Dynamic Exploration Of Electronic Maps

Abstract

A mapping engine receives map data from a map server and displays electronic maps. The mapping engine also receives one or more templates that specify metrics to show with the map. The templates specify metrics to accomplish specific tasks, such as house hunting. Metrics describe attributes of the areas shown in the map and are received from a metrics server or another source. Metrics are static or dynamic. Some metrics are explicitly specified, while other metrics are computed in response to the map data and/or other metrics. One or more of the templates are designated as “active,” and the mapping engine displays the metrics of the active templates. The mapping engine displays some metrics on the map and other metrics in a metrics panel.

1 . A mapping engine for displaying an electronic map on a display device, comprising:
 a template module for receiving a template, the template specifying one or more metrics to display on the electronic map including at least one computed metric that is generated responsive to other metrics;   a metric computation module for determining the computed metric specified by the template; and   a rendering module for displaying the electronic map and the metrics specified by the template on the display device.   
     
     
         2 . The mapping engine of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a map module for receiving map data for the electronic map from a map server via a network.   
     
     
         3 . The mapping engine of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a user interface module for receiving user input manipulating the electronic map displayed by the rendering engine,   wherein the metric computation module is adapted to determine the computed metric responsive to the manipulations of the electronic map, and   wherein rendering engine is adapted to update the map and metrics displayed on the display device responsive to the manipulations of the electronic map.   
     
     
         4 . The mapping engine of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a user interface module for receiving user input manipulating the template received by the template module, wherein the manipulations alter the metrics specified by the template;   wherein the metric computation module is adapted to determine the computed metric responsive to the manipulations of the template, and   wherein rendering engine is adapted to update the map and metrics displayed on the display device responsive to the manipulations of the template.   
     
     
         5 . The mapping engine of  claim 4 , further comprising:
 a communications module adapted to provide the manipulated template to a server via a network.   
     
     
         6 . The mapping engine of  claim 1 , wherein the template module is adapted to store a plurality of templates, the templates specifying different metrics to display on the map, one or more of the templates are designated as “active,” the metric computation module is adapted to determine computed metrics specified by the active templates, and the rendering module is adapted to display the metrics specified by the active templates. 
     
     
         7 . The mapping engine of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a metric module for receiving the metrics from a metrics server via a network.   
     
     
         8 . The mapping engine of  claim 7 , wherein the mapping engine is adapted to execute on a computer, and wherein the metric module is adapted to receive a metric from an end-user of the computer. 
     
     
         9 . The mapping engine of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 a communications module adapted to provide the metric received from the end-user to the metrics server via the network.   
     
     
         10 . The mapping engine of  claim 1 , wherein the template further specifies how to display a metric and wherein the rendering module displays the metric on the electronic map as specified by the template. 
     
     
         11 . The mapping engine of  claim 10 , wherein the rendering module is further adapted to display a map area and a metrics panel on the display device, and to selectively display the metrics in the map area and/or the metrics panel as specified by the template. 
     
     
         12 . A computer program product having a computer-readable medium having computer program logic embodied therein for displaying an electronic map on a display device, the computer program logic comprising:
 a template module for receiving a template, the template specifying one or more metrics to display on the electronic map including at least one computed metric that is generated responsive to other metrics;   a metric computation module for determining the computed metric specified by the template; and   a rendering module for displaying the electronic map and the metrics specified by the template on the display device.   
     
     
         13 . The computer program product of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 a map module for receiving map data for the electronic map from a map server via a network.   
     
     
         14 . The computer program product of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 a metric module for receiving the metrics from a metrics server via a network.   
     
     
         15 . The computer program product of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 a user interface module for receiving user input manipulating the electronic map displayed by the rendering engine,   wherein the metric computation module is adapted to dynamically determine the computed metric responsive to the manipulations of the electronic map, and   wherein rendering engine is adapted to update the map and metrics displayed on the display device responsive to the manipulations of the electronic map.   
     
     
         16 . The computer program product of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 a user interface module for receiving user input manipulating the template received by the template module, wherein the manipulations alter the metrics specified by the template;   wherein the metric computation module is adapted to determine the computed metric responsive to the manipulations of the template, and   wherein rendering engine is adapted to update the map and metrics displayed on the display device responsive to the manipulations of the template.   
     
     
         17 . The computer program product of  claim 12 , wherein the template module is adapted to store a plurality of templates, the templates specifying different metrics to display on the map, one or more of the templates are designated as “active,” the metric computation module is adapted to determine computed metrics specified by the active templates, and the rendering module is adapted to display the metrics specified by the active templates. 
     
     
         18 . The computer program product of  claim 12 , wherein the template further specifies how to display a metric and wherein the rendering module displays the metric on the electronic map as specified by the template. 
     
     
         19 . The computer program product of  claim 18 , wherein the rendering module is further adapted to display a map area and a metrics panel on the display device, and to selectively display the metrics in the map area and/or the metrics panel as specified by the template.