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

• US 9,298,838 B2
• Filed: 07/18/2014
• Issued: 03/29/2016
• 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): DWIVEDI, MAHESH H
• Application Number:
  US14/334,807
• Publication Number:
  US 20140331115A1
• Time in Patent Office: 620 Days
• Field of Search: 707/920, 709/206
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 device receives via a user interface a selection of a hypertext link object in an electronic file or message. The object is associated with a URL string which includes a server address and location data corresponding to a location. When a mapping application is installed in the device, the device executes the mapping application for rendering a map of the location in response to receiving the selection of the object. When the mapping application is not installed in the device, the device executes a web browser of the device for receiving and displaying a map image of the location in response to receiving the selection of the object.

Claims

1. A method in a wireless communication device for displaying a map, the wireless communication device including a user interface comprising a display, the method comprising:

receiving a message comprising a hypertext link object to a map location;

displaying the message comprising the hypertext link object;

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

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

searching the URL string to identify a mapping application trigger, the mapping application trigger being a portion of a domain name of the server;

if the URL string comprises the trigger, invoking the mapping application and displaying a map of the map location; and

otherwise, if the URL string does not comprise the trigger, invoking a web browser application to display the map of the map location.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the mapping application trigger is a URL hook registered on the device.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the URL string is registered when the mapping application is installed on the device.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the hypertext link object is the only link to the map location in the message.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the hypertext link object is the only link to the map location in the message.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein invoking the web browser application for further comprises receiving data to display a link to download and install the mapping application.

7. The method of claim 5 wherein invoking the web browser application for further comprises receiving data to display a link to download and install the mapping application.

8. A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising instructions in code which when stored in a memory of a wireless communication device and executed by a processor of the wireless communication device causes the wireless communication device to:

receive a message comprising a hypertext link object to a map location;

display the message comprising the hypertext link object;

receive, via the user interface a selection of the hypertext link object, the hypertext link object being associated with a Uniform Resource Locator (URL) string which comprises a server address and location data corresponding to the map location; and

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

search the URL string to identify a mapping application trigger, the mapping application trigger being a portion of a domain name of the server;

if the URL string comprises the trigger, invoke the mapping application and displaying a map of the map location; and

otherwise, if the URL string does not comprise the trigger, invoke a web browser application to display the map of the map location.

9. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 8, wherein the mapping application trigger is a URL hook registered on the device.

10. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 9, wherein the URL string is registered when the mapping application is installed on the device.

11. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 8, wherein the hypertext link, object is the only link to the map location in the message.

12. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 10, wherein the hypertext link object is the only link to the map location in the message.

13. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 8, wherein invoking the web browser application for further comprises receiving data to display a link to download and install the mapping application.

14. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 12 wherein invoking the web browser application for further comprises receiving data to display a link to download and install the mapping application.

15. A wireless communication device comprising:

a processor;

a wireless transceiver coupled to the processor;

a memory coupled to the processor;

a user interface comprising a display;

the processor being configured to;

receive a message comprising a hypertext link object to a map location;

display the message comprising the hypertext link object;

receive, via the user interface, a selection of the hypertext link object, the hypertext link object being associated with a Uniform Resource Locator (URL) string which comprises a server address and location data corresponding to the map location; and

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

search the URL string to identify a mapping application trigger, the mapping application trigger being a portion of a domain name of the server;

if the URL string comprises the trigger, invoke the mapping application and displaying a map of the map location; and

otherwise, if the URL string does not comprise trigger, invoke a web browser application to display the map of the map location.

16. The wireless communication device of claim 15, wherein the mapping application trigger is a URL hook registered on the device.

17. The wireless communication device of claim 16, wherein the URL string is registered when the mapping application is installed on the device.

18. The wireless communication device of claim 15, wherein the hypertext link object is the only link to the map location in the message.

19. The wireless communication device of claim 17, wherein the hypertext link object is the only link to the map location in the message.

20. The wireless communication device of claim 15, wherein invoking the web browser application for further comprises receiving data to display a link to download and install the mapping application.