AUTOMATIC MAP ZOOM-LEVEL ADAPTATION

• US 20080253757A1
• Filed: 04/16/2007
• Published: 10/16/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/16/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Bells, Matthew, Klassen, Gerhard
• Granted Patent: US 7,995,079 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 396/77
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/00 Details of cameras or camera bodies; Accessories therefor lens hoods or caps G03B11/04

Abstract

A method is provided for dynamically determining a zoom-level to display to a user of a mapping application executing on a mobile device. The method comprises the following steps. The zoom-level is determined in accordance with at least one predefined parameter. The at least one predefined parameter is monitored for detecting a change. A new zoom-level corresponding with the detected change is determined. Lastly, the zoom-level of the mapping application is changed to the new zoom-level. A mobile device and computer-readable medium configured to implement the method are also provided.

Claims

1. A method for dynamically determining a zoom-level to display to a user of a mapping application executing on a mobile device, the method comprising the steps of:

determining the zoom-level in accordance with at least one predefined parameter;

monitoring the at least one predefined parameter for detecting a change;

determining a new zoom-level that corresponds with the detected change in the at least one predefined parameter; and

changing the zoom-level of the mapping application to the new zoom-level.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein a plurality of predefined parameters are used to determine the zoom-level.

3. The method of claim 2 comprising the further step of resolving conflicts between the plurality of predefined parameters correspond with different zoom-levels.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the conflicts are resolved by assigning priority levels to each of the plurality of predefined parameters.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the conflicts are resolved by compromising between the zoom-levels of each of the plurality of predefined parameters.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of determining the position of the mobile device.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein one of the predefined parameters is an area boundary and the change is detected when the position of the mobile device crosses the area boundary.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein one of the predefined parameters is a location of the wireless device, the location having a predefined class, and the change is detected when the position of the wireless device results in a change of the location class.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein one of the predefined parameters is a point of interest within an area about the position of the wireless device, the point of interest having a predefined class, and the change is detected when a change in the point of interest within the area results in a change of the class.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein one of the predefined parameters is a parameter density and the change is detected when the parameter density increases above a predefined upper threshold or falls below a predefined lower threshold.

11. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of determining the speed of the mobile device.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein one of the predefined parameters is the speed of the mobile device and the change is detected when the speed increases above a predefined upper threshold or falls below a predefined lower threshold.

13. A mobile device configured to provide a user with a mapping application, the mobile device comprising:

a memory including instructions for;

determining the zoom-level in accordance with at least one predefined parameter;

monitoring the at least one predefined parameter for detecting a change;

determining a new zoom-level that corresponds with the detected change in the at least one predefined parameter;

changing the zoom-level of the mapping application to the new zoom-level; and

a processor configured to execute the instructions on the device for dynamically determining a zoom-level to display to a user of the mapping application.

14. The mobile device of claim 13 further comprising a positioning device for determining a position of the mobile device.

15. The mobile device of claim 14, wherein the positioning device is a global navigation satellite system receiver.

16. The mobile device of claim 14 further comprising a speed module configured to determine the speed of the mobile device.

17. A computer readable medium comprising instructions which, when executed on a mobile device, cause the mobile device to dynamically determine a zoom-level to display to a user of a mapping application executing on the mobile device, the instructions causing the mobile device to implement the steps of:

determining the zoom-level in accordance with at least one predefined parameter;

monitoring the at least one predefined parameter for detecting a change;

determining a new zoom-level that corresponds with the detected change in the at least one predefined parameter; and

changing the zoom-level of the mapping application to the new zoom-level.