Presenting a travel route using more than one presentation style

• US 7,904,238 B2
• Filed: 01/08/2008
• Issued: 03/08/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/30/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Meta Platforms, Inc. (f/k/a Facebook, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: MapQuest, Inc. (Apollo Global Management, Inc.)
• Inventors: Nesbitt, David W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen; Cuong H
• Application Number:
  US11/970,616
• Publication Number:
  US 20080114535A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,155 Days
• Field of Search: 701201-213, 340/990, 340/995.1, 340/995.27
• US Class Current: 701/201
• 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 21/3682 output of POI information on a road map G01C21/3614, G01C21/3685 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 29/106 using electronic means

Abstract

Techniques are provided for presenting a route in a manner that emphasizes the route and provides context information. For example, a vivid color or vivid colors may be used to display the route, and pastel colors or other desaturated colors may be used for non-route context information. This may result in a map in which the vivid colors of the route stand out over the faded style of the non-route context information to emphasize the route. In this manner, the map may both emphasize the route and provide context information for the route.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for displaying a route in a client-server system comprising:

receiving a request related to rendering of a map;

determining at least one route to be included in the map based on the request;

determining, based on the route to be included in the map, a map region;

identifying, based on the identified map region, first and second elements that are apart from the route, the first and second elements being different from the route and the first element being different from the second element;

accessing a database, the database including a primary display attribute and a secondary display attributes for each of the first and second elements; and

enabling, based on information accessed from within the database, a map to be rendered on a display and including part or all of the determined route and map region, the map including each of the first element and the second element with the primary display attribute being rendered for the first element and the secondary display attribute being rendered for the second element.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein enabling the map to be rendered includes enabling rendering of a map which includes an origin location and a destination location of the route.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein enabling the map to be rendered includes enabling rendering of a map which includes only one of an origin location or a destination location of the route.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein enabling the map to be rendered includes enabling rendering of a map which includes neither an origin location or a destination location of the route.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein enabling the map including part or all of the determined route and map region to be rendered includes enabling the primary display attribute to be rendered with a color that is not used to represent any secondary display attributes.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein identifying the first element and the second element includes identifying a first element representing a feature other than a road and identifying a second element representing a feature other than a road.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein enabling the map including part or all of the determined route and map region to be rendered includes:

enabling rendering of the primary display attribute with a saturated color; and

enabling rendering of the secondary display attribute with a desaturated color.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein enabling rendering of the primary display attribute comprises enabling rendering of text presented in a font size larger than a font size of text included in the secondary display attribute.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the primary display attribute includes a vivid presentation style and the secondary display attribute includes a faded presentation style.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein identifying the first element and the second element includes identifying a first element representing a first city and identifying a second element representing a second city.

11. A computer-readable medium having embodied thereon a computer program configured to present a route using more than one presentation style, the medium comprising one or more code segments configured to:

receive a request related to rendering of a map;

determine at least one route to be included in the map based on the request;

determine, based on the route to be included in the map, a map region;

identify, based on the identified map region, first and second elements, the first and second elements being different from the route and the first element being different from the second element that are apart from the route;

access a database, the database including each of primary and secondary display attributes for each of the first and second elements; and

enable, based on information accessed from within the database, a map to be rendered and including part or all of the determined route and map region, the map including each of the first element and the second element with the primary display attribute being rendered for the first element and the secondary display attribute being rendered for the second element.

12. The medium of claim 11 wherein the rendered map includes the origin location and the destination location.

13. The medium of claim 11 wherein the rendered map includes only one of the origin location or the destination location.

14. The medium of claim 11 wherein the rendered map includes neither the origin location or the destination location.

15. The medium of claim 11 wherein being configured to enable the map including part or all of the determined route and map region to be rendered includes being configured to enable the primary display attribute to be rendered with a color that is not used to represent any secondary display attributes.

16. The medium of claim 11 wherein the first element and the second element each represent a feature other than a road.

17. The medium of claim 11 wherein being configured to enable the map including part or all of the determined route and map region to be rendered includes being configured to:

enable rendering of the primary display attribute with a saturated color; and

enable rendering of the secondary display attribute with a desaturated color.

