MAP-BASED ADVERTISING SYSTEM

• US 20140207574A1
• Filed: 01/23/2013
• Published: 07/24/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 01/23/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Move Incorporated (News Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Move Incorporated (News Corporation)
• Inventors: FAN, Duke, YEN, Yi-Fang, LEAVY, Michael JAMES, TIRITOGLU, Catherine ELIZABETH
• Granted Patent: US 9,965,773 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/14.57
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0259 based on store location
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0269 based on user profile or attribute
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 29/007 using computer methods

Abstract

A method, apparatus and computer program product are provided for implementing a map-based advertising system. In one example embodiment, a method is provided that includes causing a graphical geographic representation of a bounded area to be displayed, receiving advertising content comprising at least one location, and determining whether the location lies within the bounded area. The method further includes causing at least a portion of the advertising content to be displayed and causing a representation of the at least one location to be displayed within the graphical geographic representation of the bounded area in an instance in which the location lies within the bounded area.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

causing a graphical geographic representation of a bounded area to be displayed;

receiving advertising content comprising at least one location;

determining whether the location lies within the bounded area; and

in an instance in which the at least one location does not lie within the bounded area;

causing an indication that the location lies outside the bounded area to be presented.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising, in an instance in which the at least one location lies within the bounded area, causing a representation of the at least one location to be displayed within the graphical geographic representation of the bounded area.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the indication comprises a selectable element, the method further comprising:

receiving selection of the selectable element, and, in response,

causing the bounded area to be modified such that the at least one location lies within the bounded area.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein causing the bounded area to be modified comprises causing the bounded area to be enlarged.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein causing the bounded area to be modified comprises causing the bounded area to be shifted.

6. The method of claim 3, further comprising, in an instance in which the bounded area has been modified such that the at least one location lies within the bounded area:

causing a selectable element to be presented;

receiving selection of the selectable element; and

, in response,

causing the bounded area to be returned to a previous state.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising causing at least a portion of the advertising content to be displayed.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein causing at least a portion of the advertising content to be displayed comprises causing at least a portion of the advertising content to be displayed proximate an edge of the representation of the bounded area.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein causing at least the portion of the advertising content to be displayed proximate the edge of the representation of the bounded area comprises, in an instance in which the location does not lie within the bounded area, causing at least the portion of the advertising content to be displayed proximate an edge of the representation of the bounded area which corresponds to a direction in which the location lies.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the advertising content comprises a uniform resource locator (URL).

11. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the advertising content comprises receiving the advertising content in response to detecting the initiation of a search session.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving further advertising content comprising a second location after a predetermined amount of time.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising, in an instance in which the at least one location lies within the bounded area:

causing at least one selectable element respectively associated with the at least one location to be presented;

receiving selection of at least one selectable element; and

, in response,

causing navigation information regarding the at least one location to be displayed.

14. A computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing program code portions therein, the program code portions being configured to, upon execution, direct an apparatus to at least:

cause a graphical geographic representation of a bounded area to be displayed;

receive advertising content comprising at least one location;

determine whether the location lies within the bounded area; and

in an instance in which the at least one location does not lie within the bounded area;

cause an indication that the location lies outside the bounded area to be presented.

15. The computer program product of claim 14, wherein the apparatus is further directed to, in an instance in which the at least one location lies within the bounded area, cause a representation of the at least one location to be displayed within the graphical geographic representation of the bounded area.

16. The computer program product of claim 14, wherein the indication comprises a selectable element, the apparatus being further directed to:

receive selection of the selectable element, and, in response,

cause the bounded area to be modified such that the at least one location lies within the bounded area.

17. The computer program product of claim 16, wherein causing the bounded area to be modified comprises causing the bounded area to be enlarged or shifted.

18. The computer program product of claim 14, wherein the apparatus is directed to cause at least a portion of the advertising content to be displayed proximate an edge of the bounded area.

19. An apparatus comprising at least one processor and at least one memory storing program code, the memory and program code being configured to, with the at least one processor, direct the apparatus to at least:

cause a graphical geographic representation of a bounded area to be displayed;

receive advertising content comprising at least one location;

determine whether the at least one location lies within the bounded area; and

in an instance in which the at least one location does not lie within the bounded area;

cause an indication that the location lies outside the bounded area to be presented.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the apparatus is further directed to, in an instance in which the at least one location lies within the bounded area, cause a representation of the at least one location to be displayed within the graphical geographic representation of the bounded area.