Virtual location markers for mobile mapping

• US 20080147311A1
• Filed: 12/19/2006
• Published: 06/19/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/19/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Swartz, Tanya L., Zoller, David Ethan
• Application Number:
  US11/641,281
• Publication Number:
  US 20080147311A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/201
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3682 output of POI information on a road map G01C21/3614, G01C21/3685 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 29/007 using computer methods
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 29/10 Map spot or coordinate position indicators; Map reading aids optical projection apparatus per se G03B

Abstract

Described is a technology by which a virtual location marker (e.g., virtual pushpin or similar placeholder) is determined from the results of a query, in which the virtual location marker corresponds to a first coordinate set (e.g., a latitude, longitude and/or altitude of a business location) to represent a point on a map. Various static and dynamic data may be used to select a result deemed most desirable from among multiple query results. The virtual location marker may be output, e.g., plotted on a map and/or used to provide audio directions. Upon detecting a state change, such as a change in current location, and/or a change in direction, speed, time, a start location or an end destination, the virtual location marker may be automatically re-determined, including changing the virtual location marker to correspond to a second, different coordinate set now deemed most desirable in view of the state change.

Claims

1. At least one computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions, which when executed perform steps, comprising:

determining a virtual location marker corresponding to a first coordinate set that represents a point other than a current location;

detecting a state change; and

re-determining the virtual location marker in response to detecting the state change, including changing the virtual location marker to correspond to a second coordinate set that is different from the first coordinate set.

2. The computer-readable medium of claim 1 having further computer-executable instructions comprising, outputting a representation of the virtual location marker based on the first coordinate set, and in response to the state change, changing to output the representation based on the second coordinate set.

3. The computer-readable medium of claim 1 having further computer-executable instructions comprising, outputting a representation of the virtual location marker based on the first coordinate set, and in response to the state change, changing at least one appearance characteristic of the representation.

4. The computer-readable medium of claim 1 having further computer-executable instructions comprising, outputting audio corresponding to at least part of a first set of directions based on the virtual location marker, and in response to the state change, changing to output audio corresponding to at least part of a second set of directions based on the second coordinate set.

5. The computer-readable medium of claim 1 wherein detecting the state change comprises detecting a change in current location.

6. The computer-readable medium of claim 1 wherein detecting the state change comprises detecting a change in state corresponding to a change to at least one item in a set, the set containing direction, speed, time, a start location or an end destination.

7. The computer-readable medium of claim 1 wherein determining the virtual location marker comprises evaluating data corresponding to at least one item in a set, the set containing traffic data, route data, point of interest data, price data or ratings data.

8. The computer-readable medium of claim 1 wherein determining the virtual location marker comprises evaluating user data corresponding to at least one item in a set, the set containing user preference data, user task data, user contacts data, user historical data, and user calendar data.

9. In a computing environment having a mapping mechanism, a system comprising:

a data store set containing at least one data store;

a query input mechanism;

a preference mechanism coupled to obtain a query from the query input mechanism, coupled to a source of dynamic data, and coupled to access other dynamic and/or static data from the data store set, the preference mechanism configured to compute a virtual location marker corresponding to a first coordinate set in response to the query based on the dynamic data or data from the data store set, or based on both, and to re-compute the virtual location marker corresponding to a second coordinate set based on the dynamic data or data from the data store set, or based on both; and

an output mechanism coupled to the mapping mechanism and the preference mechanism to output information corresponding to the virtual location marker with respect to mapping data.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein the output mechanism outputs a visible representation of the virtual location marker, or outputs audio based on the virtual location marker, or outputs both a visible representation of the virtual location marker and audio based on the virtual location marker.

11. The system of claim 9 wherein the preference mechanism re-computes the virtual location marker based upon a state change in the dynamic data, or based upon data from the data store set, or based upon both a state change in the dynamic data and upon data from the data store set.

12. The system of claim 11 the dynamic data corresponds to at least one item in a set, the set containing direction, speed, time, a start location or an end destination.

13. The system of claim 9 wherein the data store set contains data corresponding to at least one item in a set, the set containing user data Internet data, traffic data, route data, point of interest data, price data, business-provided data, or ratings data.

14. The system of claim 9 wherein at least part of the data store set is maintained in a local cache, and wherein at least part of the local cache may be refreshed via a connection to a network.

15. The system of claim 9 wherein the query input mechanism comprises a user input mechanism, or a query-generation mechanism, or both a user input mechanism and a query-generation mechanism.

16. In a computing environment having a computer network, a method comprising:

processing a query directed towards identifying a location other than a current location;

computing a virtual location marker from results of the query to determine a first location corresponding to a first coordinate set;

outputting information corresponding to the location marker; and

detecting a state change, and in response, re-computing the location marker at a second location corresponding to a second coordinate set, and outputting information corresponding to the re-computed location marker.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein detecting the state change comprises detecting a change in the current location.

18. The method of claim 16 wherein detecting the state change comprises detecting a change in state corresponding to a change to at least one item in a set, the set containing direction, speed, time, a start location an end destination, traffic conditions, price data, and user input data.

19. The method of claim 16 wherein detecting the state change comprises determining whether changed state data is sufficiently changed to be deemed the state change for re-computing the location marker.

20. The method of claim 16 wherein outputting the information corresponding to the location marker and re-computed location marker comprises outputting a visible representation of each virtual location marker, or outputting audio based on each virtual location marker, or outputting both a visible representation of each virtual location marker and audio based on each virtual location marker.