Dynamic view-based data layer in a geographic information system
First Claim
1. A method for providing layered information in a geographic information system, comprising:
- receiving a request for a map comprising a current view for display on-screen;
receiving a specification of a border width profile of an off-screen border region around the current view, wherein widths of the border region are adjusted in size based on motion of the current view and previous latency of a search server;
rendering the map by a processor, the map comprising a current view for display on-screen and an off-screen border region wherein the width profile of the off-screen border region is determined by the border width profile;
receiving a search query, the search query comprising search terms that identify items to place on a map, the search query relevant to a geospatial search region comprising the map;
providing the search query to the search server;
receiving results of the search query from the search server, the results comprising items to place on a map in the geospatial search region;
rendering the results of the search query into a virtual data layer overlaying on the map; and
displaying a portion of the virtual data layer, the portion comprising the items within the current view.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Interactive geographic information systems (GIS) and techniques are disclosed that provide users with a greater degree of flexibility, utility, and information. A markup language is provided that facilitates communication between servers and clients of the interactive GIS, which enables a number of GIS features, such as network links (time-based and/or view-dependent dynamic data layers), ground overlays, screen overlays, placemarks, 3D models, and stylized GIS elements, such as geometry, icons, description balloons, polygons, and labels in the viewer by which the user sees the target area. Also, “virtual tours” of user-defined paths in the context of distributed geospatial visualization is enabled. Streaming and interactive visualization of filled polygon data are also enabled thereby allowing buildings and other such features to be provided in 3D. Also, techniques for enabling ambiguous search requests in a GIS are provided.
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Citations
37 Claims
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1. A method for providing layered information in a geographic information system, comprising:
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receiving a request for a map comprising a current view for display on-screen; receiving a specification of a border width profile of an off-screen border region around the current view, wherein widths of the border region are adjusted in size based on motion of the current view and previous latency of a search server; rendering the map by a processor, the map comprising a current view for display on-screen and an off-screen border region wherein the width profile of the off-screen border region is determined by the border width profile; receiving a search query, the search query comprising search terms that identify items to place on a map, the search query relevant to a geospatial search region comprising the map; providing the search query to the search server; receiving results of the search query from the search server, the results comprising items to place on a map in the geospatial search region; rendering the results of the search query into a virtual data layer overlaying on the map; and displaying a portion of the virtual data layer, the portion comprising the items within the current view. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A non-transitory machine-readable medium encoded with instructions, that when executed by a processor, cause the processor to carry out a process for providing layered information in a geographic information system, the process comprising:
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receiving a request for a map comprising a current view for display on-screen; receiving a specification of a border width profile of an off-screen border region around the current view, wherein widths of the border region are adjusted in size based on motion of the current view and previous latency of a search server; rendering the map, the map comprising a current view for display on-screen and an off-screen border region wherein the width profile of the off-screen border region is determined by the border width profile; receiving a search query, the search query comprising search terms that identify items to place on a map, the search query relevant to a geospatial search region comprising the map; providing the search query to the search server; receiving results of the search query from the search server, the results comprising items to place on a map in the geospatial search region; rendering the results of the search query into a virtual data layer overlaying on the map; and displaying a portion of the virtual data layer, the portion comprising the items within the current view. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. A geographic information system for providing layered information, the system comprising:
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means for receiving a request for a map comprising a current view for display on-screen; means for receiving a specification of a border width profile of an off-screen border region around the current view, wherein widths of the border region are adjusted in size based on motion of the current view and previous latency of a search server; means for rendering the map, the map comprising a current view for display on-screen and an off-screen border region wherein the width profile of the off-screen border region is determined by the border width profile; means for receiving a search query, the search query comprising search terms that identify items to place on a map, the search query relevant to a geospatial search region comprising the map; means for providing the search query to the search server; means for receiving results of the search query from the search server, the results comprising items to place on a map in the geospatial search region; means for rendering the results of the search query into a virtual data layer overlaying on the map. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
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36. A method for providing layered information in a geographic information system, comprising:
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receiving at a search server a search query, the search query comprising search terms that identify items to place on a map, the search query relevant to a geospatial search region comprising a map, the geospatial search region limited to a current view plus an off-screen border region, wherein a width profile of the off-screen border region around the current view is determined by a border width profile, wherein widths of the border region are adjusted in size based on motion of the current view and previous latency of the search server; responsive to the search query, executing a search by a processor for items to place on a map in the geospatial search region; receiving results of the search; forming a view-dependent virtual data layer comprising the received results; and transmitting the view-dependent virtual data layer of contents for display as an overlay on underlying map data.
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37. A non-transitory machine-readable medium encoded with instructions, that when executed by a processor, cause the processor to carry out a process for providing layered information in a geographic information system, the process comprising:
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receiving at a search server a search query, the search query comprising search terms that identify items to place on a map, the search query relevant to a geospatial search region comprising a map, the geospatial search region limited to a current view plus an off-screen border region, wherein a width profile of the off-screen border region around the current view is determined by a border width profile, wherein widths of the border region are adjusted in size based on motion of the current view and previous latency of the search server; responsive to the search query, executing a search for items to place on a map in the geospatial search region; receiving results of the search; forming a view-dependent virtual data layer comprising the received results; and transmitting the view-dependent virtual data layer of contents for display as an overlay on underlying map data.
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Specification