Providing online mapping with user selected preferences

A computer program product, comprising a computer readable persistent storage device having computer readable program code stored therein, said program code containing instructions which, upon being executed by a processor of a computer system that comprises a user preference database specifying user preferences of users for service providers of different features, implement a method, said method comprising:

• said processor receiving a request to generate for a user a geographical map, wherein the map depicts one or more travel routes from a specified initial address to a specified destination address, specified features relating to the one or more travel routes, and unique identifiers of preferred service providers of the specified features;
• after said receiving the request, said processor ascertaining that user preferences of the user for service providers of the specified features are not contained in the user preference database and that user preferences of the user for service providers of the specified features have not been provided with the request;
• in response to said ascertaining, said processor determining user preferences of the user for service providers of the specified features;
• in response to said determining user preferences of the user for service providers of the specified features, said processor generating the map that depicts the one or more travel routes, the specified features, and the unique identifiers of the preferred service providers of the specified features, wherein the unique identifiers of the preferred service providers of the specified features are placed at locations, along the one or more travel routes, wherein a first preferred service provider of the preferred service providers is depicted on the map as appearing at a first, second, and third location on the map, wherein the first and second locations are on a first side of one travel route of the one or more travel routes, wherein the third location is on a second, opposite side of the one travel route, wherein the unique identifier of a second preferred service provider of the preferred service providers is depicted on the map as appearing at a fourth, fifth, and sixth location on the map, and wherein the fourth, fifth, and sixth locations are on the second, opposite side of the one travel route;
• and
• said processor displaying, by a display device of the computer system, the generated map.

A computer system comprising:

• a processor, a memory coupled to the processor;
• a computer readable persistent storage device coupled to the processor;
• and
• a user preference database specifying user preferences of users for service providers of different features, said storage device containing program code which, upon being executed by the processor via the memory, implements a method, said method comprising:
• said processor receiving a request to generate for a user a geographical map, wherein the map depicts one or more travel routes from a specified initial address to a specified destination address, specified features relating to the one or more travel routes, and unique identifiers of preferred service providers of the specified features;
• after said receiving the request, said processor ascertaining that user preferences of the user for service providers of the specified features are not contained in the user preference database and that user preferences of the user for service providers of the specified features have not been provided with the request;
• in response to said ascertaining, said processor determining user preferences of the user for service providers of the specified features;
• In response to said determining user preferences of the user for service providers of the specified features, said processor generating the map that depicts the one or more travel routes, the specified features, and the unique identifiers of the preferred service providers of the specified features, wherein the unique identifiers of the preferred service providers of the specified features are placed at locations, along the one or more travel routes, wherein a first preferred service provider of the preferred service providers is depicted on the map as appearing at a first, second, and third location on the map, wherein the first and second locations are on a first side of one travel route of the one or more travel routes, wherein the third location is on a second, opposite side of the one travel route, wherein the unique identifier of a second preferred service provider of the preferred service providers is depicted on the map as appearing at a fourth, fifth, and sixth location on the map, and wherein the fourth, fifth, and sixth locations are on the second, opposite side of the one travel route;
• and
• said processor displaying, by a display device of the computer system, the generated map.