Abstract:
Embodiments of the present invention provide a service to goods and/or service providers and consumers in the traditional context of a “first-come, first-served queue” or “class based” queue. A provider presents a listing of one or offerings to consumers to solicit bids for a good or service associated with the offering. After receiving an acceptable bid from a user, the provider provides feedback regarding the bid that indicates the ranking of the user with respect to other bidders in the bidding process. Based on the feedback, the user may submit a modified bid. Following confirmation of a bid by a user, a winning bid is determined and the user is notified.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    The present application is a continuation and claims the priority benefit of U.S. application Ser. No. 12/860,700 filed Aug. 20, 2010, which is a continuation-in-part and claims the priority benefit of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/398,120 filed Mar. 4, 2009, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Existing broadcast presentations generally include a variety of maps, images, and animations that display current or forecasted conditions for reference by a presenter (i.e., news reporter) during a broadcast presentation such as a traffic or weather report. The broadcast presentation is often produced prior to a scheduled broadcast for presentation by a traffic or weather reporter in a fixed arrangement (much like a slide show) with a prerehearsed script. Although the presenter has the ability to control the speed and manner in which the broadcast presentation is presented to a viewing audience, the content in the maps and images remains fixed. That is, the content presented during the broadcast presentation is not in real-time and is outdated. The reporting of outdated information (e.g., traffic or weather information) may have a drastic effect on a viewing audience who may rely on the reported information to make decisions about such things as travel or logistics. 
         [0003]    Another shortcoming of existing broadcast technology is the lack of interaction with the content of the virtual broadcast presentation. Since the presentation contains pre-determined content, a presenter is unable to directly interact with or manipulate the maps and images of the presentation. The presenter cannot, for example, retrieve real-time conditions or other information associated with the maps or images of the presentation. 
         [0004]    As such, there is a need in the art for touch screen based interaction with traffic data and other related data. 
       SUMMARY OF THE PRESENTLY CLAIMED INVENTION 
       [0005]    Embodiments of the present invention allow a presenter to interact with traffic data and other related data in real-time using a touch screen or other suitable display. 
         [0006]    In a first claimed embodiment, a method for touch screen based interaction with traffic data is claimed. Through the method, a virtual broadcast presentation is generated based on traffic data received from one or more information sources. A signal based on user interaction with a touch screen is generated and received. User interaction may include the selection of an interactive element included in the virtual broadcast presentation. The signal generated by the touch screen is then processed and the virtual broadcast presentation is updated in response to the processed signal. 
         [0007]    In a second claimed embodiment, a system for touch screen based interaction with traffic data is claimed. The system includes at least a communications module and a presentation rendering module, each module stored in memory and executable by a processor. Execution of the communications module by the processor receives a signal generated by the touch screen. The signal may be based on user interaction with the touch screen, wherein the user interaction includes selection of an interactive element included in a virtual broadcast presentation. Execution of the presentation rendering module by the processor generates the virtual broadcast presentation based on traffic data received from one or more information sources, processes the signal generated by the touch screen, and updates the virtual broadcast presentation in response to the processed signal. 
         [0008]    In a third claimed embodiment, a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium is claimed. The storage medium includes a computer program that is executable by a processor to perform a method for touch screen based interaction with traffic data. A virtual broadcast presentation is generated based on traffic data received from one or more information sources. A signal based on user interaction with a touch screen is generated and received. User interaction may include the selection of an interactive element included in the virtual broadcast presentation. The signal generated by the touch screen is then processed and the virtual broadcast presentation is updated in response to the processed signal. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0009]      FIG. 1  illustrates a block diagram of an environment for the broadcast of a virtual broadcast presentation that a user may interact with and reference in real-time 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  illustrates the virtual broadcast presentation engine of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0011]      FIGS. 3A-3B  illustrate a virtual broadcast presentation displayed on a touch screen. 
           [0012]      FIG. 4  illustrates an interactive element appearing in a virtual broadcast presentation. 
           [0013]      FIG. 5  illustrates the interaction technique of “pinching” used with a virtual broadcast presentation. 
           [0014]      FIGS. 6A-6B  illustrate a virtual broadcast presentation in ‘trip time’ mode. 
