Patent Publication Number: US-2012032974-A1

Title: Method and apparatus for map panning recall

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     Moving map displays are becoming very common in aircraft, automobiles, and other vehicles as aids to situational awareness and navigation. In addition to relatively static map data such as terrain, fixed cultural items, and navigational aids, more dynamic data such as current weather and traffic conditions are being overlaid on these maps. Tools for manipulating (e.g., zooming, re-orienting, panning) these displays so as to enhance their usefulness are also undergoing continual development. 
     SUMMARY 
     A method and corresponding apparatus according to an example embodiment of the present invention relates to computer-based recall of a panned map. A computer-based apparatus for recalling a panned map includes a display, a panning module, and a pan recall module. The display displays a first location of an object on a map. The panning module transitions display of the map from the first location to a second location remote from the first location and back to the first location. After the display is transitioned back to displaying the first location, the pan recall module recalls display of the second location from display of the first location. 
     Another example embodiment of the present invention relates to a computer-implemented method and corresponding computer-based apparatus that changes display of a map from a first location represented by a first marker to a second location remote from the first marker. The example embodiment assigns a second marker to the second location, returns the display of the map back to the first location, and toggles between displaying at the first marker and displaying at the second marker. 
     The moving object may be displayed on the map using a marker placed at the first location. The display may represent movement of the moving object by moving the map with respect to the marker. 
     The panning module may transition display of the map to the second location by temporarily pausing movement of the map with respect to the marker. The panning module may store a latitude and a longitude of the second location. The panning module may store at least one of an orientation of the map, scale of a map display, and items selected for display on the map (e.g., weather, traffic, navigational aids, etc.). 
     After recalling display of the second location, the pan recall module may change display of the second location back to the first location after a predetermined period of time or upon receiving a request signal from a user. The pan recall module may recall display of the second location upon receiving a request signal from a user. A pan recall key may be activated to signal the pan recall module to recall displaying of the second location. The pan recall module may recall the display of the second location based on the stored latitude and longitude. The pan recall module may include a memory cache for storing the latitude and longitude of the second location. The pan recall module may continuously update position of the second location and maintain the position at a fixed distance and a fixed bearing with respect to heading or track of a marker at the first location. The pan recall module may continuously update position of the second location and maintain the position at a fixed distance and a fixed direction with respect to the first location. 
     The moving object may be at least one of an aircraft, an automobile or vehicle, or a marine vessel. The map display may represent at least one of flight path, travel route, or sea route. 
     The recalled display of the second location may include at least one of weather patterns and conditions of the second location, traffic patterns of the second location, landmarks associated with the second location, wave patterns and/or sea conditions at the second location, landing conditions at the second location, political conditions including geographical borders of the second location, terrain conditions, navigational aids, and obstacles at the second location. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The foregoing will be apparent from the following more particular description of example embodiments of the invention, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which like reference characters refer to the same parts throughout the different views. The drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon illustrating embodiments of the present invention. 
         FIG. 1  is an example of a multi-function display that may be used with example embodiments of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a block diagram of a management unit embodying the present invention and employing the techniques described herein. 
         FIG. 3A  illustrates an example of transitioning a display from displaying a first location to displaying a second location according to techniques described herein. 
         FIG. 3B  illustrates an example embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 4  is a schematic illustration of an example embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 5  is a high-level schematic illustration of an example embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     A description of example embodiments of the invention follows. 
       FIG. 1  is an example of a multi-function display  100  that may be used with example embodiments of the present invention. Such multi-function displays  100  may be used by/in moving objects such as aircraft, automobiles or vehicles, and marine vessels (not shown) to improve a user&#39;s ability to access and display critical travel data to enhance situational awareness. The multi-function display  100  may be used to display a moving map  102  of a travel plan and view travel data such as weather patterns, traffic patterns, landmarks, wave patterns, landing conditions, political conditions including zoning and geographical borders, navigational aids, obstacles, and terrain data. The multi-function display  100  may also provide navigational data such as heading, distance, time to arrival, and bearing data. In certain embodiments, the multi-function display  100  provides this information while displaying the moving map  102  and without needing to exit the moving map display. Accordingly, a user may continue to view his/her current location on the moving map  102  while obtaining desired travel data and safety information and without having to switch to dedicated or hidden pages. 
