Patent Document ID: 8072448
Application ID: 12014513
Patent Status: 1

Claim One:
1. A method for creating and displaying annotations, comprising: (1) creating a three-dimensional model from a plurality of two-dimensional street-level, photographic, and panoramic images, the creating comprising: (a) identifying a first plurality of features of a first street-level, photographic, and panoramic image from the plurality of images and a second plurality of features of a second street-level, photographic, and panoramic image from the plurality of images, (b) determining a plurality of pairs of features, wherein each pair of features includes a first feature from the first plurality of features and a second feature from the second plurality of features that is similar to the first feature, (c) determining a plurality of points corresponding to the plurality of pairs of features, and (d) determining a facade plane for the three-dimensional model based on the plurality of points; (2) extending at least one ray through points of a selecting object to project the selecting object onto the three-dimensional model, the selecting object being input by a user to indicate an area on a third street-level, photographic, and panoramic image, and wherein at least a portion of the three-dimensional model represents content of the third image; (3) determining a location in three-dimensional space corresponding to the projection on the three-dimensional model; (4) associating the location with content entered by the user while viewing the first image; (5) storing the content with the location to form an annotation; and (6) displaying the annotation with a fourth street-level, photographic, and panoramic image at a position in the fourth image corresponding to the location.