Abstract: Porous liquid-filtering membranes having a repeatable distribution of pores of a small dimension are provided, as well as pillar templates that are used to produce such liquid filtering membranes. Also disclosed are methods of making and using the pillar templates to make porous liquid filtering membranes.

Abstract: The technology relates to navigating imagery that is organized into clusters based on common patterns exhibited when imagery is captured. For example, a set of captured images which satisfy a predetermined pattern may be determined. The images in the set of set of captured images may be grouped into one or more clusters according to the predetermined pattern. A request to display a first cluster of the one or more clusters may be received and, in response, a first captured image from the requested first cluster may be selected. The selected first captured image may then be displayed.

Abstract: The technology relates to navigating imagery that is organized into clusters based on common patterns exhibited when imagery is captured. For example, a set of captured images which satisfy a predetermined pattern may be determined. The images in the set of set of captured images may be grouped into one or more clusters according to the predetermined pattern. A request to display a first cluster of the one or more clusters may be received and, in response, a first captured image from the requested first cluster may be selected. The selected first captured image may then be displayed.

Abstract: The technology relates to navigating imagery that is organized into clusters based on common patterns exhibited when imagery is captured. For example, a set of captured images which satisfy a predetermined pattern may be determined. The images in the set of set of captured images may be grouped into one or more clusters according to the predetermined pattern. A request to display a first cluster of the one or more clusters may be received and, in response, a first captured image from the requested first cluster may be selected. The selected first captured image may then be displayed.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and articles of manufacture for generating a panoramic image of a long scene, are disclosed. These include, fitting a plurality of planes to 3D points associated with input images of portions of the long scene, where one or more respective planes are fitted to each of a ground surface, a dominant surface, and at least one of one or more foreground objects and one or more background objects in the long scene, and where distances from the 3D points to the fitted planes are substantially minimized.

Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure relate to providing users with sequences of images of physical locations over time or time-lapses. In order to do so, a set of images of a physical location may be identified. From the set of images, a representative image may be selected. The set may then be filtered by comparing the other images in the set to the representative image. The images in the filtered set may then be aligned to the representative image. From this set, a time-lapsed sequence of images may be generated, and the amount of change in the time-lapsed sequence of images may be determined. At the request of a user device for a time-lapsed image representation of the specified physical location, the generated time-lapsed sequence of images may be provided.

Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure relate to generating a sequence of images or other visual representations associated with an entity, otherwise known as a semantic image navigation experience. After an entity is selected, a set of sub-entities may be identified. Each sub-entity in the set has a containment relationship with the selected entity as well as at least one associated landmark and one associated pre-stored navigation experience. Then, a ranking order of the sub-entities in the set may be determined based on characteristics of each entity. Based on the determined ranking order, a subset of sub-entities may be selected. A semantic image navigation experience for the selected entity may then be generated using the pre-stored navigation experiences associated with the subset of sub-entities.

Abstract: A system and machine-implemented method for providing one or more photos associated with a point of interest on a map, the method including receiving an indication of a request from a user to view photos associated with a point of interest on a map, identifying a set of photos associated with the point of interest, wherein the photos comprise at least one of photos taken from the point of interest or photos that depict at least part of the point of interest, ranking the photos within the set of photos according to ranking criteria, wherein the ranking criteria comprises one or more of map context, photo quality, photo type or user request information and providing one or more photos of the set of photos to the user according to the ranking.

Abstract: The technology relates to navigating imagery that is organized into clusters based on common patterns exhibited when imagery is captured. For example, a set of captured images which satisfy a predetermined pattern may be determined. The images in the set of set of captured images may be grouped into one or more clusters according to the predetermined pattern. A request to display a first cluster of the one or more clusters may be received and, in response, a first captured image from the requested first cluster may be selected. The selected first captured image may then be displayed.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and articles of manufacture for generating a panoramic image of a long scene, are disclosed. These include, fitting a plurality of planes to 3D points associated with input images of portions of the long scene, where one or more respective planes are fitted to each of a ground surface, a dominant surface, and at least one of one or more foreground objects and one or more background objects in the long scene, and where distances from the 3D points to the fitted planes are substantially minimized.

Abstract: Methods of generating a three dimensional representation of an object in a reference plane from a depth map including distances from a reference point to pixels in an image of the object taken from a reference point. Weights are assigned to respective voxels in a three dimensional grid along rays extending from the reference point through the pixels in the image based on the distances in the depth map from the reference point to the respective pixels, and a height map including an array of height values in the reference plane is formed based on the assigned weights. An n-layer height map may be constructed by generating a probabilistic occupancy grid for the voxels and forming an n-dimensional height map comprising an array of layer height values in the reference plane based on the probabilistic occupancy grid.

