Patents by Inventor Marc Blais

Marc Blais 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).

  • Patent number: 8010244
    Abstract: A system and method for efficient intervisibility determination. The intervisibility determination method of the present invention provides a multiple threat processing capability within a specified area of terrain using a common database. Computation is simplified through the method of processing data posts in the terrain elevation database. By taking integer steps and incrementing distance, x or y, and a predicted elevation value at each step, a small number of operations may be performed. Recomputing a change in elevation value may be reduced. An umbra database provides an enhanced look-up capability for displaying and updating the intervisibility display information. The systems and methods of the present invention may be suitable for use on a vehicle and in mission management activities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2011
    Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Inventors: Mark Allstadt, Marc Blais, Ira S. Glickstein, Peter N. Stiles, Ronald Vienneau
  • Publication number: 20100268746
    Abstract: A system and method for efficient intervisibility determination. The intervisibility determination method of the present invention provides a multiple threat processing capability within a specified area of terrain using a common database. Computation is simplified through the method of processing data posts in the terrain elevation database. By taking integer steps and incrementing distance, x or y, and a predicted elevation value at each step, a small number of operations may be performed. Recomputing a change in elevation value may be reduced. An umbra database provides an enhanced look-up capability for displaying and updating the intervisibility display information. The systems and methods of the present invention may be suitable for use on a vehicle and in mission management activities.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2007
    Publication date: October 21, 2010
    Inventors: Mark Allstadt, Marc Blais, Ira S. Glickstein, Peter N. Stiles, Ronald Vienneau
  • Patent number: 7769246
    Abstract: A system and method for multiple map image projecting and fusing in an object oriented computer environment. The multiple map image projecting and fusing method may provide a flexible and efficient architecture for generating combined map images from one or more map data sources. One or more map image objects may be coupled to map data objects, map projection objects and other map image objects according to a contemplated use of the invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2010
    Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Inventor: Marc Blais
  • Patent number: 7738679
    Abstract: A system and method for creating a connectivity framework between map image objects and map data objects in an object oriented computer environment. The connectivity framework may provide a flexible and efficient architecture for generating multiple map images from one or more map data sources. The map image objects may be coupled to map data objects and map projection objects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2010
    Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Inventor: Marc Blais
  • Patent number: 7705852
    Abstract: Compressed graphic image data files, such as Compressed ARC (Arc-second Raster Chart/map) Digitized Raster Graphics (CADRG) map files for a region of interest, are stored in blocks of memory (nodes) preferably arranged as a linked list. Portions of files containing data for an area of interest including an image of interest are decompressed before the data are sent to a frame buffer for display. Nodes that do not contain requested data are flagged as unused, but not deallocated, making the data in such nodes available for use or replacement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2010
    Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Inventor: Marc A. Blais
  • Publication number: 20100013673
    Abstract: A system and method for multiple map image projecting and fusing in an object oriented computer environment. The multiple map image projecting and fusing method may provide a flexible and efficient architecture for generating combined map images from one or more map data sources. One or more map image objects may be coupled to map data objects, map projection objects and other map image objects according to a contemplated use of the invention.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 17, 2009
    Publication date: January 21, 2010
    Inventor: Marc BLAIS
  • Publication number: 20090138501
    Abstract: A system and method for creating a connectivity framework between map image objects and map data objects in an object oriented computer environment. The connectivity framework may provide a flexible and efficient architecture for generating multiple map images from one or more map data sources. The map image objects may be coupled to map data objects and map projection objects.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 2, 2009
    Publication date: May 28, 2009
    Applicant: Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Inventor: Marc Blais
  • Patent number: 7492965
    Abstract: A system and method for multiple map image projecting and fusing in an object oriented computer environment. The multiple map image projecting and fusing method may provide a flexible and efficient architecture for generating combined map images from one or more map data sources. One or more map image objects may be coupled to map data objects, map projection objects and other map image objects according to a contemplated use of the invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2009
    Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Inventor: Marc Blais
  • Patent number: 7486840
    Abstract: A system and method for creating a connectivity framework between map image objects and map data objects in an object oriented computer environment. The connectivity framework may provide a flexible and efficient architecture for generating multiple map images from one or more map data sources. The map image objects may be coupled to map data objects and map projection objects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2009
    Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Inventor: Marc Blais
  • Publication number: 20080012871
