Efficient distribution of functional extensions to a 3D modeling software
Granted: December 29, 2015
Patent Number:
9223593
Functional extensions are provided for use with a modeling software. The functional extensions provide functionality not otherwise provided by the modeling software. The functional extensions are received from a client device by a server and stored in a database. Thereafter, the server transmits the functional extensions to a second client device, sometimes in response to receiving a request for the functional extension from the second client device. The server may update a user profile…
Controlling rights to a drawing in a three-dimensional modeling environment
Granted: December 22, 2015
Patent Number:
9218692
A first user having a certain set of privileges with respect to an initial three-dimensional (3D) model associates a watermark with the initial 3D model, so that the watermark is displayed whenever the initial 3D model is viewed or edited. A second user having a smaller set of privileges with respect to the initial 3D model is permitted to view, copy and/or modify the initial 3D model, but is not permitted to remove or alter the content of the watermark. The watermark is continuously…
Automatic obstacle location mapping
Granted: December 15, 2015
Patent Number:
9213905
A method of automatic obstacle location mapping comprises receiving an indication of a feature to be identified in a defined area. An instance of the feature is found within an image. A report is then generated conveying the location of said feature.
Methods and systems for associating a keyphrase with an image
Granted: December 8, 2015
Patent Number:
9208382
Novel tools and techniques are described for identifying objects and/or persons. In one aspect, a method might comprise obtaining a digital image of an object(s) with a digital image recording device. The digital image may be transmitted to a remote computer system, and compared to multiple preexisting digital images using an image comparison software application running thereon. A set of preexisting digital images matching the digital image of the object(s) may be identified, and a…
GNSS signal processing with regional augmentation network
Granted: December 1, 2015
Patent Number:
9201147
Methods and apparatus for processing of GNSS data derived from multi-frequency code and carrier observations are presented which make available correction data for use by a rover located within the region, the correction data comprising: the ionospheric delay over the region, the tropospheric delay over the region, the phase-leveled geometric correction per satellite, and the at least one code bias per satellite. In some embodiments the correction data includes an ionospheric phase bias…
Long-life asset tracking
Granted: November 10, 2015
Patent Number:
9185517
A method and system for long-life asset tracking is disclosed. One example utilizes an activation module to provide an activation signal to at least a portion of the long-life asset tracker. A position determiner receives the activation signal and determines a location of the long-life asset tracker with a first level of accuracy or a second level of accuracy, wherein the second level of accuracy is more accurate than the first level of accuracy and wherein a default mode of operation is…
Enhanced position measurement systems and methods
Granted: November 10, 2015
Patent Number:
9182229
Novel solutions for position measurement, including without limitation tools and techniques that can be used for land surveying and in similar applications. One such tool is a greatly enhanced position measurement system that takes the form of a surveying rod with substantial independent functionality, which can be used with or without a total station or similar device.
Sequential rolling bundle adjustment
Granted: November 3, 2015
Patent Number:
9177384
A method for estimating position and orientation of an image-capturing device is proposed. The method comprises the step of obtaining a preceding set of frames by using the image-capturing device. Each frame includes a set of image data. The method of the present technology further comprises the step of estimating a previous position and orientation of the image-capturing device by using the set of image data included in at least one preceding frame, and the step of estimating a current…
Method and system for measuring angles based on 360 degree images
Granted: November 3, 2015
Patent Number:
9175955
A method of measuring an angle includes orienting a measurement device at a reference position characterized by a reference angle. A first panoramic image defined by a predetermined range of elevation angles is acquired where the first panoramic image includes an object. A first bearing of the object in relation to the reference angle is determined and the measurement device is rotated to a measurement position characterized by a measurement angle. A second panoramic image defined by the…
GNSS signal processing with ionosphere model for synthetic reference data
Granted: October 27, 2015
Patent Number:
9170335
Some embodiments of the present invention derive an ionospheric phase bias and an ionospheric differential code bias (DCB) using an absolute ionosphere model, which can be estimated from data obtained from a network of reference stations or obtained from an external source such as WAAS, GAIM, IONEX or other. Fully synthetic reference station data is generated using the ionospheric phase bias and/or the differential code bias together with the phase leveled clock and ionospheric-free code…
GNSS signal processing with regional augmentation positioning
