Displaying a digital map

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for displaying a digital map on a touch-sensitive screen (201). In the method, a map section (200) of the map is displayed on the screen (201). By touching the screen (201) with a user's first finger, a map position within the displayed map section (200) is selected. A sub-area (302) of the map section (200) surrounding the selected map position is displayed enlarged, wherein the sub-area (302) has a preset initial size, an area of ​​the map section (200) outside the enlarged sub-area (302) is displayed unchanged, and the sub-area (302) is displayed with a preset initial magnification relative to the area of ​​the map section (200) outside the enlarged sub-area (302).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a method for displaying a digital map on a touch-sensitive screen.

[0002] Digital maps comprise a wide variety of map data, for example, in the form of a map database. This map data represents objects located within a specific geographic area. These objects include, for example, roads, paths, intersections, squares, railway lines, bodies of water, buildings, bridges, terrain features, national borders, parking facilities, rest areas, power stations, traffic regulations, and towns and villages.

[0003] A digital map allows a geographical area to be displayed on a screen, such as a monitor. Typically, only a section of the entire digital map is displayed; that is, only a portion of the total geographical area represented by the map data. The displayed map section can be adjusted and modified.

[0004] Furthermore, a digital map can be displayed at different magnifications. The magnification determines the scale at which a section of the digital map is displayed on a given screen area. The higher the magnification, the smaller the section of the digital map that is displayed.

[0005] A standardized and common format for map databases in navigation systems is, for example, the NDS (Navigation Data Standard). A digital map is divided into so-called tiles, each representing a geographical sub-area, so that when adjacent to each other, the sub-areas cover the entire geographical area represented by the map. Each tile is associated with map data that provides information about the sub-area represented by the tile. The size of a tile depends on the magnification level, also known as the zoom level. From one zoom level to the next higher zoom level, the edge lengths of the tiles are halved, thus reducing the size of the area represented by a tile to a quarter. Simultaneously, the information provided by the map increases with increasing zoom level.There can also be intermediate levels between successive zoom levels.

[0006] A user of a digital map may want to change the zoom level at which the map is displayed for various reasons. For example, the user might want to increase the zoom to obtain more detailed information about road layouts, parking, shopping, points of interest, and / or similar features in an area, or decrease the zoom level to get an overview of the area. However, when the zoom level of a digital map is changed, the entire map view changes, and in particular, the area of ​​the map displayed on the screen changes. This can make it difficult to interpret the information displayed, as the user has to adjust to the change in the map area.

[0007] A touchscreen, also known as a touch display, is a screen that can be used to give instructions for controlling a technical device by touching it. The instructions can depend on the type of touch applied; for example, some instructions can be given by tapping specific areas of the screen with a finger or stylus, while others can be given by specific finger or stylus movements on the screen. Which types of touches can give instructions, what those instructions are, and what effect each touch has depend on the computer program that controls the screen.

[0008] The invention is based on the objective of providing an improved method for displaying a digital map on a touch-sensitive screen.

[0009] The problem is solved according to the invention by a method having the features of claim 1.

[0010] Advantageous embodiments of the invention are the subject of the dependent claims.

[0011] The problem is solved according to the invention by a method for displaying a digital map on a touch-sensitive screen, wherein - a section of the map is displayed on the screen, - by touching the screen with a user's first finger, a map position is selected within the displayed map section, and - a portion of the map section surrounding the selected map position is enlarged, whereby - the sub-area has a preset output value, - an area of ​​the map section outside the enlarged sub-area is displayed unchanged, and - the sub-area is displayed with a preset initial magnification compared to the area of ​​the map section outside the magnified sub-area.

[0012] The method according to the invention enables a magnified display of a portion of a digital map without altering the map section itself or the display of the map section outside the magnified portion. For this purpose, the map section is displayed on a touch-sensitive screen, which the user selects by touching with a finger. The magnification of the portion acts like a magnifying glass positioned above the screen, the position of which is determined by touching the screen.

[0013] The size of the sub-area is preset as an initial value. Furthermore, the magnification of the sub-area is also preset as an initial magnification. These presets relate, for example, to the map section. For instance, a ratio between the initial size of the sub-area and the size of the map section is preset. Similarly, a ratio between the initial magnification and the magnification used to display the area of ​​the map section outside the magnified sub-area is preset. The size of the map section refers to the size of the geographical area represented by that section. Likewise, the size of the sub-area refers to the size of the geographical area represented by that sub-area.The magnification at which the map section or an area of ​​the map section is displayed is understood to be a magnification level (zoom level) of this display.

