MAP INTERFACE WITH A MOVABLE MARKER

• US 20080208456A1
• Filed: 02/22/2007
• Published: 08/28/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/22/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IAC Search & Media Incorporated (Match Group, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: IAC Search & Media Incorporated (Match Group, Inc.)
• Inventors: Chevsky, Gary, Massie, Ryan, Reed, William E., Jouline, Anton V., Frishert, Michiel
• Granted Patent: US 7,920,963 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/208
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/36 Input/output arrangements for on-board computers
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9537 Spatial or temporal dependent retrieval, e.g. spatiotemporal queries
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/024 Guidance services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services

Abstract

A map user interface is described, including a view transmitted from a server computer system to a client computer system, the view including a map and a location marker at an initial location on the map, the location marker being movable from the initial location to a target location on the map.

Claims

1. A user interface, comprising:

a view transmitted from a server computer system to a client computer system, the view including a map and a location marker at an initial location on the map, the location marker being movable from the initial location to a target location on the map.

6. The user interface of claim 1, further comprising:

At least a first path from a starting location to an end location on the map.

7. The user interface of claim 6, wherein the path is adjustable by moving the location marker.

8. The user interface of claim 7, wherein the path is adjustable by moving the starting location by moving the location marker on the map.

9. The user interface of claim 7, wherein the path is adjustable by moving the end location by moving the location marker on the map.

10. The user interface of claim 7, wherein the path is adjustable by moving the location marker and thereby moving an intermediate location between the starting location and the end location on the path relatively on the map.

11. The user interface of claim 6, further comprising a second path representing a second mode of transportation from the starting location to the end location displayed on the said at least one map, the second path being at least partially different from the first path.

12. The user interface of claim 1, wherein a holding location on the map is selectable with and attachable to the cursor placed at the holding location, the holding location being movable by moving the cursor to move the map, and the holding location being removable from the cursor after movement of the cursor, a distance that the overlapping area moves being a same distance that the cursor moves from when the holding location is selected until the holding location is released from the cursor.

13. The user interface of claim 1, wherein the location marker is placed at the initial location on the map upon receiving a placement request indicating selection of a selected location for placement of a location marker.

14. The user interface of claim 1, further comprising:

an aerial selector, selection of the aerial selector adding an aerial photograph with the map over the aerial photograph.

15. The user interface of claim 1, wherein the map is a street map.

16. A method of interfacing with a client computer system, comprising:

transmitting a first view from a server computer system to the client computer system, the first view including a map and a location marker at an initial location on the map, the location marker being movable from the initial location to a target location on the map.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

receiving a location request from the client computer system at the server computer system, the location request including an input address, the initial location depending on the input address of the location request.

18. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

receiving a marker moving command from the client computer system at the server computer system upon moving of the location marker from the initial location to the target location; and

transmitting a target address from the server computer system to the client computer system for display at the client computer system, the target address depending on a position of the target location on the map.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

calculating an address location near but not at the target location, the target address being an address of the address location.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the address location is at an intersection of two streets.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the address location is calculated according to the method including:

finding a street section closest to the target location.

22. The method of claim 21, further comprising wherein the method of calculating the address location includes:

finding an intersection on the street section closest to the target location with another street section.

23. The method of claim 18, wherein the location marker is selectable with a cursor placed at the initial location, the location marker being movable by moving the cursor, and the location marker being removable from the cursor at the target location.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein a shape of the cursor changes between a first shape before the location marker is selected with the cursor and after the location marker is removed from the cursor, and a second shape when the location marker is being moved by the cursor.

25. The method of claim 20, further comprising:

calculating a path from a starting location to an end location; and

displaying a path on the map.

26. The method of claim 25, further comprising:

adjusting the path on the map by moving the location marker.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein the initial location of the location marker is the starting location of the path, and movement of the location marker moves the starting location on the map.

28. The method of claim 26, wherein the initial location of the location marker is the end location of the path, and movement of the location marker moves the end location on the map.

29. The method of claim 26, wherein the initial location of the location marker is an intermediate location between the starting location and the end location on the path and movement of the location marker moves the intermediate location on the map.

30. The method of claim 25, further comprising:

calculating a first path representing a first mode of transportation from a starting location to an end location, wherein the first view includes the first path displayed on the map;

calculating a second path representing a second mode of transportation from the starting location to the end location, the second path being at least partially different from the first path; and

displaying the second path on the map.