           [0015]      FIGS. 7A-7B  illustrate a traffic camera appearing within a virtual broadcast presentation. 
           [0016]      FIG. 8  is a flowchart illustrating a method for touch screen based interaction with traffic data presented in a virtual broadcast presentation. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0017]    The present invention provides for the use of a touch screen to interact with traffic information and other related data during a virtual broadcast presentation. The virtual broadcast presentation may include maps, images, graphics, animations, multimedia overlays, and the like, that are rendered in a two-dimensional or three-dimensional manner on a display such as a touch screen. A presenter may refer to the presentation in real-time and may manipulate a view of the virtual broadcast presentation using the touch screen. The presenter may also use the touch screen to select an interactive element included in the broadcast presentation. 
         [0018]      FIG. 1  illustrates a block diagram of an environment for the broadcast of a virtual broadcast presentation that a user may interact with and reference in real-time. The environment  100  of  FIG. 1  includes a computing device  110  having a virtual broadcast presentation engine  120 . The computing device  110  of  FIG. 1  is communicatively coupled to information sources  130 , a touch screen  140 , and a broadcast system  150 . While  FIG. 1  illustrates one particular environment  100  including certain elements for the broadcast of a virtual presentation, alternative embodiments may be implemented that utilize differing elements than those disclosed in  FIG. 1  (or combinations of the same), but that otherwise fall within the scope and spirit of the present invention. 
         [0019]    The computing device  110  and the virtual broadcast presentation engine  120  may generate a composite presentation that includes a virtual broadcast presentation. The virtual broadcast presentation may be two-dimensional or three-dimensional. The composite presentation may be generated using information obtained in real-time (or near real-time) from the information sources  130  as described in further detail below. The virtual broadcast presentation engine  120 , in particular, is discussed with respect to  FIG. 2 . The computing device  110  may include various components such as one or more of communications interfaces, a processor, memory, storage, and any number of buses providing communication therebetween (not depicted). The processor may execute instructions implemented through computing modules or engines while the memory and storage may both permanently or temporarily store data including the aforementioned modules and engines. 
         [0020]    The information sources  130  may be provided by various organizations and in a variety of forms. Information sources  130  may include data sources related to traffic data such as traffic flow and as described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/302,418, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,221,287, or weather data such as forecasts. Information sources  130  may also include data sources related to newsworthy events or incidents, school closings, election results, and other information that may be featured in a virtual broadcast presentation. Information sources  130  may require subscription or authentication for access and may be accessible via Telnet, FTP, or web services protocols. Information may be received from information sources  130  in real-time or near real-time to allow for generation of an equally real-time or near real-time presentation. That presentation may, in turn, be manipulated in real-time. 
         [0021]    In an embodiment of the present invention utilizing traffic data specific to the San Francisco Bay area, information sources  130  may include one or more of the 511.org system (a collaboration of public agencies including the California Highway Patrol, Metropolitan Transportation Commission, and CALTRANS), the California Highway Patrol (CHP) World Wide Web server, the PeMS system at the University of California at Berkeley, various public event listings, or a publicly or privately accessible user input mechanism. For weather data, the information sources  130  may include the National Weather Service among other weather information sources. Other data sources or alternative types of data sources (e.g., non-traffic and non-weather related sources) may be incorporated and utilized in various embodiments of the present invention. 
         [0022]    Touch screen  140  may be any multi-touch touch screen known in the art capable of recognizing complex gestures. Touch screen  140  may employ any touch screen technology known in the art including but not limited to resistive technology, surface acoustic wave technology, capacitive sensing (e.g., surface capacitance, projected capacitance, mutual capacitance, self capacitance), infrared, force panel technology, optical imaging, dispersive signal technology, acoustic pulse recognition, and the like. A presenter may interact with touch screen  140  using any interaction technique known in the art such as touch-drag motions, “pinching,” (e.g., zooming in or out of a web page or photo by touching the user interface and either spreading two fingers apart or bringing two fingers close together), scrolling (e.g. sliding a finger up and down or left and right to scroll through a page), or other user-centered interactive effects (e.g. horizontally sliding sub-section, bookmarks menu, menu bars, and a “back” button). Touch screen  140  may include various sensors such as a light sensor for adjusting touch screen brightness. Touch screen  140  may also include a tilt sensor, an accelerometer, a gyroscopic component, and/or magnetometer for sensing orientation of touch screen  140  and/or switching between landscape and portrait modes. Touch screen  140  may be a liquid crystal display or any other suitable display. 
