INTERACTIVE REPRESENTATION OF CLUSTERS OF GEOGRAPHICAL ENTITIES

• US 20110225541A1
• Filed: 03/09/2010
• Published: 09/15/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/09/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Ramos, Gonzalo A.
• Granted Patent: US 9,697,751 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/790
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3682 output of POI information on a road map G01C21/3614, G01C21/3685 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/29 Geographical information databases
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/957 Browsing optimisation, e.g. caching or content distillation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04806 Zoom, i.e. interaction techniques or interactors for controlling the zooming operation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04817 using icons graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 29/007 using computer methods
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 29/10 Map spot or coordinate position indicators; Map reading aids optical projection apparatus per se G03B
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4314 for fitting data in a restricted space on the screen, e.g. EPG data in a rectangular grid

Abstract

Various embodiments enable, in a mapping context, various visual entities to be clustered into groups that do not occlude one another. In at least some embodiments, individual clusters are represented on a map by a puddle defined by a computed contour line. Users can interact with the puddle to acquire more information about the puddle'"'"'s content. In at least some embodiments, user interaction can include zooming operations, clicking operations, hovering operations and the like.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method comprising:

ascertaining a collection of visual entities that are to constitute a cluster on a map;

defining a cluster to include the collection of visual entities;

computing a puddle for the cluster; and

displaying the puddle on the map.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the ascertaining is performed by ascertaining visual entities at least some of which overlap with one another.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the defining is performed by taking into account dimensions of individual visual entities and distances between the individual visual entities.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the defining is performed by merging a visual entity into a single cluster rather than multiple clusters.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the computing is performed by computing a contour line that defines an outer perimeter of the puddle.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the computing is performed by computing a contour line that defines an outer perimeter of the puddle, wherein computation of the contour line is performed by utilizing a bounding structure having vertices that are iteratively moved closer to an energy cloud defined by collective energy fields associated with individual visual entities.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising rendering a single visual entity on the puddle.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

receiving a user action;

responsive to receiving the user action, ascertaining a new collection of visual entities that are to constitute a new cluster;

defining a new cluster to include the new collection of visual entities;

computing a new puddle for the new cluster; and

displaying the new puddle on the map.

9. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

receiving a user action comprising a zoom-in or zoom-out operation;

responsive to receiving the user action, ascertaining a new collection of visual entities that are to constitute a new cluster;

defining a new cluster to include the new collection of visual entities;

computing a new puddle for the new cluster; and

displaying the new puddle on the map.

10. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

receiving a user action; and

responsive to receiving the user action, providing additional information associated with the puddle.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the user action comprises a click on or a hover over the puddle.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the additional information is presented in a preview.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the additional information is presented in a miniature browser window.

14. One or more computer readable storage media embodying computer readable instructions which, when executed, implement a method comprising:

rendering a puddle on a map, wherein the puddle represents a collection of visual entities at least some of which would occlude one another if rendered on the map;

receiving a user action relative to the puddle;

responsive to receiving the user action, rendering one or more new puddles on the map including presenting a visual transition between a puddle state associated with the puddle and a puddle state associated with the one or more new puddles.

15. The one or more computer readable storage media of claim 14, wherein the user action comprises a zoom operation.

16. The one or more computer readable storage media of claim 14, wherein the visual transition comprises serially performing the following acts:

rendering a collection of vertices associated with the visual entities in the puddle;

removing the puddle to leave only the collection of vertices;

performing a zoom operation;

performing the rendering of the one or more new puddles to include associated vertices; and

removing the associated vertices from the one or more new puddles.

17. The one or more computer readable storage media of claim 14, wherein the visual transition comprises a visual indication of a direction from which a respective one or more new puddles originated.

18. One or more computer readable storage media embodying a cluster module configured to:

cluster visual entities associated with a map into puddles that represent collections of visual entities;

enable user interaction with individual puddles to acquire information about individual puddle content;

enable re-clustering of visual entities and re-computation of puddles responsive to user actions; and

enable visual transitions between puddles and re-computed puddles.

19. The one or more computer readable storage media of claim 18, wherein the information is presented in a miniature browser window.

20. The one or more computer readable storage media of claim 18, wherein the user actions comprise zoom-in or zoom-out operations.