Method and system for navigating a map

• US 20070156332A1
• Filed: 10/13/2006
• Published: 07/05/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/14/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Jollify Management Limited
• Original Assignee: Yahoo! Inc. (Apollo Global Management, Inc.)
• Inventors: Lawless, Michael, Wehner, Mark, Fernandez, Rodney, Wailes, Thomas, Finucane, Gareth
• Granted Patent: US 9,588,987 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/208
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/343 Calculating itineraries, i.e. routes leading from a starting point to a series of categorical destinations using a global route restraint, round trips, touristic trips travelling salesman problem G06Q10/04; optimisation of routes G06Q10/047
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3676 Overview of the route on the road map
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/29 Geographical information databases
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 29/007 using computer methods
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 29/106 using electronic means

Abstract

Method and computer program product for navigating a map in a browser window of a user device via the Internet are disclosed. The method includes providing a first map for showing geographic context of a general area, providing a second map for showing geographic context of a portion of the general area, superimposing the second map onto the first map, wherein the second map is represented by a highlighted area in the first map, and navigating the first map using the highlighted area. The method further includes displaying points of interest inside the highlighted area of the first map and in the second map for assisting a user in navigating to the points of interest, and displaying additional points of interest outside the shaded area of the first map for assisting a user in navigating to the additional points of interest.

Claims

1. A method for navigating a map in a browser window of a user device via the Internet, comprising:

providing a first map for showing geographic context of a general area;

providing a second map for showing geographic context of a portion of the general area;

superimposing the second map onto the first map, wherein the second map is represented by a highlighted area in the first map; and

navigating the first map using the highlighted area.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein navigating the first map comprises:

panning the highlighted area across one or more locations in the first map in response to a user dragging and holding the highlighted area across the one or more locations; and

displaying geographic context of the one or more locations in the second map.

3. The method of claim 2 further comprising:

pausing panning of the highlighted area in response to the user releasing control of the highlighted area; and

displaying geographic context of the highlighted area in the second map.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

displaying points of interest inside the highlighted area of the first map and in the second map for assisting a user in navigating to the points of interest.

5. The method of claim 4 further comprising:

displaying additional points of interest outside the shaded area of the first map for assisting a user in navigating to the additional points of interest.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

mapping an address location to a corresponding business at the address location; and

displaying information about the business.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein information about the business comprises:

name, phone number, hours of operation, photos, user ratings, user reviews, and links to other relevant information about the business.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein providing a first map comprises:

adjusting an aspect ratio of the first map in accordance with a corresponding aspect ratio of the browser window viewing area.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein providing a second map comprises:

adjusting an aspect ratio of the second map in accordance with a corresponding aspect ratio of the first map.

10. A computer program product for navigating a map in a browser window of a user device via the Internet, comprising a medium storing computer programs for execution by one or more computer systems, the computer program product comprising:

code for providing a first map for showing geographic context of a general area;

code for providing a second map for showing geographic context of a portion of the general area;

code for superimposing the second map onto the first map, wherein the second map is represented by a highlighted area in the first map; and

code for navigating the first map using the highlighted area.

11. The computer program product of claim 10, wherein the code for navigating the first map comprises:

code for panning the highlighted area across one or more locations in the first map in response to a user dragging and holding the highlighted area across the one or more locations; and

code for displaying geographic context of the one or more locations in the second map.

12. The computer program product of claim 11 further comprising:

code for pausing panning of the highlighted area in response to the user releasing control of the highlighted area; and

code for displaying geographic context of the highlighted area in the second map.

13. The computer program product of claim 10 further comprising:

code for displaying points of interest inside the highlighted area of the first map and in the second map for assisting a user in navigating to the points of interest.

14. The computer program product of claim 13 further comprising:

code for displaying additional points of interest outside the shaded area of the first map for assisting a user in navigating to the additional points of interest.

15. The computer program product of claim 10 further comprising:

code for mapping an address location to a corresponding business at the address location; and

code for displaying information about the business.

16. The computer program product of claim 15, wherein information about the business comprises:

name, phone number, hours of operation, photos, user ratings, user reviews, and links to other relevant information about the business.

17. The computer program product of claim 10, wherein the code for providing a first map comprises:

adjusting an aspect ratio of the first map in accordance with a corresponding aspect ratio of the browser window viewing area.

18. The computer program product of claim 10, wherein the code for providing a second map comprises:

code for adjusting an aspect ratio of the second map in accordance with a corresponding aspect ratio of the first map.