Abstract:
Systems and methods for providing image data/information products to customers are provided. A data management facility generates a graphical user interface that is viewed by customers on computer systems coupled to a processor of the data management facility over a network. The graphical user interface allows a customer to search at least one of stored image data/information products or algorithms, to select at least one of the stored image data/information products or algorithms, and to select a desired geographic location. The data management facility generates a data/information product based on the selected image data/information product and the selected geographic location, and receives a request for an image data/information product, if a desired image data/information product cannot be found in the data management facility. In addition, the processor sends the generated image data/information product to the customer and bills the requestor based on the generated image data product.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates generally to processing information and, more specifically, to processing image information from multiple data sources. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Many applications exist for information products based on remotely sensed data. Typically, the information includes satellite images. Often, it is desirable to update the satellite images to reflect changes in the sensed subject matter over time. However, customers currently are limited to information products derived from one or two remotely sensed data sources that may not provide a desired update frequency. 
     For example, a farmer may desire information about two different crops the farmer has planted. The farmer finds a first organization that provides satellite image information about the first crop, but the first organization does not have the ability to provide satellite image information about the second crop of the farmer. The farmer must search for an organization that produces the information desired or must find an organization that will create an algorithm for producing the desired information. This is a great waste of the farmer&#39;s time. 
     Therefore, there exists an unmet need for easy to access remotely sensed data (such as satellite image data products) acquired from different organizations and different satellite sources. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides systems and methods for easily accessing image data products and information derived from the image data that are created from different data sources and different image processing entities. 
     An exemplary system includes a delivery unit, a network, and a data management facility. The data management facility includes a database that stores image data products and information, a database that stores image data product and information extraction algorithms, and a processor coupled to the databases and the network. The processor generates a graphical user interface that is viewed by customers on computer systems coupled to the processor over the network. The graphical user interface allows a customer to search at least one of the stored image data/information products or algorithms, allows a customer to select at least one of the stored image data/information products or algorithms, and allows a customer to select a desired geographic location. The processor generates a data/information product based on the selected image data/information product and the selected geographic location, and receives a request for an image data/information product, if a desired image data/information product can not be found in the database. In addition, the processor sends the generated image data/information product to the customer and bills the requestor based on the generated image data or extracted information product. 
     In another aspect of the invention, the processor instructs one or more of a plurality of remote sensing data sources to generate one or more images based on the selected image data/information product and the selected geographic location, receives the generated one or more images, and generates the desired image data/information product based on an imaging or information extraction algorithm associated with the selected image data/information product and stored in an algorithm database. 
     In still another aspect of the invention, the processor sends reimbursement to an owner of the algorithm that was used to generate the selected image data/information product based on a reimbursement contract. 
     In a further aspect of the invention, the processor performs at least one of electronically sending the image data/information product to the requestor over the network, printing a hard copy, and storing on a portable memory device. 
     In yet another aspect of the invention, the processor sends a request to the delivery unit to transport the hard copy or portable memory device to the requester. 
     In a yet further aspect of the invention, the plurality of remote sensing data sources includes a LandSat5 system, a LandSat7 system, a MODIS system, aircraft system, ground based system, or a SPOT system. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The preferred and alternative embodiments of the present invention are described in detail below with reference to the following drawings. 