     In certain embodiments, the multi-function display  100  may serve as a radar display replacement and provide access to radar modes, and control tilt and other radar functions and parameters. 
     In certain embodiments, the multi-function display  100  employs a marker  103  to display the current location (with respect to surrounding objects and conditions) of a moving object to enhance situational awareness. The marker  103  may be a general marker (e.g., “X” or “O” symbol) or a shape or design that represents the nature of the moving object (e.g., an own ship symbol, an airplane for an aircraft). 
     In certain embodiments, the multi-function display  100  may be coupled to a database of airport diagrams (not shown). In these embodiments, the markers  103  may be used to display an aircraft position on runways, taxis, and ramps. This provides for an added measure of situational awareness during critical phases of flight and while taxiing. 
     Since weather and traffic (air traffic or road congestion/traffic when used in automobiles) are critical factors in successful completion of many travel plans, in certain embodiments, the multi-function display  100  may employ color lighting or color coding to demonstrate weather and/or traffic data along a travel route. For example, in certain embodiments, color red may be used to illustrate heavy traffic (moving speed of 0-10 Miles per Hour (mph)), color orange for moderate traffic (moving speed of 10-30 mph), and color green for flowing traffic (moving speed of 30-50 mph). Color coding may also be used to illustrate weather conditions. For example, color blue may be used to illustrate snowy conditions, color pink for mixed snow and rain, etc (e.g., heavier to lighter rain conditions represented by magenta, red, yellow, and green). Other colors and travel data may be illustrated and used with example embodiments of the invention. Certain embodiments may use broadcast data and two-way satellite data link to obtain the required weather data. For example, the weather data may be obtained using available resources such as the SIRIUS® Satellite Network. The multi-function display may display high-resolution NOWrad® radar mosaic, Storm Track Vectors, Hail Warnings, Airmen&#39;s Meteorological Information (AIRMET), Significant Meteorological Information (SIGMET), graphical and textual weather formats (e.g., METAR), Aviation Terminal Forecast (TAF), Temperatures and Winds Aloft, Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR), and lightning from WSI&#39;s Precision Lightning Network. 
     A map panning feature is used to allow a user to easily pan to any location. Specifically, the panning feature, upon activation, signals the multi-function display  100  to transition from displaying the current location of the moving object to display a new location, remote from the current location. In certain embodiments, dedicated directional panning keys  112  may be used to activate the panning feature. After displaying the new location, the multi-function display  100  returns back to displaying the current location of the moving object. This return to displaying the current location may be triggered by using a dedicated reset/pan recall key  110 . In certain embodiments, the multi-function display may return to displaying the current location after a certain predetermined amount of time has lapsed. The user may toggle between displaying the current position and the panned-to position on the multi-function display  100 . In certain embodiments, recalling the display of the panned-to positions may be done by activating the reset/pan key  110 . 
     In a preferred embodiment, the reset/pan key  110  is used for toggling between displaying the current location and the prior panned-to location. In certain embodiments, multiple keys may be used (not shown). 
     The panning and pan recall features of the present invention facilitate recalling panned-to locations for operators of moving objects (e.g., airplane and helicopter pilots) and improve an operator&#39;s ability to access and display critical flight data. Specifically, the pan recall feature of the present invention facilitates transitions between multiple locations for operators of moving objects, thereby increasing situational awareness. 
     The present invention provides an operator with easier viewing of information at multiple distant locations without the inconvenience of having to reuse the pan feature to pan back to a previously panned to location. By providing the reset/pan key  110 , the present invention provides a more convenient and time efficient alternative to using the pan feature. 
       FIG. 2  is an example illustration of a management unit  200  that may utilize the techniques described herein. The components of the management unit  200  may be fully or partially placed in the multi-function display  100  or be connected to the multi-function display  100 . The management unit  200  may include a memory unit  215  along with a processor  205  that may be connected to various devices via an input/output (I/O) device interface  255 . The memory unit  215  may be a computer-readable memory and include combinations of non-volatile memory devices. The memory unit  215  is configured to hold various computer-executable instructions and data structures including computer-executable instructions and data structures that implement aspects of the techniques described herein. 
     The memory unit  215  may include a unit for procedures  201  involved in panning the display  100  from displaying a current location to displaying a new location (i.e., the panned-to location), returning the display from displaying the new location to displaying the current location, and subsequently recalling display of the panned-to location according to example embodiments of the present invention. 
