Topography (e.g., Land Mapping) Patents (Class 702/5)
  • Patent number: 9754334
    Abstract: In some embodiments, scripts may be used to perform parcel data acquisition, conversion, and clean-up/repair in an automated manner and/or through graphical user interfaces. The scripts may be used, for example, to repair geometries of new parcel data, convert multi-part parcel geometries to single part parcel geometries (explode), eliminate duplicate parcel geometries, append columns, create feature classes, and append feature classes. These scripts may be executed in a predetermined manner to increase efficiency. In some embodiments, different combinations of attributes may be appended to stored parcel data. In some embodiments, a tracking application may be used to track information about sources of data. In some embodiments, a tracking application may be used to track which system users are assigned to specific tasks (e.g., in a data acquisition project).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2017
    Assignee: CORELOGIC SOLUTIONS, LLC
    Inventors: Brett T. Pearcy, Matthew E. Karli, Charles P. Reynolds, Hugo A. Tagle
  • Patent number: 9743046
    Abstract: The present disclosure describes a method for displaying data products onto a geospatial map in real-time using a computer program. In one version, the method includes the steps of monitoring the one or more directories of one or more computer readable media for newly created data products, automatically reading the newly created data products, correlating positional information of the data products with the geospatial map of the computer program for mapping and exploitation, and rendering information onto the geospatial map indicative of the area covered by each newly created data product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: Pictometry International Corp.
    Inventors: Frank D. Giuffrida, Mark A. Winkelbauer, Charles Mondello, Robert S. Bradacs, Craig D. Woodward, Stephen L. Schultz
  • Patent number: 9723269
    Abstract: The present disclosure describes a method for creating data products in real-time with the aid of a ground station system. The method includes the steps of monitoring one or more communication links for newly captured sensor data and positional data of oblique images, saving the sensor data and positional data to one or more directories of one or more computer readable media, monitoring the one or more directories of one or more computer readable media for sensor data and positional data, processing the sensor data and positional data to create one or more data products for use by one or more mapping and exploitation systems responsive to the sensor data and positional data being saved in the one or more directories, and storing the one or more data products to one or more directories of one or more computer readable media.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: Pictometry International Corp.
    Inventors: Frank D. Giuffrida, Mark A. Winkelbauer, Charles Mondello, Robert S. Bradacs, Craig D. Woodward, Stephen L. Schultz, Scott D. Lawrence, Matt Kusak, Kevin G. Willard
  • Patent number: 9706190
    Abstract: So as to obtain color parallax images, it has been necessary to prepare an image capturing optical system and an image capturing element that are complex, to capture the parallax images. In view of the above, provided is an image processing apparatus including: an image obtaining section; a disparity amount operation section; and an image converting section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Assignee: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kiyoshige Shibazaki, Muneki Hamashima, Susumu Mori, Yumi Suzuki
  • Patent number: 9704068
    Abstract: A system and method for labelling aerial images. A neural network generates predicted map data. The parameters of the neural network are trained by optimizing an objective function which compensates for noise in the map images. The function compensates both omission noise and registration noise.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Volodymyr Mnih, Geoffrey E. Hinton
  • Patent number: 9699671
    Abstract: Systems and methods for adjusting cell site parameters are described. The systems and methods cause a map of a geographical area to be displayed, access known or stored location coordinates for antennas at a cell site that is located within the of the geographical area, and present display elements representing the antennas at first positions within the displayed map that correspond to the known location coordinates for the antennas at the cell site. In response to input received from a user, the systems and methods adjust the known location coordinates for the antennas at the cell sites to new location coordinates associated with second positions of the display elements within the displayed map. Further details are described herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: T-Mobile USA, Inc.
