Abstract: A method and system for generating and using open sky data is described. A vehicle equipped with a range-finding device travels on a road network in a geographic region. The range-finding device transmits a pulse at a given position and obtains range data associated with the position. The system uses the range data to generate data representing visibility of open sky at the given position and at other positions along the road network. For example, the system may determine transmission angles of pulses transmitted at positions that did not encounter a physical object and then use the determined transmission angles to generate data representing visibility of open sky at these positions. The system then stores the data representing the visibility of open sky. The system then associates the data representing the visibility of open sky with data representing physical features.

Abstract: A method and system for creating geometry for ADAS are described. Link chains, which are a sequence of segments, are created. The link chains are used to create 2D splines. The link chains, the 2D splines, and height data are used to create 3D splines. The 3D splines and possibly the 2D splines are converted to Bezier curves, which can be used to create a 2D polyline. ADAS applications can use the Bezier curves and the 2D polylines to provide ADAS functions.

Abstract: A navigation system comprises a processor, a geographic database and a guidance application executable on the processor. The guidance application obtains data from the geographic database and obtains a photographic image. The guidance application overlays an advertisement route highlight on said photographic image. The advertisement route highlight graphically illustrates a path corresponding to a route and a direction of travel for the route. The advertisement route highlight includes a series of advertisement decals.

Abstract: An approach is provided for efficiently capturing, processing, presenting, and/or associating audio objects with content items and geo-locations. A processing platform may determine a viewpoint of a viewer of at least one content item associated with a geo-location. Further, the processing platform and/or a content provider may determine at least one audio object associated with the at least one content item, the geo-location, or a combination thereof. Furthermore, the processing platform may process the at least one audio object for rendering one or more elements of the at least one audio object based, at least in part, on the viewpoint.

Abstract: Traffic flow is viewed in mapping or navigation. A processor generates a two-dimensional map from a perspective view. The perspective view is at an angle, which is not a normal to the map, looking down on the two-dimensional map. At least one road or pathway represented on the two-dimensional map is identified. Traffic flow information is obtained for a plurality of locations along the at least one road or pathway. A line is projected along a third dimension on the two-dimensional map. The line is above the road or pathway from the perspective view. A height of the line is a function of the traffic flow information for the locations such that the height for a first of the locations is greater than for a second of the locations. The map is displayed with the line.

Abstract: One or more systems, devices, and/or methods for emphasizing objects in an image, such as a panoramic image, are disclosed. For example, a method includes receiving a depthmap generated from an optical distancing system, wherein the depthmap includes position data and depth data for each of a plurality of points. The optical distancing system measures physical data. The depthmap is overlaid on the panoramic image according to the position data. Data is received that indicates a location on the panoramic image and, accordingly, a first point of the plurality of points that is associated with the location. The depth data of the first point is compared to depth data of surrounding points to identify an area on the panoramic image corresponding to a subset of the surrounding points. The panoramic image is altered with a graphical effect that indicates the location.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a building model is presented to a user. The building model may be a three-dimensional rendering of a geographic region. A user selects a point on the three-dimensional rendering of a geographic region. Based on the selected point one or more image bubbles are chosen. The image bubbles are photographs or similar image data. The image bubbles and the three-dimensional rendering are associated with the same geographical space. The one or more image bubbles are incorporated with the building model such that at least a portion of one of the image bubbles is displayed in a window with the building model.

Abstract: In one embodiment, panoramic images, images bubbles, or any two-dimensional views of three-dimensional subject matter are enhanced with one or more alternate viewpoints. A controller receives data indicative of a point on the two-dimensional perspective and accesses a three-dimensional location based on the point. The controller selects an image bubble based on the three-dimensional location. The three-dimensional location may be determined according to a depth map corresponding to the point. A portion of the image bubble is extracted and incorporated into the two-dimensional perspective. The resulting image may be a seamless enhanced resolution image or include a picture-in-picture enhanced resolution window including subject matter surrounding the selected point.

Abstract: One or more systems, devices, and/or methods for emphasizing objects in an image, such as a panoramic image, are disclosed. For example, a method includes receiving a depthmap generated from an optical distancing system, wherein the depthmap includes position data and depth data for each of a plurality of points. The optical distancing system measures physical data. The depthmap is overlaid on the panoramic image according to the position data. Data is received that indicates a location on the panoramic image and, accordingly, a first point of the plurality of points that is associated with the location. The depth data of the first point is compared to depth data of surrounding points to identify an area on the panoramic image corresponding to a subset of the surrounding points. The panoramic image is altered with a graphical effect that indicates the location.

Abstract: Traffic flow is viewed in mapping or navigation. A processor generates a two-dimensional map from a perspective view. The perspective view is at an angle, which is not a normal to the map, looking down on the two-dimensional map. At least one road or pathway represented on the two-dimensional map is identified. Traffic flow information is obtained for a plurality of locations along the at least one road or pathway. A line is projected along a third dimension on the two-dimensional map. The line is above the road or pathway from the perspective view. A height of the line is a function of the traffic flow information for the locations such that the height for a first of the locations is greater than for a second of the locations. The map is displayed with the line.

