Method for extracting attribute data from a media file
Granted: November 25, 2014
Patent Number:
8898179
Embodiments of the present invention recite a method for extracting attribute data from a media file. In one embodiment, an attribute of a geographic feature, which is described in at least one media file, is automatically identified. A configuration file is then accessed which defines how the attribute is to be displayed by an office application. The attribute is then displayed in a manner consistent with the configuration file.
Accurate digitization of a georeferenced image
Granted: November 25, 2014
Patent Number:
8897541
A method of implementing accurate digitization from a georeferenced image is described. In one embodiment, at least one set of coordinates which have been measured at a point of interest is received. A correction is then determined which describes a difference between the at least one set of coordinates and a set of georeferenced coordinates from a georeferenced image of the point of interest which describes the position of the point of interest.
Smart-phone bracket for car and truck navigation
Granted: November 25, 2014
Patent Number:
8893548
Inertial navigation systems for wheeled vehicles with constrained motion degrees of freedom are described. Various parts of the navigation systems may be implemented in a smart-phone.
File access via conduit application
Granted: November 11, 2014
Patent Number:
8886669
A computer-implemented data access method includes executing a file manager application in a container application, wherein the file manager application does not have direct access to a computer file system, executing a native application that does have direct access to the computer file system, and communicating between the file manager application and the native application, and between the native application and the computer file system to simulate direct file system access by the…
Survey system
Granted: November 11, 2014
Patent Number:
D717185
Agricultural spreader control
Granted: October 14, 2014
Patent Number:
8857745
A spreader control system digitally filters noisy load cell measurements and inaccurate flow rate measurements to form an optimal estimate of material weight in a spreader bin. This estimate may be combined with spreader swath width and vehicle speed to determine application rate. When actuators for parameters such as apron speed or gate size are available, spreading rates may be controlled with active feedback.
Crop characteristic estimation
Granted: October 7, 2014
Patent Number:
8855937
A system for estimating a crop characteristic comprises a database, a plant growth model correlator, and a crop characteristic estimator. The database includes plant growth models for a plurality of fields. The plant growth model correlator is communicatively coupled with the database. The plant growth model correlator is configured for determining at least one harvested field with a first plant growth model which correlates with a second plant growth model for at least a portion of an…
GNSS signal processing to estimate orbits
Granted: September 30, 2014
Patent Number:
8847820
Methods and apparatus are described for processing a set of GNSS signal data derived from signals of GNSS satellites observed at reference station receivers, the data representing code observations and carrier observations on each of at least two carriers over multiple epochs, comprising: obtaining an orbit start vector comprising: a time sequence of predicted positions and predicted velocities for each satellite over a first interval, and the partial derivatives of the predicted…
Layout equipment and layout method
Granted: September 9, 2014
Patent Number:
8826553
Layout equipment for locating a plurality of positions at a construction site, and a method of using the layout equipment, contemplate a laser target rod having an elongated rod body and including retroreflective material on the rod body. The retroreflective material extends substantially the entire length of the rod body, and has scale markings visible thereon. A self-leveling laser transmitter at a known position projects a beam of laser light horizontally, and receives laser light…
GNSS signal processing methods and apparatus with ambiguity selection
Granted: September 9, 2014
Patent Number:
8830121
Methods and apparatus are provided for estimating parameters, i.e. ambiguities, derived from GNSS signals. Observations of a GNSS signal from each of a plurality of GNSS satellites are obtained (4120). The observations are fed to a filter having a state vector at least comprising a float ambiguity for each received frequency of the GNSS signals, each float ambiguity constituting a real number estimate associated with an integer number of wavelengths of the GNSS signal between a receiver…
Survey camera
Granted: September 9, 2014
Patent Number:
D712759
System and method for entry and display of blueprint data
Granted: September 2, 2014
Patent Number:
8826171
A handheld device with a graphical user interface (GUI) for entering and displaying blueprint data as a hierarchical sequence of segments. A handheld device having a touchscreen and/or keys is used to sequentially enter line segments and arcs to enter blueprint data into the device. Each line segment or arc that is entered may be referenced to an existing endpoint or start point of a previously entered line segment or arc. A blueprint entered into the handheld device may be edited by…
Method and system for exchanging data
Granted: August 26, 2014
Patent Number:
8818721
A system for exchanging data. A first mobile device configured to generate a first set of data related to a plurality of geographic positions where the first mobile device has been located and configured to exchange the first set of data with a second mobile device wherein the first mobile device receives a second set of data related to a plurality of geographic positions where the second mobile device has been located. A mapping system configured to receive the first set of data and the…
Methods and apparatus for performing angular measurements
Granted: August 26, 2014
Patent Number:
8818044
A method of determining an azimuth and elevation of a point in an image is provided. The method comprises positioning an imaging device at a first position and acquiring a first image. The method also comprises rotating the imaging device and acquiring a second image at the first position. The first image includes the point, and a portion of the first image overlaps a portion of the second image. The method also includes determining correspondences between features in overlapping…
Distance based position sensing
Granted: August 26, 2014
Patent Number:
8817239
Systems, methods, and other embodiments associated with distance based position measurement are described. In one embodiment, an apparatus is configured to be positioned proximate a feature of interest. The apparatus includes a laser distance meter (LDM) configured to emit a laser beam and to determine first and second distances between the LDM and first and second targets. The first and second targets have known positions in three dimensions with respect to a reference plane from which…
Method and system for surveying using RFID devices
Granted: August 12, 2014
Patent Number:
8800859
A method of surveying may include determining a location of a surveying tool, determining a location of a position of interest, detecting an RFID tag associated with the position of interest, and decoding information stored in the RFID tag. The information stored in the RFID tag may include a reference to information stored remote from the RFID tag.
Rugged tablet computer
Granted: August 5, 2014
Patent Number:
D710350
Reverse RFID location system
Granted: August 5, 2014
Patent Number:
8797141
A reverse RFID location system is based on set of RFID tags in which each tag stores data representing its position.
Asphalt milling machine control and method
Granted: August 5, 2014
Patent Number:
8794867
An asphalt milling machine control is provided for an asphalt milling machine of the type which mills an asphalt pavement surface over which the machine travels. The machine has a milling machine body, and a rotatable milling drum mounted on the lower portion of the milling machine body, the bottom surface of the milling drum contacting the asphalt pavement surface to mill the surface to a design elevation. The machine further includes a plurality of machine body supports which are…
Real-time detection of hazardous driving
Granted: July 29, 2014
Patent Number:
8791806
A system is disclosed which provides real-time detection of hazardous driving behavior. The system collects information about the motion of a vehicle along a path, for example, using a global positioning satellite system receiver. Roadside signs along the path are detected and their content determined. That information is compared with information about the motion of the vehicle to provide information with regard to potentially hazardous driving behavior.
