Method and System for Contextual Update of Geographic Imagery

• US 20150177912A1
• Filed: 12/28/2012
• Published: 06/25/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/28/2012
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Mercay, Julien Charles, Kornmann, David
• Application Number:
  US13/729,946
• Publication Number:
  US 20150177912A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3647 Guidance involving output of stored or live camera images or video streams
• 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: G06T 11/00 2D [Two Dimensional] image generation
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 25/06 for surveying; for geography, e.g. relief models globes G09B27/00; maps G09B29/00
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 29/007 using computer methods
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 29/12 Relief maps relief models G09B25/06

Abstract

Methods and systems for presenting geographic imagery in conjunction with content detailing specific information about the geographic imagery are provided. More particularly, a user interface can present geographic imagery in conjunction with a display element, such as a text balloon, a text frame, or other element for presenting information to a user. The display element can provide content, such as text and other information, detailing specific information about the geographic imagery. As the user analyzes the information presented in the display element, for instance by scrolling through the information, the geographic imagery can be automatically updated based on the content provided in the display element. For instance, the geographic imagery can be updated with additional vectors, overlays, geographic data layers, camera views, etc., to display or highlight the information presented in the display element as the different aspects of the information come into focus in the display element.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method of presenting geographic imagery, comprising:

presenting, by one or more computing devices, a first view of the geographic imagery in a user interface on a display of a computing device;

presenting, by the one or more computing devices, a display element in conjunction with the geographic imagery, the display element providing text content associated with the geographic imagery, the text content having a plurality of subsections of text content, at least one of the subsections being visible in the display element;

receiving, by the one or more computing devices, a user scroll input directed to the display element scrolling the visibility of one or more subsections of text content in the display element; and

in response to the user scroll input scrolling the visibility of one or more subsections, performing operations comprising;

identifying, by the one or more computing devices, subsection of text content displayed in the display element based at least in part on the visibility of the subsection as a result of the scroll input;

analyzing by the one or more computing devices, the identified subsection to identity one or more parameters associated with fee text content in the identified subsection; and

adjusting, by the one or more computing devices, the geographic imagery in the user interface to present a second view of the geographic imagery based on the identified parameters associated with the text content in the identified subsection.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the display element is provided in response to a user interaction directed to a point of interest, the content being associated with the point of interest.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the display element is a text balloon or a text frame presented in conjunction with the geographic imagery.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the content is a single page web document.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein identifying a subsection displayed in the display element based on the visibility of the subsection comprises identifying a subsection presented within a view area of the display element.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein identifying a subsection displayed in the display element based on the visibility of the subsection comprises:

detecting, by the one or more computing devices, the most prominently visible subsection in the display element; and

identifying, by the one or more computing devices, the most prominently visible subsection as the identified subsection.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the one or more parameters comprise geographic keywords provided in the identified subsection.

10. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the one or more parameters comprise executable code associated with the identified subsection, the executable code triggering the adjusting of the geographic imagery in the user interface to the second view of the geographic imagery.

11. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein adjusting the display of the geographic imagery in the user interface to a second view of the geographic imagery comprises adjusting a camera view of the geographic imagery.

12. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein adjusting the display of the geographic imagery in the user interface to a second view of the geographic imagery comprises displaying or hiding one or more overlays, vectors, or geographic data layers in conjunction with the geographic imagery.

13. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the content is associated with a virtual tour of a geographic area.

14. The computer-implemented method of claim 12, wherein adjusting the display of the geographic imagery in the user interface to the second view comprises adjusting the display of geographic imagery to present a portion of the virtual tour.

15. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the content provided in the display element is associated with travel directions.

16. The computer-implemented method of claim 15, wherein adjusting the display of the geographic imagery In the user interface to the second view comprises adjusting the display of geographic imagery to present a portion of the travel directions.

4. (canceled)

6. (canceled)

17. A computing device comprising a display device, one or more processors, and at least one computer-readable medium, the computer-readable medium storing instructions that when executed by the processor to perform operations, the operations comprising:

presenting a first view of the geographic imagery in a user interface on the display device;

presenting a display element in conjunction with the geographic imagery, the display element providing text content associated with the geographic imagery, the text content having a plurality of subsections of text content, at least one of the subsections being visible in the display element;

receiving a user scroll input directed to the display element scrolling the content in the display element to adjust the visibility of one or more subsections of text content in the display element; and

responsive to the user scroll input, identifying a subsection displayed in the display element based on the visibility of the subsection as a result of the scroll input;

analyzing the identified subsection to identify one or more parameters associated with the text content in the identified subsection; and

adjusting the geographic imagery in the user interface to present a second view of the geographic imagery based on the identified parameters associated with the text content in the identified subsection.

18. The computing device of claim 17, wherein the operation of adjusting the display of the geographic imagery in the user interface to a second view of the geographic imagery comprises adjusting a camera view of the geographic imagery.

19. The computer device of claim 17, wherein the operation of adjusting the display of the geographic imagery in the user interface to a second view of the geographic imagery comprises displaying or hiding one or more overlays, vectors, or geographic data layers in conjunction with the geographic imagery.

20. A computer-implemented method of providing a virtual tour of geographic imagery of a geographic area, the method comprising:

receiving, by one or more computing devices, a user input requesting a virtual tour of the geographic area;

presenting, by the one or more computing devices, a first view of geographic imagery in a user interface on a display device, the first view of the geographic imagery associated with a first, portion of the virtual tour;

presenting, by the one or more computing devices, a display element in conjunction with the geographic imagery, the display element providing text content associated with the virtual tour, the text content comprising a first subsection and a second subsection, the first subsection associated with text content corresponding to the first portion of the virtual tour, the second subsection associated with a text content corresponding second portion of the virtual tour, the first subsection being visible in the display element;

receiving, by the one or more computing devices, a user scroll input directed to the display element scrolling the visibility of the first and second subsections in the display element such that the second subsection becomes visible in the display element; and

in response to the user input, performing operations comprising;

analyzing, by the one or more computing devices, the second subsection to identify one or more parameters associated with text content in the second subsection; and

adjusting, by the one or more computing devices, the geographic imagery in the user interface to present a second view of the geographic imagery based on the identified parameters associated with the text content in the second subsection, the second view of the geographic imagery associated with the second portion of the virtual tour.