Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for efficiently identifying map tiles of a raised-relief map to retrieve from a server. An electronic device can use estimates of height(s) for various region(s) of the map to determine map tiles that are likely viewable from a given position of a virtual camera. The device can calculate the intersection of the field of view of the virtual camera with the estimated heights to determine a location of the map tiles (e.g., as determined by a 2D grid) needed. In this manner, the electronic device can retrieve, from a map server, the map tiles needed to display the image, without retrieving extraneous tiles that are not needed. Identifying such tiles can reduce the amount of data to be sent across a network and reduce the number of requests for tiles, since the correct tiles can be obtained with the first request.

Abstract: Some embodiments provide a mapping application for rendering map portions. The mapping application includes a map receiver for receiving map tiles from a mapping service in response to a request for the map tiles needed for a particular map view. Each map tile includes vector data describing a map region. The mapping application includes a set of mesh building modules. Each mesh building module is for using the vector data in at least one map tile to build a mesh for a particular layer of the particular map view. The mapping application includes a mesh aggregation module for combining layers from several mesh builders into a renderable tile for the particular map view. The mapping application includes a rendering engine for rendering the particular map view.

Abstract: Techniques for performing context-sensitive actions in response to touch input are provided. A user interface of an application can be displayed. Touch input can be received in a region of the displayed user interface, and a context can be determined. A first action may be performed if the context is a first context and a second action may instead be performed if the context is a second context different from the first context. In some embodiments, an action may be performed if the context is a first context and the touch input is a first touch input, and may also be performed if the context is a second context and the touch input is a second touch input.

Abstract: Methods, systems and apparatus are described to provide a three-dimensional transition for a map view change. Various embodiments may display a map view. Embodiments may obtain input selecting another map view for display. Input may be obtained through the utilization of touch, auditory, or other well-known input technologies. In response to the input selecting a map view, embodiments may then display a transition animation that illustrates moving from the displayed map view to the selected map view in virtual space. Embodiments may then display the selected map view.

Abstract: The described embodiments provide a system for performing an action based on a change in a status of a wired or wireless network connection for the system. During operation, the system detects the change in the status of the network connection. In response to detecting the change, the system determines a state of the system. The system then performs one or more actions using the determined state.

Abstract: Techniques for performing context-sensitive actions in response to touch input are provided. A user interface of an application can be displayed. Touch input can be received in a region of the displayed user interface, and a context can be determined. A first action may be performed if the context is a first context and a second action may instead be performed if the context is a second context different from the first context.

Abstract: Techniques for performing context-sensitive actions in response to touch input are provided. A user interface of an application can be displayed. Touch input can be received in a region of the displayed user interface, and a context can be determined. A first action may be performed if the context is a first context and a second action may instead be performed if the context is a second context different from the first context. In some embodiments, an action may be performed if the context is a first context and the touch input is a first touch input, and may also be performed if the context is a second context and the touch input is a second touch input.

Abstract: A device that provides a map and/or navigation application that displays items on the map and/or navigation instructions differently in different modes. The applications of some embodiments provide a day mode and a night mode. In some embodiments the application uses the day mode as a default and activates the night mode when the time is after sunset at the location of the device. Some embodiments activate night mode when multiple conditions are satisfied (for example, when (1) the time is after sunset at the location of the device and (2) the ambient light level is below a threshold brightness).

Abstract: A mobile device including a touchscreen display presents an image of a three-dimensional object. The display can concurrently present a user interface element that can be in the form of a virtual button. While the device's user touches and maintains fingertip contact with the virtual button via the touchscreen, the mobile device can operate in a special mode in which physical tilting of the mobile device about physical spatial axes causes the mobile device to adjust the presentation of the image of the three-dimensional object on the display, causing the object to be rendered from different viewpoints in the virtual space that the object virtually occupies. The mobile device can detect such physical tilting based on feedback from a gyroscope and accelerometer contained within the device.

Abstract: A mobile device including a touchscreen display can detect multiple points of fingertip contact being made against the touchscreen concurrently. The device can distinguish this multi-touch gesture from other gestures based on the duration, immobility, and concurrency of the contacts. In response to detecting such a multi-touch gesture, the device can send a multi-touch event to an application executing on the device. The application can respond to the multi-touch event in a variety of ways. For example, the application can determine a distance of a path in between points on a map that a user has concurrently touched with his fingertips. The application can display this distance to the user.

