Interactive representation of clusters of geographical entities
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A computer-implemented method comprising:
- determining a screen size occupied by individual visual entities when the individual visual entities are presented on a map, the individual visual entities having different locations on the map;
based at least on the screen size occupied by the individual visual entities, determining a first distance represented by the individual visual entities when the map is shown at a first scale and a second distance represented by the individual visual entities when the map is shown at a second scale;
based at least on the first distance represented by the individual visual entities when the map is shown at the first scale, defining a first cluster of first visual entities that includes overlapping first visual entities that overlap on the map when the map is shown at the first scale;
causing the map to be displayed at the first scale with a first puddle, the first puddle having a first irregular shape that encompasses the first visual entities of the first cluster;
receiving a user action requesting a zoom-in operation to be performed on the map from the first scale to the second scale;
based at least on the second distance represented by the individual visual entities when the map is shown at the second scale, defining a second cluster of second visual entities and a third cluster of third visual entities, the second cluster including overlapping second visual entities that overlap when the map is shown at the second scale and the third cluster including overlapping third visual entities that overlap when the map is shown at the second scale; and
causing the map to be displayed at the second scale with a second puddle that encompasses the second cluster of second visual entities and a third puddle that encompasses the third cluster of third visual entities, the second puddle and the third puddle replacing the first puddle.
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Abstract
Various embodiments enable, in a mapping context, various visual entities to be clustered into groups that do not occlude one another. In at least some embodiments, individual clusters are represented on a map by a puddle defined by a computed contour line. Users can interact with the puddle to acquire more information about the puddle'"'"'s content. In at least some embodiments, user interaction can include zooming operations, clicking operations, hovering operations and the like.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A computer-implemented method comprising:
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determining a screen size occupied by individual visual entities when the individual visual entities are presented on a map, the individual visual entities having different locations on the map; based at least on the screen size occupied by the individual visual entities, determining a first distance represented by the individual visual entities when the map is shown at a first scale and a second distance represented by the individual visual entities when the map is shown at a second scale; based at least on the first distance represented by the individual visual entities when the map is shown at the first scale, defining a first cluster of first visual entities that includes overlapping first visual entities that overlap on the map when the map is shown at the first scale; causing the map to be displayed at the first scale with a first puddle, the first puddle having a first irregular shape that encompasses the first visual entities of the first cluster; receiving a user action requesting a zoom-in operation to be performed on the map from the first scale to the second scale; based at least on the second distance represented by the individual visual entities when the map is shown at the second scale, defining a second cluster of second visual entities and a third cluster of third visual entities, the second cluster including overlapping second visual entities that overlap when the map is shown at the second scale and the third cluster including overlapping third visual entities that overlap when the map is shown at the second scale; and causing the map to be displayed at the second scale with a second puddle that encompasses the second cluster of second visual entities and a third puddle that encompasses the third cluster of third visual entities, the second puddle and the third puddle replacing the first puddle. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A system comprising:
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one or more processors; and one or more computer readable media having stored thereon computer readable instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to; cause a first puddle to be displayed on a map shown at a first scale, the first puddle representing a first cluster of visual entities on the map; receive a user action requesting a zoom-in operation on the map to a second scale; determine that individual visual entities represented by the first cluster would overlap on the map when shown at the second scale; cause the map to show a visual transition of the first puddle being replaced by a second puddle and a third puddle, the second puddle representing a second cluster of visual entities that includes the individual visual entities from the first cluster that would overlap on the map when shown at the second scale, the third puddle representing a third cluster of visual entities including at least some other visual entities included in the first cluster, the visual transition being performed by; rendering a collection of vertices associated with the first cluster of visual entities in the first puddle; removing the first puddle to leave the collection of vertices; performing the zoom-in operation; rendering the second puddle and the third puddle to include associated vertices of the collection of vertices; and remove the associated vertices from the second puddle and the third puddle. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16)
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17. A system comprising:
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one or more processors; and one or more computer readable media having stored thereon computer readable instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to; determine a screen size occupied by individual visual entities when the individual visual entities are presented on a map, the individual visual entities having different locations on the map; based at least on the screen size occupied by the individual visual entities, determine a first distance represented by the individual visual entities when the map is shown at a first scale and a second distance represented by the individual visual entities when the map is shown at a second scale; based at least on the first distance represented by the individual visual entities when the map is shown at the first scale, define a first cluster of first visual entities that includes overlapping first visual entities that overlap on the map when the map is shown at the first scale; cause the map to be displayed at the first scale with a first puddle, the first puddle having a first irregular shape that encompasses the first visual entities of the first cluster; receive a user action requesting a zoom-in operation to be performed on the map from the first scale to the second scale; based at least on the second distance represented by the individual visual entities when the map is shown at the second scale, define a second cluster of second visual entities and a third cluster of third visual entities, the second cluster including overlapping second visual entities that overlap when the map is shown at the second scale and the third cluster including overlapping third visual entities that overlap when the map is shown at the second scale; and cause the map to be displayed at the second scale with a second puddle that encompasses the second cluster of second visual entities and a third puddle that encompasses the third cluster of third visual entities, the second puddle and the third puddle replacing the first puddle. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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Specification