Map-based directory system

• US 6,577,714 B1
• Filed: 03/25/1997
• Issued: 06/10/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/11/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: AT&T Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Magill, Peter D., Whitaker, Jr., Norman Ashton, Darcie, Thomas Edward
• Primary Examiner(s): WOO, STELLA L
• Application Number:
  US08/824,106
• Time in Patent Office: 2,268 Days
• Field of Search: 379/93.23, 379/93.17, 379/93.19, 379/93.25, 379/93.01, 379/90.01, 379/100.01, 379/100.11, 379/355, 340/990, 340/995, 345/326, 345/329, 345/348, 345/339, 345/810, 345/835, 345/839, 345/846, 701/208, 701/200
• US Class Current: 379/93.17
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/248 Presentation of query results
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/29 Geographical information databases
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/4535 using an address exchange platform which sets up a session between two nodes, e.g. rendezvous servers, session initiation protocols [SIP] registrars or H.323 gatekeepers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/4541 Directories for service discovery
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/14 Session management for real-time applications in data packet communications networks H04L65/1066
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/51 Discovery or management thereof, e.g. service location protocol [SLP] or web services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/75 Indicating network or usage conditions on the user display
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols

Abstract

A method and system are disclosed for a map-based directory service. Users are presented with a map on a computer screen, the map having symbols indicating real-world locations such as buildings, streets, parks, and bodies of water. A close correspondence exists between the map and the real-world. The map further has symbols indicating virtual locations. A virtual location, as the name implies, refers to a location that appears on the map but is not physically present in the real world. In accordance with the present invention, users can locate listings in conjunction with both real and virtual locations related to such listings, and, can connect to the entities associated with those listings once located.

Claims

1. A method for providing map-based directory services comprising the steps of:

generating for display on a display screen an image of a map of a real-world geographic region, wherein an icon representing a virtual location of an entity is depicted on said image; and

establishing a connection between a first communication device located in proximity of said display screen and a second communication device located in proximity of said entity, in response to a request for communication with said entity.

2. The method in accordance with claim 1, wherein said image is generated remotely from said display screen and is transmitted to said display screen via a communications channel.

3. The method in accordance with claim 1, wherein said connection is a telephone connection and said first communication device and said second communication device are first and second telephone sets, respectively.

4. The method in accordance with claim 3, wherein said step of establishing a telephone connection further comprises the steps of:

initiating a first phone call to said first telephone set; and

initiating a second phone call to said second telephone set; and

bridging said first and second phone calls so as to establish said telephone connection between said first and second telephone sets.

5. The method in accordance with claim 4, wherein prior to said step of initiating a first phone call, the method comprises the steps of:

transmitting a first telephone number relating to said first telephone set to a switching network; and

transmitting a second telephone number relating to said second telephone set to said switching network.

6. The method in accordance with claim 1, further comprising the step of generating for display on said display screen advertising information in response to selection of said icon by a user of said display screen.

7. The method in accordance with claim 6, wherein said step of establishing a connection is performed in response to a request from said display screen to transmit a facsimile message to said entity.

8. The method in accordance with claim 7, wherein said advertising information includes said facsimile message.

9. The method in accordance with claim 8, wherein said facsimile message comprises an order page.

10. The method in accordance with claim 1, wherein said entity is virtually located within building.

11. The method in accordance with claim 10, further comprising the step of displaying on said display screen a list of entities located in said building.

12. The method in accordance with claim 10, further comprising the said step of displaying on said display screen listing information relating to persons associated with each entity in said building.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein said icon representing said virtual location of said entity is depicted at a position on said image in accordance with latitude and longitude parameters associated with said virtual location.

14. A method for providing map-based directory services utilizing virtual locations comprising the step of:

generating for display on a display screen an image of a map of a real-world geographic region, wherein an icon representing a virtual location of a person or business establishment is depicted on said image.

15. The method in accordance with claim 14, wherein said image is generated remotely from said display screen and is transmitted to said display screen via a communications channel.

16. The method in accordance with claim 14, further comprising the steps of:

retrieving a first directory record, wherein said first directory record corresponds to said virtual location; and

retrieving a second directory record, wherein said second directory record corresponds to a real location of said person or business establishment.

17. The method in accordance with claim 16, wherein said first directory record includes a pointer and said step of retrieving a second directory record includes the step of following said pointer to said second directory record.

18. The method in accordance with claim 16, wherein information in said second directory record is used as an identity for said virtual location.

