SHOWING REALISTIC HORIZONS ON MOBILE COMPUTING DEVICES

• US 20120143500A1
• Filed: 12/03/2010
• Published: 06/07/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/03/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google Inc. (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Taylor, John David
• Granted Patent: US 8,380,427 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/454
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 27/04 Star maps
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/026 using orientation information, e.g. compass
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services

Abstract

In general, this disclosure describes techniques for providing a user of a computing device with the ability to view a realistic map of the sky based on information associated with the current location of the user. The information may be geographical information, orientation or directionality of the computing device, time and date, and zoom settings of the computing device. The computing device may use built-in capabilities (e.g., compass) and applications (e.g., maps and GPS) to determine the current location information. The computing device then uses the current location information to obtain celestial and topographical information. Using the celestial information, the computing device displays a map of the sky with the appropriate celestial bodies. Additionally, the computing device uses the topographical information to display a realistic rendering of the horizon, such that objects in the horizon may be displayed to render a realistic representation of the sky from the current location.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

obtaining, by a mobile computing device, topographical information describing a topography associated with a geographical location of the mobile computing device;

obtaining, by the mobile computing device, celestial information associated with a portion of a sky around the geographical location of the mobile computing device;

displaying, on a display screen of the mobile computing device, a representation of the sky comprising one or more celestial objects based on the celestial information; and

displaying, on the display screen of the mobile computing device, a representation of a horizon at the geographical location of the mobile computing device based on the topographical information.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the geographical location comprises latitude and longitude values.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the topographical information comprises a plurality of altitudes of objects in the horizon at different azimuths.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

determining a field of view based on an orientation of the mobile computing device, wherein the different azimuths correspond to the field of view.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

obtaining information associated with the geographical location of the mobile computing device, wherein the information comprises one or more of a time of day, an orientation of the mobile computing device, or a zoom setting of the mobile computing device,

wherein displaying the representation of the sky comprises displaying the representation of the sky based at least on the geographical location of the mobile computing device and on the information associated with the geographical location, and

wherein displaying the representation of the horizon comprises displaying the representation of the horizon based at least on the geographical location of the mobile computing device and on the information associated with the geographical location.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

displaying the representation of the horizon based on a level of opaqueness defined by a user input,

wherein a lower level of opaqueness allows a user to see a greater portion of the representation of the sky that is displayed behind the representation of the horizon than a higher level of opaqueness allows.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

sending from the mobile computing device the geographical location of the mobile computing device to one or more external servers; and

receiving one or more of the topographical information or the celestial information from the one or more external servers.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the celestial information comprises at least one of celestial bodies, constellations, or planets.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

obtaining, by the mobile computing device, new information associated with the geographical location of the mobile computing device;

obtaining, by the mobile computing device, new topographical information associated with the geographical location of the mobile computing device based on the new information;

obtaining, by the mobile computing device, updated celestial information associated with the geographical location of the mobile computing device based on the new information;

displaying, on the display screen of the computing device, an updated representation of the sky based on the updated celestial information; and

displaying, on the display screen of the computing device, an updated representation of the horizon at the new geographical location of the mobile computing device based on the updated topographical information.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the new information associated with the geographical location indicates a change in the geographical location of the mobile computing device.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the new information associated with the geographical location indicates a change in an orientation of the mobile computing device.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the new information associated with the geographical location indicates a change of a time of day.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein the new information associated with the geographical location indicates a change in a display zoom setting of the mobile computing device.

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

displaying, on the display screen of the mobile computing device, information associated with the one or more celestial objects.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the information associated with the one or more celestial objects comprises names of the one or more celestial objects.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the information associated with the one or more celestial objects comprises at least one hyperlink to at least one website that provides information regarding the one or more celestial objects.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein the mobile computing device includes one or more of a global positioning system, a mapping application, and a compass, the method further comprising:

determining, by the mobile computing device, the geographical location of the mobile computing device.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein the mobile computing device comprises a mobile phone.

19. A computer-readable storage medium encoded with instructions that, when executed, cause one or more processors to:

obtain, by a mobile computing device, topographical information describing a topography associated with a geographical location of the mobile computing device;

obtain, by the mobile computing device, celestial information associated with a portion of a sky around the geographical location of the mobile computing device;

display, on a display screen of the mobile computing device, a representation of the sky comprising one or more celestial objects based on the celestial information; and

display, on the display screen of the mobile computing device, a representation of a horizon at the geographical location of the mobile computing device based on the topographical information.

20. A mobile computing device, comprising:

one or more processors;

means for obtaining topographical information describing a topography associated with a geographical location of the mobile computing device;

a determination module operable by the one or more processors to obtain celestial information associated with a portion of a sky around the geographical location of the mobile computing device;

a display module operable by the one or more processors to display, on a display screen of the mobile computing device, a representation of the sky comprising one or more celestial objects based on the celestial information; and

a display module operable by the one or more processors to display, on the display screen of the mobile computing device, a representation of a horizon at the geographical location of the mobile computing device based on the topographical information.