         FIG. 1  is a block diagram of an exemplary system formed in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIGS. 2A and 2B  illustrate a flow diagram of an exemplary process performed by the system of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIGS. 3-6  illustrate portions of a graphical user interface for allowing a user to perform the process shown in  FIGS. 2A and 2B  by using the system shown in  FIG. 1 ; and 
         FIG. 7  illustrates a component diagram of a data management facility that is part of the system shown in  FIG. 1 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , a system  20  allows customers to purchase image products that can arrive from various remote data sensing sources and that are manipulated by predefined algorithms or algorithms from outside sources. Thus, the system  20  allows for a customer to go to a single source in which to receive processed remotely sensed data, such as various satellite data that is processed according to the information that the customer desires from that image. In an embodiment of the present invention, the system  20  includes a data management facility  22  that is coupled to a plurality of customer systems  24 , a plurality of remote data sensing sources  26 , and a plurality of algorithm associate systems  28  over a network  30 . The data management facility  22  manages requests from the customer&#39;s system  24  for image data/information generated by one or more of the remote sensing sources  26  and manipulated by internally derived algorithms or algorithms generated by one or more of the algorithm associate systems  28 . Upon completion of a customer request, the data management facility  22  produces an information product that is delivered to the respective customer system  24  over the network  30  or via other methods, such as without limitation postal or other delivery. It will be appreciated that the network  30  is one or more of a public or private data network and that each of the components connected to the network  30  may be themselves distributed across the network  30 . 
     The customer systems  24  may be stand-alone private computers or can be a public access computer that has a connection to the network  30 . An example of the data management facility  22  is shown and described in  FIG. 7  below. The remote data sensing source systems  26  include but are not limited to various types of satellites, such as without limitation the LANDSAT5, LANDSAT7, Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS), Satellite Pour l&#39;Observation de La Terre (SPOT) satellites and/or various types of airborne sensors such as the SpecTerra Mark II-IV cameras and the Vision I cameras. Algorithm associate systems  28  include but are not limited to associates that are independent of the data management facility  22  but have agreed to a business relationship with respect to processing image data/information produced by the remote data sensing source systems  26  for purchase by customers. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 2A and 2B , an exemplary process  50  is performed by the system  20 , specifically the data management facility  22  ( FIG. 1 ). The process  50  begins at a block  54  where a search is initiated for a desired image/information product. The search can be performed in a number of ways. For example, a customer can use a search engine that searches for image/information products stored within a database associated with the data management facility  22 . Also, the user may simply scroll through a list of image/information products that are available through the data management facility  22 . At a decision block  56 , if an image/information product does not exist that corresponds to what the user is searching for, then at a block  62  an analysis of the image product that the user needs is analyzed. Analysis of a customer&#39;s image product needs can be performed by a number of different methods. For example, the customer may fill out an online questionnaire that is then reviewed by personnel at the data management facility  22 . Alternately, the customer may be referred to a person that the customer communicates with either via electronic mail, facsimile, or telephonically to communicate directly their needs. Once the data management facility personnel has taken the requirements of the image/information product the customer desires, then they determine how to meet those requirements. At a block  64 , an image product solution is developed based on the analysis performed at the block  62 . 
     If it was determined at the decision block  56  that an image product that is available to the data management facility  22  does exist, then the customer selects the existing image product at a block  58 . After an image product is selected at the block  58  or developed at the block  64 , the customer selects a geographical location for the desired image product at a block  60 . At a block  68 , the data management facility  22  instructs one or more of the remote data sensing sources to generate images based on the selected geographical location. At a block  70 , the generated images are sent to the data management facility  22 . The delivery of the generated images from the remote data sensing sources  26  to the data management facility  22  is suitably performed by a file transfer protocol (FTP) or a virtual private network (VPN) over the network  30 . At a block  72 , the selected image/information product is generated from the received image(s) based on an image/information algorithm stored within the data management facility  22  or one that is generated by an algorithm associate  28 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 2B , at a block  76  the generated image/information product is delivered to the customer. Delivery of the image/information product to the customer is automated and can be performed in a number of ways, such as without limitation storing the image product on a digital video disk (DVD), DVD-RAM, writable computer disk (CD-R), digital linear tape (DLT), or an advanced intelligent tape (AIT). Also, the generated image/information product can be delivered electronically via an email link, FTP, VPN, or some other electronic transfer means. 
     At a decision block  78 , if the image/information product was generated by associate&#39;s algorithm, then at a block  80  a royalty is sent to the corresponding associate based on a previously defined business arrangement between the associate and the owner of the data management facility  22 . At a block  82 , a payment transaction for the service provided to the customer is executed. 
