DISTRIBUTION OF MAP MATERIAL

• US 20100211632A1
• Filed: 06/18/2008
• Published: 08/19/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/30/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Whatamap.com OY (Apple Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Whatamap.com OY (Apple Inc.)
• Inventors: Saarinen, Matti
• Application Number:
  US12/675,895
• Publication Number:
  US 20100211632A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/203
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/20 Instruments for performing navigational calculations G01C21/24, G01C21/26 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/29 Geographical information databases

Abstract

A method for distributing map material in situations where there are many different kinds of maps of the area. The location of the user of a terminal device is positioned by a positioning method and the maps presented to the user are then selected based on the location. The user selects one or more of the maps for a closer review and loads the selected maps on the terminal device. Then, the user may be directed by the navigation function of the terminal device.

Claims

1. A method for distributing map material, characterized in that the method comprises the steps of:

determining the location of a user;

sending the determined location to a server;

identifying the maps located in the vicinity of the determined location;

providing for the user a list of the identified maps; and

sending a map to the user based on the selection made by the user.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that said maps comprise regular and/or irregular maps.

3. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the maps including the determined location are identified

4. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the user is provided with a list of the identified maps based on a user defined profile.

5. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the location of the user is determined by a satellite positioning device.

6. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the location of the user is determined using positioning based on a mobile telephone network.

7. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the user is directed to the selected destination.

8. A system for distributing map material, the system comprising:

a terminal device;

a telecommunications network; and

a server;

characterized in that the system is arranged to execute the method according to claim 1.

9. A software product for receiving map material, characterized in that when executed in a data processing device, the software product is arranged to execute the following steps:

determining the location of a user;

sending the determined location to a server;

receiving from the server a list of the maps located in the vicinity; and

displaying a map to the user based on the selection made by the user.

10. The software product according to claim 9, characterized in that said maps comprise regular and/or irregular maps.

11. The software product according to claim 9, characterized in that the location of the user is determined by a satellite positioning device.

12. A method for distributing map material on a server, characterized in that the method comprises the steps of:

receiving the location of the user of a terminal device on the server;

identifying the maps located in the vicinity of the determined location;

providing for the user a list of the identified maps; and

sending a map to the user based on the selection made by the user.