Time proximity based map user interactions

• US 10,579,226 B2
• Filed: 09/19/2017
• Issued: 03/03/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 09/19/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Leong, Su Chuin, Ruston, Daniel
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran, Tam T
• Application Number:
  US15/708,552
• Publication Number:
  US 20190087058A1
• Time in Patent Office: 896 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/265 constructional aspects of navigation devices, e.g. housings, mountings, displays G01C21/3688 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3664 Details of the user input interface, e.g. buttons, knobs or sliders, including those provided on a touch screen; remote controllers; input using gestures
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3697 Output of additional, non-guidance related information, e.g. low fuel level G01C21/3679 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/29 Geographical information databases
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0483 Interaction with page-structured environments, e.g. book metaphor
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04847 Interaction techniques to control parameter settings, e.g. interaction with sliders or dials
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0485 Scrolling or panning
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/02 Reservations, e.g. for tickets, services or events
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/047 Optimisation of routes or paths, e.g. travelling salesman problem
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/1095 Meeting or appointment
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 11/60 Editing figures and text; Combining figures or text
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2200/24 involving graphical user interfaces [GUIs]

Abstract

Systems and methods for time proximity based map user interactions with a user interface are provided. In one example implementation, a method includes providing for display a user interface on a display device. The user interface can display imagery of a geographic area. The method can include obtaining data indicative of a relevant time for contextual information. The method can include obtaining contextual information associated with the geographic area. The method can include obtaining a configuration for a user interface element associated with the time based contextual information based at least in part on time proximity of the contextual information to the relevant time. The method can include providing for display the user interface element based at least in part on the configuration.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for processing user interface elements for contextual information in a geographic information system, the method comprising:

providing for display, by one or more computing devices, a user interface on a display device, the user interface displaying imagery of a geographic area;

obtaining, by the one or more computing devices, data indicative of a relevant time for contextual information;

obtaining, by the one or more computing devices, time based contextual information associated with the geographic area;

determining, by the one or more computing devices, a configuration based at least in part on time proximity of the contextual information to the relevant time;

providing, for display in the user interface, by the one or more computing devices, one or more user interface elements associated with the time based contextual information and capable of receiving a user interaction;

organizing, by the one or more computing devices, the one or more user interface elements based at least in part on the configuration,

wherein determining the configuration for the user interface element occurs after a user interaction to change the relevant time from a first time to a second time, and

wherein in response to receiving a user interaction with one of the one or more user interface elements the user interface is modified to show details or other interface elements associated with the contextual information.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the user interface element is capable of receiving a user interaction via the user interface.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the relevant time comprises a current time.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the method comprises changing, by the one or more computing devices, the configuration for the user interface element as the relevant time changes from a first time to a second time, the second time being later than the first time.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 4, wherein changing, by the one or more computing devices, the configuration for the user interface element comprises changing, by the one or more computing devices, a user interface treatment of the contextual information.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the method comprises changing, by the one or more computing devices, the imagery displayed in the user interface as the relevant time changes from a first time to a second time.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 6, wherein changing, by the one or more computing devices, the imagery comprises zooming the imagery.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the method comprises:

obtaining, by the one or more computing devices, data indicative of a first type of user interaction directed to the user interface,

in response to obtaining, by the one or more computing devices, data indicative of a first type of user interaction, providing for display, by the one or more computing devices, different user interface elements associated with contextual information further in time proximity to the relevant time.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the first type of user interaction comprises a vertical scrolling user interaction.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the method comprises:

obtaining, by the one or more computing devices, data indicative of a second type of user interaction directed to the user interface; and

in response to obtaining, by the one or more computing devices, data indicative of a second type of user interaction;

changing, by the one or more computing devices, the relevant time from a first time to a second time; and

changing, by the one or more computing devices, the configuration for the user interface element when the relevant time changes from the first time to the second time.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the method comprises providing for display, by the one or more computing devices, a relevant time change interface element configured to receive the second type of user interaction for changing the relevant time.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the relevant time change interface element comprises a circular interface element, wherein the second type of user interaction comprises changing a position of a marker about the circular interface element.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the configuration is obtained, at least in part, based at least in part on data indicative of a user familiarity with the geographic area.

14. A computing system, comprising:

a display device;

one or more processors; and

one or more memory devices, the 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;

providing for display a user interface on the display device, the user interface displaying imagery of a geographic area;

obtaining data indicative of a relevant time for display of contextual information;

obtaining contextual information associated with the geographic area;

determining a configuration based at least in part on time proximity of the contextual information to the relevant time;

providing, for display in the user interface, one or more user interface elements associated with the contextual information and capable of receiving a user interaction, wherein in response to receiving a user interaction with one of the one or more user interface elements the user interface is modified to show details or other interface elements associated with the contextual information;

organizing the one or more user interface elements based at least in part on the configuration; and

obtaining a user interaction directed to a relevant time change interface element;

in response to the user interaction;

changing the relevant time from a first time to a second time; and

changing the configuration for at least one of the user interface elements when the relevant time changes from the first time to the second time.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the relevant time change interface element comprises a circular element, wherein the user interaction comprises changing a position of a marker about the circular element.

16. The system of claim 14, wherein the relevant time change interface element comprises a tab interface element.

17. The system of claim 14, wherein the relevant time change interface element comprises a button interface element.

18. The system of claim 14, wherein the relevant time change interface element comprises a horizontal scrubber interface element.

19. One or more tangible, 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:

providing for display a user interface on a display device, the user interface displaying imagery of a geographic area;

obtaining data indicative of a relevant time for display of contextual information;

obtaining contextual information associated with the geographic area;

determining one or more display configurations based at least in part on time proximity of the contextual information to the relevant time;

providing for display in the user interface a plurality of user interface elements associated with the contextual information and capable of receiving a user interaction, wherein in response to receiving a user interaction with one of the plurality of user interface elements the user interface is modified to show details or other interface elements associated with the contextual information;

organizing the plurality of user interface elements associated with the contextual information based at least in part on the one or more display configurations;

wherein the plurality of user interface elements are arranged in the user interface based at least in part on a time proximity of contextual information to a relevant time period, and wherein obtaining the one or more display configurations for the user interface elements occurs after a user interaction to change the relevant time from a first time to a second time.

20. The one or more tangible, non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 19, wherein the plurality of user interface elements are grouped by time proximity into a plurality of relevant time groups.