         [0023]    The broadcast system  150  disseminates the composite presentation to viewers. Dissemination may occur via radio waves such as UHF or VHF, cable, satellite, or the World Wide Web. Hardware and software necessary to effectuate a broadcast may be included in the broadcast system  150  and are generally known to those skilled in the broadcasting art. 
         [0024]      FIG. 2  illustrates the virtual broadcast presentation engine of  FIG. 1 . The virtual broadcast presentation engine  120  of  FIG. 2  includes a communications module  210 , a presentation rendering module  220 , a selection module  230 , a feedback module  240 , and a trip calculation module  250 . The virtual broadcast presentation engine  120  and its constituent modules may be stored in memory and executed by a processing device to effectuate the functionality corresponding thereto. The virtual broadcast presentation engine  120  may be composed of more or less modules (or combinations of the same) and still fall within the scope of the present invention. For example, the functionality of the selection module  230  and the functionality of the feedback module  240  may be combined into a single module. 
         [0025]    Execution of the communications module  210  allows for receipt of a signal generated by touch screen  140 , which may be based at least partially on a user selection such as the selection by a presenter of an interactive element displayed within the virtual broadcast presentation. The signal may additionally be based on—in part or in whole—the actuation of other components included within the virtual broadcast presentation such as various soft keys with different functionalities. 
         [0026]    In addition to the signal generated by touch screen  140 , execution of the communications module  210  may also allow for receipt of dynamic information from information sources  130 . This dynamic information may be used by other modules for generating, manipulating, and interacting with the virtual broadcast presentation. 
         [0027]    Referring again to  FIG. 2 , execution of the presentation rendering module  220  allows for the generation of a virtual broadcast presentation based on the dynamic information received through execution of the communications module  210 . The dynamic information may include traffic information, weather information, newsworthy events or incidents, election results, school closings, or other information that may be featured in a virtual broadcast presentation. 
         [0028]    Execution of the presentation rendering module  220  may also allow for manipulation of a view of the virtual broadcast presentation in response to the signal received by the communications module  210  from touch screen  140 . Manipulating the view of the presentation may include one or more of panning across, rotating, tilting, or zooming in/out of the virtual broadcast presentation. Signals corresponding to various motions of touch screen  140  may be assigned to various other manipulations of the virtual broadcast presentation. For example, touching touch screen  140  with one finger and moving the finger upwards may adjust the view and scroll upwards along the map or presentation. As another example, actuation of a soft key displayed within the virtual broadcast presentation may affect zoom speed, whereas actuation of a different soft key may affect zoom direction. 
         [0029]    Execution of the selection module  230  allows for selection of an interactive element included in the virtual broadcast presentation in response to the received signal. An interactive element may include a soft key displayed within the virtual broadcast presentation. The interactive element may also represent a traffic alert. For example, if road construction is taking place at a given intersection of two streets, an icon indicative of road construction may be placed in the virtual broadcast presentation at a position that corresponds to that given intersection. Execution of the selection module  230  may also select the interactive element when the interactive element is positioned near the center of the virtual broadcast presentation. 
         [0030]    Selecting the interactive element may cause one of a variety of responses from the virtual broadcast presentation. For example, selection of an interactive element may cause additional information related to the interactive element to be displayed within the virtual broadcast presentation. In one embodiment, the interactive element may correspond to a traffic camera wherein selection of the interactive element causes a live camera view to appear within the virtual broadcast presentation. 
         [0031]    Execution of the feedback module  240  provides feedback to the presenter to inform the presenter that a given interactive element is selectable. For example, the interactive element may be selectable in certain regions of the virtual broadcast presentation, such as the center. When the interactive element enters or leaves the center of the virtual broadcast presentation, the presenter may be informed via feedback. The feedback may include highlighting of the interactive element. To avoid distracting or otherwise undesirable imagery such as a cursor being included in the virtual broadcast presentation, non-visible feedback may be invoked. Examples of non-visible feedback include a vibration of touch screen  140  or an audible tone. 
