Method and apparatus for contextually varying imagery on a map

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10096142-B2
Application number	US-201715803287-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 3, 2017
Priority date	Sep 14, 2012
Publication date	Oct 9, 2018
Grant date	Oct 9, 2018

Abstract

Map data for generating a digital map of a geographic area is received, the digital map is generated using the received map data, and the digital map is displayed via a user interface. An interactive runway of photographic images corresponding to objects located within the geographic area is generated, the runway being a linear arrangement of the photographic images. Generating the runway includes rating each of the candidate photographic images corresponding to objects located within the within the geographic area using viewing signals related to at least one of the photographic image or an object depicted in the photographic image, and selecting, from among the candidate photographic images, the photographic images for inclusion in the interactive runway, using the rating. The interactive runway is displayed over the digital map.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method of displaying photographic imagery related to digital maps, the method comprising:
receiving, by one or more processors, map data for generating a digital map of a geographic area;
generating, by the one or more processors, the digital map using the received map data;
displaying, by the one or more processors, the digital map via a user interface;
generating an interactive runway of photographic images corresponding to objects located within the geographic area, the interactive runway being an arrangement of the photographic images determined based on one or more viewing signals related to: (i) at least one of the photographic images, or (ii) an object to which at least one of the photographic images corresponds;
displaying, by the one or more processors, the interactive runway over the digital map;
detecting, by the one or more processors, a selection by a user of a one of the photographic images in the interactive runway; and
displaying, by the one or more processors, the digital map in a street-level viewing mode from a perspective at a position corresponding to the selected photographic image.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising displaying additional photographic images in the interactive runway in response to a detection of a user scrolling the interactive runway.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the one or more viewing signals include:
a signal corresponding to a search term input via the user interface.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the one or more viewing signals include:
a signal corresponding to one or more of: object location, image type, image quality, image popularity, and spatial perspective.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the one or more viewing signals include a signal corresponding to a distance between a current location of the user viewing the digital map and the geographic area, and
wherein the arrangement of the photographic images includes images associated with tourism and wherein the arrangement is further determined based on ratings calculated based on the signal corresponding to the distance.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising determining a size of the photographic images using the one or more viewing signals.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising determining a size of the interactive runway using the one or more viewing signals.

8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
receiving, via the user interface, a selection of a viewing mode of the digital map prior to receiving the map data, wherein the viewing mode is selected from a list including road view and street-level view; and
determining a size of the photographic images based on the selected viewing mode.

9. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
receiving navigation input via the user interface;
updating the displayed digital map in accordance with a new position determined based on the received navigation input;
populating the interactive runway with one or more new photographic images in accordance with the new map position.

10. The method of claim 9 , further comprising:
receiving via the user interface a selection of a one of the one or more new photographic images; and
updating the displayed digital map in accordance with a second new position corresponding to an object to which the selected new photographic image corresponds.

11. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
receiving a selection of one of the photographic images of the interactive runway; and
generating a visual indication of an approximate location on the digital map of the object associated with the selected image.

12. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing thereon instructions that, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors:
receive map data for generating a digital map of a geographic area;
generate the digital map using the received map data;
display the digital map via a user interface;
generate an interactive runway of photographic images corresponding to objects located within the geographic area, the interactive runway being an arrangement of the photographic images determined based on one or more viewing signals related to: (i) at least one of the photographic images, or (ii) an object to which at least one of the photographic images corresponds;
display the interactive runway over the digital map;
detect a selection by a user of a one of the photographic images in the interactive runway; and
display the digital map in a street-level viewing mode from a perspective at a position corresponding to the selected photographic image.

13. The computer-readable medium 12 , wherein the instructions further cause the one or more processors to:
display additional photographic images in the interactive runway in response to a detection of a user scrolling the interactive runway.

14. The computer-readable medium 12 , wherein the one or more viewing signals include a signal corresponding to a distance between a current location of the user viewing the digital map and the geographic area, and
wherein the arrangement of the photographic images includes images associated with tourism and wherein the arrangement is further determined based on ratings calculated based on the signal corresponding to the distance.

15. The computer-readable medium 12 , wherein the one or more viewing signals include:
a signal corresponding to a search term input via the user interface.

16. The computer-readable medium 12 , wherein the instructions further cause the one or more processors to:
determine a size of the photographic images using the one or more viewing signals.

17. The computer-readable medium 12 , wherein the one or more viewing signals include:
a signal corresponding to one or more of: object location, image type, image quality, image popularity, and spatial perspective.

18. The computer-readable medium 12 , wherein the instructions further cause the one or more processors to:
determine a size of the interactive runway using the one or more viewing signals.

19. The computer-readable medium 12 , wherein the instructions further cause the one or more processors to:
receive, via the user interface, a selection of a viewing mode of the digital map prior to receiving the map data, wherein the viewing mode is selected from a list including road view and street-level view; and
determine a size of the photographic images based on the selected viewing mode.

20. The computer-readable medium 12 , wherein the instructions further cause the one or more processors to:
receive a selection of one of the photographic images of the interactive runway; and
generate a visual indication of an approximate location on the digital map of the object associated with the selected image.

Assignees

• Google Inc
• Google Llc

Inventors

• Ofstad Andrew
• Lancker Willem Van
• Simpson Matthew Robert
• Seefeld Bernhard A M

Classifications

• G06F3/04842

  Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements (G06F3/0482 takes precedence) · CPC title

• G09B29/106

  using electronic means · CPC title

• G06F3/147

  using display panels · CPC title

• G06T2200/24

  involving graphical user interfaces [GUIs] · CPC title

• G09G2354/00

  Aspects of interface with display user · CPC title