Grid-Based Display Area Assignment for Map Icon Visibility
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional map information display devices face issues with visibility and browsability due to varying arrangement densities of search targets on a map, leading to overlapping icons or excessive spacing, which reduces the effectiveness of displaying information.
Innovation Solution
A display control device that assigns priorities to display areas in a grid pattern, calculates positional relationships between search targets and areas, and arranges icons based on descending priority, using vectors and angle calculations to optimize icon placement and visibility.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If icon images are displayed by superimposing them on a map image, then the positions of search targets can be visually grasped, but when the arrangement density of search targets increases, icon images overlap and visibility is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The display screen is divided into multiple display areas arranged in a grid pattern. Each search target is assigned to a specific display area based on its positional relationship with the screen center, preventing overlap by spatial segmentation rather than simple superposition on the map image.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from two-dimensional superposition on the map to a structured grid-based arrangement. By introducing the grid dimension and using vector calculations to determine display area assignments, search targets are organized in a new dimensional framework that prevents overlap while maintaining positional accuracy.
2Measurement precision
If the arrangement density of search targets on a map decreases, then icon images are spaced apart, but the scroll amount or zoom amount needed to visually grasp all search targets increases, reducing browsability
Solution Approach 1:
Different display areas are treated with different priorities based on their distance from the screen center. High-priority areas (closer to center) and low-priority areas (farther from center) are managed differently, allowing the system to optimize both visibility of nearby targets and browsability of distant targets through selective assignment and scrolling control.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamic scrolling control based on the assignment results. When search targets are assigned to display areas outside the current visible range, the system automatically scrolls to bring relevant areas into view, adapting the display state to maintain browsability regardless of search target density or distribution.
3Device complexity
If display areas are divided into multiple divided areas with one-to-one correspondence to map areas, then information about spots can be organized, but in areas with low spot density, divided areas become useless while in high density areas, too many spots cannot be displayed on a single screen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the parameter of display area assignment from fixed geographic correspondence to priority-based dynamic assignment. By calculating vectors from the screen center to display area centers and comparing them with vectors to search targets, the system dynamically assigns targets to display areas based on angular relationships and priorities, rather than fixed geographic boundaries.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary assignment of search targets to display areas before actual display. By pre-calculating the optimal assignment based on positional relationships and priorities, the system prepares the display configuration in advance, ensuring that each display area contains an appropriate number of targets and that scrolling is only needed when necessary.
Data Source
AI summary
A display control device (1) includes a priority assigning unit (12) for assigning a priority to each of multiple display areas arranged in a grid pattern, a position information acquiring unit (13) for acquiring position information indicating the position of each of one or more search targets in a search region, a search target assigning unit (14) for assigning a search target to a display area on a one-to-one basis in order of descending priority according to a positional relationship between the display areas and the one or more search targets, and a display control unit (15) for generating an image for display where a first icon image corresponding to a search target is arranged in a display area on the basis of an assignment result provided by the search target assigning unit (14), and for causing a display device (4) to display a screen including the image for display.