Methods and apparatus for providing map locations in user applications using URL strings

• US 8,166,083 B2
• Filed: 06/01/2011
• Issued: 04/24/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Boudreau, Jesse Joseph, Dicke, Ronald Anthony
• Primary Examiner(s): EHICHIOYA, IRETE FRED
• Application Number:
  US13/150,752
• Publication Number:
  US 20110237279A1
• Time in Patent Office: 328 Days
• Field of Search: 707/609, 707/705, 707/802, 707/920, 709/217, 709/224
• US Class Current: 707/920
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/20 Instruments for performing navigational calculations G01C21/24, G01C21/26 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/26 specially adapted for navigation in a road network
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/29 Geographical information databases
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9537 Spatial or temporal dependent retrieval, e.g. spatiotemporal queries
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/955 using information identifiers, e.g. uniform resource locators [URL]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9558 Details of hyperlinks; Management of linked annotations
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9566 URL specific, e.g. using aliases, detecting broken or misspelled links
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 29/106 using electronic means
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/30 Managing network names, e.g. use of aliases or nicknames name-to-address mapping H04L61/45
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/3025 Domain name generation or assignment
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/4511 using domain name system [DNS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72406 by software upgrading or downloading
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/919 Geographic
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/92 Navigation

Abstract

Techniques for use in a wireless communication device for displaying a map are described. The wireless device receives via a user interface a selection of a hypertext link object in an electronic file or message. The hypertext link object is associated with a Uniform Resource Locator (URL) string which includes a server address and location data corresponding to a location. When a mapping application is installed in the wireless device, the wireless device executes the mapping application for rendering a map of the location indicated in the URL string in response to receiving the selection of the hypertext link object. When the mapping application is not installed in the wireless communication device, the wireless device executes a web browser of the wireless communication device for receiving and displaying a map image of the location indicated in the URL string in response to receiving the selection of the hypertext link object.

Claims

1. A method in a wireless communication device for use in displaying a map, the wireless communication device being configured to operate in a wireless communication network and including a user interface comprising a display, the method comprising:

receiving, via the user interface, a selection of a hypertext link object in an electronic file or message, the hypertext link object being associated with a Uniform Resource Locator (URL) string which comprises a server address and location data corresponding to a location; and

in response to receiving the selection of the hypertext link object;

when a mapping application is not installed in the wireless communication device;

executing a web browser application of the wireless communication device for receiving and displaying a map image of the location indicated in the URL string based on a request sent to a server identified by the server address; and

when the mapping application is installed in the wireless communication device;

instead of executing the web browser application for receiving and displaying the map image, executing the mapping application for rendering a map of the location based on a request sent to a network map server that is different from the server identified by the server address.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the location data comprises latitude and longitude coordinates corresponding to the location.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein executing the web browser application for receiving and displaying the map image further comprises:

sending a request to the server identified by the server address;

receiving the map image in response to the request; and

displaying the map image.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein executing the web browser application for receiving and displaying the map image further comprises receiving data to display a link to download and install the mapping application.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the electronic file or message comprises one of an e-mail file or message, a calendar file or message, a task file or message, and a map file or message.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the map image comprises a bitmap image.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the map data comprise maplet data.

8. The method of claim 1, which is embodied in a computer program product comprising a computer readable medium and computer instructions stored in the computer readable medium which are executable to perform the method.

9. A wireless communication device, comprising:

one or more processors;

a wireless transceiver coupled to the one or more processors;

memory coupled to the one or more processors;

a user interface comprising a display;

the one or more processors being configured to;

receive, via the user interface, a selection of a hypertext link object in an electronic file or message, the hypertext link object being associated with a uniform resource locator (URL) string which comprises a server address and location data corresponding to a location;

in response to receiving the selection of the hypertext link object;

when a mapping application is not installed in the wireless communication device;

execute a web browser application of the wireless communication device for receiving and displaying a map image of the location indicated in the URL string based on a request sent to a server identified by the server address; and

when the mapping application is installed in the wireless communication device;

instead of executing the web browser application for receiving and displaying the map image, execute the mapping application for rendering a map of the location based on a request sent to a network map server that is different from the server identified by the server address.

10. The wireless communication device of claim 9, wherein the location data comprises latitude and longitude coordinates corresponding to the location.

11. The wireless communication device of claim 9, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to execute the web browser application for receiving and displaying the map image by:

sending a request to the server identified by the server address;

receiving the map image in response to the request; and

displaying the map image.

12. The wireless communication device of claim 9, wherein executing the web browser application for receiving and displaying the map image further comprises receiving data to display a link to download and install the mapping application.

13. The wireless communication device of claim 9, wherein the electronic file or message comprises one of an e-mail file or message, a calendar file or message, a task file or message, and a map file or message.

14. The wireless communication device of claim 9, wherein the map image comprises a bitmap image.

15. The wireless communication device of claim 9, wherein the map data comprise maplet data.

16. A communication system, comprising:

a network map server;

one or more wireless communication devices configured to communicate in a wireless communication network;

each wireless communication device including a memory and a user interface comprising a visual display;

each wireless communication device being configured to;

receive, through the user interface, a selection of a hypertext link object in an electronic file or message, the hypertext link object being associated with a uniform resource locator (URL) string which comprises a server address and location data corresponding to a location; and

in response to receiving the selection of the hypertext link object;

when a mapping application is not installed in the memory;

execute a web browser application of the wireless communication device for receiving and displaying a map image of the location indicated in the URL string based on a request sent to a server identified by the server address; and

when the mapping application is installed in the wireless communication device;

instead of executing the web browser application for receiving and displaying the map image, executing the mapping application for rendering a map of the location based on a request sent to a network map server that is different from the server identified by the server address.