[0014] By presetting the output size and magnification of the sub-area, the user is made to use the inventive “magnifying function” for displaying the digital map more easily, since the user does not have to set the output size and magnification himself when or before using the magnifying function.

[0015] In one embodiment of the method according to the invention, the size of the sub-area is changed by touching the screen with a second finger of the user. The size of the sub-area is determined by the distance of the second finger to the first finger on the screen. For example, the size of the sub-area is increased by moving the second finger away from the first finger and decreased by moving it towards the first finger.

[0016] This embodiment of the method according to the invention allows the user to adjust the size of the sub-area according to their wishes. In particular, the user can change the size of the sub-area compared to the preset initial size.

[0017] Changing the size of the sub-area with a second finger requires the development of the touch-sensitive screen as a so-called multi-touch screen, in which the movements of two of the user's fingers can be detected and processed independently.

[0018] Changing the size of the sub-area by the distance between the user's first and second fingers is advantageous because it links spatial dimensions of the sub-area and the distance between the two fingers, and therefore intuitively links the size of the sub-area with the distance between the two fingers.

[0019] Moving the second finger away from the first increases the distance between the two fingers. The connection between this increase in the distance between the two fingers and an increase in the size of the area is particularly intuitive for the user, since both the increase in the distance between the two fingers and the increase in the size of the area involve an increase in spatial extent.

[0020] Moving the second finger towards the first finger reduces the distance between the two fingers. The connection between this reduction in the distance between the two fingers and a reduction in the size of the area is particularly intuitive for the user, since both the reduction in the distance between the two fingers and the reduction in the size of the area involve a reduction in spatial extent.

[0021] In a further embodiment of the method according to the invention, the enlargement of the partial area is increased by moving the second finger in a first direction of rotation around the first finger and decreased by moving the second finger in an opposite second direction of rotation around the first finger.

[0022] This embodiment of the method according to the invention allows the user to adjust the magnification of the sub-area according to their wishes. In particular, the user can change the magnification of the sub-area compared to the preset initial magnification.

[0023] In a further embodiment of the method according to the invention, the size of the sub-area or the enlargement of the sub-area is changed by a voice command.

[0024] This embodiment of the method according to the invention allows the user to change the size or magnification of the sub-area solely by means of a voice command, in particular without touching the screen. This requires a system that is configured to capture, process, and interpret the user's voice commands. The ability to change the size or magnification of the sub-area by means of a voice command is advantageous because it eliminates the need for manual interaction by the user with the touch-sensitive screen.

[0025] In a further embodiment of the method according to the invention, the magnification of the sub-area is changed when the size of the sub-area is changed. For example, the magnification of the sub-area is increased as the size of the sub-area increases and decreased as the size of the sub-area decreases.

[0026] This embodiment of the method according to the invention allows the user to simultaneously change the size of the sub-area and the enlargement of the sub-area by changing the size of the sub-area.

[0027] In a further embodiment of the method according to the invention, the selected map position is changed by moving the first finger on the screen.

[0028] This embodiment of the method according to the invention allows the user to adjust the selected map position to their preferences by moving their first finger on the screen. The magnified area is also changed in the process. In particular, the selected map position can be continuously changed by moving the user's first finger on the screen, whereby the magnified area is also continuously changed and thus moved. The magnified area acts like a magnifying glass moved across the screen.

[0029] In a further embodiment of the method according to the invention, the selected map position is changed by a voice command directed at the map position.

[0030] This embodiment of the method according to the invention allows the user to change the selected map position without having to manually interact with the screen.

[0031] In a further embodiment of the method according to the invention, more details of the digital map are displayed in the enlarged sub-area than in the sub-area before the enlargement.

[0032] This embodiment of the method according to the invention takes into account that enlarging the sub-area allows for more details, and thus more information, to be displayed in the enlarged sub-area than in the unenlarged sub-area. Additional details of the digital map displayed in the enlarged sub-area can include, for example, further streets, street names, parking facilities, shopping opportunities, charging stations, or points of interest that are not shown in the unenlarged sub-area, for example, due to space limitations. In addition to the enlarged display of the sub-area, the magnifying function thus also enables an increase in the amount of information provided to the user.

[0033] In a further embodiment of the method according to the invention, the presetting of the output size of the sub-area or the presetting of the output magnification of the sub-area can be changed by the user.

