Map with different degrees of overlapping geocoded pixels

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10198158-B2
Application number	US-201314904751-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 19, 2013
Priority date	Jul 19, 2013
Publication date	Feb 5, 2019
Grant date	Feb 5, 2019

Abstract

A pattern of geocoded pixels is generated by accessing data point values, where each data point value includes an attribute value and coordinates of a geographic location. Each data point value corresponds to a geocoded pixel that is positioned on the pattern based on the coordinates of the data point value such some geocoded pixels overlap other geocoded pixels. Different levels of the pattern of geocoded pixels correspond to a different degree of overlap between the geocoded pixels. The different levels of the pattern of geocoded pixels are associated with different magnification levels of a geographic map such that changing a magnification level of the geographic map causes a degree of overlap between the geocoded pixels of the pattern to change.

First claim

We claim:

1. A method of generating a map associated with different levels of a pattern of geocoded pixels, the method comprising:
in response to a request for a map of a distribution of an attribute in a geographic region, obtaining, by a processor of a computing device, a geographic map of the geographic region;
obtaining, by the processor, data point values of the attribute from a storage, wherein each of the data point values comprises an attribute value and coordinates of a geographic location;
converting, by the processor, the data point values of the attribute into colored pixels, wherein each of the data point values is converted into one of the colored pixels having one of a plurality of colors based on the attribute value of the data point value;
creating, by the processor, a geocoded pixel pattern based on the geographic map of the geographical region by placing each of the colored pixels at a position on the geocoded pixel pattern corresponding to the coordinates of the associated data point value;
rearranging the colored pixels in the geocoded pixel pattern by:
sorting a list of the colored pixels in a descending order based on the attribute values associated with the colored pixels, from a colored pixel having a highest attribute value to a colored pixel having a lowest attribute value,
maintaining the colored pixel having the highest attribute value at its position in the geocoded pixel pattern, and
repositioning the remaining colored pixels in the sorted list, one by one in the descending order, around the colored pixel having the highest attribute value in a concentric fashion such that the colored pixel having the lowest attribute value is farthest away from the colored pixel having the highest attribute value; and

generating the geocoded pixel pattern as a distribution map of the attribute in the geographic region.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
receiving an input to select a particular colored pixel on the distribution map of the attribute; and
displaying the data point value associated with the selected colored pixel.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
parsing the request to identify the geographic region and the attribute in the request.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the attribute value varies depending on the geographic location.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the attribute value comprises at least one of annual household income, presence of disease, mortality rate, and an indication of consumer trends.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the colored pixels have different colors, each of the different colors identifying a range of values for the attribute value of the associated data point value.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
in response to a request of change in a magnification of the geographic map, changing a degree of overlap between the rearranged colored pixels in the geocoded pixel pattern.

8. A non-transitory machine-readable storage medium storing instructions that when executed cause a processor of a computing device to:
in response to a request for a map of a distribution of an attribute in a geographic region, obtain a geographic map of the geographic region,
obtain data point values of the attribute from a storage, wherein each of the data point values comprises an attribute value and coordinates of a geographic location,
convert the data point values of the attribute into colored pixels, wherein each of the data point values is converted into one of the colored pixels having one of a plurality of colors based on the attribute value of the data point value,
create a geocoded pixel pattern based on the geographic map of the geographical region by placing each of the colored pixels at a position on the geocoded pixel pattern corresponding to the coordinates of the associated data point value,
rearrange the colored pixels in the geocoded pixel pattern by:
sorting a list of the colored pixels in a descending order based on the attribute values associated with the colored pixels, from a colored pixel having a highest attribute value to a colored pixel having a lowest attribute value,
maintaining the colored pixel having the highest attribute value at its position in the geocoded pixel pattern, and
repositioning the remaining colored pixels in the sorted list, one by one in the descending order, around the colored pixel having the highest attribute value in a concentric fashion such that the colored pixel having the lowest attribute value is farthest away from the colored pixel having the highest attribute value, and

generate the geocoded pixel pattern as a distribution map of the attribute in the geographic region.

9. The non-transitory machine-readable storage medium of claim 8 , wherein the color of each colored pixel identifies a range of values for the attribute value of the data point value associated with the colored pixel.

10. The non-transitory machine-readable storage medium of claim 8 , wherein the instructions are to cause the processor to:
receive an input to select a particular colored pixel on the distribution map of the attribute; and
display the data point value associated with the selected colored pixel.

11. The non-transitory machine-readable storage medium of claim 8 , wherein the instructions are to cause the processor to:
parse the request to identify the geographic region and the attribute in the request.

12. The non-transitory machine-readable storage medium of claim 8 , wherein, in response to a request of change in a magnification of the geographic map, the instructions are to cause the processor to change a degree of overlap between the rearranged colored pixels in the geocoded pixel pattern.

13. A computing device comprising:
a processor; and
a memory storing instructions that when executed cause the processor to:
obtain a geographic map of a geographic region,
obtain data point values of an attribute from a storage, wherein each of the data point values comprises an attribute value and coordinates of a geographic location,
convert the data point values of the attribute into colored pixels,

wherein the data point values is converted into one of the colored pixels having one of a plurality of colors based on the attribute value of the data point value,
create a pattern of geocoded pixels based on the geographic map of the geographical region by placing each of the colored pixels at a position on the pattern corresponding to the coordinates of the associated data point value,
rearrange the colored pixels in the geocoded pixel pattern by:
sorting a list of the colored pixels in a descending order based on the attribute values associated with the colored pixels, from a colored pixel having a highest attribute value to a colored pixel having a lowest attribute value,
maintaining the colored pixel having the highest attribute value at its position in the geocoded pixel pattern, and
repositioning the remaining colored pixels in the sorted list, one by one in the descending order, around the colored pixel having the highest attribute value in a concentric fashion such that the colored pixel having the lowest attribute value is farthest away from the colored pixel having the highest attribute value, and

generate the geocoded pixel pattern as a distribution map of the attribute in the geographic region.

14. The computing device of claim 13 , wherein the instructions are to cause the processor to:
receive an input to select a particular colored pixel on the pattern of geocoded pixels; and
display the data point value associated with the selected colored pixel.

Assignees

• Hewlett Packard Development Co
• Entit Software Llc

Inventors

• Hao Ming C
• Janetzko Halldor
• Dayal Umeshwar
• Hsu Meichun

Classifications

• G06T11/26

  Drawing of charts or graphs · CPC title

• G06F3/0481

  based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance · CPC title

• G09B29/007 Primary

  using computer methods · CPC title

• G06T11/206

  Physics · mapped topic

• G06F3/04842 Primary

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