PROGRESSIVE DISCLOSURE OF INDOOR MAPS

• US 20140253538A1
• Filed: 03/07/2013
• Published: 09/11/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/07/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google Inc. (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Bailiang, Zhou
• Granted Patent: US 8,928,657 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/419
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/206 specially adapted for indoor navigation
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 15/08 Volume rendering
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 15/20 Perspective computation
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 19/00 Manipulating 3D models or images for computer graphics
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2210/04 Architectural design, interior design
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2210/62 Semi-transparency

Abstract

A digital map of a geographic area is displayed via a user interface, and a 3D representation of a building located in the geographic area is displayed on the digital map. A virtual camera is used to view the digital map, and the location of the virtual camera is changeable in response to user input. The external shell of the 3D representation is made increasingly transparent as a virtual camera approaches the 3D representation of the building to reveal indoor information for the building.

Claims

1. A method in a computing device for providing an intuitive display of a building on a digital map, the method comprising:

displaying a digital map of a geographic area via a user interface of the computing device from a perspective of a virtual camera;

displaying, on the digital map, a three-dimensional (3D) representation of a building located in the geographic area, including displaying an external shell of the building;

receiving, via the user interface, a request to change a position of the virtual camera to approach the 3D representation of the building;

in response to the received request, changing the position of the virtual camera to approach the 3D representation of the building; and

as the position of the virtual camera is changed to approach the 3D representation of the building, simultaneously (i) increasing transparency of the external shell of the building to reveal indoor map information drawn within the 3D representation of the building through the partially transparent external shell and (ii) increasing a detail of the indoor map information drawn within the 3D representation of the building.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising, prior to changing the position of the virtual camera:

rendering the external shell of the building in an opaque manner;

detecting a selection of the 3D representation of the building via the user interface; and

in response to the selection, rendering the external shell of the building in a partially transparent manner.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein detecting the selection of the 3D representation of the building via the user interface includes detecting a tap gesture.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein increasing transparency of the external shell of the building includes progressively increasing transparency of at least one of (i) a vertical wall and (ii) a roof.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the request to change the position of the virtual camera includes receiving a zoom command.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the building is a multi-story building;

the method further comprising;

identifying a default floor of the multi-story building,

wherein the indoor map information for the building includes a floor map of the default floor.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the indoor map information for the building includes a floor map comprising one or more of:

(i) a layout of internal walls or dividers,

(ii) names of entities occupying different portions of a default floor of the building, and

(iii) locations of elevators, escalators, and restrooms.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein increasing transparency of the external shell of the building includes applying, for a plurality of discrete zoom levels, a plurality of respective transparency values.

9. A method in a computing device for providing an intuitive display of a building on a digital map, the method comprising:

displaying a digital map of a geographic area via a user interface of the computing device from a perspective of a virtual camera;

displaying, on the digital map, a three-dimensional (3D) representation of a building located in the geographic area;

comparing a distance between the virtual camera and the 3D representation of the building to a threshold value; and

displaying only an external shell of the building in response to the distance between the virtual camera and the 3D representation of the building being greater than the threshold value, and

displaying (i) an indoor map of an internal floor of the building and (ii) at least a portion of the external shell of the building disposed between the internal floor of the building and the virtual camera in response to the distance between the virtual camera and the 3D representation of the building being smaller than the threshold value.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

when the distance between the virtual camera and the 3D representation of the building is smaller the threshold value, increasing transparency of the external shell as the distance between the virtual camera and the 3D representation of the building decreases further.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein displaying at least a portion of the outer shell includes displaying at least one of a vertical wall and a roof.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein displaying at least a portion of the external shell includes displaying the external shell in a partially transparent manner.

13. The method of claim 9, further comprising changing the distance between the virtual camera and the three-dimensional representation of the building in response to a zoom-in command.

14. A computing device comprising:

a user interface including a display device;

one or more processors; and

a memory storing thereon instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the computing device to;

display a digital map of a geographic area via the user interface from a perspective of a virtual camera;

display, on the digital map, a three-dimensional (3D) representation of a building located in the geographic area, wherein the 3D representation of the building includes associated internal features of the building and an opaque external shell that obscures the associated internal features;

receive, via the user interface, a request to change a position of the virtual camera to approach the 3D representation of the building,

in response to the received request, change the position of the virtual camera to approach the 3D representation of the building, and

as the position of the virtual camera is changed to approach the 3D representation of the building, simultaneously (1) increase a transparency of the external shell to reveal the associated internal features within the 3D representation of the building through the partially transparent external shell and (ii) increase a detail of the associated internal features within the 3D representation of the building.

16. The computing device of claim 14, wherein the instructions further cause the computing device to:

receive, via the user interface, an additional request to change the position of the virtual camera to distance from the 3D representation of the building,

in response to the received additional request, change the position of the virtual camera to distance from 3D representation of the building, and

as the position of the virtual camera is changed to distance from the 3D representation of the building, simultaneously (i) decrease a transparency of the external shell and (ii) decrease a detail of the associated internal features within the 3D representation of the building.

17. The computing device of claim 14, wherein the instructions cause the computing device to change the position of the virtual camera in response to a zoom command.

18. The computing device of claim 14, wherein the external shell includes at least one of (i) vertical walls and (ii) a roof.

20. The computing device of claim 14, wherein the associated internal features of the building include a floor map comprising one or more of:

(i) a layout of internal walls or dividers,

(ii) names of entities occupying different portions of a default floor of the building, and

(iii) locations of elevators, escalators, and restrooms.

15. (canceled)

19. (canceled)