Method and server computer for generating map images for creating virtual spaces representing the real world

A method for generating a three-dimensional map image by using information on the Internet and for displaying the three-dimensional map image on a mobile user terminal:

• receiving a two-dimensional map at the mobile user terminal from a map server over the Internet in response to the mobile user terminal transmitting a first request message to the map server designating a map area desired to be displayed, where the two-dimensional map does not include a geometric depiction of any business buildings;
• receiving business establishment information at the mobile user terminal from a web server over the Internet in response to the mobile user terminal transmitting a second request message to the web server designating the map area, where the business establishment information corresponds to one or more businesses located within the map area and includes at least one geometric depiction of one or more business buildings representing the one or more businesses located within the map area, and at least some of the business establishment information:
• (i) is gathered automatically by a web crawler to search a plurality of Internet web sites publicizing the at least some of the business establishment information, and to search based on one or more geographic locations of the one or more business buildings within the map area, and (ii) includes at least some goods and/or services offered by one or more of the businesses;
• superimposing the business establishment information, including the geometric depiction of one or more business buildings, onto the two dimensional map and for displaying the resultant two-dimensional image on the mobile user terminal;
• receiving a 360° panoramic street-level view at the mobile user terminal corresponding to the map area over the Internet, in response to a third request message from the mobile user terminal to the web server corresponding to the map area;
• generating a three-dimensional columnar image representing the geometric depiction of the one or more business buildings included in the map area by subjecting the 360° panoramic street-level view to image processing;
• generating at the user terminal a virtual three-dimensional map image corresponding to the map area, by superimposing the columnar image on the two-dimensional map, wherein the three-dimensional columnar image includes:
• (i) the at least some of the business establishment information;
• (ii) at least one multi-story building containing more than two stories with a plurality of businesses located on different stories;
• (iii) respective indicia of the plurality of businesses displayed in a manner that indicates on at least which floor of the building the business are located;
• and (iv) icons indicating the at least some goods and/or services offered by one or more of the businesses displayed representing such business;
• and
• displaying the virtual three-dimensional map image corresponding to the map area on the user terminal.

A method for generating a virtual three-dimensional map image on a mobile user terminal, comprising:

• receiving a two-dimensional map at the mobile user terminal from a map server in response to the mobile user terminal transmitting a first request message to the map server designating a map area desired to be displayed, where the two-dimensional map does not include a geometric depiction of any business buildings;
• receiving business establishment information at the mobile user terminal from a web server in response to the mobile user terminal transmitting a second request message to the web server designating the map area, where the business establishment information corresponds at least to a number of businesses located within a building within the map area and includes at least one geometric depiction of one or more business buildings representing the one or more businesses located within the map area, and at least some of the business establishment information:
• (i) is gathered automatically by a web crawler to search a plurality of Internet web sites publicizing the at least some of the business establishment information, and to search based on one or more geographic locations of the one or more business buildings within the map area, and (ii) includes at least some goods and/or services offered by one or more of the businesses;
• superimposing the business establishment information, including the geometric depiction of one or more business buildings, and at least a first hyperlink onto the two dimensional map and displaying the resultant two-dimensional image on the mobile user terminal, where the first hyperlink permits access to a first level of detail concerning the businesses located within the building;
• receiving a 360° panoramic street-level view at the mobile user terminal corresponding to the map area in response to a third request message from the mobile user terminal to the web server;
• generating a three-dimensional columnar image representing the geometric depiction of the one or more business buildings included in the map area by subjecting the 360° panoramic street-level view to image processing, the three-dimensional columnar image including at least one multi-story building containing more than two stories with a plurality of businesses located on different stories;
• generating and displaying at the mobile user terminal a virtual three-dimensional map image corresponding to the map area, in response to a user of the mobile user terminal activating the first hyperlink, by superimposing the columnar image, including the at least one multi-story building, on the two-dimensional map such that:
• (i) a viewpoint in the virtual three-dimensional map image may be freely changed, (ii) respective indicia of the businesses located within the building are displayed on the columnar image of the building in a manner that indicates on at least which floor of the building the business are located, and (ii) respective second hyperlinks are included in association with each of the businesses, where each second hyperlink permits access to a respective second level of detail concerning the associated one of the businesses, wherein the at least some of the business establishment information is displayed on the columnar image in response to selecting the first hyperlink, associated with the at least one multi-story building:
• (i) is gathered automatically by a web crawler to search a plurality of Internet web sites publicizing the at least some of the business establishment information, and to search based on one or more geographic locations of the one or more business buildings within the map area, and (ii) includes at least some goods and/or services offered by one or more of the businesses;
• and
• modifying the virtual three-dimensional map image, in response to the user of the mobile user terminal activating the second hyperlinks, such that icons indicating the at least some goods and/or services offered by the associated one of the businesses are displayed within a virtual three-dimensional space representing such business.

A non-transitory, computer readable storage medium containing a computer program, which when executed on a computer system causes such system to carry out actions for generating a virtual three-dimensional map image on a mobile user terminal, comprising:

• receiving a two-dimensional map at the mobile user terminal from a map server in response to the mobile user terminal transmitting a first request message to the map server designating a map area desired to be displayed, where the two-dimensional map does not include a geometric depiction of any business buildings;
• receiving business establishment information at the mobile user terminal from a web server in response to the mobile user terminal transmitting a second request message to the web server designating the map area, where the business establishment information corresponds at least to a number of businesses located within a building within the map area and includes at least one geometric depiction of one or more business buildings representing the one or more businesses located within the map area, and at least some of the business establishment information:
• (i) is gathered automatically by a web crawler to search a plurality of Internet web sites publicizing the at least some of the business establishment information, and to search based on one or more geographic locations of the one or more business buildings within the map area, and (ii) includes at least some goods and/or services offered by one or more of the businesses;
• superimposing the business establishment information, including the geometric depiction of one or more business buildings, and at least a first hyperlink onto the two dimensional map and displaying the resultant two-dimensional image on the mobile user terminal, where the first hyperlink permits access to a first level of detail concerning the businesses located within the building;
• receiving a 360° panoramic street-level view at the mobile user terminal corresponding to the map area in response to a third request message from the mobile user terminal to the web server;
• generating a three-dimensional columnar image representing the geometric depiction of the one or more business buildings included in the map area by subjecting the 360° panoramic street-level view to image processing, the three-dimensional columnar image including at least one multi-story building containing more than two stories with a plurality of businesses located on different stories;
• generating and displaying at the mobile user terminal a virtual three-dimensional map image corresponding to the map area, in response to a user of the mobile user terminal activating the first hyperlink, by superimposing the columnar image, including the at least one multi-story building, on the two-dimensional map such that:
• (i) a viewpoint in the virtual three-dimensional map image may be freely changed, (ii) respective indicia of the businesses located within the building are displayed on the columnar image of the building in a manner that indicates on at least which floor of the building the business are located, and (ii) respective second hyperlinks are included in association with each of the businesses, where each second hyperlink permits access to a respective second level of detail concerning the associated one of the businesses, wherein the at least some of the business establishment information is displayed on the columnar image in response to selecting the first hyperlink, associated with the at least one multi-story building:
• (i) is gathered automatically by a web crawler to search a plurality of Internet web sites publicizing the at least some of the business establishment information, and to search based on one or more geographic locations of the one or more business buildings within the map area, and (ii) includes at least some goods and/or services offered by one or more of the businesses;
• and
• modifying the virtual three-dimensional map image, in response to the user of the mobile user terminal activating the second hyperlinks, such that icons indicating the at least some goods and/or services offered by the associated one of the businesses are displayed within a virtual three-dimensional space representing such business.