Map lens in a user interface

摘要

A map lens may take the form of a shape that may be superimposed on a map displayed in the user interface, moved around the map by the user, and activated by the user to select a region of the map bounded by the map lens. Activation of the map lens may cause the user interface to display only those markers that are within the region bounded by the map lens. In situations where the user moves the map lens over unselected regions of the map, the user interface may dynamically show or hide markers on the map. This may have the effect of presenting to the user a visually uncluttered map in which markers are only shown in the region in which the user has expressed some interest, as indicated by the user moving the map lens to that region of the map.

主权项

1. A method comprising:
providing a user interface that displays a map with a user-operable element that is superimposed on the map and has a shape defined by boundaries of the user-operable element; receiving user input that indicates that a region of the map is selected, the selected region of the map being defined by the shape and the boundaries of the user-operable element superimposed on the map; causing the user interface to display first location markers within the selected region defined by the shape and the boundaries of the user-operable element superimposed on the map in response to the user input that indicates that the region of the map is selected, the displayed first location markers appearing inside the boundaries of the user-operable element superimposed on the map, the causing of the user interface to display the location markers being performed by a processor of a machine; receiving further user input to move the user-operable element away from selected region of the map, the moved user-operable element defining an unselected region of the map; and causing the user interface to continue displaying the selected region of the map and the first location markers within the selected region while also displaying the unselected region of the map and second location markers within the unselected region, the unselected region being defined by the boundaries of the moved user-operable element and being colored differently from the selected region, the first location markers in the selected region being colored differently from the second location markers in the unselected region.