Custom Map Zones with Multimedia for Mobile Navigation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current GPS-enabled mobile devices have a limited and cumbersome user interface for displaying location data, lacking the ability to provide users with relevant information beyond navigation, resulting in a suboptimal user experience.
Innovation Solution
A method and system for a mobile device to create and display custom zones on a map, allowing users to define and interact with multimedia-rich areas of interest, such as home or work zones, with customizable boundaries and associated data, enhancing the user interface with graphical representations and multimedia content.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If GPS location data is displayed as a point on a map, then the user can see their location, but the user interface becomes limited and lacks additional relevant information
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the map interface into multiple functional zones: the user's location is displayed as a point, while surrounding geographic areas are divided into customizable zones that can each contain different types of information (points of interest, multimedia content, navigation data). This segmentation allows comprehensive information display without cluttering the entire interface.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent adds a dimensional layer to the traditional 2D map by implementing clickable zones that expand into additional information panels or layers. When users interact with a zone, it transitions from a simple map area to a multi-dimensional information space containing multimedia, text, and interactive elements, thereby enriching the information display without compromising interface simplicity.
2Adaptability or versatility
If additional information is provided beyond location on the map, then user experience is enhanced, but the interface becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal zone structure that can serve multiple functions: displaying points of interest, showing multimedia content, providing navigation directions, and enabling user interactions. Each zone on the map can be configured to perform different functions based on user needs, allowing the same interface framework to handle diverse information types without increasing structural complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a dynamic interface where zones can be added, removed, resized, and reconfigured based on user preferences and context. The zone boundaries and information content are not fixed but can adapt in real-time, allowing the system to provide versatile functionality while maintaining a clean interface through on-demand customization rather than pre-defined complex layouts.
3Ease of operation
If a robust user interface is implemented, then user experience improves, but the device requires more sophisticated software
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by providing template-based zone configurations and pre-defined zone types that users can select without complex configuration. Common zone scenarios (such as home, work, points of interest) are pre-configured with appropriate information displays and interactions, allowing users to achieve robust functionality through simple selection rather than complex software setup.
Data Source
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AI summary
A method (300) is provided for creating a custom zone in order to an improve the graphical user interface for a user of a mapping application on a mobile device. The method comprising the steps of: requesting (304) creation of the custom zone; establishing a location of the custom zone; defining (306) a boundary for the custom zone; and associating (308) multimedia data with the custom zone for subsequent display to me user (302). A further method is described for displaying the custom zone to the user. A system and computer readable medium configured to implement the method are also described.