         [0032]    Execution of the feedback module  240  also provides feedback to the presenter that a given interactive element has been successfully selected. For example, if the presenter has selected a particular interactive element, feedback module  240  may highlight the interactive element, change the color or appearance of the interactive element, or cause the interactive element to blink or flash continually. Such feedback confirms the selection of the interactive element and prevents the presenter from selecting the same interactive element multiple times. 
         [0033]    Execution of the trip calculation module  250  may allow for the determination or calculation of an estimated amount of time (e.g., ‘trip time’) needed to travel from a selected location to another location. For example, the presenter may select a first interactive element displayed in the virtual broadcast presentation wherein the first interactive element corresponds to a starting point or location. The presenter may then select a second interactive element displayed in the presentation that corresponds to a desired end point or destination location. An interactive element or starting/end point may include a particular street, road, landmark or point of interest, highway, neighborhood, town, city, area, region or the like. Trip calculation module  250  may calculate the estimated amount of time required to traverse the real world distance from the first selected interactive element to the second interactive element in real-time considering, at least in part, information from information sources  130 . When calculating a trip time, trip calculation module  250 , for example, may consider the actual distance from the starting point to the end point, as well as various conditions affecting travel, including current weather conditions or traffic conditions such as a recent accident or road closure. In another embodiment, trip calculation module  250  may be used to calculate an estimated travel distance between two selected locations. Execution of trip calculation module  250  may occur following the actuation of a ‘mode key’ as discussed further in  FIG. 3A  below. 
         [0034]    Execution of the virtual broadcast presentation engine  120  may output the virtual broadcast presentation to other components of the computing device  110  for generation of the composite presentation. Accordingly, the computing device  110  may output the composite presentation to the broadcast system  150  for dissemination to viewers. 
         [0035]      FIG. 3A  illustrates a virtual broadcast presentation  300  displayed on a touch screen  140 . The presentation  300  of  FIG. 3A  includes traffic information. The principles described herein with respect to traffic are equally applicable to embodiments of the present invention that include weather information, newsworthy events or incidents, school closings, election results, or other information that may be featured on a virtual broadcast presentation. Presentation  300  may be generated and manipulated by execution of the presentation rendering module  220  in real-time. Presentation  300  may include satellite images of a given area with an animated road traffic report. A detailed description of animated road traffic reports may be found in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/302,418, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,221,287, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference. 
         [0036]    Satellite images may be manipulated by execution of the presentation rendering module  220  to aid in generating three-dimensional information. For example, two-dimensional satellite images may be processed in the context of other geographical information (e.g., topographical information) to generate a three-dimensional satellite image that reflects information along an x-, y-, and z-axis as illustrated in presentation  300 . The textured three-dimensional representation of landscape of a particular urban area aligns with and provides the three-dimensional coordinates for the road ways that may be animated and overlaid on the satellite images. 
         [0037]    The presentation  300  may also include a variety of markers ( 310 A- 310 C) to identify or label various locations, landmarks, or points of interest appearing in presentation  300  such as exit ramps, highways, named sections of highways, or city streets. These markers may be readily or universally recognizable, such as a highway marker resembling a California state highway sign with the appropriate highway number. Presentation  300  may also include markers or icons corresponding to the location of traffic incidents, road construction, and traffic cameras. Some or all of these markers  310 C may be interactive elements of the virtual broadcast presentation  300  and show real-time conditions, such as an average traffic speed associated with a particular location. An interactive element may include any marker, icon, label, object, or image appearing in presentation  300  that may be associated with real-time content or data. An interactive element, for example, may include a street, road, bridge, highway, landmark, point of interest, traffic incident or alert, road construction, or traffic camera. 
         [0038]    A presenter  305  may select an interactive element using touch screen  140 .  FIG. 4  illustrates an interactive element appearing in a virtual broadcast presentation  300  displayed on touch screen  140 . In one embodiment, an interactive element  410  (i.e., traffic incident) may be marked by a particular icon, image, or symbol (e.g., an arrow pointing to the location of the traffic incident), as shown in  FIG. 4 . When an interactive element is selected, additional information related to that interactive element may be displayed. In one embodiment, an interactive element marking a traffic incident may be selected resulting in detailed textual information describing the traffic incident being displayed within presentation  300  (not shown). 
