Geographically-referenced Video Asset Mapping

• US 20130166998A1
• Filed: 12/19/2012
• Published: 06/27/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/2011
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Patrick Sutherland
• Original Assignee: Patrick Sutherland
• Inventors: Sutherland, Patrick
• Application Number:
  US13/719,657
• Publication Number:
  US 20130166998A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/202
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0259 based on store location
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0277 Online advertisement

Abstract

This describes a method of mapping community assets by displaying geographically-referenced, informational videos. A user selects a geographic location and receives a representative map of the selected location from a proprietary website. This map is displayed on their video screen by a web browser, overlaid with a number of entity markers, each of which represents a place of interest related to the selected location. These markers include the geographically nearest of a group of different types of entities, including the nearest ATM, the nearest gas station, the nearest source of food and drink, the nearest medical facility, the nearest educational facility and the nearest public building. The map is scaled to ensure that all the markers are displayed at a position that corresponds closely to the physical location of the entity they represent. The user selects a marker and views a video containing information relevant to that place of interest.

Claims

1. A method for community asset mapping through a geographically-referenced display of informational videos, comprising:

providing a video display device running a web browser software package that is connected to a proprietary website via an Internet connection;

selecting a geographic location using said video display device by an operator;

displaying a representative map of said selected geographic location by said web browser software package on a video display screen connected to said video display device;

overlaying said representative map with a plurality of entity markers, each being indicative of a place of interest related to said geographic location, said entity markers including the geographically nearest to said geographic location of at least one ATM, one gas station, one source of food and drink, one health facility, one educational facility and one public or municipal building;

adjusting, by said web browser software package 120, the scale of said representative map such that all of said entity markers are displayed simultaneously and each of said entity markers is displayed at substantially the position on said representative map that corresponds to a physical location said place of interest of which said entity marker is indicative;

selecting by said operator, one of said entity markers; and

displaying an informational video on said video display screen containing information relevant to said selected place of interest of which said entity marker is indicative.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein selecting a geographic location comprises said operator entering at least one of an area code, a zip code and a city name, or a combination thereof.

3. The method of claim 2 further comprising displaying, on an initial selection by said operator, a preview of said place of interest of which said entity marker is indicative, and wherein selecting by said operator requires a further operator action before displaying said informational video.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein said initial selection comprises a mouse roll-over.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising a list of names corresponding to said displayed entity markers, said names including at least an entity name, a phone number and a web-page address of said place of interest of which said entity marker is indicative.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising, prior to displaying said informational video, displaying a primary, static page for a predetermined length of time, said primary, static page being indicative of place of interest of which said entity marker is indicative.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein said predetermined length of time is between 2 seconds and 10 seconds in temporal duration.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein said primary, static page further comprises an option for the operator to elect to display said informational video in a full screen mode.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein said displayed representative map further comprises said operator to select to display further entity markers by selecting a business type or a business name, or some combination thereof.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein said entity markers representative of said further selections are displayed in addition to said plurality of entity markers already displayed.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein said entity markers representative of said further selections are displayed instead of said plurality of entity markers already displayed.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein said initially displayed entity markers further includes at least one indicative of a place of interest corresponding to one of a hospital, a mail deposit box, a mall, a bank, a nail-salon, a hairdresser or a barber shop or some combination thereof.