19. The method in accordance with claim 14, wherein said icon is depicted on said image in a manner that distinguishes said icon from icons representing real locations.

20. The method of claim 14, wherein said icon representing said virtual location of said person or business establishment is depicted at a position on said image in accordance with latitude and longitude parameters associated with said virtual location.

21. A system for providing map-based directory services comprising:

a memory device having stored therein information relating to a plurality of geographical maps and a plurality of directory records each relating to an entity; and

a processor in communication with said memory device, said processor configured to (1) generate for display on a display screen an image of a map of a real-world geographic region, wherein an icon representing a virtual location of an entity is depicted on said image, and (2) initiate a connection between a first communication device located in proximity of said display screen and a second communication device located in proximity of said entity, in response to a request for communication with said entity.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein said memory device and said processor are separated from said display screen via a communications channel.

23. The system of claim 21, wherein said connection is a telephone connection and said first communication device and said second communication device are first and second telephone sets, respectively.

24. The system of claim 23, wherein said processor is further configured to initiate a first phone call to said first telephone set, initiate a second phone call to said second telephone set, and initiate a bridging of said first and second phone calls so as to establish said telephone connection between said first and second telephone sets.

25. The system of claim 24, wherein prior to initiating said first phone call, said processor transmits a first telephone number relating to said first telephone set to a switching network and a second telephone number relating to said second telephone set to said switching network.

26. The system of claim 21, wherein said icon is selectable by a user of said display screen.

27. The system of claim 26, wherein said memory device further has embodied therein advertising messages corresponding to said directory records and said processor is configured to display on said display screen information relating to an advertising message in response to selection of said icon by said user.

28. The system of claim 21, wherein said entity is virtually located within a building.

29. The system of claim 28, wherein said processor is further configured to display on said display screen a list of entities located in said building.

30. The system of claim 28, further wherein said processor is further configured to display on said display screen listing information relating to persons associated with each entity in said building.

31. A system for providing map-based directory services utilizing virtual locations comprising:

a memory device storing information relating to a plurality of geographical maps and a plurality of directory records each relating to an entity; and

a processor in communication with said memory device, said processor configured to generate for display on a display screen an image of a map of a real-world geographic region, wherein an icon representing a virtual location of a person or business establishment is depicted on said image.

32. The system of claim 31, wherein said memory device and said processor are separated from said display screen via a communications channel.

33. The system of claim 31, wherein said processor is further configured to retrieve a first directory record, wherein said first directory record corresponds to said virtual location and, a second directory record, wherein said second directory record corresponds to a real location of said person or business establishment.

34. The system of claim 33, wherein said first directory record includes a pointer and said processor follows said pointer to said second directory record.

35. The system of claim 34, wherein information in said second directory record is used as an identity for said virtual location.

36. The system of claim 35, wherein said icon is depicted on said image in a manner that distinguishes said icon from icons representing real locations.

37. An article of manufacture, comprising:

a computer readable medium having computer readable program code stored therein, said computer readable code comprising means for causing a computer system to (1) generate for display on a display screen an image of a map of a real-world geographic region, wherein an icon representing a virtual location of an entity is depicted on said image, and (2) initiate a connection between a first communication device located in proximity of said display screen and a second communication device located in proximity of said entity, in response to a request for communication with said entity.

38. An article of manufacture, comprising:

a computer readable medium having computer readable program code stored therein, said computer readable code comprising means for causing a computer system to generate for display on a display screen an image of a map of a real-world geographic region, wherein an icon representing a virtual location of a person or business establishment is depicted on said image.

39. A method for providing map-based directory services comprising the steps of:

generating for display on a display screen an image of a geographic region, wherein an icon representing a location of an entity is depicted on said image;

generating for display on said display screen advertising information in response to selection of said icon by a user of said display screen, wherein said advertising information includes a facsimile message; and

establishing a connection between a first communication device located in proximity of said display screen and a second communication device located in proximity of said entity, in response to a request from said display screen to transmit said facsimile message to said entity.

40. The method of claim 39, wherein said facsimile message comprises an order page.

41. A method for providing map-based directory services comprising the steps of:

generating for display on a display screen an image of a geographic region, wherein an icon representing a location of an entity is depicted on said image;

generating for display on said display screen advertising information in response to selection of said icon by a user of said display screen;

after displaying said advertising information, receiving a request for communication with said entity; and

establishing a connection between a first communication device located in proximity of said display screen and a second communication device located in proximity of said entity, in response to said request for communication with said entity.