     The memory unit  215  may also include an operating system  295  and be arranged to implement various conventional operating system functions including task and process scheduling, memory management, and controlled access to various devices, such as a database storage unit  235 . The processes may include computer-executable instructions and data that are configured to implement various aspects of the techniques described herein. 
     The management unit  200  may also include a network interface  245  to connect the system to a network. The processor  205  may include a conventional central processing unit (CPU) comprising processing circuitry that is configured to execute various instructions and manipulate data structures from the memory unit  215 . 
     The I/O device interfaces  255  may include logic to interface various input and/or output devices, such as a keypad or mouse, key  110  and display  100  with the processor  205 . For example, control buttons  112  (shown in  FIG. 1 ) surrounding the reset/pan recall key  110  may serve I/O device interfaces  255 . The I/O device interfaces  255  may be configured to allow signals to be transferred between the management unit  200  and other components of the system. 
       FIG. 3A  illustrates an example of transitioning a display from displaying a first location  310  to displaying a second location  320  according to techniques described herein. As shown in  FIG. 3A , a location of a moving object  305  (i.e., first location) may be displayed on a moving map using a marker  301 . The moving map may include travel data such as weather and traffic information. The display may be transitioned to display a new location  320  (i.e., second location). The transition to the second location  320  may occur by triggering one or more keys (such as those shown as keys  112  surrounding key  110  in  FIG. 1 ) or any other available technique in the art such as searching for the second location, determining the second location using physical address, name, latitude and longitude, etc. In a preferred embodiment, a user employs these keys  112  (shown in  FIG. 1 ) to smoothly pan along to a desired new location  320 . 
     Upon displaying the second location, the display transitions again and returns to displaying the first location  310 . The transition back to the first location  310  may occur by activating one or more keys or using a voice command. In certain embodiments, the display may return to displaying the first location  310  after a predetermined period of time has lapsed. Once the display has returned to displaying the first location, a pan recall key  110  may be activated to return the display to displaying the new panned-to location  320 . 
       FIG. 3B  illustrates an example embodiment of the present invention. A computer-based map panning apparatus, according to example embodiments of the invention, includes a display  100  that displays a first location  310  of a moving object  305  on a map  330 A,  330 B. The map  330 A,  330 B may be a moving map in the sense that it tracks (i.e., displays) the movement of the moving object  305 . For example, in certain embodiments, the moving object  305  may be displayed on the map  330 A,  330 B using a marker  301  placed at the first location  310 , and the movement of the moving object  305  is represented by moving the map  330 A,  330 B with respect to the marker  301 . Although the marker  301 , in  FIG. 3B , is shown as a symbol representing an automobile, it should be clear that any available type or shape of marker (e.g., own ship symbols, “X”, “O”, etc.) may be used to represent the moving object  305 . The moving object  305  itself may be a person on foot (e.g., hikers) using the computer-based apparatus for navigation purposes or a moving vehicle such as an aircraft, an automobile, or a marine vessel. The map may represent any of a flight path, travel route, or sea route and include available travel data such as traffic patterns, landmarks, weather forecast, current weather information, wave patterns, landing conditions, and political conditions including zoning and geographical borders. 
     A panning module  201  (or  410 ,  FIG. 4 ), upon being activated, transitions display of the map  330 A from its normal mode  303 -A (i.e., displaying the first location  310 ) to a panned display  303 -B, in which a second location  320  remote from the first location  310  is displayed. The generation of the panned-to display  303 -B may be activated in any possible manner available in the art. For example, the panning may be activated using one or more keys  112  (such as those shown surrounding pan recall key  110  in  FIG. 1 ) positioned on the apparatus. In certain embodiments, the panning may be activated once a user searches or enters the latitude/longitude or other location definition (indication) of the second location  320 . For example, in certain embodiments, the user may use the apparatus to search and find a landmark or a point of interest (e.g., Logan Airport, Minuteman National Park, or Main Street Café) and pan to that location to determine travel data for that location. In certain embodiments, the user may enter the physical address of the second location  320  (e.g., 123 Main Street, Boston, Mass.). In certain embodiments, the panning may be voice activated. In certain embodiments, the panning module may transition display of the map  330 A to the second location  320  by temporarily pausing movement of the map with respect to the marker. 
