Tear-Drop Way-Finding User Interfaces

• US 20100241987A1
• Filed: 03/19/2009
• Published: 09/23/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/19/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Burtner, Edwin R., Russ, V. Kevin, Sands, Ian M., Snavely, John A.
• Application Number:
  US12/407,009
• Publication Number:
  US 20100241987A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/784
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/20 Instruments for performing navigational calculations G01C21/24, G01C21/26 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04817 using icons graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34

Abstract

A tear-drop way-finding user interface (UI) may be provided. A first UI portion corresponding to a device location may be provided. In addition, an object may be displayed at a first relative position within the first UI portion. Then, upon a detected change in device location, a second UI portion corresponding to the changed device location may be provided. In response to the changed device location, a second relative position of the object may be calculated. Next, a determination may be made as to whether the second relative position of the object is within a displayable range of the second UI portion. If the second relative position of the object is not within the displayable range of the second UI portion, then a tear-drop icon indicative of the second relative position of the object may be displayed at an edge of the second UI portion.

Claims

1. A method for displaying object location within a way-finding user interface, the method comprising:

displaying a viewable area of a map, the viewable area of the map corresponding to a first location;

displaying an object within the viewable area of the map, the object being at a first relative position within a first proximity to the first location;

detecting a change from the first location to a second location;

modifying the viewable area of the map to correspond to the second location; and

adjusting a display of the object within the modified viewable area of the map, wherein adjusting the display of the object within the modified viewable area of the map comprises;

determining a second relative position of the object within a second proximity to the second location, and

when the second proximity is not within range of the modified viewable area of the map, displaying a tear-drop icon at a boundary of the modified viewable area of the map pointing to the second relative position, the boundary of the modified viewable area of the map corresponding to a closest point to the second relative position of the object.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein displaying the tear-drop icon at the boundary of the modified viewable area of the map comprises:

determining if the second proximity is within a threshold proximity, and

displaying, in response to a determination that the second proximity is within the threshold proximity, the tear-drop icon at the boundary of the modified viewable area of the map.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein displaying the tear-drop icon at the boundary of the modified viewable area of the map comprises displaying the tear-drop icon indicative of at least one of the following:

the object, the object'"'"'s relative position, the object'"'"'s relative direction, and the object'"'"'s proximity.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein displaying the tear-drop icon indicative of the object'"'"'s proximity comprises at least one of the following:

displaying the tear-drop icon at an opacity corresponding to the object'"'"'s proximity, and

displaying the tear-drop icon at a color corresponding to the object'"'"'s proximity.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a selection of the tear-drop icon, and

providing, in response to the received selection of the tear-drop icon, information associated with the object corresponding to the tear-drop icon.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein providing, in response to the selection of the tear-drop icon, the information associated with the object corresponding to the tear-drop icon comprises:

displaying the information at a center of the modified viewable area of the map, and

displaying a projected cone that points to the corresponding object'"'"'s relative location from the center of the modified viewable area of the map, the projected cone indicating one of;

the object'"'"'s relative direction and the object'"'"'s proximity.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein displaying the tear-drop icon at the boundary of the modified viewable area of the map comprises:

determining if an additional tear-drop icon associated with an additional object is located at the boundary, and

combining, in response to a determination that an additional tear-drop icon associated with the additional object is located at the boundary, the tear-drop icons into a combined icon indicating that at least two tear-drop icons are located at the boundary.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

receiving a selection of the combined icon, and

expanding, in response to the received selection of the combined icon, the at least two tear-drop icons.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

detecting a change in orientation, and

adjusting a display of the tear-drop icon to correspond to the change in orientation, wherein adjusting the display of the tear-drop icon to correspond to the change in orientation comprises displaying the tear-drop icon at a different boundary of the modified viewable area of the map.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the way-finding user interface system is configured for operation at a mobile device.

11. A computer-readable medium having a set of instructions which when executed performs a method for displaying objects within a user interface, the method executed by the set of instructions comprising:

displaying a first portion of a user interface corresponding to a device location;

displaying an object at a first relative position within the first portion of the user interface;

detecting a change in device location;

displaying a second portion of the user interface corresponding to the changed device location; and

adjusting a display of the object within the second portion of the user interface, wherein adjusting the display of the object within the second portion of the user interface comprises;

determining a second relative position of the object to the changed device location, and

when the second relative position of the object is not within the second portion of user interface, displaying a tear-drop icon at a boundary of the second portion of the user interface closest to the second relative position of the object.

12. The computer-readable medium of claim 11, further comprising:

detecting a change in device orientation, and

adjusting a display of the tear-drop icon to correspond to the change in device orientation, wherein adjusting the display of the tear-drop icon to correspond to the change in device orientation comprises displaying the tear-drop icon at a different boundary of the second portion of the user interface.

13. The computer-readable medium of claim 11, further comprising:

receiving a selection of the tear-drop icon, and

providing, in response to the received selection of the tear-drop icon, information associated with the object corresponding to the tear-drop icon.

14. The computer-readable medium of claim 11, wherein displaying the tear-drop icon at the boundary of the second portion of the user interface closest to the second relative position of the object comprises:

calculating a proximity of the second relative position of the object to the changed device location,

determining if the calculated proximity is within a threshold proximity, and

displaying, in response to a determination that the calculated proximity is within the threshold proximity, the tear-drop icon at the boundary of the second portion of the user interface closest to the second relative position.

15. The computer-readable medium of claim 11, wherein displaying the tear-drop icon at the boundary of the second portion of the user interface closest to the second relative position of the object comprises:

determining if an additional tear-drop icon associated with an additional object is located at the boundary, and

combining, in response to a determination that an additional tear-drop icon associated with the additional object is located at the boundary, the tear-drop icons into a combined icon indicating that at least two tear-drop icons are located at the boundary.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

receiving a selection of the combined icon, and

expanding, in response to the received selection of the combined icon, the at least two tear-drop icons.

17. A system for providing object information within a way-finding user interface, the system comprising:

a memory storage; and

a processing unit coupled to the memory storage, wherein the processing unit is operative to;

display a first portion of a user interface corresponding to a device location,

display an object at a first relative position within the user interface,

detect a change in device location,

display a second portion of the user interface corresponding to the changed device location,

determine a second relative position of the object to the changed device location,

calculate a proximity of the second relative position of the object to the changed device location,

determine if the calculated proximity is within a threshold proximity,

display, in response to a determination that the second relative position of the object is within the threshold proximity, a tear-drop icon at a boundary of the second portion of the user interface closest to the second relative position of the object,

receive a selection of the tear-drop icon, and

provide, in response to the received selection of the tear-drop icon, information associated with the object corresponding to the tear-drop icon.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the user interface is a map.

19. The system of claim 17, wherein the processing unit is further operative to drop, in response to a determination that the calculated proximity is not within the threshold proximity, the tear-drop from display.

20. The system of claim 17, wherein the processing unit is further operative to:

determine if an additional tear-drop icon associated with an additional object is located at the boundary, and

combine, in response to a determination that an additional tear-drop icon associated with the additional object is located at the boundary, the tear-drop icons into a combined icon indicating that at least two tear-drop icons are located at the boundary.