18. The medium of claim 11 wherein being configured to enable rendering of the primary display attribute comprises being configured to enable rendering of text presented in a larger font size than a font size of text included in the secondary display attribute.

19. The medium of claim 11 wherein the primary display attribute includes a vivid presentation style and the secondary display attribute includes a faded presentation style.

20. The medium of claim 16 wherein the first element representing a feature other than a road represents a first city and the second element representing a feature other than a road represents a second city.

21. A system for presenting a route, the system comprising a computer-readable medium having embodied thereon mapping data including each of primary and secondary display attributes for each of first and second elements;

and a rendering device configured to render mapping information;

a processor configured to;

receive a request related to rendering of a map,

determine at least one route to be included in the map based on the request,

determine, based on the route to be included in the map, a map region,

identify, based on the identified map region, first and second elements, the first and second elements being different from the route and the first element being different

from the second element that are apart from the route,

access the computer-readable medium, and

enable, based on information accessed from the computer-readable medium, a map to be rendered on the rendering device and including part or all of the determined route and map region, the map including each of the first element and the second element with the primary display attribute being rendered for the first element and the secondary display attribute being rendered for the second element.

22. A computer-implemented method for displaying a travel route in a client-server system comprising:

receiving a request to display a travel route on a client system, the travel route including at least one road;

accessing map data in a database to identify the travel route and to identify a plurality of elements to display along with the travel route, the plurality of elements being different from the travel route and including a first element located along the travel route and a second element located away from the travel route;

associating each of the plurality of elements with different display styles, the first element being associated with a primary display style and the second element being associated with a secondary display style, the primary display style being different from the secondary display style; and

transmitting instructions to display the travel route and the identified plurality of elements on the client system, the first element being displayed in the primary display style and the second element being displayed in the secondary display style.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the primary display style comprises a highlighted display style and the secondary display style comprises a faded display style.

24. The method of claim 22, further comprising associating the plurality of elements with a plurality of different display types.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the plurality of display types include a park, a road, or a body of water.

26. The method of claim 22, wherein the first element comprises a park and the second element comprises a body of water.

27. The method of claim 22, wherein the first element comprises a first city and the second element comprises a second city.

28. The method of claim 22, wherein the primary display style comprises a first color and the secondary display style comprises a second color different from the first color.

29. The method of claim 22, wherein the primary display style comprises a saturated color and the secondary display style comprises a desaturated color.

30. The method of claim 22, wherein the primary display style comprises a first font size and the secondary display style comprises a second font size smaller than the first font size.

31. A computer-implemented method for displaying a travel route in a client-server system comprising:

receiving a request to display a travel route on a client system, the travel route including at least one road;

accessing map data in a database to identify the travel route, and a plurality of elements to display along with the travel route, the plurality of elements including a first element and a second element, the first and second elements being different from the travel route;

associating the plurality of elements with a plurality of different display styles including;

determining whether the first element is located along the travel route;

determining whether the first element is located away from the travel route;

associating the first element with an emphasized display style when the first element

is determined to be located along the travel route;

associating the first element with a de-emphasized display style when the first

element is determined to be located away from the travel route;

determining whether the second element is located along the travel route;

determining whether the second element is located away from the travel route;

associating the second element with an emphasized display style when the second

element is determined to be located along the travel route;

associating the second element with a de-emphasized display style when the second element is determined to be located away from the travel route; and

transmitting instructions to display the travel route, the at least one road, and the

identified plurality of elements on the client system based on the association of the plurality of elements with the plurality of different display styles.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein the first element comprises a park and the second element comprises a body of water.

33. The method of claim 31, wherein the first element comprises a first city and the second element comprises a second city.

34. The method of claim 31, wherein the emphasized display style comprises a first color and the de-emphasized display style comprises a second color different from the first color.

35. The method of claim 31, wherein the emphasized display style comprises a saturated color and the de-emphasized display style comprises a desaturated color.

36. The method of claim 31, wherein the emphasized display style comprises a first font size and the de-emphasized display style comprises a second font size smaller than the first font size.

