System and method for displaying information in response to a request

• US 8,572,077 B2
• Filed: 02/13/2007
• Issued: 10/29/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/24/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: A9.com Incorporated (Amazon.com, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: A9.com Incorporated (Amazon.com, Inc.)
• Inventors: Dorfman, Barnaby M., Manber, Udi, Gold, Jonathan A., Ha, Huy T., Caro-Bruce, Timothy, Karls, Jason
• Primary Examiner(s): Lin, Shew-Fen
• Assistant Examiner(s): MINCEY, JERMAINE A
• Application Number:
  US11/674,651
• Publication Number:
  US 20070136259A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,450 Days
• Field of Search: 707/3
• US Class Current: 707/729
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/26 specially adapted for navigation in a road network
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/367 Details, e.g. road map scale, orientation, zooming, illumination, level of detail, scrolling of road map or positioning of current position marker
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3673 Labelling using text of road map data items, e.g. road names, POI names
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9537 Spatial or temporal dependent retrieval, e.g. spatiotemporal queries
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04806 Zoom, i.e. interaction techniques or interactors for controlling the zooming operation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04812 Interaction techniques based on cursor appearance or behaviour, e.g. being affected by the presence of displayed objects
• 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 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04845 for image manipulation, e.g. dragging, rotation, expansion or change of colour
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04847 Interaction techniques to control parameter settings, e.g. interaction with sliders or dials
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0485 Scrolling or panning
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/083 Shipping
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0256 User search
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2200/24 involving graphical user interfaces [GUIs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 3/047 Fisheye or wide-angle transformations
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 3/40 Scaling of whole images or parts thereof, e.g. expanding or contracting
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 3/4038 Image mosaicing, e.g. composing plane images from plane sub-images
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 29/12 Relief maps relief models G09B25/06

Abstract

Embodiments of the present invention provide a method and system for generating an online listing, such as a yellow pages listing, that includes information about an object, such as a business, and also includes at least one image of the structure containing the object. For example, the image may be a digital image of the store front of a business taken at a street view. Additionally, a user may select an image from a plurality of images that the user perceives as being an appropriate representative image for the business. Based on votes received a default representative image may be identified that is provided in response to a request for information about the business.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for providing information in response to a search request, the method comprising:

under control of one or more computer systems configured with executable instructions,

receiving a search request;

determining a dataset representative of a geographic area for which the search is to be performed based at least in part on the search request;

causing a map representative of at least a portion of the determined geographic area to be displayed;

identifying at least one listing corresponding to the search request, each identified listing being associated with a location within at least the portion of the determined geographic area, wherein the location for at least a subset of the identified listings is determined based at least in part on a lookup table that stores an altered visual emphasis address and corresponding longitude and latitude coordinates for the address;

in response to identifying at least one listing corresponding to the search request, substantially simultaneously

causing interactive information representative of one or more of the identified listings to be displayed adjacent to the map, the interactive information representative of the one or more of the identified listings incorporating (i) one or more first visual indicia corresponding to the one or more of the identified listings and, (ii) distinct from the one or more first visual indicia, a camera-acquired image of an object taken at a geographic location associated with each identified listing of which the interactive information is representative, the camera-acquired image being selected based at least in part on contributions of at least one camera-acquired image from one or more different sources and a number of votes received for a respective camera-acquired image, wherein the camera-acquired image selected corresponds to the camera-acquired image having received a predetermined number of votes, and

causing an interactive position identifier associated with each of the one or more of the identified listings to be displayed on the map, without interaction with the interactive position identifier and substantially simultaneously with a display of the interactive information representative of the one or more of the identified listings adjacent to the map, wherein each interactive position identifier incorporates one or more second visual indicia corresponding to the one or more first visual indicia incorporated in the one or more of the identified listings with which the interactive position identifier is associated;

wherein interaction with the displayed interactive information representative of a first identified listing causes the interactive position identifier displayed for the first identified listing to have an altered visual emphasis; and

