Obtaining and displaying virtual earth images

• US 9,383,206 B2
• Filed: 02/26/2014
• Issued: 07/05/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 04/21/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Inventors: Kimchi, Gur, Dekate, Amit, Kuppusamy, Ashok, Lombardi, Steve, Schwartz, Joseph, Lawler, Stephen L., Gounares, Alexander G., Endres, Raymond E.
• Primary Examiner(s): LIN, KENNY S
• Application Number:
  US14/191,092
• Publication Number:
  US 20140180571A1
• Time in Patent Office: 860 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/26 specially adapted for navigation in a road network
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3841 Data obtained from two or more sources, e.g. probe vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/29 Geographical information databases
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0253 During e-commerce, i.e. online transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0275 Auctions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0277 Online advertisement
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0962 having an indicator mounted inside the vehicle, e.g. giving voice messages
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0969 having a display in the form of a map
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 29/007 using computer methods
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 29/106 using electronic means
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1001 for accessing one among a plurality of replicated servers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/535 Tracking the activity of the user network monitoring arrangements H04L43/00; recording of computer activity G06F11/34

Abstract

Provided is a single repository for capturing, connecting, sharing, and visualizing information based on a geographic location, for example. Provided is a schema, repository, index, and APIs for any information, place, entity, attribute, service or person that can be referenced geographically. A system to provide real time image data includes an input component that receives image data associated with a specific geographic area, a splitter component that splits the image data into at least two quadrants, and a storage component that stores at least a portion of the at least two quadrants. Also provides is on-line or real-time advertising based on a user'"'"'s mapped location and/or a user preference.

Claims

1. A method for generating a map, comprising:

receiving, from a first user, location data for the first user during a first time interval;

receiving, from the first user, additional data, wherein the additional data is received during the first time interval;

based on the location data for the first user and the additional data from the first user being received during the first time interval, associating the additional data from the first user with the location data for the first user;

receiving, from a second user, location data for the second user during a second time interval;

receiving, from the second user, additional data, wherein the additional data from the second user is received during the second time interval;

based on the location data for the second user and the additional data from the second user being received during the second time interval, associating the additional data from the second user with the location data for the second user;

applying at least one visual representation of the additional data received from the first and second users to the map; and

displaying the map.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the additional data received from the first and second users comprises at least one of the group consisting of:

traffic information, construction information, and annotated information.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the additional data for the first and second users is applied and the map is displayed within the first time interval.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein a first rating is associated with the first user and a second rating is associated with the second user.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising tracking the location of the first and second users.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the receiving location data from the first user is based on the tracking of the location of the first user, and wherein receiving location data from the second user is based on the tracking of the location of the second user.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising applying a visual representation of predicted future information to the map, wherein the predicted future information is based on at least one of the group consisting of:

the location data received from the first user and the additional data received from the first user.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a search request from the first user for entities nearby the first user;

providing results for the search request based on the additional data received from the second user.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising displaying the location of the first and second users on the map.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the map with the at least one visual representation is displayed only to users located within a predetermined distance from the first and second users.

11. A computer-readable storage device containing machine readable instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform a method, the method comprising:

receiving, from a first user, location data for the first user during a first time interval;

receiving, from the first user, additional data, wherein the additional data is received during the first time interval;

based on the location data for the first user and the additional data from the first user being received during the first time interval, associating the additional data from the first user with the location data for the first user;

receiving, from a second user, location data for the second user during a second time interval;

receiving, from the second user, additional data, wherein the additional data from the second user is received during the second interval;

based on the location data for the second user and the additional data from the second user being received during the second time interval, associating the additional data from the second user with the location data for the second user;

applying at least one visual representation of the additional data received from the first and second users to a map; and

displaying the map.

12. The computer-readable storage device of claim 11, wherein the additional data received from the first and second users comprises at least one of the group consisting of:

traffic information, construction information, and annotated information.

13. The computer-readable storage device of claim 11, wherein the additional data received from the first user and the second user is applied and the map is displayed within the first time interval.

14. The computer-readable storage device of claim 11, wherein a first rating is associated with the first user and a second rating is associated with the second user.

15. The computer-readable storage device of claim 11, wherein the method further comprises tracking the location of the first and second users.

16. The computer-readable storage device of claim 15, wherein the receiving location data from the first user is based on the tracking of the location of the first user, and wherein the receiving location data from the second user is based on the tracking of the location of the second user.

17. The computer-readable storage device of claim 11, wherein the method further comprises applying a visual representation of predicted future information to the map, wherein the predicted future information is based on at least one of the group consisting of:

the location data for the first user and the additional data received from the first user.

18. The computer-readable storage device of claim 11, wherein the method further comprises:

receiving a search request from the first user for entities nearby the first user;

providing results for the search request based on the additional data received from the second user.

19. The computer-readable storage device of claim 11, wherein the method further comprises displaying the location of the first and second users on the map.

20. A system for generating a map, the system comprising:

a processor; and

a memory that comprises a plurality of components that are executed by the processor, the plurality of the components comprising;

a receiver component, wherein the receiver component;

receives, from a first user, location data for the first user at a first time;

receives, from the first user, additional data, wherein the additional data is received at the first time;

based on the location data for the first user and the additional data from the first user being received at the first time, associating the additional data from the first user with the location data for the first user;

receives, from a second user, location data for the second user at a second time; and

receives, from the second user, additional data, wherein the additional data received from the second user at the second time;

associating data such that the additional data from the second user with the location data for the second user; and

a stitching component, wherein the stitching component applies at least one visual representation of the additional data received from the first and second user to the map; and

a rendering component that outputs the map.