Image Graph Tour Path Navigation for Point of Interest Browsing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Users of internet-based mapping services face difficulties navigating images of points of interest within an image graph due to unfamiliarity with the graph structure, often attempting to access non-existent images or inadvertently leaving the point of interest.

Innovation Solution

A computer-implemented method and system that allows users to browse images of a point of interest by defining a tour path within an image graph, providing links to neighboring images, and enabling easy return to the tour path from explored images, utilizing a server that receives user selections, identifies image graphs, and displays relevant images and links.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If users navigate images in an image graph without a structured guide, then users have freedom to explore any area, but users may attempt to access non-existent images or accidentally leave the point of interest

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenavigation freedomVSAvoidnavigation accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system pre-defines a tour path through the image graph before user interaction. This preliminary structuring guides users through a valid sequence of images, preventing them from accessing non-existent images or accidentally leaving the point of interest while maintaining navigation freedom within the predefined route.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If users are provided with a structured tour path, then navigation accuracy improves, but users lose freedom to explore images outside the defined path

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenavigation accuracyVSAvoidexploration freedom
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The system introduces an intermediary mechanism where the tour path serves as a guided route, but users can access neighboring images adjacent to the current image in the graph. This intermediary structure maintains navigation accuracy through the tour path while allowing exploration freedom through access to connected images outside the strict path sequence.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Adaptability or versatility

If the image graph structure is made complex to include multiple imagery types, then the system becomes more versatile, but the system becomes harder to navigate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveimagery varietyVSAvoidgraph structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system segments the complex image graph into a structured tour path consisting of discrete image nodes. Each node represents a specific viewpoint or imagery type, and the path connects these nodes in a navigable sequence. This segmentation breaks down the complex graph structure into manageable segments that are easier to navigate while preserving access to diverse imagery types.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP2883361B1Browsing images of a point of interest within an image graph
Publication Date: 2021.06.02 GOOGLE LLC
  • EP2883361B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2883361B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2883361B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Systems and methods for browsing images of points of interest (POIs) are provided. Indication of selection of POI from among multiple POIs is received. Image graph associated with POI is identified. Image graph includes multiple images of POI. Tour path for POI is defined within image graph. Specific image from tour path defined within image graph is provided for display. Previous image and next image relative to specific image along tour path defined within image graph are determined. First set of additional images from image graph based on specific image is determined. First set of additional images corresponds to set of images in image graph proximate to specific image. Link to previous image or next image, and link to each member of first set of additional images for display with specific image are provided.