Hybrid 2D-3D Map Visualization for Navigation Clarity

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing digital mapping systems face challenges in providing a clear and uncluttered view of geographic regions, as 2D maps lack building appearances and 3D maps can be overly complex, making it difficult for users to interpret and navigate effectively.

Innovation Solution

A hybrid graphical display system that filters information using multi-modal user input to generate accurate 2D and 3D maps with contextual data, allowing users to select regions of interest and navigate without information overload, by using a combination of 2D and 3D graphical elements and procedural lighting effects to simulate different conditions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Shape

If a 3D map is used to show building appearances, then appearance recognition is improved, but visual clutter and road occlusion increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebuilding appearance visualizationVSAvoidmap visual clutter
Core Design Contradiction:
ShapeVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The map is segmented into multiple layers: 2D base map layer, 3D building layer, and contextual information layer. Users can selectively enable/disable 3D buildings in specific zones, allowing appearance recognition where needed while maintaining clarity in other areas.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system transitions between 2D and 3D representations dynamically. 3D buildings are rendered only in regions of interest, while the rest of the map remains in 2D, effectively using dimensional change to balance appearance recognition with visual clarity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Ease of operation

If a 2D map is used for route planning, then urban layout understanding is improved, but building appearance information is lost

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveroute planning clarityVSAvoidbuilding appearance information
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The system merges 2D and 3D map representations into a hybrid view. The 2D base map provides clear route planning information while 3D building models are overlaid in selective areas to provide appearance information without compromising route planning clarity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

Different parts of the map have different qualities: areas important for route planning maintain 2D clarity, while areas important for appearance recognition (such as destination areas) are enhanced with 3D building models. This local differentiation resolves the contradiction between route planning clarity and appearance information.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Loss of information

If contextual information is added to assist user interpretation, then information completeness is improved, but information overload increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontextual information completenessVSAvoidinformation presentation complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The display of contextual information is dynamic and adaptive. The system adjusts the amount and type of contextual information displayed based on user interaction, current view, and importance of the area, preventing information overload while maintaining completeness where needed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

Contextual information is extracted and displayed on-demand rather than all at once. Users can request specific types of contextual information (such as point of interest details, traffic conditions, or building information) and the system provides only that specific information, avoiding overwhelming the user with unnecessary data.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentEP3237845B1System and methods for interactive hybrid-dimension map visualization
Publication Date: 2022.03.23 ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
  • EP3237845B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3237845B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3237845B1 patent drawingFigure 1(A)~1(C)

AI summary

A navigational system includes a hybrid-dimensional visualization scheme with a multi-modal interaction flow to serve for digital mapping applications, such as in car infotainment systems and online map services. The hybrid-dimensional visualization uses an importance-driven or focus-and-context visualization approach to combine the display of different map elements, including 2D map, 2D building footprint, 3D map, weather visualization, realistic day-night lighting, and POI information, into a single map view. The combination of these elements is guided by intuitive user interactions using multiple modalities simultaneously, such that the map information is filtered to best respond to the user's request, and presented in a way that presents both the focus and the context in a map in an aesthetic manner. The system facilitates several use cases that are common to the users, including destination preview, destination search, and virtual map exploration.