Dynamic Geographic Entity Boundary Highlighting on Electronic Maps
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing online mapping technologies lack effective methods for dynamically highlighting the boundaries of geographic entities on electronic maps, which can obscure other map features and do not efficiently handle imprecise boundaries.
Innovation Solution
A system that receives a request for an electronic map segment, retrieves map data and boundary information for a highlighted geographic entity, and renders the map segment with the boundary data, allowing for dynamic highlighting that distinguishes the entity without obscuring other features, using a server-based architecture that includes map request interpretation, rendering, and front-end servers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If boundary data is rendered to highlight geographic entities, then visualization clarity of entity boundaries is improved, but other map features may be obscured
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the rendering of boundary data based on user interactions and map context. When a user searches for or hovers over a geographic entity, the boundary is highlighted with enhanced visibility. The highlighting can be adjusted in intensity, color, and opacity based on the current zoom level, selected entity, and surrounding map features, allowing the boundary to be emphasized only when relevant while preserving other map features during normal viewing.
Solution Approach 2:
The boundary highlighting is applied locally to specific geographic entities rather than uniformly across the entire map. Each entity can have its boundary rendered with different visual properties (color, thickness, opacity) depending on its selection state, importance, or contextual relevance. This allows the highlighted boundary to stand out where needed while leaving other areas of the map with their original appearance intact.
2Measurement precision
If map data is retrieved and rendered for each request, then map display accuracy is improved, but rendering efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system pre-retrieves and caches map data, boundary information, and entity data in advance based on anticipated user needs, geographic regions, and entity types. When a user requests a map view or searches for an entity, the required data is already available in cache, eliminating the need for real-time retrieval and rendering. This preliminary preparation ensures both accurate map display and fast response times.
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates and stores copies of map data, boundary definitions, and entity information in cache databases. These cached copies can be quickly retrieved and rendered without accessing the original data sources each time. The copying mechanism allows the system to serve multiple requests using pre-generated map segments with pre-rendered boundary highlights, significantly improving rendering efficiency while maintaining data accuracy.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, can be used to dynamically generate electronic maps with highlighted entity boundaries. In one aspect, a method includes receiving a request for an electronic map segment for a geographic region, with the request identifying a geographic entity to be highlighted in the requested electronic map segment. A plurality of layers of map data associated with the geographic region and data defining a boundary of the identified geographic entity are retrieved in response to the request. The electronic map segment is rendered based on the retrieved plurality of layers of map data and the data defining the boundary of the geographic entity, with one or more of the retrieved layers are rendered over a rendering of a highlighted boundary of the geographic entity. The rendered electronic map segment is transmitted in response to the request.