     The image data/information that is transferred from the remote data sensing source systems  26  to the data management facility  22  can be one of a number of common image formats, such as without limitation, geotiff, DjVu, CAP, tiff, or jpg. CAP (Centre d&#39;Archivage et de Pretraitement) is the format of the “SPOT scene” digital products. CAP format is also a source format used for the Digital Multi-spectral Video System Mark III. DjVu is an open standard image compression technology developed by AT&amp;T and used by LizardTech Inc. resulting in a compressed image. 
       FIGS. 3-6  illustrate screen shots of graphical user interfaces that are accessed by customers at the customer systems  24  that are generated by the data management facility  22  and accessed over the network  30 . It will be appreciated that access to data displayed via graphical user interfaces through a secure password protected connection only allows registered customers&#39; access. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 3 , a main page  100  of the graphical user interface generated by the data management facility  22  is shown.) The main page  100  includes a tabs area  102  that presents various information depending upon the subject associated with the associated tab. In one embodiment, the main tabs include ingestion, encoding, delivery, order history, and administration. Located below the tabs section  102  is an image/information section  104 . The information section  104  presents information of a tab selected from the tabs area  102 . A tab is selected by using a user interface device, such as without limitation a keyboard, a mouse, a pointing device, or a touch sensitive screen that is included within the customer system  24 . Adjacent to the information area  104  is a search engine interface  110 . The search engine interface  110  includes a plurality of fields for entering keyboard information related to those fields. The user searches for the desired image product by entering key word information into the search engine interface  110  or by selecting a subheading titled “assets” under the “encoding” tab in the tab section  102 . A list of information products available to the customer in a scrollable table format includes the following columns. In one embodiment, these columns include asset number, title, categories, file name, length (time), creation date, a detailed (expansion) button, and an “add to cart” checkbox. In another embodiment, these columns might include order number, latest images per customer profile, any news or information about the service, any added features or offerings, a link to a short-list of thumbnails. 
     A selected asset section  112  illustrates all the assets that have been selected from a displayed in the information section  104 . The selected asset section  112  is similar to what is considered a shopping cart as used in many other e-commerce applications. 
     Referring to  FIG. 4 , each asset displayed within the information section  104  can be expanded by selecting an expanding button  114  for displaying more detailed information  116  of an expanded asset. For example, some of the detailed information  116  that can be shown after selection of the expanding button  114  includes: metadata types such as creation date, copyright date, data source (e.g. LandSat5, LandSat7, MODIS, etc), title, description, geographical location/region, type of image (e.g. Agricultural, Radar, Aerial), and thumbnail of image. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 5 , a current order window  118  is illustrated. The current order window  118  is presented upon selection of a current order tab included under the encoding tab from the tab section  102 . Located below the tab section  102  is a selected assets information section  120  and contained within that is a delivery section  124  that includes a delivery profiles field  126  and a priorities field  128 . The delivery profiles field  126  is a pull-down menu that allows selection of a number of predefined delivery profiles, such as DVD-R, CD-R, AIT, DLT, VPN, FTP (push or pull), Fed-EX, USPS, UPS, courier, or email. The priority field  128  is a pull-down menu that allows selection of the following delivery priorities, such as overnight, business partners priority, 1-2 business days, 5-7 business days, 14 business days. 
