Abstract: Method and apparatus are provided for image based positioning comprising capturing a first image with an image capturing device. Wherein said first image includes at least one object. Moving the platform and capturing a second image with the image capturing device. The second image including the at least one object. Capturing in the first image an image of a surface; capturing in the second image a second image of the surface. Processing the plurality of images of the object and the surface using a combined feature based process and surface tracking process to track the location of the surface. Finally, determining the location of the platform by processing the combined feature based process and surface based process.

Abstract: A method for determining absolute orientation of a platform is disclosed. In one embodiment, a first sky polarization data set for a first time Ti is measured using a sky polarization sensor disposed on a platform. A second sky polarization data set is obtained at a second time Tj. A difference in orientation between the first sky polarization data set and the second sky polarization data set is determined using an orientation determiner. The difference in orientation is provided as at least one orientation parameter for the platform at time Tj. The at least one orientation parameter is used to provide a direction relative to a reference point on the platform.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention recite method for implementing a dual purpose Geographic Information Systems (GIS) network. In one embodiment, a first data stream which is compatible with a dedicated GIS data collection device is generated. The method further comprises generating a second data stream which is compatible with a mobile electronic device configured for collecting GIS data and which was not originally intended for use as a GIS data recording device.

Abstract: Method and apparatus are provided for image based positioning comprising capturing a first image with an image capturing device. Wherein said first image includes at least one object. Moving the platform and capturing a second image with the image capturing device. The second image including the at least one object. Capturing in the first image an image of a surface; capturing in the second image a second image of the surface. Processing the plurality of images of the object and the surface using a combined feature based process and surface tracking process to track the location of the surface. Finally, determining the location of the platform by processing the combined feature based process and surface based process.

