# US 8,786,845 B2 · System and method of generating and using open sky data > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,786,845 B2 - Document ID: US8786845B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 12/756,338 - Filed: 2010-04-08 - Published: 2011-10-13 - Granted: 2014-07-22 - Earliest claimed: 2010-04-08 - Assignees: Navteq B.V. - Applicants: James D. Lynch - Inventors: James D. Lynch - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8786845B2 ## CPC - G06F 16/29: Geographical information databases - G01C 21/3691: {Retrieval, searching and output of information related to real-time traffic, weather, or environmental conditions (arrangements for giving variable traffic instructions G08G1/09)} - G01C 21/3848: {Data obtained from both position sensors and additional sensors} - G06F 16/9537: Spatial or temporal dependent retrieval, e.g. spatiotemporal queries - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) - G01C: MEASURING DISTANCES, LEVELS OR BEARINGS; SURVEYING; NAVIGATION; GYROSCOPIC INSTRUMENTS; PHOTOGRAMMETRY OR VIDEOGRAMMETRY (measuring liquid level G01F; radio navigation, determining distance or velocity by use of propagation effects, e.g. Doppler effects, propagation time, of radio waves, analogous arrangements using other waves G01S) ## 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. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method of generating data representing open sky, the method comprising: obtaining range data associated with a given position; using the range data associated with the given position to generate data at a processor, the data representing visibility of open sky at the given position; and storing into data storage the data representing the visibility of open sky at the given position, wherein the data representing the visibility of open sky at the given position comprises data indicating one or more ranges of angles at which the open sky is visible from the given position and the visibility data includes a partial visibility rating associated with the one or more angles at which the open sky is partially visible from the given position. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the range data comprises a plurality of data records, each data record representing attributes of a respective pulse transmitted by a range-finding device at the given position. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, wherein the attributes of the respective pulse comprise a transmission angle of the pulse and a distance of a physical object encountered by the pulse. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein using the range data associated with the given position to generate visibility data representing visibility of open sky at the given position comprises: analyzing the obtained range data to determine transmission angles of pulses transmitted at the given position that did not encounter a physical object; using the determined transmission angles of pulses transmitted at the given position that did not encounter a physical object to determine visibility of open sky at the given position; and generating visibility data representing the determined visibility of the open sky at the given position. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The method of claim 4, further comprising: before generating visibility data representing the determined visibility of the open sky at the given position, using video data associated with the given position to verify the determined visibility of open sky at the given position. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The method of claim 4, wherein analyzing the obtained range data to determine transmission angles of pulses transmitted at the given position that did not encounter a physical object comprises: for a given pulse transmitted at the given position, analyzing a data value indicating a distance of a physical object encountered by the given pulse; and if the data value is a null, identifying a transmission angle the given pulse as a transmission angle of a pulse that did not encounter a physical object. ### Claim 7 (depends on 4) The method of claim 4, wherein analyzing the obtained range data to determine transmission angles of pulses transmitted at the given position that did not encounter a physical object comprises: analyzing the obtained range data to identify gaps in the transmission angles of pulses transmitted at the given position that encountered a physical object; and identifying transmission angles within the identified gaps as transmission angles of pulses that did not encounter a physical object. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the visibility data representing the visibility of open sky at the given position further comprises one or more of data indicating a distance of a physical object at each edge of each range of angles. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein storing into data storage the visibility data representing the visibility of open sky at the given position comprises associating the visibility data representing the visibility of open sky at the given position with data representing physical features at the given position. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, wherein the physical features comprise a road network and points of interest. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein storing into data storage the visibility data representing the visibility of open sky at the given position comprises storing into data storage the visibility data representing the visibility of open sky at the given position only if the visibility data representing the visibility of open sky at the given position indicates a change exceeding a threshold in the visibility of open sky from a previous position. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: before obtaining range data associated with the given position, selecting positions on a road network in a geographic region to obtain range data. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: providing the visibility data representing the visibility of open sky at the given position to a navigation system. ### Claim 14 An apparatus comprising: a processor; and a memory including computer program instructions, the memory and the computer program instructions configured to: obtain range data associated with a given position; use the range data associated with the given position to generate data representing visibility of open sky at the given position; store into data storage the data representing the visibility of open sky at the given position, wherein the data representing the visibility of open sky at the given position comprises data indicating one or more ranges of angles at which the open sky is visible from the given position; and generate a route navigation based on the data representing the visibility of open sky. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the range data comprises a plurality of data records, each data record representing attributes of a respective pulse transmitted by a range-finding device at the given position, and wherein the attributes of the respective pulse comprise a transmission angle of the pulse and a distance of a physical object encountered by the pulse. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the memory and computer program instructions are further configured to: analyze the obtained range data to determine transmission angles of pulses transmitted at the given position that did not encounter a physical object; use the determined transmission angles of pulses transmitted at the given position that did not encounter a physical object to determine visibility of open sky at the given position; and generate data representing the determined visibility of the open sky at the given position. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the memory and computer program instructions are further configured to: before generating data representing the determined visibility of the open sky at the given position, using video data associated with the given position to verify the determined visibility of open sky at the given position. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the memory and computer program instructions are further configured to: for a given pulse transmitted at the given position, analyze a data value indicating a distance of a physical object encountered by the given pulse; and if the data value is a null, identify a transmission angle the given pulse as a transmission angle of a pulse that did not encounter a physical object. ### Claim 19 (depends on 14) The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the route navigation is based on a prediction of solar energy. ### Claim 20 (depends on 14) The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the route navigation is selected for a solar power car based on the data representing the visibility of open sky. ### Claim 21 (depends on 14) The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the data representing the visibility of open sky at the given position comprises at least one partial visibility rating. ### Claim 22 (depends on 14) The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the route navigation is based on exposure to weather conditions. ### Claim 23 (depends on 14) The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the route navigation includes identification of a parking location that is sheltered from weather based on the data representing the visibility of open sky.