Representation of overlapping visual entities

{
  "publication_number": "US8423902B2",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "B2",
  "title": "Representation of overlapping visual entities",
  "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": [
    "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."
  ],
  "description_excerpt": "Due to the massive amount of data available for consumption in today's electronic environment, data visualization can be problematic. For example, a mapping application can have access to a multitude of locations (e.g., restaurants, banks, hotels, parks, and so on) that can be displayed as part of a map view. The sheer number of locations available for display, however, can cause a particular map view to become cluttered and reduce the usability of the map view.\n\nThis Summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed Description. This Summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used to limit the scope of the claimed subject matter. 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.",
  "cpc": [
    "G06T 11/60",
    "B25B 11/002",
    "G06F 16/444",
    "G06F 2203/04806",
    "G06F 3/0481",
    "G06F 3/04842",
    "G06F 3/04845",
    "G06F 40/169",
    "G06T 2207/20221",
    "G06T 2219/004",
    "G06T 3/40",
    "G09B 29/007",
    "G09G 2340/04",
    "G09G 2340/10",
    "G09G 2340/12",
    "G09G 2340/125",
    "G09G 2340/145",
    "G09G 2354/00",
    "G09G 5/00",
    "G09G 5/14",
    "G09G 5/377",
    "G11B 5/5569",
    "Y10T 29/49998"
  ],
  "ipc": [
    "G06F 3/048"
  ],
  "assignees": [
    "LIN JEFF J",
    "LOOMIS ANNE H",
    "IMPAS ROMUALDO T",
    "PAULIN ALAN",
    "MICROSOFT CORP"
  ],
  "inventors": [
    "LIN JEFF J",
    "LOOMIS ANNE H",
    "IMPAS ROMUALDO T",
    "PAULIN ALAN"
  ],
  "filing_date": "2010-04-21",
  "publication_date": "2013-04-16",
  "grant_date": "2013-04-16",
  "priority_date": "2010-04-21",
  "application_number": "US-76479810-A",
  "family_id": "44816851",
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}