37. The method of claim 31, further comprising:

associating the plurality of elements with a plurality of different display types including;

determining whether the first element is a point of interest;

determining whether the first element is a park;

determining whether the first element is a city;

determining whether the first element is a body of water;

associating the first element with a first display type when the first element is

determined to be a point of interest;

associating the first element with a second display type when the first element is determined to be a park;

associating the first element with a third display type when the first element is determined to be a city;

associating the first element with a fourth display type when the first element is determined to be a body of water;

determining whether the second element is a point of interest;

determining whether the second element is a park;

determining whether the second element is a city;

determining whether the second element is a body of water;

associating the second element with a first display type when the first element is determined to be a point of interest;

associating the second element with a second display type when the first element is determined to be a park;

associating the second element with a third display type when the first element is determined to be a city;

associating the second element with a fourth display type when the first element is determined to be a body of water; and

transmitting instructions to display the travel route, the at least one road, and the identified plurality of elements on the client system based on the association of the plurality of elements with the plurality of different display types.

38. A computer-implemented method for displaying a travel route in a client-server system comprising:

receiving a request to display a travel route on a client system, the travel route including at least one road;

accessing map data in a database to identify the travel route, and a plurality of elements to display along with the travel route, the plurality of elements including a first element and a second element, the first element and the second element each being different from the travel route;

associating the plurality of elements with a plurality of different display styles including;

determining whether the first element is located along the travel route or located away from the travel route;

associating the first element with an emphasized display style when the first element is determined to be located along the travel route;

associating the first element with an emphasized display style when the first element is determined to be located away from the travel route;

determining whether the second element is located along the travel route or located away from the travel route;

associating the second element with an emphasized display style when the second element is determined to be located along the travel route;

associating the second element with an emphasized display style when the second element is determined to be located away from the travel route;

associating the plurality of elements with a plurality of different display types including;

determining whether the first element is a point of interest, a park, a city, or a body of water;

associating the first element with a first display type when the first element is determined to be a point of interest;

associating the first element with a second display type when the first element is determined to be a park;

associating the first element with a third display type when the first element is determined to be a city;

associating the first element with a fourth display type when the first element is determined to be a body of water;

determining whether the second element is a point of interest, a park, a city, or a body of water;

associating the second element with a first display type when the first element is determined to be a point of interest;

associating the second element with a second display type when the first element is determined to be a park;

associating the second element with a third display type when the first element is determined to be a city;

associating the second element with a fourth display type when the first element is determined to be a body of water; and

transmitting instructions to display the travel route, the at least one road, and the identified plurality of elements on the client system based on the association of the plurality of elements with the plurality of different display styles and based on the association of the plurality of elements with the plurality of different display styles.

39. The method of claim 38, wherein the first element comprises a park located along the route and the second element comprises a body of water located away from the route.

40. The method of claim 38, wherein the first element comprises a first city located along the route and the second element comprises a second city located away from the route.

41. The method of claim 38, wherein the emphasized display style comprises a first color and the de-emphasized display style comprises a second color different from the first color.

42. The method of claim 38, wherein the emphasized display style comprises a saturated color and the de-emphasized display style comprises a desaturated color.

43. The method of claim 38, wherein the emphasized display style comprises a first font size and the de-emphasized display style comprises a second font size smaller than the first font size.

44. A computer-implemented method for displaying a route in a client-server system comprising:

receiving request for a route on a map from a client;

configuring instructions to display the route on the map, the map including a first symbol separate from the route and having a primary display characteristic, and a second symbol separate from the route and having a secondary display characteristic, the first and second symbols being separate from roads and configured to represent separate landmarks; and

sending the instructions to display the route on the map to the client;

wherein the primary display characteristic is configured to convey greater relevance to the route than the secondary display characteristic, the primary display characteristic having a saturated color, a first font size, and a vivid presentation style, the secondary display characteristic including a desaturated color, a second font size smaller than the first font size of the primary display characteristic, and a vivid presentation style.

45. The method of claim 44, wherein the first symbol represents a first city and the second symbol represents a second city.

46. A computer-implemented method for displaying a route in a client-server system comprising:

receiving request for a route on a map from a client;

configuring instructions to display the route on the map, the map including a first landmark symbol having a vivid display characteristic, and a second landmark symbol having a faded display characteristic, the first and second landmark symbols being separate from roads and different from each other; and

sending the instructions to display the route on the map to the client;

wherein the vivid display characteristic is configured to convey greater relevance of the first landmark symbol relative to the faded display characteristic of the second landmark symbol, the vivid display characteristic having a saturated color and a first size, the faded display characteristic including a desaturated color, and a second size smaller than the first font size.

