Horizon night view simulation

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9727670-B2
Application number	US-201314046204-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 4, 2013
Priority date	Oct 4, 2013
Publication date	Aug 8, 2017
Grant date	Aug 8, 2017

Abstract

Methods, systems, and computer-readable media are described herein for simulating a view of a horizon at night. The positions of a number of light sources may be determined from the perspective of a viewer location. A number of light attributes associated with the light sources are determined. A horizon view visualization is provided that includes a number of light representations corresponding with the light sources. The light representations are depicted according to the determined positions and light attributes.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A computer-implemented method for simulating a night view of a horizon, the method comprising:
determining a plurality of positions of a plurality of light sources from a perspective of a viewer location;
determining a plurality of light attributes associated with the plurality of light sources;
displaying a horizon view visualization comprising a plurality of light representations corresponding with the plurality of light sources, the plurality of light representations depicted according to the plurality of positions and the plurality of light attributes; and
for each of the plurality of light sources, determining whether the position of the light source is within a threshold distance from water positioned between the light source and the viewer location, and if the position of the light source is within the threshold distance, determine that a reflection exists and display a reflection representation on the horizon view visualization corresponding with the light source.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein determining the plurality of positions of the plurality of light sources from the perspective of the viewer location comprises determining a bearing and a distance of each light source from the viewer location, and a height differential above sea level of each light source with respect to the viewer location.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 2 , wherein determining the plurality of light attributes comprises determining a brightness or color of each light source.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 2 , wherein determining the plurality of light attributes comprises determining a blink frequency of each light source.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 2 , further comprising determining a plurality of field of view parameters associated with the horizon view visualization, wherein providing the horizon view visualization comprises providing the horizon view visualization according to the plurality of field of view parameters.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 5 , wherein determining the plurality of field of view parameters comprises determining a field of view direction, a field of view width, and a field of view depth.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 6 , further comprising:
determining whether a display limitation exists for each of the plurality of light sources according to the plurality of field of view parameters,
wherein the plurality of light representations are depicted according to the plurality of positions, the plurality of light attributes, and the display limitation.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the reflection representation comprises characteristics corresponding to the light source, the position of the light source with respect to the position of the viewer location, or the position of the light source with respect to the water.

9. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium comprising computer-executable instructions that, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to:
determine a bearing and a distance of each light source from a viewer location, and a height differential above sea level of each light source with respect to the viewer location;
for each of the plurality of light sources, determine whether a reflection of the light source would be visible on water positioned between the light source and the viewer location based on the determined bearing and distance; and
display a horizon view visualization comprising
a plurality of light representations corresponding to the plurality of light sources, and
a reflection representation corresponding to each light source having a reflection that would be visible on the water positioned between the light source and the viewer location.

10. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 9 , comprising computer-executable instructions that, when executed by a computer, further cause the computer to determine a plurality of light attributes associated with the plurality of light sources, wherein the plurality of light representations comprise the plurality of light attributes.

11. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 10 , wherein the plurality of light attributes comprises a blink frequency, a brightness, or a color.

12. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 9 , comprising computer-executable instructions that, when executed by a computer, further cause the computer to determine a plurality of field of view parameters associated with the horizon view visualization, the plurality of field of view parameters comprising a field of view direction, a field of view width, and a field of view depth, wherein causing the computer to provide the horizon view visualization comprises causing the computer to provide the horizon view visualization according to the plurality of field of view parameters.

13. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 9 , wherein the reflection representation comprises characteristics corresponding to the light source, the position of the light source with respect to the position of the viewer location, or the position of the light source with respect to the water.

14. A computer-implemented method for simulating a night view of a horizon, the method comprising:
receiving a selection of a plurality of field of view parameters;
determining a field of view according to the plurality of field of view parameters;
determining a plurality of positions of a plurality of light sources from a perspective of a viewer location according to the field of view, the plurality of positions each including a distance from the viewer location;
determining a plurality of light attributes associated with the plurality of light sources;
for each of the plurality of light sources, determining whether a reflection of the light source exists on water positioned between the light source and the viewer location;
for each reflection, determining a reflection characteristic corresponding to the light source, the position of the light source with respect to the position of the viewer location, or the position of the light source with respect to the water, wherein the reflection characteristic comprises a color, a size, a shape, and a position with respect to the light source;
displaying a horizon view visualization according to the field of view, the horizon view visualization comprising
a plurality of light representations corresponding to the plurality of light sources and depicting the plurality of light attributes, and
a reflection representation corresponding to each light source having a reflection on the water positioned between the light source and the viewer location, the reflection representation depicting the reflection characteristic.

15. The computer-implemented method of claim 14 , wherein the plurality of field of view parameters comprises a field of view direction, a field of view width, and a field of view depth.

16. The computer-implemented method of claim 14 , wherein the plurality of light attributes comprises a blink frequency, a brightness, or a color.

17. A computer-implemented method for simulating a night view of a horizon, the method comprising:
determining a plurality of positions of a plurality of light sources according to a bearing and a distance of each light source from a viewer location, and a height differential above sea level of each light source with respect to the viewer location;
determining a blink frequency associated with each light source of the plurality of ligh

Assignees

• Boeing Co

Inventors

• Mrozowicz Slawomir

Classifications

• G06T15/00

  Three-dimensional [3D] image rendering · CPC title

• B63B2213/02

  using satellite radio beacon positioning systems, e.g. the Global Positioning System GPS · CPC title

• G08G9/02

  Anti-collision systems · CPC title

• G08G3/02

  Anti-collision systems · CPC title

• G01C21/203 Primary

  specially adapted for water-borne vessels · CPC title