    Inventors: Justin Mueller, Shilpa Bhanot, Robert Berrier
  • Patent number: 9667710
    Abstract: A cloud-based system for integration of agricultural data with geolocation-based agricultural operations is provided. The system receives agricultural-related data associated with a given geographic area and transforms the received data into an analysis-ready format. The system processes the received data through one or more algorithms to determine at least one operation to be performed within the given geographic area. The system generates a set of instructions for execution of the at least one operation within the given geographic area as a function of geolocation, where the instructions are coded for direct use by a controller of a specified type of agricultural equipment. The system transmits the instructions over a wireless communication channel to the controller, where the instructions cause the controller to direct operation of the agricultural equipment to perform the at least one operation within the given geographic area as a function of geolocation in an automated manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: AgVerdict, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Wilbur, Jason Ellsworth, Toji Oommen, Adarsha Mohapatra, David Thayer
  • Patent number: 9644980
    Abstract: A system adapted to determine a projected range of a vehicle is described. The system includes: a storage element adapted to store a set of parameters associated with a vehicle; a map evaluation element adapted to retrieve information regarding a geographic area associated with a position of the vehicle; and a processing element adapted to determine the projected range of the vehicle based at least partly on the set of parameters and the retrieved information. An automated method of projecting a range of a vehicle includes: generating a set of range projection links; generating a monochrome bitmap based at least partly on the set of range projection links; rendering the set of range projection links within the monochrome bitmap; and tracing the rendered links to generate a polygon outline of the range of the vehicle. An automated method of caching map data for vehicle range projection is described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2017
    Assignee: Abalta Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Pavel Stankoulov
  • Patent number: 9639960
    Abstract: An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) assessment and reporting system may utilize one or more scanning techniques to provide useful assessments and/or reports for structures and other objects. The scanning techniques may be performed in sequence and optionally used to further fine tune each subsequent scan. A first image may be a nadir image in some embodiments. A boustrophedonic scan of the area may include images captured during a boustrophedonic flight pattern within a first altitude range. Distances to an underlying surface (e.g., ground or structure) may also be determined. A loop scan of the structure may be performed at a second flight pattern in which the UAV travels around the perimeter of the structure. A micro scan of the structure in a third flight pattern may include vertical approaches proximate the structure to capture detail images of the structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: Loveland Innovations, LLC
    Inventors: Jim Loveland, Leif Larson, Dan Christiansen, Tad Christiansen, Cam Christiansen
  • Patent number: 9576381
    Abstract: A method and a device for simplifying space data are provided, and the method includes: an original coordinate point of original space data is transformed into a view coordinate point of a view window according to predetermined view control parameters; the view coordinate point is analyzed that whether it accords with a simplification condition; the original coordinate point corresponding to the view coordinate point that accords with the simplification is simplified according to an analysis result. The method for simplifying space data transforms the original coordinate point of original space data into the view coordinate point of the view window and performs analysis processing, which can ensure that not only the space relation of each simplified space data of random complex itself is displayed correctly, but also the space relations between all the simplified space data are displayed correctly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: SUZHOU XINTU GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Futian Dong
  • Patent number: 9519064
    Abstract: In order to enable a geopositioning receiver of a user to resolve phase ambiguities without necessarily using multi-frequency observations, assistance data is developed thanks to measurements made at a reference network (10, 12, 14) and sent to the receiver of the user. The assistance data used preferably consist of transmitter clock values associated with the carrier code sliding combination (?eme) or with data sufficient for reconstructing said values. The transmitter clock values associated with the carrier code sliding combination (?eme) can be reconstructed from iono-free transmitter clock values (heme) and clock biases (C?eme), for example.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2016
    Assignee: CENTRE NATIONAL D'ETUDES SPATIALES
    Inventors: Denis Laurichesse, Flavien Mercier
  • Patent number: 9519411
