Method and apparatus for geometric search and display for a digital map

• US 20070061074A1
• Filed: 09/13/2006
• Published: 03/15/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/13/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Michael Safoutin
• Original Assignee: Michael Safoutin
• Inventors: Safoutin, Michael
• Granted Patent: US 9,002,638 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/211
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3682 output of POI information on a road map G01C21/3614, G01C21/3685 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/248 Presentation of query results
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/26 Visual data mining; Browsing structured data
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/29 Geographical information databases
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9537 Spatial or temporal dependent retrieval, e.g. spatiotemporal queries
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2215/12 Shadow map, environment map
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 3/40 Scaling of whole images or parts thereof, e.g. expanding or contracting
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 3/60 Rotation of whole images or parts thereof
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 29/106 using electronic means

Abstract

A geometric search and display method for a digital map includes a preferably animated graphic element projected on a map display, association of a search criterion with the graphic element, application of the search criterion to depicted or undepicted mapped or mappable items that geometrically intersect with the graphic element, and graphical representation of said application and/or outcome of said application by means of temporary modification of visual appearance of intersecting items and/or temporary modification of the visual appearance of the intersecting portion of the map.

Claims

1. A method for depicting features on a digital map, comprising the steps of:

projection of at least one graphic element on a map display;

identification of a subset of mapped or mappable features by means of their geometric intersection with said graphic element(s);

modification of the depicted appearance of said subset of mappable features.

2. The method of claim 1 additionally comprising a repetitive loop in which the graphic element is projected in an incrementally changing position and/or size and/or shape, and the original appearance of previously modified features that no longer intersect with the graphic element is restored.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the projection of the graphic element is incrementally changed by rotation about a point on or off the map display.

4. The method of claim 2 wherein the graphic element is based upon an indefinitely extending wedge shape rotating about a point located on or off the map display and cropped where it intersects the edges of the map display.

5. The method of claim 2 wherein geometric intersection is judged by reference to screen coordinates or real-world coordinates.

6. A method for depicting features on a digital map, comprising:

determination of a shape and/or size and/or position of at least one graphic element to be projected on the map display;

projection of at least one graphic element on the map display;

identification of a set of target features consisting of mapped or mappable features whose depicted representation (or if undepicted, whose potentially depicted location or potentially depicted representation) geometrically intersects with at least one projected graphic element;

determination of state, degree, class, or other aspect of match between database information associated with each identified target feature and one or more search criteria associated with each projected graphic element it intersects;

determination and application of a first modification of the visual appearance of matching target features based on state, degree, class, or other aspect of match.

7. The method of claim 6 additionally comprising the determination of and application to targets that were first modified in a previous cycle a second modification consisting of one or more increments or members of a predetermined or computed sequence of modifications.

8. The method of claim 6 additionally comprising a repetitive loop in which at least one graphic element is projected in an incrementally changing position and/or shape.

9. The method of claim 7 additionally comprising a repetitive loop in which at least one graphic element is projected in an incrementally changing position and/or shape.

10. The method of claim 8 additionally comprising incremental movement or incremental scaling of the geographic area depicted on the map display in addition to or in place of incremental changing of at least one graphic element.

11. A method for depicting features on a digital map, comprising:

association of at least one search criterion with at least one instance or class of a graphic element to be projected on a map display;

projection of at least one graphic element on a map display;

identification of a subset of mapped or mappable features as target features by means of their geometric intersection with at least one instance of said projected graphic element(s);

application of at least one search criterion associated with at least one graphic element to at least one target feature it intersects, so as to determine at least one outcome representing match between database information associated with at least one said target feature and at least one search criterion associated with at least one projected graphic element it intersects;

graphical representation of at least one said outcome by means of temporary modification of visual appearance of the target feature associated with said outcome.

12. The method of claim 11 additionally comprising a repetitive loop in which at least one graphic element is projected in an incrementally changing position and/or size and/or shape.

13. The method of claim 12 further comprising graphical representation of the act of application of the search criterion by means of temporary modification of visual appearance of target features.

14. The method of claim 12 wherein the graphic element is based upon an indefinitely extending wedge shape rotating about a point located on or off the map display and cropped where it intersects the edges of the map display.

15. The method of claim 12 wherein the graphic element is embodied by one or a plurality of circles or other shapes animated so as to grow, shrink, or translate relative to a point on or off the map display.

16. The method of claim 12 wherein the graphic element is embodied by a plurality of shapes.

17. The method of claim 12 wherein the graphic element is considered to extend beyond the depicted portion of the map display and thereby identifies by intersection mapped or mappable features that would be located off the map display.

18. The method of claim 12 wherein identification of target features is by means of their geometric intersection with said projected graphic element as both would be depicted in real-world coordinates or screen coordinates.

19. The method of claim 12 additionally comprising temporary modification of intersecting portion(s) of the map display.

20. An apparatus comprising:

a computer having a screen and one or more input devices;

the computer being programmed to display a digital map on the screen and to accept user input; and

to project and animate one or more graphic element(s) on the map display; and

to associate at least one search criterion with each of said graphic element(s); and

to identify mapped or mappable features as target features by means of their geometric intersection with said projected graphic element(s); and

to apply at least one said search criterion to said target features so as to determine outcome of said application; and

to graphically represent said application and/or outcome of said application by means of temporary modification of visual appearance of target features and/or of intersecting portion(s) of the map display.

21. The apparatus of claim 20 further comprising the computer being programmed to provide a user interface by which a search criterion or multiple search criteria may be specified and associated with at least one instance or class of graphic element.