Representation of overlapping visual entities

• US 8,423,902 B2
• Filed: 04/21/2010
• Issued: 04/16/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 04/21/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Lin, Jeff J., Loomis, Anne H., Impas, Romualdo T., Paulin, Alan
• Primary Examiner(s): ABDUL-ALI, OMAR R
• Application Number:
  US12/764,798
• Publication Number:
  US 20110265030A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,091 Days
• Field of Search: 715/790, 715/794, 715/846, 715/837
• US Class Current: 715/790
• CPC Class Codes: B25B 11/002 Magnetic work holders
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/444 Spatial browsing, e.g. 2D maps, 3D or virtual spaces
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04806 Zoom, i.e. interaction techniques or interactors for controlling the zooming operation
• 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: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04845 for image manipulation, e.g. dragging, rotation, expansion or change of colour
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/169 Annotation, e.g. comment data or footnotes
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 11/60 Editing figures and text; Combining figures or text
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/20221 Image fusion; Image merging
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2219/004 Annotating, labelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 3/40 Scaling of whole images or parts thereof, e.g. expanding or contracting
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 29/007 using computer methods
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2340/04 Changes in size, position or resolution of an image
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2340/10 Mixing of images, i.e. displayed pixel being the result of an operation, e.g. adding, on the corresponding input pixels
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2340/12 Overlay of images, i.e. displayed pixel being the result of switching between the corresponding input pixels
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2340/125 wherein one of the images is motion video
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2340/145 related to small screens
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2354/00 Aspects of interface with display user
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/00 Control arrangements or circuits for visual indicators common to cathode-ray tube indicators and other visual indicators image data processing or generation, in general G06T
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/14 Display of multiple viewports
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/377 : for mixing or overlaying two or more graphic patterns G09G5/02, G09G5/397 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 5/5569 : details of specially adapted mobile parts, e.g. electromechanical control devices motors in general H02K
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49998 : Work holding

Abstract

Various embodiments present a combined visual entity that represents overlapping visual entities. The combined visual entity can include a primary visualization that represents one of the overlapping visual entities and annotations that represent others of the overlapping visual entities. For example, a map view can include multiple geographical entities that overlap. A primary visualization can be rendered that represents one of the multiple geographical entities. The primary visualization can be visually annotated (e.g., with symbols, letters, or other visual indicators) to indicate others of the multiple geographical entities. In some embodiments, a zoom operation can cause visual entities to be added and/or removed from the combined visual entity.

Claims

1. One or more computer readable storage media devices embodying computer readable instructions which, when executed, implement a method comprising:

rendering a combined visual entity that includes a visualization for each visual entity of multiple overlapping visual entities;

determining, responsive to receiving an indication of a zoom-in operation, that one of the multiple overlapping visual entities no longer overlaps;

removing a visualization for the one of the multiple overlapping visual entities from the combined visual entity; and

replacing a primary visualization associated with the one of the multiple overlapping visual entities and included as part of the combined visual entity, with a different primary visualization associated with another of the multiple overlapping visual entities.

2. The one or more computer readable storage media of claim 1, wherein one or more of the multiple overlapping visual entities represents one or more geographic locations.

3. The one or more computer readable storage media of claim 1, wherein the combined visual entity comprises the primary visualization and one or more annotations.

4. The one or more computer readable storage media of claim 3, wherein the primary visualization corresponds to one of the multiple overlapping visual entities and the one or more annotations correspond to others of the multiple overlapping visual entities.

5. The one or more computer readable storage media of claim 1, wherein the zoom-in operation is responsive to a user interaction with a map view.

6. The one or more computer readable storage media of claim 1, wherein removing the visualization for the one of the multiple overlapping visual entities from the combined visual entity comprises removing an annotation from the combined visual entity.

7. The one or more computer readable storage media of claim 1, wherein the one of the multiple overlapping visual entities can alternately be represented by the primary visualization or an annotation.

8. A computer-implemented method comprising:

rendering a combined visual entity that includes a visualization for each visual entity of multiple overlapping visual entities;

determining, responsive to receiving an indication of a zoom-in operation, that one of the multiple overlapping visual entities no longer overlaps;

removing a visualization for the one of the multiple overlapping visual entities from the combined visual entity; and

replacing a primary visualization associated with the one of the multiple overlapping visual entities and included as part of the combined visual entity, with a different primary visualization associated with another of the multiple overlapping visual entities.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 8, wherein one or more of the multiple overlapping visual entities represents one or more geographic locations.

10. The computer-implemented method of claim 8, wherein the combined visual entity comprises the primary visualization and one or more annotations.

11. The computer-implemented method of claim 10, wherein the primary visualization corresponds to one of the multiple overlapping visual entities and the one or more annotations correspond to others of the multiple overlapping visual entities.

12. The computer-implemented method of claim 8, wherein the zoom-in operation is responsive to a user interaction with a map view.

13. The computer-implemented method of claim 8, wherein removing the visualization for the one of the multiple overlapping visual entities from the combined visual entity comprises removing an annotation from the combined visual entity.

14. The computer-implemented method of claim 8, wherein the one of the multiple overlapping visual entities can alternately be represented by the primary visualization or an annotation.

15. A system comprising:

one or more processors; and

one or more computer readable storage media devices storing computer-executable instructions that are executable by the one or more processors to cause the system to;

render a combined visual entity that includes a visualization for each visual entity of multiple overlapping visual entities;

determine, responsive to receiving an indication of a zoom-in operation, that one of the multiple overlapping visual entities no longer overlaps;

remove a visualization for the one of the multiple overlapping visual entities from the combined visual entity; and

replace a primary visualization associated with the one of the multiple overlapping visual entities and included as part of the combined visual entity, with a different primary visualization associated with another of the multiple overlapping visual entities.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein one or more of the multiple overlapping visual entities represents one or more geographic locations.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein the combined visual entity comprises the primary visualization and one or more annotations.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the primary visualization corresponds to one of the multiple overlapping visual entities and the one or more annotations correspond to others of the multiple overlapping visual entities.

19. The system of claim 15, wherein the zoom-in operation is responsive to a user interaction with a map view.

20. The system of claim 15, wherein the computer-executable instructions are executable by the one or more processors to cause the system to remove the visualization for the one of the multiple overlapping visual entities from the combined visual entity by removing an annotation from the combined visual entity.