Geospatial data system for selectively retrieving and displaying geospatial texture data based upon user-selected point-of-view and related methods

Abstract

A geospatial data system may include at least one geospatial database containing three-dimensional (3D) geospatial structure data and geospatial texture data associated with the geospatial 3D structure data. At least one geospatial data access device may also be included and comprise a display and a processor cooperating therewith for communicating remotely with the at least one geospatial database to retrieve and display a scene on the display based upon the 3D structure data and the geospatial texture data associated therewith. The geospatial data access device(s) may further comprise at least one user input device cooperating with the processor for permitting user selection of a point-of-view (POV) within the scene on the display with the POV determining revealed portions and obscured portions of 3D geospatial structures within the scene on the display. The processor may selectively retrieve geospatial texture data based upon the revealed portions and not the obscured portions.

1 . A geospatial data system comprising:
 at least one geospatial database containing three-dimensional (3D) geospatial structure data, and containing geospatial texture data associated with the geospatial 3D structure data; and   at least one geospatial data access device comprising a display and a processor cooperating therewith for communicating remotely with said at least one geospatial database to retrieve and display a scene on said display based upon the 3D structure data and the geospatial texture data associated therewith;   said at least one geospatial data access device further comprising at least one user input device cooperating with said processor for permitting user selection of a point-of-view (POV) within the scene on said display with the POV determining revealed portions and obscured portions of 3D geospatial structures within the scene on said display, said processor selectively retrieving geospatial texture data based upon the revealed portions and not the obscured portions of the 3D geospatial structures within the scene on said display.   
     
     
         2 . The geospatial data system of  claim 1  wherein the geospatial texture data contained in said at least one geospatial database is retrievable in successive additive layers of resolution; and wherein said processor retrieves and displays the geospatial texture data in successive additive layers of resolution in the scene on said display. 
     
     
         3 . The geospatial data system of  claim 1  wherein said processor prioritizes retrieval and display of successive additive layers of resolution of associated geospatial texture data to different 3D geospatial structures within the scene on said display. 
     
     
         4 . The geospatial data system of  claim 3  wherein said processor prioritizes based upon relative distances of the 3D geospatial structures within the scene on said display. 
     
     
         5 . The geospatial data system of  claim 3  wherein said processor prioritizes based upon different relative areas of the 3D geospatial structures within the scene on said display. 
     
     
         6 . The geospatial data system of  claim 1  further comprising a communications channel coupling said at least one geospatial database and said geospatial data access device; and wherein said communications channel has a capacity insufficient to carry within a predetermined time all of the associated geospatial texture data for the 3D geospatial structures within the scene on said display. 
     
     
         7 . The geospatial data system of  claim 6  wherein said communications channel comprises the Internet. 
     
     
         8 . The geospatial data system of  claim 1  wherein said at least one geospatial database and said at least one geospatial data access device communicate using a streaming wavelet-based imagery compression protocol. 
     
     
         9 . The geospatial data system of  claim 8  wherein the streaming wavelet-based imagery compression protocol comprises the JPEG 2000 Interactive Protocol. 
     
     
         10 . A geospatial data access device for accessing at least one geospatial database containing three-dimensional (3D) geospatial structure data, and also containing geospatial texture data associated with the geospatial 3D structure data, the geospatial data access device comprising:
 a display;   a processor cooperating with said display for communicating remotely with the at least one geospatial database to retrieve and display a scene on said display based upon the 3D structure data and the geospatial texture data associated therewith; and   at least one user input device cooperating with said processor for permitting user selection of a point-of-view (POV) within the scene on said display with the POV determining revealed portions and obscured portions of 3D geospatial structures within the scene on said display;   said processor selectively retrieving geospatial texture data based upon the revealed portions and not the obscured portions of the 3D geospatial structures within the scene on said display.   
     
     
         11 . The geospatial data access device of  claim 10  wherein the geospatial texture data contained in the at least one geospatial database is retrievable in successive additive layers of resolution; and wherein said processor retrieves and displays the geospatial texture data in successive additive layers of resolution in the scene on said display. 
     
     
         12 . The geospatial data access device of  claim 10  wherein said processor prioritizes retrieval and display of successive additive layers of resolution of associated geospatial texture data to different 3D geospatial structures within the scene on said display. 
     
     
         13 . The geospatial data access device of  claim 12  wherein said processor prioritizes based upon relative distances of the 3D geospatial structures within the scene on said display. 
     
     
         14 . The geospatial data access device of  claim 12  wherein said processor prioritizes based upon different relative areas of the 3D geospatial structures within the scene on said display. 
     
     
         15 . A geospatial data access method comprising:
 storing three-dimensional (3D) geospatial structure data and geospatial texture data associated with the geospatial 3D structure data in at least one geospatial database;   remotely retrieving the 3D structure data and the geospatial texture data associated therewith from the at least one geospatial database; and   displaying a scene on a display based upon the retrieved 3D structure data and the geospatial texture data associated therewith and also based upon a user selection of a point-of-view (POV) within the scene on the display with the POV determining revealed portions and obscured portions of 3D geospatial structures within the scene on the display;   wherein remotely retrieving further comprises selectively retrieving geospatial texture data based upon the revealed portions and not the obscured portions of the 3D geospatial structures within the scene on the display.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the geospatial texture data contained in the at least one geospatial database is retrievable in successive additive layers of resolution; and wherein remotely retrieving and displaying comprise remotely retrieving and displaying the geospatial texture data in successive additive layers of resolution in the scene on the display. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15  further comprising prioritizing retrieval and display of successive additive layers of resolution of associated geospatial texture data to different 3D geospatial structures within the scene on the display. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17  wherein prioritizing comprises prioritizing based upon relative distances of the 3D geospatial structures within the scene on the display. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17  wherein prioritizing comprises prioritizing based upon different relative areas of the 3D geospatial structures within the scene on the display. 
     
     
         20 . A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for causing a computer to perform steps comprising:
 remotely retrieving three-dimensional (3D) structure data and geospatial texture data associated therewith from at least one geospatial database; and   displaying a scene on a display based upon the retrieved 3D structure data and the geospatial texture data associated therewith and also based upon a user selection of a point-of-view (POV) within the scene on the display with the POV determining revealed portions and obscured portions of 3D geospatial structures within the scene on the display;   wherein remotely retrieving further comprises selectively retrieving geospatial texture data based upon the revealed portions and not the obscured portions of the 3D geospatial structures within the scene on the display.   
     
     
         21 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 20  wherein the geospatial texture data contained in the at least one geospatial database is retrievable in successive additive layers of resolution; and wherein remotely retrieving and displaying comprise remotely retrieving and displaying the geospatial texture data in successive additive layers of resolution in the scene on the display. 
     
     
         22 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 20  further comprising prioritizing retrieval and display of successive additive layers of resolution of associated geospatial texture data to different 3D geospatial structures within the scene on the display. 
     
     
         23 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 22  wherein prioritizing comprises prioritizing based upon relative distances of the 3D geospatial structures within the scene on the display. 
     
     
         24 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 22  wherein prioritizing comprises prioritizing based upon different relative areas of the 3D geospatial structures within the scene on the display.