Virtual earth mapping
View Patent ↗Provided is a single repository for capturing, connecting, sharing, and visualizing information based on a geographic location, for example. Provided is a schema, repository, index, and APIs for any information, place, entity, attribute, service or person that can be referenced geographically. A system to provide real time image data includes an input component that receives image data associated with a specific geographic area, a splitter component that splits the image data into at least two quadrants, and a storage component that stores at least a portion of the at least two quadrants. Also provides is on-line or real-time advertising based on a user's mapped location and/or a user preference.
1. A method for providing map information, comprising:
providing a processor and an associated memory containing computer-executable instructions;
executing the computer-executable instructions to provide a method comprising:
receiving a user request to view a subset of 3-dimensional image data relating to a plurality of geographic locations;
rendering, on a user display device, the subset of 3-dimensional image data at a first viewing angle, the first viewing angle being a top viewing angle, a front viewing angle, or a back viewing angle;
rendering, on the user display device, the subset of 3-dimensional image data at a second viewing angle, the second viewing angle being a bird's eye angle, a perspective angle, a downward trajectory angle, or an upward trajectory angle;
rendering, on the user display device, the subset of 3-dimensional image data at a third viewing angle; and
providing for the user to control navigation of the subset of the 3-dimensional image data from a plurality of navigation angles, the plurality of navigation angles comprising the first viewing angle, the second viewing angle, and the third viewing angle.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the third viewing angle is selected from an oblique view, a perspective angle, a downward trajectory viewing angle, and an upward trajectory viewing angle.
3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
dynamically refreshing the user display device as the user controls navigation of the subset of the 3-dimensional image data.
4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising associating a location and a time with the 3-dimensional image data.
5. A method for providing map information, comprising:
providing a processor and an associated memory containing computer-executable instructions;
executing the computer-executable instructions to provide a method comprising:
receiving a 3-dimensional image data relating to a plurality of geographic locations;
stitching the 3-dimensional image data together;
receiving a user request to view a subset of the 3-dimensional image data;
retrieving the subset of the 3-dimensional image data;
outputting the subset of the 3-dimensional image data to a user display;
navigating the subset of the 3-dimensional image data in a seamless 3-dimensional manner from a plurality of navigation angles, and
providing for a user to control navigation of the subset of the 3-dimensional image data.
6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the user control is received from a user physically located in the geographic location or from a user remote from the geographic location.
7. The method of claim 5 , further comprising associating a location and a time with the 3-dimensional image.
8. The method of claim 5 , further comprising:
dynamically refreshing a user display as the user controls navigation of the subset of the 3-dimensional image data.
9. The method of claim 5 , further comprising:
altering a viewing angle of the 3-dimensional image based on user control.