Methods and apparatus for geo-collaboration

• US 20060136127A1
• Filed: 12/15/2005
• Published: 06/22/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/17/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Interdigital Vc Holdings, Inc. (InterDigital, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Information Patterns LLP
• Inventors: Knight, Graham, Smith, David Mark, Coch, Gabriel
• Granted Patent: US 7,739,038 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/208
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 29/10 Map spot or coordinate position indicators; Map reading aids optical projection apparatus per se G03B
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/222 using geographical location information, e.g. messages transmitted or received in proximity of a certain spot or area
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/01 Protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/10 in which an application is distributed across nodes in the network software deployment G06F8/60; multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/46
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/023 using mutual or relative location information between multiple location based services [LBS] targets or of distance thresholds
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/00 Locating users or terminals or network equipment for network management purposes, e.g. mobility management

Abstract

Methods and computer readable medium for collaborating on geographical maps between two or more computers are disclosed. In particular, sharing a geographical location on a map between two or more computers and co-navigating a map between two or more computers are disclosed. With respect to sharing a geographical location, the geographical location is retrieved to the first computer. The geographical location is added to the map being rendered at the first computer and is sent to a second computer. A map including the geographical location is rendered at the second computer. With respect to co-navigating, a map is displayed from a map perspective at the first computer. The map perspective is sent to the second computer. A map from the same map perspective being displayed at the first computer is rendered at the second computer.

Claims

1. A method of sharing a geographical location on a map between first and second computers, the method comprising:

retrieving the geographical location to the first computer;

adding the geographical location to a first map file having a plurality of layers, the first map file being rendered at the first computer;

sending the geographical location to the second computer;

aggregating the geographical location into a second map file at the second computer; and

rendering the second map file including the geographical location at the second computer.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein first and second computers are simultaneously connected to each other over a network, the method further comprising:

displaying, at substantially the same time, the geographical location with first and second map files at first and second computers.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of retrieving the geographical location includes pointing and clicking at a location on the first map file being rendered at the first computer.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of retrieving the geographical location includes typing in a portion of a postal address.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of retrieving the geographical location includes retrieving the geographical location from a global positioning system (GPS) device.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of retrieving the geographical location occurs before the second computer connects to a network and the step of rendering the geographical location occur after the second computer connects to the network.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein one layer of the plurality of layers of the first map file is synchronized with a layer of the second map file.

8. A computer readable medium whose contents cause a first computer to share a geographical location on a map with a second computer, by performing the steps of:

retrieving the geographical location to the first computer;

adding the geographical location to a first map file having a plurality of layers, the first map file being rendered at the first computer;

sending the geographical location to the second computer;

aggregating the geographical location into a second map file at the second computer; and

rendering the second map file including the geographical location at the second computer.

9. The computer readable medium of claim 8 wherein first and second computers are simultaneously connected to each other over a network, the method further comprising:

displaying, at substantially the same time, the geographical location with first and second map files at first and second computers.

10. The computer readable medium of claim 8 wherein the step of retrieving the geographical location includes pointing and clicking at a location on the first map file being rendered at the first computer.

11. The computer readable medium of claim 8 wherein the step of retrieving the geographical location includes typing in a portion of a postal address.

12. The computer readable medium of claim 8 wherein the step of retrieving the geographical location includes retrieving the geographical location from a global positioning system (GPS) device.

13. The computer readable medium of claim 8 wherein the step of retrieving the geographical location occurs before the second computer connects to a network and the step of rendering the geographical location occur after the second computer connects to the network.

14. A method for co-navigating a map between first and second computers, comprising:

displaying a first map file having a plurality of layers from a map perspective at the first computer, the map perspective describing position, orientation and zoom level of the displayed first map file;

sending the map perspective being displayed at the first computer to the second computer; and

rendering, at the second computer, a second map file from the same map perspective being displayed at the first computer.

15. The method of claim 14 further comprising:

assigning the first computer to act as a leader; and

assigning the second computer to act as a follower.

16. The method of claim 14 further comprising:

repositioning the displayed first map file at the first computer to establish a second map perspective.

17. The method of claim 14 wherein the map perspective includes at least one of a scale factor of the displayed first map file, X and Y coordinates of the center of the displayed first map file, an amount of rotation of the displayed first map file about the X and Y axes, a width of the displayed first map file, and a height of the displayed first map file.

18. The method of claim 14 wherein one layer of the plurality of layers of the first map file is synchronized with a layer of the second map file.

19. A computer readable medium whose contents cause a first computer to lead a co-navigation session of a map with a second computer, by performing the steps of:

displaying a first map file having a plurality of layers from a map perspective at the first computer, the map perspective describing position, orientation and zoom level of the displayed first map file;

sending the map perspective being displayed at the first computer to the second computer; and

rendering, at the second computer, a second map file from the same map perspective being displayed at the first computer.

20. The computer readable medium of claim 19 further comprising:

assigning the first computer to act as a leader; and

assigning the second computer to act as a follower.

21. The computer readable medium of claim 19 further comprising:

repositioning the displayed first map file at the first computer to establish a second map perspective.

22. The computer readable medium of claim 19 wherein the map perspective includes at least one of a scale factor of the displayed first map file, X and Y coordinates of the center of the displayed first map file, an amount of rotation of the displayed first map file about the X and Y axes, a width of the displayed first map file, and a height of the displayed first map file.