    Abstract: A method for management of a land base includes interfacing a machine or equipment to a computer running a geographical information system (GIS) application such that the computer is configured to monitor the operations performed by the equipment or machine on the land base and store the operations as map points, lines, or polygons on at least one data layer within the GIS application. The method further includes displaying the GIS application to the operator at the point and time of performing the operations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2016
    Assignee: Genesis Industries, LLC
    Inventors: Chad W. Geis, Dallas L. Geis
  • Patent number: 9501740
    Abstract: This disclosure generally describes methods and systems, including computer-implemented methods, computer-program products, and computer systems, for predicting well markers. One computer-implemented method includes separating neural-network (NN)-predicted facies output associated with a plurality of wells into two sets, a first set of NN-predicted facies output of training wells and a second set of NN-predicted facies output of target wells, calculating, for each training well of the plurality of wells, a sameness score between zones of NN-predicted facies output and human-identified lithostratigraphic units (finer zones), calculating a mean sameness score for the finer zones for all training wells, identifying finer zones with a mean sameness score greater than a threshold value as dominant facies zones, and iterating over each target well to calculate a top and depth position of each dominant facies zone determined based upon the NN-predicted facies output of the target well.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2016
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Martin D. Hiu, Murtada I Al-Habib, Djamaludin Muhammad Mochtar
  • Patent number: 9468038
    Abstract: A distributed wireless sensor network includes two or more wireless nodes adapted for sensing a condition at any first node, first programming located within each node for transmitting a signal representing the sensed condition from the first node to another node, second programming located within each node for receiving the signal transmitted from any other node and for retransmitting a received signal representing the sensed condition along with additional data indicating the number of retransmissions of the signal between nodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: Cornell University
    Inventors: Rajeev K. Dokania, Xiao Y. Wang, Carlos I. Dorta-Quinones, Waclaw Godycki, Alyssa B. Apsel
  • Patent number: 9456771
    Abstract: A fall detector includes an accelerometer for producing a time series of measurement samples representing the acceleration acting on the fall detector; a processor for estimating a vertical velocity and/or displacement of the fall detector from the measurement samples and using the estimated vertical velocity and/or displacement to determine whether the user has suffered a fall. The processor is configured to estimate a vertical velocity and/or displacement of the fall detector by estimating a corresponding time series of unit vectors representing acceleration due to gravity in the reference frame of the accelerometer from the time series of measurement samples; projecting each measurement sample onto the corresponding unit vector and subtracting acceleration due to gravity to give a series of estimates for the vertical acceleration of the fall detector; and integrating the series of estimates to give a time series of values for the vertical velocity and/or displacement of the fall detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: KONIKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.
    Inventors: Constant Paul Marie Jozef Baggen, Ningjiang Chen
  • Patent number: 9446851
    Abstract: Landing hazard avoidance displays can provide rapidly understood visual indications of where it is safe to land a vehicle and where it is unsafe to land a vehicle. Color coded maps can indicate zones in two dimensions relative to the vehicles position where it is safe to land. The map can be simply green (safe) and red (unsafe) areas with an indication of scale or can be a color coding of another map such as a surface map. The color coding can be determined in real time based on topological measurements and safety criteria to thereby adapt to dynamic, unknown, or partially known environments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignees: Rapid Imaging Software, Inc., National Aeronautics and Space Administration
    Inventors: Michael Franklin Abernathy, Robert L. Hirsh
  • Patent number: 9348047
    Abstract: An approach for seismic data analysis is provided. In accordance with embodiments of this approach, parallel regions within a volume of seismic data are modeled. Residual regions within the volumetric data set are identified, where the residual regions comprise those regions not modeled as parallel regions. The residual regions or a graphic derived from the residual regions are displayed for review.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Ali Can, Erhan Bas
  • Patent number: 9345948
    Abstract: A web-based platform and method for personalizing the training regimen of an athlete. The platform includes a processor and a training log server for maintaining an athlete profile that includes a training record updatable by the athlete and a training plan supplied by a coach.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Inventor: Todd Martin
  • Patent number: 9317827
