Method and Apparatus for Consolidating Overlapping Map Markers

• US 20070268310A1
• Filed: 05/18/2006
• Published: 11/22/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/18/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kyndryl Incorporated (Kyndryl Holdings, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Dolph, Blaine H., Gansen, Christopher Joseph
• Granted Patent: US 7,456,848 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/629
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 17/05 Geographic models

Abstract

A computer implemented method, apparatus, and computer usable code for consolidating overlapping markers in a mapping application. The process identifies a plurality of points for display from data describing locations and associated data about locations. The process then determines whether displaying graphical indicators for a set of points in the plurality of points will result in graphical indicators overlapping each other. The process generates a consolidated marker for the set of points, in response to a determination that displaying graphical indicators for the set of points will result in graphical indicators overlapping each other. The process then associates a listing for the set of points with the consolidated marker. The listing comprises at least a portion of the associated data about locations for the plurality of points.

Claims

1. A computer implemented method for consolidating overlapping markers in a mapping application, the computer implemented method comprising:

identifying a plurality of points for display from data describing locations and associated data about locations;

determining whether displaying graphical indicators for a set of points in the plurality of points will result in graphical indicators overlapping each other;

responsive to a determination that displaying graphical indicators for the set of points will result in graphical indicators overlapping each other, generating a consolidated marker for the set of points; and

associating a listing for the set of points with the consolidated marker, wherein the listing comprises at least a portion of the associated data about locations for the plurality of points.

2. The computer implemented method of claim 1 further comprising:

determining whether a given pair of graphical markers associated with a pair of points overlap based on a distance between pixels associated with the pair of points relative to a bounding box of the map display.

3. The computer implemented method of claim 1 further comprising:

determining whether a given pair of graphical markers associated with a pair of points overlap based on a distance between the pair of points and a fixed reference point.

4. The computer implemented method of claim 1 further comprising:

determining if a graphical marker for a given plotted point in the plurality of plotted points overlaps with any other graphical marker associated with the map display.

5. The computer implemented method of claim 1 further comprising:

determining a zoom level for the map display.

6. The computer implemented method of claim 1 wherein geospatial data comprises longitude and latitude coordinates for a given point.

7. The computer implemented method of claim 1 wherein the consolidated marker is a pre-generated graphic image.

8. The computer implemented method of claim 1 further comprising:

displaying the consolidated marker at a central point associated with the set of overlapping graphic indicators.

9. The computer implemented method of claim 1 further comprising:

responsive to a user selecting the consolidated marker, changing a first zoom level of the map display view to a second zoom level, wherein each point represented by the consolidated marker is represented by an unconsolidated, non-overlapping graphical indicator at the second zoom level.

10. The computer implemented method of claim 1 wherein the consolidated marker is a user configurable graphic image.

11. The computer implemented method of claim 1 wherein the consolidated marker does not overlap with any other graphical indicator.

12. The computer implemented method of claim 1 further comprising:

displaying the listing for the set of points in response to a user selecting the consolidated marker.

13. A computer program product comprising:

a computer usable medium having computer usable program code for consolidating overlapping markers in a mapping application, the computer program product comprising;

computer usable program code for identifying a plurality of points for display from data describing locations and associated data about locations;

computer usable program code for determining whether displaying graphical indicators for a set of points in the plurality of points will result in graphical indicators overlapping each other;

computer usable program code for responsive to a determination that displaying graphical indicators for the set of points will result in graphical indicators overlapping each other, generating a consolidated marker for the set of points; and

computer usable program code for associating a listing for the set of points with the consolidated marker, wherein the listing comprises at least a portion of the associated data about locations for the plurality of points.

14. The computer program product of claim 13 further comprising:

computer usable program code for determining whether a given pair of graphical markers associated with a pair of points overlap based on a distance between pixels associated with the pair of points relative to a bounding box of the map display.

15. The computer program product of claim 13 further comprising:

computer usable program code for determining if a graphical marker for a given plotted point in the plurality of plotted points overlaps with any other graphical marker associated with the map display.

16. The computer program product of claim 13 wherein the consolidated marker is a pre-generated graphic image.

17. The computer program product of claim 13 further comprising:

computer usable program code for displaying the consolidated marker at a central point associated with the set of overlapping graphic indicators.

18. The computer program product of claim 13 further comprising:

computer usable program code for changing a first zoom level of the map display view to a second zoom level in response to a user selecting the consolidated marker, wherein each point represented by the consolidated marker is represented by an unconsolidated, non-overlapping graphical indicator at the second zoom level.

19. The computer program product of claim 13 further comprising:

computer usable program code for determining a zoom level for the map display.

20. An apparatus for consolidating overlapping markers in a mapping application, the apparatus comprising:

a computer comprising;

a bus;

a storage device connected to the bus, wherein the storage device contains a computer usable program product;

a processor unit, wherein the processor unit executes the computer usable program product to identify a plurality of points for display from data describing locations and associated data about locations;

determine whether displaying graphical indicators for a set of points in the plurality of points will result in graphical indicators overlapping each other;

generate a consolidated marker for the set of points in response to a determination that displaying graphical indicators for the set of points will result in graphical indicators overlapping each other; and

associate a listing for the set of points with the consolidated marker, wherein the listing comprises at least a portion of the associated data about locations for the plurality of points.