WO2009084789A1

WO2009084789A1 - Method and system for providing map service displaying partially enlarged map in searched route

Info

Publication number: WO2009084789A1
Application number: PCT/KR2008/003802
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jae-Min Lee
Original assignee: Thinkware Systems Corporation
Priority date: 2007-12-31
Filing date: 2008-06-30
Publication date: 2009-07-09
Also published as: KR20090073399A; KR100944640B1

Abstract

Disclosed are a method and system for providing map services that may display a partially enlarged map on a searched route. The system includes an entire map displaying unit to display an entire map including a corresponding route when a route search is requested, an enlarged map-display estimating unit to estimate whether an enlarged map with respect to the entire map is displayed, and an enlarged map displaying unit to simultaneously display the entire map and the enlarged map when the enlarged map is displayed.

Description

METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR PROVIDING MAP SERVICE DISPLAYING PARTIALLY ENLARGED MAP IN SEARCHED ROUTE

Technical Field The present invention relates to a method and system for providing map services that may display a partially enlarged map on a searched route.

Background Art

An entire moving route may be displayed upon retrieving a route in a web environment and a navigation system. In order to obtain detailed information concerning a guidance route of a desired area, the guidance route may be confirmed after performing a movement and enlargement with respect to the corresponding route. However, in conventional map service providing methods, a screen where an entire route retrieved in advance is displayed is eliminated at the moment when the corresponding map is enlarged, and thereby a relation between the entire route and a specific area intended to be checked may not be readily ascertained.

Disclosure of Invention Technical Goals An aspect of the present invention provides a method and system for providing map services that may simultaneously display an entire map and an enlarged map selected by a user upon retrieving a route, thereby allowing the user to readily comprehend a corresponding map.

An aspect of the present invention provides a method and system for providing map services that may fully display the entire map on a display area and further display the enlarged map having transparency on an arbitrary area of the display area corresponding to the entire map, or fully display the enlarged map on the display area and further display the entire map having transparency on the arbitrary area of the display area to thereby simultaneously display the entire map and the enlarged map, thereby allowing the user to readily comprehend a corresponding map.

Technical solutions According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for providing map services, the method including: displaying an entire map including a corresponding route when a route search is requested; estimating whether an enlarged map with respect to the entire map is displayed; and simultaneously displaying the entire map and the enlarged map when the enlarged map is displayed.

In this instance, the method for providing map services may further include simultaneously displaying another enlarged map and the entire map based on a change event occurring in a display area where the entire map is displayed, and changing the route based on a change event occurring with respect to a display area corresponding to the displayed enlarged map.

Also, the estimating may include activating an enlarged map-display function when an enlargement event occurs through a predetermined enlargement event- occurrence function, and estimating an enlarged map to be displayed, the enlarged map corresponding to an area where an enlargement view event occurs from a display area corresponding to the entire map.

Also, the simultaneously displaying may include simultaneously displaying the entire map and the enlarged map on one display screen.

Also, the enlarged map may include a map corresponding to an area where an enlargement view event occurs from a display area corresponding to the entire map, and the simultaneously displaying may include further displaying the enlarged map having transparency on an arbitrary area of the display area.

Also, the simultaneously displaying may include displaying the enlarged map on the display area, and further displaying the entire map having transparency on an arbitrary area of the display area. According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a system for providing map services, the system including: an entire map displaying unit to display an entire map including a corresponding route when a route search is requested; an enlarged map-display estimating unit to estimate whether an enlarged map with respect to the entire map is displayed; and an enlarged map displaying unit to simultaneously display the entire map and the enlarged map when the enlarged map is displayed.

Advantageous Effect According to exemplary embodiments, an entire map and an enlarged map selected by the user may be simultaneously displayed upon retrieving a route, thereby allowing the user to readily comprehend the corresponding map.

Also, according to exemplary embodiments, the entire map may be fully displayed on a display area and the enlarged map having transparency may be further displayed on an arbitrary area of the display area corresponding to the entire map, or the enlarged map may be fully displayed on the display area and the entire map having transparency may be further displayed on the arbitrary area of the display area to thereby simultaneously display the entire map and the enlarged map, thereby allowing the user to readily comprehend the corresponding map.

