Visual Indicators for Temporal Context on Maps

• US 20150186415A1
• Filed: 04/29/2013
• Published: 07/02/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google Inc. (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Li, Hongyi, Kosslyn, David
• Granted Patent: US 9,588,988 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/29 Geographical information databases
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services

Abstract

Client-side and server-side methods for displaying event data within a map that is displayed on a computing device are presented. In an example, the method includes receiving a request for mapping data including a request location defining a current geographic location of the client computing device, determining a request time corresponding to the request, the request time based on a time the mapping data request was sent by the client computing device. The method also includes retrieving mapping data corresponding to the request location and determining that an event in an event database includes an event time that occurs within a threshold time of the request time. The method further includes retrieving event data corresponding to the event that occurs within the threshold time of the request time and sending the retrieved mapping data and the retrieved event data to the client computing device in response to the request.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for displaying real-time event data within a map, the method comprising:

receiving, via a computer network, a request for mapping data including a request location defining a current geographic location of the client computing device;

determining a request time corresponding to the request, the request time based on a time the mapping data request was sent by the client computing device;

retrieving mapping data corresponding to the request location;

determining that an event in an event database includes an event time that occurs within a threshold time of the request time;

retrieving, in response to determining that the event includes the event time within the threshold time of the request time, event data from the event database, the retrieved event data corresponding to the event that occurs within the threshold time of the request time; and

sending, via the computer network, the retrieved mapping data and the retrieved event data to the client computing device in response to the request.

2. The computer implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:

accessing an Internet source that includes event data;

parsing the event data for the event date and the event start and end time and one or more of the event name, the event summary, and the event venue name; and

storing the parsed event data in an event database.

3. The computer implemented method of claim 1, wherein the structured Internet data source includes one or more of microformat data and a data feed.

4. The computer implemented method of claim 1, wherein the request parameters further include one or more of user demographic information and a user preference data.

5. The computer implemented method of claim 4, further comprising determining that the event data corresponds to an event associated with a contact linked to one or more of the user demographic information and the user preference data.

6. The computer implemented method of claim 1, wherein the event type includes one or more of a public or private event, a performance, a sale event, product demonstration, a news event, a weather condition, and a hazard condition.

7. The computer implemented method of claim 1 further comprising:

broadening the threshold time in response to determining that the event in the event database includes an event time that does not occur within the threshold time of the request time further comprising broadening one or more of the request parameters when no event data corresponds to the request parameters and determining whether the event in the event database includes an event time that occurs within a threshold time of the request time and

determining whether another event in the event database includes an event time that occurs within the broadened threshold time of the request time.

8. A computer-implemented method for displaying real-time event data within a map that is displayed by a client computing device, the method comprising:

sending, via a computer network, a request for mapping data including a request location defining a current geographic location of the client computing device and a request time, the request time including a time that the mapping data request is sent;

receiving, at the client computing device, mapping data and event data in response to the request for mapping data, the event data defining an event having an event time that occurs within a threshold time of the request time, and the mapping data corresponding to the request location; and

displaying, at the client computing device, the received mapping data and event data within a viewport of a mapping application executing on the client computing device.

9. The computer implemented method of claim 8, wherein the event data originates from an Internet Source including one or more of microformat data and a data feed.

10. The computer implemented method of claim 8, wherein the client computing device displays events differently depending on the proximity of the event time to the request time.

11. The computer implemented method of claim 8, wherein the event type includes one or more of a public or private event, a performance, a sale event, product demonstration, a news event, a temporal business event, a weather condition, a hazard condition, a natural disaster event, a power outage and a disease outbreak.

12. The computer implemented method of claim 8, wherein the event data further includes one or more of an event description, an event keyword, an event cost, an event phone number, and an event URL.

13. A computer system for displaying an event within visual proximity of a location on a digital map, the system comprising:

an event data server including one or more processors and a memory, the memory including instructions for execution on the one or more processors to;

receive, via a computer network, a request for mapping data including a request location defining a current geographic location of the client computing device,

determine a request time corresponding to the request, the request time based on a time the mapping data request was sent by the client computing device,

retrieve mapping data corresponding to the request location,

determine that an event in an event database includes an event time that occurs within a threshold time of the request time,

retrieve, in response to determining that the event includes event time that occurs within the threshold time of the request time, event data from the event database, the retrieved event data corresponding to the event that occurs within the threshold time of the request time, and

send, via the computer network, the retrieved mapping data and the retrieved event data to the client computing device in response to the received request for mapping data.

14. The computer system of claim 13, wherein the Internet source includes one or more of microformat data and a data feed and the request parameters further include one or more of a user demographic information and a user preference.

15. The computer system of claim 13, wherein the determined event data includes an event type including one or more of a public or private event, a performance, a sale event, product demonstration, a news event, a weather condition, a temporal business event, a hazard condition, a natural disaster event, a power outage, and a disease outbreak.

16. The computer system of claim 13, wherein the mapping server further includes instructions to:

broaden, using the event data server, the threshold time in response to determining that the event in the event database includes an event time that does not occur within the threshold time of the request time and

determine, using the event data server, whether another event in the event database includes an event time that occurs within the broadened threshold time of the request time.

17. A computer-implemented system for displaying an event occurring at a location within a map that is displayed on a client computing device, the system comprising:

a client computing device in communication with a mapping server, the client computing device including one or more processors and a memory, the memory storing instructions to;

send, via a computer network, a request for mapping data including a request location defining a current geographic location of the client computing device and a request time, the request time including a time that the mapping data request is sent;

receive, at the client computing device, mapping data and event data in response to the request for mapping data, the event data defining an event having an event time that occurs within a threshold time of the request time, and the mapping data corresponding to the request location; and

display, at the client computing device, the received mapping data and event data within a viewport of a mapping application executing on the client computing device.

18. The computer system of claim 17, wherein the mapping server further includes instructions to display, at the client computing device, event data differently depending on the proximity of the event time to the request time.

19. The computer system of claim 17, wherein the event data includes an event data type including one or more of a public or private event, a performance, a sale event, product demonstration, a news event, a weather condition, and a hazard condition.

20. The computer system of claim 17, wherein the event data further includes one or more of an event description, an event keyword, an event cost, an event phone number, and an event URL.