Navigation Interface for Small Displays Using Electronic Horizon
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional mobile mapping applications are inefficient on small screens, such as smart glasses and smartwatches, requiring frequent zooming to view both distant and immediate surroundings, which is time-consuming and distracting, especially in areas with poor signal coverage.
Innovation Solution
A computing device generates navigation interfaces that display upcoming roads and points of interest using an electronic horizon model, providing a 'fishbone view', 'flower view', or 'radar view' to present information in a dynamic and context-aware manner, eliminating the need for constant zooming by projecting labels based on relative direction vectors.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional mobile mapping applications display maps with varying levels of detail on small screens, then geographic accuracy is maintained, but users must constantly zoom in and out which is time-consuming and distracting
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the map display into multiple fixed zoom levels, each showing a specific geographic area with predetermined detail. Instead of allowing continuous zooming, the system divides the viewing experience into discrete segments (zoom levels 1-5), where each level displays a specific radius from the user's location with appropriate detail, eliminating the need for frequent zooming while maintaining geographic accuracy at each level.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary actions by pre-calculating and pre-rendering map displays at multiple fixed zoom levels before the user needs them. Each zoom level is prepared in advance with the appropriate geographic scope and detail level, so when the user needs to view different areas, the display simply switches between pre-prepared zoom levels rather than requiring real-time zooming operations.
2Adaptability or versatility
If conventional mapping applications allow continuous zooming on small screens, then users can view both distant and immediate surroundings, but the frequent zooming is distracting especially in areas with poor signal coverage
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements dynamic zoom level selection that automatically adapts to the user's needs and environmental conditions. The display dynamically switches between five predefined zoom levels based on factors such as user location, movement patterns, and signal quality. This provides viewing range flexibility without requiring manual zooming operations, as the system dynamically adjusts the displayed zoom level to maintain both context and detail appropriately.
3Measurement precision
If maps are rendered with accurate geographic scale on small screens, then geographic precision is maintained, but features become indiscernible without constant zooming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by displaying different levels of detail for different geographic areas simultaneously within the same view. At each zoom level, the system renders features with appropriate detail - distant areas show broader context while immediate surroundings show finer details. This allows geographic scale accuracy to be maintained across the entire map while ensuring that features at any distance remain discernible through selective detail rendering.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and systems for generating a navigation interface on a mobile device are described herein. A mobile device may identify its current location which may comprise a current path on which the mobile device is located. The mobile device may identify a plurality of upcoming paths and/or points of interest within a predetermined distance of the current location and generate one of various types of display.