System and method for abstracting and visualizing a route map
First Claim
1. A method of preparing a route map that describes a path between a start and an end, said method comprising:
- obtaining said path from said start to said end, said path comprising an initial set of elements, each said element including sufficient information to determine a direction and each said element intersecting at least one other element in said initial set of elements;
a first element in said initial set of elements including said start and a second element in said initial set of elements including said end;
independently applying a different scale factor to each of at least two elements in said initial set of elements;
wherein application of said different scale factor to each of said at least two elements produces a scaled set of elements;
estimating a total height and a total width of a rendering of each element in said scaled set of elements;
selecting, based on a function of said total height and said total width, an image component; and
outputting a rendering of each element in said scaled set of elements to said image component.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method for making computer-generated maps includes a different scale factor for each road in a route. The scale factors are used to optimize the route map against a target function that considers factors such as the number of false intersections in the route and the number of roads falling below a minimum length threshold. A refinement technique such as simulated annealing is used to find a solution to the target function. Each road in the scaled map is rendered to provide a finished product having the appearance of a hand-drawn map. The finished product includes context roads that intersect the main route but are not part of the main route. Furthermore, the hand-drawn map is optimized to the characteristics of the viewport used to visualize the map.
-
Citations
9 Claims
-
1. A method of preparing a route map that describes a path between a start and an end, said method comprising:
-
obtaining said path from said start to said end, said path comprising an initial set of elements, each said element including sufficient information to determine a direction and each said element intersecting at least one other element in said initial set of elements;
a first element in said initial set of elements including said start and a second element in said initial set of elements including said end;
independently applying a different scale factor to each of at least two elements in said initial set of elements;
wherein application of said different scale factor to each of said at least two elements produces a scaled set of elements;
estimating a total height and a total width of a rendering of each element in said scaled set of elements;
selecting, based on a function of said total height and said total width, an image component; and
outputting a rendering of each element in said scaled set of elements to said image component. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
-
-
4. A computer program product for use in conjunction with a computer system, the computer program product comprising a computer readable storage medium and a computer program mechanism embedded therein, the computer program mechanism comprising:
-
a map module for preparing a route map that describes a path between a start and an end, the map module comprising;
instructions for obtaining said path from said start to said end, the path comprising an initial set of elements, each said element including sufficient information to determine a direction and each said element intersecting at least one other element in said initial set of elements;
a first element in said initial set of elements including said start and a second element in said initial set of elements including said end;
instructions for independently applying a different scale factor to each of at least two elements in said initial set of elements;
wherein application of said different scale factor to each of said at least two elements produces a scaled set of elements;
instructions for estimating a total height and a total width of a rendering of each element in said scaled set of elements;
instructions for selecting, based on a function of said total height and said total width, an image component; and
instructions for outputting a rendering of each element in said scaled set of elements to said image component. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6)
-
-
7. A computer system for preparing a route map, the computer system comprising:
-
a central processing unit;
a memory, coupled to said central processing unit;
a viewport for displaying said route map;
a program module, executable by said central processing unit, said program module comprising;
a map module for preparing said route map, the route map describing a path between a start and an end, the map module comprising;
instructions for obtaining said path from said start to said end, the path comprising an initial set of elements, each said element including sufficient information to determine a direction and each said element intersecting at least one other element in said initial set of elements;
a first element in said initial set of elements including said start and a second element in said initial set of elements including said end;
instructions for independently applying a different scale factor to each of at least two elements in said initial set of elements;
wherein application of said different scale factor to each of said at least two elements produces a scaled set of elements;
instructions for estimating a total height and a total width of a rendering of each element in said scaled set of elements;
instructions for selecting, based on a function of said total height and said total width, an image component; and
instructions for outputting a rendering of each element in said scaled set of elements to said image component. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9)
-
Specification