Virtual earth mapping

• US 20060241860A1
• Filed: 10/07/2005
• Published: 10/26/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/21/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Lawler, Stephen L., Schwartz, Joseph, Lombardi, Steve, Kimchi, Gur, Kuppusamy, Ashok, Gounares, Alexander G., Endres, Raymond E., Dekate, Amit
• Granted Patent: US 8,843,309 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/208
• 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 system for displaying map information, comprising:

a component that receives map information to be displayed; and

a content display component that renders a subset of the map information in a display space, and renders user interface controls so as to overlay the map information within the display space.

2. The system of claim 1, the controls are rendered so as to be semi-transparent such that map information residing under the controls is viewable.

3. The system of claim 1, further comprising an auto refresh component that dynamically updates the map information to be displayed as a function of cursor movement within the display space.

4. The system of claim 1, further comprising a user interface comprising:

a mapping component that covers a specific geographic area; and

a control component that is translucent and overlaid on top of the mapping component to allow a visual representation of both the mapping component and the control component at a substantially similar time.

5. The system of claim 4, the control component facilitates a user-entry comprising image data, text data, or voice data.

6. The system of claim 1, further comprising an oblique view component that provides for a user to view the map information from a plurality of viewing angles.

7. The system of claim 6, one of the viewing angles is a bird'"'"'s eye angle.

8. The system of claim 6, one of the viewing angles is a perspective angle.

9. The system of claim 6, one of the viewing angles is a top viewing angle or a front viewing angle.

10. The system of claim 6, one of the viewing angle is a downward trajectory viewing angle.

11. A method for providing map information, comprising:

receiving a 3-dimesional image data relating to a plurality of geographic locations;

binding the 3-D image data together; and

providing for a user to navigate the stitched image data in a seamless 3-dimensional manner from any of a plurality of navigation angles.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

receiving a user request to view a subset of the 3-dimensional image;

retrieving the subset of the 3-dimensional image; and

outputting the subset of the 3-dimensional image to a user display.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

dynamically refreshing a user display as a user manipulates the 3-dimensional image.

14. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

altering a viewing angle of the 3-dimensional image based on a user request.

15. The method of claim 12, the user request is received from a user physically located in the geographic location or from a user remote from the geographic location.

16. The method of claim 11, further comprising

associating a location and a time with the 3-dimensional image.

17. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

dividing the 3-dimensional image into stitchable form; and

storing the stitchable form in at least one database.

18. A user interface comprising:

a mapping component that covers a specific geographic area; and

a control component that is translucent and overlaid on top of the mapping component to allow a visual representation of both the mapping component and the control component at a substantially similar time.

19. The user interface of claim 18, the control component facilitates a user-entry comprising image data, text, or voice data.

20. The user interface of claim 18 is a mobile computing device.