31. The method of claim 20, wherein a holding location on the map is selectable with and attachable to the cursor placed at the holding location, the holding location being movable by moving the cursor to move the map, and the holding location being removable from the cursor after movement of the cursor, a distance that the overlapping area moves being a same distance that the cursor moves from when the holding location is selected until the holding location is released from the cursor.

2. The user interface of claim 1, further comprising:

a location request field for entry of an input address, the initial location depending on the input address.

3. The user interface of claim 1, further comprising:

a target address area and a target address in the target address area, the target address depending on a position of the target location on the map.

4. The user interface of claim 1, wherein the location marker is selectable with a cursor placed at the initial location, the location marker being movable by moving the cursor, and the location marker being removable from the cursor at the target location.

5. The user interface of claim 4, wherein a shape of the cursor changes between a first shape before the location marker is selected with the cursor and after the location marker is removed from the cursor, and a second shape when the location marker is being moved by the cursor.

32. The method of claim 20, further comprising:

receiving a placement request indicating selection at the client computer system of the initial location for placement of a location marker; and

placing the location marker at the initial location on the map.

33. The method of claim 30, further comprising:

receiving an aerial view command from the client computer system at the server computer system; and

in response to the aerial view command displaying an aerial photograph below the map.

34. The method of claim 20, wherein the map is a street map.

35. The computer-readable medium of claim 34, wherein the address location is at an intersection of two streets.

36. The computer-readable medium of claim 34, wherein the address location is calculated according to the method including:

finding a street section closest to the target location.

37. The computer-readable medium of claim 36, the method of calculating the address further comprising;

finding an intersection on the street section closest to the target location with another street section.

38. The computer-readable medium of claim 31, wherein the location marker is selectable with a cursor placed at the initial location, the location marker being movable by moving the cursor, and the location marker being removable from the cursor at the target location.

39. The computer-readable medium of claim 38, wherein a shape of the cursor changes between a first shape before the location marker is selected with the cursor and after the location marker is removed from the cursor, and a second shape when the location marker is being moved by the cursor.

40. The computer-readable medium of claim 35, the method further comprising:

calculating a path from a starting location to an end location; and

displaying a path on the map.

41. The computer-readable medium of claim 40, the method further comprising;

adjusting the path on the map by moving the location marker.

42. The computer-readable medium of claim 41, wherein the initial location of the location marker is the starting location of the path, and movement of the location marker moves the starting location on the map.

43. The computer-readable medium of claim 41, wherein the initial location of the location marker is the end location of the path and movement of the location marker moves the end location on the map.

44. The computer-readable medium of claim 41, wherein the initial location of the location marker is an intermediate location between the starting location and the end location on the path and movement of the location marker moves the intermediate location on the map.

45. The computer-readable medium of claim 40, wherein the method further comprises:

calculating a first path representing a first mode of transportation from a starting location to an end location, wherein the first view includes the first path displayed on the map;

calculating a second path representing a second mode of transportation from the starting location to the end location, the second path being at least partially different from the first path; and

displaying the second path on the map.

46. The computer-readable medium of claim 35, wherein a holding location on the map is selectable with and attachable to the cursor placed at the holding location, the holding location being movable by moving the cursor to move the map, and the holding location being removable from the cursor after movement of the cursor, a distance that the overlapping area moves being a same distance that the cursor moves from when the holding location is selected until the holding location is released from the cursor.

47. The computer-readable medium of claim 35, wherein the method further comprises:

receiving a placement request indicating selection at the client computer system of the initial location for placement of a location marker; and

placing the location marker at the initial location on the map.

48. The computer-readable medium of claim 45, further comprising:

receiving an aerial view command from the client computer system at the server computer system; and

in response to the aerial view command displaying an aerial photograph below the map.

49. The computer-readable medium of claim 35, wherein the map is a street map.

31-1. A computer-readable medium, having stored thereon a set of instructions which, when executed by a processor of a computer, performs the method comprising:

transmitting a first view from a server computer system to the client computer system, the first view including a map and a location marker at an initial location on the map, the location marker being movable from the initial location to a target location on the map.

32-2. The computer-readable medium of claim 31, the method further comprising:

receiving a location request from the client computer system at the server computer system, the location request including an input address, the initial location depending on the input address of the location request.

33-3. The computer-readable medium of claim 31, the method further comprising:

receiving a marker moving command from the client computer system at the server computer system upon moving of the location marker from the initial location to the target location; and

transmitting a target address from the server computer system to the client computer system for display at the client computer system, the target address depending on a position of the target location on the map.

34-4. The computer-readable medium of claim 33, the method further comprising:

calculating an address location near but not at the target location, the target address being an address of the address location.