wherein interaction with the interactive position identifier for the first identified listing causes the displayed interactive information representative of the first identified listing to have an altered visual emphasis.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving an interaction with the displayed interactive information representative of the first identified listing; and

causing the displayed interactive position identifier associated with the first identified listing to be emphasized.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 2, wherein causing the interactive position identifier to be emphasized generates a visual alteration of the interactive position identifier.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 2, further comprising:

identifying a second listing that corresponds to the search request, wherein the second listing is associated with a second location within the geographic area.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 4, further comprising:

causing a second interactive position identifier associated with the second listing to be displayed on the map.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 5, wherein causing a first interactive position identifier to be emphasized distinguishes the first interactive position identifier from the second interactive position identifier displayed on the map.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 4, further comprising:

causing second interactive information representative of the identified second listing to be displayed with the map.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 7, further comprising:

determining a particular location within the geographic area; and

organizing the display of the interactive information and the second interactive information based at least in part on a distance from the determined particular location.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 7, wherein the interactive information identifies a first business name and the second interactive information identifies a second business name.

41. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the camera-acquired image incorporated in the interactive information representative of each identified listing is selected from a plurality of images associated with the identified listing in accordance with a set of representative image criteria.

42. The computer-implemented method of claim 41, wherein the camera-acquired image incorporated in the interactive information representative of each identified listing is selected based at least in part on a plurality of user provided votes for at least one of the plurality of images as representative of the identified listing.

43. The computer-implemented method of claim 41, wherein the camera-acquired image incorporated in the interactive information representative of each identified listing is selected based at least in part on a time that the image was taken.

44. The computer-implemented method of claim 43, wherein the camera-acquired image incorporated in the interactive information representative of each identified listing is selected based at least in part on how closely the time that the image was taken matches an annual season.

45. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein:

the interaction with the displayed interactive information representative of a first identified listing to cause the interactive position identifier displayed for the first identified listing to have an altered visual emphasis comprises interaction with one of (i) the one or more first visual indicia and (ii) the camera-acquired image.

46. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein

the interaction with the interactive position identifier for the first identified listing causes one of (i) the one or more first visual indicia and (ii) the camera-acquired image incorporated by the displayed interactive information representative of the first identified listing to have an altered visual emphasis.

48. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a contribution of one or more camera-acquired images from a plurality of users, each of the one or more camera-acquired images correlated to a particular listing;

in response to receiving an interaction with the displayed interactive information representative of the particular listing, displaying the one or more camera-acquired images in a filmstrip-view on a listing detail page;

determining a number of clicks received at each one of the one or more camera-acquired images; and

selecting one of the one or more camera-acquired images to be incorporated in the interactive information representative of the particular listing based at least in part on the number of clicks received at each of the one or more camera-acquired images.

49. The computer-implemented method of claim 48, wherein the one or the one or more camera-acquired images is selected based at least on receiving a majority of clicks.

50. The computer-implemented method of claim 48, wherein the one or more camera-acquired images for the identified listing is received from one of a plurality of users or a representative of the identified listing.

51. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein each of the one or more camera-acquired images is captured from two or more cameras to obtain a stereoscopic image of an object being imaged.

10. A computer system for providing information in response to a search request, the computer system comprising:

one or more databases storing information related to locations within a geographic area; and

a computing device in communication with the one or more databases, the computing device operative to, at least;

determine a geographic area for which the search is to be performed based at least in part on the search request;

cause a map representative of at least a portion of the determined geographic area to be displayed;

identify a plurality of listings stored in the one or more databases that match the search request, the listings each being associated with a respective location within at least the portion of the determined geographic area, wherein the location for at least a subset of the identified listings is determined based at least in part on a lookup table that stores an address and corresponding longitude and latitude coordinates for the address;

in response to identifying a plurality of listings in one or more databases that match the search request, substantially simultaneously

