Patent ID: 8487957

Claim:
A computer-implemented method for displaying one or more photographic images at a location within a three-dimensional (3D) geographic environment of a geographic information system, comprising: (a) displaying a three-dimensional geographic environment from data received from a geographic information system, wherein the three-dimensional geographic environment represents a planetary body, and wherein the data received from the geographic information system includes the one or more photographic images and location data associated with each photographic image, the location data identifying a location in the three-dimensional environment that corresponds to a geolocation where the associated photographic image was captured; (b) when a location identified by the location data associated with a particular photographic image of the one or more photographic images is within a field of view of, and at a first distance from, a virtual camera of the three-dimensional geographic environment, displaying the particular photographic image on a photo placemark object represented as a billboard at the location within the three-dimensional geographic environment, wherein the first distance is determined, at least in part, based on whether the particular photographic image, if displayed on the photo placemark object, occupies more than five percent of an image plane derived from the virtual camera; and (c) when the location identified by the location data associated with the particular photographic image is within a field of view of, and at a second distance from, the virtual camera of the three-dimensional geographic environment, displaying an icon representing the particular photographic image on the photo placemark object at the location, the second distance being greater than the first distance, wherein the second distance is determined, at least in part, based on whether the particular photographic image, if displayed on the photo placemark object, occupies five percent or less of the image plane derived from the virtual camera; and (d) displaying the photographic image in greater detail, in response to a computer input event.