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

• US 20070233695A1
• Filed: 07/07/2006
• Published: 10/04/2007
• 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, Dicke, Ronald
• Granted Patent: US 7,720,893 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• 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

In one illustrative example, a method for use in mapping a location in a computer device includes the steps of receiving an electronic file or message which includes a hypertext link mapping indicator associated with a uniform resource locator (URL) string having a server address and latitude and longitude coordinates; receiving, through a user interface of the computer device, an end user selection of the hypertext link mapping indicator in the electronic file or message; and in response to the end user selection of the hypertext link mapping indicator: if a predetermined type of mapping application is provided in the computer device, invoking a mapping function of the mapping application to produce a map of a location corresponding to the latitude and longitude coordinates for visual display in a display of the computer device (e.g. based on received maplet data); and if the predetermined type of mapping application type is not provided in the computer device, requesting and receiving map data from a map coordinating server identified by the server address of the URL string to produce a map of the location for visual display in the display (e.g. based on a bitmap image). Advantageously, processing of the received hypertext link mapping indicator is handled differently depending on the type of device or whether a predetermined mapping application is installed in the device, so that optimal mapping functionality is provided for different device environments.

Claims

1. A method for use in mapping a location in a computer device, the method comprising the acts of:

receiving an electronic file or message which includes a hypertext link mapping indicator associated with a uniform resource locator (URL) string comprising a server address and latitude and longitude coordinates;

receiving, through a user interface of the computer device, an end user selection of the hypertext link mapping indicator in the electronic file or message;

in response to the end user selection of the hypertext link mapping indicator;

if a predetermined type of mapping application is provided in the computer device;

invoking a mapping function of the mapping application to produce a map of a location corresponding to the latitude and longitude coordinates for visual display in a display of the computer device; and

if the predetermined type of mapping application type is not provided in the computer device;

requesting and receiving map data via a map coordinating server identified by the server address of the URL string to produce a map of the location for visual display in the display.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the map that is produced by invoking the mapping function of the mapping application is produced by the computer device from maplet data received through a wireless communication network.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the map that is produced by retrieving the map data via the map coordinating server is produced from a bitmap image.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

in response to the end user selection of the hypertext link mapping indicator, if the predetermined type of mapping application is not provided in the computer device;

receiving data from the map coordinating server to display a link to download the predetermined mapping application.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

in response to the end user selection of the hypertext link mapping indicator;

if the predetermined type of mapping application is not provided in the computer device, and the computer device or associated browser is identified as not being that of a mobile communication device;

requesting and receiving map data from an interactive map server to produce an interactive map of the location for visual display in the dislay a predetermined application programming interface (API) associated with the interactive map server.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

in response to the end user selection of the hypertext link mapping indicator;

if the predetermined type of mapping application is not provided in the computer device, and the computer device or associated browser is identified as not being that of a mobile communication device;

sending a request to the map coordinating server at the server address;

in response to the request, receiving a redirection from the map coordinating server to a public map server at a public map server address; and

requesting and receiving map data from the public map server to produce a map of the location for visual display in the display.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the electronic file or message comprises one of an e-mail file or message, a calendar file or message, a task file or message, and a map file or message.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the computer device comprises a mobile communication device operative in a wireless communication network.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the computer device comprises a personal computer (PC) or laptop operative in a computer network.

10. The method of claim 1, which is embodied in a computer program product comprising a computer readable medium and computer instructions stored in the computer readable medium which are executable to perform the method.

11. A computer device, comprising:

one or more processors;

memory coupled to the one or more processors;

a user interface which includes a visual display;

the one or more processors being operative to;

store, in the memory, an electronic file or message which includes a hypertext link mapping indicator associated with a uniform resource locator (URL) string comprising a server address and latitude and longitude coordinates;

cause the electronic file or message with the hypertext link mapping indicator to be displayed in the visual display;

receive, through the user interface, an end user selection of the hypertext link mapping indicator in the electronic file or message;

in response to the end user selection of the hypertext link mapping indicator;

if a predetermined type of mapping application for mapping is stored in the memory;

invoking a mapping function of the mapping application to produce a map of a location corresponding to the latitude and longitude coordinates for visual display in a display of the computer device; and

if the predetermined type of mapping application for mapping is not stored in the memory;

requesting and receiving map data via a map coordinating server identified by the server address of the URL string to produce a map of the location for visual display in the display.

12. The computer device of claim 11, wherein the map that is produced by invoking the mapping function of the mapping application is produced by the one or more processors from maplet data received through a wireless communication network.

13. The computer device of claim 11, wherein the map that is produced by retrieving the map data via the map coordinating server is produced from a bitmap image.

15. The computer device of claim 11, wherein the one or more processors are further operative to:

in response to the end user selection of the hypertext link mapping indicator;

if the predetermined type of mapping application is not stored in the memory, and the computer device or associated browser is identified as not being that of a mobile communication device;

requesting and receiving map data from an interactive map server to produce an interactive map of the location for visual display in the display using a predetermined application programming interface (API) associated with the interactive map server.

