Management of geographic data layers in a geographic information system

• US 9,483,497 B1
• Filed: 10/06/2015
• Issued: 11/01/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 04/11/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google Inc. (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Kornmann, David, Mercay, Julien Charles
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Kevin
• Application Number:
  US14/875,851
• Time in Patent Office: 392 Days
• Field of Search: 715763-765, 715/700, 715/851, 715/853, 715/855, 715/761
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 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 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus

Abstract

Systems and methods for management of geographic data layers in a geographic information system are provided. A layer control tool can be presented in conjunction with the geographic imagery. The layer control tool can provide a control interface to allow the user to manage the display of various geographic data layers in conjunction with the geographic imagery. The layer control tool can include a dynamic control list of geographic data layers. Geographic data layers can be identified for inclusion in the dynamic control list and/or ordered within the dynamic control list based on frequency of user interaction with the geographic data layers. In a particular implementation, the geographic data layers are identified for inclusion in the dynamic control list and/or ordered within the dynamic control list based on a layer score associated with each geographic data layer.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method of managing geographic data layers in a geographic information system for displaying geographic imagery, comprising:

identifying, by the one or more computing devices, a plurality of geographic data layers for inclusion in a dynamic control list of geographic data layers;

determining, by the one or more computing devices, a presentation order for the plurality of geographic data layers in the dynamic control list based at least in part on a frequency of user interaction with the geographic data layer; and

providing for display, by the one or more computing devices, a layer control tool, the layer control tool providing a control interface configured to toggle the display of the plurality of geographic data layers upon user interaction with the layer control tool in conjunction with imagery of a geographic area, the layer control tool presenting the dynamic control list according to the presentation order.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the presentation order is determined based at least in part on a layer score determined for each geographic data layer determined according to a ranking algorithm implemented during a geographic information system session.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 2, wherein the ranking algorithm implemented during the geographic information system session comprises:

initializing, by the one or more computing devices, the layer score for each geographic data layer;

decreasing, by the one or more computing devices, the layer score for each geographic data layer by a first point value when the geographic information system session is initiated;

increasing, by the one or more computing devices, the layer score for each geographic data layer having a default displayed state by a second point value when the geographic information system session is initiated; and

increasing, by the one or more computing devices, the layer score by a third point value for each geographic data layer toggled to a displayed state at least once during the geographic information system session.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the presentation order is determined based on the layer score determined for each of the plurality of geographic data layers during a previous geographic information system session.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the method comprises updating, by the one or more computing devices, the layer score for each of the plurality of geographic data layers during the geographic information system session.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of geographic data layers are identified for inclusion in the dynamic control list based at least in part on the layer scores determined for the plurality of geographic data layers during a previous geographic information system session.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of geographic data layers in the dynamic control list comprise a plurality of recently accessed geographic data layers.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of geographic data layers has a default displayed state.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 8, wherein a geographic data layer has a default displayed state if the geographic data layer had a displayed state when a previous geographic information system session was terminated.

10. The computer-implemented method of claim 8, wherein identifying, by the one or more computing devices, a plurality of geographic data layers for inclusion in the dynamic control list comprises automatically selecting, by the one or more computing devices, the at least one geographic data layer having a default displayed state for inclusion in the dynamic control list.

11. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the method comprises changing, by the one or more computing devices, a status of at least one of the plurality of geographic data layers between a displayed state and a non-displayed state in response to a user interaction with the layer control tool.

12. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the layer control tool comprises a search tool configured to search a plurality of available geographic data layers for the geographic information system.

13. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the layer control tool is presented in conjunction with the geographic imagery.

14. A computing system, comprising:

one or more processors; and

one or more memory devices, the one or memory devices storing computer-readable instructions that when executed by the one or more processors cause the one or more processors to perform operations, the operations comprising;

identifying a plurality of geographic data layers for inclusion in a dynamic control list of geographic data layers;

determining a presentation order for the plurality of geographic data layers in the dynamic control list based at least in part on a frequency of user interaction with the geographic data layer; and

providing for display a layer control tool, the layer control tool providing a control interface configured to toggle the display of the plurality of geographic data layers upon user interaction with the layer control tool in conjunction with imagery of a geographic area, the layer control tool presenting the dynamic control list according to the presentation order.

15. The computing system of claim 14, wherein the presentation order is determined based at least in part on a layer score determined for each geographic data layer determined according to a ranking algorithm implemented during a geographic information system session.

16. The computing system of claim 15, wherein the ranking algorithm implemented during the geographic information system session comprises:

initializing the layer score for each geographic data layer;

decreasing the layer score for each geographic data layer by a first point value when the geographic information system session is initiated;

increasing the layer score for each geographic data layer having a default displayed state by a second point value when the geographic information system session is initiated; and

increasing the layer score by a third point value for each geographic data layer toggled to a displayed state at least once during the geographic information system session.

17. One or more non-transitory computer-readable media storing computer-readable instructions that when executed by one or more processors cause the one or more processors to perform operations, the operations comprising:

identifying a plurality of geographic data layers for inclusion in a dynamic control list of geographic data layers;

determining a presentation order for the plurality of geographic data layers in the dynamic control list based at least in part on a frequency of user interaction with the geographic data layer; and

providing for display a layer control tool, the layer control tool providing a control interface configured to toggle the display of the plurality of geographic data layers upon user interaction with the layer control tool in conjunction with imagery of a geographic area, the layer control tool presenting the dynamic control list according to the presentation order.

18. The computer-readable media of claim 17, wherein the presentation order is determined based at least in part on a layer score determined for each geographic data layer determined according to a ranking algorithm implemented during a geographic information system session.

19. The computer-readable media of claim 18, wherein the ranking algorithm implemented during the geographic information system session comprises:

initializing the layer score for each geographic data layer;

decreasing the layer score for each geographic data layer by a first point value when the geographic information system session is initiated;

increasing the layer score for each geographic data layer having a default displayed state by a second point value when the geographic information system session is initiated; and

increasing the layer score by a third point value for each geographic data layer toggled to a displayed state at least once during the geographic information system session.