Method and system for navigating a map

• US 9,588,987 B2
• Filed: 10/13/2006
• Issued: 03/07/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 10/14/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Jollify Management Limited
• Original Assignee: Jollify Management Limited
• Inventors: Finucane, Gareth J., Lawless, Michael J., Wehner, Mark E., Fernandez, Rodney J., Wailes, Thomas
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran, Khoi
• Assistant Examiner(s): MOYER, DALE S
• Application Number:
  US11/580,776
• Publication Number:
  US 20070156332A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,798 Days
• Field of Search: 340/995.1, 701/208, 701/211
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/343 Calculating itineraries, i.e. routes leading from a starting point to a series of categorical destinations using a global route restraint, round trips, touristic trips travelling salesman problem G06Q10/04; optimisation of routes G06Q10/047
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3676 Overview of the route on the road map
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/29 Geographical information databases
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 29/007 using computer methods
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 29/106 using electronic means

Abstract

Method and computer program product for navigating a map in a browser window of a user device via the Internet are disclosed. The method includes providing a first map for showing geographic context of a general area, providing a second map for showing geographic context of a portion of the general area, superimposing the second map onto the first map, wherein the second map is represented by a highlighted area in the first map, and navigating the first map using the highlighted area. The method further includes displaying points of interest inside the highlighted area of the first map and in the second map for assisting a user in navigating to the points of interest, and displaying additional points of interest outside the shaded area of the first map for assisting a user in navigating to the additional points of interest.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

displaying a first map in a browser window for showing geographic context of a first general area, the browser window being visibly displayed on a display of a user device;

displaying a second map in the browser window showing geographic context of a magnified portion of the first general area, wherein the second map is displayed larger than the first map;

superimposing, via the user device, the first map onto the second map, wherein the second map is represented by a highlighted area in the first map, wherein the first map is automatically updated as a result of said superimposing; and

facilitating navigating, via the user device, the first map using the highlighted area, wherein said navigating the first map comprises;

panning the highlighted area across one or more locations in the first map in response to a user holding control of and dragging the highlighted area from the first general area to a different general area in the first map;

during said panning, continue displaying the second map without changing the second map for as long as the user continues said holding and said dragging, wherein the different general area is displayed in the first map while the user continues said holding and said dragging;

pausing said panning of the highlighted area at a second general area in the first map in response to the user stopping said dragging; and

as a result of and only after said stopping said dragging and stopping said holding, changing the second map to display geographic context of a magnified portion of the second general area in the second map instead of the magnified portion of the first general area.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

displaying points of interest inside the highlighted area of the first map and in the second map for assisting the user in navigating to the points of interest.

3. The method of claim 2 further comprising:

displaying, in the first map, additional points of interest that are in addition to the points of interest in the second map, the additional points of interest not included in the second map and outside the highlighted area of the first map, each of the additional points of interest marked in the first map by a respective marker.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

mapping an address location to a corresponding business at the address location; and

displaying information about the business.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the information about the business comprises:

name, phone number, hours of operation, photos, user ratings, user reviews, and links to other relevant information about the business.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said displaying a first map comprises:

adjusting an aspect ratio of the first map in accordance with a corresponding aspect ratio of the browser window viewing area.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein said displaying a second map comprises:

adjusting an aspect ratio of the second map in accordance with the aspect ratio of the first map.

8. A computer program product for navigating a map in a browser window of a user device via the Internet, comprising:

a non-transitory medium storing computer programs for execution by one or more computer systems comprising at least one processor, the computer program product comprising;

code for displaying a first map for showing geographic context of a first general area;

code for displaying a second map for showing geographic context of a magnified portion of the first general area, wherein the second map is displayed larger than the first map;

code for superimposing the first map onto the second map, wherein the second map is represented by a highlighted area in the first map, wherein the first map is automatically updated as a result of said superimposing; and

code for facilitating navigating the first map using the highlighted area comprising;

code for panning the highlighted area across one or more locations in the first map in response to a user holding control of and dragging the highlighted area from the first general area to a different general area in the first map;

code for continuing to display, during said panning, the second map without changing the second map for as long as the user continues said holding and said dragging, wherein the different general area is displayed in the first map while the user continues said holding and said dragging;

code for pausing said panning of the highlighted area at a second general area in the first map in response to the user stopping said dragging, wherein the second map is not changed as long as the user continues said holding; and

code for redrawing, as a result of and only after said stopping said dragging and stopping said holding, the second map to display geographic context of a magnified portion of the second general area in the second map instead of the magnified portion of the first general area.

9. The computer program product of claim 8 further comprising:

code for displaying points of interest inside the highlighted area of the first map and in the second map for assisting the user in navigating to the points of interest.

10. The computer program product of claim 9 further comprising:

code for displaying, in the first map, additional points of interest that are in addition to the points of interest in the second map, the additional points of interest not included in the second map and outside the highlighted area of the first map, each of the additional points of interest marked in the first map by a respective marker.

11. The computer program product of claim 8 further comprising:

code for mapping an address location to a corresponding business at the address location; and

code for displaying information about the business.

12. The computer program product of claim 11, wherein the information about the business comprises:

name, phone number, hours of operation, photos, user ratings, user reviews, and links to other relevant information about the business.

13. The computer program product of claim 8, wherein the code for displaying a first map comprises:

adjusting an aspect ratio of the first map in accordance with a corresponding aspect ratio of the browser window viewing area.

14. The computer program product of claim 13, wherein the code for displaying a second map comprises:

code for adjusting an aspect ratio of the second map in accordance with the aspect ratio of the first map.