Information mapping approaches

• US 7,373,244 B2
• Filed: 04/19/2005
• Issued: 05/13/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/20/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Never-Search, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Never-Search, Inc.
• Inventors: Kreft, Keith
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran; Dalena
• Application Number:
  US11/110,976
• Publication Number:
  US 20050251331A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,120 Days
• Field of Search: 701/200, 701/201, 701/208, 701/209, 701/210, 701/211, 701/202, 340/988, 340/990, 340/995.1, 340/947, 340/954, 731/78.R
• US Class Current: 701/207
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/26 specially adapted for navigation in a road network
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3811 Point data, e.g. Point of Interest [POI]
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3878 Hierarchical structures, e.g. layering
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 3/08 Use of electric radiation detectors
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/235 Update request formulation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/2379 Updates performed during online database operations; commit processing
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/252 between a Database Management System and a front-end application
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/29 Geographical information databases
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/951 Indexing; Web crawling techniques
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/957 Browsing optimisation, e.g. caching or content distillation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04817 using icons graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04845 for image manipulation, e.g. dragging, rotation, expansion or change of colour
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/147 using display panels
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0251 Targeted advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0259 based on store location
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 11/60 Editing figures and text; Combining figures or text

Abstract

Methods, systems and applications for updating, enhancing, organizing, and utilizing geographic maps, for locating points of interest and places of businesses, or POI'"'"'s. Embodiments provide a method for collecting geo-coordinate data on POIs by eliciting participation of the business owners or designated employees to identify the specific locations of POI'"'"'s on a map; a map program which synchronizes to a centralized database where POI and other more frequently changing and time-dependent map information is downloaded to individual users; a map program, where in addition to the standard contact information, “qualitative” information and website links are included in an POI information box to aid in pre-qualifying a POI before selection and in booking a reservation; a method for locating markers on an Internet-based search engine map; and an improved contact management system that allows locations of contacts to be viewed on a map while minimizing address geocoding.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

displaying a geographical map on a computer display, wherein the map includes two or more points of interest;

concurrently displaying, in association with two or more of the points of interest, one or more elements of qualitative information respectively associated with the displayed points of interest;

displaying, in association with the map, a hierarchical list of the points of interest, wherein the hierarchical list includes one or more categories, wherein each of the categories logically contains one or more of the points of interest;

wherein displaying the hierarchical list comprises concurrently displaying with the map a folder list comprising a plurality of folders each having one or more sub-folders, wherein each of the sub-folders contains one or more of the points of interest, wherein any of the folders may have any number of hierarchically subordinate levels of sub-folders;

receiving user input selecting one of the folders;

in response to the user input, automatically selecting and displaying two or more of the sub-folders of the selected one of the folders;

concurrently displaying, in the map, all of the points of interest that are in the sub-folders that have been automatically selected and the one or more elements of qualitative information that are associated with the displayed points of interest of the selected sub-folders.

2. A method as recited in claim 1, further comprising receiving first user input that selects one of the categories, receiving second user input that selects one configuration among a plurality of configurations of information detail, and redisplaying the qualitative information using a number of elements corresponding to the selected configuration of information detail.

3. A method as recited in claim 1, further comprising receiving first user input that selects one of the categories, receiving second user input that selects one level among a plurality of levels of appearance relating to the points of interest, and redisplaying the points of interest using an appearance corresponding to the selected level of appearance.

4. A method as recited in claim 1, further comprising receiving first user input that creates a personal folder within the hierarchical list of the points of interest, receiving second user input that associates a selected point of interest with the personal folder, and redisplaying the hierarchical list showing the personal folder within the hierarchical list and showing the selected point of interest logically within the personal folder.

5. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein one category within the hierarchical list of the points of interest is a “

favorites”

folder, and further comprising receiving first user input that associates a selected point of interest with the “

favorites”

folder, and redisplaying the hierarchical list showing a replica of the selected point of interest logically within the “

favorites”

folder.

6. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the points of interest are stored in a first logical map layer that may receive one or more information updates independent of a second logical map layer that stores the geographical map.