    Abstract: Compressed graphic image data files, such as Compressed ARC (Arc-second Raster Chart/map) Digitized Raster Graphics (CADRG) map files for a region of interest, are stored in blocks of memory (nodes) preferably arranged as a linked list. Portions of files containing data for an area of interest including an image of interest are decompressed before the data are sent to a frame buffer for display. Nodes that do not contain requested data are flagged as unused, but not deallocated, making the data in such nodes available for use or replacement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 3, 2007
    Publication date: January 17, 2008
    Inventor: Marc Blais
  • Patent number: 7280897
    Abstract: A system and method for efficient intervisibility determination. The intervisibility determination method of the present invention provides a multiple threat processing capability within a specified area of terrain using a common database. Computation is simplified through the method of processing data posts in the terrain elevation database. By taking integer steps and incrementing distance, x or y, and a predicted elevation value at each step, a small number of operations may be performed. Recomputing a change in elevation value may be reduced. An umbra database provides an enhanced look-up capability for displaying and updating the intervisibility display information. The systems and methods of the present invention may be suitable for use on a vehicle and in mission management activities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2007
    Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Inventors: Mark Allstadt, Marc Blais, Ira S. Glickstein, Peter N. Stiles, Ronald Vienneau
  • Patent number: 7245304
    Abstract: Compressed graphic image data files, such as Compressed ARC (Arc-second Raster Chart/map) Digitized Raster Graphics (CADRG) map files for a region of interest, are stored in blocks of memory (nodes) preferably arranged as a linked list. Portions of files containing data for an area of interest including an image of interest are decompressed before the data are sent to a frame buffer for display. Nodes that do not contain requested data are flagged as unused, but not deallocated, making the data in such nodes available for use or replacement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2007
    Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Inventor: Marc A. Blais
  • Patent number: 7242407
    Abstract: A system and method of re-projecting a map image using graphical techniques is provided. A digital map image, in a first projection, may be divided into a number of rectangular sub-images, the geographic coordinates for the four corners of the rectangular sub-image may be computed, the planar coordinates in a second projection may be computed for the four corners of each rectangular sub-image, and each sub-image and its corresponding second projection coordinates may be supplied to a texture mapping subroutine with optional hardware acceleration of the texture mapping process in order to create a second map image in a second projection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2007
    Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Inventor: Marc Blais
  • Publication number: 20050267854
    Abstract: A system and method for multiple map image projecting and fusing in an object oriented computer environment. The multiple map image projecting and fusing method may provide a flexible and efficient architecture for generating combined map images from one or more map data sources. One or more map image objects may be coupled to map data objects, map projection objects and other map image objects according to a contemplated use of the invention.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2004
    Publication date: December 1, 2005
    Applicant: Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Inventor: Marc Blais
  • Publication number: 20050264577
    Abstract: A system and method of re-projecting a map image using graphical techniques is provided. A digital map image, in a first projection, may be divided into a number of rectangular sub-images, the geographic coordinates for the four corners of the rectangular sub-image may be computed, the planar coordinates in a second projection may be computed for the four corners of each rectangular sub-image, and each sub-image and its corresponding second projection coordinates may be supplied to a texture mapping subroutine with optional hardware acceleration of the texture mapping process in order to create a second map image in a second projection.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2004
    Publication date: December 1, 2005
    Inventor: Marc Blais
  • Publication number: 20050267652
    Abstract: A system and method for efficient intervisibility determination. The intervisibility determination method of the present invention provides a multiple threat processing capability within a specified area of terrain using a common database. Computation is simplified through the method of processing data posts in the terrain elevation database. By taking integer steps and incrementing distance, x or y, and a predicted elevation value at each step, a small number of operations may be performed. Recomputing a change in elevation value may be reduced. An umbra database provides an enhanced look-up capability for displaying and updating the intervisibility display information. The systems and methods of the present invention may be suitable for use on a vehicle and in mission management activities.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2005
    Publication date: December 1, 2005
    Inventors: Mark Allstadt, Marc Blais, Ira Glickstein, Peter Stiles, Ronald Vienneau
  • Publication number: 20050267855
    Abstract: A system and method for creating a connectivity framework between map image objects and map data objects in an object oriented computer environment. The connectivity framework may provide a flexible and efficient architecture for generating multiple map images from one or more map data sources. The map image objects may be coupled to map data objects and map projection objects.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2004
    Publication date: December 1, 2005
    Applicant: Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Inventor: Marc Blais
  • Publication number: 20030095127
    Abstract: Compressed graphic image data files, such as Compressed ARC (Arc-second Raster Chart/map) Digitized Raster Graphics (CADRG) map files for a region of interest, are stored in blocks of memory (nodes) preferably arranged as a linked list. Portions of files containing data for an area of interest including an image of interest are decompressed before the data are sent to a frame buffer for display. Nodes that do not contain requested data are flagged as unused, but not deallocated, making the data in such nodes available for use or replacement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2001
    Publication date: May 22, 2003
    Inventor: Marc A. Blais