Method and apparatus for distributing and displaying maps electronically
First Claim
1. A method comprising:
- receiving a requested location;
selecting, based on the requested location, a first pre-existing map tile and its corresponding miniaturized representation from a plurality of preexisting map tiles and their corresponding miniaturized representations, the first pre-existing map tile containing a representation of an area that comprises the requested location;
selecting further a first set of adjacent map tiles and their corresponding miniaturized representations from the plurality of preexisting map tiles and their corresponding miniaturized representations, the first set of adjacent map tiles containing representations of areas immediately adjacent to the area represented by the first map tile, and sending the selected first map tile, the miniaturized representation of the first map tile, the first set of adjacent map tiles, and the miniaturized representations of the first set of adjacent map tiles.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus for distributing and displaying maps is disclosed. The method involves delivery of maps that are not dynamically generated. The area serviced by a map server is divided into fixed zones for which there are static map tiles. When a map is requested by a user, the location of interest is sent to the server by the user via the users client. The server determines which of a plurality of preexisting map tiles contained the location of interest submitted by the client. A central map tile, from this plurality of preexisting maps, containing the location of interest is sent to the client from the map server. The server may also send preexisting map tiles of the zones immediately adjacent to the zone represented in the central map tile. The server may also support a “mini-map” to facilitate user panning of the “greater area”, and points of interest, including multi-media descriptions of the points of interest.
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Citations
27 Claims
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1. A method comprising:
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receiving a requested location;
selecting, based on the requested location, a first pre-existing map tile and its corresponding miniaturized representation from a plurality of preexisting map tiles and their corresponding miniaturized representations, the first pre-existing map tile containing a representation of an area that comprises the requested location;
selecting further a first set of adjacent map tiles and their corresponding miniaturized representations from the plurality of preexisting map tiles and their corresponding miniaturized representations, the first set of adjacent map tiles containing representations of areas immediately adjacent to the area represented by the first map tile, and sending the selected first map tile, the miniaturized representation of the first map tile, the first set of adjacent map tiles, and the miniaturized representations of the first set of adjacent map tiles. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method comprising:
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receiving a set of one or more preexisting map tiles along with corresponding miniaturized representations of the map tiles, from a server, for display, each map tile in the set of one or more preexisting map tiles comprising at least a graphical image representing an area, with one map tile comprising a graphical image representing an area comprising a requested location, and the other map tiles comprising graphical images representing areas immediately adjacent to the area comprising the requested location;
forming a mini-map using said miniaturized representations of said map tiles; and
displaying for a user, a map for an area within the areas represented by the set of one or more preexisting map tiles and a mini map with the area corresponding to the displayed map denoted thereon. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10)
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11. An apparatus comprising:
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storage medium having stored therein a plurality of executable instructions, wherein when executed, the instructions operate the apparatus to receive a requested location, select, based on the requested location, a first pre-existing map tile and its corresponding miniaturized representation from a plurality of preexisting map tiles and their corresponding miniaturized representations, the first pre-existing map tile containing a representation of an area that comprises the requested location, select further a first set of adjacent map tiles and their corresponding miniaturized representations from the plurality of preexisting map tiles and their corresponding miniaturized representations, the first set of adjacent map tiles containing representations of areas immediately adjacent to the area represented by the first map tile, and send the selected first map tile, the miniaturized representation of the first map tile, the first set of adjacent map tiles, and the miniaturized representations of the first set of adjacent map tiles; and
at least one processor coupled to the storage medium to execute the instructions. - View Dependent Claims (12, 14, 16, 17, 18, 20, 21, 22, 24, 26, 27)
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13. An apparatus comprising:
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storage medium having stored therein a plurality of executable instructions, wherein when executed, the instructions operate the apparatus to receive a set of one or more preexisting map tiles along with corresponding miniaturized representations of the map tiles, from a server, for display, each map tile in the set of one or more preexisting map tiles comprising at least a graphical image representing an area, with one map tile comprising a graphical image representing an area comprising a requested location, and the other map tiles comprising graphical images representing areas immediately adjacent to the area comprising the requested location, form a mini-map using said miniaturized representations of said map tiles; and
display for a user, a map for an area within the areas represented by the set of one or more preexisting map tiles and a mini map with the area corresponding to the displayed map denoted thereon; and
at least one processor coupled to the storage medium to execute the instructions.
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15. A method comprising:
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displaying a map for an area within a greater area;
displaying a mini map representative of the greater area;
displaying a visibility demarcation denoting an area within the mini map corresponding to the area of the displayed map; and
facilitating user interaction with the visibility demarcation to facilitate user panning of the greater area.
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19. An apparatus comprising:
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storage medium having stored thereon programming instructions, when executed, operate the apparatus to display a map for an area within a greater area, display a mini map representative of the greater area, display a visibility demarcation denoting an area within the mini map corresponding to the area of the displayed map, and facilitate user interaction with the visibility demarcation to facilitate user panning of the greater area; and
at least one processor coupled to the storage medium to execute the programming instructions.
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23. A method comprising:
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providing mapping data to client to enable the client to display a map for an area within a greater area;
providing miniaturization data corresponding to the mapping data to enable the client to display a mini map representative of the greater area; and
providing instructions to the client to enable the client to display a visibility demarcation denoting an area within the mini map corresponding to the area of the displayed map, and facilitate user interaction with the visibility demarcation to facilitate user panning of the greater area.
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25. An apparatus comprising:
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storage medium having stored thereon programming instructions, when executed, operate the apparatus to provide mapping data to a client to facilitate the client to display a map for an area within a greater area, provide miniaturization data corresponding to the mapping data to facilitate the client to display a mini map representative of the greater area, and provide instructions to the client to enable the client to display a visibility demarcation denoting an area within the mini map corresponding to the area of the displayed map, and facilitate user interaction with the visibility demarcation to facilitate user panning of the greater area; and
at least one processor coupled to the storage medium to execute the programming instructions.
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Specification