IP Library › Granted Patent US 8,423,902
Granted Patent B2
US 8,423,902 · App. 12/764,798 · Granted Apr 16, 2013

Representation of overlapping visual entities

Inventors: Jeff J. Lin (Seattle, WA); Anne H. Loomis (Seattle, WA); Romualdo T. Impas (Seattle, WA); Alan Paulin (Kirkland, WA)
Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,423,902
App. No.
12/764,798
Granted
Apr 16, 2013
Kind
B2
Abstract

Various embodiments present a combined visual entity that represents overlapping visual entities. The combined visual entity can include a primary visualization that represents one of the overlapping visual entities and annotations that represent others of the overlapping visual entities. For example, a map view can include multiple geographical entities that overlap. A primary visualization can be rendered that represents one of the multiple geographical entities. The primary visualization can be visually annotated (e.g., with symbols, letters, or other visual indicators) to indicate others of the multiple geographical entities. In some embodiments, a zoom operation can cause visual entities to be added and/or removed from the combined visual entity.

Claims (34)

1. One or more computer readable storage media devices embodying computer readable instructions which, when executed, implement a method comprising:

rendering a combined visual entity that includes a visualization for each visual entity of multiple overlapping visual entities;

determining, responsive to receiving an indication of a zoom-in operation, that one of the multiple overlapping visual entities no longer overlaps;

removing a visualization for the one of the multiple overlapping visual entities from the combined visual entity; and

replacing a primary visualization associated with the one of the multiple overlapping visual entities and included as part of the combined visual entity, with a different primary visualization associated with another of the multiple overlapping visual entities.

2. The one or more computer readable storage media of claim 1 , wherein one or more of the multiple overlapping visual entities represents one or more geographic locations.

3. The one or more computer readable storage media of claim 1 , wherein the combined visual entity comprises the primary visualization and one or more annotations.

4. The one or more computer readable storage media of claim 3 , wherein the primary visualization corresponds to one of the multiple overlapping visual entities and the one or more annotations correspond to others of the multiple overlapping visual entities.

5. The one or more computer readable storage media of claim 1 , wherein the zoom-in operation is responsive to a user interaction with a map view.

6. The one or more computer readable storage media of claim 1 , wherein removing the visualization for the one of the multiple overlapping visual entities from the combined visual entity comprises removing an annotation from the combined visual entity.

7. The one or more computer readable storage media of claim 1 , wherein the one of the multiple overlapping visual entities can alternately be represented by the primary visualization or an annotation.

8. A computer-implemented method comprising:

rendering a combined visual entity that includes a visualization for each visual entity of multiple overlapping visual entities;

determining, responsive to receiving an indication of a zoom-in operation, that one of the multiple overlapping visual entities no longer overlaps;

removing a visualization for the one of the multiple overlapping visual entities from the combined visual entity; and

replacing a primary visualization associated with the one of the multiple overlapping visual entities and included as part of the combined visual entity, with a different primary visualization associated with another of the multiple overlapping visual entities.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 8 , wherein one or more of the multiple overlapping visual entities represents one or more geographic locations.

10. The computer-implemented method of claim 8 , wherein the combined visual entity comprises the primary visualization and one or more annotations.

11. The computer-implemented method of claim 10 , wherein the primary visualization corresponds to one of the multiple overlapping visual entities and the one or more annotations correspond to others of the multiple overlapping visual entities.

12. The computer-implemented method of claim 8 , wherein the zoom-in operation is responsive to a user interaction with a map view.

13. The computer-implemented method of claim 8 , wherein removing the visualization for the one of the multiple overlapping visual entities from the combined visual entity comprises removing an annotation from the combined visual entity.

14. The computer-implemented method of claim 8 , wherein the one of the multiple overlapping visual entities can alternately be represented by the primary visualization or an annotation.

15. A system comprising:

one or more processors; and

one or more computer readable storage media devices storing computer-executable instructions that are executable by the one or more processors to cause the system to:

render a combined visual entity that includes a visualization for each visual entity of multiple overlapping visual entities;

determine, responsive to receiving an indication of a zoom-in operation, that one of the multiple overlapping visual entities no longer overlaps;

remove a visualization for the one of the multiple overlapping visual entities from the combined visual entity; and

replace a primary visualization associated with the one of the multiple overlapping visual entities and included as part of the combined visual entity, with a different primary visualization associated with another of the multiple overlapping visual entities.

16. The system of claim 15 , wherein one or more of the multiple overlapping visual entities represents one or more geographic locations.

17. The system of claim 15 , wherein the combined visual entity comprises the primary visualization and one or more annotations.

18. The system of claim 17 , wherein the primary visualization corresponds to one of the multiple overlapping visual entities and the one or more annotations correspond to others of the multiple overlapping visual entities.

19. The system of claim 15 , wherein the zoom-in operation is responsive to a user interaction with a map view.

20. The system of claim 15 , wherein the computer-executable instructions are executable by the one or more processors to cause the system to remove the visualization for the one of the multiple overlapping visual entities from the combined visual entity by removing an annotation from the combined visual entity.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 9, 2014
From: MICROSOFT CORPORATION
To: MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING, LLC
Reel/Frame 034564/0001 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 22, 2010
From: LIN, JEFF J.; LOOMIS, ANNE H.; IMPAS, ROMUALDO T.; PAULIN, ALAN
To: MICROSOFT CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 024268/0322 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20110265030A1 · Oct 27, 2011