OPTIMAL ZOOM INDICATORS FOR MAP SEARCH RESULTS

• US 20140372421A1
• Filed: 08/13/2013
• Published: 12/18/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 06/13/2013
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Do, Lydia M., Kinard, Charles M., Seacat DeLuca, Lisa
• Application Number:
  US13/965,881
• Publication Number:
  US 20140372421A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 707/724
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/248 Presentation of query results
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/29 Geographical information databases
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04806 Zoom, i.e. interaction techniques or interactors for controlling the zooming operation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04812 Interaction techniques based on cursor appearance or behaviour, e.g. being affected by the presence of displayed objects
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0256 User search

Abstract

A system and computer program product for indicating an optimal magnification level for displaying search query results in a mapping application running in a computer device. The method comprises: obtaining search results for a business or category of interest in a geographical area; determining the search results to be displayed within a mapping application; determining an optimal magnification level corresponding to a search result; generating a magnification indicator for indicating an optimal magnification level for the search result to be displayed within the mapping application; and adjusting the display within the mapping application to change to the determined optimal magnification level responsive to selecting the magnification indicator for that search result.

Claims

1. A computer program product for indicating an optimal magnification level when displaying search query results in a mapping application comprising:

a storage media, said storage media not only a propagating signal, said storage media tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by the computer for performing a method comprising;

obtaining search results for a business or category of interest in a geographical area;

determining the search results to be displayed within a mapping application;

determining an optimal magnification level corresponding to a search result;

generating a magnification indicator for indicating an optimal magnification level for the search result to be displayed within the mapping application; and

adjusting the display within the mapping application to change to the determined optimal magnification level responsive to selecting the magnification indicator for that search result.

2. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein the generated magnification indicator comprises one of:

a user selectable link of the optimal magnification level; and

a label describing a zoom level value for the optimal magnification level.

3. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein the mapping application provides a display area for search results that includes:

a text portion configured to display textual data, a map portion configured to display mapping data, or both text portion and map portion,

said method further comprising;

annotating the display area of a mapping application with a generated magnification level indicator for each search result in a text portion, map portion, or both text portion and map portion.

4. The computer program product of claim 3, wherein said annotating said display area in said map portion with a generated magnification level indicator includes annotating an interactive magnification tool configured for selecting a zoom level of magnification for search results displayed on said map portion.

5. The computer program product of claim 4, wherein said annotating said interactive magnification tool comprises:

annotating said interactive magnification tool with a first optimal magnification level indicator corresponding to a first search result displayed in said text search results portion, and a second optimal magnification level indicator corresponding to a further search result displayed in said text results portion, wherein said first optimal indicator and second optimal indicator are displayed at respective different zoom level settings.

6. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein a generated magnification level indicator indicates one or more of:

a text name of a business or location of interest searched, a corresponding location, a corresponding number of hits for results at that magnification level, an advertisement associated with a business, or a coupon associated goods or services available at said business.

7. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein said determining said search results to be displayed includes:

determining an amount of advertising revenue received from one or more business entities desirous of having search hit results for that business displayed by said mapping application; and

selecting said one or more search results to be displayed based on said advertising revenue received.

8. A system for indicating an optimal magnification level when displaying search query results in a mapping application comprising:

a memory storage device;

a computing device in communication with said memory storage device and configured to perform a method to;

obtain search results for a business or category of interest in a geographical area;

determine the search results to be displayed within a mapping application;

determine an optimal magnification level corresponding to a search result;

generate a magnification indicator for indicating an optimal magnification level for the search result to be displayed within the mapping application; and

adjust the display within the mapping application to change to the determined optimal magnification level responsive to selecting the magnification indicator for that search result.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the generated magnification indicator comprises one of:

a user selectable link of the optimal magnification level; and

a label describing a zoom level value for the optimal magnification level.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the mapping application provides a display area for search results that includes:

a text portion configured to display textual data, a map portion configured to display mapping data, or both text portion and map portion, and to annotate said display of said mapping application in said map portion with a generated magnification level indicator, the computing device is further configured to;

annotate an interactive magnification tool configured for selecting a zoom level of magnification for search results displayed on said map portion.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein to annotate said interactive magnification tool, the computing device is further configured to:

annotate said interactive magnification tool with a first optimal magnification level indicator corresponding to a first search result displayed in said text search results portion, and a second optimal magnification level indicator corresponding to a further search result displayed in said text results portion, wherein said first optimal indicator and second optimal indicator are displayed at respective different zoom level settings.

12. The system of claim 8, wherein a generated magnification level indicator indicates one or more of:

a text name of a business or location of interest searched, a corresponding location, a corresponding number of hits for results at that magnification level, an advertisement associated with a business, or a coupon associated goods or services available at said business.

13. The system of claim 8, wherein to determine said one or more search results to be displayed, the computing device is further configured to:

determine an amount of advertising revenue received from one or more business entities desirous of having search hit results for that business displayed by said mapping application; and

select said one or more search results to be displayed based on said advertising revenue received.