Abstract: A method for determining absolute orientation of a platform is disclosed. In one embodiment, a first sky polarization data set for a first time Ti is measured using a sky polarization sensor disposed on a platform. A second sky polarization data set is obtained at a second time Tj. A difference in orientation between the first sky polarization data set and the second sky polarization data set is determined using an orientation determiner. The difference in orientation is provided as at least one orientation parameter for the platform at time Tj. The at least one orientation parameter is used to provide a direction relative to a reference point on the platform.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention recite a method and system for administrating GIS data dictionaries. In one embodiment, a mobile electronic device is assigned to a workgroup. The method further comprises selecting a data dictionary comprising at least one desired GIS feature type which was not originally intended for use by the mobile electronic device based upon the assigned membership of the mobile electronic device to the workgroup. The method further comprises sending the data dictionary to the mobile electronic device via a wireless communication network.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention recite a method and system for provisioning a Java equipped cellular telephone. In one embodiment, a Geographic Information Systems (GIS) data collector application is uploaded onto a Java equipped cellular telephone for enabling the Java equipped cellular telephone to perform GIS data collection functions. The method further comprises uploading a data dictionary onto the Java equipped cellular telephone comprising at least one GIS feature type.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention recite a method and system for implementing a Geographic Information Systems (GIS) network. In one embodiment, configuration data comprising a unique identification of a mobile electronic device and an assigned membership of the mobile electronic device to a workgroup is received. The method further comprises selecting a data dictionary comprising at least one desired GIS feature type which was not originally intended for use by the mobile electronic device based upon the assigned membership of the mobile electronic device to the workgroup. The method further comprises sending the data dictionary to the mobile electronic device via a wireless communication network.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention recite a method for implementing Geographic Information Systems (GIS) data collection utilizing a legacy electronic device. In one embodiment, a GIS data collector application is installed upon a legacy electronic device which is not originally intended to be used as a GIS data recording device. The method further comprises selecting a data dictionary comprising at least one desired GIS feature type which was not originally intended for use by the legacy electronic device based upon an assigned membership of the legacy electronic device to a workgroup. The method further comprises sending the data dictionary to the legacy electronic device via a wireless communication network.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention recite a method and system for upgrading a legacy cellular device. In one embodiment, a GIS data collector application for enabling a cellular telephone to perform GIS data collector functions is installed upon a cellular telephone which is not originally intended to be used as a GIS data recording device. The method further comprises selecting a data dictionary comprising at least one desired GIS feature type which was not originally intended for use by the cellular telephone based upon an assigned membership of the cellular telephone to a workgroup. The method further comprises sending the data dictionary to the cellular telephone via a wireless communication network.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention recite a Geographic Information Systems (GIS) data collection network. In one embodiment, the present invention comprises a mobile electronic device that was not originally intended for use as a GIS data collector. The present invention further comprises a data dictionary forwarding device communicatively coupled with the mobile electronic device and a GIS data management component communicatively coupled with the data dictionary forwarding device for receiving GIS data collected by the mobile electronic device.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention recite a method and system for creating a flexible Geographic Information Systems (GIS) network. In one embodiment, a data dictionary is assigned to a mobile electronic device. In one embodiment, the data dictionary comprises a definition of at least one desired GIS feature type which was not originally intended to be recordable by the mobile electronic device. The method further comprises uploading the data dictionary onto the mobile electronic device.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention recite a method and system for creating a flexible Geographic Information Systems (GIS) network. In one embodiment, a data dictionary is assigned to a mobile electronic device. In one embodiment, the data dictionary comprises a definition of at least one desired GIS feature type which was not originally intended to be recordable by the mobile electronic device. The method further comprises uploading the data dictionary onto the mobile electronic device.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention recite a method and system for upgrading a legacy cellular device. In one embodiment, a GIS data collector application for enabling a cellular telephone to perform GIS data collector functions is installed upon a cellular telephone which is not originally intended to be used as a GIS data recording device. The method further comprises selecting a data dictionary comprising at least one desired GIS feature type which was not originally intended for use by the cellular telephone based upon an assigned membership of the cellular telephone to a workgroup. The method further comprises sending the data dictionary to the cellular telephone via a wireless communication network.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention recite a method and system for administrating GIS data dictionaries. In one embodiment, a mobile electronic device is assigned to a workgroup. The method further comprises selecting a data dictionary comprising at least one desired GIS feature type which was not originally intended for use by the mobile electronic device based upon the assigned membership of the mobile electronic device to the workgroup. The method further comprises sending the data dictionary to the mobile electronic device via a wireless communication network.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention recite method for implementing a dual purpose Geographic Information Systems (GIS) network. In one embodiment, a first data stream which is compatible with a dedicated GIS data collection device is generated. The method further comprises generating a second data stream which is compatible with a mobile electronic device configured for collecting GIS data and which was not originally intended for use as a GIS data recording device.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention recite a method for implementing Geographic Information Systems (GIS) data collection utilizing a legacy electronic device. In one embodiment, a GIS data collector application is installed upon a legacy electronic device which is not originally intended to be used as a GIS data recording device. The method further comprises selecting a data dictionary comprising at least one desired GIS feature type which was not originally intended for use by the legacy electronic device based upon an assigned membership of the legacy electronic device to a workgroup. The method further comprises sending the data dictionary to the legacy electronic device via a wireless communication network.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention recite a method and system for implementing a Geographic Information Systems (GIS) network. In one embodiment, configuration data comprising a unique identification of a mobile electronic device and an assigned membership of the mobile electronic device to a workgroup is received. The method further comprises selecting a data dictionary comprising at least one desired GIS feature type which was not originally intended for use by the mobile electronic device based upon the assigned membership of the mobile electronic device to the workgroup. The method further comprises sending the data dictionary to the mobile electronic device via a wireless communication network.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention recite a Geographic Information Systems (GIS) data collection network. In one embodiment, the present invention comprises a mobile electronic device that was not originally intended for use as a GIS data collector. The present invention further comprises a data dictionary forwarding device communicatively coupled with the mobile electronic device and a GIS data management component communicatively coupled with the data dictionary forwarding device for receiving GIS data collected by the mobile electronic device.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention recite a method and system for provisioning a Java equipped cellular telephone. In one embodiment, a Geographic Information Systems (GIS) data collector application is uploaded onto a Java equipped cellular telephone for enabling the Java equipped cellular telephone to perform GIS data collection functions. The method further comprises uploading a data dictionary onto the Java equipped cellular telephone comprising at least one GIS feature type.