Cartographic display of content through dynamic, interactive user interface elements

• US 8,368,722 B1
• Filed: 04/18/2007
• Issued: 02/05/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 04/18/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google Inc. (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Moore, Rebecca
• Primary Examiner(s): Ma, Tize
• Application Number:
  US11/737,102
• Time in Patent Office: 2,120 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 345/646
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/29 Geographical information databases
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/444 Spatial browsing, e.g. 2D maps, 3D or virtual spaces
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/94 Hypermedia Hyperlinking G06F40/134
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 29/007 using computer methods

Abstract

An interactive user interface element makes content (e.g., images, news, standard indexed Web content) available to a user of online map services (e.g., virtual globe program). In some implementations, when zoomed out on a feature displayed in map imagery (e.g., virtual globe imagery), the user sees a non-interactive user interface element (e.g., a feature label). As the user expresses greater interest in the feature by, for example, flying (“zooming”) toward the feature, the non-interactive user interface element is replaced by (or morphs into) an interactive user interface element (e.g., a feature label including a clickable icon). In some implementations, a user'"'"'s interaction with the interactive user interface element (or navigation actions in the imagery) launches a content access portal (e.g., a balloon) for presenting content (e.g., text, digital photos, video, audio) and/or providing access (e.g., links) to related content.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

generating a non-interactive user interface element associated with a map feature for presentation with map imagery;

presenting the non-interactive user interface element with map imagery;

detecting a predetermined user action that indicates user interest in the map feature;

responsive to detecting the predetermined user action indicating user interest in the map feature,

generating an interactive user interface element associated with the map feature for presentation with map imagery, and

replacing the non-interactive user interface element with the interactive user interface element;

detecting a user interaction with the interactive user interface element; and

responsive to detecting a user interaction with the interactive user interface element, providing access to content related to the map feature.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein replacing the non-interactive user interface element with the interactive user interface element further comprises:

morphing the non-interactive user interface element into the interactive user interface element.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the morphing is controlled based on the map feature type or significance of the map feature.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein replacing the non-interactive user interface element with the interactive user interface element is controlled based on the map feature type or significance of the map feature.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein providing access to related content further comprises:

providing a link to one or more resources.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein at least one resource is a search service.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein providing access to related content further comprises:

presenting a content access portal; and

presenting content through the content access portal.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the content access portal is a pop-up window.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the interactive user interface element is a feature label with a clickable icon, and a user interacts with the feature label by clicking the icon.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein detecting the predetermined user action comprises detecting a zoom action.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein detecting the predetermined user action comprises detecting that a cursor is hovering over the feature.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein detecting the predetermined user action comprises detecting rotation of imagery over the feature.

13. A method comprising:

generating a non-interactive feature label associated with a map feature for presentation with virtual globe imagery;

presenting the non-interactive feature label on the virtual globe imagery;

detecting user interest in the map feature based on an increased zoom level;

responsive to detecting user interest in the map feature,

generating an interactive feature label associated with the map feature for presentation with virtual globe imagery, and

replacing the non-interactive feature label with the interactive feature label;

identifying input requesting access to content related to the map feature; and

providing access to content in response to the input.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein providing access to content further comprises:

providing access to a search service.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the search service is from a group of search services consisting of World Wide Web search, image search and news search.

16. A method comprising:

presenting a non-interactive user interface element relating to a feature in map imagery;

detecting a predetermined user action that indicates user interest in the feature;

responsive to detecting the predetermined user action indicating user interest in the feature,

generating an interactive user interface element relating to the feature in map imagery, and

replacing the non-interactive user interface element with the interactive user interface element;

detecting a user action relating to the interactive user interface element;

responsive to detecting the user action relating to the interactive user interface element, presenting a content access portal relating to the feature;

identifying input received through the content access portal; and

providing access to related content based on the input.

