SCHEMATIC MAPS

• US 20110196610A1
• Filed: 02/05/2010
• Published: 08/11/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/05/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Waldman, Jaron, Ben-David, Moran
• Granted Patent: US 8,463,543 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/209
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3644 Landmark guidance, e.g. using POIs or conspicuous other objects
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/367 Details, e.g. road map scale, orientation, zooming, illumination, level of detail, scrolling of road map or positioning of current position marker

Abstract

Systems and methods for preparing and presenting schematic maps, which are maps that present information in a format that presents only information that is most relevant to a given situation in order to provide a simple and clear representation sufficient to aid a user in guidance or orientation. The schematic maps as described herein can be formatted based on the attributes of a display on which they are presented so that the map layout and presentation can be optimized for the particular display. The schematic maps can be “distorted” to better illustrate important maps areas in greater detail and using a relatively larger display area while deemphasizing less important map areas by illustrating them in less detail and using a relatively smaller display area, and thus the schematic maps can be devoid of adherence to a particular scale.

Claims

1. A method implemented on a device having a processor and a display, the method comprising:

analyzing map vector data, the map vector data comprising information describing map features including a start point, one or more potential end points, and one or more possible routes, each route having one or more route segments, from the start point to the respective possible end point;

identifying a region of geographic focus;

ranking the map features within the region of geographic focus in a usefulness index;

selecting for display map features having been a rank greater than a threshold for display;

determining an orientation in which to display the selected map features on the display based on display attributes;

drawing each route segment selected for display as an approximately straight line, the orientation of the line being an approximation of an overall direction of travel in actuality along the route segment; and

presenting a schematic map of the selected map features on the display in an orientation optimized for the display, wherein the schematic map is distorted to emphasize areas of interest.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising selecting a route, the route segments making up the selected route receiving a ranking in the usefulness index greater than the threshold for display.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the map vector data further comprises landmarks.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the schematic map does not conform to a particular scale.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein an area of interest comprises each of the following:

route segments, potential destinations, a present location of the device, and start points.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the schematic map illustrates a route from the starting point to a destination.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the schematic map illustrates points of interest nearby the location of the device.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the threshold for display is adjusted based on a density of map features in the region of geographic focus.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the nearby points of interest comprise search results, businesses, and friends of a user.

10. A handheld device comprising:

a communications interface configured to receive map vector data describing map features including landmarks, route segments, and potential points of interest;

a processor configured to analyze the map vector data, the processor further configured to rank each map feature in a usefulness index according to each respective map feature'"'"'s usefulness in directing a user to a destination, the processor further configured to select for display all map features having a usefulness ranking greater than a threshold;

a graphics accelerator configured to draw a schematic map comprising the map features selected for display, the route segments thereof being drawn as substantially straight lines that intersect other route segments to comprise a route from the starting point to the destination, the video accelerator further configured to distort a schematic map to emphasize end points and areas of interest;

a display configured to display the schematic map; and

a user interface configured to accept user inputs instructing one or more the processor to generate or modify the schematic map.

11. The device of claim 10, wherein the user interface is a touch screen.

12. The device of claim 10, wherein the schematic map presents directions to a destination.

13. The device of claim 10, further comprising a memory for storing the map vector data.

14. The device of claim 13, wherein the processor is configured to access the memory to analyze the stored map vector data to update the schematic map.

15. A computer-readable medium storing computer-executable instructions for causing a computer having a processor and a display to perform the method comprising:

analyzing map vector data, the map vector data comprising information describing map features including a start point, one or more potential end points, and one or more possible routes each route having one or more route segments from the start point to the various possible end points;

identifying a region of geographic focus;

ranking the map features which are located within the region of geographic focus in a usefulness index;

selecting for display map features that have been given a rank greater than a threshold value for display;

determining an orientation in which to display the selected map features on the display based on display attributes; and

presenting a schematic map of the selected map features on the display in an determined orientation.

16. The computer-readable medium storing computer-executable instructions for causing a computer to perform the method of claim 15, further comprising:

drawing each route segment selected for display as an approximately straight line, the orientation of the line being an approximation of an overall direction of travel in reality along the route segment.

17. The computer-readable medium storing computer-executable instructions for causing a computer to perform the method of claim 15, wherein the schematic map is distorted.

18. The computer-readable medium storing computer-executable instructions for causing a computer to perform the method of claim 15, wherein the map vector data further comprises landmarks.

19. The computer-readable medium storing computer-executable instructions for causing a computer to perform the method of claim 15, wherein the schematic map does not conform to a particular scale.

20. The computer-readable medium storing computer-executable instructions for causing a computer to perform the method of claim 16, wherein an area of interest comprises each of the following:

junctions of route segments, potential destinations, a present location of the device, and start points.

21. The computer-readable medium storing computer-executable instructions for causing a computer to perform the method of claim 15, wherein the schematic map illustrates a route from the starting point to a destination.

22. The computer-readable medium storing computer-executable instructions for causing a computer to perform the method of claim 15, wherein the schematic map illustrates points of interest nearby the present location of the device.

23. A system comprising:

a processor configured to analyze map vector data, the map vector data comprising data describing map features including landmarks, route segments, and potential points of interest;

a processor configured to rank each map feature in a usefulness index according the each respective map feature'"'"'s usefulness in directing a user to a destination;

a processor configured to select for display all map features having a usefulness ranking greater than a threshold;

a processor configured to draw a schematic map comprising route segments, landmarks and points of interest selected for display, the processor drawing route segments as substantially straight lines that intersect other route segments, the intersecting route segments making up a route for providing directions from the starting point to the destination, the processor further configured to draw the schematic map with distortion to emphasize end points and areas of interest;

a display configured to display the schematic map; and

a user interface to configured to accept user inputs instructing one or more of the processors to generate or modify the schematic map.

24. The system of claim 23, wherein the processors are distributed among one or more devices in the system.

25. The system of claim 24, wherein the processors exist in one or more servers and a handheld device.

26. The system of claim 23, wherein the processors are all embodied in a single processor in a handheld device.