Method and system for providing customized regional maps

Abstract

A method for customizing a map is provided. The method includes receiving a query for a portion of a map, and determining a predetermined region of interest (ROI) map tile included in the portion of the map. The predetermined ROI map tile indicates information associated with a category. The method further includes providing the predetermined ROI map tile for displaying to a user. Further, an apparatus for customizing maps is provided. The apparatus includes a movement event processor for receiving a query for a portion of a map, and a Region of Interest (ROI) selector for determining a predetermined region of interest (ROI) map tile included in the portion of the map. The predetermined ROI map tile indicates information associated with a category. The apparatus further includes a map tile layout generator for providing the predetermined ROI map tile for displaying to a user.

1 - 25 . (canceled) 
     
     
         26 . A method comprising:
 storing, by a server computing device and in a data store, a plurality of predetermined region of interest (ROI) map tiles associated with a map display, the map display comprising a plurality of base tiles, each predetermined ROI map tile comprising a respective base tile of the plurality customized to include information associated with a respective user interest category of a plurality of different user interest categories, the each predetermined ROI map tile may be used as a replacement for the respective base tile in the map display, each user interest category of the plurality of different user interest categories having a number of associated predetermined ROI map tile replacements for a corresponding number of the base tiles to include at least one feature of interest specific to the each user interest category in the map display;   receiving, by the server computing device via an electronic communications network and from a client device's user interface, input indicating a selected user interest category for a user;   receiving, by the server computing device via the electronic communications network and from the client device's user interface, a request for the map display for the user;   replacing, by the server computing device before serving the map display to the client device, each of a selected number of the base tiles in the map display with a corresponding selected one of the predetermined ROI map tiles associated with the selected user interest category of the plurality of different user interest categories to customize the map display to include the selected user interest category's associated information comprising the at least one feature of interest specific to the selected user interest category; and   serving, by the server computing device to the client computing device via the electronic communications network, in response to the request, the map display for display by the user interface at the client device, the served map display comprising both base tiles which are not replaced by any of the predetermined ROI map tiles and the selected number of the predetermined ROI map tiles replacing the selected number of base tiles in the map display.   
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26 , one user interest category of the plurality relates to tourist interests. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 26 , one user interest category of the plurality relates to commuter views. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 26 , one user interest category of the plurality relates to topology of routes of interest to walkers. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 26 , the request for the map display for the user is received in connection with a scrolling event associated with a map display previously transmitted to the client device. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 26 , the request for the map display for the user comprising geographic location information. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 26 , the request for the map display for the user being a request to regenerate a map display previously transmitted to the client device. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 26 , further comprising:
 providing, by the server computing device, the user with an option to confirm use of the selected user interest category's predetermined ROI map tiles for the map display for the user.   
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 26 , further comprising:
 identifying, by the server computing device, at least one user interest category of the plurality having at least one associated ROI map tile;   providing, by the server computing device, a menu for display at the client device, the menu identifying the at least one user interest category of the plurality for selection by the user; and   receiving, by the server computing device, input identifying the selected user interest category, the selected user interest category being selected by the user from the at least one user interest category identified in the menu.   
     
     
         35 . A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium tangibly encoded with computer-executable instructions, that when executed by a processor associated with a computing device, performs a method comprising:
 storing, in a data store, a plurality of predetermined region of interest (ROI) map tiles associated with a map display, the map display comprising a plurality of base tiles, each predetermined ROI map tile comprising a respective base tile of the plurality customized to include information associated with a respective user interest category of a plurality of different user interest categories, the each predetermined ROI map tile may be used as a replacement for the respective base tile in the map display, each user interest category of the plurality of different user interest categories having a number of associated predetermined ROI map tile replacements for a corresponding number of the base tiles to include at least one feature of interest specific to the each user interest category in the map display;   receiving, via an electronic communications network and from a client device's user interface, input indicating a selected user interest category for a user;   receiving, via the electronic communications network and from the client device's user interface, a request for the map display for the user;   replacing, before serving the map display to the client device, each of a selected number of the base tiles in the map display with a corresponding selected one of the predetermined ROI map tiles associated with the selected user interest category of the plurality of different user interest categories to customize the map display to include the selected user interest category's associated information comprising the at least one feature of interest specific to the selected user interest category; and   serving, to the client computing device via the electronic communications network, in response to the request, the map display for display by the user interface at the client device, the served map display comprising both base tiles which are not replaced by any of the predetermined ROI map tiles and the selected number of the predetermined ROI map tiles replacing the selected number of base tiles in the map display.   
     
