# US 9,212,918 B1 · Systems and methods for generating and displaying multiple layers on a digital map

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- Number: US 9,212,918 B1
- Document ID: US9212918B1
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B1
- Application number: 14/473,497
- Filed: 2014-08-29
- Granted: 2015-12-15
- Earliest claimed: 2014-08-29
- Assignees: MapQuest, Inc.
- Applicants: MapQuest, Inc.
- Inventors: Meghan Newlin; Mark Husson; John O'Dwyer; Austin Brown
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9212918B1

## CPC

- G01C 21/3682: {output of POI information on a road map (G01C21/3614, G01C21/3685 take precedence)}
- G01C 21/26: specially adapted for navigation in a road network
- G01C 21/3611: {using character input or menus, e.g. menus of POIs (character input methods in general G06F3/0233)}
- G01C 21/367: {Details, e.g. road map scale, orientation, zooming, illumination, level of detail, scrolling of road map or positioning of current position marker}
- G06F 3/04817: using icons (graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34)
- G09B 29/106: {using electronic means}
- G01C: MEASURING DISTANCES, LEVELS OR BEARINGS; SURVEYING; NAVIGATION; GYROSCOPIC INSTRUMENTS; PHOTOGRAMMETRY OR VIDEOGRAMMETRY (measuring liquid level G01F; radio navigation, determining distance or velocity by use of propagation effects, e.g. Doppler effects, propagation time, of radio waves, analogous arrangements using other waves G01S)
- G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N)
- G09B: EDUCATIONAL OR DEMONSTRATION APPLIANCES; APPLIANCES FOR TEACHING, OR COMMUNICATING WITH, THE BLIND, DEAF OR MUTE; MODELS; PLANETARIA; GLOBES; MAPS; DIAGRAMS (devices for psychotechnics or for testing reaction times A61B5/16; games, sports, amusements A63; projectors, projector screens G03B)

## Abstract

Systems and methods are disclosed for generating and displaying a POI data associated with multiple searches on a single digital map. Searches may be activated from pre-set layers within a layer panel. Searches may also be activated by adding custom layers.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A computer-implemented method for searching and displaying multiple layers of points of interest on a digital map, the method comprising:
receiving, from a user's electronic device and over a network, a location;
displaying, on the user's electronic device, a layers panel, and a digital map of the location and an area around the location, wherein the layers panel includes a plurality of selectable icons, and each selectable icon identifies a class of points of interest (POIs) having goods or services associated with the class or with an identifier received over a network from the user's electronic device;
receiving, from the user's electronic device and over the network, a first selection of a first selectable icon from the layers panel;
retrieving, from an electronic database, POIs associated with the first selection;
displaying, within the digital map, the POI data associated with the first selection;
receiving, from the user's electronic device and over the network, a second selection of a second selectable icon from the layers panel;
retrieving, from the electronic database, POIs associated with the second selection; and
displaying, within the digital map, the POI data associated with the first selection and the POI data associated with the second selection.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first selection and the second selection is a pre-set layer from the electronic database.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising
receiving, from the user's electronic device and over the network, a selection to add a custom layer;
retrieving, from the electronic database, POIs associated with the custom layer;
displaying in the layers panel a custom selectable icon defining a class of POIs associated with the custom layer.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising:
receiving, from the user's electronic device and over the network, a third selection of a third selectable icon from the layers panel;
retrieving, from the electronic database, POIs associated with the third selection;
displaying, within the digital map, the POI data associated with the first selection, the POI data associated with the second selection, and the POI data associated with the third selection.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising:
receiving, from the user's electronic device and over the network, an instruction to clear all layers; and
removing, from the digital map, the POI data associated with the first selection and the second selection.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising:
receiving, from the user's electronic device and over the network, an instruction to delete a selectable icon for deletion from the layers panel; and
removing, from the layers panel, the selectable icon for deletion.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the digital map includes a navigation route.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising:
receiving input to filter the POI data; and
filtering the POI data associated with the first selection and the second selection.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the displayed POI data is interactive.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein, prior to receiving a first selection of a first selectable icon, no POI data associated with the first selection is displayed on the distal map.

### Claim 11 (depends on 2)

The method of claim 2, further comprising:
setting the pre-set layer based on popularity of POIs.

### Claim 12 (depends on 3)

The method of claim 3, further comprising:
without additional user action, displaying within the digital map, the POI data associated with the custom layer.

### Claim 13 (depends on 3)

The method of claim 3, further comprising:
receiving, from the user's electronic device and over the network, a selection of the custom selectable icon from the layer panel; and
displaying within the digital map, the POI data associated with the custom layer.

### Claim 14 (depends on 3)

The method of claim 3, further comprising:
displaying a list of popular custom layers for the user to select as the custom layer.

### Claim 15 (depends on 3)

The method of claim 3, further comprising:
providing the user with a text box to enter text associated with a desired custom layer.

### Claim 16 (depends on 3)

The method of claim 3, wherein the added custom layer may be a category layer or a franchise layer.

### Claim 17 (depends on 3)

The method of claim 3, wherein at least one of the first selection and the second selection is the custom selectable icon.

### Claim 18 (depends on 12)

The method of claim 12, wherein the list of popular custom layers consists of category layers.

### Claim 19

A system for searching and displaying multiple layers of points of interest on a digital map, the system comprising:
a memory having processor-readable instructions stored therein; and
a processor configured to access the memory and execute the processor-readable instructions, which when executed by the processor configures the processor to perform a plurality of functions, including functions to:
receive, from a user's electronic device and over a network, a location;
display, on the user's electronic device, a layers panel, and a digital map of the location and an area around the location, wherein the layers panel includes a plurality of selectable icons, and each selectable icon identifies a class of point of interest (POIs) having goods or services associated with the class or with an identified received over a network from the user's electronic device;
receive, from the user's electronic device and over the network, a first selection of a first selectable icon from the layers panel;
retrieve, from an electronic database, POIs associated with the first selection;
display, within the digital map, the POI data associated with the first selection;
receive, from the user's electronic device and over the network, a second selection of a second selectable icon from the layers panel;
retrieve, from the electronic database, POIs associated with the second selection; and
display, within the digital map, the POI data associated with the first selection and the POI data associated with the second selection.

### Claim 20

A computer readable medium storing instructions that, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to perform a method of searching and displaying multiple layers of points of interest on a digital map, the method including:
receiving, from a user's electronic device and over a network, a location;
displaying, on the user's electronic device, a layers panel, and a digital map of the location and an area around the location, wherein the layers panel includes a plurality of selectable icons, and each selectable icon identifies a class of points of interest (POIs) having goods or services associated with the class or with an identifier received over a network from the user's electronic device;
receiving, from the user's electronic device and over the network, a first selection of a first selectable icon from the layers panel;
retrieving, from an electronic database, POIs associated with the first selection;
displaying, within the digital map, the POI data associated with the first selection;
receiving, from the user's electronic device and over the network, a second selection of a second selectable icon from the layers panel;
retrieving, from the electronic database, POIs associated with the second selection; and
displaying, within the digital map, the POI data associated with the first selection and the POI data associated with the second selection.