Systems and methods for decluttering electronic map displays

• US 20110010650A1
• Filed: 07/09/2009
• Published: 01/13/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/09/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Original Assignee: MapQuest, Inc. (System1 LLC)
• Inventors: Graham, James G., Hess, Stephen K., Steinke, Scott W., Crawford, Corey L.
• Application Number:
  US12/458,376
• Publication Number:
  US 20110010650A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/765
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04817 using icons graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34

Abstract

Systems and methods are provided for decluttering an electronic map display. According to one implementation, a computer-implemented method is provided for decluttering an electronic map display. The method includes receiving information about points-of-interest (POIs) to be represented on the electronic map display, and determining whether icons representative of the POIs would overlap if displayed concurrently. The method further includes grouping the icons that would overlap into at least one overlapping icon group, and displaying on the electronic map a group icon representative of the overlapping icon group.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for decluttering an electronic map display, the method comprising:

receiving information about points-of-interest (POIs) to be represented on the electronic map display;

determining whether icons representative of the POIs would overlap if displayed concurrently;

grouping the icons that would overlap into at least one overlapping icon group; and

displaying on the electronic map a group icon representative of the overlapping icon group.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the information about the POIs includes latitude and longitude information for the POIs.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising computing a centroid of POIs associated with the overlapping icon group based on the latitude and longitude information, wherein the group icon is displayed at the determined centroid.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein grouping the icons further comprises:

identifying an icon contained in two or more overlapping icon groups;

computing, based on the latitude and longitude information, distances from a POI associated with the icon to centroids of the POIs associated with each of the two or more icon groups; and

grouping the icon in the overlapping icon group corresponding to the shortest distance.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising removing the icon from the other overlapping icon groups.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising visually distinguishing the group icon from an icon representative of only a single POI.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising displaying information about the POIs represented by the group icon when a user selects the group icon.

8. A system for decluttering an electronic map display, the system comprising:

an input device for receiving input from a user;

a display device for displaying the electronic map display;

a processor configured to;

receive information about points-of-interest (POIs) to be represented on the electronic map display;

determine whether icons representative of the POIs would overlap if displayed concurrently;

group the icons that would overlap into at least one overlapping icon group; and

display on the electronic map a group icon representative of the overlapping icon group.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the information about the POIs includes latitude and longitude information for the POIs.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the processor is further configured to:

compute a centroid of POIs associated with the overlapping icon group based on the latitude and longitude information; and

display the group icon is at the determined centroid.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein the processor is further configured to:

identify an icon contained in two or more overlapping icon groups;

compute, based on the latitude and longitude information, distances from a POI associated with the icon to centroids of the POIs associated with each of the two or more icon groups; and

group the icon in the overlapping icon group corresponding to the shortest distance.

12. The system of claim 11, further comprising removing the icon from the other overlapping icon groups.

13. The system of claim 8, wherein the processor is further configured to visually distinguish the group icon from an icon representative of only a single POI on the electronic map display.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the processor is further configured to display information about the POIs represented by the group icon when a user selects the group icon.

15. A computer-readable storage medium storing a program which, when executed by a computer, causes the computer to perform a method for decluttering an electronic map display, the method comprising:

receiving information about points-of-interest (POIs) to be represented on the electronic map display;

determining whether icons representative of the POIs would overlap if displayed concurrently;

grouping the icons that would overlap into at least one overlapping icon group; and

displaying on the electronic map a group icon representative of the overlapping icon group.

16. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein the information about the POIs includes latitude and longitude information for the POIs.

17. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 16, wherein the method further comprises computing a centroid of POIs associated with the overlapping icon group based on the latitude and longitude information, wherein the group icon is displayed at the determined centroid.

18. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 16, wherein grouping the icons further comprises:

identifying an icon contained in two or more overlapping icon groups;

computing, based on the latitude and longitude information, distances from a POI associated with the icon to centroids of the POIs associated with each of the two or more icon groups; and

grouping the icon in the overlapping icon group corresponding to the shortest distance.

19. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 18, wherein the method further comprises removing the icon from the other overlapping icon groups.

20. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein the method further comprises:

visually distinguishing the group icon from an icon representative of only a single POI; and

displaying information about the POIs represented by the group icon when a user selects the group icon.