[0034] This embodiment of the method according to the invention allows the user to adjust the preset output size of the sub-area or the preset output magnification to their preferences.

[0035] Embodiments of the invention are explained in more detail below with reference to the drawings. These show: Fig. 1 a flowchart of an embodiment of the inventive method for displaying a digital map on a touch-sensitive screen, Fig. 2 a map section of a digital map displayed on a touch-sensitive screen, Fig. 3 den in Fig. 2. Map section shown and a sub-area of ​​the map section, Fig. 4 den in Fig. 2. Map section shown with an enlarged representation of the area in Fig. 3 shown sub-area.

[0036] Corresponding parts are marked with the same reference symbols in the figures.

[0037] Fig. 1 ( Fig. 1) shows a flowchart 100 of an embodiment of the method according to the invention with process steps 101 to 108 for displaying a digital map on a touch-sensitive screen.

[0038] The procedural steps 101 to 108 are also referred to below with reference to the Fig. 2, Fig. 3 to Fig. 4 described.

[0039] In a first process step 101, a section of the digital map is displayed on the touch-sensitive screen.

[0040] Fig. 2 ( Fig. Figure 2) shows a map section 200 of a digital map. The map section 200 is displayed on a touch-sensitive screen 201. The map section 200 displayed on the screen 201 and the magnification level of this display can, for example, be set by a user of the screen 201 or automatically specified by a computer program controlling the screen 201.

[0041] In the map section 200, sections of a first road 203, a second road 205 and a third road 207 are shown, as well as a junction 209 of the first road 203 and the second road 205 and a junction 211 of the second road 205 and the third road 207.

[0042] In a second procedure step 102, a map position in the displayed map section 200 is selected by touching the screen 201 with a user's first finger.

[0043] In a third process step 103, a sub-area of ​​map section 200 surrounding the selected map position is displayed enlarged compared to an area of ​​map section 200 outside the sub-area. The size of the sub-area is a preset initial size, for example, relative to the size of map section 200. For example, a ratio between the initial size and the size of map section 200 is preset. Furthermore, the sub-area is displayed with a preset initial magnification relative to the area of ​​map section 200 outside the enlarged sub-area. For example, a ratio between the initial magnification and the magnification at which the area of ​​map section 200 outside the enlarged sub-area is displayed is preset.The area of ​​the map section 200 outside the enlarged sub-area is displayed unchanged, in particular with the same magnification as before the user touched the screen 201.

[0044] For example, the enlarged section displays more details of the digital map than the section before the enlargement.

[0045] Enlarging the sub-area acts like a magnifying glass, magnifying an area of ​​the map section by 200.

[0046] Fig. 3 ( Fig. 3) shows the in Fig. 2. Map section 200 shown with a user-selected sub-area 302 of map section 200. In this example, sub-area 302 is a circle whose border 304 is defined by a Fig. The circle shown in Figure 3 is the center point of the circle. The center of the circle is the touch point, that is, the map position selected by touching screen 201 with the user's first finger. In other words, the touch point defines the center of sub-area 302 of map section 200. In the Fig. In the example shown, the point of contact is located to the right of the intersection 211 of the second street 205 and the third street 207.

[0047] In contrast to the one in Fig. In the example shown, sub-area 302 can also have a different geometric shape than that of a circle and / or the center (centroid) of sub-area 302 can deviate from the point of tangency. In particular, the geometric shape of sub-area 302 and / or the position of the center of sub-area 302 relative to the point of tangency can depend on the point of tangency. For example, if the point of tangency is close to the edge of map section 200, sub-area 302 can, for instance, have the shape of an intersection of a circle with map section 200 and / or the center of sub-area 302 can be shifted away from the edge of map section 200 relative to the point of tangency.

[0048] Fig. 4 ( Fig. 4) shows the in Fig. 2. Map section 200 shown with an enlarged representation of the in Fig. 3. Sub-area 302 shown. In the enlarged sub-area 302, more details of the digital map are shown than in the sub-area 302 before the enlargement. In the example shown, these details include a section of a fourth road 408 and an intersection 412 of the second road 205 and the fourth road 408, which are shown in the Fig. The map section 200 shown in the illustration 2 is not shown.

[0049] In contrast to the one in Fig. In the example shown, the center point of the enlarged sub-area 302 may differ from the center point of the non-enlarged sub-area 302. This can be useful so that the user's first finger does not obscure a central area of ​​the enlarged sub-area 302.