47. The method of claim 46, wherein the first landmark symbol represents a first city and the second landmark symbol represents a second city.

48. A computer-implemented method for displaying a route in a client-server system comprising:

receiving request for a route on a map from a client;

configuring instructions to display the route on the map, the map including a first symbolic region having a vivid display characteristic, and a second symbolic region having a faded display characteristic, the first and second symbolic regions being different from each other and representing landmarks different from roads; and

sending the instructions to display the route on the map to the client;

wherein the vivid display characteristic is configured to convey greater relevance of the first symbolic region relative to the faded display characteristic of the second symbolic region, the vivid display characteristic having a saturated color and a first size, the faded display characteristic including a desaturated color, and a second size smaller than the first font size.

49. The method of claim 48, wherein the first symbolic region represents a first city and the second symbolic region represents a second city.

50. A computer-implemented method for displaying a route in a client-server computer system comprising:

receiving request for directions to a destination from a client computer;

configuring instructions to display directions to the destination on a map display, the map display including a road symbol, a route region associated with the directions, a first landmark symbol having a primary relevance display style, and a second landmark symbol having a secondary relevance display style, the first and second landmark symbols being different from each other; and

sending the instructions to display the directions on the map display to the client;

wherein the primary relevance display style is configured to convey greater relevance of the first landmark symbol relative to the secondary relevance display style, the primary relevance display style having a saturated color and a first size, the secondary relevance display style including a desaturated color, and a second size smaller than the first font size.

51. The method of claim 50, wherein the first landmark symbol represents a first city and the second landmark symbol represents a second city.

52. The method of claim 50, wherein the first landmark symbol represents a first geographic feature and the second landmark symbol represents second geographic feature.

53. The method of claim 50, wherein the first landmark symbol represents a first place of interest and the second landmark symbol represents second place of interest.

54. The method of claim 50, wherein the first landmark symbol represents a first gas station and the second landmark symbol represents second gas station.

55. The method of claim 50, wherein the first landmark is spaced away from the route region associated with the directions by a first distance, and the second landmark is spaced away from the route region associated with the directions by a second distance greater than the first distance.

56. A computer-implemented method for displaying a route in a client-server computer system comprising:

receiving request for directions to a destination from a client computer;

configuring instructions to display directions to the destination on a map display, the map display including a road symbol, a route associated with the directions, a first landmark symbol spaced away from the route by a first distance, a second landmark symbol spaced away from the route by a second distance, the first and second distances being different from one another;

determining whether the first distance is less than the second distance;

configuring the first landmark symbol to have a first display style and the second landmark symbol to have a second relevance display style when the first distance is less than the second distance, the first display style being different from the second display style;

configuring the first landmark symbol to have the second display style and the second landmark symbol to have a first display style when the first distance is greater than the second distance; and

sending the instructions to display the directions on the map display to the client;

wherein the first display style has a saturated color and a first size, the second display style has a desaturated color, and a second size smaller than the first font size.

57. A computer-implemented method for displaying a route in a client-server computer system comprising:

receiving request for directions to a destination from a client computer;

configuring instructions to display directions to the destination on a map display, the map display including a road symbol, a route associated with the directions, a first landmark symbol represent a first type of landmark, and a second landmark symbol representing a second type of landmark;

determining whether the first landmark symbol is more relevant than the second landmark based on the request for directions, based on the first type of landmark represented by the first landmark symbol, and based on the second type of landmark represented by the second landmark symbol;

configuring the first landmark symbol to have a first relevance display style and the second landmark symbol to have a second relevance display style when the first landmark is more relevant than the second landmark, the first relevance display style being different from the second relevance display style;

determining whether the first landmark symbol is less relevant than the second landmark based on the request for directions, based on the first type of landmark represented by the first landmark symbol, and based on the second type of landmark represented by the second landmark symbol;

configuring the first landmark symbol to have the second relevance display style and the second landmark symbol to have the first relevance display style when the first landmark is less relevant than the second landmark; and

sending the instructions to display the directions on the map display to the client;

wherein the first relevance display style has a saturated color and a first size, the second relevance display style has a desaturated color, and a second size smaller than the first font size.