Patent Document ID: 9196086
Application ID: 13093981
Patent Status: 1

Claim One:
1. A method for displaying a map with three-dimensional features, the method comprising: defining a plurality of major three-dimensional regions (major 3DRs) and associating each major 3DR with a respective geographical area defined for a map stored in a computer-readable map database, wherein each major 3DR comprises a top, a bottom, and multiple sides to form a rectangular prism, and wherein each top, bottom, and side of each major 3DR comprises at least one surface; displaying, via a display device, one or more of the major 3DRs upon the map, wherein at least one surface of each major 3DR being displayed is textured with images captured via a plurality of imaging devices and each of the plurality of imaging devices faced away from a different side of a vehicle, and wherein the image textured onto each surface comprises an image captured by the imaging device when capturing images in a direction of that surface; associating one or more sets of data points with a first major 3DR of the plurality of major 3DRs, wherein each set of data points associated with the first major 3DR indicates presence of one or more objects at points in space on or above the geographical area associated with the first major 3DR; defining one or more minor three-dimensional regions (minor 3DRs) for the first major 3DR, wherein each minor 3DR defined for the first major 3DR pertains to a portion of the first major 3DR at which a density of data points of a set of data points associated with the first major 3DR equals or exceeds a density threshold, wherein each minor 3DR defined for the first major 3DR comprises at least a top, a bottom, and multiple sides; and displaying, via the display device, the one or more minor 3DRs defined for the first major 3DR, wherein at least the top, the bottom, or one of the multiple sides of each minor 3DR, defined for the first major 3DR, being displayed has one or more images textured onto that top, bottom, or side, and wherein the one or more images textured onto each top, bottom, or side of a minor 3DR are images that are visible from a location where the image was captured when looking in the direction of that top, bottom, or side.