Map Annotation Visual Hierarchy for Transport Services
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Solution Overview
Problem
Geographic maps used in transport service systems often become cluttered with annotations, making it difficult for drivers to read and interact with them effectively, leading to a confusing experience and hindering the review of transport service opportunities.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a map annotation visual hierarchy that filters and clusters annotations based on relevance and importance, prioritizing certain types of transport service opportunities and avoiding collisions, allowing for a clearer and more readable map display.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If multiple map annotations are displayed to show all transport service opportunities, then information completeness is improved, but map clutter increases making it hard to read and interact with
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments map annotations by organizing them into hierarchical groups (e.g., by transport service type, priority level, or category). Annotations are divided into different visual layers or clusters, allowing the system to display only relevant segments at any given time while maintaining access to all annotations through interaction.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by varying the visual properties of annotations based on their location and importance. High-priority annotations receive prominent visual treatment (larger size, brighter color), while lower-priority ones are subdued. This creates local visual hierarchy that guides driver attention without overwhelming the entire map.
2Loss of information
If all map annotations are displayed with equal visibility, then information completeness is improved, but decision-making difficulty increases due to confusion
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements local quality by assigning different visual weights to annotations based on their importance. Critical annotations are highlighted with enhanced visual properties (color, size, iconography), while less important ones are dimmed or grouped. This creates an information hierarchy that guides driver attention to the most relevant opportunities first.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses color changes to encode annotation priority and type. Different colors or color intensities indicate different levels of importance, transport service categories, or urgency. This visual encoding allows drivers to quickly scan and identify high-value opportunities without reading all annotation details.
3Ease of operation
If map annotations are clustered to reduce clutter, then map readability is improved, but annotation detail may be lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements nesting by creating hierarchical annotation structures where clustered annotations form parent groups that can be expanded to reveal individual child annotations. The clustered view provides overview readability, while nested expansion allows access to detailed information about each annotation, preserving both readability and detail.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies dynamics by making annotation clustering adjustable and interactive. Annotations can dynamically transition between clustered and individual states based on user interaction, zoom level, or selection. This dynamic behavior allows the map to adapt between overview and detail modes, maintaining both readability and information access.
Data Source
AI summary
Various embodiments provide for annotating a geographic map. Display of a geographic map on a client device can be adjusted (e.g., pan over geographic map or adjust zoom level), and a first set of map annotations for the adjusted map is determined, where the first set of map annotations comprises at least one map annotation associated with a transport service opportunity. From the first set of map annotations, a second set of map annotations can be determined based on a map annotation visual hierarchy. For instance, at least a portion of the second set of map annotations can be determined by filtering the first set of map annotations based on a type of transport service opportunity. Subsequently, the second set of map annotations can be presented on the adjusted map on the display.