# US 10,319,260 B2 · Methods, apparatus and computer program for automatically deriving small-scale maps

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- Number: US 10,319,260 B2
- Document ID: US10319260B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/387,803
- Filed: 2016-12-22
- Published: 2018-06-28
- Granted: 2019-06-11
- Earliest claimed: 2016-12-22
- Applicants: Bin Jiang
- Inventors: Bin Jiang
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10319260B2

## CPC

- G09B 29/106: {using electronic means}
- G01C 21/367: {Details, e.g. road map scale, orientation, zooming, illumination, level of detail, scrolling of road map or positioning of current position marker}
- G09B 29/003: {Maps}
- G09B: EDUCATIONAL OR DEMONSTRATION APPLIANCES; APPLIANCES FOR TEACHING, OR COMMUNICATING WITH, THE BLIND, DEAF OR MUTE; MODELS; PLANETARIA; GLOBES; MAPS; DIAGRAMS (devices for psychotechnics or for testing reaction times A61B5/16; games, sports, amusements A63; projectors, projector screens G03B)
- G01C: MEASURING DISTANCES, LEVELS OR BEARINGS; SURVEYING; NAVIGATION; GYROSCOPIC INSTRUMENTS; PHOTOGRAMMETRY OR VIDEOGRAMMETRY (measuring liquid level G01F; radio navigation, determining distance or velocity by use of propagation effects, e.g. Doppler effects, propagation time, of radio waves, analogous arrangements using other waves G01S)

## Abstract

One or more small-scale maps are generated automatically and directly from a single large-scale map or database. A subset of geographic features to be represented in the small-scale map is selected based on the scaling law. The geographic features in the subset are determined based on topological connectivity, size, bend size or point density characterizing the geographic features, so the subset includes the larger or more connected or with higher density among the geographic features.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method for generating one or more small-scale maps from a single large-scale map or database, the method comprising, for each of the one or more small-scale maps and for each type of geographic features automatically performing:
selecting a subset of geographic features to be represented in the small-scale map, wherein a number of geographic features in the subset is determined based on a scaling law, and the geographic features in the subset are determined based on topological connectivity or size or bend size or point density characterizing the geographic features, so as the subset to include larger or more connected among the geographic features;
generating the small-scale map using the subset made of selected geographic features, while maintaining topological relationships present in the single large-scale map or database among the selected geographic features; and
displaying the generated small-scale map,
wherein the geographic features characterized by number of connections are split into levels using head/tail breaks, and the topological connectivity T indicating a lowest level of the selected geographic features in the small-scale map with a scale denominator Md is calculated as
T
=
log
2
⁡
(
M
d
M
0
)
log
2
⁡
(
M
m
M
0
)
×
h
⁡
(
c
)
where Mo is an original scale denominator of the large-scale map or database, Mm is a denominator of a minimum-scale in a scale series, and h(c) is an ht-index of topological connectivity of all connected geographic features of a certain type.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the single large-scale map or database includes geographic features related to a country, a continent or entire world.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein each of the one or more small-scale maps is characterized by a small-map scale in a scale series, a denominator of the small-map scale being larger than a denominator of an original scale associated with the single large-scale map or database.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The method of claim 3, wherein a ratio of the small-scale denominator and the denominator of the original scale is a power of 2.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The method of claim 4, wherein
if the area is a city, a denominator of a minimum scale in the scale series is 210;
if the area is a country, the denominator of the minimum scale in the scale series is 212, and
if the area is entire world, the denominator of the minimum scale the scale series is 215.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein a selected geographic feature is simplified in the small-scale map with a scale denominator Md by using geometric details of levels higher than and equal to G calculated as
G
=
log
2
⁡
(
M
d
M
0
)
log
2
⁡
(
M
m
M
0
)
×
h
⁡
(
x
)
where h(x) is an ht index of all bends of the selected geographic feature, Mo is a denominator of an original scale associated with the single large-scale map or database, and Mm is a denominator of a minimum scale in a scale series that includes the small-map scale.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the selecting is performed separately for point-like geographic features, each of the point-like features being associated with a hierarchical level, and point-like geographic features included in the subset having higher hierarchical levels than point-like geographic features not included in the subset, the hierarchical level P being calculated as
P
=
log
2
⁡
(
M
d
M
0
)
log
2
⁡
(
M
m
M
0
)
×
h
⁡
(
ρ
)
where Md is a denominator of a small-map scale, Mo is a denominator of an original scale associated with the single large-scale map or database, Mm is a denominator of a minimum scale in a scale series that includes the small-map scale, and h(ρ) is an ht-index of density of point-like geographic features.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising
determining a constant c in a power law y=Nr−c, based on a number y of geographic features of a predetermined type in the subset of a primary-scale map, N being a constant, and r being a primary scale; and
calculating a number y2 of geographic features of the predetermined type of the small-scale characterized by a scale r2 as y2=Nr2−c.

