Map Data Hierarchy Zoom Level Granularity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing map viewing systems do not efficiently manage the transition of geographic locations and associated information as users zoom in or out, leading to inadequate granularity and cluttered or sparse displays.
Innovation Solution
A computer-implemented method that accesses a hierarchy of geographic locations to determine and display appropriate sets of locations based on zoom level, selecting parent and child locations dynamically to ensure optimal granularity and manageability, with information updates in real-time as the user interacts with the map.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If all geographic locations are displayed at every zoom level, then complete information is provided, but the display becomes cluttered and difficult to manage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by displaying different sets of geographic locations at different zoom levels. At higher zoom levels, parent geographic locations are displayed, while at lower zoom levels, child geographic locations are displayed. This allows the display to adapt its content quality locally based on the zoom level, providing appropriate detail without overwhelming the user with all possible locations simultaneously.
Solution Approach 2:
The geographic location hierarchy is segmented into parent and child locations, with different segments displayed at different zoom levels. The system divides the complete set of geographic locations into hierarchical segments, displaying only the relevant segment (parent or child) based on the current zoom level, thereby reducing display complexity while maintaining information completeness.
2Shape
If parent geographic locations are displayed at high zoom levels, then overview is maintained, but detailed information is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamics by dynamically switching between displaying parent geographic locations and child geographic locations based on the zoom level. At high zoom levels, parent locations provide an overview structure, while at lower zoom levels, child locations provide detailed information. This dynamic adaptation ensures that the appropriate level of detail is always displayed based on the user's current view.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses the nesting principle by organizing geographic locations in a hierarchical structure where child locations are nested within parent locations. The system can display either the parent level (for overview) or the child level (for detail), allowing users to navigate between different levels of detail while maintaining the hierarchical relationship. This nested structure enables seamless transition between overview and detailed views.
3Loss of information
If child geographic locations are displayed at low zoom levels, then detailed information is provided, but the display becomes sparse and hard to manage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by adapting the displayed geographic location granularity to the zoom level. At low zoom levels, child geographic locations are displayed to provide detailed information, but only when appropriate for the current view. This local adaptation of detail level ensures that detailed information is provided without overwhelming the user with excessive locations that would reduce display manageability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses partial action by displaying only the necessary child geographic locations at low zoom levels rather than all possible locations. The system selectively displays child locations based on relevance and density criteria, providing sufficient detail granularity while avoiding the excessive display of locations that would make the interface hard to manage.
4Manufacturing precision
If the system dynamically adjusts geographic locations based on zoom level, then optimal granularity is achieved, but computational complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-establishing the hierarchical relationship between parent and child geographic locations. This pre-organized structure allows the system to quickly determine which locations to display at each zoom level without performing complex real-time calculations. The hierarchical framework is prepared in advance, enabling efficient dynamic adjustment of displayed locations based on zoom level while minimizing computational complexity during runtime.
Data Source
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AI summary
A map is provided for display by one or more computing devices (110, 120, 130, 140, 150). The map includes a first set of geographic locations. The one or more computing devices receive a zoom request for viewing the map. The one or more computing devices then determine whether a zoom level cutoff has been traversed. If so the one or more computing devices may select a second set of geographic locations, from a hierarchy of geographic locations, to be displayed to the user.