cause a plurality of interactive position identifiers to be displayed on the map, without interaction with any of the plurality of interactive position identifiers, wherein each of the plurality of interactive position identifiers is associated with one of the plurality of listings and incorporates at least one of a first plurality of visual indicia, and

cause the plurality of listings to be displayed adjacent to the map substantially simultaneously with a display of the plurality of interactive position identifiers, wherein at least one of the plurality of listings is interactive and incorporates (i) at least one of a second plurality of visual indicia corresponding to the at least one of first plurality of visual indicia incorporated by the associated at least one interactive position identifier and (ii) distinct from the at least one of the second plurality of visual indicia, a camera-acquired image of an object taken at a geographic location associated with the at least one of the plurality of listings, the camera-acquired image being selected based at least in part on contributions of at least one camera-acquired image from one or more different sources and a number of votes received for a respective camera-acquired image, wherein the camera-acquired image selected corresponds to the camera-acquired image having received a predetermined number of votes;

wherein interaction with displayed interactive information representative of a first listing of the plurality of listings causes the interactive position identifier displayed for the first listing to have an altered visual emphasis; and

wherein interaction with the interactive position identifier for the first listing causes the displayed interactive information representative of the first listing to have an altered visual emphasis.

11. The computer system of claim 10, wherein the computing device is further operative to:

cause a first displayed interactive position identifier of the plurality of displayed interactive position identifiers to be emphasized in response to an interaction with a displayed listing of the plurality of listings.

12. The computer system of claim 11, wherein causing the first displayed interactive position identifier to be identified distinguishes the first displayed interactive position identifier from the remaining plurality of displayed position identifiers.

13. The computer system of claim 10, wherein the computing device is further configured to, at least:

determine a particular location within the geographic area; and

organize the display of the plurality of listings based at least in part on a distance from the determined particular location.

14. The computer system of claim 10, wherein the search request is a search for businesses of a type and each of the plurality of listings identify businesses of that type.

15. A computer-implemented method for obtaining information in response to a search request, the method comprising:

under control of one or more computer systems configured with executable instructions,

providing a search request;

receiving a map representative of an area associated with the search request;

receiving an identification of at least one listing corresponding to the search request, each identified listing being associated with a location within the area represented by the map, wherein the location for at least a subset of the identified listings is determined based at least in part on a lookup table that stores an address and corresponding longitude and latitude coordinates for the address;

in response to receiving an identification of at least one listing corresponding to the search request, substantially simultaneously

displaying the map and, adjacent to the map, one or more of the identified listings, each displayed identified listing being interactive and incorporating (i) one or more first visual indicia corresponding to the displayed identified listing and (ii), distinct from the one or more first visual indicia, a camera-acquired image of an object taken at a geographic location associated with the displayed identified listing, the camera-acquired image being selected based at least in part on contributions of at least one camera-acquired image from one or more different sources and a number of votes received for a respective camera-acquired image, wherein the camera-acquired image selected corresponds to the camera-acquired image having received a predetermined number of votes, and

displaying on the map at least one interactive position identifier associated with the one or more of the identified listings, without interaction with the at least one interactive position identifier and substantially simultaneously with a display of the one or more of the identified listings adjacent to the map, wherein each interactive position identifier incorporating one or more second visual indicia corresponding to the one or more first visual indicia incorporated in each displayed identified listing;

wherein interaction with displayed interactive information representative of a first identified listing causes the interactive position identifier displayed for the first identified listing to have an altered visual emphasis; and

wherein interaction with the interactive position identifier for the first identified listing causes the displayed interactive information representative of the first identified listing to have an altered visual emphasis.

16. The computer-implemented method of claim 15, further comprising:

providing an interaction with the first displayed listing; and

emphasizing the displayed interactive position identifier associated with the first identified listing.

17. The computer-implemented method of claim 15, wherein emphasizing the interactive position identifier generates a visual alteration of the interactive position identifier.

18. The computer-implemented method of claim 15, further comprising:

receiving an identification of a second listing that corresponds to the search request, wherein the second listing is associated with a second location within the area represented by the map; and

displaying on the map a second interactive position identifier associated with the second listing.

