US 11,994,406 B2
Group-based technique for dynamic label placement
Brent Barre, Covington, LA (US); and Norman Schoenhardt, New Orleans, LA (US)
Assigned to The Government of the United States of America, as represented by the Secretary of the Navy, Arlington, VA (US)
Filed by The Government of the United States of America, as represented by the Secretary of the Navy, Arlington, VA (US)
Filed on Sep. 11, 2020, as Appl. No. 17/018,604.
Prior Publication US 2022/0082404 A1, Mar. 17, 2022
Int. Cl. G01C 21/36 (2006.01); G01C 21/00 (2006.01)
CPC G01C 21/3673 (2013.01) [G01C 21/367 (2013.01); G01C 21/3863 (2020.08)] 18 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A system for label placement, the system comprising:
a data storage device configured to store spatial feature information; and
a labeling device, in communication with the data storage device, wherein the labeling device is configured to:
receive the spatial feature information,
receive data indicating a spatial area,
determine a plurality of spatial feature entries in the spatial feature information that correspond to the spatial area,
determine a symbol and a label for each spatial feature entry in the plurality of spatial feature entries,
determine a plurality of symbol placements on a map for each symbol in the plurality of symbols,
assign each symbol to a respective symbol deconfliction group in a plurality of symbol deconfliction groups after respective placements for each symbol have been determined, wherein each respective symbol is assigned to each respective symbol deconfliction group based on a respective spatial feature entry in the plurality of spatial feature entries that corresponds to each respective symbol,
determine a plurality of groups to avoid for each label in the plurality of labels based on respective spatial feature entries in the plurality of spatial feature entries that correspond to each label,
determine a minimum overlap score for a plurality of candidate label positions for each label in the plurality of labels based on a set of cell polygons into which respective label outline polygons for labels in the plurality of labels are divided, the plurality of groups to avoid, a plurality of weights assigned to the plurality of symbol deconfliction groups, and an intersection function corresponding to a potential intersection of the set of cell polygons and the plurality of groups to avoid,
determine a plurality of label placements on the map for each label in the plurality of labels based on the plurality of groups to avoid, the minimum overlap score, and the plurality of weights assigned to the plurality of symbol deconfliction groups, wherein responsive to determining that there is no open space for a first one of the plurality of labels without overlap, the labeling device is configured to determine that the corresponding label placement for the first one of the plurality of labels be placed over a prior label on the map in a location having the candidate label position having the minimum overlap score corresponding to the first one of the plurality of labels, wherein determination of the prior label on the map is based on the plurality of weights assigned to the plurality of symbol deconfliction groups, and
send the plurality of symbol placements and the plurality of label placements to an output device, wherein the sent plurality of label placements includes the label placement to be placed over the prior label on the map.