[0050] Furthermore, the position of the center point of the enlarged sub-area 302 can depend on the point of contact. For example, if the point of contact is close to the edge of the map section 200, the center point of the enlarged sub-area 302 can be shifted away from the edge of the map section 200 relative to the center point of the unenlarged sub-area 302, so that the entire enlarged sub-area 302 is displayed on the screen 201.

[0051] In a fourth process step 104, the size of the sub-area 302 is changed by the user.

[0052] For example, the size of sub-area 302 is changed by touching screen 201 with a second finger of the user. The size of sub-area 302 is determined by the distance of the second finger to the first finger on screen 201. For example, the size of sub-area 302 is increased by moving the second finger away from the first finger and decreased by moving the second finger towards the first finger.

[0053] Alternatively or additionally, the size of sub-area 302 can be changed, for example, by a voice command from the user.

[0054] In a fifth process step 105, the enlargement of sub-area 302 is changed by the user.

[0055] For example, the enlargement of sub-area 302 is increased by moving the second finger in a first rotational direction around the first finger and decreased by moving the second finger in a second rotational direction opposite to the first rotational direction around the first finger.

[0056] Alternatively or additionally, the enlargement of sub-area 302 can be changed, for example, by a voice command from the user.

[0057] Alternatively or additionally, the magnification of sub-area 302 is automatically adjusted when the size of sub-area 302 changes. For example, the magnification of sub-area 302 is automatically increased as its size increases and decreased as its size decreases. A relative change in the magnification of sub-area 302 is defined in relation to a relative change in its size. For example, a ratio between the change in magnification of sub-area 302 and the change in its size is defined.

[0058] In a sixth process step 106, the selected map position is changed by the user.

[0059] For example, the selected map position is changed by moving the user's first finger on screen 201. The enlarged sub-area 302 is also changed in the process.

[0060] In particular, the selected map position can be continuously changed by moving the user's first finger on screen 201, whereby the magnified sub-area 302 is also continuously changed. The magnified sub-area 302 acts like a magnifying glass moved over screen 201.

[0061] In a seventh process step 107, the user changes the default setting of the output size of sub-area 302.

[0062] In an eighth process step 108, the user changes the default setting of the output magnification of sub-area 302. Reference symbol list 100 Flowchart 101 to 108 Procedure step 200 map excerpt 201 touchscreen 203 first street 205 second street 207 Third Street 209 Intersection 211 Intersection 302 Sub-area 304 Edge of the sub-area 408 fourth street 412 Intersection

Claims

Method for displaying a digital map on a touch-sensitive screen (201), wherein: - a map section (200) of the map is displayed on the screen (201), - a map position in the displayed map section (200) is selected by touching the screen (201) with a user's first finger, and - a sub-area (302) of the map section (200) surrounding the selected map position is displayed enlarged, wherein - the sub-area (302) has a preset initial size, - an area of ​​the map section (200) outside the enlarged sub-area (302) is displayed unchanged, and - the sub-area (302) is displayed with a preset initial magnification compared to the area of ​​the map section (200) outside the enlarged sub-area (302). Method according to claim 1, wherein the size of the sub-area (302) is changed by touching the screen (201) with a second finger of the user and the size of the sub-area (302) is determined by the distance of the second finger to the first finger on the screen (201). Method according to claim 2, wherein the size of the partial area (302) is increased by moving the second finger away from the first finger and decreased towards the first finger. Method according to one of claims 2 or 3, wherein the enlargement of the partial area (302) is increased by moving the second finger in a first rotational direction around the first finger and decreased by moving the second finger in an opposite second rotational direction around the first finger. Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the size of the sub-area (302) or the enlargement of the sub-area (302) is changed by a voice command. Method according to one of claims 2 to 5, wherein when the size of the sub-area (302) is changed, the enlargement of the sub-area (302) is changed. Method according to claim 6, wherein the enlargement of the sub-area (302) is increased with increasing size of the sub-area (302) and decreased with decreasing size of the sub-area (302). Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the selected map position is changed by moving the first finger on the screen (201). Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the selected map position is changed by a voice command directed at the map position. Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein more details of the digital map are displayed in the enlarged sub-area (302) than in the sub-area (302) before the enlargement. Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the presetting of the output size of the sub-area (302) or the presetting of the output magnification of the sub-area (302) can be changed by the user.

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