         [0039]    Returning to  FIG. 3A , presentation  300  may include images of vehicles  315  appearing along a specific roadway or highway. A vehicle  315  may be animated, for example, to show the speed and direction of traffic along a particular highway. Presentation  300  may also use color coding to demonstrate real-time traffic conditions. Color coding may help a viewer of the presentation  300  to quickly understand real-time traffic conditions associated with a depicted map or location. Presentation  300  may include a legend  320  describing various objects or color representations used in presentation  300 . A ‘green’ colored section of a road, street, or highway, for example, may represent that real-time traffic is moving at a speed of 50 miles per hour or higher (e.g., normal or optimal conditions). A ‘yellow’ colored highway may represent traffic speeds of 25 miles per hour or higher (e.g., delayed conditions), while a ‘red’ colored highway may represent traffic speeds that are less than 25 miles per hour (e.g., slow or impacted conditions). 
         [0040]    The presentation  300  may also display one or more soft keys with various functionalities such as orientation key  325 , tilt key  330 , rotation key  335 , synchronization key  340 , previous and next presentation display keys  345 A- 345 B, and mode key  350 . Presenter  305  may actuate a soft key to facilitate or enhance the understanding of the content of presentation  300 . For example, presenter  305  may use tilt key  330  to adjust or modify a view or perspective of presentation  300  vertically or horizontally. The presenter  305  may also change the perspective of presentation  300  by actuating rotation key  335 . Changing the perspective of presentation  300  may alter the orientation of the presentation such that a ‘north’ direction of a map or image is not oriented at the top of touch screen  140 . As such, presenter  305  may actuate orientation key  325  to return the ‘north’ direction to the top of touch screen  140 . In one embodiment, presenter  305  may touch a soft key with one finger or hand (e.g., tilt key  330  or rotation key  335 ) while using the other hand to activate the functionality of the soft key (e.g., move or adjust the touch screen in the desired direction). 
         [0041]    The presentation  300  may also include a synchronization key  340 . Presentation  300  may be generated based on information received in real-time or near real-time through execution of communications module  210 . Presenter  305  may actuate synchronization key  340  to cause the synchronization of data in real time such that presentation  300  reflects the most current information and conditions. In one embodiment, synchronization of data may be done automatically. In another embodiment, presenter  305  or another user may program or instruct computing device  110  to synchronize data at regular time periods (e.g., every 10 seconds, every minute, every two minutes, etc.). 
         [0042]    A presenter  305  may zoom in or out of presentation  300  by actuating keys corresponding to a particular view of the presentation, such as a previous key  345 A and a next key  345 B. For example, previous key  345 A may revert to a presentation that offers a zoom out view while next key  345 B may allow a view that zooms in from the current view. Previous and next keys may, alternatively, be assigned zoom in or zoom out functionality. Presenter  305  may actuate a particular key ( 345 A,  345 B) multiple times to further zoom in or out of the current view. In one embodiment, the previous key  345 A and next key  345 B may be used to display or shift to a different image or map within presentation  300 . 
         [0043]    The presentation  300  may also include mode key  350 . Presenter  305  may operate presentation  300  in different modes such as ‘trip time mode’ or ‘navigation mode.’ Presenter  305  may switch between various modes by actuating mode key  350 . Presenter  305  may use navigation mode to view presentation  300  as described in  FIG. 3B  below. Trip time mode is discussed in further detail in  FIGS. 6A and 6B  below. 
         [0044]      FIG. 3B  illustrates the virtual broadcast presentation  300  of  FIG. 3A  following manipulation by presenter  305 . Presenter  305  may manipulate presentation  300  in navigation mode to review or illustrate real-time traffic conditions (e.g., average traffic speeds, traffic incidents, etc.) associated with various locations depicted in presentation  300 . A view of presentation  300  may be manipulated to give the effect of ‘flying,’ or scrolling through the three-dimensional virtual representation of the traffic map and images. As presenter  305  scrolls through presentation  300 , various interactive elements may be highlighted and/or become available for selection.  FIG. 3B  illustrates presentation  300  of  FIG. 3A  following presenter  305  touching touch screen  140  and scrolling through presentation  300 . As a result, presentation  300  (as shown in  FIG. 3B ) shows a magnified portion of presentation  300  (i.e., the intersection of highways  287  and  107 ) and the associated traffic conditions (e.g., traffic speeds). 
