Method for providing imaging satellite information on a mobile device

An electronic mobile device comprising:

• a memory containing processor-executable instructions, including a mobile application configured to access satellite imagery;
• and
• a processor electrically coupled to the memory, the processor configured to execute the mobile application to:
• determine a viewing direction and angle of a camera of the mobile device based on data received from one or more sensors of the mobile device,
• determine a location of the mobile device,
• determine orbit information for only those satellites capable of capturing satellite imagery of the location of the mobile device (“imaging satellites”),
• dynamically compute a time-varying quality threshold based on range and collection geometry as the imaging satellites move in orbit relative to the mobile device location and at least one of an image resolution, a lighting constraint and a weather condition,
• filter out from further consideration one or more of said imaging satellites based on the dynamically-computed, time-varying quality threshold,
• compute satellite tracks for each of the remaining one or more imaging satellites based on the location of the mobile device, the viewing direction and angle of the camera of the mobile device, and the corresponding orbit information, and
• display, on a screen of the mobile device, a graphical representation of the satellite tracks computed for the one or more satellites as an overlay over a real world image being captured in real time by the camera of the mobile device.

A method for displaying imaging satellite information on a mobile device using a mobile application configured to access satellite imagery, the method comprising the steps of:

• determining a location of the mobile device;
• determining orbit information for only those satellites capable of capturing satellite imagery of the location of the mobile device (“imaging satellites”);
• dynamically computing a time-varying quality threshold based on range and collection geometry as the imaging satellites move in orbit relative to the mobile device location and at least one of an image resolution, a lighting constraint and a weather conditions;
• filtering out from further consideration one or more of said imaging satellites based on the dynamically-computed time-varying quality threshold;
• and
• displaying, on a screen of the mobile device, a graphical representation of real-time imaging satellite positions as an overlay on the mobile device camera view of the real world.

An electronic mobile device comprising:

• a memory containing processor-executable instructions, including a mobile application configured to access satellite imagery;
• and
• a processor electrically coupled to the memory, the processor configured to execute the mobile application to:
• determine a location of the mobile device,
• determine orbit information for only those satellites capable of capturing satellite imagery of the location of the mobile device (“imaging satellites”),
• dynamically compute a time-varying quality threshold based on range and collection geometry as the imaging satellites move in orbit relative to the mobile device location and at least one of an image resolution, a lighting constraint and a weather conditions,
• filter out from further consideration one or more of said imaging satellites based on the dynamically-computed time-varying quality threshold, and
• display, on a screen of the mobile device, a graphical representation of real-time imaging satellite positions as an overlay on the mobile device camera view of the real world.