Granted: October 20, 2015
Patent Number:
9164174
Methods and apparatus for processing of GNSS data derived from multi-frequency code and carrier observations are presented which make available correction data for use by a rover located within the region, the correction data comprising: the ionospheric delay over the region, the tropospher?c delay over the region, the phase-leveled geometric correction per satellite, and the at least one code bias per satellite. In some embodiments the correction data includes an ionospheric phase bias…
Determining camera position for a photograph having a displaced center of projection
Granted: October 13, 2015
Patent Number:
9160979
An image depicting an object has a center that is not on an optical axis of a camera used to capture the image. The image is on an image plane, and the object is in an object space. A method implemented for automatically determining the position of the camera relative to the object includes displaying the image via a user interface, receiving vanishing point information from the user interface, such that the vanishing point data indicates a respective location on the image plane of each…
GNSS signal processing to estimate phase-leveled clocks
Granted: October 13, 2015
Patent Number:
9157999
Methods and apparatus are described for processing a set of GNSS signal data derived from code observations and carrier-phase observations at multiple receivers of GNSS signals of multiple satellites over multiple epochs, the GNSS signals having at least two carrier frequencies and a navigation message containing orbit information, comprising: obtaining precise orbit information for each satellite, determining at least one set of ambiguities per receiver, each ambiguity corresponding to…
Detecting an underground object
Granted: October 13, 2015
Patent Number:
9157993
In a method of detecting an underground object which is at least partially under a surface of ground, a first view of the object determined by transmitting a first radar signal from a first known geolocation. A second view of the object is determined by transmitting a second radar signal from a second known geolocation. The respective first and second trajectories of the first and second radar signals are oblique with respect to the surface of the ground and the respective first and…
Altimeter with calibration
Granted: October 13, 2015
Patent Number:
9157737
An altitude dead reckoning system using measurements of forward speed, a yaw angle rate and external altitude information in order to estimate an error in the acceleration due to an accelerometer bias; and an output converter configured to use the forward speed, yaw angel rate, acceleration and estimated accelerometer bias to calculate a change in altitude.
Determining an autonomous position of a point of interest on a lifting device
Granted: October 13, 2015
Patent Number:
9156167
A system and method for monitoring a lifting device is disclosed. The method receives location information from a position determiner module coupled with a point of interest associated with the lifting device and determines an autonomous position of the point of interest based on the location information. The method further includes monitoring the lifting device based on the autonomous position of the point of interest.
Laser receiver using a smart device
Granted: September 29, 2015
Patent Number:
9146106
A smart device is disclosed which contains a digital camera with an active electronic viewscreen that displays the detected image, in which the camera can sense laser light beams. The smart device has the capability receiving and executing an application program that allows the camera to be used as a grade elevation detector, in which the camera can sense a laser light beam that effectively forms a plane of laser light which defines an “on-grade” elevation for a jobsite. The user can…
Smart storage system
Granted: September 29, 2015
Patent Number:
9147176
A system for identifying different types of products on a display hanger and determining a quantity of each of the different types of products includes a plurality of electrically conductive segments coupled to the display hanger, an electrically conductive rail coupled to the display hanger, and a sensor device electrically coupled to each of the plurality of electrically conductive segments and to the electrically conductive rail. The sensor device is configured to identify the…
Multi-function affine tool for computer-aided design
Granted: September 29, 2015
Patent Number:
9146660
A computer-aided design system and method facilitates the editing of an object in a workspace of a computer aided design system. A user input indicating selection of an affine tool is received, and a user input indicating selection of the object is received. It is determined whether an additional user input is received. If it is determined that the additional user input is not received, a first set of user-activatable affine functions for manipulating the object is enabled. The first set…
GNSS signal processing with rover ambiguity fixing
Granted: September 29, 2015
Patent Number:
9146319
Methods and apparatus are described for processing a set of GNSS signal data derived from signals of a set of satellites having carriers observed at a rover antenna, wherein the GNSS signal data includes a carrier observation and a code observation of each carrier of each satellite, comprising: obtaining for each satellite clock corrections comprising at least two of: (i) a code-leveled satellite clock, (ii) a phase-leveled satellite clock, and (iii) a satellite clock bias representing a…