7. A method as recited in claim 6, further comprising receiving one or more additional points of interest from a logically separate network site.

8. A method as recited in claim 7, wherein a user provides, to the network site, user input specifying a selection of the one or more additional points of interest from among a plurality of other points of interest that are available for download at the logically separate network site.

9. A method as recited in claim 6, further comprising receiving one or more custom assigned symbols, one or more custom folder assignments, and one or more favorite folder designations in association with the additional points of interest, and storing the symbols, folder assignments, and folder designations as part of the map and hierarchical list.

10. A method as recited in claim 6, wherein coordinates for positioning the additional points of interest on the map based on a coordinate system are received in association with the additional points of interest.

11. A method as recited in claim 10, wherein the coordinates are converted to corresponding geo-coordinates, and wherein the converted geo-coordinates are stored in the geographical map in association with the additional points of interest.

12. A method as recited in claim 11, wherein the qualitative information is displayed within two or more graphical boxes that are respectively associated with the points of interest, wherein one or more advertisements are displayed in the graphical boxes.

13. A method as recited in claim 11, wherein the qualitative information comprises one or more hyperlinks associated with purchasing goods or services.

14. A method as recited in claim 11, wherein the qualitative information comprises any of time-sensitive information and a classified advertisement.

15. A method as recited in claim 11, further comprising:

storing, in a database communicatively coupled to a data network, replicas of the points of interest and information identifying a manager of the points of interest;

receiving, from a computer associated with the manager and coupled to the database over the data network, one or more updates to the points of interest;

sending, in response to a request of a user of a computer program that displays the geographical map on a computer display, the two or more points of interest and the updates, wherein the computer program concuffently displays, in association with the two or more of the points of interest, two or more elements of qualitative information respectively associated with the displayed points of interest.

16. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the qualitative information is displayed within two or more graphical boxes that are respectively associated with the points of interest, further comprising receiving first user input that selects one of the categories, receiving second user input that selects a change in a configuration of information detail associated with one of the points of interest, and redisplaying the qualitative information within the same associated graphical box using a number of elements corresponding to the selected configuration of information detail.

17. A method as recited in claim 16, wherein the second user input selects any of an upward ratcheting control selection and a downward ratcheting control selection.

18. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the geographical map includes representations of one or more buildings, wherein the representations of buildings are stored in a third logical map layer that may receive one or more information updates independent of a second logical map layer that stores the geographical map.

19. A method as recited in claim 18, further comprising receiving one or more additional building representations from a logically separate network site.

20. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein one or more of the points of interest are represented in the display by one or more selectable icons indicating availability of supplemental information about the associated point of interest.

21. A method as recited in claim 20, wherein a first entity is associated with each of the points of interest, and wherein selecting one of the icons results in displaying an information box that contains supplemental information maintained by a second entity.

22. A method as recited in claim 21, wherein the supplemental information comprises any of details of a discount program and website links to purchase goods or services.

23. A method, comprising:

displaying a geographical map on a computer display, wherein the map includes two or more points of interest;

concurrently displaying, in association with two or more of the points of interest, two or more elements of qualitative information respectively associated with the displayed points of interest, wherein the qualitative information is other than name, address, Internet address, and telephone number;

concurrently displaying with the map a folder list comprising a plurality of folders each having one or more sub-folders, wherein each of the sub-folders contains one or more of the points of interest;

receiving user input selecting one of the folders;

in response to the user input, automatically selecting and displaying two or more of the sub-folders of the selected one of the folders;

concurrently displaying, in the map, all of the points of interest that are in the sub-folders that have been automatically selected and the one or more elements of qualitative information that are associated with the displayed points of interest of the selected sub-folders.

24. A method as recited in claim 23, wherein the qualitative information comprises any of a description of a particular point of interest;

one or more prices for one or more goods or services offered at a particular point of interest; and

a description of a size of a particular point of interest.

25. A method as recited in claim 23, wherein one of the hyperlinks is associated with requesting any of a reservation for a golf tee time, and a hotel or lodging reservation.