Method and apparatus for contextually varying imagery on a map

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2017076484-A1
Application number	US-201615362580-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Nov 28, 2016
Priority date	Sep 14, 2012
Publication date	Mar 16, 2017
Grant date	—

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 runway being a linear arrangement of the photographic images, including:
rating each of a plurality of 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 plurality of candidate photographic images, the photographic images for inclusion in the interactive runway, using the rating; and
displaying, by the one or more processors, the interactive runway over the digital map.

2 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising bring new photographic images into view in the runway in response to a user scrolling the interactive runway.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein using the viewing signal includes determining a distance between a current location of a user viewing the digital map and the geographic area, and
rating photographic images associated with tourism in accordance with the determined distance.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein using the viewing signal includes using a search term input via the user interface.

5 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising determining a size of the images to be displayed on the map using the rating.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein using the viewing signals includes using one or more of object location, image type, image quality, image popularity, and spatial perspective.

7 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising determining a size of the runway to be displayed on the map using the rating.

8 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
receiving, via a user interface, a selection of a viewing mode of the map prior to transmitting the request for map data, wherein the viewing mode is selected from a list including satellite view and road view; and determining a size of the images to be displayed view of the selected type.

9 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
receiving a selection of one of the identified images of the runway; and modifying a viewing mode of the map in response to the selection, wherein the viewing mode is one of satellite view, street-level view, and road view.

10 . The method of claim 9 , wherein modifying the viewing mode includes entering the street-level view, and wherein the selected image corresponds to an entry point into the street-level view.

11 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
receiving a selection of one of the images of the runway; and generating a visual indication of an approximate location on the 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 to implement a method of displaying photographic imagery related to digital maps on a screen of a computing device, 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 runway being a linear arrangement of the photographic images, including:
rating each of a plurality of 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 plurality of candidate photographic images, the photographic images for inclusion in the interactive runway, using the rating; and
displaying, by the one or more processors, the interactive runway over the digital map.

13 . The computer-readable medium 12 , the method further comprising bring new photographic images into view in the runway in response to a user scrolling the interactive runway.

14 . The computer-readable medium 12 , wherein using the viewing signal includes determining a distance between a current location of a user viewing the digital map and the geographic area, and
rating photographic images associated with tourism in accordance with the determined distance.

15 . The computer-readable medium 12 , wherein using the viewing signal includes using a search term input via the user interface.

16 . The computer-readable medium 12 , the method further comprising determining a size of the images to be displayed on the map using the rating.

17 . The computer-readable medium 12 , wherein using the viewing signals includes using one or more of object location, image type, image quality, image popularity, and spatial perspective.

18 . The computer-readable medium 12 , the method further comprising determining a size of the runway to be displayed on the map using the rating.

19 . The computer-readable medium 12 , the method further comprising:
receiving, via a user interface, a selection of a viewing mode of the map prior to transmitting the request for map data, wherein the viewing mode is selected from a list including satellite view and road view; and determining a size of the images to be displayed view of the selected type.

20 . The computer-readable medium 12 , the method further comprising:
receiving a selection of one of the identified images of the runway; and modifying a viewing mode of the map in response to the selection, wherein the viewing mode is one of satellite view, street-level view, and road view.

Assignees

• Google Inc

Inventors

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

Classifications

• G06T2200/24

  involving graphical user interfaces [GUIs] · CPC title

• G09G2354/00

  Aspects of interface with display user · CPC title

• G06T11/00

  Two-dimensional [2D] image generation · CPC title

• G06T11/60 Primary

  Creating or editing images; Combining images with text · CPC title

• G09B29/106

  using electronic means · CPC title