17. A system comprising:

a processor;

a computer-readable medium coupled to the processor and including instructions, which, when executed by the processor, causes the processor to perform operations comprising;

generating a non-interactive user interface element associated with a map feature for presentation with map imagery;

presenting the non-interactive user interface element with map imagery;

detecting a predetermined user action that indicates user interest in the map feature;

responsive to detecting the predetermined user action indicating interest in the map feature,

generating an interactive user interface element associated with the map feature for presentation with map imagery, and

replacing the non-interactive user interface element with the interactive user interface element;

detecting user interaction with the interactive user interface element; and

providing access to related content in response to the detection.

18. A system comprising:

a processor;

a computer-readable medium coupled to the processor and including instructions, which, when executed by the processor, causes the processor to perform operations comprising;

generating a non-interactive feature label associated with a map feature for presentation with virtual globe imagery;

presenting the non-interactive feature label on the virtual globe imagery;

detecting user interest in the map feature based on an increased zoom level;

responsive to detecting user interest in the map feature,

generating an interactive feature label associated with the map feature for presentation with virtual globe imagery, and

replacing the non-interactive feature label with the interactive feature label;

identifying input requesting access to content related to the map feature; and

providing access to content in response to the input.

19. A system comprising:

a processor;

a computer-readable medium coupled to the processor and including instructions, which, when executed by the processor, causes the processor to perform operations comprising;

presenting a non-interactive user interface element relating to a feature in map imagery;

detecting a predetermined user action that indicates user interest in the feature;

responsive to detecting the predetermined user action indicating interest in the feature,

generating an interactive user interface element relating to the feature in map imagery, and

replacing the non-interactive user interface element with the interactive user interface element;

detecting a user action relating to the interactive user interface element;

responsive to detecting the user action relating to the interactive user interface element, presenting a content access portal relating to the feature;

identifying input received through the content access portal; and

providing access to related content based on the input.

20. A computer-readable non-transitory storage medium having instructions stored thereon, which, when executed by the processor, causes the processor to perform operations comprising:

generating a non-interactive feature label associated with a map feature for presentation with virtual globe imagery;

presenting the non-interactive feature label on the virtual globe imagery;

detecting user interest in the map feature based on an increased zoom level;

responsive to detecting user interest in the map feature,

generating an interactive feature label associated with the map feature for presentation with virtual globe imagery, and

replacing the non-interactive feature label with the interactive feature label;

identifying input requesting access to content related to the map feature; and

providing access to content in response to the input.

21. A computer-readable non-transitory storage medium having instructions stored thereon, which, when executed by the processor, causes the processor to perform operations comprising:

presenting a non-interactive user interface element relating to a feature in map imagery;

detecting a predetermined user action that indicates user interest in the feature;

responsive to detecting the predetermined user action indicating user interest in the feature,

generating an interactive user interface element relating to the feature in map imagery, and

replacing the non-interactive user interface element with the interactive user interface element;

detecting a user action relating to the interactive user interface element;

responsive to detecting the user action relating to the interactive user interface element, presenting a content access portal relating to the feature;

identifying input received through the content access portal; and

providing access to related content based on the input.

22. A computer-readable non-transitory storage medium having instructions stored thereon, which, when executed by the processor, causes the processor to perform operations comprising:

generating a non-interactive user interface element associated with a map feature for presentation with map imagery;

presenting the non-interactive user interface element with map imagery;

detecting a predetermined user action that indicates user interest in the map feature;

responsive to detecting the predetermined user action indicating user interest in the map feature,

generating an interactive user interface element associated with the map feature for presentation with map imagery, and

replacing the non-interactive user interface element with the interactive user interface element;

detecting user interaction with the interactive user interface element; and

providing access to related content in response to the detection.

23. A system comprising:

means for generating a non-interactive user interface element associated with a map feature for presentation with map imagery;

means for presenting the non-interactive user interface element with map imagery;

means for detecting a predetermined user action that indicates user interest in the map feature;

means for, responsive to detecting the predetermined user action indicating user interest in the map feature,

generating an interactive user interface element associated with the map feature for presentation with map imagery, and

replacing the non-interactive user interface element with the interactive user interface element;

means for detecting user interaction with the interactive user interface element; and

means for providing access to related content in response to the detection.