US 9,002,142 B2Granted

Method for generating a customized composite map image and electronic apparatus for implementing the same

AssigneeMitac International Corp.

InventorShun-Cheng Hung

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Abstract

A method is to be implemented by an electronic apparatus having a map database established therein, and includes the steps of: receiving a user-specified input image of an area of interest, and obtaining from the map database a reference map that encompasses the area of interest; selecting a set of feature points in the user-specified input image, and a set of map points in the reference map that correspond in geographical features to the feature points; transforming the user-specified input image according to positional differences between the feature points and the corresponding map points to thereby obtain a to-be-registered image having adjusted feature points corresponding in position to the map points; overlaying the to-be-registered image onto the reference map to thereby obtain a customized composite map image; and outputting the customized composite map image.

Claims12

Dependent claims

A method for generating a customized composite map image, said method to be implemented by a personal navigation device that has a map database established therein and comprising the steps of:

a) receiving, by the personal navigation device, a user-specified input image of an area of interest, the user-specified input image being one of a landmark guide map, an establishment guide map, and a road map;
b) obtaining, by the personal navigation device, from the map database a reference map that encompasses the area of interest;
c) selecting, by the personal navigation device, a set of feature points in the user-specified input image and a set of map points in the reference map that correspond in geographical features to the feature points;
d) automatically transforming, by the personal navigation device, the user-specified input image according to positional differences between said feature points and the corresponding map points so as to obtain a to-be-registered image having adjusted feature points corresponding in position to the map points;
e) automatically overlaying, by the personal navigation device, the to-be-registered image onto the reference map in a manner that the adjusted feature points coincide with the corresponding map points to thereby obtain a customized composite map image;
and
f) outputting, by the personal navigation device, the customized composite map image;
wherein, in step c), the feature points and the map points are automatically selected by the personal navigation device through pattern matching of the user-specified input image with the reference map according to a set of pre-defined user-configured selection rules;
wherein the set of pre-defined user-configured selection rules defines at least one of a T-intersection, a Y-intersection, a main road, and a landmark, for pattern matching of the geographical features of the user-specified input image with the reference map.

6 more elements

A personal navigation device comprising:

a memory unit for storing a map database and a user-specified input image of an area of interest, the map database containing a reference map that encompasses the area of interest, the user-specified input image being one of a landmark guide map, an establishment guide map, and a road map, said memory unit further storing information of a set of feature points in the user-specified input image and a set of map points in the reference map that correspond in geographical features to the feature points;
an image processing unit coupled to said memory unit, and including
an image transforming module for transforming the user-specified input image according to positional differences between the feature points and the map points so as to obtain a to-be-registered image having adjusted feature points corresponding in position to the map points, and
an image-overlaying module for overlaying the to-be-registered image onto the reference map in a manner that the adjusted feature points coincide with the corresponding map points to thereby obtain a customized composite map image;
and
an image output unit coupled to said image processing unit for receiving the customized composite map image therefrom, and for outputting the customized composite map image;
wherein said image processing unit further includes a pattern matching module for selecting the feature points and the map points through pattern matching of the user-specified input image with the reference map according to a set of pre-defined user-configured selection rules;
wherein the set of pre-defined user-configured selection rules defines at least one of a T-intersection, a Y-intersection, a main road, and a landmark, for pattern matching of the geographical features of the user-specified input image with the reference map.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.