METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SEARCHING GEO-TAGGED INFORMATION

• US 20110099180A1
• Filed: 10/22/2009
• Published: 04/28/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/22/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: WSOU Investments, LLC (WSOU Holdings, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: ARRASVUORI, Juha
• Granted Patent: US 8,452,784 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 707/754
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3679 Retrieval, searching and output of POI information, e.g. hotels, restaurants, shops, filling stations, parking facilities G01C21/3611 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/29 Geographical information databases
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9537 Spatial or temporal dependent retrieval, e.g. spatiotemporal queries

Abstract

An approach is provided for presenting search information based on search parameters including a specified search region. Input parameters graphically specifying a search region on an image of a map are received. The input parameters include a height parameter and the search region corresponds to one or more search criteria. A search based on the criteria is caused, at least in part, according to the specified search region to output a search result. Presentation of the search result is caused, at least in part, within the search region.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving input parameters graphically specifying a search region on an image of a map, wherein the input parameters include a height parameter, and the search region corresponds to one or more search criteria;

causing, at least in part, a search based on the criteria according to the specified search region to output a search result; and

causing, at least in part, presentation of the search result within the search region.

2. A method of claim 1, further comprising:

selecting a filtering profile;

retrieving a filtering parameter based on the filtering profile; and

distorting the search region based on the filtering parameter.

3. A method of claim 1, wherein the presentation is on a first graphical user interface, the method further comprising:

causing, at least in part, presentation of another image representing the map with a different scale on a second graphical user interface.

4. A method of claim 3, further comprising:

causing, at least in part, moving the search region from the first graphical user interface to the second graphical user interface.

5. A method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving additional input parameters graphically specifying another search region on the map image, wherein the other search region corresponds to one or more other search criteria, and at least a portion of the other search region overlaps with the search region;

causing, at least in part, a search based on the other criteria according to the specified other search region to output another search result; and

causing, at least in part, presentation of the other search result within the other search region.

6. A method of claim 1, wherein the search region includes a circle, a polygon, a rectangle, a square, or a combination thereof.

7. A method of claim 6, wherein the input parameters further include a center of the search region and a radius length from the center to a perimeter of the search region.

8. An apparatus comprising:

at least one processor; and

at least one memory including computer program code,

the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to perform at least the following,

receive input parameters graphically specifying a search region on an image of a map, wherein the input parameters include a height parameter, and the search region corresponds to one or more search criteria;

cause, at least in part, a search based on the criteria according to the specified search region to output a search result; and

cause, at least in part, presentation of the search result within the search region.

9. An apparatus of claim 8, wherein the apparatus is further caused, at least in part, to:

select a filtering profile;

retrieve a filtering parameter based on the filtering profile; and

distort the search region based on the filtering parameter.

10. An apparatus of claim 8, wherein the presentation is on a first graphical user interface and wherein the apparatus is further caused, at least in part, to:

cause, at least in part, presentation of another image representing the map with a different scale on a second graphical user interface.

11. An apparatus of claim 10, wherein the apparatus is further caused, at least in part, to:

cause, at least in part, moving the search region from the first graphical user interface to the second graphical user interface.

12. An apparatus of claim 8, wherein the apparatus is further caused, at least in part, to:

receive additional input parameters graphically specifying another search region on the map image, wherein the other search region corresponds to one or more other search criteria, and at least a portion of the other search region overlaps with the search region;

cause, at least in part, a search based on the other criteria according to the specified other search region to output another search result; and

cause, at least in part, presentation of the other search result within the other search region.

13. An apparatus of claim 8, wherein the search region includes a circle, a polygon, a rectangle, a square, or a combination thereof.

14. An apparatus of claim 13, wherein the input parameters further include a center of the search region and a radius length from the center to a perimeter of the search region.

15. A computer-readable storage medium carrying one or more sequences of one or more instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, cause an apparatus to at least perform the following steps:

receiving input parameters graphically specifying a search region on an image of a map, wherein the input parameters include a height parameter, and the search region corresponds to one or more search criteria;

causing, at least in part, a search based on the criteria according to the specified search region to output a search result; and

causing, at least in part, presentation of the search result within the search region.

16. A computer-readable storage medium 15, wherein the apparatus is further caused, at least in part, to:

selecting a filtering profile;

retrieving a filtering parameter based on the filtering profile; and

distorting the search region based on the filtering parameter.

17. A computer-readable storage medium 15, wherein the presentation is on a first graphical user interface, and wherein the apparatus is further caused, at least in part, to:

causing, at least in part, presentation of another image representing the map with a different scale on a second graphical user interface.

18. A computer-readable storage medium 17, wherein the apparatus is further caused, at least in part, to:

causing, at least in part, moving the search region from the first graphical user interface to the second graphical user interface.

19. A computer-readable storage medium 15, wherein the apparatus is further caused, at least in part, to:

receiving additional input parameters graphically specifying another search region on the map image, wherein the other search region corresponds to one or more other search criteria, and at least a portion of the other search region overlaps with the search region;

causing, at least in part, a search based on the other criteria according to the specified other search region to output another search result; and

causing, at least in part, presentation of the other search result within the other search region.

20. A computer-readable storage medium 15, wherein the search region includes a circle, a polygon, a rectangle, a square, or a combination thereof.