Brief Description of Drawings

FIG. 1 is a flowchart illustrating a method for providing map services according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 2 illustrates an example of a method for simultaneously displaying an entire map and an enlarged map based on an estimation of whether the enlarged map is displayed;

FIG. 3 illustrates another example of a method for simultaneously displaying an entire map and an enlarged map based on an estimation of whether the enlarged map is displayed;

FIG. 4 illustrates an example of map movement with respect to an enlarged map;

FIG. 5 illustrates another example of map movement with respect to an enlarged map; FIG. 6 illustrates an example of route change through an enlarged map;

FIG. 7 illustrates another example of route change through an enlarged map; and

FIG. 8 is a block diagram illustrating an internal configuration of a system for providing map services according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

Reference will now be made in detail to embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to the like elements throughout. The embodiments are described below in order to explain the present invention by referring to the figures.

FIG. 1 is a flowchart illustrating a method for providing map services according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

In operation SlOl, a system for providing map services displays an entire map including a corresponding route when a route search is requested. The entire map may be displayed on a display screen included in a terminal of a user using map services.

In operation S 102, the system estimates whether an enlarged map with respect to the entire map is displayed. In this instance, the system may activate an enlarged map-display function when an enlargement event occurs through a predetermined enlargement event-occurrence function, and estimate an enlarged map to be displayed. In this instance, the enlarged map corresponds to an area where an enlargement view event occurs from a display area corresponding to the entire map. Here, the predetermined enlargement event-occurrence function may include at least one button of a terminal and a virtual button created in an arbitrary area of an entire display area, and the enlargement event may include a click event generated in the at least one button.

In operation S 103, the system simultaneously displays the entire map and the enlarged map when the enlarged map is displayed. In this instance, the system may simultaneously display the entire map and the enlarged map on one display screen. As an example, the enlarged map may include a map corresponding to an area where an enlargement view event occurs from a display area corresponding to the entire map, and the system may further display the enlarged map having transparency on an arbitrary area of the display area. As another example, the system may display the enlarged map on the display area, and further display the entire map having transparency on an arbitrary area of the display area.

FIG. 2 illustrates an example of a method for simultaneously displaying an entire map and an enlarged map based on an estimation of whether the enlarged map is displayed. Here, a route 211 corresponding to route search and a button 212 generating an event may be simultaneously displayed on an entire map 210 for the route search. Specifically, a route index map 220 may be activated through event occurrence such as clicking the button 212 or a specific area 213 of the entire map at the time of terminating the route search, that is, at the time of displaying the entire map 210 is displayed when the route search is requested. When the route index map 220 is activated, an enlarged map 221 and an entire map 222 may be simultaneously displayed as illustrated in FIG. 2. In this instance, a user may adjust the route or the displayed enlarged map through a display screen.

FIG. 3 illustrates another example of a method for simultaneously displaying an entire map and an enlarged map based on an estimation of whether the enlarged map is displayed. Here, a route corresponding to route search and a button 311 generating an event may be simultaneously displayed on an entire map 310 for the route search. Specifically, the enlarged map display function may be activated through a click on the button 311 when the route search is terminated. In this instance, as shown in an entire map 320, an enlarged map 322 may be further supplemented to be included in the entire map 320 when an event such as clicking a specific area 321 occurs, thereby simultaneously displaying the enlarged map 322 and the entire map 320.

In operation S 104, the system may simultaneously display another enlarged map and the entire map based on a change event occurring in a display area where the entire map is displayed.

FIG. 4 illustrates an example of map movement with respect to an enlarged map. As illustrated in FIG. 4, an entire map may be simultaneously displayed on an enlarged map 410. Here, as shown in an enlarged map 420, the displayed area may be changed when an event such as clicking another area of the entire map occurs.

