Diagrammatic Map Location Placement Using Triangular Reference Frames
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Solution Overview
Problem
Diagrammatic maps, which do not use a uniform scale, pose a challenge in accurately placing a user's location, as traditional methods relying on latitude and longitude are not applicable, making it difficult to display a user's location on these maps in interactive systems.
Innovation Solution
A computer-implemented method determines the location of a point on a diagrammatic map by forming a triangle with the closest and two additional map features, using their relative positions to approximate the point's location, allowing for accurate placement on the map despite the non-uniform scale.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If traditional latitude and longitude plotting methods are used, then location placement is simple on uniform scale maps, but accurate location placement becomes impossible on diagrammatic maps with non-uniform scales
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces reference points with known coordinates as intermediaries between the user's location and the diagrammatic map. By calculating the user's position relative to these reference points and using triangulation, the system bridges the gap between GPS coordinates (latitude/longitude) and the non-uniform scale diagrammatic map, enabling accurate location placement without direct plotting
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transforms the location placement problem by changing the coordinate system approach. Instead of directly plotting latitude and longitude on the non-uniform scale map, the system calculates relative positions using reference point coordinates, distances, and bearing angles, then converts these parameters to determine the final position on the diagrammatic map
2Ease of operation
If diagrammatic maps with non-uniform scales are used to represent complex environments, then map readability and usability are improved, but the ability to accurately display user location is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the map into multiple triangular regions formed by reference points. By determining which triangle contains the user's position and calculating the position relative to the triangle's vertices, the system enables accurate location display on the diagrammatic map while preserving its non-uniform scale and readability
Solution Approach 2:
Reference points serve as mediators that connect the user's GPS location to the diagrammatic map structure. The system uses these reference points to establish triangular reference frames, allowing the user's position to be accurately represented on the non-uniform scale map without compromising the map's usability
Data Source
AI summary
A location system and method receives a location to be displayed on a diagrammatic map, determines the relative position of the location to nearby map features on the diagrammatic map and using that relative position, displays the location on the diagrammatic map.