19. The computer-implemented method of claim 18, wherein emphasizing the first interactive position identifier distinguishes the first interactive position identifier from the second interactive position identifier displayed on the map.

20. The computer-implemented method of claim 18, wherein at least some of the identified listings comprise an image identified by a user as a representative image.

21. A computer-implemented method for obtaining information regarding at least one object within a range, the method comprising:

under control of one or more computer systems configured with executable instructions,

receiving an identification of at least one object within the range for which information is to be provided, each identified object being associated with a location within the range for which information is to be provided, wherein the location for at least a subset of the identified objects is determined based at least in part on a lookup table that stores an address and corresponding longitude and latitude coordinates for the address;

in response to receiving an identification of at least one object, substantially simultaneously

displaying information regarding one or more of the identified objects, the displayed information including one or more first visual indicia corresponding to the one or more of the identified objects and, distinct from the one or more first visual indicia, at least one interactive image representative of one or more of the identified objects and camera-acquired at a geographical location associated with the one or more of the identified objects, the at least one camera-acquired interactive image being selected based at least in part on contributions of at least one camera-acquired image from one or more different sources and a number of votes received for a respective camera-acquired image, wherein the camera-acquired image selected corresponds to the camera-acquired image having received a predetermined number of votes, and

displaying a map adjacent to and substantially simultaneously with a display of the information regarding the one or more of the identified objects, the map including an interactive identifier of a location of each of the one or more displayed identified objects, wherein the interactive identifier is displayed on the map without interaction with the interactive identifier, and wherein each interactive identifier incorporating one or more second visual indicia corresponding to the one or more first visual indicia included in the displayed information regarding the displayed identified object having the location identified by the interactive identifier;

wherein interaction with the displayed interactive image representative of a first identified object causes the interactive identifier displayed for the first identified object to have an altered visual emphasis; and

wherein interaction with the interactive identifier for the first identified object causes the displayed interactive image representative of the first identified object to have an altered visual emphasis.

22. The computer-implemented method of claim 21, wherein receiving an identification of an object includes receiving an identification of a plurality of objects within the range for which information is to be provided.

23. The computer-implemented method of claim 22, wherein displaying information regarding the identified object includes displaying information regarding each of the plurality of identified objects.

24. The computer-implemented method of claim 21, wherein the image is a digital image of the object.

25. The computer-implemented method of claim 21, wherein the image is a street view of the object.

26. The computer-implemented method of claim 21, wherein the image is a user specified representative image.

27. The computer-implemented method of claim 21, wherein the image is an image of a physical object selected from a plurality of images representative of the physical object.

28. The computer-implemented method of claim 21, wherein the information regarding the identified object is interactive.

29. The computer-implemented method of claim 21, further comprising:

providing an inquiry regarding the displayed information; and

emphasizing the interactive identifier of the identified object.

30. A computer-readable storage medium having executable instructions stored thereon that, when executed, direct a computing system to, at least:

receive a search request;

determine a dataset representative of a geographic area for which the search is to be performed based at least in part on the search request;

cause a map representative of at least a portion of the determined geographic area to be displayed;

identify at least one listing corresponding to the search request, each identified listing being associated with a location within at least the portion of the determined geographic area, wherein the location for at least a subset of the identified listings is determined based at least in part on a lookup table that stores an address and corresponding longitude and latitude coordinates for the address;

in response to identifying at least one listing corresponding to the search request, substantially simultaneously

cause interactive information representative of one or more of the identified listings to be displayed adjacent to the map, the interactive information representative of the one or more of the identified listings incorporating one or more first visual indicia corresponding to the one or more of the identified listings and, distinct from the one or more first visual indicia, a camera-acquired image of an object taken at the geographic location associated with the one or more of the identified listings of which the interactive information is representative, the camera-acquired image being selected based at least in part on contributions of at least one camera-acquired image from one or more different sources and a number of votes received for a respective camera-acquired image, wherein the camera-acquired image selected corresponds to the camera-acquired image having received a predetermined number of votes, and

