Analysis of interactive map usage patterns

Abstract

Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for analyzing user interactions with an electronic map. In one aspect, a plurality of records is identified, the records each identifying at least one map segment in a plurality of map segments included in an interactive electronic map. The records can further include map usage data corresponding to the respective map segment identified in the record, the map usage data corresponding to at least one property of at least one presentation of the map segment to a user. Each map segment in the plurality of map segments is scored. Scoring each map segment includes evaluating map usage data corresponding to the map segment against at least one criteria, the criteria adapted to predict a level of user interest in the map segment based on at least one property of at least one presentation of the map segment.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A computer-implemented method comprising:
 receiving map usage data indicating interactions of a plurality of users with a plurality of map segments of an electronic map of a geographic area;   scoring, with one or more processors, each of the plurality of map segments using at least one of: (i) durations at which the plurality of users viewed the map segments, (ii) session data for the plurality of users, or (iii) map view types at which the plurality of users viewed the map segments to determine respective popularities of the map segments, wherein a higher score corresponds to a higher popularity;   receiving, from a user interface of a client device, a query for the geographic area,   modifying, with the one or more processors, a view of the electronic map that presents the geographic area based on the one or more highest scoring map segments of the map segments corresponding to the geographic area; and   sending to the device in response to the query, the view of the electronic map that presents the geographic area, the view centered so as to indicate popularity of the map segments.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the durations, session data, and map view types are included in the map usage data, and wherein session data for the plurality of users includes search terms used to retrieve the plurality of map segments or entered before or after viewing the plurality of map segments. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the first set of session data includes a first search term related to a set of the plurality of map segments and the second set of session data includes a second search term related to the particular map segment. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein modifying the view comprises automatically centering the view on the most popular map segments in the geographic area. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein scoring each of the plurality of map segments further comprises scoring each of the plurality of map segments based on the position of the map segments in the electronic map, the positions included in the map usage data. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the received query identifies a city; and   modifying the view of the electronic map that presents the geographic area includes selecting a geographic center of the geographic area depicted in the electronic map, the geographic center corresponding to a map segment that is the most popular among map segments corresponding to the city, and the selected geographic center being different from a geographic center of the city.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein scoring each of the plurality of map segments includes for a particular map segment of the plurality of map segments:
 assigning a first score to the particular map segment included in the plurality of map segments when the particular map segment is viewed for a first duration, in association with a first set of session data, or using a default map view type; and   assigning a second score different from the first score to the same particular map segment when the same particular map segment is at least one of: (i) viewed for a second duration longer than the first duration, (ii) viewed in association with a second set of session data different from the first set of session data, or (iii) viewed using another map view type different from the default map view type.   
     
     
         8 . A system comprising:
 one or more processors; and   one or more memory devices comprising program instructions that are executable by the one or more processors to cause the one or more processors to perform the steps of:
 receiving map usage data indicating interactions of a plurality of users with a plurality of map segments of an electronic map of a geographic area; 
 scoring, with one or more processors, each of the plurality of map segments using at least one of: (i) durations at which the plurality of users viewed the map segments, (ii) session data for the plurality of users, or (iii) map view types at which the plurality of users viewed the map segments to determine respective popularities of the map segments, wherein a higher score corresponds to a higher popularity; 
 receiving, from a user interface of a client device, a query for the geographic area, 
 modifying, with the one or more processors, a view of the electronic map that presents the geographic area based on the one or more highest scoring map segments of the map segments corresponding to the geographic area; and 
 sending to the device in response to the query, the view of the electronic map that presents the geographic area, the view centered so as to indicate popularity of the map segments. 
   
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the durations, session data, and map view types are included in the map usage data, and wherein session data for the plurality of users includes search terms used to retrieve the plurality of map segments or entered before or after viewing the plurality of map segments. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the first set of session data includes a first search term related to a set of the plurality of map segments and the second set of session data includes a second search term related to the particular map segment. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein modifying the view comprises automatically centering the view on the most popular map segments in the geographic area. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein scoring each of the plurality of map segments further comprises scoring each of the plurality of map segments based on the position of the map segments in the electronic map, the positions included in the map usage data. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein:
 the received query identifies a city; and   modifying the view of the electronic map that presents the geographic area includes selecting a geographic center of the geographic area depicted in the electronic map, the geographic center corresponding to a map segment that is the most popular among map segments corresponding to the city, and the selected geographic center being different from a geographic center of the city.   
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein scoring each of the plurality of map segments includes for a particular map segment of the plurality of map segments:
 assigning a first score to the particular map segment included in the plurality of map segments when the particular map segment is viewed for a first duration, in association with a first set of session data, or using a default map view type; and   assigning a second score different from the first score to the same particular map segment when the same particular map segment is at least one of: (i) viewed for a second duration longer than the first duration, (ii) viewed in association with a second set of session data different from the first set of session data, or (iii) viewed using another map view type different from the default map view type.   
     
     
         15 . A non-transitory computer readable storage medium comprising program instruction stored thereon that are executable by one or more processors to cause the one or more processors to perform the steps of:
 receiving map usage data indicating interactions of a plurality of users with a plurality of map segments of an electronic map of a geographic area;   scoring, with one or more processors, each of the plurality of map segments using at least one of: (i) durations at which the plurality of users viewed the map segments, (ii) session data for the plurality of users, or (iii) map view types at which the plurality of users viewed the map segments to determine respective popularities of the map segments, wherein a higher score corresponds to a higher popularity;   receiving, from a user interface of a client device, a query for the geographic area,   modifying, with the one or more processors, a view of the electronic map that presents the geographic area based on the one or more highest scoring map segments of the map segments corresponding to the geographic area; and   sending to the device in response to the query, the view of the electronic map that presents the geographic area, the view centered so as to indicate popularity of the map segments.   
     
     
         16 . The computer readable storage medium of  claim 15 , wherein the durations, session data, and map view types are included in the map usage data, and wherein session data for the plurality of users includes search terms used to retrieve the plurality of map segments or entered before or after viewing the plurality of map segments. 
     
     
         17 . The computer readable storage medium of  claim 16 , wherein the first set of session data includes a first search term related to a set of the plurality of map segments and the second set of session data includes a second search term related to the particular map segment. 
     
     
         18 . The computer readable storage medium of  claim 15 , wherein modifying the view comprises automatically centering the view on the most popular map segments in the geographic area. 
     
     
         19 . The computer readable storage medium of  claim 15 , wherein scoring each of the plurality of map segments further comprises scoring each of the plurality of map segments based on the position of the map segments in the electronic map, the positions included in the map usage data. 
     
     
         20 . The computer readable storage medium of  claim 15 , wherein:
 the received query identifies a city; and   modifying the view of the electronic map that presents the geographic area includes selecting a geographic center of the geographic area depicted in the electronic map, the geographic center corresponding to a map segment that is the most popular among map segments corresponding to the city, and the selected geographic center being different from a geographic center of the city.