### Claim 9

A map-generating apparatus configured to automatically generate one or more small-scale maps from a single large-scale map or database, the apparatus comprising:
an interface configured to enable receiving input triggering the one or more small-scale maps to be generated and to output the one or more small-scale maps;
a data processing unit connected to the interface and configured to perform for each of the one-or more small-scale maps
selecting a subset of geographic features to be represented in the small-scale map, wherein a number of geographic features in the subset is determined based on a scaling law, and the geographic features in the subset are determined based on topological connectivity or size or bend size or point density characterizing the geographic features, so as the subset to include larger or more connected among the geographic features; and
generating the small-scale map using the subset made of selected geographic features, while maintaining topological relationships present in the single large-scale map or database among the selected geographic features; and
a display device configured to display the generated small-scale map,
wherein the data processing unit is configured to split the geographic features characterized by number of connections into levels using a head/tail breaks technique, and to calculate the topological connectivity T indicating a lowest level of the selected geographic features as
T
=
log
2
⁡
(
M
d
M
0
)
log
2
⁡
(
M
m
M
0
)
×
h
⁡
(
c
)
where Md is a scale denominator of the small-scale map, Mo is an original scale denominator of the large-scale map or database, Mm is a denominator of a minimum-scale in a scale series, and h(c) is an ht-index of topological connectivity of all connected geographic features of a certain type.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the single large-scale map or database includes geographic features related to a country, a continent or entire world.

### Claim 11 (depends on 9)

The apparatus of claim 9, wherein each of the one or more small-scale maps is characterized by a small-map scale in a scale series, a denominator of the small-map scale being larger than a denominator of an original scale associated with the single large-scale map or database.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The apparatus of claim 11, wherein a ratio of the small-scale denominator and the denominator of the original scale is a power of 2.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The apparatus of claim 12, wherein
if the area is a city, a denominator of a minimum scale in the scale series is 210;
if the area is a country, the denominator of the minimum scale in the scale series is 212, and
if the area is entire world, the denominator of the minimum scale the scale series is 215.

### Claim 14 (depends on 9)

The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the data processing unit is configured to simplify a selected geographic feature using geometric details of level higher than and equal to G calculated as
G
=
log
2
⁡
(
M
d
M
0
)
log
2
⁡
(
M
m
M
0
)
×
h
⁡
(
x
)
where h(x) is an ht index of all bends of the selected geographic feature, Md is a denominator of a small-map scale, Mo is a denominator of an original scale associated with the single large-scale map or database, and Mm is a denominator of a minimum scale in a scale series that includes the small-map scale.