Abstract: A compass output in a first portable electronic device is monitored as the first device and a second electronic device come closer to each other. It is determined, by a process running in the first device, whether a magnetic field signature that is based on the monitored compass output is associated with a previously defined type of electronic device with which a network device discovery process is to be conducted. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.

Abstract: The described embodiments provide a system for performing an action based on a change in a status of a wired or wireless network connection for the system. During operation, the system detects the change in the status of the network connection. In response to detecting the change, the system determines a state of the system. The system then performs one or more actions using the determined state.

Abstract: Some embodiments of the map display application described herein display three-dimensional representations of three-dimensional objects. When the map presentation is moved to display a new area, the three-dimensional representations rise from a ground level to their full heights and transition from transparent to opaque at the same time. The map display applications of some embodiments also remove three-dimensional representations of objects by lowering the objects from their full height to ground level and fading out the representations from opaque to transparent.

Abstract: Some embodiments provide a non-transitory machine-readable medium that stores a program which when executed on a device by at least one processing unit performs panning operations on a three-dimensional (3D) map. The program displays a first 3D perspective view of the 3D map. In response to input to pan the 3D map, the program determines a panning movement based on the input and a two-dimensional (2D) view of the 3D map. The program pans the first 3D perspective view of 3D map to a second 3D perspective view of the 3D map based on determined panning movement. The program renders the second 3D perspective view of the 3D map for display on the device.

Abstract: A multitouch device can interpret and disambiguate different gestures related to manipulating a displayed image of a 3D object, scene, or region. Examples of manipulations include pan, zoom, rotation, and tilt. The device can define a number of manipulation modes, including one or more single-control modes such as a pan mode, a zoom mode, a rotate mode, and/or a tilt mode. The manipulation modes can also include one or more multi-control modes, such as a pan/zoom/rotate mode that allows multiple parameters to be modified simultaneously.

Abstract: Some embodiments provide a mapping application for generating views of a three-dimensional (3D) map. The mapping application includes a geographic data module for identifying a set of geographic data that represents a portion of the 3D map. The set of geographic data includes a set of camera captured images that correspond to the portion of the 3D map. The mapping application includes an image processing module for rendering the view of the 3D map based on the geographic data by animating a type of map element in the view of the 3D map.

Abstract: Some embodiments provide a non-transitory machine-readable medium that stores a mapping application which when executed on a device by at least one processing unit renders views of a three-dimensional (3D) map. The mapping application requests a first set of map tiles associated with a portion of the 3D map. In response to the request, the mapping application receives a second set of map tiles associated with portion of the 3D map. The mapping application identifies a third set of map tiles included in the first set of map tiles but not included in the second set of map tiles. For each map tile in the third set of map tiles, the mapping application generates a replacement map tile comprising geospatial data. The mapping application renders the portion of the 3D map based on the second set of map tiles and the set of replacement map tiles.

Abstract: Some embodiments provide a mapping application for rendering map portions. The mapping application includes a map receiver for receiving map tiles from a mapping service in response to a request for the map tiles needed for a particular map view. Each map tile includes vector data describing a map region. The mapping application includes a set of mesh building modules. Each mesh building module is for using the vector data in at least one map tile to build a mesh for a particular layer of the particular map view. The mapping application includes a mesh aggregation module for combining layers from several mesh builders into a renderable tile for the particular map view. The mapping application includes a rendering engine for rendering the particular map view.

Abstract: A mapping program for execution by at least one processing unit of a device is described. The device includes a touch-sensitive screen and a touch input interface. The program renders and displays a presentation of a map from a particular view of the map. The program generates an instruction to rotate the displayed map in response to a multi-touch input from the multi-touch input interface. In order to generate a rotating presentation of the map, the program changes the particular view while receiving the multi-touch input and for a duration of time after the multi-touch input has terminated in order to provide a degree of inertia motion for the rotating presentation of the map.

Abstract: Some embodiments provide a non-transitory machine-readable medium that stores a mapping application which when executed on a device by at least one processing unit provides automated animation of a three-dimensional (3D) map along a navigation route. The mapping application identifies a first set of attributes for determining a first position of a virtual camera in the 3D map at a first instance in time. Based on the identified first set of attributes, the mapping application determines the position of the virtual camera in the 3D map at the first instance in time. The mapping application identifies a second set of attributes for determining a second position of the virtual camera in the 3D map at a second instance in time. Based on the identified second set of attributes, the mapping application determines the position of the virtual camera in the 3D map at the second instance in time.