FIG. 5 illustrates another example of map movement with respect to an enlarged map. An enlarged map 512 corresponding to a specific area 511 may be displayed as shown in FIG. 5 when an event such as clicking the specific area 511 of an entire map 510 occurs. In this instance, when an event such as dragging from an initially clicked- area 521 to another area 522 occurs by a user as shown in an entire map 520, the system may simultaneously display an enlarged map 523 corresponding to the dragged area on the entire map 520. In operation S 105, the system changes the route based on a change event occurring with respect to a display area corresponding to the displayed enlarged map. Here, the change event may include at least one event of a drag event and click event occurring in the display area.

In this instance, the route change using the enlarged map may be performed in a method for directly supplementing waypoints and a method for directly correcting a route. The method for directly supplementing waypoints is performed such that a user directly supplements information concerning waypoints, and the method for directly correcting the route is performed such that a contact point constituting the route is selected, and a new location of the contact point is designated to thereby change a part of the entire route. Here, the contact point may be a point constituting network data such as an intersection. FIG. 6 illustrates an example of route change through an enlarged map. A route 611 on an enlarged map 610 is changed through an event such as clicking a waypoint 612 included in the enlarged map 610. Specifically, a changed route 621 may be obtained as shown in a new enlarged map 620 when the route 611 is re-retrieved so that the enlarged map 610 includes the waypoint 612. FIG. 7 illustrates another example of route change through an enlarged map.

A route 711 displayed on an enlarged map 710 may be changed, as shown in an enlarged map 720, such that a contact point 721 of the route 711 is selected, and a new location 722 of the contact point is designated.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram illustrating an internal configuration of a system 800 for providing map services according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Here, the system 800 includes an entire map displaying unit 801, an enlarged map-display estimating unit 802, an enlarged map displaying unit 803, a changed map displaying unit 804, and a route changing unit 805.

The entire map displaying unit 801 displays an entire map including a corresponding route when a route search is requested.

The enlarged map-display estimating unit 802 estimates whether an enlarged map with respect to the entire map is displayed. In this instance, the enlarged map- display estimating unit 802 may activate an enlarged map-display function when an enlargement event occurs through a predetermined enlargement event-occurrence function, and estimate an enlarged map to be displayed. In this instance, the enlarged map may correspond to an area where an enlargement view event occurs from a display area corresponding to the entire map. Here, the predetermined enlargement event-occurrence function may include at least one button of a terminal and a virtual button created in an arbitrary area of an entire display area, and the enlargement event may include a click event generated in the at least one button. Also, the enlargement view event may include a click event generated in the display area.

The enlarged map displaying unit 803 simultaneously displays the entire map and the enlarged map when the enlarged map is displayed. In this instance, the enlarged map displaying unit 803 may simultaneously display the entire map and the enlarged map on one display screen. As an example, the enlarged map may include a map corresponding to an area where an enlargement view event occurs from a display area corresponding to the entire map, and the enlarged map displaying unit 803 may further display the enlarged map having transparency on an arbitrary area of the display area. As another example, the enlarged map displaying unit 803 may display the enlarged map on the display area, and further display the entire map having transparency on an arbitrary area of the display area.

The changed map displaying unit 804 simultaneously displays another enlarged map and the entire map based on a change event occurring in a display area where the entire map is displayed, and the route changing unit 805 changes the route based on a change event occurring with respect to a display area corresponding to the displayed enlarged map. Here, the change event may include at least one of a drag event and click event occurring in the display area.

As described above, according to the method and system for providing map services according to exemplary embodiments of the invention, the entire map and the enlarged map selected by the user are simultaneously displayed upon retrieving a route, thereby allowing the user to readily comprehend the corresponding map.

Also, according to the method and system for providing map services according to exemplary embodiments of the invention, the entire map may be fully displayed on a display area and the enlarged map having transparency may be further displayed on an arbitrary area of the display area corresponding to the entire map, or the enlarged map may be fully displayed on the display area and the entire map having transparency may be further displayed on the arbitrary area of the display area to thereby simultaneously display the entire map and the enlarged map, thereby allowing the user to readily comprehend the corresponding map.

