Data-Driven 3D Traffic Views with the View Based on User-Selected Start and End Geographical Locations

• US 20110131597A1
• Filed: 12/07/2010
• Published: 06/02/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/18/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: HERE Global B.V. (HERE Holding Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Taffic.com Incorporated
• Inventors: Agree, Jonathan K., Smyth, Brian J., Matzelle, Brent R., Smith, Eric R., Balcerzak, Michal, Auxer, Gregory A., Grubner, John B., Cera, Christopher D., Soulchin, Robert M.
• Granted Patent: US 9,200,909 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/24
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04815 Interaction with a metaphor-based environment or interaction object displayed as three-dimensional, e.g. changing the user viewpoint with respect to the environment or object

Abstract

Traffic flow data representing traffic conditions on a road system is obtained. A user selects a start geographical location and an end geographical location. An animated flythrough 3D graphical map is then created and displayed beginning at the start geographical location and navigating toward the end geographical location. The traffic flow data is continuously displayed during the flythrough.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for creating a traffic report for a television broadcast, comprising:

providing a user interface that allows a user to make a data type selection of one of an incident item, a sensor item, and a key route item in a geographic area;

receiving the data type selection of one of the incident item, the sensor item, and the key route item from the user;

upon receiving the data type selection, allowing the user to make a map type selection of one of a 2D map, a 3D sky view map, and a 3D fly through map via the user interface;

receiving the map type selection of one of the 2D map, the 3D sky view map, and a 3D fly through map;

upon receiving the map type selection, displaying a preview of how the data type and map type selections would appear in a television traffic report for the geographic area to the user; and

upon receiving a first indication that the user approves the traffic report appearance, saving the data type and map type selections for use in the television traffic report.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the incident item is an item on a list of traffic incidents in the geographic area.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the sensor item is an item on a list of sensors in the geographic area with associated traffic data.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the key route item is an item on a list of predefined sections of a road system in the geographic area.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising allowing the user to edit the data type and map type selections and the geographic area via the user interface after viewing the preview of the television traffic report.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising receiving user edits of at least one of the data type, the map type, and the geographic area.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising allowing the user to select an informational graphic to be included in the television traffic report.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the informational graphic is a travel time graphic.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the informational graphic is an average speed graphic.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein the informational graphic is an overview graphic.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving multiple selections of data type and map type pairs, and allowing the user to order the pairs for use in the television traffic report.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving a second indication from the user to activate the television traffic report and sending a video signal including the saved data type and map type selections to a television station for use in the television traffic report.

13. A system for creating a traffic report for a television broadcast, comprising in combination:

a processor;

data storage; and

machine language instructions stored in the data storage executable by the processor to;

provide a user interface that allows a user to make a data type selection of one of an incident item, a sensor item, and a key route item in a geographic area and a map type selection of one of a 2D map, a 3D sky view map, and a 3D fly through for the selected data type;

receive the data type selection and the map type selection from the user;

display a preview of how the data type and map type selections would appear in a television traffic report for the geographic area to the user;

save the data type and map type selections upon receiving a first indication from the user; and

send a video signal including the saved data type and map type selections to a television station for use in the television traffic report upon receiving a second indication from the user.

14. The system of claim 13, further comprising machine language instructions operable to receive user edits of at least one of the data type, the map type, and the geographic area.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein the user interface further allows the user to select an informational graphic to be included in the television traffic report and wherein the machine language instructions are operable to receive the selection of an informational graphic.

16. The system of claim 13, further comprising machine language instructions operable to receive multiple selections of data type and map type pairs and allow the user to order the pairs for use in the television traffic report.

17. A computer-implemented method for creating a traffic report for a television broadcast, comprising:

providing a first user interface that allows a user to create a rundown for a television traffic report, wherein the rundown is a list of data type and map type pairs for a geographic area;

providing a preview of the rundown to the user that depicts how the rundown would appear in the television traffic report;

providing a second user interface that allows the user to edit the data type, the map type, and the geographic area in the rundown; and

providing an output signal that causes the rundown to be displayed in the television traffic report.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the data type is one of an incident item, a sensor item, and a key route item in the geographic area.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the map type is one of a 2D map, a 3D sky view map, and a 3D fly through map.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein the first user interface further allows the user to order the list in the rundown.