Patent ID: 9684425
Date: 2017-06-20
CPC Classifications: G01C,G06F,G09B

Claim:
1. A method for providing interactive user controls in a geographic application, the method comprising: providing, by one or more processors via a user interface, a digital map within a viewport to depict a first geographic area, wherein the viewport defines a viewable portion of the digital map; repositioning, by the one or more processors, the viewport relative to the digital map in accordance with user commands provided via the user interface to depict a second geographic area; detecting, by the one or more processors, a sequence of user commands that cause a substantially continuous movement of the viewport, during which a zoom level of the viewport stays the same; determining, by the one or more processors, a probable trajectory of the viewport consistent with the substantially continuous movement of the viewport, including determining a length of the probable trajectory in view of the zoom level; determining, by the one or more processors, a geographic place that will become visible within the viewport if the viewport continues to move along its current trajectory, the geographic place located in a third geographic area non-adjacent to the second geographic area; and providing, by the one or more processors via the user interface, a control for directly positioning the viewport over a portion of the digital map representing the geographic place to depict the third geographic area.