, each map image to be displayed is first georeferenced, to provide a set of conversion functions between each map's internal coordinate system and a geographic coordinate system, which is latitude/longitude in the preferred embodiment. After this is done, any point on each map can be referenced using the geographic coordinate set. Since this is the case, the maps can now be manipulated, edited, and annotated in a synchronized manner, by defining the manipulations in terms of the geographic coordinate system, and using the georeferencing functions to translate the manipulation to each map's internal coordinate system.Type: GrantFiled: March 29, 2001Date of Patent: November 28, 2006Assignee: SourceProse CorporationInventors: John Willard Howard, Dan Martin Scott, Darin Wayne Higgins
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Patent number: 6842698Abstract: After FEMA flood maps are scanned and converted to raster maps on a computer system, they are georeferenced. The georeferenced raster maps are stored on the system. Map inset polygons are surrounded by a virtual bounding box and a determination is made whether each grid rectangle intersects any bounding box. For each such intersection, the relevant inset polygon is traced to determine if it actually intersects the grid rectangle. If there is such intersection, the inset polygon is added to a list attached to the grid rectangle. At the end of the process, the list for each grid rectangle identifies each inset polygon intersected thereby. When an address of a property subject to a flood zone determination is entered into the system and geocoded, the grid rectangle containing the address is immediately called up. If only one inset polygon is on the list, it is used to make the flood determination.Type: GrantFiled: October 10, 2003Date of Patent: January 11, 2005Assignee: SourceProse CorporationInventors: John Willard Howard, Dan Martin Scott, Darin Wayne Higgins
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Publication number: 20040078143Abstract: After FEMA flood maps are scanned and converted to raster maps on a computer system, they are georeferenced. The georeferenced raster maps are stored on the system. Map inset polygons are surrounded by a virtual bounding box and a determination is made whether each grid rectangle intersects any bounding box. For each such intersection, the relevant inset polygon is traced to determine if it actually intersects the grid rectangle. If there is such intersection, the inset polygon is added to a list attached to the grid rectangle. At the end of the process, the list for each grid rectangle identifies each inset polygon intersected thereby. When an address of a property subject to a flood zone determination is entered into the system and geocoded, the grid rectangle containing the address is immediately called up. If only one inset polygon is on the list, it is used to make the flood determination.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 10, 2003Publication date: April 22, 2004Applicant: SourceProse CorporationInventors: John Willard Howard, Dan Martin Scott, Darin Wayne Higgins
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Patent number: 6678615Abstract: A method, system and apparatus for evaluating a characteristic or trait present at a geographic location in a plurality of non-georeferenced maps. In operation, the method comprises constructing a virtual bounding box around each inset of the maps, and then defining a virtual rectangular geographic grid system covering the total area covered by the maps. For each grid rectangle that intersects an inset bounding box, tracing the inset enclosed by the bounding box to determine if there is intersection of the grid rectangle and the inset. If there is intersection of a grid rectangle and an inset, adding the identity of the inset to a list associated with the grid rectangle, geocoding the location of the geographic location, and examining the insets contained in the list associated with the one grid rectangle containing the geocoded location, and performing the evaluation.Type: GrantFiled: April 23, 2002Date of Patent: January 13, 2004Assignee: SourceProse CorporationInventors: John Willard Howard, Dan Martin Scott, Darin Wayne Higgins
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Patent number: 6631326Abstract: A system and method for performing flood zone determinations using scanned, georeferenced, digital raster map images. The user, to determine the flood zone classification of a particular property, first enters the street address, or full legal address, into a data processing system. The system determines, from the address, which raster map includes that particular property. The system retrieves that map, and utilizes georeferencing information to locate the property on the raster map. The user can visually verify the location of the property as marked on the displayed raster map, and can at that point examine the flood zone indications on the raster map. Further, the system can compare the geographic coordinates of the property against a database of flood zone boundaries for an automated flood zone determination. The system can also generate, store, and produce flood zone certificates according to the flood zone determination.Type: GrantFiled: March 29, 2000Date of Patent: October 7, 2003Assignee: SourceProse CorporationInventors: John Willard Howard, Dan Martin Scott, Darin Wayne Higgins
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Publication number: 20030009287Abstract: After FEMA flood maps are scanned and converted to raster maps on a computer system, they are georeferenced. The georeferenced raster maps are stored on the system. Map inset polygons are surrounded by a virtual bounding box and a determination is made whether each grid rectangle intersects any bounding box. For each such intersection, the relevant inset polygon is traced to determine if it actually intersects the grid rectangle. If there is such intersection, the inset polygon is added to a list attached to the grid rectangle. At the end of the process, the list for each grid rectangle identifies each inset polygon intersected thereby. When an address of a property subject to a flood zone determination is entered into the system and geocoded, the grid rectangle containing the address is immediately called up. If only one inset polygon is on the list, it is used to make the flood determination.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 23, 2002Publication date: January 9, 2003Inventors: John Willard Howard, Dan Martin Scott, Darin Wayne Higgins
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Publication number: 20010034579Abstract: A system and method for performing flood zone determinations using scanned, georeferenced, digital raster map images. The user, to determine the flood zone classification of a particular property, first enters the street address, or full legal address, into a data processing system. The system determines, from the address, which raster map includes that particular property. The system retrieves that map, and utilizes georeferencing information to locate the property on the raster map. The user can visually verify the location of the property as marked on the displayed raster map, and can at that point examine the flood zone indications on the raster map. Further, the system can compare the geographic coordinates of the property against a data base of flood zone boundaries for an automated flood zone determination. The system can also generate, store, and produce flood zone certificates according to the flood zone determination.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 29, 2001Publication date: October 25, 2001Inventors: John Willard Howard, Dan Martin Scott, Darin Wayne Higgins
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Publication number: 20010032050Abstract: A system and method for performing flood zone determinations using scanned, georeferenced, digital raster map images. The user, to determine the flood zone classification of a particular property, first enters the street address, or full legal address, into a data processing system. The system determines, from the address, which raster map includes that particular property. The system retrieves that map, and utilizes georeferencing information to locate the property on the raster map. The user can visually verify the location of the property as marked on the displayed raster map, and can at that point examine the flood zone indications on the raster map. Further, the system can compare the geographic coordinates of the property against a data base of flood zone boundaries for an automated flood zone determination. The system can also generate, store, and produce flood zone certificates according to the flood zone determination.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 29, 2001Publication date: October 18, 2001Inventors: John Willard Howard, Dan Martin Scott, Darin Wayne Higgins