System and method for displaying a map having two scales

• US 6,697,734 B1
• Filed: 04/17/2002
• Issued: 02/24/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/17/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Suomela, Riku
• Primary Examiner(s): Beaulieu, Yonel
• Application Number:
  US10/123,143
• Time in Patent Office: 678 Days
• Field of Search: 701/208, 701/211, 701/212, 701/213, 701/214, 345/428, 345/439, 345/353, 345/357, 340/995, 340/995.1, 340/995.15
• US Class Current: 701/212
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3673 Labelling using text of road map data items, e.g. road names, POI names
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3682 output of POI information on a road map G01C21/3614, G01C21/3685 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 29/10 Map spot or coordinate position indicators; Map reading aids optical projection apparatus per se G03B

Abstract

A system and method is provided for displaying a digital map simultaneously having two scales. The digital map includes a detail area having a first scale located in a substantially central portion of the map and an object area having a second scale located in a peripheral portion of the map. Objects are shown in the object area in orientations related to the detail area. The objects represent geographic locations of interest and may also represent landmarks and other prominent features. In one embodiment, the digital map is displayed on a mobile device. The digital map, including either or both areas, may be modified by a user to show different scales. The objects of the map may also be modified. The map may include a location indicator to represent a location of interest, which may be a user'"'"'s current location.

Claims

1. An apparatus for displaying a cohesive map having areas of different scales, the apparatus comprising:

a display device; and

a processor coupled to the display device that performs steps comprising;

(a) displaying on the display device the cohesive map, the cohesive map comprising;

a detail area located in a substantially central portion of the map and having a first scale; and

an object area separate from the detail area and displayed substantially simultaneously with the detail area, the object area located in a peripheral portion of the map and having a second scale, the object area showing objects oriented in relation to the detail area; and

(b) modifying one of the detail area and the object area of the map.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first scale is larger than the second scale and shows greater detail.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the objects comprise icons that each represent a geographical location.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the each one of the icons further represents a landmark located at the respective geographic location.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein step (b) comprises the step of changing one of the first and second scales.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein step (b) comprises the step of customizing the objects shown in the object area.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the step of customizing the objects shown in the object area comprises downloading at least one object.

9. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the step of customizing the objects shown in the object area comprises bookmarking at least one object.

10. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the step of customizing the objects shown in the object area comprises creating an object.

11. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the step of customizing the objects shown in the object area comprises adding an object to a location on the map.

12. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the step of customizing the objects shown in the object area comprises naming at least one object.

13. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the step of customizing the objects shown in the object area comprises deleting an object.

14. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the step of customizing the objects shown in the object area comprises creating a list of objects of interest.

15. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the step of customizing the objects shown in the object area comprises creating a set of objects.

16. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the step of customizing the objects shown in the object area comprises designating one of the objects as a permanent object, wherein the permanent object is always shown on the map.

17. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the step of customizing the objects shown in the object area comprises adding information to an object.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the processor performs the further step of displaying the added information in response to selection of the object.

19. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein each object represents a location having known coordinates.

20. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processor performs the further step of displaying a location indicator in the detail area of the map.

21. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the location indicator represents a user location.

22. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the processor performs the further step of determining the user location.

23. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the location indicator shows a direction.

24. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the processor performs the further step of displaying a distance from the location indicator to at least one of the objects.

25. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the processor performs the further step of displaying a direction from the location indicator to at least one of the objects.

26. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus comprises a portable device.

2. An apparatus for displaying a map having areas of different scales, the apparatus comprising:

a display; and

a processor coupled to the display that performs steps comprising;

(a) displaying on the display the map comprising;

a detail area located in a substantially central portion of the map and having a first scale; and

an object area located in a peripheral portion of the map and having a second scale, the object area showing objects oriented in relation to the detail area; and

(b) modifying one of the detail area and the object area of the map;

wherein the object area substantially surrounds the detail area.

