Processing the results of multiple search queries in a mapping application

• US 9,009,198 B2
• Filed: 06/28/2013
• Issued: 04/14/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 07/08/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google Inc. (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Seefeld, Bernhard, Kanodia, Neal, Windram, Elizabeth M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Beausoliel, Jr., Robert
• Assistant Examiner(s): ALLEN, NICHOLAS E
• Application Number:
  US13/931,792
• Publication Number:
  US 20130297591A1
• Time in Patent Office: 655 Days
• US Class Current: 707/792
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/2425 Iterative querying; Query formulation based on the results of a preceding query
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/248 Presentation of query results
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/29 Geographical information databases
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/444 Spatial browsing, e.g. 2D maps, 3D or virtual spaces
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9537 Spatial or temporal dependent retrieval, e.g. spatiotemporal queries

Abstract

In general, the subject matter described in this specification can be embodied in methods, systems, and program products. Information that is responsive to each of multiple distinct search queries is received from a server system. The information for each of the search queries identifies a geographical context or includes search results. One or more visual indications of the information for each of the search queries are displayed on a geographical map. A user interface element for each of the search queries is displayed. The user interface element for each of the search queries, when selected by a user, causes removal from the display of the one or more visual indications of the information for the search query that corresponds to the selected user interface element.

Claims

1. One or more non-transitory computer-readable storage devices storing instructions that, when executed by one or more processing devices, cause a computing system to perform operations comprising:

receiving, from a server system, information that is responsive to each of multiple distinct search queries, wherein the information includes a plurality of search results;

generating, for each of the multiple distinct search queries, a respective layer of visual indicators overlaid on a geographical map in a single display, wherein each of the visual indicators appears at a location on the geographic map corresponding to a respective one of the plurality of search results; and

displaying a user interface element for each of the search queries, wherein the user interface element for each of the search queries, when selected by a user, causes removal from the display of the layer of visual indications that corresponds to the selected user interface element.

2. The one or more computer- readable storage devices of claim 1, wherein displaying the user interface element for each of the search queries includes displaying a checkbox to toggle visibility of the corresponding layer of visual indications.

3. The one or more computer- readable storage devices of claim 1, wherein generating the layers of visual indicators for the multiple distinct search queries includes generating visual indicators having a first shape for a first layer and visual indicators having a second shape for a second layer.

4. The one or more computer-readable storage devices of claim 1, wherein the information for each of the search queries identifies a respective geographical context;

wherein the operations further comprise;

receiving, from the server system, (i) an identification of a first geographical context that has been determined based on content in a first of the search queries, and (ii) second search results that have been determined to be responsive to a second of the search queries; and

displaying on the geographical map (i) a visual indication of the first geographical context and (ii) visual indications of a first portion of the second search results that have been determined to be geographically relevant to the first geographical context.

5. The one or more computer-readable storage devices of claim 4, wherein the first geographical context is a route between a starting position and an ending position.

6. The one or more computer-readable storage devices of claim 4, wherein the operations further comprise displaying on the geographical map a visually different style of visual indications of another portion of the second search results that have not been determined to be geographically relevant to the first geographical context.

7. The one or more computer-readable storage devices of claim 4, wherein the operations further comprise:

receiving user selection of a first user interface element that corresponds to the first search query; and

adding to the display, as a consequence of the user selection of the first user interface element, visual indications of a second portion of the second search results.

8. The one or more computer-readable storage devices of claim 7, wherein the operations further comprise:

receiving, after the user selection of the first user interface element, another user selection of the first user interface element; and

removing from the display, as a consequence of the another user selection of the first user interface element, the visual indications of the second portion of the second search results.

9. The one or more computer-readable storage devices of claim 4, wherein the operations further comprise:

receiving, from the server system, an identification of a third geographical context that is determined based on content in a third of the search queries;

receiving user selection of a third user interface element that corresponds to the third search query;

removing from the display, as a consequence of the user selection of the third user interface element, at least some of the visual indications of the first portion of the second search results; and

adding to the display, as a consequence of the user selection of the third user interface element, visual indications of a second portion of the second search results that have been determined to be geographically relevant to the context.

10. The one or more computer-readable storage devices of claim 4, wherein the operations further comprise:

receiving, from the server system, an identification of a third geographical context that is based on content in a third of the search queries; and

displaying, on the geographical map, visual indications of a second portion of the second search results that have been determined to be geographically relevant to the third geographical context,

wherein visual indications of a third portion of the third search results are not displayed, the third portion of the third search results not having been determined to be geographically relevant to the first geographical context and not having been determined to be geographically relevant to the second geographical context.

11. The one or more computer-readable storage devices of claim 10, wherein the operations further comprise:

receiving, from the server system, fourth search results that are responsive to a fourth of the search queries;

receiving user selection of a user interface element that corresponds to the fourth search query; and

adding to the display, as a consequence of receiving user selection of the fourth user interface element, visual indications of a first portion of the fourth search results that have been determined to be geographically relevant to the first geographical context, and visual indications of a second portion of the fourth search results that have been determined to be geographically relevant to the second geographical context.

12. A computer-implemented method for displaying search results on a map, the method comprising:

receiving, from a server system, information that is responsive to each of multiple distinct search queries, wherein the information includes a plurality of search results;

generating, for each of the multiple distinct search queries, a respective layer of visual indicators overlaid on a geographical map in a single display, wherein each of the visual indicators appears at a location on the geographic map corresponding to a respective one of the plurality of search results; and

displaying a user interface element for each of the search queries, wherein the user interface element for each of the search queries, when selected by a user, causes removal from the display of the layer of visual indications that corresponds to the selected user interface element.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein displaying the user interface element for each of the search queries includes displaying a checkbox to toggle visibility of the corresponding layer of visual indications.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein generating the layers of visual indicators for the multiple distinct search queries includes generating visual indicators having a first shape for a first layer and visual indicators having a second shape for a second layer.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein the information for each of the search queries identifies a respective geographical context;

the method further comprising;

receiving, from the server system, (i) an identification of a first geographical context that has been determined based on content in a first of the search queries, and (ii) second search results that have been determined to be responsive to a second of the search queries; and

displaying on the geographical map (i) a visual indication of the first geographical context and (ii) visual indications of a first portion of the second search results that have been determined to be geographically relevant to the first geographical context.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the first geographical context is a route between a starting position and an ending position.

17. The method of claim 15, further comprising displaying on the geographical map a visually different style of visual indications of another portion of the second search results that have not been determined to be geographically relevant to the first geographical context.

18. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

receiving user selection of a first user interface element that corresponds to the first search query; and

adding to the display, as a consequence of the user selection of the first user interface element, visual indications of a second portion of the second search results.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

receiving, after the user selection of the first user interface element, another user selection of the first user interface element; and

removing from the display, as a consequence of the another user selection of the first user interface element, the visual indications of the second portion of the second search results.

20. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

receiving, from the server system, an identification of a third geographical context that is determined based on content in a third of the search queries;

receiving user selection of a third user interface element that corresponds to the third search query;

removing from the display, as a consequence of the user selection of the third user interface element, at least some of the visual indications of the first portion of the second search results; and

adding to the display, as a consequence of the user selection of the third user interface element, visual indications of a second portion of the second search results that have been determined to be geographically relevant to the context.