Method and system for associating content with map zoom function
OwnerGabriel Jakobson, Steven Ruebeninventors
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Various methods, systems and apparatus for displaying content associated with a point-of-interest (“POI”) in a digital mapping system, or a region within the digital map, are disclosed. One such method may include detecting a change in the zoom level of an electronic map displayed on a computing device, determining if the new zoom-level is at a pre-determined zoom level (e.g. at maximum zoom), identifying a POI on the map, retrieving content associated with the POI (“POI content”) and displaying the POI content. The method may further include detecting a change in the zoom, or pan, of the digital map while POI content is displayed, and removing the POI content in response.
Claims23
A method for displaying point-of-interest (“POI”)-related content on an electronic map, comprising:
- providing an electronic device having a map display application that is coupled to the internet and a display for displaying a selected area of an electronic map, wherein at each zoom level, the electronic map displays at least one POI;
- defining a pre-determined zoom level for the electronic map;
- receiving a zoom-in command, wherein the zoom-in command is directed at the selected area of the electronic map;
- determining if the pre-determined zoom level of the electronic map has been reached;
- if the pre-determined zoom level has been reached, determining the number of POIs displayed on the electronic map prior to receiving the last zoom-in command;
- if it is determined a single POI was displayed on the electronic map prior to receiving the last zoom-in command, selecting the single POI;
- if it is determined two or more POIs were displayed on the electronic map prior to receiving the last zoom-in command, further:
- determining the geographic coordinates of a center of the selected area displayed on the electronic map;
- determining the geographic coordinates of the two or more POIs;
- comparing the geographic coordinates of each of the two or more POIs with the geographic coordinates of the center of the map;
- determining which of the two or more POIs has associated POI-related content on the remote server;
- and selecting from the two or more POIs having the associated POI-related content on the remote server, the POI closest to the center of the selected area of the electronic map;
- transmitting information identifying the selected POI to the remote server;
- receiving the POI-related content for the selected POI from the remote server;
- and
- displaying the POI-related content on the display.
A method for selecting information to display in an electronic map display application, comprising:
- displaying an electronic map generated by the electronic map display application;
- defining a maximum-zoom-level for the electronic map;
- receiving a user input, wherein the user input is received by an object external to mapping-related content displayed by the electronic map;
- determining if the user input is a zoom-in command, wherein the zoom-in command increases zoom-level of the electronic map;
- determining the displayed map in the electronic map-display application is at the defined maximum-zoom-level as result of the zoom-in command;
- if it is determined the user input is not the zoom-in command, or if the user input is the zoom-in command and the displayed map is not at the maximum-zoom-level, receiving map tiles from a remote mapping server;
- if it is determined the user input is the zoom-in command and if the displayed map is at the maximum-zoom-level, determining a first point-of-interest (“POI”) and a second POI on the displayed map, wherein the first POI is closest to the center of the displayed map;
- transmitting information identifying the first POI to a remote server,
- receiving a first response from the remote server indicating no POI-related content for the first POI is available;
- transmitting information identifying the second POI to the remote server;
- receiving a second response from the remote server providing POI-related content for the second POI;
- and
- displaying the POI-related content for the second POI.
A method of displaying information on an electronic map, comprising:
- defining a pre-determined zoom level for content displayed in the electronic map;
- receiving a zoom-in command from a user of a map-display application on an electronic device, wherein the zoom-in command is directed at the entirety of a visible area of the electronic map displayed on the map-display application, and wherein the zoom-in command is intended to enhance display of the visible area;
- comparing a new zoom level achieved by the zoom-in command with the pre-determined zoom level;
- determining if the pre-determined zoom level has been reached as result of the zoom-in command;
- determining a center of the visible area of the electronic map;
- identifying one or more points-of-interest (“POI”) visible in the visible area of the electronic map;
- determining which of the one or more POIS has associated POI-related content on the remote server;
- and selecting from the one or more POIs having the associated POI-related content on the remote server, a single POI closest to the center of the visible area of the electronic map;
- transmitting information identifying the single POI to the remote server;
- receiving content associated with the single POI from the remote server;
- and
- displaying the content association with the single POI on the electronic map.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.