### Claim 15 (depends on 9)

The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the data processing unit is configured to select separately point-like geographic features, each of which is associated with a hierarchical level calculated for the point-like geographic features, so as point-like geographic features included in the subset have higher hierarchical levels than point-like geographic features not included in the subset, the hierarchical level P being calculated as
P
=
log
2
⁡
(
M
d
M
0
)
log
2
⁡
(
M
m
M
0
)
×
h
⁡
(
ρ
)
where Md is a denominator of a small-map scale, Mo is a denominator of an original scale associated with the single large-scale map or database, Mm is a denominator of a minimum scale in a scale series that includes the small-map scale, and h(ρ) is an ht-index of density of point-like geographic features.

### Claim 16 (depends on 9)

The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the data processing unit is further configured:
to determine a constant c in a power law y=Nr−c, based on a number y of geographic features of a predetermined type in the subset of a primary-scale map, N being a constant, and r being a primary scale r, and
to calculate a number y2 of geographic features of the predetermined type of the small-scale characterized by a scale r2 as y2=Nr2−c.

### Claim 17

A non-transitory computer-readable recording medium storing executable codes which, when executed by a processor having access to a large-scale map or database, generate one or more small-scale maps by performing for each of the one or more small-scale maps and for each type of geographic features:
selecting a subset of geographic features to be represented in the small-scale map, wherein a number of geographic features in the subset is determined based on a scaling law, and the geographic features in the subset are determined based on topological connectivity or size or bend size or point density characterizing the geographic features, so as the subset to include larger or more connected among the geographic features;
generating the small-scale map using the subset made of selected geographic features, while maintaining topological relationships present in the single large-scale map or database among the selected geographic features; and
displaying the generated small-scale map,
wherein the executable codes further make the processor to perform at least one of:
to split the geographic features characterized by number of connections are split into levels using a head/tail breaks technique, and to calculate the topological connectivity T indicating a lowest level of the selected geographic features in the small-scale map with a scale denominator Md is calculated as
T
=
log
2
⁡
(
M
d
M
0
)
log
2
⁡
(
M
m
M
0
)
×
h
⁡
(
c
)
where Mo is an original scale denominator of the large-scale map or database, Mm is a denominator of a minimum-scale in a scale series, and h(c) is an ht-index of topological connectivity of all connected geographic features of a certain type;
to simplify a selected geographic feature in the small-scale map by using geometric details of levels higher than and equal to G which is calculated as
G
=
log
2
⁡
(
M
d
M
0
)
log
2
⁡
(
M
m
M
0
)
×
h
⁡
(
x
)
where h(x) is an ht index of all bends of the selected geographic feature; and
to select point-like geographic features separately, each of the point-like features being associated with a hierarchical level, and point-like geographic features included in the subset having higher hierarchical levels than point-like geographic features not included in the subset, the hierarchical level P being calculated as
P
=
log
2
⁡
(
M
d
M
0
)
log
2
⁡
(
M
m
M
0
)
×
h
⁡
(
ρ
)
where h(ρ) is an ht-index of density of point-like geographic features.

### Claim 18

A map-generating apparatus configured to automatically generate one or more small-scale maps from a single large-scale map or database, the apparatus comprising:
an interface configured to enable receiving input triggering the one or more small-scale maps to be generated and to output the one or more small-scale maps;
a data processing unit connected to the interface and configured to perform for each of the one-or more small-scale maps;
selecting a subset of geographic features to be represented in the small-scale map, wherein a number of geographic features in the subset is determined based on a scaling law, and the geographic features in the subset are determined based on topological connectivity or size or bend size or point density characterizing the geographic features, so as the subset to include larger or more connected among the geographic features;
generating the small-scale map using the subset made of selected geographic features, while maintaining topological relationships present in the single large-scale map or database among the selected geographic features; and
a display device configured to display the generated small-scale map,
wherein the data processing unit is further configured:
to determine a constant c in a power law y=Nr−c, based on a number y of geographic features of a predetermined type in the subset of a primary-scale map, N being a constant, and r being a primary scale r, and
to calculate a number y2 of geographic features of the predetermined type of the small-scale characterized by a scale r2 as y2=Nr2−c.