SYSTEMS AND ASSOCIATED METHODS FOR UPDATING STORED 3D SONAR DATA

1 . A method for updating stored 3D mesh data from live 3D mesh data, the method comprising:

processing, by a sonar signal processor, first sonar return data received from a first transducer element of at least one transducer array and second sonar return data received from a second transducer element of the at least one transducer array to generate live 3D mesh data, wherein the at least one transducer array is positioned within a housing mountable to a watercraft capable of traversing a body of water and aimed at least downwardly from the watercraft;

determining a position associated with the live 3D mesh data that corresponds to the position of the watercraft when the first sonar return data and the second sonar return data was received; and

updating a stored 3D mesh data with at least a portion of the live 3D mesh data based on the position associated with the live 3D mesh data.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the stored 3D mesh data is stored in a local memory.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the stored 3D mesh data is stored in a remote server.

4 . The method of claim 1 further comprising:

processing the first sonar return data and the second sonar return data to generate a set of 2D sonar data; and

generating the live 3D mesh data based on the set of 2D sonar data.

5 . The method of claim 4 further comprising:

generating a plurality of sets of 2D sonar data as the watercraft traverses the body of water; and

generating the live 3D mesh data based on the plurality of sets of 2D sonar data.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein updating the stored 3D mesh data comprises automatically updating the stored 3D mesh data as the live 3D mesh data is generated.

7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein updating the stored 3D mesh data comprises:

determining a position in the stored 3D mesh data that corresponds to the position of the live 3D mesh data; and

updating at least a portion of the stored 3D mesh data at the position with at least a portion of the live 3D mesh data.

8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein updating the stored 3D mesh data comprises:

updating a locally stored 3D mesh data in a memory; and

transmitting the live 3D mesh data to a server for updating of a remotely stored 3D mesh data in a memory of the server.

9 . The method of claim 8 , wherein updating the locally stored 3D mesh data and transmitting the live 3D mesh data to the server are performed simultaneously.

10 . The method of claim 1 , wherein updating the stored 3D mesh data comprises replacing at least a portion of the stored 3D mesh data with at least a portion of the live 3D mesh data.

11 . The method of claim 1 , wherein updating the stored 3D mesh data comprises combining at least a portion of the stored 3D mesh data with at least a portion of the live 3D mesh data.

12 . The method of claim 1 , wherein a resolution of the stored 3D mesh data is lower than a resolution of the live 3D mesh data.

13 . An apparatus comprising a sonar signal processor and a memory including computer program code, the memory and the computer program code configured to, with the sonar signal processor, cause the apparatus to:

process first sonar return data received from a first transducer element of at least one transducer array and second sonar return data received from a second transducer element of the at least one transducer array to generate live 3D mesh data, wherein the at least one transducer array is positioned within a housing mountable to a watercraft capable of traversing a body of water and aimed at least downwardly from the watercraft;

determine a position associated with the live 3D mesh data that corresponds to the position of the watercraft when the first sonar return data and the second sonar return data was received; and

update a stored 3D mesh data with at least a portion of the live 3D mesh data based on the position associated with the live 3D mesh data.

14 . The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the stored 3D mesh data is stored in a local memory.

15 . The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the stored 3D mesh data is stored in a remote server.

16 . The apparatus of claim 13 further configured to:

process the first sonar return data and the second sonar return data to generate a set of 2D sonar data; and

generate the live 3D mesh data based on the set of 2D sonar data.

17 . The apparatus of claim 16 further configured to:

generate a plurality of sets of 2D sonar data as the watercraft traverses the body of water; and

generate the live 3D mesh data based on the plurality of sets of 2D sonar data.

18 . The apparatus of claim 13 , further configured to update the stored 3D mesh data by automatically updating the stored 3D mesh data as the live 3D mesh data is generated.

19 . The apparatus of claim 13 , further configured to update the stored 3D mesh data by:

determining a position in the stored 3D mesh data that corresponds to the position of the live 3D mesh data; and

updating at least a portion of stored 3D mesh data at the position with at least a portion of the live 3D mesh data.

20 . The apparatus of claim 13 , further configured to update the stored 3D mesh data by:

updating a locally stored 3D mesh data in a memory; and

transmitting the live 3D mesh data to a server for updating of a remotely stored 3D mesh data in a memory of the server.

21 . The apparatus of claim 20 , further configured to update the locally stored 3D mesh data and transmit the live 3D mesh data to the server simultaneously.

22 . The apparatus of claim 13 , further configured to update the stored 3D mesh data by replacing at least a portion of the stored 3D mesh data with at least a portion of the live 3D mesh data.

23 . The apparatus of claim 13 , further configured to update the stored 3D mesh data by combining at least a portion of the stored 3D mesh data with at least a portion of the live 3D mesh data.

24 . The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein a resolution of the stored 3D mesh data is lower than a resolution of the live 3D mesh data.

25 . Computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer readable medium having program code portions stored thereon, the program code portions configured, when said program product is run with a sonar signal processor, to:

process first sonar return data received from a first transducer element of at least one transducer array and second sonar return data received from a second transducer element of the at least one transducer array to generate live 3D mesh data, wherein the at least one transducer array is positioned within a housing mountable to a watercraft capable of traversing a body of water and aimed at least downwardly from the watercraft;

determine a position associated with the live 3D mesh data that corresponds to the position of the watercraft when the first sonar return data and the second sonar return data was received; and

update a stored 3D mesh data with at least a portion of the live 3D mesh data based on the position associated with the live 3D mesh data.