Integrating Digital Maps Into Panoramic Image Views

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current navigation and geographic systems face limitations in providing seamless and efficient integration of panoramic imagery with digital maps, particularly in displaying navigation-related functions such as turn-by-turn routing and interactive map features.

Innovation Solution

A computer-implemented method that integrates digital maps into panoramic image views, allowing for interactive panning, rotating, and zooming, with the map rotating and zooming synchronously with the imagery, and providing navigation functions like routing and POI searching, by linking geographic map data with panoramic image data collected from various viewpoints.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If digital maps are integrated into panoramic image views with interactive features, then user interaction and navigation capabilities are improved, but system complexity and computational requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveuser interactionVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines digital map data with panoramic image data into a unified display system where both layers are rendered simultaneously in the same view space. The map data is georeferenced to match the panoramic imagery, allowing users to interact with both elements seamlessly without switching between separate applications or views.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The system integrates multiple functions including panoramic viewing, map display, routing guidance, and point-of-interest searching within a single interface. This multi-functional approach eliminates the need for separate navigation applications while providing comprehensive navigation capabilities.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Stability of the object's composition

If map data and panoramic imagery are synchronized during panning and zooming operations, then seamless integration is achieved, but processing power and computational resources increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveseamless integrationVSAvoidcomputational resources
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adjusts the rendering of map and imagery layers based on user interactions such as panning and zooming. When the user pans or zooms the panoramic view, the map data is automatically transformed and repositioned to maintain spatial correspondence, creating a seamless synchronized experience.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent utilizes georeferencing parameters and transformation matrices to dynamically adjust the display coordinates of map data based on the panoramic view state. By changing display parameters rather than reprocessing entire datasets, the system achieves efficient synchronization with reduced computational overhead.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Adaptability or versatility

If interactive features like panning, rotating, and zooming are enabled for both map and imagery, then user exploration capability is enhanced, but device performance requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveexploration capabilityVSAvoiddevice performance
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSPower

Solution Approach 1:

The display area is segmented into different functional zones including the panoramic image view area and the map data display area. This segmentation allows independent optimization of rendering for each zone and enables efficient resource allocation where computationally intensive operations are performed only on visible portions of the data.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements partial rendering where only the visible portions of map and imagery data are processed and displayed at high resolution. Less critical areas or areas outside the current field of view are rendered at lower resolution or not rendered at all, reducing overall computational requirements while maintaining exploration capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Data Source

PatentEP2541201B1Map view
Publication Date: 2020.09.02 HERE GLOBAL BV
  • EP2541201B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2541201B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2541201B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

One or more systems, devices (500), and/or methods for providing navigation-related functions, such as map display, are disclosed. For example, a method may include receiving input corresponding to a location. Photo image data associated with the location are retrieved. The photo image data (508) are based on at least one image captured by a video camera or a photo camera. The photo image data (508) are provided to display (504) at least a portion of a photo image view representing at least a portion of the location. Map data (512) corresponding to the location are retrieved. The map data (512) are provided to display (504) at least a portion of a digital map in the portion of the photo image view, and the digital map is integrated within the photo image view.