     
         36 . The computer-readable non-transitory medium of  claim 35 , the request for the map display for the user is received in connection with a scrolling event associated with a map display previously transmitted to the client device. 
     
     
         37 . The computer-readable non-transitory medium of  claim 35 , the request for the map display for the user comprising geographic location information. 
     
     
         38 . The computer-readable non-transitory medium of  claim 35 , the request for the map display for the user being a request to regenerate a map display previously transmitted to the client device. 
     
     
         39 . The computer-readable non-transitory medium of  claim 35 , further comprising:
 providing, by the server computing device, the user with an option to confirm use of the selected user interest category's predetermined ROI map tiles for the map display for the user.   
     
     
         40 . The computer-readable non-transitory medium of  claim 35 , further comprising:
 identifying, by the server computing device, at least one user interest category of the plurality having at least one associated ROI map tile;   providing, by the server computing device, a menu for display at the client device, the menu identifying the at least one user interest category of the plurality for selection by the user; and   receiving, by the server computing device, input identifying the selected user interest category, the selected user interest category being selected by the user from the at least one user interest category identified in the menu.   
     
     
         41 . A server computing device comprising:
 a processor;   non-transitory computer-readable storage medium for tangibly storing thereon program instructions for execution by the processor to perform actions, comprising:
 storing, in a data store, a plurality of predetermined region of interest (ROI) map tiles associated with a map display, the map display comprising a plurality of base tiles, each predetermined ROI map tile comprising a respective base tile of the plurality customized to include information associated with a respective user interest category of a plurality of different user interest categories, the each predetermined ROI map tile may be used as a replacement for the respective base tile in the map display, each user interest category of the plurality of different user interest categories having a number of associated predetermined ROI map tile replacements for a corresponding number of the base tiles to include at least one feature of interest specific to the each user interest category in the map display; 
 receiving, via an electronic communications network and from a client device's user interface, input indicating a selected user interest category for a user; 
 receiving, via the electronic communications network and from the client device's user interface, a request for the map display for the user; 
 replacing, before serving the map display to the client device, each of a selected number of the base tiles in the map display with a corresponding selected one of the predetermined ROI map tiles associated with the selected user interest category of the plurality of different user interest categories to customize the map display to include the selected user interest category's associated information comprising the at least one feature of interest specific to the selected user interest category; and 
 serving, to the client computing device via the electronic communications network, in response to the request, the map display for display by the user interface at the client device, the served map display comprising both base tiles which are not replaced by any of the predetermined ROI map tiles and the selected number of the predetermined ROI map tiles replacing the selected number of base tiles in the map display. 
   
     
     
         42 . The server computing device of  claim 41 , the request for the map display for the user comprising geographic location information. 
     
     
         43 . The server computing device of  claim 41 , the request for the map display for the user being a request to regenerate a map display previously transmitted to the client device. 
     
     
         44 . The server computing device of  claim 41 , the actions further comprising:
 providing, by the server computing device, the user with an option to confirm use of the selected user interest category's predetermined ROI map tiles for the map display for the user.   
     
     
         45 . The server computing device of  claim 41 , the actions further comprising:
 identifying, by the server computing device, at least one user interest category of the plurality having at least one associated ROI map tile;   providing, by the server computing device, a menu for display at the client device, the menu identifying the at least one user interest category of the plurality for selection by the user; and   receiving, by the server computing device, input identifying the selected user interest category, the selected user interest category being selected by the user from the at least one user interest category identified in the menu.