Patent ID: 6850875

Claim:
A process for sensor obscuration analysis, implemented via a programmable machine, the process comprising: animating a three-dimensional visualization of a satellite that includes a sensor object, the sensor object having a boresight and a sensor pattern; selecting a view perspective from the sensor object along the boresight; selecting objects of a satellite system analysis scenario that are capable of causing obscuration; assigning a first color to the selected objects; assigning to the sensor pattern a color that contrasts with the first color, such that, when the sensor pattern is superimposed over a visual display of the satellite system analysis scenario, portions of the sensor pattern that overlap with unselected objects and background appear in a different color than do portions of the sensor pattern that overlap with selected objects; counting and recording the quantities of pixels of each color in the sensor pattern, the counting and recording being carried out at each time step of animation of the satellite system analysis scenario; providing a graphical display to a user, during the animation, portraying the amount of obscuration of the sensor pattern, and source of obscuration of the sensor pattern, over a predetermined time period; and calculating the percentage of obscuration over said predetermined time period on the basis of the recorded pixel quantities, the calculated percentage of obscuration being displayed to a user.