    Abstract: A farm work management system includes a communication apparatus for transmitting location information of a worker carrying out a farm work and a farm work management apparatus for managing a progress of the farm work based on the location information transmitted from the communication apparatus. The communication apparatus includes a notifying unit for notifying the farm work management apparatus to the effect that the farm work is started or the farm work is finished in a case where an operation unit receives the predetermined operation. The farm work management apparatus includes a work location identifying unit for identifying the work location based on the location information transmitted from the communication apparatus, a calculating unit for calculating an estimated work time from read information, and a transmitting unit for transmitting to the communication apparatus the information about the read work content and the estimated work time having been calculated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2016
    Assignee: FUJITSU LIMITED
    Inventor: Katsuyoshi Watanabe
  • Patent number: 9279900
    Abstract: Systems and methods for generating electronic records of locate operations and marking operations are described. Exemplary systems and methods include marking devices that generate, store and/or transmit electronic records of marking information, locate devices that generate, store and/or transmit electronic records of locate information, and locate devices and marking devices that communicate with each other (and optionally with other devices or systems) to share/exchange locate information and/or marking information. An exemplary method for analyzing and processing locate information and marking information includes a computer-implemented method for visually rendering (e.g., in a display field of a display device) various aspects of locate and marking operations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignee: CertusView Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Steven Nielsen, Curtis Chambers, Jeffrey Farr
  • Patent number: 9251698
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for managing a location. Soil sensor units are deployed in the location in a forest from a group of aerial vehicles. Information is generated about a number of soil conditions in the location in the forest using the soil sensor units in the location. The information is transmitted from the soil sensor units to a remote location for analysis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2016
    Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANY
    Inventors: John Lyle Vian, Charles B. Spinelli, Brian J. Tillotson, George Michael Roe, Joshua Przybylko
  • Patent number: 9250352
    Abstract: A method for making a log of material properties in a plurality of beds from an instrument utilizes steps such as estimating material properties for said plurality of beds and/or estimating positions for a plurality of bed boundaries and/or estimating orientations for said plurality of bed boundaries wherein the bed boundary orientations are individually variable. The estimated positions, orientations, and/or material properties can be utilized to compute the log.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2016
    Inventor: Richard H. Hardman
  • Patent number: 9230365
    Abstract: The present invention relates to navigating in a geographic information system. In an embodiment, a method tours geographic information in a geographic information system. A set of actions for a tour is received. Each action includes a tour time. A tour time of at least one of the actions is defined by a user. Each action in the set of actions is executed to tour geographic information in the geographic information system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2016
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel Barcay, Michael Weiss-Malik
  • Patent number: 9229130
    Abstract: A method, apparatus and system for, in a computing system, modeling a subsurface structure at a time period when the structure was originally formed. A memory may store a first model having a plurality of non-planar horizons representing a current state of the subsurface structure. A processor may compute a vector field based on the non-planar geometry of the horizons of the first model. The vector field may be a non-uniform vector field (e.g., the axe and/or co-axe vector field) or a uniform vector field (e.g., a global axis). Using the vector field, the processor may transform geographic coordinates of the first model to paleo-geographic coordinates of a second model representing a predicted state of the subsurface structure at a time period when the subsurface structure was originally formed, where the non-planar horizons in the first model are transformed to planar horizons in the second model. A display may display the first model.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2016
    Assignees: PARADIGM SCIENCES LTD.
    Inventor: Jean-Laurent Mallet
  • Patent number: 9218362
    Abstract: Data-driven guarded evaluation of conditional-data associated with data objects is used to control activation and processing of the data objects in an interactive geographic information system. Methods of evaluating conditional-data to control activation of the data objects are disclosed herein. Data structures to specify conditional data are also disclosed herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2015
    Assignee: GOOGLE INC.
