Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system – Computer graphics processing – Three-dimension
Reexamination Certificate
1992-09-08
2001-07-31
Zimmerman, Mark (Department: 2671)
Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system
Computer graphics processing
Three-dimension
C701S217000, C701S208000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06268858
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to the generation of navigational charts, and particularly to a method and system for generating a database correlatable navigational chart from a visual database which defines the terrain and cultural features of a simulated environment.
2. Description of Related Art
Flight simulation has proved to be an effective method for crew and mission training. An integral component of flight simulation is the out-of-the-window visual scene. The creation of such a visual database typically begins with real-world source data that has been derived from satellite imagery, U.S. Geological Survey information or a mapping agency. However, in order to comply with visual system requirements, changes to this data is generally made during database production. In this regard, it should be appreciated that the training crew needs to be presented with as many different situations as possible, and these situations may be introduced through a non-real-world or customized visual database which is tailormade for the desired training exercise. Accordingly, it is often necessary to add features to the visual database that do not appear in the real-world area being simulated.
As a result of the process of editing or filtering the visual database, it is no longer an exact representation of the original source data. However, mission planning and navigation with real-world charts in a simulated world can be quite cumbersome. Additionally, in the case of a customized visual database, no real-world charts exist. In order for the crew to plan their best route, and any possible alternatives, an accurate representation of that visual database is necessary. Accordingly, there is a need for a technique for generating database correlatable charts that are an exact depiction of the database.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a method and system for generating database correlatable navigational charts that precisely match the simulated terrain and cultural features of a non-real-world visual database. The method includes the steps of reading the visual database into a predetermined data structure, extracting elevation information from the data structure for each block of terrain and determining where contour lines should be drawn, converting the planar locations of each of the areal, linear and point features of the visual database into a pre-selected scale, and plotting each of these visual database features.
One of the advantages of the invention is the ability to produce database correlatable charts that reflect changes to the visual database throughout the life of the visual database. For example, database correlatable charts can be generated for mission rehearsals which exactly correlate to the environment being simulated where the current issue of standard maps do not reflect progressive changes in this environment. Additionally, it is no longer necessary to create a new visual database just to capture a new type of training requirement. Accordingly, the effective life-span of a visual database may be considerably extended to support new training scenarios. Furthermore, these charts can be tailormade to user specifications without loss of database correlation. For example, if terrain following at altitude is the goal, then different elevations can be clearly shown by filling each elevation band with a different color. Different terrain types can also be shown by different fill patterns, while still representing elevations through contour lines and spot elevation depictions.
Database verification is another area where database correlatable charts are an advantage. The gaming area for a large area visual database typically covers thousands of square nautical miles. Verification of every part of the visual database is not feasible within a normal trainer system operational test and evaluation schedule. For example, with a 1000 square mile visual database, it would take approximately 40 hours to fly the visual database in the simulator in order to check the database content against real-world charts. Instead of flying or traversing the entire visual database, specific areas may be randomly selected in order to check the correlation of the visual database against the database correlatable charts. Once it is determined that the database correlatable charts are a direct reflection of the visual database, then these charts may be used to verify the remaining content of the visual database. This will save not only verification man-hours, but the use of database correlatable charts will also save valuable trainer down-time and/or visual system test and evaluation time.
Additionally, the present invention will also reduce the amount of time needed to develop the visual database. In this regard, it should be appreciated that it is very time consuming to find problems with a visual database without the aid of database correlatable charts. Accordingly, the database correlatable charts may be used to give an accurate view of the progress of the visual database production. Furthermore, the database correlatable charts will provide a permanent and completely accurate record of the visual database content.
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Nathman Cheryl Kay
Whittington Reed C.
L-3 Communications Corporation
Tiajoloff Andrew L.
Zimmerman Mark
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