Using a rotary input device to facilitate navigational charting
View Patent ↗A method of facilitating the use of a navigational chart. The method is performed by a computer including a display and a rotary input device, e.g., a mouse wheel. A view of the navigational chart is provided on the display. Movement of the mouse wheel is detected. In response to the movement, the computer uses one or more geographical locations to identify one or more points on the chart, and pans the view in the display to center in the view at least one of the one or more points. This method provides an easy, intuitive way for a pilot or other user to follow a route in a charting application.
1. A method of facilitating the use of a navigational chart, the method performed by a computer including a display, the computer further including a rotary input device, the method comprising:
overlaying a route onto the navigational chart, the route defined by a plurality of route points;
providing a view of the navigational chart on the display;
detecting movement of the rotary input device; and
panning the view in the display in response to motion of the rotary input device by a user, to maintain at least a portion of the route in a central portion of the view, and further such that said panning of the view is made in accordance with the route and in accordance with rotary motion of the rotary input device.
2. The method of claim 1 , the panning further comprising rotationally moving the chart and route in the view.
3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising panning the view along the route in different directions based on a detected direction of rotation of the rotary input device.
4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising panning the view to center a route point following a route point previously centered in the view, the panning performed in response to a first direction of rotary input device rotation.
5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising panning the view to center a route point preceding a route point previously centered in the view, the panning performed in response to a second direction of rotary input device rotation.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein depression of the rotary input device is detected, the panning performed to move a route point nearest a center of the view to the center of the view.
7. The method of claim 1 , the panning performed to center a point on the chart representing a current geographical location of a mobile platform on which the computer is located.
8. A method of facilitating the use of a navigational chart, the method performed by a computer including a display, the computer further including a rotary input device, the method comprising:
overlaying onto the navigational chart a route of a mobile platform defined by a plurality of route points;
providing a view of the navigational chart on the display;
detecting movement of the rotary input device; and
based on input resulting from the movement:
panning the view in the display at least generally along the route, the panning performed to keep at least a portion of the route at least generally centered in the view and in one of:
a direction further along the route from a present location of the mobile platform; or
a direction along the route towards one or more previous locations of the mobile platform.
9. The method of claim 8 , wherein rotation of the rotary input device is detected, the method further comprising panning the view in a direction relative to the route based on a direction of the rotation of the rotary input device.
10. The method of claim 8 , wherein the panning is performed to center first and second route points in the view in a sequence based on a detected direction of rotation of the rotary input device.
11. The method of claim 8 , wherein depression of the rotary input device is detected, the identifying comprising identifying a route point closest to a center of the view, the panning performed to center the closest route point.
12. The method of claim 8 , further comprising:
detecting depression of the rotary input device;
in response to the depression, identifying a current location of a mobile platform on which the computer is located; and
panning the view to center the current location in the view.
13. The method of claim 8 , wherein the panning is performed if it is determined that at least one point of the route is within a predetermined distance from the center of the view.
14. A navigational chart system comprising a computer including a display and a rotary input device, the system configured to:
provide a view of a navigational chart on the display;
overlay onto the navigational chart a route defined by a plurality of route points;
detect movement of the rotary input device; and
in response to the movement, maintaining at least a portion of the route in a central portion of the view while panning the view in the display in accordance with input resulting from the movement of the rotary input device, and further such that said panning is accomplished generally in accordance with said route and in accordance with said movement of the rotary input device.
15. The system of claim 14 , further configured to rotate the chart and route in the view when performing the panning.
16. The system of claim 15 , wherein depression of the rotary input device is detected, the panning performed to move a route point nearest a center of the view to the center of the view.
17. The system of claim 15 , further configured to pan the view in a direction relative to the route based on a detected direction of rotation of the rotary in put device.
18. The system of claim 14 , the panning performed to center a point on the chart representing a current geographical location of a mobile platform on which the computer is located.