Dynamic location-based mapping system and method
First Claim
1. A graphical mapping system configured to display mapping information on a handheld device, said system comprising:
- an image map database configured to store map data for a plurality of geographic areas, said map data being useful for generating graphical maps;
a vector map database configured to store vector map data, said vector map data being useful for generating vector overlays that correspond to said graphical maps, said vector map data being selectively displayed on the handheld device based on a position of a cursor over said graphical map;
a set of image congestion avoidance heuristics configured to dynamically optimize an amount of mapping information displayed on said handheld device based on a requested zoom level; and
wherein a set of image mapping data and a corresponding set of vector mapping data, both associated with a given geographic location, are retrievable in response to a mapping request from the handheld device.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A graphical mapping system configured to display mapping information on a handheld device is disclosed. The system includes an image map database configured to store map data for a plurality of geographic areas, which is useful for generating graphical maps. The system further includes a vector map database configured to store vector map data, which is useful for generating vector “overlays” that correspond to the graphical maps. In response to a mapping request from a handheld device, a set of image mapping data and a corresponding set of vector mapping data, both associated with a given geographic location, are retrievable.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. A graphical mapping system configured to display mapping information on a handheld device, said system comprising:
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an image map database configured to store map data for a plurality of geographic areas, said map data being useful for generating graphical maps; a vector map database configured to store vector map data, said vector map data being useful for generating vector overlays that correspond to said graphical maps, said vector map data being selectively displayed on the handheld device based on a position of a cursor over said graphical map; a set of image congestion avoidance heuristics configured to dynamically optimize an amount of mapping information displayed on said handheld device based on a requested zoom level; and wherein a set of image mapping data and a corresponding set of vector mapping data, both associated with a given geographic location, are retrievable in response to a mapping request from the handheld device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method of providing mapping information to a handheld device:
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sending a mapping request to a first server from the handheld device, the mapping request relating to a particular geographic location; determining a format in which to provide the mapping information to the handheld device; generating a set of image map data and a corresponding set of vector map data associated with said geographic location; applying a set of image congestion avoidance heuristics configured to dynamically optimize an amount of mapping information displayed on said handheld device based on a requested zoom level; and sending the set of image map data and said corresponding set of vector map data from said first server to the handheld device. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method of displaying mapping information on a display screen of a handheld device, comprising the steps:
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sending a mapping request to a location-based mapping system; receiving an image map data set and a vector map data set from said mapping system; generating a static map image on the display screen based upon said image map data set, wherein information from said vector map data set is correlated to, but not displayed on, said static map image, said image map data and said vector map data are displayed according to a set of image congestion avoidance heuristics configured to dynamically optimize an amount of mapping information displayed on said handheld device based on a requested zoom level; and displaying said vector map data in response to a position of a cursor over said static map image. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21)
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22. A handheld device for displaying a graphical map, comprising:
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a display screen; and software configured to receive a set of image map data and a set of vector map data, said software being further configured to generate a static map image on said display screen from said image map data and to selectively display data from said vector map data set based on a position of a cursor on said static map image; wherein said image map data and said vector map data include image congestion avoidance heuristics configured to dynamically optimize an amount of mapping information displayed on the handheld device based on a requested zoom level. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24)
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Specification