         [0045]    Presenter  300  may interact with presentation  300  using other interaction techniques known in the art. For example,  FIG. 5  illustrates the interaction technique of “pinching” (e.g., zooming in or out of presentation  300 ) used with virtual broadcast presentation  300  displayed on touch screen  140 . As shown in  FIG. 5 , presenter  305  may interact with presentation  300  by touching touch screen  140  and bringing two fingers closer together (on one hand or with two). Such motion may cause the view associated with presentation  300  to zoom out of the current viewpoint. 
         [0046]    Besides zooming in or out of presentation  300 , presenter  305  may also manipulate presentation  300  by panning, tilting, and/or rotating the view. For example, as presenter  305  touches touch screen  140  to scroll through presentation  300 , touch screen  140  generates a corresponding signal that is received in conjunction with execution of the communications module  210 . In turn, the presentation rendering module  220  may be executed to move or rotate the presentation  300  a corresponding amount as presenter  305  manipulated the touch screen  140 . The correspondence of the presentation  300  to manipulation of the touch screen  140  gives the presenter  305  the sensation of directly controlling the presentation  300 . Such manipulation of the view may also be used in selecting interactive elements. For example, if a particular interactive element may be selected only when near the center of the presentation  300 , the presenter may cause the view to be manipulated such that the particular interactive element is centered and therefore selectable. 
         [0047]      FIGS. 6A-6B  illustrate a virtual broadcast presentation in ‘trip time mode.’ Presenter  305  may activate trip time mode by actuating mode key  350 . Once trip time mode has been activated, presenter  305  may select an interactive element corresponding to a first location or starting point by touching the interactive element within presentation  300  displayed on touch screen  140 . As shown in  FIG. 6A , presenter  305  has selected or designated “83.sup.rd Ave” as a starting point. Following selection of the first location, display  355 A may appear confirming the selection of presenter  305 . 
         [0048]    Presenter  305  may then select another interactive element corresponding to a second location or end point or travel destination by touching a second interactive element within presentation  300  displayed on touch screen  140 . As shown in  FIG. 6B , presenter  305  has selected or designated “1st Ave” as an end point. Following selection of the second interactive element, trip calculation module  250  may calculate the estimated amount of time required to traverse the real world distance from the first selected interactive element (i.e., “83.sup.rd Ave”) to the second interactive element (i.e., “1st Ave”) in real-time considering, at least in part, information from information sources  130 . For example, trip calculation module  250  may consider various conditions affecting travel such as weather conditions or traffic conditions such as a recent accident, a road closure, or any other delay. Display  355 B may then display the estimated trip time (i.e., “28 minutes”), as well as any condition affecting travel such as weather conditions or a traffic delay, within presentation  300  on touch screen  140 . Display  355 B may also show the route (i.e., highway “25”) associated with the calculated trip time. 
         [0049]    Besides calculating the estimate trip time in real-time, trip time module  250  may calculate or forecast the estimated trip time based on a time of day and/or date (i.e., special day or occasion) designated by presenter  305 . For example, presenter  305  may want to determine the estimated trip time at 9:00 AM (e.g., morning rush hour) or at 8:00 PM (e.g., a later evening hour). As another example, presenter  305  may want to determine the estimated trip time when departing at a particular time on the Labor Day holiday or on a date when a sporting event, concert, or other large gathering is scheduled at a venue. In trip time mode, presenter  305  may input the desired time of day and/or date and select a starting point and end point for trip time calculation. In another embodiment, trip time mode may also be used to calculate an estimated travel distance between two selected locations (not shown). The calculated estimated travel distance may also be displayed within presentation  300 . 