Abstract: Systems and methods for generating image tour are provided. Method includes constructing image graph comprising primary image nodes and secondary image nodes and edges. Method also includes determining, for each pair of primary nodes, pruned subgraph including pair of primary nodes and first subset of plurality of secondary nodes. Method also includes determining order of plurality of primary nodes based on rendering costs in pruned subgraphs. Method also includes splicing pruned subgraphs together according to determined order of primary nodes to generate spliced graph. Method also includes determining path through spliced graph. Path includes plurality of primary nodes in determined order and second subset of plurality of secondary nodes selected based on rendering costs and turning costs associated with transitioning between pairs of edges in spliced graph. Method also includes providing ordered subset of image set based on determined path for display as image tour on client.

Abstract: Systems and methods for generating a depthmap for images of structures in a geographic area are provided. In some aspects, a method includes dividing the area into cells. Each of the cells is visible in no more than a threshold number of images. The method also includes: generating, using multi-view stereo processing, a set of three-dimensional (3D) points of structures in each of the cells based on the images associated with a corresponding one of the cells; generating a mesh model of the structures in each of the cells based on the set of 3D points for a corresponding one of the cells; identifying one or more of the mesh models visible in a corresponding one of the images; and generating a depthmap for each of the images based on the identified one or more mesh models visible in a corresponding one of the images.

Abstract: Systems and methods for generating image tour are provided. Method includes constructing image graph comprising primary image nodes and secondary image nodes and edges. Method also includes determining, for each pair of primary nodes, pruned subgraph including pair of primary nodes and first subset of plurality of secondary nodes. Method also includes determining order of plurality of primary nodes based on rendering costs in pruned subgraphs. Method also includes splicing pruned subgraphs together according to determined order of primary nodes to generate spliced graph. Method also includes determining path through spliced graph. Path includes plurality of primary nodes in determined order and second subset of plurality of secondary nodes selected based on rendering costs and turning costs associated with transitioning between pairs of edges in spliced graph. Method also includes providing ordered subset of image set based on determined path for display as image tour on client.

Abstract: Systems and methods for generating a depthmap for images of structures in a geographic area are provided. In some aspects, a method includes dividing the area into cells. Each of the cells is visible in no more than a threshold number of images. The method also includes: generating, using multi-view stereo processing, a set of three-dimensional (3D) points of structures in each of the cells based on the images associated with a corresponding one of the cells; generating a mesh model of the structures in each of the cells based on the set of 3D points for a corresponding one of the cells; identifying one or more of the mesh models visible in a corresponding one of the images; and generating a depthmap for each of the images based on the identified one or more mesh models visible in a corresponding one of the images.

Abstract: System and methods for generating a model of an environment are provided. In some aspects, a system includes a layer module configured to identify one or more layers of the environment based on a plurality of three-dimensional (3D) points mapping the environment. The system also includes a layout module configured to generate a layout for each layer. Each layout includes a two-dimensional (2D) model of the environment. The system also includes a construction module configured to generate a 3D model of the environment based on the 2D model of each layout.

Abstract: A system and machine-implemented method for providing one or more photos associated with a point of interest on a map, the method including receiving an indication of a request from a user to view photos associated with a point of interest on a map, identifying a set of photos associated with the point of interest, wherein the photos comprise at least one of photos taken from the point of interest or photos that depict at least part of the point of interest, ranking the photos within the set of photos according to ranking criteria, wherein the ranking criteria comprises one or more of map context, photo quality, photo type or user request information and providing one or more photos of the set of photos to the user according to the ranking.

Abstract: Methods of generating a three dimensional representation of an object in a reference plane from a depth map including distances from a reference point to pixels in an image of the object taken from a reference point. Weights are assigned to respective voxels in a three dimensional grid along rays extending from the reference point through the pixels in the image based on the distances in the depth map from the reference point to the respective pixels, and a height map including an array of height values in the reference plane is formed based on the assigned weights. An n-layer height map may be constructed by generating a probabilistic occupancy grid for the voxels and forming an n-dimensional height map comprising an array of layer height values in the reference plane based on the probabilistic occupancy grid.

Abstract: An automobile computer system having a computer that runs an open platform operating system configured to support multiple applications, including applications that can be installed by a user. The system includes an operator interface that is mountable for viewing by an operator of an automobile. A plurality of application icons are scrollable across the visual operator interface by a user. The application icons correspond to applications supported by the operating system. The operator interface has a fixed focus position, wherein any application icon that is scrolled to the fixed focus position becomes focused and can be activated to select the application corresponding to the focused application icon. In some cases, icons are activated by leaving them focused for a predetermined timeout period. The system also includes a visual control that is available to application programs.