Map Tile Style Interpolation for Seamless Zoom Transitions

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Solution Overview

Problem

Map rendering systems face visual mismatches when displaying map data across different zoom levels due to style mismatches between tiles, especially during zooming and data transfer, leading to abrupt changes in visual presentation.

Innovation Solution

The method involves using zoom level-specific styles to display map tiles, where a map tile can be rendered using style information from a different zoom level than its nominal use, allowing for seamless transitions by applying style information from one zoom level to adjacent tiles until all tiles are updated with their corresponding styles.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If map tiles are displayed using zoom level-specific styles, then the visual accuracy of individual tiles is improved, but visual mismatches occur between adjacent tiles during zooming and data transfer

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevisual accuracyVSAvoidvisual consistency

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a style interpolation mechanism as an intermediary between map tiles with different zoom level styles. When adjacent tiles have different styles, the system interpolates transition styles to blend them smoothly, preventing abrupt visual mismatches while maintaining the precision of zoom level-specific styling.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent dynamically changes style parameters (such as line width, color, marker size) based on the zoom level and spatial position of map tiles. By continuously adjusting these parameters during zooming operations and data transfers, the system maintains visual consistency across tiles while preserving zoom level-specific accuracy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Stability of the object's composition

If style information is updated for all map tiles simultaneously, then style consistency is improved, but visual interruptions occur during data updates and network interruptions

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestyle consistencyVSAvoiddisplay continuity

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by pre-loading style information for multiple zoom levels and preparing style interpolation data in advance. When data updates occur or network interruptions happen, the system can seamlessly switch between tiles using pre-prepared style information, preventing visual interruptions while maintaining style consistency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements beforehand cushioning by creating style transition buffers between adjacent tiles. When style updates occur, these buffers absorb the transition, cushioning against abrupt changes and ensuring continuous reliable display even during data updates or network issues.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

3Adaptability or versatility

If zoom level-specific styles are applied to all tiles, then the visual presentation at each zoom level is optimized, but abrupt visual changes occur during zooming operations

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvezoom level adaptationVSAvoidvisual smoothness

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamics by making style application adaptive rather than static. The system dynamically determines which style to apply to each tile based on its zoom level, spatial position, and relationship with adjacent tiles. During zooming operations, styles transition dynamically to maintain visual smoothness while preserving optimization for each zoom level.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies local quality by assigning different style characteristics to different regions of the map display based on their specific zoom levels and positions. Adjacent tiles with different nominal zoom levels receive interpolated styles that blend their characteristics locally, creating smooth transitions while maintaining optimized presentation for each local region.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentUS8937627B1Seamless vector map tiles across multiple zoom levels

Publication Date: 2015.01.20 GOOGLE LLC

AI summary

Rendering map tiles with style data for zoom levels other than the style data intended for that tile at its nominal zoom level can be used to avoid abrupt changes between map tiles. Particularly when changing zoom levels, use of styles from more than one level may create an uneven look. To address this, either the new data may be displayed with the style for the previous zoom level or the old data may be presented with the style for the new zoom level style until all tiles for the new zoom level are received. At that time, all the map tiles may be displayed using the style for the new zoom level along with the map data intended for that zoom level. Displaying map tiles at a first zoom level using a progression of styles from other zoom levels may also be used when creating a perspective view map.