The method for providing map services according to the above-described exemplary embodiments of the present invention may be recorded in computer-readable media including program instructions to implement various operations embodied by a computer. The media may also include, alone or in combination with the program instructions, data files, data structures, and the like. The media and program instructions may be those specially designed and constructed for the purposes of the present invention, or they may be of the kind well-known and available to those having skill in the computer software arts. Examples of computer-readable media include magnetic media such as hard disks, floppy disks, and magnetic tape; optical media such as CD ROM disks and DVD; magneto-optical media such as optical disks; and hardware devices that are specially configured to store and perform program instructions, such as read-only memory (ROM), random access memory (RAM), flash memory, and the like. Examples of program instructions include both machine code, such as produced by a compiler, and files containing higher level code that may be executed by the computer using an interpreter. The described hardware devices may be configured to act as one or more software modules in order to perform the operations of the above-described exemplary embodiments of the present invention.

Although a few embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, the present invention is not limited to the described embodiments. Instead, it would be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes may be made to these embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the invention, the scope of which is defined by the claims and their equivalents.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. A method for providing map services, the method comprising: displaying an entire map including a corresponding route when a route search is requested; estimating whether an enlarged map with respect to the entire map is displayed; and simultaneously displaying the entire map and the enlarged map when the enlarged map is displayed.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the estimating includes: activating an enlarged map-display function when an enlargement event occurs through a predetermined enlargement event-occurrence function; and estimating an enlarged map to be displayed, the enlarged map corresponding to an area where an enlargement view event occurs from a display area corresponding to the entire map.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the predetermined enlargement event- occurrence function includes at least one button of a terminal and a virtual button created in an arbitrary area of an entire display area, and the enlargement event includes a click event generated in the at least one button.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the enlargement view event includes a click event created in the display area.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the simultaneously displaying includes simultaneously displaying the entire map and the enlarged map on one display screen.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the enlarged map includes a map corresponding to an area where an enlargement view event occurs from a display area corresponding to the entire map, and the simultaneously displaying includes further displaying the enlarged map having transparency on an arbitrary area of the display area.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the enlarged map includes a map corresponding to an area where an enlargement view event occurs from a display area corresponding to the entire map, and the simultaneously displaying includes: displaying the enlarged map on the display area; and further displaying the entire map having transparency on an arbitrary area of the display area.

8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising: simultaneously displaying another enlarged map and the entire map based on a change event occurring in a display area where the entire map is displayed.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising: changing the route based on a change event occurring with respect to a display area corresponding to the displayed enlarged map.

10. The method of any one of claims 8 and 9, wherein the change event includes at least one event of a drag event and click event occurring in the display area.

11. A computer-readable recording medium storing a program for implementing any one of the methods of claims 1 through 9.

12. A system for providing map services, the system comprising: an entire map displaying unit to display an entire map including a corresponding route when a route search is requested; an enlarged map-display estimating unit to estimate whether an enlarged map with respect to the entire map is displayed; and an enlarged map displaying unit to simultaneously display the entire map and the enlarged map when the enlarged map is displayed.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the enlarged map-display estimating unit includes: an activating unit to activate an enlarged map-display function when an enlargement event occurs through a predetermined enlargement event-occurrence function; and an estimating unit to estimate an enlarged map to be displayed, the enlarged map corresponding to an area where an enlargement view event occurs from a display area corresponding to the entire map.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein the enlarged map displaying unit simultaneously displays the entire map and the enlarged map on one display screen.

15. The system of claim 12, wherein the enlarged map includes a map corresponding to an area where an enlargement view event occurs from a display area corresponding to the entire map, and the enlarged map displaying unit further displays the enlarged map having transparency on an arbitrary area of the display area.

16. The system of claim 12, wherein the enlarged map includes a map corresponding to an area where the enlargement view event occurs from a display area corresponding to the entire map, and the enlarged map displaying unit displays the enlarged map on the display area and further displays the entire map having transparency on an arbitrary area of the display area.

17. The system of claim 12, further comprising: a changed map displaying unit to simultaneously display another enlarged map and the entire map based on a change event occurring in a display area where the entire map is displayed.

18. The system of claim 12, further comprising: a route changing unit to change the route based on a change event occurring with respect to a display area corresponding to the displayed enlarged map.