cause an interactive position identifier associated with each of the one or more of the identified listings to be displayed on the map without interaction with the interactive position identifier and substantially simultaneously with a display of the interactive information representative of the one or more of the identified listings adjacent to the map, wherein each interactive position identifier incorporating one or more second visual indicia corresponding to the one or more first visual indicia incorporated in the one or more of the identified listings with which the interactive position identifier is associated;

wherein interaction with the displayed interactive information representative of a first identified listing causes the interactive position identifier displayed for the first identified listing to have an altered visual emphasis; and

wherein interaction with the interactive position identifier for the first identified listing causes the displayed interactive information representative of the first identified listing to have an altered visual emphasis.

31. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 30, further having instructions stored thereon that direct a computing system to, at least:

receive an interaction with the displayed interactive information representative of the first identified listing; and

cause the displayed interactive position identifier associated with the first identified listing to be emphasized.

32. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 31, further having instructions stored thereon that direct a computing system to, at least:

identify a second listing that corresponds to the search request, wherein the second listing is associated with a second location within the geographic area; and

cause a second interactive position identifier associated with the second listing to be displayed on the map.

33. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 32, wherein the instructions that direct the computer system to cause the first interactive position identifier to be emphasized distinguishes the first interactive position identifier from the second interactive position identifier displayed on the map.

34. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 32, further having instructions stored thereon that direct a computing system to, at least:

cause second interactive information representative of the identified second listing to be displayed with the map;

determine a particular location within the geographic area; and

organize the display of the interactive information and the second interactive information based at least in part on a distance from the determined particular location.

35. A computer-implemented method for providing information in response to a search request, the method comprising:

under control of one or more computer systems configured with executable instructions,

determining a geographic area for which a search associated with the search request is to be performed;

causing a map representative of at least a portion of the determined geographic area to be displayed;

identifying a plurality of listings stored in the one or more databases that match the search request, the listings each being associated with a respective location within at least the portion of the determined geographic area, wherein the location for at least a subset of the identified listings is determined based at least in part on a lookup table that stores an address and corresponding longitude and latitude coordinates for the address;

in response to identifying a plurality of listings stored in the one or more databases that match the search request, substantially simultaneously

causing a plurality of interactive position identifiers to be displayed on the map, without interaction with any of the plurality of interactive position identifiers, wherein each of the plurality of interactive position identifiers associated with one of the plurality of listings and incorporating at least one of a first plurality of visual indicia, and

causing the plurality of listings to be displayed adjacent to the map substantially simultaneously with a display of the plurality of interactive position identifiers, wherein at least one of the plurality of listings is interactive and incorporates (i) at least one of a second plurality of visual indicia corresponding to the at least one of first plurality of visual indicia incorporated by an associated at least one interactive position identifier and (ii) distinct from the at least one of the second plurality of visual indicia, a camera-acquired image of an object taken at a geographic location associated with the at least one of the plurality of listings, the camera-acquired image being selected based at least in part on contributions of at least one camera-acquired image from one or more different sources and a number of votes received for a respective camera-acquired image, wherein the camera-acquired image selected corresponds to the camera-acquired image having received a predetermined number of votes;

wherein interaction with displayed interactive information representative of a first listing of the plurality of listings causes the interactive position identifier displayed for the first listing to have an altered visual emphasis, and

wherein interaction with the interactive position identifier for the first listing causes the displayed interactive information representative of the first listing to have an altered visual emphasis.

36. The computer-implemented method of claim 35, further comprising:

causing a first displayed interactive position identifier of the plurality of displayed interactive position identifiers to be emphasized in response to an interaction with a displayed listing of the plurality of listings.

37. The computer-implemented method of claim 35, further comprising:

determining a particular location within the geographic area; and

organizing the display of the plurality of listings based at least in part on a distance from the determined particular location.