    Inventors: John Rohlf, Bent Hagemark, Brian A. McClendon, Michael Timothy Jones
  • Patent number: 9208752
    Abstract: A method for synchronous representation of a virtual reality terrain in the form of polygons on a plurality of display devices by a plurality of connected simulation computers, may include generating position data specifying which region of the terrain was changed by a first computer; generating elevation data of the changed region by the computer; communicating position and elevation data the first computer to a second computer; selecting, on the basis of the position data, those polygons of the terrain which lie in the changed region by a control unit of the second computer; subdividing the selected polygons in each case into a plurality of sub-polygons by a tessellator unit of the second computer; calculating spatial coordinates of the sub-polygons in accordance with the elevation data by the second computer; and displaying the sub-polygons on a display device connected to the second computer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2015
    Assignee: KRAUSS-MAFFEI WEGMANN GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Michael Haubner, Manuel Pabst
  • Patent number: 9152938
    Abstract: In one example, a system can comprise a first data gathering mechanism set and a data processing mechanism set. The a first data gathering mechanism set can be configured to gather a first operational data set during operation of a first agricultural machine set, and to transmit the first operational data set to a network. The first operational data set can comprise information representative of one or more characteristics of an agricultural crop during production. The a data processing mechanism can be configured to store a combined data set comprising the first operational data set, and generate one or more reports based on the combined data set. Other embodiments and related methods are also disclosed herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2015
    Assignee: FARMLINK LLC
    Inventors: Jay Lang, William C. Mayes, Landon Morris
  • Patent number: 9117200
    Abstract: Computing systems and methods for geosciences collaboration are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method for geosciences collaboration includes obtaining a first set of geosciences information from a first computer system of the plurality of computer systems; distributing the first set of geosciences information from the first computer system to at least a second computer system; receiving a user input from the second computer system of the plurality of computer systems, the user input entered manually by a user; providing the user input to the first computer system; in response to providing the user input to the first computer system, receiving a revised set of geosciences information from the first computer system; and repeating the receiving a user input, the providing the user input, and the receiving the revised set of geosciences information until the revised set of geosciences information is determined to satisfy accuracy criteria.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2015
    Assignee: WesternGeco L.L.C.
    Inventor: Shashi Menon
  • Patent number: 9117305
    Abstract: A processor-based apparatus for computing stream vectors for an area of interest divides the area of interest into a number of hydrologic unit code (HUC) areas. The processor calculates stream vectors from lower resolution digital elevation map (DEM) data. For those HUC areas where higher resolution DEM data is available, the processor merges the lower resolution and higher resolution DEM data. Stream vectors are calculated from the merged DEM data and used to replace those stream vectors calculated from the lower resolution DEM data. Attributes of stream vectors that receive upstream flow from an adjacent HUC area are corrected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2015
    Assignee: Weyerhaeuser NR Company
    Inventors: Leslie G. McWethy, Zhenkui Ma
  • Patent number: 9105128
    Abstract: Described are systems, methods, computer programs, and user interfaces for image location, acquisition, analysis, and data correlation that uses human-in-the-loop processing, Human Intelligence Tasks (HIT), and/or or automated image processing. Results obtained using image analysis are correlated to non-spatial information useful for commerce and trade. For example, images of regions of interest of the earth are used to count items (e.g., cars in a store parking lot to predict store revenues), detect events (e.g., unloading of a container ship, or evaluating the completion of a construction project), or quantify items (e.g., the water level in a reservoir, the area of a farming plot).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2015
    Assignee: Skybox Imaging, Inc.
    Inventors: M. Dirk Robinson, Mark Robertson, Hadar Isaac, Oliver Guinan, Thomas Joseph Melendez, Daniel Berkenstock, Julian Mann
  • Patent number: 9097821
    Abstract: Disclosed are various embodiments of a workflow or method for petrophysical rock typing of carbonates in an oil or gas reservoir or field comprising determining a Data Scenario (DS) for the reservoir or field, determining a plurality of Depositional Rock Types (DRTs) for the reservoir or field, determining a Digenetic Modification (DM) from a plurality of diagenetic modifiers or primary textures associated with the plurality of DRTs, selecting a Reservoir Type (RT) corresponding to the plurality of DRTs, determining at least one pore type, and determining, on the basis of the plurality of DRTs, the Diagenetic Modification (DM), and the at least one pore type, a plurality of Petrophysical Rock Types (PRTs) associated with the RT.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2015
    Assignee: CHEVRON U.S.A. INC.