       FIG. 6  illustrates an order history page  140  that includes an information area  142  for displaying a table  146  of previously submitted orders. The table  146  includes order number, order date, summary of the order, profile of the order, delivery method, present status of the order, and date in which the order was completed. Each of the displayed orders can be expanded by selection of an expansion button  148  to show more detailed information about each order. The more detailed information includes title of the asset, format, bit rate, size, status, and date completed. In another embodiment, the table  146  might include order number, order type, image name, image data source, breakdown of jobs, order date, completion date, method of delivery, delivering to address, description, image source region or geographical location. Located adjacent to the order information area  142  is a search engine user interface  150  that allows a user to enter key words in certain categories for searching information listed in the order information area  142 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 7 , exemplary components of a data management facility  22  are illustrated. In this embodiment, the data management facility  22  includes one or more e-commerce servers  200 , one or more distributed media management platforms (DMMP)  202 , one or more ingestion servers  204 , a redundant array of inexpensive disks/storage area network (RAID/SAN)  206 , near-line tape archives  208 , and a plurality of image processing servers  210 . The plurality of e-commerce servers  200  supports the graphical user interface as described above for receiving customer requests for image/information products and for sending customer requests to the remote data sensing source systems  26  and the DMMP  202 . The ingestion servers  204  are coupled to the RAID/SAN  206  and the near-line tape archives  208 . The DMMP  202  (such as that produced by Streaming Media Technologies) is coupled to the RAID/SAN  206  and the plurality of image processing servers  210  and an automated delivery component  212 . The automated delivery component  212  includes components for packaging and delivering information products electronically via various means, such as without limitation FTP or a VPN. Also, the automated delivery component  212  may include devices for storing the information products onto a removable storage device, such as a DVD or a CD. 
     The ingestion servers  204  are used to support the migration of data by pushing or pulling the data into an application or platform. For example, the ingestion server  204  may pull in the image data from other data centers, such as the EROS Data Center in Sioux Falls, South Dakota via FTPs or VPNs. 
     The DMMP  202  is the control center of the data management facility. Orders are fulfilled by the DMMP  202 . The DMMP  202  setups the tasks to be performed to produce products (e.g. sharpened images, geo-registered images, etc.) requested by customers. The DMMP  202  kicks off the image processing activities to produce end products or pulls archival data as needed. The DMMP  202  requests CD&#39;s or DVD&#39;s to be made or request products be delivered via an FTP. 
     The RAID/SAN  206  system is a storage/network system where recently acquired images and/or processed images can be stored and quickly accessed. RAID (Redundant Array of Independent (or Inexpensive) Disks ) systems are used to improve performance or provide some level of fault tolerance. SAN (Storage Area Network) supports the transfer of large quantities of data to and from multiple disk arrays. 
     Image processing can result in large quantities of data (˜20-35 GB). There is only so much disk space available. Near-line tape archives  208  can be used as “cheap” storage devices. Once a source image has been processed, the resulting files can be off-loaded from disk to tape. Access to the data is not as fast as RAID/SAN  206  but it is faster than loading an off-line archival tape that requires operator support. 
     The image processing server farm  210  is an intensive number crunching system. The image processing server farm  210  executes algorithms that result in the end data products. For example, these algorithms will generate pan sharpened data, reflectance data, and/or augmented data. 
     The algorithm associate systems  28  are coupled to the plurality of image processing servers  210 . The plurality of image processing servers  210  are coupled to the RAID/SAN  206 . 
     This architecture is an open ended system which can support the integration of new and emerging technology. For example, it can be provide decision support tools to assist Homeland Security, Crop Insurance, Commodities, Government Agriculture, and Census Bureau. It can be readily expanded to accept other data sources using models, simulations and other sources of observations (e.g. climatologically data, change detection, etc.) to generate data quality products. It has been designed to be adaptable to any product that would be developed. The power of this architecture is its flexibility with respect to independence of data sources and algorithms. Built into this architecture is the ability to match customer requirements with existing sources and algorithms and be able to identify whether the customer&#39;s requirements could not be satisfied with existing sources and algorithms. By producing ancillary data, we are then able to enhance the overall value to the system. 
     The image data product that a customer desires might require a correlation of images from a plurality of satellites. An example correlation system and process are described in copending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/721,212, filed Nov. 25, 2003, which is hereby incorporated by reference. 
     While the preferred embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described, as noted above, many changes can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the scope of the invention is not limited by the disclosure of the preferred embodiment. Instead, the invention should be determined entirely by reference to the claims that follow.