27. A method for presenting navigation information using a digital map, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) displaying the digital map comprising;

a detail area located in a substantially central portion of the digital map and having a first scale; and

an object area located in a peripheral portion of the digital map and having a second scale, the object area being displayed substantially simultaneously with the detail area, the object area showing objects oriented in relation to the detail area; and

(b) modifying one of the detail area and the object area of the digital map.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein step (b) comprises the step of changing one of the first and second scales.

31. The method of claim 27, comprising the further step of displaying a location indicator in the detail area of the digital map.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein the location indicator represents a user location.

33. The method of claim 32, further comprising the step of determining the user location.

34. The method of claim 31, wherein the method further comprises the step of displaying a distance from the location indicator to at least one of the objects.

35. The method of claim 31, wherein the method further comprises the step of displaying a direction from the location indicator to at least one of the objects.

29. A method for presenting navigation information using a digital map, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) displaying the digital map comprising;

a detail area located in a substantially central portion of the digital map and having a first scale; and

an object area located in a peripheral portion of the digital map and having a second scale, the object area showing objects oriented in relation to the detail area; and

(b) modifying one of the detail area and the object area of the digital map;

wherein step (b) comprises the step of customizing the objects shown in the object area.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein the step of customizing the objects shown in the object area is selected from the group consisting of bookmarking at least one object, creating an object, adding an object to a location on the map, naming at least one object, deleting an object, creating a list of objects, creating a set of objects, downloading at least one object, designating one of the objects as a permanent object, and adding information to an object.

36. A computer-readable medium containing computer-readable instructions for performing the steps comprising:

(a) displaying a digital map comprising;

a detail area located in a substantially central portion of the digital map having a first scale; and

an object area located in a peripheral portion of the digital map having a second scale, the object area showing objects oriented in relation to the detail area, the object area being displayed substantially simultaneously with the detail area; and

(b) modifying one of the detail area and the object area of the digital map.

37. The computer-readable medium of claim 36, wherein step (b) comprises the step of changing one of the first and second scales.

40. The computer-readable medium of claim 36, further comprising computer-readable instructions for performing the step of displaying a location indicator in the detail area of the map.

41. The computer-readable medium of claim 40, wherein the location indicator represents a user location.

42. The computer-readable medium of claim 41, further comprising computer-readable instructions for performing the step of determining the user location.

43. The computer-readable medium of claim 40, further comprising computer-readable instructions for performing the step of displaying a distance from the location indicator to at least one of the objects.

44. The computer-readable medium of claim 40, further comprising computer-readable instructions for performing the step of displaying a direction from the location indicator to at least one of the objects.

38. A computer-readable medium containing computer-readable instructions for performing the steps comprising:

(a) displaying a digital map comprising;

a detail area located in a substantially central portion of the digital map having a first scale; and

an object area located in a peripheral portion of the digital map having a second scale, the object area showing objects oriented in relation to the detail area; and

(b) modifying one of the detail area and the object area of the digital map;

wherein step (b) comprises the step of customizing the objects shown in the object area.

39. The computer-readable medium of claim 38, wherein the step of customizing the objects shown in the object area is selected from the group consisting of bookmarking at least one object, creating an object, adding an object to a location on the map, naming at least one object, deleting an object, creating a list of objects, creating a set of objects, downloading at least one object, designating one of the objects as a permanent object, and adding information to an object.

45. A portable device for displaying a digital map having areas of different scales, the apparatus comprising:

an input device;

a display screen showing the digital map comprising;

a detail area located in a substantially central portion of the digital map, the detail area having first scale; and

an object area located in a peripheral portion of the digital map having a second scale smaller than the first scale, the object area showing objects oriented in relation to the detail area, the object area being displayed substantially simultaneously with the detail area;

location detection hardware; and

a processor coupled to the display screen, the input device, and the location detection hardware that performs steps comprising;

(a) determining a current location for the mobile device based on information received from the location detection hardware;

(b) displaying the digital map on the display screen and showing substantially simultaneously both the detail area and the object area in an orientation related to the current location; and

(b) modifying one of the detail area and the object area of the digital map in response to receiving an input from the input device.