Map Search Density Visualization via Server Preprocessing
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current map-based search systems, such as Google Maps, face challenges in efficiently displaying search results on a map, particularly in densely populated areas, as they often overwhelm the client computer with numerous listings, leading to visual clutter and increased processing requirements, and fail to effectively convey the density of listings across different geographic regions.
Innovation Solution
The system selects and displays a subset of matching listings based on their geographic density within the map area, using a server to preprocess and overlay image data representing listings, allowing the client computer to focus on rendering high-scoring listings as interactive icons while sending remaining listings as an image layer, thus reducing processing demands and enhancing user interaction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If all matching listings are displayed on the map, then the user can see complete search results, but the client computer experiences increased processing requirements and visual clutter
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the display of search results into two distinct segments: (1) interactive icons displayed as individual elements that users can click for detailed information, and (2) a density map layer that visually represents the concentration of listings without individual interaction capabilities. This segmentation allows the client to process and display only essential interactive elements while the server handles the computationally intensive density visualization, thereby reducing client processing load while maintaining complete information availability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the density visualization function from the client computer and relocates it to the server. The server generates the density map layer by processing all matching listings and calculating density metrics, then sends only the pre-processed density image data to the client. This extraction removes the computational burden of density calculation from the client while ensuring complete information is considered in the density analysis.
2Loss of information
If all matching listings are displayed on the map, then the user can see complete search results, but visual clutter increases reducing user ability to identify areas of interest
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the information presentation into two layers: discrete interactive icons for individual listings and a continuous density visualization layer. The density layer uses color gradients or shading to indicate concentrations of listings, allowing users to quickly identify areas of interest through visual patterns rather than scanning numerous individual icons. This segmentation resolves the visual clutter problem while preserving access to complete search results through the interactive icon layer.
3Loss of information
If the system processes and displays all matching listings, then complete search results are provided, but the user's ability to quickly identify densely populated areas is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The server performs preliminary processing by calculating the density of matching listings across different geographic areas before sending data to the client. The density map layer is pre-generated with visual indicators showing where listings are concentrated, allowing users to immediately identify areas of interest without manually scanning the entire map. This preliminary density analysis is computed once and sent as image data, enabling rapid visual identification while the complete listing data remains available for detailed exploration.
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method is provided of generating a map. In one aspect, the map is selected based on a location provided by a user and listings are selected based on their proximity to the location, whether they match a query provided by the user, and the number of matching listings within regions of the map.