FILTERING OF DATA LAYERED ON MAPPING APPLICATIONS

• US 20080051989A1
• Filed: 08/25/2006
• Published: 02/28/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/25/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Welsh, Ricky D.
• Application Number:
  US11/467,442
• Publication Number:
  US 20080051989A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/208
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 11/00 2D [Two Dimensional] image generation
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 17/05 Geographic models
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 29/006 Representation of non-cartographic information on maps, e.g. population distribution, wind direction, radiation levels, air and sea routes
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 29/10 Map spot or coordinate position indicators; Map reading aids optical projection apparatus per se G03B

Abstract

Provided is a mapping application that displays detailed data information as a function of multiple sets of layered data. When portions of at least two sets of layered data overlap, a set operation is applied to the overlapping portions to create a new set of layered data. The set operation allows the sets of layered data to be modified utilizing a simple function, such as by dragging and dropping a set of layered data to a different portion of the map area. When the portions no longer overlap, the set operation is removed, rendering the sets of layered data in their original format.

Claims

1. A system for layering data on a mapping application, comprising:

an overlay component that overlays at least a portion of a first set of filtered data with at least a portion of at least a second set of filtered data;

an optimization component that applies a set operation to the overlaid portion of the first set of filtered data and the at least a second set of filtered data; and

a render component that renders data in the overlapping portion as a function of the set operation.

2. The system of claim 1, the set operation is one of a union, a difference, and an intersection.

3. The system of claim 1, the first set of filtered data and the at least a second set of filtered data are displayed as an overlay on a mapping application.

4. The system of claim 1, the first and second sets of filtered data comprising separate data layers.

5. The system of claim 1, the optimization component applies a temporal setting independently to the first set of filtered data and the second set of filtered data.

6. The system of claim 1, further comprising a filter component that assigns at least one data layer to each set of filtered data.

7. The system of claim 6, the filter component maintains each set of filtered data in a storage media on a client machine.

8. The system of claim 1, the data rendered as a function of the set operation creates a third set of filtered data.

9. The system of claim 1, further comprising an input component that accepts a user-defined set operation to apply to the overlapping portions.

10. A method for displaying layered data, comprising:

identifying a first set of layered data and at least a second set of layered data;

applying a set operation to an intersection of the first set of layered data and the at least a second set of layered data; and

displaying the intersection as a separate set of layered data based in part on the applied set operation.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising displaying the first and second set of layered data on a layered application.

12. The method of claim 10, after identifying the first and second sets of layered data further comprising:

determining if at least a portion of the first set of layered data overlaps at least a portion of the second set of layered data.

13. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

retaining the first set of layered data and the at least a second of layered data in a retrievable format.

14. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

determining if at least a first portion of the first set of layered data intersects at least a second portion the second set of layered data; and

removing the set operation from the intersection when it is determined that the at least a first portion does not intersect the at least a second portion.

15. The method of claim 10, the set operation is a Boolean function.

16. The method of claim 10, the set operation is defined by a user.

17. A computer executable system that provides layered data in a mapping application, comprising:

computer implemented means for defining a first display mask and at least a second display mask;

computer implemented means for determining if at least a subset of the first display mask and a subset of the second display mask create an overlapping portion; and

computer implemented means for applying a set operation to the overlapping portion.

18. The system of claim 17, further comprising computer implemented means for rendering the applied set operation in the overlapping portion as a separate display mask.

19. The system of claim 17, further comprising:

computer implemented means identifying when the subset of the first and second display masks do not overlap; and

computer implemented means for removing the set operation.

20. The system of claim 17, further comprising computer implemented means for receiving a set operation to apply to the overlapping portions of the first and second display masks.