METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR UPDATING A MAP IN RESPONSE TO SELECTION OF CONTENT FOR DISPLAY ON THE MAP

• US 20100280753A1
• Filed: 04/29/2009
• Published: 11/04/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/29/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Original Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Inventors: Chytil, Michael, Burgin, Roger W., Wilson, Blake, Kolcarek, Pavel
• Granted Patent: US 9,046,369 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/208
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3407 specially adapted for specific applications
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3874 Structures specially adapted for data searching and retrieval
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 23/00 Combined instruments indicating more than one navigational value, e.g. for aircraft; Combined measuring devices for measuring two or more variables of movement, e.g. distance, speed or acceleration

Abstract

Methods and systems are provided for presenting information on a display device associated with an aircraft. A method comprises displaying a navigational map in a viewing area on the display device with initial display settings, identifying selection of a first category of information, and identifying content associated with the first category resulting in a first set of content. The method further comprises automatically updating display settings for the navigational map in response to identifying selection of the first category, wherein the display settings are updated based on the first set of content. The method further comprises displaying the first set of content on the navigational map based on the updated display settings.

Claims

1. A method for presenting information on a display device associated with an aircraft, the method comprising:

displaying a navigational map in a viewing area on the display device, the navigational map having initial display settings;

identifying selection of a first category of information;

identifying content associated with the first category, resulting in a first set of content;

automatically updating display settings for the navigational map in response to identifying selection of the first category, wherein the display settings are updated based on the first set of content to obtain updated display settings; and

displaying the first set of content on the navigational map based on the updated display settings.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein automatically updating the display settings comprises:

determining a display area corresponding to the first set of content;

determining the updated display settings based on the display area; and

displaying the navigational map based on the updated display settings.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein determining the display area comprises determining the display area based on extents of the first set of content, such that the display area circumscribes the first set of content.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein displaying the navigational map based on the updated display settings comprises displaying a graphical representation of terrain corresponding to the display area in the viewing area on the display device.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein determining the display area comprises adjusting the display area based on the initial display settings.

6. The method of claim 5, the initial display settings comprising an initial aspect ratio, wherein adjusting the display area comprises adjusting the display area such that an aspect ratio of the display area is equal to the initial aspect ratio.

7. The method of claim 2, wherein determining the updated display settings comprises determining an updated range setting for the navigational map based on the display area.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein determining the updated range setting comprises:

determining an updated scale for the navigational map corresponding to a ratio of the viewing area to the display area; and

calculating the updated range setting based on the updated scale.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein determining the updated range setting further comprises:

comparing the updated range setting to a threshold range setting; and

determining the updated range setting as being equal to the threshold range setting when the updated range setting is greater than the threshold range setting.

10. The method of claim 2, wherein determining the updated display settings comprises determining an updated center location for the navigational map based on the display area.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein identifying content associated with the first category of information comprises identifying the first set of content based on a current location of the aircraft, wherein the first set of content corresponds to content associated with the first category and within a threshold distance of the current location.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

identifying selection of a second category of information;

identifying content associated with the second category, resulting in a second set of content; and

displaying the second set of content on the navigational map, wherein automatically updating the display settings comprises automatically updating the display settings based on the first set of content and the second set of content in response to identifying selection of the second category of information.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein automatically updating the display settings comprises:

determining a display area that circumscribes the first set of content and the second set of content;

determining the updated display settings based on the display area; and

displaying the navigational map based on the updated display settings.

14. A method for presenting information on a display device associated with an aircraft, the method comprising:

displaying a navigational map on the display device, the navigational map having an initial range setting and an initial center location;

identifying selection of a first category of information;

identifying content associated with the first category of information resulting in first identified content;

determining an updated range setting and an updated center location for the navigational map based on the first identified content associated with the first category of information;

displaying the navigational map with the updated range setting and the updated center location, wherein the navigational map is displayed with the updated range setting and the updated center location automatically in response to identifying selection of the first category of information; and

rendering the first identified content associated with the first category of information on the navigational map.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein determining the updated range setting and the updated center location for the navigational map comprises:

determining a display area that encompasses the first identified content; and

determining the updated range setting and the updated center location based on the display area.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein displaying the navigational map with the updated range setting and the updated center location comprises rendering a graphical representation of terrain based on the updated center location and the updated range setting, the graphical representation of terrain corresponding to the display area.

17. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

identifying selection of a second category of information;

identifying content associated with the second category of information resulting in second identified content;

determining the updated range setting and the updated center location for the navigational map based on the first identified content and the second identified content; and

rendering the second identified content on the navigational map.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein determining the updated range setting and the updated center location for the navigational map comprises:

determining a display area that encompasses the first identified content and the second identified content; and

determining the updated range setting and the updated center location based on the display area.

19. A display system onboard an aircraft, the display system comprising:

a display device configured to display a navigational map in a viewing area with initial display settings;

a user interface configured to receive user input indicative of selection of a first category of information; and

a processing architecture coupled to the user interface and the display device, wherein the processing architecture is configured to;

identify selection of the first category of information; and

in response to identifying selection of the first category of information;

identify content associated with the first category of information resulting in identified content;

automatically update display settings for the navigational map based on the identified content resulting in updated display settings;

display the navigational map based on the updated display settings; and

display the identified content on the navigational map.

20. The display system of claim 19, wherein the processing architecture is configured to automatically update the display settings by:

determining a display area that circumscribes the identified content; and

determining the updated display settings based on the display area and the viewing area.