    Inventors: Mark Skalinski, Jeroen Kenter
  • Patent number: 9092896
    Abstract: Embodiments are disclosed that relate to augmenting an appearance of a surface via a see-through display device. For example, one disclosed embodiment provides, on a computing device comprising a see-through display device, a method of augmenting an appearance of a surface. The method includes acquiring, via an outward-facing image sensor, image data of a first scene viewable through the display. The method further includes recognizing a surface viewable through the display based on the image data and, in response to recognizing the surface, acquiring a representation of a second scene comprising one or more of a scene located physically behind the surface viewable through the display and a scene located behind a surface contextually related to the surface viewable through the display. The method further includes displaying the representation via the see-through display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2015
    Assignee: MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING, LLC
    Inventors: Mike Scavezze, Jason Scott, Jonathan Steed, Ian McIntyre, Aaron Krauss, Daniel McCulloch, Stephen Latta
  • Patent number: 9031789
    Abstract: A system and method for testing a fluid seal in a device can include pumping fluid to the device and a control device simultaneously, while measuring the pressure of the fluid pumping to both devices. A change in volume of the fluid in the control device can be initiated, a change in pressure difference associated with the change in volume can be determined, and a leak test ratio can be formed therefrom. Changes in the pressure difference can be used to determine the presence of fluid leaks, which can be presented as test results to users connected to a network. A leak volume can be determined using the change in pressure difference and the leak test ratio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignee: Petrotechnologies, Inc.
    Inventor: David Levy
  • Patent number: 9014982
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method for evaluating a geoscience data analysis question. The user inputs the question to the computer through a graphical user interface or a text command interface (11). The computer is programmed to derive a statistical measure for evaluating the question (12). One or more data elements (14) are inputted to the computer, and the derived statistical measure is applied to the data elements and computed (13).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Upstream Research Company
    Inventors: Antonio Da Costa Paiva, Matthew Casey
  • Patent number: 9008969
    Abstract: Method and system for analyzing electrical pulses contained in a pulse train signal representative of the interaction of x-ray bursts with a nuclear detector configured for subsurface disposal. The pulse train signal is sampled to form a digitized signal. The total energy deposited at the detector during an x-ray burst is determined from the digitized signal, and a count rate of x-ray pulses from the burst is determined. A subsurface parameter is determined using the total energy deposit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Christian Stoller, Olivier G. Philip
  • Patent number: 9008993
    Abstract: According to one aspect, a portable electronic device having a heat generating component, a thermal sensor, an energy storage device for powering the portable electronic device, a thermal element thermally coupled to the heat generating component, the energy storage device, and the thermal sensor. The thermal element is sized and shaped so that heat generated by the heat generating component flows through the thermal element towards the thermal sensor and interacts with the energy storage device. The thermal sensor is used to monitor a thermal profile for the thermal element, and the monitored thermal profile is compared with an expected thermal profile to determine if the integrity of the portable electronic device has been compromised.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: BlackBerry Limited
    Inventors: David Gerard Rich, Jonathan Quinn Brubacher, Matthew Michael Ignor
  • Patent number: 8983781
    Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure relate generally to detecting road weather conditions. Vehicle sensors including a laser, precipitation sensors, and/or camera may be used to detect information such as the brightness of the road, variations in the brightness of the road, brightness of the world, current precipitation, as well as the detected height of the road. Information received from other sources such as networked based weather information (forecasts, radar, precipitation reports, etc.) may also be considered. The combination of the received and detected information may be used to estimate the probability of precipitation such as water, snow or ice in the roadway. This information may then be used to maneuver an autonomous vehicle (for steering, accelerating, or braking) or identify dangerous situations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Google, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher Paul Urmson, Michael Steven Montemerlo, Jiajun Zhu
  • Publication number: 20150073711
