Geo-locating Images with Dynamic Location Indicator
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current geo-locating services face challenges in accurately placing images on a map due to inaccuracies in GPS coordinates when the map is zoomed out, leading to significant location errors, requiring repeated attempts to drop images at the correct spot.
Innovation Solution
A system and method that provide a user icon on a map with a textual representation of the current geographic location, which is updated as the icon is moved, allowing users to accurately select a location by displaying relevant geographic entities based on zoom level and speed, enabling precise geo-location of images.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If the map view is significantly zoomed-out to show a larger geographic area, then the user can see more of the map at once, but the precision of location selection deteriorates because a small pixel movement corresponds to a large geographic distance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a location indicator as an intermediary element that mediates between the map display and the user's location selection. This indicator provides real-time feedback about the geographic location corresponding to the user icon's position, allowing users to make precise location selections even when the map is zoomed out. The location indicator acts as a feedback mechanism that bridges the gap between visual map exploration and accurate location identification.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements continuous feedback by updating the location indicator as the user moves the user icon across the map. This feedback loop allows users to see the current geographic location in real-time, enabling them to adjust their icon position to achieve the desired location precision. The feedback mechanism compensates for the reduced precision that would otherwise result from zoomed-out map views.
2Productivity
If users manually drag and drop photos on the map to geo-locate them, then the photos can be associated with geographic locations, but the process requires repeated attempts to achieve accurate location placement
Solution Approach 1:
The location indicator provides continuous feedback during the photo placement process, showing users the exact geographic location their photo will be associated with. This feedback allows users to make informed decisions about placement accuracy before finalizing the geo-location, reducing the need for repeated attempts and improving both efficiency and reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary location identification by continuously displaying the location indicator as users move the user icon. This allows users to preview and verify the target location before completing the photo placement action, ensuring accuracy is achieved in the initial attempt rather than requiring multiple corrections.
3Ease of operation
If GPS coordinates are used to automatically place images on the map, then the process is simplified, but the location accuracy deteriorates when the map is zoomed out due to coordinate precision limitations
Solution Approach 1:
The location indicator serves as an intermediary that enhances the GPS coordinate system's precision. While GPS provides the underlying coordinate data, the location indicator visually refines this information by showing the exact geographic location corresponding to the user icon's position, effectively compensating for the precision limitations of GPS coordinates at zoomed-out scales.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the display parameter from raw GPS coordinates to a human-readable location indicator that shows the actual geographic location. This parameter transformation makes the precision issue transparent to users, allowing them to verify and adjust the location accuracy regardless of the underlying GPS coordinate precision at the current zoom level.
Data Source
AI summary
In one aspect, a computer-implemented method for geo-locating images may generally include receiving, by one or more computing devices, a request to geo-locate an image on a map and, in response to the request, providing for display a user icon on the map. In addition, the method may include determining a current geographic location of the user icon on the map, providing for display a textual representation of the current geographic location, receiving data indicative of the user icon being moved across at least a portion of the map and updating the textual representation of the current geographic location as the user icon is moved across the at least a portion of the map.