38. The computer-implemented method of claim 35, wherein the search request is a search for businesses of a type and each of the plurality of listings identify businesses of that type.

39. A computer-readable storage medium having executable instructions stored thereon that, when executed, direct a computing system to, at least:

receive an identification of at least one object within a range for which information is to be provided, each identified object being associated with a location within the range for which information is to be provided, wherein the location for at least a subset of the identified objects is determined based at least in part on a lookup table that stores an address and corresponding longitude and latitude coordinates for the address;

in response to receiving an identification of at least one object within the range for which information is to be provided, substantially simultaneously

display information regarding one or more of the identified objects, the displayed information including one or more first visual indicia corresponding to the one or more of the identified objects and, distinct from the one or more first visual indicia, at least one interactive image representative of one or more of the identified objects and camera-acquired at a geographical location associated with the one or more of the identified objects, the camera-acquired identified objects being selected based at least in part on contributions of at least one camera-acquired image from one or more different sources and a number of votes received for a respective camera-acquired image, wherein the camera-acquired image selected corresponds to the camera-acquired image having received a predetermined number of votes, and

display a map adjacent to and substantially simultaneously with the display of the information regarding the one or more of the identified objects, the map including an interactive identifier of a location of each of the one or more displayed identified objects, wherein the interactive identifier is displayed on the map without interaction with the interactive identifier, and wherein each interactive identifier incorporating one or more second visual indicia corresponding to the one or more first visual indicia included in the displayed information regarding the displayed identified object having the location identified by the interactive identifier;

wherein interaction with the displayed interactive image representative of a first identified object causes the interactive identifier displayed for the first identified object to have an altered visual emphasis; and

wherein interaction with the interactive identifier for the first identified object causes the displayed interactive image representative of the first identified object to have an altered visual emphasis.

40. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 39, wherein the instructions that direct the computing system to receive an identification of an object include instructions that direct the computing system to receive an identification of a plurality of objects within the range for which information is to be provided.

47. A computer-implemented method for providing information in response to a search request, the method comprising:

under control of one or more computer systems configured with executable instructions,

receiving a search request;

determining a dataset representative of a geographic area for which the search is to be performed based at least in part on the search request;

causing a map representative of at least a portion of the determined geographic area to be displayed;

identifying at least one listing corresponding to the search request, each identified listing being associated with a location within at least the portion of the determined geographic area, wherein the location for at least a subset of the identified listings is determined based at least in part on a lookup table that stores an address and corresponding longitude and latitude coordinates for the address;

in response to identifying at least one listing corresponding to the search request, substantially simultaneously

causing interactive information representative of one or more of the identified listings to be displayed adjacent to the map, the interactive information representative of the one or more of the identified listings incorporating (i) one or more first visual indicia corresponding to the one or more of the identified listings and, (ii) distinct from the one or more first visual indicia, a camera-acquired image of an object taken at the geographic location associated with each identified listing of which the interactive information is representative, the camera-acquired image being selected based at least in part on contributions from one or more different sources and a number of votes received for a respective camera-acquired image, wherein the camera-acquired image selected corresponds to the camera-acquired image having received a predetermined number of votes, and

causing an interactive position identifier associated with each of the one or more of the identified listings to be displayed on the map substantially simultaneously with a display of the interactive information representative of the one or more of the identified listings adjacent to the map, wherein each interactive position identifier incorporates one or more second visual indicia corresponding to the one or more first visual indicia incorporated in the one or more of the identified listings with which the interactive position identifier is associated;

wherein in the event an interaction with the displayed interactive information representative of a first identified listing is detected, the interactive position identifier displayed for the first identified listing is caused to have an altered visual emphasis; and

wherein in the event an interaction with at least one of the (i) the one or more first visual indicia and (ii) the camera-acquired image incorporated by the interactive position identifier for the first identified listing is detected, the displayed interactive information representative of the first identified listing is caused to have an altered visual emphasis.