Interactive network directory service with integrated maps and directions

• US 6,148,260 A
• Filed: 06/29/1999
• Issued: 11/14/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 11/08/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: ZIP2
• Original Assignee: ZIP2
• Inventors: Fitzgerald, Maurice J. II, Musk, Elon
• Primary Examiner(s): Zanelli, Michael J.
• Application Number:
  US09/342,487
• Time in Patent Office: 504 Days
• Field of Search: 701/201, 701/203, 701/209, 701/211, 701/200, 340/995, 340/990, 340/993, 395/200.47, 395/200.49, 709/203, 709/219
• US Class Current: 701/200
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3611 using character input or menus, e.g. menus of POIs character input methods in general G06F3/0233
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3667 Display of a road map G01C21/3614 takes precedence; guidance using 3D or perspective road maps G01C21/3635
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3679 Retrieval, searching and output of POI information, e.g. hotels, restaurants, shops, filling stations, parking facilities G01C21/3611 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9537 Spatial or temporal dependent retrieval, e.g. spatiotemporal queries

Abstract

The present invention provides a network accessible service which integrates both a business directory and a map database. A user can search the business directory in a variety of methods, including using aspects of the map database (i.e., a radius) to quantify the search. The user can then obtain directions from a specified user location to a selected search result. All of this is conveniently accomplished through a single website access.

Claims

1. A method of faxing a document, comprising:

storing business information in a database, the business information including business names, corresponding locations, and corresponding fax numbers;

receiving a user query having at least a portion of a business name;

identifying from the database a first business name, a corresponding first location, and a corresponding first fax number satisfying the user query;

displaying a map including the first location;

displaying an indicator on the map at the first location identifying the first business name;

receiving a request to fax the document to the first business name; and

faxing the document to the first business name using the first fax number.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the user query includes a second business name, and the method further comprises:

identifying from the database a second location corresponding to the second business name; and

displaying directions from the first location to the second location on the map.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the directions comprise a listing of streets and turns to be made on the streets.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the business information further includes information selectable from coupon information, inventory information, and banner information corresponding to the business names.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the map comprises a graphical file wherein a portion of the graphical file contains encoded text information.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the encoded text information is encoded into one of a group of pixels for graphical information and a group of pixels for non-graphical information.

7. The method of claim 5 wherein at least one bit of a pixel line indicates whether the text information is encoded in a group of black or white pixels or color pixels.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the pixels have certain colors dedicated for providing text information, the colors being chosen such that the displaying of the colors in combination with map does not adversely affect the display on the map.

9. The method of claim 1 further comprising setting search bounds for an area on the map by dragging a rectangle on the map.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the database comprises advertising material which is displayed along with the map.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein the indicator on the map at the first location identifying the first business name comprises a business logo associated with the first business name, the business logo being stored in the database.

12. A method of electronically mailing information, comprising:

storing business information in a database, the business information including business names, corresponding locations, and corresponding electronic mail address information;

receiving a user query having at least a portion of a business name;

identifying from the database a first business name, a corresponding first location, and a corresponding first electronic mail address information satisfying the user query;

displaying a map including the first location;

displaying an indicator on the map at the first location identifying the first business name;

receiving a request to electronically mail the information to the first business name; and

electronically mailing the information to the first business name using the first electronic mail address information.

13. A communication system, comprising:

a communication network;

a server system coupled to the communication network, the server system configured to store business information, the business information including business names, corresponding locations, and corresponding fax numbers;

a client system coupled to the communication network, the client configured to send a first request to the server system having at least a portion of a first business name;

the server further configured to identify from the stored business information the first business name, a corresponding first location, and a corresponding first fax number based on the first request, the server further configured to generate mapping information including the first location and an indicator at the first location identifying the first business name;

the client system configured to receive the mapping information from the server system, to display the mapping information, and to send a second request to the server system to fax a document to the first business name; and

the server system configured to fax the document to the first business name using the first fax number.

14. A communication system, comprising:

a communication network;

a server system coupled to the communication network, the server system configured to store business information, the business information including business names, corresponding locations, and corresponding electronic mail address information;

a client system coupled to the communication network, the client configured to send a first request to the server system having at least a portion of a first business name;

the server further configured to identify from the stored business information the first business name, a corresponding first location, and a corresponding first electronic mail address information based on the first request, the server further configured to generate mapping information including the first location and an indicator at the first location identifying the first business name;

the client system configured to receive the mapping information from the server system, to display the mapping information, and to send a second request to the server system to electronically mail information to the first business name; and

the server system configured to electronically mail the information to the first business name using the first electronic mail address information.

15. A computer program product for faxing a document, comprising:

code for storing business information in a database, the business information including business names, corresponding locations, and corresponding fax numbers;

code for receiving a user query having at least a portion of a business name;

code for identifying from the database a first business name, a corresponding first location, and a corresponding first fax number satisfying the user query;

code for displaying a map including the first location;

code for displaying an indicator on the map at the first location identifying the first business name;

code for receiving a request to fax the document to the first business name;

code for faxing the document to the first business name using the first fax number; and

a computer-readable storage medium for storing the codes.

16. A computer program product for electronically mailing information, comprising:

code for storing business information in a database, the business information including business names, corresponding locations, and corresponding electronic mail address information;

code for receiving a user query having at least a portion of a business name;

code for identifying from the database a first business name, a corresponding first location, and a corresponding first electronic mail address information satisfying the user query;

code for displaying a map including the first location;

code for displaying an indicator on the map at the first location identifying the first business name;

code for receiving a request to electronically mail the information to the first business name;

code for electronically mailing the information to the first business name using the first electronic mail address information; and

a computer-readable storage medium for storing the codes.