    Abstract: Systems and methods for identifying prominent landmarks in a geographic area are provided. More particularly, geographic imagery data, such as panoramic images captured by a camera from a perspective at or near ground level, can be analyzed to identify landmarks depicted in the geographic imagery data. For instance, structure-from-motion techniques can be used to generate a point cloud of tracked features that are located a threshold distance away from one or more camera perspectives associated with the geographic imagery data. Landmarks that are visible from multiple camera perspectives and that are visible from greater distances relative to one or more camera perspectives can be identified as prominent landmarks in a geographic area. A geographic information system can use the prominent landmarks for a variety of purposes, such as for use in providing travel directions, for rendering landmarks in an emphasized style, and/or for constructing/displaying a three-dimensional model of the landmark.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 9, 2013
    Publication date: March 12, 2015
    Applicant: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Brian Edmond Brewington, Bryan M. Klingner, David Martin, Kirk L. Johnson
  • Patent number: 8970632
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to temporarily rendering a display on a display device using map data stored in a high speed memory of the display device while the display device is waiting to receive updated data from a display device persistent memory or a remote map data database in response to a user initiated request for updated data. The present disclosure also relates to a display device high speed memory management module for managing the contents of a high speed memory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Ronghui Zhu, Michael Siliski
  • Publication number: 20150056369
    Abstract: A system and method for creating and storing a trace of a surveyed area is provided. The system includes a marking device that is moved along the outer perimeter of an area to be surveyed. A tablet computer of the marking device communicates with a surveying station and stores defined points along the survey trace. Once the survey trace is completed, the tablet computer of the marking device generates a calculation of the surface area and a cost estimate for covering the surface area with various materials. The trace is stored within the tablet computer such that the marking device can be utilized to re-mark the surface trace at a later date. The marking device includes a spray unit that is automatically activated by the tablet computer to generate markings along the survey trace.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2013
    Publication date: February 26, 2015
    Inventor: Brandon Kohn
  • Patent number: 8965700
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for generating electronic records of marking operations and/or environmental landmarks for underground facilities/utilities. Marking information and/or landmark information may be logged/stored in local memory of a marking device, formatted in various manners, processed and/or analyzed at the marking device itself, and/or transmitted to another device (e.g., a remote computer/server) for storage, processing and/or analysis. In one example, a marking device may be configured to operate in both a marking mode and a landmark mode, and information relating to one or more environmental landmarks in a vicinity of the marking operation may be collected and logged with actuation of a marking device in the landmark mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: CertusView Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Steven E. Nielsen, Curtis Chambers, Jeffrey Farr
  • Patent number: 8958603
    Abstract: A system has an aerial image database containing sensor data representing a plurality of aerial images of an area having multiple sub-areas. A processor applies a classifier to the sensor values to identify a label for each sub-area in each aerial image and to thereby generate an initial label sequence for each sub-area. The processor identifies a most likely land cover state for each sub-area based on the initial label sequence, a confusion matrix and a transition matrix. For each sub-area, the processor stores the most likely land cover state sequence for the sub-area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: Regents of the University of Minnesota
    Inventors: Shyam Boriah, Ankush Khandelwal, Vipin Kumar, Varun Mithal, Karsten Steinhaeuser
  • Patent number: 8958922
    Abstract: A system and method are provided for optimized decision-making in water supply networks and/or water supply operations. The system includes at least one central data processing device and a control system having at least one integration device. The system also includes at least one functional unit for identifying and/or processing status information affecting the respective network or operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: ABB Technology AG
    Inventors: Frederik Blank, Markus Gauder, Heinrich-Martin Schreyer, Stefan Lauxtermann
  • Patent number: 8954937
    Abstract: An image detection program creating system comprise a parameter setting module, an image loading module, a programming module, and a program conversion module. The parameter setting module sets parameters of a Dimensional Measuring Interface Specification (DMIS). The image loading module loads a 3D image. The programming module programs the DMIS program according to the parameters of the DMIS and the 3D image. The program conversion module converts the compiled DMIS into an image detection program.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignees: Hong Fu Jin Precision Industry (ShenZhen) Co., Ltd., Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ming-Shan Cao, Kuei-Yang Lin, Wei Xu, Yuan-Ke Li