Abstract: Manipulation of a user's attention is disclosed with respect to a point of interest represented in a simulated field of view of a geographic locality during simulation of travel between locations therein, such as by a computer-implemented navigation system or application. As a user virtually navigates a route, the simulated field of view presented on a display thereto may be constrained, immediately or gradually to an orientation, different from the direction of travel or otherwise from an orientation selected by the user, which focuses on, or otherwise includes the point of interest, or a representation thereof. In this manner, the user's attention is directed or otherwise drawn to the point of interest, e.g. they are less likely to miss or ignore it.

Abstract: One or more systems, devices, and/or methods for generating a map including path side data include storing path side data referenced to three-dimensional geographic coordinates. The path side data may be optical data or optical data modified based on one or more panoramic images. The path side data is combined with map data received from a map database. The map data includes nodes and segments. A processor rotates the path side data based on one of the segments. The rotation may be about the segment or about a featured identified in the optical data. The path side data overlaid on the map data is outputted to a display, a file, or another device.

Abstract: One or more systems, devices, and/or methods for generating path side imagery are disclosed. For example, a method includes receiving optical data measured in three-dimensional geographic coordinates and image data from at least one image bubble. The optical data is projected onto at least one predefined two-dimensional plane. A pixel value for a point of the optical data on the two-dimensional plane is calculated according to the image data. The pixel value may correspond to color or another graphical attribute. The two-dimensional plane is stored or displayed as street side imagery or other path side imagery. An image file including the pixel value for each point of the optical data may be stored in memory or a map database.

Abstract: Mapping or navigation incorporates a real-world view. A map representing a region as a first computer generated graphic is displayed. The map may alternatively be a satellite view. A route is indicated on the map. The route is a computer generated graphic. A real-world image of a view from a location or sequence of image from locations along the route is overlaid on the map, such as being in a small box on the map.

Abstract: One or more systems, devices, and/or methods for three dimensional routing are disclosed. For example, one embodiment includes receiving image data selected based on a viewer perspective from a memory. The image data is correlated with a depthmap generated from an optical distancing system and correlated with route data calculated from an origin point to a destination point using a geographical database and a routing algorithm. The controller compares a first distance, from the viewer perspective to a point correlated with the route data, to a second distance, derived from the depth map at the point. If the comparison indicates that the first distance is closer to the viewer perspective than the second distance, the controller inserts at least one pixel of a navigation illustration into the image data. The image data including the navigation illustration is transmitted to or stored in a memory.

Abstract: One or more systems, devices, and/or methods for illustrating depth are disclosed. For example, a method includes receiving a depthmap generated from an optical distancing system. The depthmap includes depth data for each of a plurality of points, which are correlated to pixels of an image. Data indicative of a location on the image is received. Depth data correlated with the first point is compared to depth data correlated with pixels at surrounding points in the image. If the depth data correlated with the first point indicate a lesser distance from a viewer perspective of the image than the depth data of a pixel at the surrounding points in the image, the pixel is changed to a predetermined value. The comparison may be repeated at other pixels and a depth illustration may be drawn that relates the depth of the received location to other objects in the image.

Abstract: One or more systems, devices, and/or methods for emphasizing objects in an image, such as a panoramic image, are disclosed. For example, a method includes receiving a depthmap generated from an optical distancing system, wherein the depthmap includes position data and depth data for each of a plurality of points. The optical distancing system measures physical data. The depthmap is overlaid on the panoramic image according to the position data. Data is received that indicates a location on the panoramic image and, accordingly, a first point of the plurality of points that is associated with the location. The depth data of the first point is compared to depth data of surrounding points to identify an area on the panoramic image corresponding to a subset of the surrounding points. The panoramic image is altered with a graphical effect that indicates the location.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer-readable data storage devices for generating and/or displaying a map with three-dimensional (3D) features are disclosed. For example, a method may comprise (i) defining a plurality of major three-dimensional regions (“major 3DRs”) and associating each major 3DR with a respective geographical area defined for a map stored in a computer-readable map database, and (ii) displaying, via a display device, one or more of the major 3DRs upon the map. Each major 3DR comprises a top, a bottom, and multiple sides. Each top, bottom, and side of each major 3DR comprises at least one surface. At least one surface of each major 3DR being displayed is textured with an image captured via an imaging device. The image textured onto each surface comprises an image captured by the imaging device when capturing images in a direction of that surface.

Abstract: One or more systems, devices, and/or methods for providing and/or using a navigation/geographic feature are disclosed. For example, a method of operation of a navigation system may include providing a graphics user interface. A data representation of a geographic object, such as a path sign or icon, text, or character thereof, is provided in the graphics user interface. The data representation of the path sign may be provided as a feature of a navigation display. Input identifying a portion of the data representation of the geographic object is received. A navigation-related function is provided based on receiving the input.

Abstract: A navigation system comprises a processor, a geographic database and a guidance application executable on the processor. The guidance application obtains data from the geographic database and obtains a photographic image. The guidance application overlays an advertisement route highlight on said photographic image. The advertisement route highlight graphically illustrates a path corresponding to a route and a direction of travel for the route. The advertisement route highlight includes a series of advertisement decals.