16. The computer device of claim 11, wherein the one or more processors are further operative to:

in response to the end user selection of the hypertext link mapping indicator;

if the predetermined type of mapping application is not stored in the memory, and the computer device or associated browser is identified as not being that of a mobile communication device;

sending a request to the map coordinating server at the server address;

in response to the request, receiving a redirection from the map coordinating server to a map server at a map server address; and

requesting and receiving map data from the map server at the map server address to produce a map of the location for visual display in the display.

17. The computer device of claim 11, wherein the electronic file or message comprises one of an e-mail file or message, a calendar file or message, a task file or message, and a map file or message.

18. The computer device of claim 11, wherein the computer device comprises a mobile communication device operative in a wireless communication network.

19. The computer device of claim 11, wherein the computer device comprises a personal computer (PC) or laptop operative in a computer network.

14. The computer device of ciaim 11, wherein the one or more processors are further operative to:

in response to the end user selection of the hypertext link mapping indicator, if the predetermined type of mapping application is not stored in the memory;

receiving data from the map coordinating server to display a link to download the predetermined mapping application.

20. A communication system, comprising:

a communication network;

a map coordinating server adapted to connect in the communication network;

one or more computer devices adapted to communicate in the communication network;

each computer device being operative to;

receive and store an electronic file or message which includes a hypertext link mapping indicator associated with a uniform resource locator (URL) string comprising a server address of the map server and latitude and longitude coordinates;

cause the electronic file or message with the hypertext link mapping indicator to be displayed in a visual display;

receive, through a user interface, an end user selection of the hypertext link mapping indicator in the electronic file or message;

in response to the end user selection of the hypertext link mapping indicator;

if a predetermined type of mapping application for mapping is provided in the computer device;

invoking a mapping function of the mapping application to produce a map of a location corresponding to the latitude and longitude coordinates for visual display in the display; and

if the predetermined type of mapping application for mapping is not provided in the computer device;

requesting and receiving map data via the map coordinating server identified by the server address of the URL string to produce a map of the location for visual display in the display,

the map coordinating server being operative to receive the request from the computer device and cause map data of the location to be sent to the computer device in response to the request.

21. The communication system of claim 20, wherein the map that is produced by invoking the mapping function of the mapping application is produced by the computer device from maplet data received through a wireless communication network.

22. The communication system of claim 20, wherein the map that is produced by retrieving the map data from the map coordinating server is produced from a bitmap image.

23. The communication system of claim 20, further comprising:

the computer device being further operative to, in response to the end user selection of the hypertext link mapping indicator;

if the predetermined type of mapping application is not stored in the memory, receiving data from the map coordinating server to display a link to download the predetermined mapping application; and

the map coordinating server being further operative to provide and send the data to the computer device to display the link to download the predetermined mapping application.

24. The communication system of claim 20, further comprising:

an interactive map server adapted to connect in the communication network;

the computer device being further operative to, in rcsponse to the end user selection of the hypertext link mapping indicator;

if the predetermined type of mapping application is not stored in the memory, and the computer device or associated browser is identified as not being that of a mobile communication device;

communicating with an interactive map server to receive map data to produce an interactive map of the location for visual display in the display using a predetermined application programming interface (API) associated with the interactive map server.

25. The communication system of claim 20, further comprising:

a map server adapted to connect in the communication network;

the computer device being further operative to, in response to the end user selection of the mapping indicator;

if the predetermined type of mapping application is not stored in the memory, and the computer device or associated browser is identified as not being that of a mobile communication device;

sending a request to the map coordinating server at the server address;

in response to the request, receiving a redirection from the map coordinating server to the map server at a map server address; and

requesting and receiving map data from the map server to produce a map of the location for visual display in the display; and

the map server being further operative to receive the request from the computer device, identify that the computer device or associated browser is not that of a mobile communication device and, in response to the identifying, send the redirection to the computer device to the interactive map server at the interactive map server address.

26. The communication system of claim 20, wherein the electronic file or message comprises one of an e-mail file or message, a calendar file or message, a task file or message, and a map file or message.

27. A map coordinating server for use in mapping a location in a computer device, the map coordinating server being operative to receive a request from the computer device for mapping the location based on a uniform resource locator (URL) string comprising a server address corresponding to the map coordinating server and latitude and longitude coordinates;

identifying whether the computer device or associated browser is identified as being that of a mobile communication device;

if the computer device or associated browser is identified as being that of a mobile communication device, then retrieving a bitmap image associated with the location and sending the bitmap image to the computer device to process the request; and

if the computer device or associated browser is identified as not being that of a mobile communication device, then redirecting the computer device to an alternate map server using a predetermined application programming interface (API) associated with the alternate map server.

28. The map coordinating server of claim 27 which is further operative to, if a predetermined type of mapping application is not provided in the computer device, send data to the computer device to display a link to download a predetermined mapping application.

29. The map coordinating server of claim 27, which is further operative to identify that the computer device comprises a mobile communication device operative in a wireless communication network.

30. The map coordinating server of claim 27, which is further operative to identify that the computer device comprises a personal computer (PC) or laptop operative in a computer network.

31. The map coordinating server of claim 27, wherein the alternate map server comprises an interactive map server.