         [0050]      FIGS. 7A-7B  illustrate a traffic camera appearing within virtual broadcast presentation  300  displayed on touch screen  140 . In one embodiment, an interactive element appearing in presentation  300  may include a traffic camera ( 710 A,  710 B). Presenter  305  may select traffic camera  710 A by touching the traffic camera  710 A within presentation  300  displayed on touch screen  140  (as shown in  FIG. 7A ). Following selection of traffic camera  710 A associated with a particular location, a live video feed  720  corresponding to the location of a real-world traffic camera may be displayed within presentation  300  (as shown in  FIG. 7B ). Presenter  305  may then use live video  720  feed to view actual traffic conditions associated with the real world location of traffic camera  710 A. 
         [0051]      FIG. 8  is a flow chart illustrating a method  800  for touch screen interaction with traffic data presented in a virtual broadcast presentation. The steps of method  800  may be performed in varying orders. Steps may be added or subtracted from the method  800  and still fall within the scope of the present invention. The steps of the process of  FIG. 8  may be embodied in hardware or software including a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium comprising instructions executable by a processor of a computing device. 
         [0052]    At step  810 , a real-time, virtual broadcast presentation  300  is generated. The presentation  300  may be based on dynamic information and may be two-dimensional or three-dimensional. Execution of the presentation rendering module  210  may perform step  810 . The dynamic information may include real-time traffic information or real-time weather information and be received from the information sources  130  in conjunction with execution of the communications module  210 . 
         [0053]    At step  820 , a signal generated by touch screen  140  may be received. The signal generated by touch screen  140  may be based at least partially on the selection by a presenter of an interactive element displayed within presentation  300  on touch screen  140 . The signal may also be based on the actuation of other components included in the touch screen  140  such as soft keys. Step  820  may be performed by execution of the communications module  210 . Receipt of the signal in step  820  allows for processing of presentation  300  at step  830 . 
         [0054]    At step  830 , presentation  300  is processed in response to the signal received at step  820 . Execution of the presentation rendering module  220  may perform step  830 . Presentation  300  may be processed, for example, to allow for real-time manipulation of presentation  300  and various views thereof such as zooming in and out, scrolling, panning across, tilting, or rotating presentation  300 . Presentation  300  may also be processed based on the actuation of a particular soft key displayed within presentation  300  on touch screen  140 . 
         [0055]    At step  840 , presentation  300  is updated in response to the processed signal from step  830 . Execution of the presentation rendering module  220  may perform step  840 . For example, presentation  300  may be updated to show a manipulated viewpoint desired by presenter  305  (e.g., rotated or tilted presentation). Presentation  300  may also be updated to show presentation  300  in a particular mode such as ‘navigation mode’ or ‘trip time mode.’ Presentation  300  may also be updated to display information associated with an interactive element selected by presenter  305 , such as information regarding a traffic incident, road closure, or average travel speeds. 
         [0056]    Any number of additional and/or optional steps that are not otherwise depicted may be included in method  800 . These steps may include selection of an interactive element included in the virtual broadcast presentation using touch screen  140  or feedback being provided to the presenter to inform the presenter that an interactive element is selectable. 
         [0057]    It is noteworthy that any hardware platform suitable for performing the processing described herein is suitable for use with the invention. Computer-readable storage media refer to any medium or media that participate in providing instructions to a central processing unit (CPU) for execution. Such media can take forms, including, but not limited to, non-volatile and volatile media such as optical or magnetic disks and dynamic memory, respectively. Common forms of computer-readable storage media include a floppy disk, a flexible disk, a hard disk, magnetic tape, any other magnetic medium, a CD-ROM disk, digital video disk (DVD), any other optical medium, RAM, PROM, EPROM, a FLASHEPROM, or any other memory chip or cartridge. 
         [0058]    Various forms of transmission media may be involved in carrying one or more sequences of one or more instructions to a CPU for execution. A bus may carry data to system RAM, from which a CPU retrieves and executes the instructions. The instructions received by system RAM may optionally be stored on a fixed disk either before or after execution by a CPU. 
         [0059]    The foregoing detailed description of the technology herein has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the technology to the precise form disclosed. Many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. The described embodiments were chosen in order to best explain the principles of the technology and its practical application to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the technology in various embodiments and with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is intended that the scope of the technology be defined by the claims appended hereto.