  • Publication number: 20150039229
    Abstract: The invention discloses a multi-beam bathymetric chart construction method based on submarine digital depth model feature extraction. The method comprises the steps of: constructing a DDM (Digital Depth Model) based on raw multi-beam echo soundings; establishing a slope and second derivative composite model based on the DDM; extracting feature points based on DDM sub-blocks; querying the multi-beam depth based on the feature points; constructing the multi-beam bathymetric chart based on layers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2014
    Publication date: February 5, 2015
    Applicant: The Second Institute of Oceanography, State Oceanic Administration
    Inventors: Ziyin Wu, Jihong Shang, Shoujun Li, Dineng Zhao, Jieqiong Zhou
  • Publication number: 20150012215
    Abstract: A system and method of mapping underground utilities and other subsurface objects involves one or more of acquiring utility location data using a number of different detectors and sensors, processing the multiple detector/sensor output data to produce mapping data, storing the mapping data in a database, and providing access to and use of the stored mapping data by subscribing users on a usage fee basis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 8, 2014
    Publication date: January 8, 2015
    Inventors: Gary Young, Kevin L. Alft
  • Publication number: 20140361097
    Abstract: A contaminant management system includes a scouting unit configured to map a perimeter including a portion of a land area where to apply a waste stream, and to transmit the perimeter to a control center configured to access data indicative of a contaminant profile of a contaminant in the portion of the land area in the perimeter, and data of a maximum allowable amount of the contaminant, and to generate a contaminant capacity profile for the portion of the land area in the perimeter. An applicator unit includes a movable container, a variable flowrate valve and a controller configured to receive the contaminant capacity profile and data indicative of a concentration of the contaminant in a volume of fluids loaded in the applicator unit, and to cause the variable flowrate valve to open, close, or maintain its position based on the location of the applicator unit relative to the perimeter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 7, 2013
    Publication date: December 11, 2014
    Inventors: William F. McLain, Daniel Adam Kelln, Brady Cole Bay
  • Patent number: 8903643
    Abstract: Marking apparatus and methods to mark ground, pavement or other surfaces to provide a visual indication of a presence or an absence of an underground utility in a dig area. An example marking tool has a hand-held housing, a marking dispenser coupled to the housing to dispense one or more markers in the dig area, and a triggering system to trigger the marking dispenser so as to dispense the marker(s). An example marking tool also may include a logging system to receive data associated with a marking event initiated by the triggering system, time tag the data, and store the time-tagged data in data storage in the marking tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: CertusView Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Steven Nielsen, Curtis Chambers, Jeffrey Farr
  • Publication number: 20140346319
    Abstract: An apparatus configured for dispensing nutrients includes a dispensing system configured for dispensing the nutrients for a particular plant hybrid or plant variety and a variable rate controller operatively connected to the dispensing system and configured to control dispensement of the nutrients from the dispensing system. The variable rate controller may be programmed to use a plant growth response function for the particular plant hybrid or plant variety and adjust the dispensement of the nutrients from the dispensing system based on the plant growth response function and further programmed to use a pre-determined plug value for the particular plant hybrid or plant variety for initial calibration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 21, 2013
    Publication date: November 27, 2014
    Inventor: Kyle H. Holland
  • Patent number: 8890896
    Abstract: A computer-implemented augmented reality method includes obtaining an image acquired by a computing device running an augmented reality application, identifying image characterizing data in the obtained image, the data identifying characteristic points in the image, comparing the image characterizing data with image characterizing data for a plurality of geo-coded images stored by a computer server system, identifying locations of items in the obtained image using the comparison, and providing, for display on the computing device at the identified locations, data for textual or graphical annotations that correspond to each of the items in the obtained image, and formatted to be displayed with the obtained image or a subsequently acquired image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventor: Erick Tseng