SYSTEM FOR MANAGING THE NAVIGATIONAL USABILITY OF AN INTERACTIVE MAP

• US 20070294643A1
• Filed: 08/28/2007
• Published: 12/20/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Henry Kyle
• Original Assignee: Henry Kyle
• Inventors: Kyle, Henry
• Granted Patent: US 7,930,072 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/855
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096811 where the route is computed offboard
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0969 having a display in the form of a map

Abstract

A graphical user interface for graphically managing the navigational usability of an interactive map is described. In one embodiment, the graphical user interface includes a layer hierarchy having a first layer and a second layer. The graphical user interface also includes a first display range bar associated with the first layer and configured to show a range of map scales at which the first layer is displayed in the digitized map. In addition, the graphical user interface includes a second display range bar associated with the second layer and configured to show a range of map scales at which the second layer is displayed in the digitized map.

Claims

1. An analyzer configured to compute data weights and transmission times of a digitized map, the analyzer comprising:

a target resolution selector configured for inputting a display screen resolution of an end-user computing device;

a target client bandwidth selector configured for inputting an available bandwidth of the end-user computing device;

a data weight scale configured to provide a range of data weights; and

a transmission time scale configured to provide a range of transmission times.

2. The analyzer of claim 1, further comprising display ranges configured to provide a range of map scales.

3. The analyzer of claim 2, wherein the analyzer is configured to select a first random map scale and to compute a first data weight and a first transmission time for the digitized map at the first random map scale based on a first display screen resolution and a first available bandwidth.

4. The analyzer of claim 3, wherein the analyzer is configured to select a second random map scale and to compute a second data weight and a second transmission time for the digitized map at the second random map scale based on the first display screen resolution and the first available bandwidth.

5. The analyzer of claim 4, wherein the analyzer is further configured to display a graphical representation of the first data weight, the first transmission time, the second data weight and the second transmission time, and the first data weight and the second data weight are included in the range of data weights, and the first transmission time and the second transmission time are included in the range of transmission times.

6. The analyzer of claim 5, wherein the analyzer is further configured to compute a separate data weight and transmission time for one or more different regions of the digitized map at each selected random map scale.

7. A method for computing data weights and transmission times of a digitized map, the method comprising:

receiving a target resolution selected by a user, wherein the target resolution comprises a display screen resolution of an end-user computing device;

receiving a target client bandwidth selected by a user, wherein the target client bandwidth comprises an available bandwidth of the end-user computing device;

generating a data weight scale that provides a range of data weights, wherein each data weight reflects an amount of information included in the digitized map at a particular resolution;

generating a transmission time scale that provides a range of transmission times, wherein each transmission time reflects an amount of time needed to transmit the information included in the digitized map to a target client given a particular target resolution and a particular target client bandwidth;

for each randomly selected map scale in a set of randomly selected map scales,

computing the data weight associated with the digitized map at the randomly selected map scale; and

computing the transmission time associated with the digitized map at the randomly selected map scale.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising the steps of receiving a selection of display ranges configured to provide a range of map scales;

and computing data weights and transmission times for any number of selected random map scales within the display ranges.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising the step of selecting a first random map scale and computing a first data weight and a first transmission time for the digitized map at the first random map scale based on a first display screen resolution and a first available bandwidth.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising the step of selecting a second random map scale and computing a second data weight and a second transmission time for the digitized map at the second random map scale based on the first display screen resolution and the first available bandwidth.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising the step of displaying a graphical representation of the first data weight, the first transmission time, the second data weight and the second transmission time, and the first data weight and the second data weight are included in the range of data weights, and the first transmission time and the second transmission time are included in the range of transmission times.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising the step of computing a separate data weight and transmission time for one or more different regions of the digitized map at each selected random map scale.

13. A computer-readable storage medium including instructions that, when executed by a processing unit, cause the processing unit to compute data weights and transmission times of a digitized map, by performing the steps of:

receiving a target resolution selected by a user, wherein the target resolution comprises a display screen resolution of an end-user computing device;

receiving a target client bandwidth selected by a user, wherein the target client bandwidth comprises an available bandwidth of the end-user computing device;

generating a data weight scale that provides a range of data weights, wherein each data weight reflects an amount of information included in the digitized map at a particular resolution;

generating a transmission time scale that provides a range of transmission times, wherein each transmission time reflects an amount of time needed to transmit the information included in the digitized map to a target client given a particular target resolution and a particular target client bandwidth;

for each randomly selected map scale in a set of randomly selected map scales,

computing the data weight associated with the digitized map at the randomly selected map scale; and

computing the transmission time associated with the digitized map at the randomly selected map scale.

14. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 13, further comprising the steps of receiving a selection of display ranges configured to provide a range of map scales;

and computing data weights and transmission times for any number of selected random map scales within the display ranges.

15. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 14, further comprising the step of selecting a first random map scale and computing a first data weight and a first transmission time for the digitized map at the first random map scale based on a first display screen resolution and a first available bandwidth.

16. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 15, further comprising the step of selecting a second random map scale and computing a second data weight and a second transmission time for the digitized map at the second random map scale based on the first display screen resolution and the first available bandwidth.

17. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 16, further comprising the step of displaying a graphical representation of the first data weight, the first transmission time, the second data weight and the second transmission time, and the first data weight and the second data weight are included in the range of data weights, and the first transmission time and the second transmission time are included in the range of transmission times.

18. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 17, further comprising the step of computing a separate data weight and transmission time for one or more different regions of the digitized map at each selected random map scale.