Map POI Selection via Cursor Navigation and Off-Map Indicators
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Solution Overview
Problem
Mobile communication devices with limited memory and processing power face challenges in effectively controlling user interfaces when displaying multiple Point Of Interest (POI) indicators on maps, making it difficult for users to select POIs while also navigating the map.
Innovation Solution
A method involving the display of a viewable map region with selectable elements, where a list of element identifiers is maintained, and user selection is controlled via a positioning mechanism based on x and y coordinates, allowing for navigation and selection of POIs through numeric ordering, and panning when necessary.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If multiple POI indicators are displayed simultaneously on the map, then the information completeness is improved, but the user interface control becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the map display into multiple hierarchical levels: the base map layer and overlaid POI indicator layers. POI indicators are further segmented into selectable elements with unique identifiers. This segmentation allows the system to manage multiple POI indicators independently, enabling users to select specific indicators without being overwhelmed by the entire set, thus resolving the contradiction between displaying multiple indicators and maintaining ease of control.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary selection mechanism (such as a cursor or highlight indicator) that mediates between the user and multiple POI indicators. This intermediary allows users to navigate and select among multiple displayed indicators systematically, providing a clear current selection state and enabling easy switching between indicators without direct manipulation of each indicator, thus maintaining ease of operation while displaying multiple indicators.
2Loss of information
If more map elements are displayed, then the user information access is improved, but the device memory and processing power requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the essential identifying features of POI indicators (such as icons, labels, or unique identifiers) for display on the map, rather than displaying complete information for each POI. Full POI details are stored separately and only retrieved when a user selects a specific indicator. This extraction approach allows multiple POI indicators to be displayed with minimal memory usage and processing power, while still providing comprehensive information access when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary organization of POI data by maintaining structured lists of element identifiers with associated metadata (such as coordinates, types, and display priorities) before display. This preliminary structuring enables efficient rendering of multiple POI indicators without requiring complex real-time processing, reducing the processing power burden while maintaining comprehensive information access.
Data Source
AI summary
A viewable map region of a map is visually displayed in a display, and a plurality of point of interest (POI) indicators are presented in the viewable region. One or more off-map indicators are also presented in the viewable region, where each off-map indicator indicates a POI indicator outside of the viewable region but within a predetermined range. In response to detecting a forward signal when a cursor is on a current POI or off-map indicator, the viewable region is panned in the display in the upwards direction when the cursor is on a topmost POI or off-map indicator. Otherwise, the cursor is repositioned in an upwards direction onto a next POI or off-map indicator in the viewable region. The reverse occurs with respect to detecting of a reverse positioning signal.