     Upon panning to the new location, the apparatus may store the location data of the second location  320 . For example, map orientation and/or the latitude and longitude of the second location  320  may be stored in a storage medium (e.g., memory cache). 
     After the display has been panned to the panned-to location  303 -B, it may return to its original display mode  303 -C to display the first location  310 . The return to displaying the first location  310  may be triggered by pressing a key  110  or after a predetermined period of time has lapsed. The key may be the same as or different from the key used to pan to the panned-to location  320 . In certain embodiments, the return to displaying the first location  310  may be voice activated. For example, the user may issue a command (e.g., “go back,” “back,” “return,” etc.) that triggers the transition of the display back to the first location  310 . Other available techniques in the art (e.g., click of a mouse) may be used to transition between displaying the first  310  and second  320  locations. 
     After returning to displaying the first location  310  (shown in  FIG. 3B  as display after panning  303 -C), the panned-to display  303 -B may be recalled to display of the second location again (shown in  FIG. 3B  as pan recalled display  303 -D). The recall to display the panned-to location  320  may be triggered upon receiving a signal from the user (which may be issued using techniques explained above such as activating a key  110  or through voice activation). In certain embodiments, a user may program the apparatus to toggle between display after panning  303 -C and the pan recalled display  303 -D over predetermined time intervals. 
     After recalling display of the second location  320 , the apparatus may change display of the second location back to display of the first location. The apparatus may continue to toggle between the pan recalled display  303 -D and display after panning  303 -C. The toggling between the two displays may occur after a predetermined period of time or upon receiving a request signal from a user. 
     As explained above, in certain embodiments, the location information (e.g., latitude and longitude) of the panned-to location may be stored. In such embodiments, the recall to the panned-to location display  303 -D may be based on the stored latitude and longitude. The apparatus may continuously update relative latitude and longitude of the second location  320  with respect to the first location  310 . In certain embodiments, the bearing and distance of the second location  320  with respect to the first location  310  may be stored. 
     The recalled display of the second location  320  may include travel data such as weather patterns, traffic patterns, and landing conditions at the second location  320 . 
       FIG. 4  is an illustration of an example embodiment  400  of the present invention. The example embodiment  400  includes a display  100  that displays a first location  310  of a moving object  305  on a map  430 . The example embodiment  400  also includes a panning module  410  that transitions display of the map  430  from the first location  310  to a second location  320  (shown in  FIGS. 3A-3B ) remote from the first location. Upon displaying the second location, the panning module  410  returns the display  100  back to displaying the first location  310 . The example embodiment  400  also includes a pan recall module  420  that, upon being triggered, recalls display of the second location  320  from the first location  310  by returning the display  100  to displaying the second location  320 . 
     In certain embodiments, an optional memory unit  450  (e.g., memory cache) may be coupled with the panning module  410  and the pan recall module  420 . The panning module  410  stores the last panned-to location  320  in the memory  450  (the last panned-to location may include a set of one or more panned-to locations). The pan recall module  420  fetches the stored panned-to location(s)  320  and possibly other information (such as map orientation and scale) from the memory  450 . The pan recall module  420  employs this information in recalling the display of the last panned-to location(s). 
       FIG. 5  is a high-level illustration of an example embodiment  500  of the present invention. The example embodiment  500  includes a panning module  410  executed by a processor that changes display  100  of a map from a first location  310  represented by a first marker  305  to a second location  320  remote from the first marker  305 . The panning module  410  assigns a second marker  505  to the second location  320  and returns the display of the map back to the first location  310 . The example embodiment  500  also includes a pan recall module  420  that toggles the display  100  between displaying the map at the first marker  305  and displaying a map at the second marker  505 . 
     Embodiments of the present invention, although described for displaying a moving map, are not limited to map display and may be used in various fields requiring display of multiple targets or subjects. For example, embodiments of the present invention may be used in data processing, when working with large number of data points, to toggle between displaying various windows, views, or representation of data points. 
     It should be understood that procedures, such as those illustrated by flow diagrams or block diagrams herein or otherwise described herein, may be implemented in the form of hardware, firmware, or software. If implemented in software, the software may be implemented in any software language consistent with the teachings herein and may be stored on any computer readable medium known or later developed in the art. The software, typically, in form of instructions, can be coded and executed by a processor in a manner understood in the art. 
     While this invention has been particularly shown and described with references to example embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the scope of the invention encompassed by the appended claims.