Hierarchical POI Grouping for Map Legibility
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional interfaces struggle to effectively display points-of-interest on maps in mobile devices with limited screen size, leading to clutter and reduced legibility due to the overlap of icons or text representations, especially when zooming out.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus for aggregating and hierarchically categorizing points-of-interest based on metadata, allowing for dynamic grouping and scaling of information on a map, with individual POIs, family-level, and class-level groupings, enabling intuitive display and reducing clutter by adapting to map scale and available display area.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If individual points-of-interest are displayed on a map with limited screen size, then complete information is provided to the user, but the map becomes cluttered and legibility decreases due to overlap of icons or text
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple individual points-of-interest into grouped representations displayed as single icons or text elements on the map. This combining approach maintains information completeness by allowing users to access detailed information about individual POIs through interaction, while preventing visual clutter on the limited screen display area.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the display of points-of-interest into two levels: a visual representation level (grouped icons on map) and an information level (detailed individual POI data). This segmentation allows the map to display grouped representations that occupy minimal space, while complete individual information remains accessible through user interaction such as tapping or hovering over the grouped elements.
2Quantity of substance
If more points-of-interest are displayed on the map, then more information is provided to the user, but the display area is consumed and other map features become less visible
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple points-of-interest are merged into single grouped display elements that occupy minimal map space. This merging allows a large quantity of POIs to be represented on the map without consuming excessive display area, as each group serves as a compact placeholder for multiple individual locations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions the display of POI information from a two-dimensional spatial arrangement (individual icons scattered across the map) to a hierarchical structure where grouped POIs are represented in one dimension (as compact groups) while their individual details are accessible in another dimension (through interaction menus or information panels). This dimensional transition preserves map space while maintaining information accessibility.
3Area of stationary object
If individual points-of-interest are displayed at small sizes to fit more on the screen, then display area is optimized, but the text and icons become difficult to read
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple POIs are merged into grouped representations with larger, more legible text and icons compared to individual POI displays. The grouped elements use sufficient font sizes and icon dimensions to ensure readability, while still occupying less total space than displaying all individual POIs separately at readable sizes.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the information display into a compact visual identification layer (legible grouped icons and text on the map) and an expanded information layer (detailed individual POI data accessible through interaction). This segmentation allows the map to display groups with adequate text size for readability, while individual POI details are presented in a separate, expandable format that does not compete for map display space.
Data Source
AI summary
An approach is provided for grouping points-of-interest on a map. Information is aggregated about a plurality of points-of-interest. The plurality of points-of-interest are categorized into a first level grouping based on a first criterion and the aggregated information. The plurality of points-of-interest are categorized into a second level grouping based on a second criterion that is less restrictive than the first criterion and the aggregated information. The first level grouping is assigned to a first scale level of a map. The second level grouping is assigned to a second scale level of the map.