Combined map scale and measuring tool

• US 20060206264A1
• Filed: 07/12/2005
• Published: 09/14/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/23/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google Inc. (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Rasmussen, Jens Eilstrup
• Granted Patent: US 7,620,496 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/212
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/367 Details, e.g. road map scale, orientation, zooming, illumination, level of detail, scrolling of road map or positioning of current position marker
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3881 Tile-based structures
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9537 Spatial or temporal dependent retrieval, e.g. spatiotemporal queries
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/14 Digital output to display device ; Cooperation and interconnection of the display device with other functional units
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 17/05 Geographic models
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 3/40 Scaling of whole images or parts thereof, e.g. expanding or contracting
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 29/10 Map spot or coordinate position indicators; Map reading aids optical projection apparatus per se G03B
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2340/045 Zooming at least part of an image, i.e. enlarging it or shrinking it
• 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 2360/121 using a cache memory
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2360/122 Tiling

Abstract

A combined map scale and measuring tool can be used in digital mapping systems. In the scale mode, the scale indicates the correct scale, for example, at the center of the map. It can be updated with every pan, zoom or resize operation the user performs, and can further update to compensate for map distortion caused by the map projection. The tool mode is entered once the user drags one or both of the scale endpoints onto the map. The distance between two endpoints of the tool can be displayed. A new point can be added each time the user drags a line between existing endpoints of the tool. Info windows can be opened that include relevant information about the endpoints (e.g., latitude/longitude, geo code), and provide option to convert the tool segments to driving directions. A drag and drop location marker is also provided.

Claims

1. A computer implemented method for adjusting and using a graphical map scale of a digital map provided by a digital mapping system, the method comprising:

in response to the digital map being moved or zoomed, updating the scale as necessary; and

in response to the scale being moved on the digital map, switching from a scale mode to a measuring tool mode.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising the preliminary step of:

receiving information that influences the scale behavior, including information about at least one of scale position on the map and zoom level.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the information that influences the scale behavior further identifies a map projection used in making the digital map.

4. The method of claim 2 wherein the information that influences the scale behavior further includes information about user preferences, including at least one of desired scale units and desired scale distance.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein updating the scale as necessary includes:

drawing the scale so each unit is a correct number of pixels wide, based on scale units and scale distance; and

adding the scale distance to the scale as text.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein updating the scale as necessary includes:

drawing the scale so each unit is a correct distance, based on map projection used and scale location on the digital map; and

adding the distance to the scale as text.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein switching from scale mode to measuring tool mode includes changing a graphical look of the scale to indicate measuring tool mode is active.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein in scale mode, the method further comprises:

generating a tool tip in response to a user moving a cursor over the scale, thereby communicating availability of the measuring tool mode.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein in scale mode, the method further comprises at least one of:

opening an information window in response to a user selecting the scale, thereby allowing the user to specify units of measure for the scale; and

opening an information window in response to a user selecting the scale, thereby showing the user information describing how to use the scale as a measuring tool to measure distances on the map.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein in measuring tool mode, the method further comprises:

indicating a home position for the scale on or proximate the digital map; and

in response to a user selecting the home position;

returning from measuring tool mode to scale mode; and

returning the scale to the home position.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein in measuring tool mode, the method further comprises:

displaying a distance between locations marked by endpoints of the scale, the distance in units of the scale.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein in measuring tool mode, the method further comprises:

opening an information window in response to a user selecting the scale, thereby allowing the user to request driving directions for travel between locations marked by endpoints of the scale; and

providing the driving directions.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein in measuring tool mode, the method further comprises:

opening an information window in response to a user selecting the scale, thereby showing the user information about points marked by the scale.

14. The method of claim 1 wherein the digital mapping system includes a client side that requests map data from a server side, and the method is carried out on the client side.

15. A computer implemented method for adjusting and using a graphical map scale of a digital map provided by a digital mapping system, the method comprising:

in response to the scale being moved on the digital map, switching from a scale mode to a measuring tool mode; and

displaying a distance between locations marked by endpoints of the scale, the distance in units of the scale.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein switching from scale mode to measuring tool mode includes changing a graphical look of the scale to indicate measuring tool mode is active.

17. The method of claim 15 wherein the scale includes a line between two endpoints, and in measuring tool mode, the method further comprises:

drawing the scale to reflect its movement as the endpoints are moved to locations on the digital map.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein drawing the scale to reflect its movement further comprises:

changing a graphical look of at least one of the endpoints of the scale to indicate its movement; and

changing the graphical look of the at least one endpoint to indicate it has been released from movement.

19. The method of claim 15 wherein in measuring tool mode, the method further comprises:

opening an information window in response to a user selecting the scale, thereby allowing the user to request driving directions for travel between locations marked by endpoints of the scale; and

providing the driving directions.

20. The method of claim 15 wherein the scale includes a line between two endpoints, and in measuring tool mode, the method further comprises:

drawing an additional endpoint each time a user drags the line between two endpoints to a location on the map, thereby providing a multisegment line.

21. The method of claim 20 further comprising:

converting the multisegment line into at least one of written and graphical driving directions.

22. The method of claim 15 wherein in measuring tool mode, the method further comprises:

opening an information window in response to a user selecting the scale, thereby showing the user information about points marked by the scale.

23. The method of claim 15 wherein in measuring tool mode, the method further comprises:

indicating a home position for the scale on or proximate the digital map; and

in response to a user selecting the home position;

returning from measuring tool mode to scale mode; and

returning the scale to the home position.

24. The method of claim 15 wherein the digital mapping system includes a client side that requests map data from. a server side, and the method is carried out on the client side.

25. The method of claim 15 wherein the digital mapping system is a tile-based mapping system.

26. A computer implemented method for adjusting and using a graphical map scale of a digital map provided by a digital mapping system, the method comprising:

in response to the scale being moved on the digital map, switching from a scale mode to a measuring tool mode;

drawing the scale to reflect its movement on the digital map, the scale including a line between two endpoints;

changing the graphical look of the scale to indicate it is no longer moving; and

displaying a distance between locations marked by the endpoints of the scale, the distance in units of the scale.

27. The method of claim 26 wherein in measuring tool mode, the method further comprises:

opening an information window in response to a user selecting the scale, thereby allowing the user to request driving directions for travel between locations marked by endpoints of the scale; and

providing the driving directions.

28. The method of claim 26 wherein in measuring tool mode, the method further comprises:

drawing an additional endpoint each time a user drags the line between two endpoints to a location on the map, thereby providing a multisegment line; and

opening an information window in response to a user selecting the scale, thereby showing the user information about points marked by the scale.

29. The method of claim 26 wherein the digital mapping system includes a client side that requests map data from a server side, and the method is carried out on the client side.

30. The method of claim 26 wherein the digital mapping system is a tile-based mapping system.