3D Navigation Map Transparency for Obscured Roads
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Solution Overview
Problem
Three-dimensional perspective elevation views in navigation devices can obscure road information, making it difficult for users to follow navigation routes, especially when tall map objects like buildings obstruct the view, and reverting to two-dimensional views reduces intuitiveness.
Innovation Solution
A method to determine if a map object obscures the line of sight to a road in a three-dimensional perspective elevation view and display obscured road parts in a transparent or faded format, allowing both the road and map object to be visible simultaneously, using techniques like z-buffering or stencil buffers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a three-dimensional perspective elevation view is used to improve intuitiveness, then the visual intuitiveness and realism of the map view is improved, but road information may be obscured by tall map objects
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies transparency changes (analogous to color/optical property changes) to map objects that obscure road information. When a map object blocks the view of a road, the system makes the map object transparent or semi-transparent, allowing the road information to remain visible through the object. This resolves the contradiction by maintaining the three-dimensional perspective view for intuitiveness while preventing information loss through optical property modification.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary processing layer that detects when map objects obscure roads and applies transparency adjustments as a mediating solution. This intermediary mechanism allows both the three-dimensional map objects and the road information to coexist visibly, rather than one completely blocking the other.
2Loss of information
If a two-dimensional plan view is used to ensure all road information is visible, then road information visibility is improved, but the visual intuitiveness and three-dimensional information is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by selectively modifying only those map objects that obscure road information, rather than changing the entire map view to two-dimensional. The transparency adjustment is applied locally to specific map objects in specific locations where they block roads, while the rest of the three-dimensional perspective view remains intact. This allows the system to maintain three-dimensional intuitiveness globally while preventing information loss locally.
3Loss of information
If transparent formatting is applied to obscured road parts, then both map objects and road information remain visible simultaneously, but display complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-calculating which map objects will obscure roads and pre-applying transparency adjustments before the final display is rendered. The system identifies obscuring objects in advance and prepares the transparency formatting, so that when the display is generated, the transparency adjustments are already in place. This reduces the complexity of real-time processing by performing the complex transparency calculations in advance.
Data Source
AI summary
A method is disclosed for generating a display image including a map view and a road, the map view being a three dimensional perspective elevation view of a portion of a digital map as viewed from a viewing position. In at least one embodiment, the method includes determining, from information associated with the distance of the road that is to be displayed in the display image from the viewing position, whether a map object obscures a line of sight from said viewing position to the road in the three dimensional perspective elevation; and displaying an element of the road in a format that is dependent on whether the map object is determined to obscure said line of sight. An apparatus and a computer program are also disclosed.