Patents by Inventor James A. Hammack

James A. Hammack 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).

  • Geospatial data abstraction library (GDAL) conversion tool for data compression
    Patent number: 11869222
    Abstract: Provided are methods and apparatus for creating super-compressed map files. Using free and open-source software (FOSS), the tool create a super-compressed internally tiled Geo Tag Image File Format (TIFF) in a WGS84 datum (WGS84) similar in size to the original LizardTech's MrSID (SID) imagery from the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA). Converting NGA data to WGS84 allows mapping systems like NASA Worldwind (WW) to eliminate the step of re-projecting on the fly from non-native projections, thus reducing processing time. The disclosed method includes removing all pure-black pixels by setting them to black+1, changing all near-black border pixels with values less than 15 to 0 (pure black), setting pure black values to “no-data,” compressing the image with a compression scheme, and translating the compressed image to JPEG and a YCbCr color space to achieve greater compression.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: The United States of America, as Represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Robert E. Mullen, James A. Hammack
  • GEOSPATIAL DATA ABSTRACTION LIBRARY (GDAL) CONVERSION TOOL FOR DATA COMPRESSION
    Publication number: 20220292729
    Abstract: Provided are methods and apparatus for creating super-compressed map files. Using free and open-source software (FOSS), the tool create a super-compressed internally tiled Geo Tag Image File Format (TIFF) in a WGS84 datum (WGS84) similar in size to the original LizardTech's MrSID (SID) imagery from the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA). Converting NGA data to WGS84 allows mapping systems like NASA Worldwind (WW) to eliminate the step of re-projecting on the fly from non-native projections, thus reducing processing time. The disclosed method includes removing all pure-black pixels by setting them to black+1, changing all near-black border pixels with values less than 15 to 0 (pure black), setting pure black values to “no-data,” compressing the image with a compression scheme, and translating the compressed image to JPEG and a YCbCr color space to achieve greater compression.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2022
    Publication date: September 15, 2022
    Applicant: The United States of America, as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Robert E. Mullen, James A. Hammack
  • Method and system for real-time automated change detection and classification for images
    Patent number: 8243551
    Abstract: A computer based system and method for determining if a change detection sonar contact in change detection side scan sonar imagery matches a historical contact of the same geospatial location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignee: The United States of America, as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Marlin L Gendron, Maura C Lohrenz, Lancelot M Riedlinger, James A. Hammack, Charles B Martin
  • Method and System for Real-time Automated Change Detection and Classification for Images
    Publication number: 20120069710
    Abstract: A computer based system and method for real-time display of co-registered historical and current side scan sonar imagery during a side scan sonar survey. Embodiments also include modules for detection of clutter in the current imagery, identification of features, extraction of snippets, filtering based on predetermined size and shape parameters, and determination if a current feature is the same as a previously identified contact from historical imagery.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2011
    Publication date: March 22, 2012
    Applicant: THE GOVERNMENT OF THE UNITED STATES, AS REPRESENTED BY THE SECRETARY OF THE NAVY
    Inventors: Marlin L. Gendron, Maura C. Lohrenz, Lancelot M. Riedlinger, James A. Hammack, Charles B. Martin
  • METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR REAL-TIME AUTOMATED CHANGE DETECTION AND CLASSIFICATION FOR IMAGES
    Publication number: 20120069709
    Abstract: A computer based system and method for real-time display of co-registered historical and current side scan sonar imagery during a side scan sonar survey. Embodiments also include modules for detection of clutter in the current imagery, identification of features, extraction of snippets, filtering based on predetermined size and shape parameters, and determination if a current feature is the same as a previously identified contact from historical imagery.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2011
    Publication date: March 22, 2012
    Applicant: THE GOVERNMENT OF THE UNITED STATES, AS REPRESENTED BY THE SECRETARY OF THE NA
    Inventors: Marlin L. Gendron, Maura C. Lohrenz, Lancelot M. Riedlinger, James A. Hammack, Charles B. Martin
  • Method and system for real-time automated change detection and classification for images
    Patent number: 7990804
    Abstract: A computer based system and method for real-time display of co-registered historical and current side scan sonar imagery during a side scan sonar survey. Embodiments also include modules for detection of clutter in the current imagery, identification of features, extraction of snippets, filtering based on predetermined size and shape parameters, and determination if a current feature is the same as a previously identified contact from historical imagery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2011
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Marlin L Gendron, Maura C Lohrenz, Lancelot M Riedlinger, James A. Hammack, Charles B. Martin
  • Method and System for Real-time Automated Change Detection and Classification for Images
    Publication number: 20090016161
    Abstract: A computer based system and method for real-time display of co-registered historical and current side scan sonar imagery during a side scan sonar survey. Embodiments also include modules for detection of clutter in the current imagery, identification of features, extraction of snippets, filtering based on predetermined size and shape parameters, and determination if a current feature is the same as a previously identified contact from historical imagery.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2008
    Publication date: January 15, 2009
    Applicant: The Government of the US, as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Marlin L. Gendron, Maura C. Lohrenz, Lancelot M. Riedlinger, James A. Hammack, Charles B. Martin